Abstract: Embodiments provide a system and method of using a universal tagged communication for social networks. A user could insert a contact from multiple social networking sources. As the communication is transmitted, the actual text sent to each social networking service changes depending on how that service supports this tagging. A tagging component may generate new tagging formats for each associated social network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying data synchronization of an application responsive to the frequency of application usage are disclosed. Data describing a frequency with which the application is used is captured by a portable computing device. For example, data describing timestamps when the application receives input or data describing a timestamp when the application was the primary application being executed are captured. It is determined whether the frequency of interaction with which the application is used equals or exceeds a threshold value. For example, the portable computing device determines whether the application has received an input or was the primary application within a predetermined time interval from the current time. Responsive to determining the frequency of interaction with the application does not equal or exceed the threshold value, data synchronization for the application is disabled. In one embodiment, the portable computing device stops data synchronization for the application.

Abstract: An automation server interfaces with broadcast scheduling systems of various types to automatically synchronize the behavior of interactive applications relative to various broadcast programs, such as television shows and commercials, so as to maintain the appropriate interactive application for whatever broadcast program is airing. This allows for television shows which have an associated interactive application, but which are segmented by commercials (which may have their own interactive applications) to have their interactive application displayed while the television show in on, but not during commercials, while maintaining any state information that has been created during execution of the interactive application. The automation server includes multiple channel interfaces, each having a translator and an event manager. The translator translates native control signals from the scheduling system into a fixed set of atomic commands which represent the lifecycle behavior of a broadcast program.

Abstract: An automation server interfaces with broadcast scheduling systems of various types to automatically synchronize the behavior of interactive applications relative to various broadcast programs, such as television shows and commercials, so as to maintain the appropriate interactive application for whatever broadcast program is airing. This allows for television shows which have an associated interactive application, but which are segmented by commercials (which may have their own interactive applications) to have their interactive application displayed while the television show in on, but not during commercials, while maintaining any state information that has been created during execution of the interactive application. The automation server includes multiple channel interfaces, each having a translator and an event manager. The translator translates native control signals from the scheduling system into a fixed set of atomic commands which represent the lifecycle behavior of a broadcast program.

Abstract: An automation server interfaces with broadcast scheduling systems of various types to automatically synchronize the behavior of interactive applications relative to various broadcast programs, such as television shows and commercials, so as to maintain the appropriate interactive application for whatever broadcast program is airing. This allows for television shows which have an associated interactive application, but which are segmented by commercials (which may have their own interactive applications) to have their interactive application displayed while the television show in on, but not during commercials, while maintaining any state information that has been created during execution of the interactive application. The automation server includes multiple channel interfaces, each having a translator and an event manager. The translator translates native control signals from the scheduling system into a fixed set of atomic commands which represent the lifecycle behavior of a broadcast program.