Abstract: A data set may be represented by samples of multiple resolutions, such as an image represented by pixels of various resolutions. When such multiple-resolution samples are potentially overlapping, it may be inefficient to render both a lower-resolution sample and also the plurality of higher-resolution samples that overlap the lower-resolution sample. Conversely, it may be more efficient to determine, before rendering a sample representing a particular data unit, whether the sample is overlapped by available higher-resolution samples that represent the same data unit. Techniques are disclosed for making this determination in an efficient manner, and for acting upon the determination to achieve improved efficiency in the rendering of the data set.

Abstract: A data set may be represented by samples of multiple resolutions, such as an image represented by pixels of various resolutions. When such multiple-resolution samples are potentially overlapping, it may be inefficient to render both a lower-resolution sample and also the plurality of higher-resolution samples that overlap the lower-resolution sample. Conversely, it may be more efficient to determine, before rendering a sample representing a particular data unit, whether the sample is overlapped by available higher-resolution samples that represent the same data unit. Techniques are disclosed for making this determination in an efficient manner, and for acting upon the determination to achieve improved efficiency in the rendering of the data set.

Abstract: A data set may be represented by samples of multiple resolutions, such as an image represented by pixels of various resolutions. When such multiple-resolution samples are potentially overlapping, it may be inefficient to render both a lower-resolution sample and also the plurality of higher-resolution samples that overlap the lower-resolution sample. Conversely, it may be more efficient to determine, before rendering a sample representing a particular data unit, whether the sample is overlapped by available higher-resolution samples that represent the same data unit. Techniques are disclosed for making this determination in an efficient manner, and for acting upon the determination to achieve improved efficiency in the rendering of the data set.

Abstract: Described is a technology by which code, such as an untrusted web application hosted in a browser, provides content through an interface for playback by an application environment, such as an application environment running in a browser plug-in. Content may be in the form of elementary video, audio and/or script streams. The content is in a container that is unpackaged by the application code, whereby the content may be packaged in any format that the application understands, and/or or come from any source from which the application can download the container. An application environment component such as a platform-level media element receives information from an application that informs the application environment that the application is to provide media stream data for playback. The application environment requests media stream data (e.g., samples) from the application, receives them as processed by the application, and provides the requested media stream data for playback.

Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for controlling a shader declaratively. A declarative programming model enables declarative statements to be used that control an instantiation of a shader in a declarative presentation framework. A shader-based effect that was specified declaratively is instantiated programmatically for rendering graphic effects for a software application. Declarative statements are sent to a shader processor to enable a shader to render the graphical effect customizations for the software application. A method is also described for utilizing a declarative programming model as a multiple pass effect that controls and encapsulates a set of shaders to be run during a multiple pass operation.

Abstract: Browser application programs may be prevented from performing cross-domain retrieval of anything other than image files. To enable browsers to pre-fetch resources utilizable by code executing in a browser-based programmatic environment, without having to wait for the environment, and the code, to be instantiated and make the cross-domain request themselves, the cross-domain resources can be transcoded into image files. Once retrieved, these “image” files can be retained locally in a browser cache and provided to the code executing in the browser-based programmatic environment from there much more quickly. Then the code can decode the “image” and extract the original resource file, which the code can then utilize. The transcoding of resources into image files can be performed by first determining the height and width of an image file that will result in the least amount of wasted space when the resource is transcoded into it.

Abstract: Browser application programs may be prevented from performing cross-domain retrieval of anything other than image files. To enable browsers to pre-fetch resources utilizable by code executing in a browser-based programmatic environment, without having to wait for the environment, and the code, to be instantiated and make the cross-domain request themselves, the cross-domain resources can be transcoded into image files. Once retrieved, these “image” files can be retained locally in a browser cache and provided to the code executing in the browser-based programmatic environment from there much more quickly. Then the code can decode the “image” and extract the original resource file, which the code can then utilize. The transcoding of resources into image files can be performed by first determining the height and width of an image file that will result in the least amount of wasted space when the resource is transcoded into it.

Abstract: A computing system translates two-dimensional (2D) graphical input by a user who is selecting one or more 2D images in a three-dimensional (3D) scene of 3D models created by model 3D objects. The computing system comprises a viewport module, a retrieve module, set ray module and, a hit detection module. The viewport module defines 2D boundaries of the 3D scene and a view point location in 3D space for viewing the 3D scene. The retrieve module retrievies a selection point location in 2D space for the 2D graphical input. The set ray module sets a pick ray in 3D space based on the view point location and the selection point location. The hit detection module detects a hit by the pick ray on a 3D model in the 3D scene. In this computing system there is a method of processing a hierarchy of computer program visual objects for detecting a hit by 2D input on 2D and 3D images displayed by a computing system. The method begins by traversing branches of a first tree hierarchy of visual objects to leaf objects.

Abstract: Dependencies among components may be pre-calculated, validated and cached. The cached dependencies may then be used in an execution environment to inject dependencies into the component. In one example, components for a web application are submitted to the operator of the application. Dependencies among the components may be pre-calculated, and the pre-calculated dependencies may be stored in a catalog. When a client accesses the web application, the components may be downloaded to the client along with the catalog. The client may provide a virtual machine or other execution environment under which the components execute. The execution environment may provide a dependency injection feature that connects components together at runtime based on the pre-calculated dependencies in the catalog.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methodology that provides for adjusting content that is to be received and displayed by a device so that the content is meaningful to a recipient. The invention provides for rendering of variable-sized pages of dynamic content based at least in part on user interface (UI) characteristics of a receiving device (e.g., client program). One particular aspect of the invention provides for an abstraction layer that permits a content developer to specify what content is to be displayed to an end user without requiring the developer to delineate markup tags that are to be employed by different browsers of respective mobile devices. Thus, for example, such aspect of the invention provides for automatically adjusting (e.g., paginating) content into variable-sized pages appropriate for a requesting device. A content analyzer receives and analyzes content to be rendered at a plurality of recipient devices against display capabilities of the respective devices.

Abstract: Described is a pluggable policy component that determines the look and feel, or windows visual experience, of a computer user interface. Window-related instructions are redirected to the policy component, while client area change instructions are provided to a substrate (into which the policy component plugs in) that includes a composition component. The plug-in policy component handles windows-related (e.g., structural or attribute) changes to a scene graph to construct and maintain the scene graph, while the substrate handles program content changes to the client areas within windows. The substrate may include a desktop window manager that has access to the client areas in the scene graph, whereby the desktop window manager can copy a client area for rendering. For example, the desktop window manager can provide a supplemental live thumbnail image of a window.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can support a declarative model-based approach to designing, constructing, and rendering visualizations. By complying with a declarative descriptor, components can be readily customized by way of modifications to the model—declaratively specifying suitable features, behaviors, appearances and so forth. The descriptors that conform to the model can also facilitate connecting to various data sources and performing data transformation operations. Moreover, the descriptors that conform to the model can declaratively specify relationships based upon a scene layout. Accordingly, the architecture can further describe the scene layout and provide features based upon the layout.

Abstract: In aspects, a class hierarchy is defined that provides definitions of methods for operating on at least bitmaps and vector graphics. A software developer may instantiate an object according to a class definition of the class hierarchy and assign it to any variable (e.g., a control's property) having a type of an ancestor class of the class. The object may be associated with an image internally represented as bitmap, vector graphics, or some other representation. The control does not need to be aware of how the image is represented. Rather, to draw an image associated with the object, a draw method associated with the object may be called.

Abstract: Described is a technology by which code, such as an untrusted web application hosted in a browser, provides content through an interface for playback by an application environment, such as an application environment running in a browser plug-in. Content may be in the form of elementary video, audio and/or script streams. The content is in a container that is unpackaged by the application code, whereby the content may be packaged in any format that the application understands, and/or or come from any source from which the application can download the container. An application environment component such as a platform-level media element receives information from an application that informs the application environment that the application is to provide media stream data for playback. The application environment requests media stream data (e.g., samples) from the application, receives them as processed by the application, and provides the requested media stream data for playback.

Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for controlling a shader declaratively. A declarative programming model enables declarative statements to be used that control an instantiation of a shader in a declarative presentation framework. A shader-based effect that was specified declaratively is instantiated programmatically for rendering graphic effects for a software application. Declarative statements are sent to a shader processor to enable a shader to render the graphical effect customizations for the software application. A method is also described for utilizing a declarative programming model as a multiple pass effect that controls and encapsulates a set of shaders to be run during a multiple pass operation.

Abstract: A data set may be represented by samples of multiple resolutions, such as an image represented by pixels of various resolutions. When such multiple-resolution samples are potentially overlapping, it may be inefficient to render both a lower-resolution sample and also the plurality of higher-resolution samples that overlap the lower-resolution sample. Conversely, it may be more efficient to determine, before rendering a sample representing a particular data unit, whether the sample is overlapped by available higher-resolution samples that represent the same data unit. Techniques are disclosed for making this determination in an efficient manner, and for acting upon the determination to achieve improved efficiency in the rendering of the data set.

Abstract: A media integration layer including an application programming interface (API) and an object model allows program code developers to interface in a consistent manner with a scene graph data structure in order to output graphics. Via the interfaces, program code adds child visuals to other visuals to build up a hierarchical scene graph, writes Instruction Lists such as geometry data, image data, animation data and other data for output, and may specify transform, clipping and opacity properties on visuals. The media integration layer and API enable programmers to accomplish composition effects within their applications in a straightforward manner, while leveraging the graphics processing unit in a manner that does not adversely impact normal application performance. A multiple-level system includes the ability to combine different media types (such as 2D, 3D, Video, Audio, text and imaging) and animate them smoothly and seamlessly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methodology that provides for adjusting content that is to be received and displayed by a device so that the content is meaningful to a recipient. The invention provides for rendering of variable-sized pages of dynamic content based at least in part on user interface (UI) characteristics of a receiving device (e.g., client program). One particular aspect of the invention provides for an abstraction layer that permits a content developer to specify what content is to be displayed to an end user without requiring the developer to delineate markup tags that are to be employed by different browsers of respective mobile devices. Thus, for example, such aspect of the invention provides for automatically adjusting (e.g., paginating) content into variable-sized pages appropriate for a requesting device. A content analyzer receives and analyzes content to be rendered at a plurality of recipient devices against display capabilities of the respective devices.

Abstract: A server-based application includes at least one page file that identifies one or more server objects. The page file describes the particular layout and interaction of the server objects, such as controls, in such a way that a page of information may be transmitted to a target device. When designing the page file a developer may use declarative statement, so that certain properties of the specified controls may be altered based on the particular type of target device.

Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that enable interaction with 2D content placed on a 3D surface. The system determines where relative to a 3D surface an input device is located. If the input device is hitting a 3D surface, a hidden content in 2D is positioned so that a point representing the area hit on the 3D surface lines up with a corresponding point on the hidden content in 2D. For example, when a request is received for the input device position when an input device is detected at a location in a scene, the 3D surface is projected into two dimensions. A closest point is calculated on the projected. 3D surface to a 2D location of the input device. The closest point is provided in response to be used in positioning the hidden content with the corresponding point of the 3D surface.