Abstract: A request for a digital license associated with a software product is received from a device. The request includes a user ID of a user of the device, with the digital license having been generated in response to a request to activate the software product with a product key. A check is made as to whether a digital license bound to the user ID is available, and also whether the digital license can be returned to the device in accordance with the terms of the digital license. The digital license is returned if the digital license can be returned to the device in accordance with the terms (regardless of whether the device is a same device from which the product key was activated), and otherwise is not returned. The digital license can be removed from the device in accordance with the terms of the digital license.

Abstract: A request for a digital license associated with a software product is received from a device. The request includes a user ID of a user of the device, with the digital license having been generated in response to a request to activate the software product with a product key. A check is made as to whether a digital license bound to the user ID is available, and also whether the digital license can be returned to the device in accordance with the terms of the digital license. The digital license is returned if the digital license can be returned to the device in accordance with the terms (regardless of whether the device is a same device from which the product key was activated), and otherwise is not returned. The digital license can be removed from the device in accordance with the terms of the digital license.

Abstract: A request for a digital license associated with a software product is received from a device. The request includes a user ID of a user of the device, with the digital license having been generated in response to a request to activate the software product with a product key. A check is made as to whether a digital license bound to the user ID is available, and also whether the digital license can be returned to the device in accordance with the terms of the digital license. The digital license is returned if the digital license can be returned to the device in accordance with the terms (regardless of whether the device is a same device from which the product key was activated), and otherwise is not returned. The digital license can be removed from the device in accordance with the terms of the digital license.

Abstract: The product keys of software applications that can be utilized to identify, and activate to a higher functional state, legitimate copies of such software applications can be asymmetrically encrypted. Such encrypted product keys can be provided to potential purchasers without fear of theft of the original product keys. The encrypted product keys can be provided to an independent, trusted third-party validation authority that can decrypt such encrypted product keys and can, such as in conjunction with the software application manufacturer, verify the validity of the software applications associated with such product keys. For software applications bundled on a computing device, a tool can be executed by either the seller or potential purchaser to collect and display encrypted product keys for verification purposes. For software applications sold in an online environment, an escrow service can be utilized to keep, and provide when requested, product keys of software applications offered for sale.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide for performing language translation by obtaining a selection of a language preference for presentation of text and/or speech on an electronic device. When data is received that includes content in a language other than the preferred language, a decision whether translation is required may be reached by analyzing the context of the language or metadata associated with the language, such as. HTML tags, or language data included in a particular protocol, e.g. HTTP headers. A selection may be made of billing level, determined at least in part by the languages involved, desired accuracy, latency and volume of translation. If necessary, the data may be routed to a translation host or service before final presentation.

Abstract: The product keys of software applications that can be utilized to identify, and activate to a higher functional state, legitimate copies of such software applications can be asymmetrically encrypted. Such encrypted product keys can be provided to potential purchasers without fear of theft of the original product keys. The encrypted product keys can be provided to an independent, trusted third-party validation authority that can decrypt such encrypted product keys and can, such as in conjunction with the software application manufacturer, verify the validity of the software applications associated with such product keys. For software applications bundled on a computing device, a tool can be executed by either the seller or potential purchaser to collect and display encrypted product keys for verification purposes. For software applications sold in an online environment, an escrow service can be utilized to keep, and provide when requested, product keys of software applications offered for sale.

Abstract: A product key for a software product is obtained and an activation service is accessed by a device to activate the software product with the product key. A digital license associated with the software product is received from the activation service, and the digital license is bound to a set of user-identifying credentials of a user of the device. This application of the digital license can take various forms, such as enabling use of a software product altogether or enabling/disabling of a certain set of features. The digital license and an indication of an association of the digital license to the user ID is saved to a remote license management service, may be cached locally, and may expire and become unusable in the system. The license management service receives and saves this digital license, and can remove expired time-limited licenses.

Abstract: A party associated with a digital license is identified from a digital license bound to a user's user ID. This digital license identifies a set of rights for a software product. A determination is made as to when an additional sale associated with the software license is made, and an indication that the party is recognized in association with this sale is generated. Additionally, a license management service can determine, independent of whether the user is currently logged in to an online service with the user ID, when the digital license is to be renewed. The digital license is automatically renewed and automatically billed for (if authorized by the user), resulting in a new expiration date for the digital license. The digital license with the new expiration date is stored and subsequently sent to a device via which the user logs in to the online service with the user ID.

Abstract: A request for a digital license associated with a software product is received from a device. The request includes a user ID of a user of the device, with the digital license having been generated in response to a request to activate the software product with a product key. A check is made as to whether a digital license bound to the user ID is available, and also whether the digital license can be returned to the device in accordance with the terms of the digital license. The digital license is returned if the digital license can be returned to the device in accordance with the terms (regardless of whether the device is a same device from which the product key was activated), and otherwise is not returned. The digital license can be removed from the device in accordance with the terms of the digital license.

Abstract: A function-oriented user interface presents users with selections related to what they want to do, rather than selections related to what tool they want to use. Functions may be dragged onto elements (data objects) or elements may be dragged onto functions to initiate activity. The elements themselves may present icons representing functions that are available such as adding a voice note or addressing to another person.

Abstract: When a processing device is started, configuration information may be automatically examined to determine applications for performing a number of tasks. As a result, a user interface including selectable task-focused user interface (UI) elements may be displayed to a user. The selectable task-focused UI elements may be orb-shaped and displayed in a circular pattern at about a middle portion of a display screen. Each of the selectable task-focused UI elements may include a description of a corresponding task. When the user selects one of the selectable task-focused UI elements, a corresponding application may be executed to perform the corresponding task. In some embodiments, selectable category-focused UI elements may be displayed based on the automatically examined configuration information. Selection of one of the selectable category-focused UI elements may cause at least one selectable task-focused UI element corresponding to the selected one of the selectable category-focused UI elements to be displayed.

Abstract: In an embodiment, environmental functionality of the system software may be changed by altering guarded system data which may affect behavior of the system software. A user may provide state change information for altering a state of the system software, which may thereby alter the environmental functionality of the system software. In some implementations, the state change information may include a product key or any alternative activation/identification datum. The guarded system data may be altered based on the state change information. Upon startup or after detecting altered guarded system data, the system software may set configuration parameters, based on the altered guarded system data or a detected hardware configuration, to enable a particular environmental functionality of the system software.

Abstract: A function-oriented user interface presents users with selections related to what they want to do, rather than selections related to what tool they want to use. Functions may be dragged onto elements (data objects) or elements may be dragged onto functions to initiate activity. The elements themselves may present icons representing functions that are available such as adding a voice note or addressing to another person.

Abstract: A system and method for gathering and sharing data corresponding to a user's level of interaction capability in using an electronic device gathers data actively by presenting forms requesting user input and passively by observing the user's behavior. The data gathered may be converted to a composite profile and/or kept as a set of sub-profiles, each of the set relating to different characteristics. An application programming interface may be provided to allow user interaction capability data to be provided by other applications, or even other devices, and also to make available the composite profile or set of sub-profiles to other applications or devices. The profile or set of sub-profiles may be used to adjust the user experience appropriate to the user's interaction capability.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide for performing language translation by obtaining a selection of a language preference for presentation of text and/or speech on an electronic device. When data is received that includes content in a language other than the preferred language, a decision whether translation is required may be reached by analyzing the context of the language or metadata associated with the language, such as. HTML tags, or language data included in a particular protocol, e.g. HTTP headers. A selection may be made of billing level, determined at least in part by the languages involved, desired accuracy, latency and volume of translation. If necessary, the data may be routed to a translation host or service before final presentation.