Abstract: A system of one or more computing devices includes a user interface presented to a developer. A data store stores information identifying multiple functions, each corresponding to external functionality available from third party applications. The developer selects at least one of the functions to supplement functionality of a first application. A code generation module provides a software object for incorporation into the first application. The software object includes instructions for transmitting a query wrapper to a search system. The query wrapper includes a predefined text string corresponding to one of the functions selected by the developer. The software object includes instructions for receiving and displaying a result set including multiple items, each including a name and corresponding access mechanism of an application. The software object includes instructions for, in response to user selection of a first item, actuating the access mechanism to download or open the corresponding application.

Abstract: A method for executing searches using a multi-function search button is disclosed. In some implementations the method includes receiving a search query in a search box via a user interface and receiving a first selection of the search button via the user interface. The method includes generating a first query wrapper containing the search query and first search indicia indicating a first search function, and transmitting the first query wrapper to a search system. The method further includes receiving and displaying first search results. The method further includes receiving a second selection of the search button and generating a second query wrapper in response to the second selection. The second query wrapper contains the search query and second search indicia indicating a second search function. The method includes transmitting the second query wrapper to the search system, receiving second search results, and displaying the second search results.

Abstract: A system includes a user interface allowing a developer to select a function to supplement functionality of an application under development. A data store holds identifiers for functions representing external functionality available from third party applications. A code generation module provides a software object to the developer for incorporation into a state of the application. The state includes a user interface element associated with an entity. When the state is instantiated, an action query is transmitted to a search system with the unique identifier of the selected function and information about the entity. The user interface element is selectively visually adapted in response to the search system response. In response to user selection of the user interface element, a search result, the search system is displayed, including (i) an identifier of a target application and (ii) an access mechanism for a specified state of the target application, is displayed.

Abstract: A method of performing a search includes receiving, at a computing device, search results transmitted from a search system in communication with the computing device. The search results include a header for an application executable on the computing device and application access mechanisms associated with the header. Each application access mechanism has a reference to the application and indicates one or more performable operations for the application. The method includes displaying, on a display in communication with the computing device, a graphical user interface including the header, an expansion element associated with the header, and user selectable access links grouped with the header. Each access link is associated with an application access mechanism for the application. The expansion element has an expanded state and a collapsed state.

Abstract: A mobile computing device includes a computing processor that displays an indication in association with a native application icon to indicate that an advertised state of the native application can be accessed by pressing and holding the icon. The mobile computing device receives a user selection includes a press-and-hold of the native application icon. In response to the user selection, the mobile computing device displays a preview of the advertisement state adjacent to the icon. An application launcher is configured to launch the native application into the advertised state upon receiving a user selection that includes a press of the advertisement preview. The computing processor launches the native application into the advertised state via an access mechanism associated with the advertised state upon receiving a user selection of the advertisement preview.

Abstract: A method includes receiving review data of objects and generating user profiles. Each user profile is associated with a user and includes review records. Each review record is associated with review data for an object. The method includes associating an entity with each review record and determining a mapping between the objects, the user profiles, and the entities. Each object is mapped to at least one entity, and each entity is mapped to at least one user profile based on the review records of the at least one user profile and whether any of the review records is associated with the corresponding entity. The method includes identifying for each entity, users having user profiles mapped to the entity and having a threshold number of review records associated with the corresponding entity as expert users. The method includes receiving a search query from a user device and sending search results.

Abstract: A wheel-based user interface provides navigation between categories and subcategories of applications. A first browse wheel contains a plurality of category regions, each corresponding to an application category. In response to a user selection of an application category received at the first browse wheel, a second browse wheel is displayed. The second browse wheel contains a plurality of subcategory regions, each corresponding to an application subcategory within the selected application category. In response to a user selection of an application subcategory received at the second browse wheel, an application search query is generated using the selected category and subcategory.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a search query from a user device and identifying function records using the search query. Each function record includes an application access mechanism (AAM) and application state information (ASI). The AAM includes a reference to a native application and indicates one or more operations for the application to perform. The ASI describes a state of the application after the application has performed the operations. Identifying the function records may be based on matches between terms of the search query and terms of the ASI included in the function records. The techniques further include selecting AAMs from the identified function records and identifying one or more AAMs of the selected AAMs that are compatible with the user device. The techniques also include transmitting the identified AAMs to the user device and refraining from transmitting any of the selected AAMs that are not compatible with the user device.

Abstract: A method of operating a user device includes, in response to a set of app icons being displayed, monitoring for user interaction with one of the app icons. In response to detecting user interaction with a first app icon corresponding to a first app, the method determines whether the detected user interaction satisfies first criteria or second criteria. In response to determining that the detected user interaction satisfies the first criteria, the method displays an action list corresponding to the first app. The action list includes a set of action items for user selection. A first item corresponds to a specific state of the first app. In response to the user selecting the first item, the method opens the first app to the specific state. In response to determining that the detected user interaction satisfies the second criteria, the method performs a default action for the first app.

Abstract: A server includes a template data store that stores card templates for application cards and a processing device configured to: receive a card request having information that indicates an application and a particular state of the application; identify the application and the particular state of the application indicated in the request; query the template data store for card templates that correspond with the application and the particular state of the application indicated in the request; in response to the query, receive a card template that corresponds with the particular state of the application indicated in the request; determine a color scheme associated with the application indicated in the request; apply the color scheme associated with the application to the card template; generate a data container that represents a card object, the card object including information regarding the card template; and transmit the card object via the network communication device.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at data processing hardware, usage data of a user interacting with a collection of applications associated with the user. The method includes receiving an indication of a first user selection of a first application of the collection of applications on a screen in communication with the data processing hardware, and identifying one or more applications of the collection of applications as one or more recommended applications satisfying criteria for a second user selection subsequent and sequential to the first user selection on the screen. The method also includes displaying on the screen a user selectable link for each recommended application. Each user selectable link is associated with an application access mechanism that has a reference to the corresponding recommended application and that indicates a performable operation for the corresponding recommended application.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a search query containing one or more query terms from a remote device and identifying an entity in the search query. The entity is a known entity name of a known entity type. The method also includes determining a set of alternate search queries based on the identified entity. The alternate search queries are configured to identify states of software applications that correspond to entities that are substitutes for the identified entity. The method also includes identifying a consideration set of application state records stored in an application state data store based on the alternate set of search queries. Each application state record defines a state of a respective software application that is at least relevant to one or more of the alternate search queries. The method also includes generating search results based on the consideration set and transmitting the search results to the remote device.

Abstract: A device that displays signed application cards. The device receives a card object that includes: an application function identifier that identifies an application function of a native application, a digital signature, and a certificate that comprises a public key. The device verifies the authenticity of the digital signature with the public key in the certificate. The device determines that the certificate is signed by a developer of the native application referenced by the card object. The device renders an application card on the display based on the information included in the card object. The application card includes a text string, an image, an audio, and/or an image. The device overlays an indicator onto the application card. The indicator indicates that the authenticity of the digital signature has been verified. The indicator also indicates that the developer of the native application authorized the rendering of the application card.

Abstract: A system stores information identifying functions and corresponding unique identifiers. Each of the functions corresponds to external functionality available from third party applications. An application developer selects one of the functions to supplement functionality of their application. The system provides a software object to the application developer. The software object includes instructions for, in response to user selection of a user interface element, preparing a query wrapper including the corresponding unique identifier of the function and an identifier of a corresponding entity. The instructions transmit the query wrapper to a search system and receive a result set from the search system. An item in the result set includes an access mechanism for a specified state of a target application. The instructions display the result set and, in response to user selection of the item, actuate the access mechanism to open the target application to the specified state.

Abstract: A device that displays signed application cards. The device receives a card object that includes: an application function identifier that identifies an application function of a native application, a digital signature, and a certificate that comprises a public key. The device verifies the authenticity of the digital signature with the public key in the certificate. The device determines that the certificate is signed by a developer of the native application referenced by the card object. The device renders an application card on the display based on the information included in the card object. The application card includes a text string, an image, an audio, and/or an image. The device overlays an indicator onto the application card. The indicator indicates that the authenticity of the digital signature has been verified. The indicator also indicates that the developer of the native application authorized the rendering of the application card.

Abstract: A method includes receiving cards at data processing hardware. Each card represents a collection of application access mechanisms, each application access mechanism having reference to a corresponding application executable on the data processing hardware and indicating a performable operation for the corresponding application. The collection of application access mechanisms has one or more similar application access mechanism attributes. The method also includes displaying a graphical user interface on a display in communication with the data processing hardware, the graphical user interface including card user selectable links. Each card user selectable link is associated with a card and a card access mechanism having a reference to the collection of application access mechanisms represented by the card. The method further includes receiving a user input through the graphical user interface.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at data processing hardware, a notification corresponding to an application and associated with a user. The method includes determining, by the data processing hardware, notification data associated with the notification. The notification data includes one or more of sender data, receiver data, subject data, and message data. The method also includes identifying, by the data processing hardware, one or more applications of a collection of applications associated with the user as one or more recommended applications satisfying criteria for a user selection based on the notification data. In addition, the method includes displaying, on a screen in communication with the data processing hardware, a user selectable link for each recommended application. Each user selectable link is associated with an application access mechanism that has a reference to the corresponding recommended application and that indicates a performable operation for the corresponding recommended application.

Abstract: A user device may include a touchscreen, a storage device, and a processing device. The storage device stores native applications and their corresponding icon data. The icon data includes an icon, a location of the icon on a launch screen, a flag indicating whether the icon is hidden or visible, and an unlocking instruction. The processing device may display the launch screen via the touchscreen whereby the launch screen displaying one or more icons. The processing device monitors the touchscreen and receives user input at an unpopulated screen location occupied by a hidden icon. The processing devices receives a user instruction at the unpopulated screen location, verifies the user instruction with the unlocking instruction associated with the icon. When the user instruction is verified, the processing device can display the hidden icon or may launch the native application corresponding to the hidden icon.

Abstract: A mobile computing device includes a touchscreen, a transceiver, one or more processors, and a non-transitory memory that stores computer readable instructions. The instructions cause the processors to receive, via the transceiver, a link associated with an uninstalled native application. The instructions display an indication of the link on the touchscreen. The instructions detect, via the touchscreen, a user selection of the link and provide access to a digital distribution platform for downloading and installing the native application. The instructions download and install the native application onto the mobile computing device. The instructions, upon downloading and installing the native application, automatically launch the native application into the particular state indicated by the link, wherein the particular state is different from a default state into which the native application launches when an icon corresponding to the native application is selected.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for maintaining a search index used to support application searches. The techniques include receiving application data from one or more data sources, identifying an application referenced in the application data. The techniques further include extracting a plurality of attributes corresponding to the application from the application data based on an application specific search schema. The techniques also include generating an application representation of the application based on the plurality of attributes and the application specific search schema. The techniques also include updating a search index with the application representation.