Abstract: A multiple suction cup apparatus for lifting an object includes the capability of exchanging a large and small suction cup. At least one interlock enables the large or small suction cup to be deployed. The interlocks include passive interlocks, such as ball detents and conventional magnets, and active interlocks, such as a twist lock and electronic actuated magnets.

Abstract: A dynamically scalable computing framework used in support of on-line services is disclosed. A network is formed from computing nodes communicatively coupled with communication hubs in a mesh configuration. A load balancing module executing on a computing node monitors processing relating to a plurality of data objects. When a processing threshold is reached, the computing node dynamically reallocates processing of a subset of data objects sharing the same property to a second computing node. Processing nodes in the network receive subscription rules defining characteristics of data objects suitable for copying to another computing node in the network. In response to receiving subscription rules, processing nodes evaluate the rules against data objects on the particular processing node to identifying data objects that should be copied to the other processing nodes corresponding to the received subscription rules.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for browsing items in a network page. A plurality of images of a corresponding plurality of items are displayed in a network page rendered on a display device of a client device. A first level of information detail about each of the items is presented in the network page. A window is generated that is anchored to a currently designated one of the images. The window presents a second level of information detail about a respective one of the items depicted in the designated one of the images presented in the window. The currently designated one of the images is specified by navigating from image to image.

Abstract: A layered authentication process can use a first authentication layer to filter out invalid requests. The first layer can perform a lightweight authentication to determine requests that do not meet certain authentication criteria. This can include, for example, denying requests that have invalid credentials or that are received from unapproved locations or sources, or that lack the proper format. Requests that pass the initial authentication can be directed to a more robust authentication service that is capable for performing a full authentication of the request. Such an approach prevents various invalid requests from being delivered to the robust authentication service, thereby preventing the robust authentication service from being overwhelmed by a large number of requests, such as may correspond to a coordinated attack on the service.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for generating message envelopes for heterogeneous events are disclosed. A plurality of events are received. The events are associated with computing resources in a multi-tenant environment. The events comprise an event formatted using a content schema and a different event formatted using a different content schema. A message is generated comprising a message envelope and the event. The message envelope comprises a plurality of field names and one or more field values formatted using an envelope schema. A different message is generated comprising a different message envelope and the different event. The different message envelope comprises the field names and one or more different field values formatted using the envelope schema. The message is filtered based at least in part on the message envelope, and the different message is filtered based at least in part on the different message envelope.

Abstract: A configuration management system may receive information defining a threshold range of deviation from a baseline configuration of at least one computing resource. The system may acquire periodic records of configuration information, from which it may be determined if the current configuration at least one computing resource has deviation from the baseline outside of the tolerated threshold. A record indicative of a prior configuration within a threshold configuration deviation may be identified. A template may be formed based on the record. The at least one computing resource may be reconfigured, based on the template, to be within the threshold configuration deviation.

Abstract: A user, group, and device management and authentication system allows administrators to manage one or more directories with devices that are not associated with a domain of the one or more directories via a set of APIs. The system also allows applications and services that do not have direct access to a list of directory users to access the one or more directories. The user, group, and device management and authentication system may be an add-on system that works in conjunction with a centrally-managed directory service to provide such functionality. For example, the system may generate an access token associated with a particular directory that can be used by a service accessed by an administrator to call an API provided by the system. The API call may be translated into a directory-specific API call that can be used to perform an action in the particular directory.

Abstract: A data center includes various sets of infrastructure modules which each provide a particular type of infrastructure support to support computing operations in the data center. Separate sets of infrastructure modules can be installed incrementally based on incrementally changing support capacity for the corresponding type of infrastructure support in the data center. Such incrementally changing support capacity can be based upon support requirements of electrical loads, including rack computer systems, which are inbound to the data center. Where support capacity for a particular type of infrastructure support drops below a threshold, a quantity of additional infrastructure modules which provide the particular type of infrastructure support can be selected and installed to increase the support capacity.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for receiving, via a network, a request from a client to establish a network tunnel over the network. A credential is received from the client in order to establish the network tunnel. The client is authenticated based upon the credential. The client negotiates, via the network, to establish the network tunnel.

Abstract: A protocol can be used to share routing information with neighbor network devices in the form of related objects of attributes and prefixes. The attribute object includes a set of unique attributes that are known for a given prefix or prefixes, but without including the prefixes within the attribute object. The attribute object includes an identifier of the attribute object for future reference by other messages. The prefix object includes one or more prefixes and the associated attribute identifier common to the prefixes. In the case where a subset of prefix or prefixes change so as to have new attributes associated with them, then a re-advertisement of the prefixes with the new attribute identifier is generated. In this way, routing updates become more efficient resulting in peers only needing to update the attribute object or the prefix object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for establishing communication connections using speech, such as establishing calls between speech-controlled devices, are described. A first speech-controlled device receives a communication request in the form of audio and sends audio data corresponding to the captured audio to a server. The server performs speech processing on the audio data to determine a recipient, a subject for the call, and a device associated with the recipient. The server then sends a message indicating the communication request and audio data corresponding to the communication topic to the recipient's speech-controlled device. The recipient device outputs audio to the recipient requesting whether the recipient accepts the communication request. The recipient audibly refuses or accepts the communication request, and the recipient's speech-controlled device sends an indication of the recipient's audible decision to the server.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for providing software developer-driven analysis for the expected impact that a proposed software modification may have on software programs and devices. A device may receive files including a first file including indications of: (i) a feature modified by one or more software modifications, (ii) a sub-feature associated with the feature and modified by the one or more software modifications, and (iii) first information associated with the feature, and a second file including indications of: (i) the feature, (ii) the sub-feature, and (iii) second information associated with the feature. The device may determine a record including indications of: (i) the feature, (ii) the sub-feature, (iii) the first information, and (iv) the second information. The device may determine a test plan including one or more tests performed based on the record. The device may execute at least a portion of the test plan.

Abstract: A media universe system may provide digital media content to clients via methods and apparatus that provide interactive and immersive viewing experiences to the clients. A repository service may store digital assets for the media universe and maintain an asset tracking database that may track how the digital assets of the media universe relate to one another over time within a world encompassed by the media universe. The repository service may also maintain mappings between the digital assets and other content of the media universe. The repository service may serve as a centralized continuity database for the world and the media universe. Providing an accessible, scalable, network-based location for the continuity database may enable developers to build interactive experiences for users to explore the world of the media universe, both spatially and temporally.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for determining contextually relevant application templates associated with electronic message content.

Abstract: A service management system prepares computing resources for use before a client requests the resource. For example, a service management system of a provider may restore an operating system image to a volume. The service management may then assign a processing resource to the volume to form a virtual machine. The service management system may cause the processing resource to finish preparation of the operating system on the volume. The service management system may disconnect the resulting staged volume from the processing resource. The staged volume may remain active in the low-latency data store and be added to a list of available staged volumes having the operating system. When a client requests a virtual machine having an operating system, the service management system may determine that the client receives the staged volume as part of the virtual machine to avoid the start-up costs of preparing a volume.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques that can be used to efficiently collect statistical or other information from many registers in an integrated circuit without substantially burdening a central processing unit. The techniques can use logic that, without being directed by a central processing unit, can periodically collect information from a plurality of disparate registers of an integrated circuit and move the contents of the registers to memory (e.g., volatile memory accessible by the central processing unit) other than the registers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for voice control of computing devices are disclosed. Applications may be downloaded and/or accessed by a device having a display, and content associated with the applications may be displayed. Many applications do not allow for voice commands to be utilized to interact with the displayed content. Improvements described herein allow for non-voice-enabled applications to utilize voice commands to interact with displayed content by determining screen data displayed by the device and utilizing the screen data to determine an intent associated with the application. Directive data to perform an action corresponding to the intent may be sent to the device and may be utilized to perform the action on an object associated with the displayed content.

Abstract: A dynamic link updater may be configured to automatically and autonomously identify an affiliate associated with an affiliate network site. The dynamic link updater may update or correct an affiliate link based on the identified affiliate link. Further, the dynamic link updater can determine additional parameters to correct or update in the affiliate link, such as information relating to a device used to access the affiliate link. For example, the affiliate link may be updated to include an identity of the type of device or the location of the device used to access the affiliate link. This information may be used to facilitate compensating the affiliate for providing a link to another network site from the affiliate network site.

Abstract: An electrowetting display device comprising an electrowetting element comprising a control system, a first fluid, a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid, and a first and second support plate. A first and second electrode are, respectively, overlapped by a first and second portion of a surface of the first support plate. The control system is operable to, in response to input data indicative of a grey level and with the first fluid in a retracted configuration and at least partly in contact with the first portion, apply a first voltage between the second fluid and the first electrode to translate the first fluid from the retracted configuration to contact the second portion over a first area, and apply a second voltage between the second fluid and the second electrode to retract the first fluid to contact the second portion over a second area smaller than the first area.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for centralized resource utilization visualization in distributed systems are disclosed. Metrics are collected from a plurality of sources in a distributed system, including network traffic metrics collected from nodes implementing a network-accessible service. A topology representing at least one of (a) a relationship between respective client accounts to which a first and second node are assigned, or (b) one or more network links between the first and second nodes is generated. Respective networking performance indicators of the first node and the second node are provided for inclusion in a resource heat map corresponding to the topology.