Abstract: A mechanism for providing a preview of a data set. The search system finds a data set relevant to the search query. For any given data set, the search system extracts only a sample of elements from the data set. The sample of elements provided to the requestor includes elements for which there is a match on the search query, and elements that have no hit, but are proximate to an element that has a hit. The user obtains a view constructed of the sample of elements provided by the search system. The user is also provided with navigation controls that correspond to the most search-relevant portions of the view. Controls associated with those portion(s) may then be selected to thereby move the preview of the data set so that the portion or corresponding hit for that portion is in view.

Abstract: A method and system for performing gesture recognition of a vehicle occupant employing a time of flight (TOF) sensor and a computing system in a vehicle. An embodiment of the method of the invention includes the steps of receiving one or more raw frames from the TOF sensor, performing clustering to locate one or more body part clusters of the vehicle occupant, calculating the location of the tip of the hand of the vehicle occupant, determining whether the hand has performed a dynamic or a static gesture, retrieving a command corresponding to one of the determined static or dynamic gestures, and executing the command.

Abstract: Techniques and systems are described to improve computing device telemetry collection by automatic analysis and dynamic adjustment of telemetry collection rules. Certain implementations use a telemetry service to analyze telemetry messages and direct the adjusted rules at the client computing device, automatically and gradually refining telemetry collection as more relevant telemetry is received. Dynamic adjustments that can be made to the collection rules include, for example, changes to the collection frequency of telemetry messages, changes to the level of detail transmitted in the telemetry messages, and changes to the targets (e.g., applications, components, devices) from which to collect.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that generate an execution plan for a query in a relational database system. The systems and methods generate the execution plan by generating one or more initial logical representations of the query, performing an exploration process around each of the one or more initial logical representations of the query, the performing of the exploration process around a particular initial logical representation of the query comprising applying transformation rules to generate one or more additional logical representations of the query that are logically equivalent to the particular initial logical representation of the query and that are within a maximum allowable transformation distance of the particular initial logical representation of the query, generating one or more execution plans for each initial logical representation of the query and each additional logical representation of the query, and selecting an execution plan from among the generated execution plans.

Abstract: Embodiments related to efficiently constructing an augmented reality environment with global illumination effects are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method of displaying an augmented reality image via a display device. The method includes receiving image data, the image data capturing an image of a local environment of the display device, and identifying a physical feature of the local environment via the image data. The method further includes constructing an augmented reality image of a virtual structure for display over the physical feature in spatial registration with the physical feature from a viewpoint of a user, the augmented reality image comprising a plurality of modular virtual structure segments arranged in adjacent locations to form the virtual structure feature, each modular virtual structure segment comprising a pre-computed global illumination effect, and outputting the augmented reality image to the display device.

Abstract: A platform that facilities preservation of user privacy with respect to location-based applications executing on mobile computing devices is described. The platform registers triggers that are set forth by location-based applications, where a trigger specifies one or more rules and includes a location constraint. The platform causes a sensor on the mobile computing device to output location data, and the platform determines if the trigger has been satisfied by comparing the location constraint with the location data. If the trigger is satisfied, the platform transmits a callback to the application. Accordingly, the application does not receive location data from the sensor.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for efficient remote presentation session connectivity and routing. In an embodiment, the roles of a remote presentation session deployment involved in receiving a connection from a client and determining a virtual machine (VM) to serve the client's remote presentation session are consolidated on one or more servers of the deployment that host such VMs. When this consolidated role receives a connection set up communication from a client, it uses information local to it and its server to determine a VM to serve the remote presentation session. Where the deployment comprises a plurality of such servers, the consolidated role may communicate with an inter-server connection broker to determine a different server that will conduct the remote presentation session.

Abstract: A machine may be configured to determine correlations between anomalies in operational metrics and software deployments. For example, the machine, based on an anomaly pertaining to the running of the service, accesses an operational metric associated with a service running on a social networking service (SNS). The machine generates, based on a log file associated with a software deployment, a deployment time series of completion percentage values indicating levels of completion of the software deployment. The machine determines that a correlation exists between the operational metric and the deployment time series of completion percentage values, and generates a correlation strength identifier based on a determination of a strength of the correlation. The correlation strength identifier indicates a likelihood that the software deployment has caused the anomaly. The machine causes a presentation of the correlation strength identifier in a user interface of a client device.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for assisting an author in creating content for social media (e.g., blog posts, microblogs, tweets, etc.) are disclosed, wherein hints are provided to the author as a function of social media stored in a social media knowledge store. Social media is collected and stored in a social media knowledge store according to some criteria. Upon the happening of some predetermined event, for example, relevant information is retrieved from the social media knowledge store. The relevancy of information may be a function of editing context (provided by the author) and/or social media behavior, for example. The relevant information may be translated into hints that provide an author with suggestions and/or corrections, for example. This information is provided to the author through a social media environment (e.g., an authoring tool) that may be also be capable of receiving input from the author and outputting editing context.

Abstract: Techniques for enabling a search engine to automatically classify the content type of Web documents. In an exemplary embodiment, Web documents may be classified as adult or non-adult, based on whether a document contains adult content. In an aspect, Web documents are mined offline to determine the presence of “adult hubs” to which adult documents are connected. The presence of such adult hubs is a strong indicator that linking Web documents may themselves contain adult content. Computational techniques for quantifying the connection between a candidate document and adult hubs are disclosed. The techniques may be utilized in an Internet search engine platform designed to accept user search queries and deliver highly relevant results.

Abstract: Methods, computer systems, and computer-storage media are provided for connecting devices. Shared spaces may be created among one or more users and/or devices. Based on various factors including locations, histories among users, time of day, etc., spaces may be created among users such that content may be shared within the shared space. The spaces may be created using multiple technologies such that one user may connect to the space via a first identifier format while a second user may connect to the space via a second identifier format. Once created, content may be shared with one or more users of the space. Depending on privacy and/or security settings of the space, any user may invite other users to join the space. The content may be available to any participant once the space has terminated.

Abstract: A user interaction is detected which indicates that the user wishes to build and test a customized computing system. A build system is automatically generated to build models in the customized system. Test code is automatically generated and included as part of source code for the build. When a build is triggered, the build is generated and automatically tested. Build and test execution results are surfaced for user visualization.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques and systems for monitoring onboarding engagement sessions and storing onboarding information associated with completion of the tasks for the monitored onboarding engagement sessions. Using the onboarding information, an error common to a task from at least some of the onboarding engagement sessions can be determined and solutions can be identified so that they can be recommended in response to a run-time error in a current onboarding session.

Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein enable users to collect and share a primary data structure defining a centralized object. A primary data structure can be configured to define a front face of a digital card and the centralized object can represent a person, item, or location. The primary data structure can also define attributes, e.g., characteristics or properties, related to the centralized object. The techniques disclosed herein also enable users to collect and share secondary data structures that are dependent on the primary data structure. For example, a dependent object can include an item that can be utilized by a character represented by the centralized object. A single secondary data structure can be configured to define a side of the digital card, such as the back side of a digital card. A number of secondary data structures can be acquired to create a card with any number of sides.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to securing data in the cloud, securely encrypting data that is to be stored in the cloud and to securely decrypting data accessed from the cloud. In one scenario, an instantiated trust service receives information indicating that a trust server is to be instantiated. The trust service instantiates the trust server, which is configured to store key references and encrypted keys. The trust service receives the public key portion of a digital certificate for each publisher and subscriber that is to have access to various specified portions of encrypted data. A data access policy is then defined that specifies which encrypted data portions can be accessed by which subscribers.

Abstract: The creation and updating of an association index that defines a linking between a child table and a parent table in a database system, and in which each of at least some of the parent table rows have an associated expression defining rules for mapping child table rows to the associated parent table row. The association index may be constructed with one pass of the parent table by evaluating the mapping definition to identifying associated child table rows. If there are such associations for a given parent table row, the linking module may record that association in an association index. If there are changes made that potentially invalidate an association status (whether an association or lack thereof), a re-evaluation module then determines which mapping definitions for which parent rows need to be re-evaluated, and potentially for which child table rows, rather than perform the entire process again.

Abstract: A DRM technique involves packaging an advertisement using a data structure that encapsulates a number of advertising segments along with signed information, such as a table of hashes, associated with some of the advertising segments. In one scenario, the data structure and the signed information are separately protected using public key and/or digital signature cryptographic schemes. The advertisement is delivered to a user of a consumer electronic device (CED) separately from delivery of a digital license, which governs user consumption of the advertisement. The digital license includes keys used in connection with the cryptographic scheme, and references a condition to be satisfied with respect to consumption of the advertisement. As advertising segments are verified and consumed by the user/CED, information is recorded and used to determine whether the license condition was satisfied. Satisfaction of the license condition may result in access to program content or additional licenses.

Abstract: Cloud-based storage services are provided for storing and/or sharing content across multiple devices, where the content is periodically synchronized between the devices and the storage service. Conventionally, if locally stored content is deleted from a device, the delete would be propagated to the storage service causing the content to not only be deleted from the storage service but from any other devices where the content was locally stored and synchronized with the storage service. Embodiments are directed to retainment of locally deleted content at the storage service to prevent accidental or nefarious deletions of locally stored content on a device from further causing the content to be deleted universally from the storage service and/or multiple other devices. For example, the storage service may be configured to receive content stored locally on the device, detect a deletion of the content on the device, and retain the content at the storage service.

Abstract: Cloud-based storage services are provided for storing and/or sharing content across multiple devices, where the content is periodically synchronized between the devices and the storage service. Embodiments are directed to detection of bulk operations associated with content stored at a storage service to protect users both proactively and remedially from accidental and/or nefarious content alterations propagating to the storage service and/or other devices. A model may be created based on a usage pattern associated with the content, an attempted operation performed on the content may be detected, and the attempted operation may be compared to the model to determine whether the operation deviates from the usage pattern. If the attempted operation deviates from the usage pattern, a preservation policy for the content at the storage service may be modified and a notification of the attempted operation may be provided to obtain user approval.

Abstract: Variety of approaches to provide time polling are described. A calendar application initiates operations to provide meeting time polling upon processing an availability information associated with a meeting organizer and/or a meeting invitee to provide suggested timeslot(s). Selected timeslot(s) are received as a selection from the suggested timeslot(s) by the meeting organizer. The selected timeslots are transmitted to the meeting invitee for prompting the meeting invitee for a vote. Next, voted timeslots are received as a selection from the selected timeslot(s) by the meeting invite. The voted timeslot(s) are provided to the meeting organizer for prompting the meeting organizer to finalize the meeting.