Abstract: Tools and techniques for creating presentations via dynamic digital content (DDC) tools using a display dependent markup language interface facilitating dynamic content are described. The markup language, “DXyml”, identifies content elements, including dynamic content elements, for display and specifies pixel locations at which to position the content elements on a client device. Pixel locations are selected for particular screen configurations, allowing the presentations to be created in advance of being served to specific types of devices with the particular screen configurations.

Abstract: An idle universal serial bus (“USB”) is placed into a low power mode. During low power mode, peripherals attached to the USB bus may also enter a low power mode. While in this low power mode, USB attached peripherals may retain some functionality. For example, a USB attached modem may remain connected, allowing rapid resumption of communications upon awakening.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the performance associated with fulfilling resource requests and determining optimizations for improving such performance are provided. A processing device obtains and processes performance metric information associated with processing a request corresponding to two or more embedded resources. The processing device uses the processed performance metric information to determine an allocation of one or more domains to be associated with the two or more embedded resources. In some embodiments, in making such a determination, the processing device assesses performance metric information collected and associated with subsequent requests for the two or more embedded resources using each of a variety of alternative allocations of domains associated with the two or more embedded resources. The processing device may also consider a number of factors, including domain selection criteria obtained from an original content provider.

Abstract: A computer system includes a circuit board assembly and a chassis. The circuit board assembly includes a circuit board and one or more heat producing components coupled to the circuit board. At least one of the heat producing components includes an exposed surface. The chassis includes one or more mounting portions that are coupled to the circuit board and support the circuit board. The chassis also includes one or more heat spreading portions. The heat spreading portions couple to exposed surfaces of one or more heat producing components on the circuit board.

Abstract: Generally described, the present disclosure is directed to managing request routing functionality corresponding to resource requests for one or more resources associated with a content provider. The processing of the DNS requests by the service provider can include the selective filtering of DNS queries associated with a DNS query-based attack. A service provider can assign DNS servers corresponding to a distributed set of network addresses, or portions of network addresses, such that DNS queries exceeding a threshold, such as in DNS query-based attacks, can be filtered in a manner that can mitigate performance impact on for the content provider or service provider.

Abstract: A user interface for a touch-screen display of a dedicated handheld electronic book reader device is described. The user interface detects human gestures manifest as pressure being applied by a finger or stylus to regions on the touch-screen display. In one implementation, the touch-screen user interface enables a user to turn one or more pages in response to applying a force or pressure to the touch-screen display. In another implementation, the touch-screen user interface is configured to bookmark a page temporarily by applying a pressure to the display, then allowing a user to turn pages to a new page, but reverting back to a previously-displayed page when the pressure is removed. In another implementation, the touch-screen user interface identifies and filters electronic books based on book size and/or a time available to read a book. In another implementation, the touch-screen user interface converts text to speech in response to a user touching the touch-screen display.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and associated processes for generating recommendations for users based on usage, among other things. These systems and processes are described in the context of an interactive computing system that enables users to download applications for mobile devices (such as phones) or for other computing devices. Users' interactions with applications once they are downloaded can be observed and tracked, with such usage data being collected and provided to the interactive computing system. The interactive computing system can include a recommendation system or service that processes the usage data from a plurality of users to detect usage patterns. Using these usage patterns, among possibly other data, the recommendation system can recommend applications to users for download.

Abstract: A method for unloading inventory items includes storing an inventory item on an inventory holder and moving the inventory holder toward an unloading station with a mobile drive unit. Additionally, the method includes moving the inventory holder past a barrier of the unloading station. The method further includes preventing the inventory item from moving past the barrier as the mobile drive unit moves the inventory holder past the barrier.

Abstract: Systems and processes are described for generating a generic relationship dataset that can be adapted for use by multiple domain-specific applications. Such applications can include recommendation applications, search applications, optimization applications, and/or other applications. These systems and processes can analyze some or all actions of users with respect to a network application, such as a web application. Data representing user actions occurring in a time window can be paired together in the relationship dataset, together with one or more metrics related to the user actions. These metrics can represent general measurements that in certain embodiments are not customized for an individual application. As a result, separate domain-specific applications can independently analyze the relationship data according to different criteria without maintaining separate sets of the relationship data.

Abstract: An electronic device can utilize image capture technology to detect the presence and location of another device. Using this information, the electronic device can display, in a user interface, a graphical element representing a detected device, along with identity information and the location of the detected device relative to the electronic device. The location of each detected device relative to the electronic device can be tracked and thus the graphical element can be updated in the user interface.

Abstract: System and method for authorizing transactions, such as payments or money transfers. A source entity may initiate a transaction with a target entity via a first communications channel. In initiating the transaction, the source entity may indicate that the transaction is to be performed through a transaction authorization service. The target entity may send a transaction initiation message to the transaction authorization service. In response to receiving the transaction initiation message, the service may authorize the transaction with the source entity via a second communications channel. To authorize the transaction, the source entity may provide a PIN number or other identifier via the second communications channel. After receiving and validating the response from the source entity, the transaction authorization service may inform the target entity that the transaction is authorized. The target entity may then complete the transaction with the transaction authorization service and the source entity.

Abstract: Management of a data cache having a compressed portion and an uncompressed portion by adaptively and dynamically allocating the relative amount space each portion receives. The relative sizes are defined based on one or more cost metrics and benefit metrics. The metrics are selected based on the performance of an application utilizing the cache. An optimized benefit relative to the cost is defined. Application operations on the cache are sampled and the relative cost and benefit is determined for different ratios of uncompressed to compressed cache sizes. The size of the uncompressed portion relative to the compressed portion is then re-adjusted based on an optimal cost-to-benefit ratio for the application.

Abstract: A facility for bidding on a pending advertising opportunity is described. The facility receives at an advertiser a notification from a publisher. The notification contains keywords relating to a content request received by the publisher, and is sent by the publisher between its receipt of the content request and its dispatch of a content response responsive to the content request. In response to receiving the notification, the facility sends to the publisher a dynamic bid. The dynamic bid specifies an advertising message and a bid amount that the advertiser is willing to pay to present the advertising message in connection with a content response responsive to the content request produced by the publisher.

Abstract: A system and method for management and processing of resource requests are provided. A content delivery network service provider receives a DNS query from a client computing device corresponding to a requested resource from the client computing device. The content delivery network service provider associates the requested content into a set of content segments. For each content segment, the content delivery network service provider identifies the network address of a registered content provider, such as peer computing device, and a cache component of the content delivery service provider. The content delivery network service provider also provides tokens for requesting the content from a registered content provider. The client computing device obtains the content from the registered content providers and/or the cache component of the content delivery network service provider.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the removal of expiring items from inventory are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method includes determining a breakeven holding time for an inventory item and calculating, based at least in part on a demand forecast for the inventory item and on the breakeven holding time, a first quantity of the inventory item to be removed from the inventory. The method also includes identifying an expiration time corresponding to the given inventory item and, in response to the expiration time being shorter than the breakeven holding time, calculating a second quantity of the inventory item, where a difference between the second and first quantities represents an additional quantity of the inventory item to be removed from the inventory. The method further includes causing at least one portion of the additional quantity of the inventory item to be removed from the inventory according to an inventory removal function.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for selection of wireless devices and service plans. A geographic location and a plurality of wireless preferences are obtained from a user at a client. A plurality of wireless service plans that meet the wireless preferences and are offered by a plurality of wireless carriers that provide service to the geographic location are determined. A network page is generated that presents the wireless service plans in a ranked order that is based at least in part on the wireless preferences.

Abstract: A method and system for managing inventory by expected profitability. In one embodiment, a method may include individually evaluating a respective expected profitability for each of a number of inventory items, and individually determining a disposition of each of the number of items dependent upon its respective expected profitability. In one particular implementation of the method, individually evaluating the respective expected profitability of a given item may include forecasting an estimated date of transaction corresponding to the given item, forecasting an estimated revenue corresponding to the given item as of the estimated date of transaction, estimating accrued costs of holding the given item until the estimated date of transaction, and comparing a total cost of the given item against the estimated revenue, where the total cost may include the accrued costs of holding the given item until the estimated date of transaction.

Abstract: A computer generates encoded information to associate a physical package to a transaction. The transaction comprises an order for one or more items to be shipped in the package. The encoded information is provided for inclusion in a machine-readable representation of the encoded information for shipping with the physical package. Subsequent to delivery of the physical package to a recipient, recipient reaction information containing the encoded information obtained from the machine-readable representation is received over a network. The encoded information is used to associate the recipient reaction information to a record for the transaction.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling access to web services resources. A system may include a storage medium configured to store instructions and one or more processors configured to access the storage medium. The instructions may be executable by at least one of the processors to implement a web services access control system (ACS) configured to receive requests. Each request specifies an access operation to be performed with respect to a corresponding resource. Each of the requests is associated with a corresponding principal. For each received request, the ACS may be further configured to determine whether an access control entry exists that is associated with both the resource and principal associated with the request and that specifies an access type sufficient to perform the access operation. If no such entry exists, the ACS may deny the request.

Abstract: A digital media item, such as an electronic book (eBook), may include testing content. The testing content may include questions about the content of the digital media item. When is user is viewing the digital media item on an electronic device, such as an eBook reader, the user may be allowed to select whether the testing content is displayed. The user may also be allowed to select a particular mode of testing, such as automatic testing, selective testing, etc. If the user chooses to display the testing content, the user may also be allowed to provide answers to the testing questions.