Abstract: Techniques to automatically syndicate content over a network are described. An apparatus may comprise a client computer having a processing system with a processor and computer-readable medium. The computer readable medium may store program instructions for a syndication manager component communicatively coupled to a content producing component arranged to be executed by the processor. The syndication manager component may be operative to receive syndication content from the content producing component, and provide a syndication dialog through the content producing component to syndicate the syndication content using a content delivery platform. The syndication manager component may also syndicate the syndication content to form a syndication resource accessible from the content delivery platform over a network using a syndication referent. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Providing for summarization and analysis of audio content is described herein. By way of example, an oral conversation can be analyzed, such that points of interest within the oral conversation can be identified and file locations related to such points of interest can be marked. Points of interest can be inferred based on a level of energy, e.g., excitement, pitch, tone, pace, or the like, associated with one or more speakers. Alternatively, or in addition, speaker and/or reviewer activity can form the basis for identifying points of interest within the conversation. Moreover, a compilation of the identified points of interest and portions of the original oral conversation related thereto can be assembled. As described herein, audio content can be succinctly summarized with respect to inferred and/or indicated points of interest, to facilitate an efficient and pertinent review of such content.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus are provided for exposing and utilizing workbook ranges as server data sources. The system includes a client computer capable of executing a spreadsheet application program for creating a workbook including a range that includes data objects. The workbook may be published to a server computer where the specified data objects are exposed as server data sources. The server computer allows client applications to discover and connect to the data objects contained within the workbook as server data sources.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies for providing improved input and output capabilities for computing devices are provided herein. An output manager is provided that can determine an appropriate layout for a user interface at a display area based on size and shape parameters associated with the display area. The output manager can additionally sense alterations to the display area and dynamically adjust a determined layout based on the sensed alterations. Further, the output manager can facilitate the connection of an associated device to one or more external display devices to facilitate the combined use of the external display devices and resident display areas at the associated device. An input manager is additionally provided that can obtain input from a target user by sensing patterns associated with the target user and select an appropriate input based on the sensed patterns.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products verify compatibility between a document to be published for access via a server and capabilities of the server to support features of the document. A method involves receiving a document, scanning the document for features, comparing the features to the capabilities of the server, and determining whether the capabilities of the server support the features of the document. The method also involves generating an incompatibility notice for a feature of the document when the feature is not supported by the capabilities of the server.

Abstract: Providing for generation of a task oriented data structure that can correlate natural language descriptions of computer related tasks to application level commands and functions is described herein. By way of example, a system can include an activity translation component that can receive a natural language description of an application level task. Furthermore, the system can include a language modeling component that can generate the data structure based on an association between the description of the task and at least one application level command utilized in executing the computer related task. Once generated, the data structure can be utilized to automate computer related tasks by input of a human centric description of those tasks. According to further embodiments, machine learning can be employed to train classifiers and heuristic models to optimize task/description relationships and/or tailor such relationships to the needs of particular users.

Abstract: Multiple pieces of information can be arranged into a single construct that allows the employee to ascertain information quickly while at her workstation. Selection of information for placement into the construct can employ various statistical models and the like. Selective pieces of information can be masked for a user's construct based upon access rights of the user. Constructs can be configured by a user based on personal preferences as well as by an administrator. Population of metadata upon the construct can be performed automatically through an instruction of the administrator or be overridden by a user request. In addition, various types of synchronization can be implemented between constructs, such that identical or near-identical information is populated upon multiple constructs.

Abstract: Computer applications commonly have various services that improve application functionality for a user. Different services can be applied to other sources, such as other applications, and users can perform functionality upon the other sources. This not only provides a user with greater options in using a source, but can also provide a user with a more familiar context when using the source.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus are provided for exposing and calling workbook models via remote function calls. According to the system, a client computer executes a spreadsheet program for creating a workbook model. The workbook model may be published to a server computer along with data defining a function name and the cells that should be used as inputs and outputs to the model. The system also includes a server computer that receives and responds to remote function calls directed toward workbook functions. When a function call is received at the server computer for a workbook function, the server computer populates the cells in the workbook identified as inputs with input parameters received with the function call and recalculates the workbook. The data contained in the output cells is then returned as a reply to the remote function call.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for providing spreadsheet-driven key performance indicators are disclosed. According to the method, a spreadsheet-driven key performance indicator is created that includes a location of a spreadsheet, a location of a cell within the spreadsheet to be utilized as an indicator value, and a goal value. The key performance indicator may be evaluated by retrieving the indicator value from cell of the spreadsheet, comparing the indicator value to the goal value, and providing a visual indication based on the result of the comparison. The goal value may also be expressed as a location within a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet locations may contain references to databases containing the data that should be utilized as the indicator and goal values. A warning value may also be specified, compared to the indicator, and a visual indication may be provided based upon the result of the comparison.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for discovering and connecting to data sources are provided. A system is provided that includes a server computer operative to maintain a centrally managed repository of data connection definitions. A client computer is also provided including an application program capable of consuming data from a data source. When a request is received by the application to connect to a data source, a list of available sources is retrieved from the server computer. If one of the data sources in the list is selected, a data connection file is retrieved and utilized to connect to the data source. If a report is opened by the application that includes a reference to a data source, the repository is utilized to confirm the connection to the data source.

Abstract: A system and method for restricting a client's access to sensitive material in a network document. The system includes a document storage component for storing documents having an associated level of access. The system also includes a server component for receiving a document request from a user, associating the document request with the level of access of the requested document, and sending a server request if the level of access is limited. The system further includes a document governor component for receiving the server request, sending a governor request to the document storage component, receiving an unrestricted document from the document storage component, processing the unrestricted document to limit rights according to the level of access, and sending a limited document to the server in order to allow a user accessibility to the restricted document.

Abstract: Providing for generating an executive report of business or personal activity is described herein. By way of example, such executive report can identify a change and related cause with respect to a prior report. As a particular example, an inference engine can receive an activity report and reference prior reports to identify the change and related cause. A set of results containing such information can be provided to a synthesis component that can include and highlight such information in the executive report. In addition, additional sources of data can be referenced in order to include and/or customize the report to a particular individual, organization, culture, or the like. As described, aspects of the subject innovation can provide an executive report highlighting important aspects of data and tailoring those aspects to interests of one or more users.

Abstract: Techniques for automatically generating a form associated with a spreadsheet table are disclosed herein. Such a form may have data entry fields that correspond to data attributes listed on the spreadsheet table. The form may be associated with the spreadsheet table by means of a user interface, such as an icon or other object oriented user interface. In this way, a command to display the form may be provided with one click of a pointing device. The form may be generally associated with each entry in the spreadsheet table so that the data from a selected entry is displayed. Besides entering new data or revising existing data, browsing of existing data in the spreadsheet table may also be performed through navigation mechanisms contained on the form. Techniques for syndicating a form associated with a spreadsheet table or workbook into a web page are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods that enable a workbook author to break a workbook out into a set of logically separate pieces, referred to herein as “workbook parts.” Calculation dependencies between the workbook parts may be maintained, so that all the calculations are correct across the entire spreadsheet. An organization may be enabled to manage each workbook part separately, thus certain users may be denied access to view or edit certain workbook parts. Accordingly, where multiple authors are contributing to a tightly controlled workbook, the person responsible for spreadsheet management is enabled to allow each of those authors access to edit only the portion that they need to be concerned with.

Abstract: Providing for summarization and analysis of audio content is described herein. By way of example, an oral conversation can be analyzed, such that points of interest within the oral conversation can be identified and file locations related to such points of interest can be marked. Points of interest can be inferred based on a level of energy, e.g., excitement, pitch, tone, pace, or the like, associated with one or more speakers. Alternatively, or in addition, speaker and/or reviewer activity can form the basis for identifying points of interest within the conversation. Moreover, a compilation of the identified points of interest and portions of the original oral conversation related thereto can be assembled. As described herein, audio content can be succinctly summarized with respect to inferred and/or indicated points of interest, to facilitate an efficient and pertinent review of such content.

Abstract: Private sheets are disclosed, in shared computer applications, such as spreadsheets. In one aspect, a public sheet is accessible to a first client and a second client; and, moreover, a private sheet is accessible only to the second client. The private sheet is configured to access content in the public sheet, but the public sheet can't access content in the private sheet. In this way, users can use private sheets to perform calculations or modeling on the side, while collaborating on public sheets with other users. In another aspect, changes made to the public sheet can be reflected in the private sheet, if such changes are referenced by the private sheet to content in the public sheet. However, changes made to the private sheet are not reflected in the public sheet. Numerous other specific aspects are also disclosed, such as private sheets accessing values but not formulas from public sheets.

Abstract: Really Simple Syndication (RSS) is extended to syndicate structured data as well as general content via Really Simple Syndication for data (RSSd). RSSd provides a mechanism by which tables of data can easily be made available to users and across applications. RSSd provides the ability to syndicate data directly into applications, such as spread sheet applications. RSSd is backwards compatible with RSS. Standardized metadata is utilized in each element of RSSd to enable typing of data.

Abstract: A named object view of a report is generated from an electronic data file. Objects in the file to be published are identified in the file. A named object view of the report associated with the file is generated by displaying published identified objects according to associated viewing rights. A viewer at a client is presented with the named object view of the report, according to the viewing rights, such that the viewer's attention is focused on the published objects.

Abstract: A workflow includes an activity that takes advantage of spreadsheet calculations. For a spreadsheet activity, calculation and extraction of values from a spreadsheet is performed. Thus, spreadsheet calculations are integrated into workflows without user intervention. Values from previous activities in the workflow may be obtained and provided to the spreadsheet (e.g., cell values are set, modified, or adjusted). The spreadsheet may then be recalculated using these obtained values. Moreover, values from the spreadsheet may be used in subsequent parts of the workflow. Also, any number of spreadsheet activities may be incorporated into a workflow, and one spreadsheet activity may provide values to a second spreadsheet activity in the workflow.