Abstract: Asynchronous voice messaging is employed to enable individuals to send voice clips back and forth over a network. In at least some embodiments, the voice clips reside in the form of discrete, manageable objects that can be easily managed by the user. In addition, some embodiments described provide hand-free/eyes-free functionality that can permit a user to create and send (or receive and play) a voice message without having to physically enter an intended recipient's address or otherwise digitally manipulate the device over which the message is sent or received.

Abstract: Various embodiments can utilize a distributed solution for scheduling connections between peers in a file sharing environment. In accordance with at least some embodiments, individual nodes in a peer-to-peer system include scheduling software that enables the nodes to make scheduling decisions with regard to how, when and where connections are made with other peers. Scheduling decisions can be based on a number of different parameters. In at least some embodiments, a synchronization negotiation manager is embodied with logic that drives the negotiation and scheduling process. This logic is represented by an innovative state machine that is designed to implement the negotiation and synchronization process.

Abstract: Various embodiments can utilize a distributed solution for scheduling connections between peers in a file sharing environment. In accordance with at least some embodiments, individual nodes in a peer-to-peer system include scheduling software that enables the nodes to make scheduling decisions with regard to how, when and where connections are made with other peers. Scheduling decisions can be based on a number of different parameters. In at least some embodiments, a synchronization negotiation manager is embodied with logic that drives the negotiation and scheduling process. This logic is represented by an innovative state machine that is designed to implement the negotiation and synchronization process.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide integrated solutions for detecting and treating undesirable activities. Detection and treatment solutions are integrated with software entities, such as applications, DLLs and the like, and provide status notifications for the user as to the status of the detection and treatment activities. In at least some embodiments, an integrated user interface is provided and gives the user the option to provide input and affect at least some of the treatment options.

Abstract: Secure application programming interfaces are provided to enable communications between one or more services and one or more processes. The secure application programming interfaces expose services to the processes based on the trust level associated with the services and the trust level of the processes. The trust level of the processes are determined by performing a hash on the processes. The services exposed to the processes have a trust level less than or equal to the trust level of the processes. Accordingly, the secure application programming interfaces are generated on the fly based on the needs of the one or more processes.

Abstract: Asynchronous voice messaging is employed to enable individuals to send voice clips back and forth over a network. In at least some embodiments, the voice clips reside in the form of discrete, manageable objects that can be easily managed by the user. In addition, some embodiments described provide hand-free/eyes-free functionality that can permit a user to create and send (or receive and play) a voice message without having to physically enter an intended recipient's address or otherwise digitally manipulate the device over which the message is sent or received.

Abstract: Multi-participant online activities are described. In one or more implementations, a protocol is described which ties an online activity (e.g., an online game) to an instant messaging infrastructure. For example, an online game may leverage the instant messaging infrastructure to form rosters of participants for participation in the online game, Once the roster is formed, the instant messaging infrastructure may further manage the presence of the participants in the online activity, such as which users join and cease participation in the online activity and notify other users of these changes. Further, the state of participation in the online activity may be stored such that the users may continue between sessions.

Abstract: A persistent object for online activities is described. In an implementation, a method is described in which a persistent object is created which references a plurality of clients for participation in an online activity over a network. The persistent object is stored to be callable by at least one of the client for initiating the online activity and causing a notification to be formed for communication over the network to each of the other clients to participate in the online activity.