Abstract: Techniques introduced here enable cloud-based file prefetching for gaming applications running on electronic devices. The electronic devices store certain gaming data files on a remote storage server and preload some of the files locally to include file access efficiency. Gaming data file access patterns on the electronic devices are analyzed, individually and collectively, using a cloud service to detect global access patterns and help determine which gaming data files to preload on each of the electronic devices.

Abstract: Techniques introduced here enable cloud-based file prefetching for gaming applications running on electronic devices. The electronic devices store certain gaming data files on a remote storage server and preload some of the files locally to include file access efficiency. Gaming data file access patterns on the electronic devices are analyzed, individually and collectively, using a cloud service to detect global access patterns and help determine which gaming data files to preload on each of the electronic devices.

Abstract: A technique and apparatus for backing up and restoring game application state across multiple devices are disclosed herein. The method includes running an instance of a game application at a first device. Based on any of various criteria, such as the proximity between the first device and a second device or a priority of synchronization, a computer makes a determination to synchronize the application state between the two devices. The computer causes the application state data, which represents an application state of the game application running on the first device, to be saved and made available to the second device, such as by saving the application state data to cloud storage. The second device receives the application state data and restores the game application state.

Abstract: A technique and apparatus for backing up and restoring game application state across multiple devices are disclosed herein. The method includes running an instance of a game application at a first device. Based on any of various criteria, such as the proximity between the first device and a second device, a computer makes a determination to synchronize the application state between the two devices. The computer causes the application state data, which represents an application state of the game application running on the first device, to be saved and made available to the second device, such as by saving the application state data to cloud storage. The second device receives the application state data and restores the game application state.

Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed for enabling multiple computing devices having a decentralized operating system to effectively monitor and manage resources across the multiple devices. In some embodiments, the systems are able to identify a set of local resources available for utilization by an application running on the decentralized operating system. A resource message identifying the set of local resources can be generated using a resource discovery and utilization application programming interface. This information can then be sent to a requestor (e.g., an application running on the decentralized operating system) which can create a resource utilization plan.

Abstract: Various embodiments generally relate to decentralized operating systems spanning multiple devices. More specifically, some embodiments relate to continuous and concurrent device experiences across the multiple devices. For example, a user may be streaming a movie through a service provided via a smart television. When the user's phone detects an incoming video call, the television can recognize that a video call is coming in and ask the user if the user wants to answer the call. If the user responds in the affirmative, the television can pause the streaming video from the service provide allowing the user to answer their phone. In some cases, the television can be used as the display screen to display the video call while the local phone resources (e.g., video camera) can be used as the recording device.

Abstract: At least one embodiment of this disclosure includes a method of sharing application states across different user profiles. The method can include: receiving a request from a first computing device associated with a first user profile to load an application state of a target application, wherein the application state is owned by a second user profile; verifying permission for the first user profile to load the application state owned by the second user profile; configuring a sharing instance of the application state of the target application by accessing application data of the application state associated with the second user profile in a storage service; and sending the sharing instance to be loaded onto the first computing device.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed for providing configurable synchronization mechanisms for automatic synchronization of application states across multiple devices using cloud storage. In accordance with the techniques introduced here, a method includes steps of receiving a request for supplemental application synchronization information associated with a first application on a first remote computing device. In response the request for the supplemental application synchronization information, application-specific configuration information is determined for synchronizing a state of the first application to a cloud-based storage service. The supplemental application synchronization information including the application-specific configuration information is then provided to the first remote computing device for facilitating synchronization of the state of the first application to the cloud-based storage service.

Abstract: Technology disclosed herein includes a method for system restoration between computing devices by a tapping mechanism. A first device detects (e.g., via NFC) a second device in proximity. The first device transmits a user credential of the first device to the second device. Either directly or via a cloud storage service, the first device instructs the second device to download a copy of system data of the first device from the cloud storage service, instead of from the first device. The second device is able to restore a system state of the first device on the second device, using the user credential and the system data.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed for utilizing version vector data of computing devices to optimize performance of the computing devices and/or other computer systems that provide various services to the computing devices (“the technology”). One embodiment includes analyzing version vectors of the computing devices to determining a user's usage pattern, such as the type of computing device used, the computer applications used on the computing device, and the time of day of usage. This information about usage pattern and other information that can be determined using the version vectors can enable system optimizations on both individual user level and a group of users level. For example, on the individual user level, knowing user's usage pattern may enable automatic file synchronization between multiple devices without user intervention. On the group level, a service provider may allocate resources (servers, bandwidth, etc.) to accommodate the group's usage pattern.

Abstract: At least one embodiment of this disclosure includes a method of sharing application states across different user profiles. The method can include: receiving a request from a first computing device associated with a first user profile to load an application state of a game application, wherein the application state is owned by a second user profile; verifying permission for the first user profile to load the application state owned by the second user profile; configuring a sharing instance of the application state of the game application by accessing gameplay state data of the application state associated with the second user profile in a storage service; and sending the sharing instance to be loaded onto the first computing device.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed for backing up and retrieving data in a distributed backup system (“the technology”). Files of a user can be stored across multiple computing devices (“the devices”) of the user, e.g., mobile devices, and/or at a server, e.g., a cloud storage server, in the distributed backup system. The user can define various policies for storing different files at different devices. For example, the user may define a policy for storing video files on a device that has a bigger display. The devices can be used as an edge cache of the distributed backup system in serving files to the user. Upon receiving a request for retrieving a file, the technology determines if any of the user devices that are in proximity to the requesting device has the file. If yes, the file is transmitted to the user from the proximate device instead of from the server.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed for sharing an authentication profile of a user between a group of user devices for accessing an access restricted computing environment (“the technology”). The access restricted computing environment can require the user to input authentication information, such as a username, password, or answers to challenge questions, to authenticate the user. For example, to access a wireless network on a first user device, a user may have to input a password for the wireless network. To access the same wireless network on a second user device, the user may have to input the password again on the second user device. The technology facilitates the user to obtain the authentication information required to access the wireless network from another user device, e.g., a device from which the user has accessed the wireless network previously. This can eliminate the need for the user to manually input the authentication information repeatedly.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed for sharing an authentication profile for accessing a Wi-Fi network between multiple devices. To access a particular Wi-Fi network on a first device and a second device, authentication information, e.g., a password for the Wi-Fi network, may have to be input on both the devices. In some embodiments, the technology facilitates obtaining an approval for accessing the Wi-Fi network on the second device from the first device. Upon receiving a request from a user of the second device to access the Wi-Fi network on the second device, the second device requests if any of the devices, e.g., devices in proximity, can approve the access request. A notification is displayed on the first device regarding the access request. The user associated with first device can then approve the access request, which causes authentication information for accessing the Wi-Fi network to be transmitted to the second device.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed for performing a priority synchronization of a computing device to download a selected set of data files to the computing device from a distributed backup system. Data files are downloaded to a computing device by synchronizing the computing device with a server of the distributed backup system. A priority sync downloads a subset of the data files (“priority files”) rather than all of the data files of the user, thereby minimizing the computing resources consumed to download the data files. The priority sync can select the priority files based on various criteria, including an access pattern of the data files, attributes of the data files, or attributes of the computing device. The priority sync can also download the data files not identified as priority files (“non-priority files”). While the priority files are downloaded in their original format, the non-priority files are downloaded in a downgraded format.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed for enabling multiple computing devices used by a user to interoperate with one another. The technology enables the user to install a given application on a distributed operating system (“DCOS”) managing the multiple computing devices as a single entity. The user can then use the given application through any of the computing devices when executing the given application through the DCOS.

Abstract: At least one embodiment of this disclosure includes a method of resource balancing execution of a location-based application involving multiple devices. The method can include: identifying an application executing on an operating system of a first computing device; identifying a resource type to facilitate the executing of the location-based application; identifying computing devices each having at least an available resource instance of the identified resource type, wherein the computing devices are reachable by a communication protocol of the first computing device; and selecting a target computing device to offer up a target resource instance of the resource type to the location-based application based at least partly on a comparable limitation of each available resource instance of the computing devices.

Abstract: Technology for a method for backing up and restoring game application state across multiple devices is disclosed herein. The method includes running an instance of a game application, by a distributed system, at a first electronic device, determining a backup event that occurs in the first electronic device, wherein the backup event suggests a backup of application state data and the application state data represent an application state of the game application at the backup event, and transmitting the application state data of the game application to a remote storage service, in response to the backup event. A second electronic device can retrieve the application state data from the remote storage service and restore the game application state.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed for using computing devices (“the devices”) of a user as an edge cache of a distributed backup system to stream video files. In the distributed backup system, the user can store different data files of the user at different devices of the user and/or at a server. For example, the user may store video files at one of the devices of the user (“a first device”) in addition to storing at the server. When the user requests to stream a particular video file to a particular device, the technology streams the video file to the particular device either from the server or from the first device. If the first device is in proximity to the particular device, the video file is streamed from the first device instead of from the server, thereby minimizing the latency involved in streaming the video file from the server.