Abstract: A method includes receiving user data packets from customer premises equipment (CPE) in communication with a network terminal over a communication link and enabling a network terminal-side loopback mode to establish a closed traffic test loop across the communication link between the network terminal and the CPE. The received user data packets indicate that a CPE-side loopback mode is enabled. The method also includes injecting a number of data bits into the closed traffic test loop until a saturation threshold of the communication link is satisfied, and when the number of data bits injected into the closed traffic test loop satisfies the saturation threshold, determining a packet error-rate of the number of data bits circulating in the closed traffic test loop. After determining the packet error-rate, the method also includes removing the closed traffic test loop across the communication link between the network terminal and the CPE.

Abstract: Computer-implemented techniques can include establishing, between first and second computing devices, an audio communication session via a network. The first computing device can receive and temporarily store audio packets corresponding to an audio input signal obtained by the second computing device. When the audio packets cause the buffer to fill beyond or at a rate exceeding a loss threshold indicative of a temporary loss of communication via the network, the techniques can decode the audio packets to obtain an audio output signal, determine whether the audio output signal includes speech, and when the audio output signal includes speech, remove a redundant portion of the audio output signal corresponding to a pitch period to obtain a modified audio output signal. The modified audio output signal can then be output via a speaker of the first computing device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium for implementing network connectivity using power lines are described. After a device is connected to a power line, wireless network credentials that enable the device to access to a wireless network are transmitted to the device through the power line. A request is received from the device to connect to the wireless network. The request includes the wireless network credentials transmitted to the device through the power line. The device is determined to be authorized to access the wireless network based on the one or more credentials received in the request. In response to determining that the one or more wireless network credentials received in the request from the device are valid, wireless network access is provided to the device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented technique can include detecting, by a first computing device, a set of user communications at least one of transmitted to and received by from a second computing device via a first communication mode, identifying a second communication mode that is available for communication between the first and second computing devices, and obtaining an appropriateness score for the first and second communication modes based on a contextual feature of the set of user communications, wherein the contextual feature relates an appropriateness of a particular communication mode for the set of user communications, and wherein each appropriateness score is indicative of a level of the appropriateness of a particular communication mode for the set of user communications. The technique can also include selectively outputting a suggestion to switch from the first communication mode to the second communication mode.

Abstract: A system and method for combining endorsements in related webpages, the method including receiving an indication of an endorsement at a first webpage, incrementing a primary count of the first webpage in response to receiving the indication, determining if the first page is related to one or more other webpages, identifying the one or more other webpages related to the first page, if it is determined that the first page is related to one or more other webpages, incrementing a secondary count of the first webpage and the one or more other webpages if it is determined that the first page is related to one or more other webpages in response to receiving the indication and providing the secondary count for display at the one or more of the first webpage or the one or more other webpages.

Abstract: A computer-implemented technique can include detecting an initiation of composing an electronic message by a user, obtaining contextual information for the electronic message from a source external to a text of the electronic message, obtaining a first suggestion for the text of the electronic message based on the contextual information, detecting an operating condition indicative of a user activity during which the user is likely to experience difficulty in typing, in response to detecting the operating condition, obtaining a second suggestion for the electronic message based on the contextual information, the second suggestion being more detailed than the first suggestion, and outputting one of the first and second suggestions depending on one or more other conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to allow advertisers to make ads available to publishers through an advertising system. The advertising system provides tamper proof tracking of conversion activity between publishers and advertisers. Further, advertisers can define plural different conversions to be associated with a single ad click through.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing a statement that references a particular attribute of a particular topic, in response to providing the statement, obtaining one or more query patterns that each include one or more query terms that are used in queries submitted to a search system in obtaining a value for the particular attribute of the particular topic, generalizing one or more of the query patterns, and associating the one or more generalized query patterns with one or more other topics that include the particular attribute.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying implicit question queries. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a query in unstructured form, comparing terms of the query to query templates, determining, based on the comparison, a match of the query terms to a first query template, wherein the first query template is not determined to be indicative of a question query, determining, based on the first query template, a second query template, and determining that the query is an implicit question query in response to the second query template being indicative of a question queries.

Abstract: A process generates depth maps of a scene in the field of vision of a camera. The camera has a plurality of illuminators, a lens assembly, an image sensing element, a processor, and memory. The illuminators provide illumination using all of the illuminators. The lens assembly focuses incident light on the image sensing element. The memory stores image data from the image sensing element. The processor executes programs to control operation of the camera. The process operates in a second mode, where each of a plurality of subsets of the illuminators provides illumination separately from other subsets. The process sequentially activates each of the subsets to illuminate a scene and receives reflected illumination from the scene incident on the lens assembly and focused onto the image sensing element. The process measures light intensity values at the image sensing element and stores those measured light intensity values.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided. In some embodiments, the electronic device includes an electronic device housing having a major planar face, first and second circuit boards oriented parallel to the major planar face, a third circuit board electrically connected with the first and second circuit boards, and a battery partially surrounded by the first, second, and third circuit boards. At least a portion of the third circuit board is oriented perpendicular to the major planar face between the first and second circuit boards.

Abstract: Transferring instant messaging sessions includes receiving a selection, from a user within a user interface, of at least one instant messaging session from among multiple instant messaging sessions to transfer from a first instant messaging controller on a first device to at 5 least a second instant messaging controller on a second device, where the user is signed on concurrently to the first instant messaging controller on the first device and the second instant messaging controller on the second device. At least a portion of the selected instant messaging session is transferred from the first instant messaging controller on the first device to the second instant messaging controller on the second device and the transferred portion of 10 the instant messaging session is made perceivable on the second instant messaging controller on the second device.

Abstract: In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes detecting, by a mobile computing device, a current context associated with the mobile computing device, the current context being external to the mobile computing device and indicating a current state of the mobile computing device in its surrounding environment. The method can also include identifying, based on at least a first portion of the current context, a location description for the mobile computing device, wherein the location description includes a textual description of the location; and determining, based on the identified location description and at least a second portion of the current context, whether to switch the mobile computing device from operating using a current profile to operating using a second profile, wherein the current profile and the second profile each define one or more settings of the mobile computing device.

Abstract: A method for operating a home automation system includes receiving a device modification request from a requesting user device of a requesting user to modify a configurable device property of a requested household device. The requesting user is one of one or more users associated with the household. The method further includes identifying the requested household device based on a home structure mapping the household devices to the corresponding device rooms based on a corresponding location of each household device in the residence. The method also includes determining whether the requesting user has an assigned access level granting access to the requested household device and allowing modification of the one or more configurable device properties of the requested household device. When the requesting user has been assigned an access level, the method includes permitting the modification of the at least one configurable device property of the requested household device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for interactively, graphically displaying and reporting performance information to a user of an HVAC system controlled by a self-programming network-connected thermostat. The information is made on a remote display device such as a smartphone, tablet computer or other computer, and includes a graphical daily or monthly summary each of several days or months respectively. In response to a user selection of a day, detailed performance information is graphically displayed that can include an indication of HVAC activity on a timeline, the number of hours of HVAC activity, as well as one or more symbols on a timeline indicating setpoint changes, and when a setpoint was changed due to non-occupancy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to remote storage auditing. In another embodiment, a remote storage auditing system may include a first remote storage manager configured to be a data owner, a second remote storage manager configured to be a storage donor, and a remote storage auditor. The first remote storage manager sends a data block and a signed fingerprint for the data block to the second remote storage manager. The second remote storage manager verifies that the signed fingerprint is associated with the data block and stores the data block and signed fingerprint. The second remote storage manager calculates a fingerprint for a sub-block of the data block, and sends the fingerprint for the sub-block and signed fingerprint to the remote storage auditor. The remote storage auditor audits a sub-block of the data block and verifies the fingerprint for the sub-block and signed fingerprint.

Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for receiving a voice query at a mobile computing device and generating data that represents content of the voice query. The data is provided to a server system. A textual query that has been determined by a speech recognizer at the server system to be a textual form of at least part of the data is received at the mobile computing device. The textual query is determined to include a carrier phrase of one or more words that is reserved by a first third-party application program installed on the computing device. The first third-party application is selected, from a group of one or more third-party applications, to receive all or a part of the textual query. All or a part of the textual query is provided to the selected first application program.

Abstract: A video communication apparatus is described, which includes a receiver for receiving video data from an internet telephony service over a communication channel, a display screen for playing the received video data received by the receiver, a wireless module for communication with a handset, and a processor configured to coordinate playing of the received video data on the display screen in synchronization with playing, by the handset, of audio data received by the handset from the internet telephony service. A handset is also described, which includes a receiver to receive audio data from an internet telephony service over a communication channel, an audio output to play the received audio data received by the receiver, a wireless module to communicate with a display device, and a processor.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus include computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, including a method for providing content. A linking is provided of identifiers for users or devices known to a content delivery service. Each identifier is associated with the user or device in a specific context. The linking includes first and second identifiers. A request for content is received that includes either the first or second identifier. Bidders in an exchange are identified that have expressed an interest in bidding on a content delivery opportunity associated with the user or the device. For each bidder, a relative value is determined for a respective bidder for the opportunity to present content to the user or device in association with each identifier known to the bidder. For each bidder, a real-time bid request is generated in the exchange that includes the highest value identifier for submission to a respective bidder.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining the intent of a recommendation made by a user of a mobile application where the application includes a plurality of separable components, any one or more of which the recommendation can apply to. An application in which a user recommendation control is provided for presentation to a user also includes a tag indicating how a recommendation of the application should be interpreted with respect to the components included therein. The tag can be set by the application developer and can be in the form of text (e.g., a keyword or term) or a uniform resource locator (URL). Where a tag references multiple components of an application, a recommending user can be presented with a recommendation intent query. The recommendation intent query allows a user to designate one or more components of the application to which the user's recommendation should be attributed.