Abstract: Techniques for managing data include receiving, at a data store, a persistent data object generated by a source application, the object configured to be compatible with a plurality of applications and document types. The object is associated with a unique identifier. In response to a request for the object, the object is accessed based on its unique identifier and sent to a computing device executing a destination application. The object is incorporated by and is compatible with a destination document being edited by the destination application. An update to the object is received that is generated by a user application editing a user document. In response to receiving an indication that the object has been inserted in the destination document, the update is sent by the data store to the destination computing device and is usable to update the object as incorporated in the destination document.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer storage media for providing and removing deployment packages using deployment system operations of an integrated deployment strategy in a deployment system. The integrated deployment strategy includes programmatically defined deployment operations that are associated with deployment profiles for intelligent structured and coordinated deployment of deployment packages. In operation, based on one or more scores (e.g., early adopter score, fit scores, usage propensity score) of a first set of deployment profiles for a first plurality of users, deployment operations are performed to cause execution of a deployment package for clients associated with the first plurality of users. Based on deployment data of the deployment package, the first set of deployment profiles, and a second set of deployment profiles, a second plurality of users are identified for executing the deployment package.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software are disclosed herein for presenting add-in previews. In an implementation, a service receives a request for a preview of an application add-in. The service identifies a template document in response to the request and applies the application add-in to the template document to generate an enhanced preview of the application add-in. The service replies to the request with the enhanced preview.

Abstract: The technology described herein improves data security and software functionality in an integrated application deployment. Security is improved by providing granular permission management to application resources at the application program interface (API) level. This granular control allows the primary application to provide access to only the minimal resources the secondary application needs to complete a task. The technology described herein provides a more efficient access control scheme by facilitating group management of permissions. The technology described herein also improves an application update process by eliminating the need for permissions to be reassigned every time a primary application or secondary application is updated. Finally, the technology described herein provides a centralized permission enforcement that is independent of the primary or secondary application.

Abstract: A system includes an electronic processor configured to store records in a client database. The records included personally identifiable information associated with entities and a client identifier reference associated with each of the individuals, the personally identifiable information is accessible based on an authorization level associated with a user.

Abstract: An app in an app store may be associated with a statically or dynamically generated list of the app's features, modes, content, and/or target device. Different descriptions, icons, titles, and the like may be shown in the app store for each of those features, modes, and content. Based on the mapping and display of individual options, users may be enabled to purchase just one of those modes, features, and/or content. If a user finds one of the provided options and acts to acquire it, the app may start up in a mode tailored to the options (feature, mode, content) rather than activating in a generic way. App stores may limit a number of options per app that can appear in search results, to prevent result spamming by collapsing displayed results, limiting the actual number of displayed results, or filtering by user.

Abstract: A system for protecting personally identifiable information (PII) associated with audio, image and video. The system includes an output device and a processor. The processor receives a document including an audio, an image, or a video containing both non-personally identifiable information and personally identifiable information, scans the document for a voice, a face, a graphically rendered text, or a personal attribute, match the voice, face, graphically rendered text, or personal attribute with records in a database to determine whether the voice, face, graphically rendered text, or personal attribute in the document is associated with personally identifiable information.

Abstract: The description relates to determining tiles of interest to a user. One example includes a computing device comprising a display, a user input receiving means, and a processing means. The processing means is configured to render on the display a first plurality of tiles each having a respective value of a first classification. The processing means is configured to receive from the user input receiving means a first user input indicating user interest in a first tile of the first plurality of tiles, the first tile having a first value of the first classification. The processing means is configured, in response to receiving the first user input, to render on the display a second plurality of tiles each having a respective value of a second classification and being related to the first tile by having a value of the first classification within a threshold similarity of the first value.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for the licensing of services associated with IoT devices that are under rental by users and/or that are shared between users. A comprehensive user-based licensing system connects services, users, and IoT devices with respect to licensing based on the particular context in which a device is being rented, one or more capabilities of the device being rented, availability of services for the particular device, and/or one or more characteristics of the user who is renting the device. The licensing system enables a user who is renting an IoT device to purchase one or more services associated with the device in conjunction with the rental.

Abstract: Applications and services providing customized visualizations are described. A visualization service can obtain parameters of a space. The space may be a garden. In some cases, the visualization service can obtain one or more customizing criteria. A query can be generated using the parameters and the one or more customizing criteria. The visualization service can query, based on the generated query, the data resource for a set of images having a spatial similarity with the space as defined by the parameters and satisfying the one or more customizing criteria. One or more images of the set of images can be provided for display.

Abstract: A reduced capability subset of an application referred to as a “starter application” is provided on a computer device prior to purchase and intended for use by a user purchasing the computer device. The starter application may monitor input from the user when the starter application is executing to ascertain opportunities to inform the user of an upgrade and then solicit the user for purchasing the upgrade. The starter application may use a limited access browser to contact a server to assist in the solicitation and complete the transaction. Upon completing the transaction, the upgrade is provided to the computing device. The upgrade may comprise the full capability version of the application, templates, clip art, or other software. The upgrade may entail transmitting the upgrade to the computer device or providing an authorization key to unlock the upgrade that is already stored on the computer device.

Abstract: Applications and services providing customized visualizations are described. A visualization service can obtain parameters including spatial dimensions in an image or a view or positions of objects in the image or the view; and generate a query using the parameters. The visualization service can query, based on the generated query, a data resource for a set of images satisfying a preset similarity requirement. One or more images of the set of images can be provided for display. As part of the visualization, the one or more images provided for display are overlaid onto the image or the view. In some cases, one or more customizing criteria are obtained and used when generating the query.

Abstract: A computing system includes at least one processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the computing system to receive an indication of a set of grammar commands for an application associated with the computing system, each grammar command corresponding to an executable command that is executable by the application to perform a corresponding application action, receive an indication of a first speech input, from a user, captured by a speech capture component, detect an ambiguity based on a correlation between the first speech input and the set of grammar commands, provide, to the user, an output that represents the detected ambiguity, receive, in response to the output, an indication of a second speech input that is captured by the speech capture component and resolves the ambiguity, and, based on the second speech input execute the executable command that corresponds to one of the grammar commands.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software are disclosed herein for facilitating dynamic sharing of application data among multiple isolated applications executing on one or more application platforms. In an implementation, a method of operating an application platform executing an application to consume application data generated by other applications executing on one or more application platforms is disclosed. The method includes receiving an instruction to invoke the application in a runtime environment. The instruction is generated by a data sharing and decision service platform based on one or more application data feeds provided by the other applications registered with the data sharing platform. The method further includes processing the instruction to automatically invoke the application in the runtime environment and, once the application is invoked, directing the party application to perform the action.

Abstract: Methods and systems for deploying software applications based on previous deployments. One method includes collecting first telemetry data tracking usage of a first plurality of features of a first software application by a first plurality of devices and creating a first plurality of mappings based on the first telemetry data. The method further includes, as part of deploying the first software application within an organization, collecting second telemetry data tracking usage of a second plurality of features of a second software application by a second plurality of devices of the organization, creating a second plurality of mappings based on the second telemetry data, determining a set of features to be included in a testing plan relating to the first software application based on the first plurality of mappings and the second plurality of mappings, and implementing the testing plan as part of deploying the first software application within the organization.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter includes techniques for application management including a managed application storefront module to return an access mechanism for a subset of purchasable applications to a storefront based on user information. An example system can also include a recording module to store usage information for the subset of purchasable applications accessed from the storefront. The usage information can include the user information, organization information, and an application version for each of the subset of purchasable applications accessed by the user. Another example system can include an administrative module to regulate access of the user, based on information recorded by the recording module, to a purchasable application of the subset of purchasable applications. In an example, this application management system, and its related techniques, can be used in ground up trial of applications by a large number of users, such as employees.

Abstract: Techniques for managing data include receiving, at a data store, a persistent data object generated by a source application, the object configured to be compatible with a plurality of applications and document types. The object is associated with a unique identifier. In response to a request for the object, the object is accessed based on its unique identifier and sent to a computing device executing a destination application. The object is incorporated by and is compatible with a destination document being edited by the destination application. An update to the object is received that is generated by a user application editing a user document. In response to receiving an indication that the object has been inserted in the destination document, the update is sent by the data store to the destination computing device and is usable to update the object as incorporated in the destination document.

Abstract: Techniques for rendering shared data include receiving, from a data store by a computing device, data indicative of a persistent data object. The persistent data object is associated with a class indicative of a data type for information contained in the persistent data object. The persistent data object is operable to be inserted in a file generated by an application executing on the computing device. The visualization logic associated with the class may be received by the computing device. The information in the persistent data object is rendered using the selected method of visualization, and other information in the document is rendered using native rendering capabilities of the application.

Abstract: A method of increasing utilization of a computer program product having a plurality of features usable by multiple user groups. The method comprises: accessing a database storing multiple scenarios each defining a course of action characterised by usage of a respective subset of the features; via a network interface, receiving logs of past usage of some or all of these features by a target user group; based on the received logs, identifying one or more of the features that are unused or less frequently used by the target user group, and selecting one or more of the scenarios for the target entity which make use of the one or more unused or less frequently features. An indication of the one or more selected scenarios is output via a network interface, thereby causing the target entity to follow the course of action defined in at least one of the selected scenarios.

Abstract: Methods and systems for envisioning benefits of a software upgrade. One system includes at least one electronic processor configured to detect when a user performs actions within a software application, capture data about user actions and application features, and determine through a set of rules if an updated or new feature to perform the user actions exists in an upgraded version of the application software. The electronic processor is also configured to, when a rule triggers, store user and application data and present to the user a visualization of the updated feature available in the upgraded application software. User and application data can be aggregated for a plurality of users, a plurality of application software, or both. Display of new features to a plurality of users can be user controlled or controlled by a super user based on analysis and reporting of user data accumulated over time.