Abstract: Methods and system for determining a physiological parameter of a subject through interrogation of an eye of the subject with an optical signal are described. Interrogation is performed unobtrusively. The gaze direction of the eye of the subject is determined and an interrogation signal source and/or response signal sensor are moved into alignment with the eye using an actuator to facilitate detection of the signal from the eye of the subject.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a physiological parameter of a subject through interrogation of an eye of the subject with an optical signal are described. Interrogation is performed unobtrusively. The system includes a gaze attractor for attracting the gaze of the subject to cause an eye of the subject to move into alignment with regard to an interrogation signal source and/or response signal sensor to facilitate detection of a signal from the eye of the subject.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for a system for integrating expert sources of knowledge into a general search service. The method can include a general search engine interface to receive a search query with at least one search term from a user. An expert knowledge engine can enable retrieval of expert information and analyzes. A predictive model module can be used to determine a probability that an expert knowledge engine may provide a valuable response to the query. The search query can be routed to the expert knowledge engine based on a cost-benefit analysis. A query reformulation module can reformulate a query for use by the expert knowledge engine. A display module can be employed to combine the expert search results with other search results.

Abstract: A method disclosed herein includes the act of computing a value of information for obtaining data from a personal sensor of a user for utilization in a utilitarian computing application, wherein a mobile computing device comprises the personal sensor of the user. The method further includes the act of requesting that the mobile computing device transmit a data packet to the computing device based at least in part upon the value of information for obtaining data from the personal sensor of the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for collecting data and generating synthesized data from the collected data. For example, a request for an image may be received from a requestor and at least one data capture device may be identified as capable of providing at least a portion of the requested image. A request may be sent to identified data capture devices to obtain an image corresponding to the requested image. Multiple images may be received from the data capture devices and may further be connected or stitched together to provide a panoramic, 3-dimensional image of requested subject matter.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are described herein for providing task continuity and supporting task completion across devices and time. A task management application is configured to monitor one or more interactions between a user and a device. The interactions can include the use of the device, the use of one or more applications, and/or other tasks, subtasks, or other operations. Predictive models constructed from data or logical models can be used to predict the attention resources available or allocated to a task or subtask as well as the attention and affordances available within a context for addressing the task and these inferences can be used to mark or route the task for later reminding and display. In some embodiments, the task management application is configured to remind or execute a follow-up action when a session is resumed. Embodiments include providing users with easy to use gestures and mechanisms for providing input about desired follow up on the same or other devices.

Abstract: Methods and systems for conserving power using predictive models and signaling are described. Parameters of a power management policy are set based on predictions based on user activity and/or signals received from a remote computer which define a user preference. In an embodiment, the power management policy involves putting the computer into a sleep state and periodically waking it up. On waking, the computer determines whether to remain awake or to return to the sleep state dependent upon the output of a predictive model or signals that encode whether a remote user has requested that computer remain awake. Before returning to the sleep state, a wake-up timer is set and this timer triggers the computer to subsequently wake-up. The length of time that the timer is set to may depend on factors such as the request from the remote user, context sensors and usage data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for collecting data and generating synthesized data from the collected data. For example, a request for an image may be received from a requestor and at least one data capture device may be identified as capable of providing at least a portion of the requested image. A request may be sent to identified data capture devices to obtain an image corresponding to the requested image. Multiple images may be received from the data capture devices and may further be connected or stitched together to provide a panoramic, 3-dimensional image of requested subject matter.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for establishing an ad hoc network of devices that can be used to interpret gestures. Embodiments of the invention use a network of sensors with an ad hoc spatial configuration to observe physical objects in a performance area. The performance area may be a room or other area within range of the sensors. Initially, devices within the performance area, or with a view of the performance area, are indentified. Once identified, the sensors go through a discovery phase to locate devices within an area. Once the discovery phase is complete and the devices within the ad hoc network are located, the combined signals received from the devices may be used to interpret gestures made within the performance area.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are described herein for providing task continuity and supporting task completion across devices and time. A task management application is configured to monitor one or more interactions between a user and a device. The interactions can include the use of the device, the use of one or more applications, and/or other tasks, subtasks, or other operations. Predictive models constructed from data or logical models can be used to predict the attention resources available or allocated to a task or subtask as well as the attention and affordances available within a context for addressing the task and these inferences can be used to mark or route the task for later reminding and display. In some embodiments, the task management application is configured to remind or execute a follow-up action when a session is resumed. Embodiments include providing users with easy to use gestures and mechanisms for providing input about desired follow up on the same or other devices.

Abstract: Individuals may interact with automated services as one or more parties, where such individuals may have collective (as well as individual) intents. Moreover, parties may concurrently communicate with the interface, and the interface may have to manage several concurrent interactions with different parties. Single-individual interfaces may be unable to react robustly to such dynamic and complex real-world scenarios. Instead, multi-party interfaces to service components may be devised that identify individuals within a scene, associate the individuals with parties, track a set of interactions of the parties with the service component, and direct the service component in interacting with the parties. A multi-party interface may also detect and politely handle interruptions, and may identify information items about individuals and parties based on context and history, prioritize the intents of the individuals and parties, and triage interactions accordingly.

Abstract: Methods and systems for conserving power using predictive models and signaling are described. Parameters of a power management policy are set based on predictions based on user activity and/or signals received from a remote computer which define a user preference. In an embodiment, the power management policy involves putting the computer into a sleep state and periodically waking it up. On waking, the computer determines whether to remain awake or to return to the sleep state dependent upon the output of a predictive model or signals that encode whether a remote user has requested that computer remain awake. Before returning to the sleep state, a wake-up timer is set and this timer triggers the computer to subsequently wake-up. The length of time that the timer is set to may depend on factors such as the request from the remote user, context sensors and usage data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods and computer storage media for detecting user input in an extended interaction space of a device, such as a handheld device. The method and system allow for utilizing a first sensor of the device sensing in a positive z-axis space of the device to detect a first input, such as a user's non-device-contacting gesture. The method and system also contemplate utilizing a second sensor of the device sensing in a negative z-axis space of the device to detect a second input. Additionally, the method and system contemplate updating a user interface presented on a display in response to detecting the first input by the first sensor in the positive z-axis space and detecting the second input by the second sensor in the negative z-axis space.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and computer storage media for identifying, authenticating, and authorizing a user to a device. A dynamic image, such as a video captured by a depth camera, is received. The dynamic image provides data from which geometric information of a portion of a user may be identified as well as motion information of a portion of the user may be identified. Consequently, a geometric attribute is identified from the geometric information. A motion attribute may also be identified from the motion information. The geometric attribute is compared to one or more geometric attributes associated with authorized users. Additionally, the motion attribute may be compared to one or more motion attributes associated with the authorized users. A determination may be made that the user is an authorized user. As such the user is authorized to utilize functions of the device.

Abstract: A long-term personal agent program, executable as network service and/or on one or more user computing devices and related method for identifying opportunities and making recommendations on behalf of one or more users, are disclosed herein. In one example, the personal agent program includes a monitoring engine configured to monitor and interpret a user's activities over time with a plurality of sensing and logging methodologies according to user authorization, the use of statistical methods for learning to understand a user's goals and behavioral patterns from data, and the use of procedures for computing the expected value of information guiding sensing and logging in different contexts. The personal agent further may include a recommendation methodology configured to make suggestions and to take actions on behalf of the user, in the present moment as well as for future times, based on inferences about user goals and opportunities in the world.

Abstract: A marketplace server and method for facilitating purchase transactions are provided. A marketplace server may include a routing engine configured to receive an order for goods from a first computing device associated with a first customer, with the order including a first delivery address of the customer. The routing engine also calculates a delivery route to the first delivery address. An offer engine is configured to create an offer for other goods. The offer includes a shipping incentive associated with a second delivery address of a second customer. The offer may be targeted to the second customer based on a proximity of the second delivery address to the delivery route. The offer engine sends the offer to a second computing device associated with the second customer. Upon receiving an acceptance of the offer from the computing device, the offer engine processes a purchase transaction for the offer.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described for systems and methods for facilitating data sharing between a user of a client device and an online service. The system may include a module configured to display a graphical display of data sharing specifications on the client device. The graphical display may include one or more user-adjustable privacy setting selectors configured to receive input of user-selected privacy level selections. Each of the privacy level selections may be associated with a report of the probability that data attributes will be captured and used and/or with other measures such as the size of the set of people that are identifiable from the revelation. Data attributes may include a data type, a data use purpose, a data use timeframe, and a data storage timeframe. The graphical display may further include a consent selector configured to receive consent from the user.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described for computerized advertising systems and methods. The system may include an ad server that includes an impression campaign engine configured to associate a target user profile with a plurality of computing devices. The ad server is also configured to receive a multi-step impression plan including a plurality of triggers from an advertiser. Each trigger is associated with a different advertisement to be served to at least one of the plurality of devices. The system also includes an ad serving engine configured to serve a first advertisement to a first device in response to making an inference from sensors or detecting a first trigger, and a second advertisement to a second device in response to a second inference or detecting a second trigger, according to the impression plan. A predictive model developed from machine learning may be used to develop a learning-based multi-step impression plan.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing shared electronic coupons are provided. According to one aspect, the electronic coupon may include a coupon benefit display region displaying a textual and/or graphical representation of a coupon benefit. The electronic coupon may further include a candidate display region displaying a list of one or more friends of the user who are determined to be redeemer candidates from among friends in a social network profile or address book of the user. Each redeemer candidate friend in the list has an associated selector, and selection by the user of a selector corresponding to a friend causes the client device to send a message to a coupon server to instruct the coupon server to send the electronic coupon to a client device of the selected friend. Predictive models generated through machine learning may aid in selecting the user to which coupons are distributed and the redeemer candidates.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating purchase transactions through real-time dynamic marketplace sessions are provided. A method may include pooling offers for goods/services to form a pooled offer, and pooling bids to form a pooled bid. The pooled offer and the pooled bid may be matched to form a pooled offer/bid pair. Methods for inducing and using predictive models for successful configuration of properties and participants with machine learning procedures that operate on data about successful and unsuccessful offers may be employed. A real-time dynamic marketplace session may be established between offer agents associated with the pooled offers and bid agents associated with the pooled bids. Upon a successful conclusion to the negotiation, a purchase transaction for the pooled offer/bid pair may be processed.