Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for generating a multi-dimensional social network identifier are provided herein. A method includes capturing one or more items of web information pertaining to past activity associated with a given individual; determining one or more user metrics associated with the given individual based on the one or more items of web information; quantifying a measure of similarity of the one or more user metrics associated with the given individual and the one or more user metrics associated with one or more additional individuals; and generating an identifier for the given individual based on the measure of similarity, and wherein said identifier differs from identification information attributable to the given individual on a social network.

Abstract: A method can include receiving, at a first computing device having one or more processors, a command to transfer a data payload to a second computing device and information from the second computing device using a near-field communication (NFC) protocol. The information can be indicative of a plurality of communication protocols capable of being received at the second computing device, including the NFC communication protocol. Additionally, the method can include estimating a transfer time corresponding to each of the plurality of communication protocols. Each of the transfer times can be indicative of an amount of time to transfer the data payload between the first and second computing devices using its corresponding communication protocol. The method can also include selecting a specific communication protocol based on the estimated transfer times and transmitting the data payload using the specific communication protocol.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a multi-terminal synchronous play control method and apparatus. The method includes: receiving, by a virtual server, a play instruction issued by a user, where the play instruction is an instruction for playing a media file; and sending, by the virtual server, control information respectively to player terminals entering a virtual studio, where the control information is used to control the player terminals to play the media file synchronously on corresponding channels at corresponding play time. With the multi-terminal synchronous play control method and apparatus, multiple player terminals can play the same media file synchronously, and different player terminals can play different channels of the same media file synchronously, which achieves a good play effect and improves the play experience of the user.

Abstract: An instant message communication device that includes a database, a data transmission module, a processing module, and a memory is provided. When commands stored in the memory are performed by the processing module, the following operations are performed. User information that includes a user account is received through the data transmission module. An instant message software robot is driven to add the user account into a robot contact list of a robot account. An account pair relation corresponding to the user account and the robot account is stored in the database. A request is transmitted to a user device having the user account through the data transmission module. The robot account is determined being added to a user contact list. The instant message software robot is controlled to perform an instant message communication with the user device through the data transmission device according to the account pair relation.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a method and system for enabling access to a storage device. Specifically, a node may request admittance to a cluster that has read and write access to a storage device. The node seeking access to the storage device must be first be approved by other nodes in the cluster. As part of the request, the node seeking access to the storage device sends a registration key to a storage device. Upon expiration of a registration timer, the node seeking access to the storage device receives a registration table from the storage device and determines whether its registration key is stored in the registration table. If the registration key is stored in the registration table the node has been accepted in the cluster and as a result, has been granted read and write access to the storage device.

Abstract: A network management application executing on a first computing system may discover a first interface on a network device and establish a connection with the network device over the first interface. In response, an identification (ID) value is generated and sent, over the connection established with the network device over the first interface, in a message that includes the ID value. The message sent to the network device over the first interface provokes the device to send a response message to the network management application over a second interface. The second interface may generally correspond to a preferred management interface of the network device.

Abstract: A control device including: an input unit which accepts input of a reproduction mode; a content reproduction device determination unit which determines whether content is to be reproduced by a content reproduction device or by the control device, in accordance with the reproduction mode; and a display unit which displays reproduced content, wherein the content reproduction device determination unit transmits a content reproduction instruction to the content reproduction device if the content reproduction device determination unit determines that the content is to be reproduced by the content reproduction device, and the content reproduction device determination unit causes the display unit to display the content acquired from a server if the content reproduction device determination unit determines that the content is to be reproduced by the control device.