Abstract: Stream complexity mapping enables substantially uninterrupted transmission of a highest compatible bit rate of a stream of media to a client via a network connection. Stream complexity data may include complexity information for each period of a stream of media. The stream complexity data may be associated with the stream of media. The stream complexity data may be analyzed to enable a preemptive transition to a new stream of media having a new bit rate and/or expanding a buffer capacity to provide uninterrupted streaming media for complex portions of a variable bit rate stream of media.

Abstract: A distributed, web-services based storage system. A system may include a web services interface configured to receive, according to a web services protocol, a given client request for access to a given data object, the request including a key value corresponding to the object. The system may also include storage nodes configured to store replicas of the objects, where each replica is accessible via a respective unique locator value, and a keymap instance configured to store a respective keymap entry for each object. For the given object, the respective keymap entry includes the key value and each locator value corresponding to replicas of the object. A coordinator may receive the given client request from the web services interface, responsively access the keymap instance to identify locator values corresponding to the key value and, for a particular locator value, retrieve a corresponding replica from a corresponding storage node.

Abstract: Some examples include testing of software able to render a content item on a display of an electronic device. The testing may include capturing images of rendered portions of a content item and comparing the captured images with previously obtained reference images that have been verified to be correctly rendered. The testing techniques can be applied to conversion software that converts digital content items from one format to another and/or testing of the converted content items themselves. Additionally, content presentation software that displays digital content items on an electronic device, such as by interacting with rendering software, may also be tested using a similar technique.

Abstract: A first communication channel is established between a user device and a server using a cellular network. The user device receives a timeout interval for the first communication channel. The user device transmits a packet to maintain the first communication channel when the user device detects that other data is being transmitted using a second communication channel during the timeout interval.

Abstract: A method of managing power to electrical systems in a rack includes pooling power from power supply mechanisms in two or more slots of a rack. Power is supplied from the pooled power to electrical systems in one or more slots in the rack. Power supply mechanisms are activated or deactivated from the pooled power based on conditions of the power supply mechanisms or the electrical systems receiving power from the pooled power supply system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for storing data to enable inexpensive and/or guaranteed deletion of data. In various embodiments, a customer specifies a data deletion indication associated with a data object to be stored, specifying when and/or how to delete the data object. Such a data deletion indication may be based, for example, on a regulatory compliance requirement. Based at least in part on the data deletion indication, the storage system may select, from a plurality of storage devices, a storage device to store the data object. Data objects with similar data deletion indications may be stored in the same storage device. In some embodiments, a data object stored in a storage device using the methods described herein may be deleted as part of the deletion of all or a portion of the storage device near a time specified by the data deletion indication of the data object.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for providing additional information for text in an image. In some implementations, a computing device receives an image including text. Optical character recognition (OCR) is performed on the image to produce recognized text. One or more topics corresponding to the recognized text is determined. A word or a phrase is selected from the recognized text for providing additional information. One or more potential meanings of the selected word or phrase are determined. One of the potential meanings is selected using the one or more topics. A source of additional information corresponding to the selected meaning is selected for providing the additional information to a user's device.

Abstract: A calibration module may acquire calibration data for calibrating rotations of augmented reality functional node. The calibration module scans a target, records pose data for the augmented reality functional node, and captures images of the scanned target. From these acquired images, calibration may be determined. Once determined, the calibration may be used to determine a rotator control model.

Abstract: In a text-to-speech (TTS) system, a database including sample speech units for unit selection may be configured for use by a local device. The local unit database may be created from a more comprehensive unit database. The local unit database may include units which provide sufficient TTS results for frequently input text. Speech synthesis may then be performed by concatenating locally available units with units from a remote device including the comprehensive unit database. Aspects of the speech synthesis may be performed by the remote device and/or the local device.

Abstract: A service provider can maintain one or more host computing devices that can be accessed as host computing device resources by customers. A hosting platform includes components arranged in a manner to limit modifications to software or firmware on hardware components. In some aspects, the hosting platform may include a master latch that indicates whether the components may be configured, and the master latch may be set once and only reset upon completion of a power cycle. In another aspect, the hosting platform can implement management functions for establishing control plane functions between the host computing device and the service provider that is independent of the customer. Additionally, the management functions can also be utilized to present different hardware or software attributes of the host computing device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented matching service matches users to other users, and/or to user communities, based at least in part on a computer analysis of event data reflective of user behaviors. The event data may, for example, evidence user affinities for particular items represented in an electronic catalog, such as book titles, music titles, movie titles, and/or other types of items that tend to reflect the traits of users. Event data reflective of other types of user actions, such as item-detail-page viewing events, browse node visits, search query submissions, and/or web browsing patterns may additionally or alternatively be considered. By taking such event data into consideration, the matching service reduces the burden on users to explicitly supply personal profile information, and reduces poor results caused by exaggerations and other inaccuracies in such profile information.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of systems and methods for receiving shipment parcels at, for example, materials handling facilities. In some embodiments, a parcel monitoring system detects an exception for a shipment parcel. The parcel monitoring system identifies a vendor associated with the shipment parcel. In response to the exception being detected, the parcel monitoring system controls a conveyor system in accordance with an action specified by an exception handling rule for the vendor.

Abstract: A computing device generates a group of user devices. The computing device receives data associated with a media item from a first user device in the group. Responsive to determining that the first user device has data sharing privileges, the computing device transmits the data to one or more other user devices in the group.

Abstract: Keyword spotting may be improved by using a competitor model. In some embodiments, audio data is received by a device. At least a portion of the audio data may be compared with a keyword model to obtain a first score. The keyword model may model a keyword. The portion of the audio data may also be compared with a competitor model to obtain a second score. The competitor model may model a competitor word, which may be a word that is similar to the keyword. The device may compare the first score and the second score to determine if a keyword is spoken.

Abstract: An orientation associated with an electronic device may be identified. The orientation may correspond to a first orientation or a second orientation, which may each correspond to any orientation within respective ranges of orientations. The device may include an adjustment element for adjusting an operational parameter associated with the device. If the identified orientation corresponds to the first orientation, a first adjustment of the operational parameter may be associated with actuation of a first portion of the adjustment element and a second adjustment of the operational parameter may be associated with actuation of a second portion of the adjustment element. If the identified orientation corresponds to the second orientation, the second adjustment of the operational parameter may be associated with actuation of the first portion and the first adjustment of the operational parameter may be associated with actuation of the second portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing requesting routing functionality associated with resource requests for one or more resources associated with a content provider are provided. A content delivery network (“CDN”) service provider, on behalf of a content provider, can process domain name service (“DNS”) requests for resources by computing devices and resolve the DNS requests by the identification of a network address of a computing device that will provide the requested resources. Based on the processing of DNS queries initiated by a client computing device, the CDN service provider can measure CDN service provider latencies associated with the generation of DNS requests by network components associated with the client computing devices. Examples of the network components can include DNS resolvers associated with the client computing device.

Abstract: Single-touch immersion control of head-mounted display (HMD) systems is described. One method outputs video from an electronic device to a HMD system that includes a display layer and a variable-transparency layer. The electronic device controls the variable-transparency layer to operate in a first state in which the variable-transparency layer is transparent and to operate in a second state in which the variable-transparency layer is opaque. The electronic device switches between the second state and the first state in response to a single-touch event detected by the electronic device.

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: Techniques are described for enabling or suspending access to one or more datastores based on a determined quality of the stored data. The datastores may use relational or non-relational formats. User-specified rules may be applied to statistically determine the data quality of at least a portion of the data in the datastore. The rules may perform statistical tests on the data, such as determining whether an amount of stored data is within a margin of a historical average, whether a number of records storing particular data is within a historical average, and so forth. Based on the rules, a flag may be set to indicate the determined data quality. Access to the data may be based on the value of the flag.

Abstract: Approaches enable the projection of one or more visual elements, such as one or more dynamically changing graphical elements, that can substantially bound, or otherwise at least partially surround or identify, an object recognized by a computing device. The computing device can project the graphical elements to collectively appear as a bounding element for the recognized/actionable object or object portion. As such, the graphical elements can appear as a bounding element that adorns, decorates, highlights, and/or emphasizes, etc., the recognized/actionable object or object portion. The graphical elements to be dynamic. For example, the graphical elements can be projected to move around individually over time, while still appearing to at least partially surround the recognized/actionable object or object portion. Further, the graphical elements can be used to improve various object recognition approaches.