Abstract: In general, techniques for data access control are described, in which a policy engine implements and applies a declarative policy framework that can represent and reason about complex privacy policies. By using a common data model together with a formal shareability theory, this declarative policy framework enables the specification of expressive policies in a concise way without burdening the user with technical details of the underlying formalism of a data querying application or other knowledge representation scheme. The policy engine may be deployed as the policy decision point in a data access control system that also includes a policy enforcement point. The policy engine includes user interfaces for the creation, validation, and management of privacy policies. The policy engine may interface with systems that manage data requests and replies by coordinating policy engine decisions and access to databases.

Abstract: In general, the disclosure describes various aspects of techniques for explaining results provided by automated decision systems. A device comprising a memory and a computation engine executing one or more processor may be configured to perform the techniques. The memory may store an automated reasoning engine. The computation engine may execute the automated reasoning engine to obtain a query, obtain, from a knowledge base, and responsive to the query, a knowledge base entity representative of an explicit fact or a rule, and determine, based on the knowledge base entity, the query result that provides a decision to the query. The automated reasoning engine may also obtain provenance information that explains a history for the knowledge base entity, determine, based on the provenance information, an explanation that explains a difference between the query result and a previous query result provided with respect to the query, and output the explanation.

Abstract: In general, techniques for data access control are described, in which a policy engine implements and applies a declarative policy framework that can represent and reason about complex privacy policies. By using a common data model together with a formal shareability theory, this declarative policy framework enables the specification of expressive policies in a concise way without burdening the user with technical details of the underlying formalism of a data querying application or other knowledge representation scheme. The policy engine may be deployed as the policy decision point in a data access control system that also includes a policy enforcement point. The policy engine includes user interfaces for the creation, validation, and management of privacy policies. The policy engine may interface with systems that manage data requests and replies by coordinating policy engine decisions and access to databases.

Abstract: A device, method and system for automatically inferring a mobile user's current context includes applying a user activity knowledge base to real-time inputs and stored user-specific information to determine a current situation. Automated reasoning is used to infer a user-specific context of the current situation. Automated candidate actions may be generated and performed in accordance with the current situation and user-specific context.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adaptable input/output device. One embodiment of a hardware device for facilitating an interaction between a computing system and a user includes: an interaction surface for supporting the interaction, a single actuator capable of driving a first region of the interaction surface, and a first selective clamping mechanism capable of restricting movement of one or more second regions of the interaction surface that partly intersect the first region, wherein a displacement of one or more desired portions of the interaction surface is dynamically controllable.

Abstract: A device, method and system for automatically inferring a mobile user's current context includes applying a user activity knowledge base to real-time inputs and stored user-specific information to determine a current situation. Automated reasoning is used to infer a user-specific context of the current situation. Automated candidate actions may be generated and performed in accordance with the current situation and user-specific context.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for modeling interactions of a group of users with a computing system includes monitoring passive and active interaction data of multiple users and discovering common interests among the users based on the interaction data. Collective contextual user models may be dynamically formed based on the common interests. Such models have many useful applications that can benefit the group or the individual members of the group.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for modeling user interactions with a computer system associates semantic descriptions of passive and active user interactions, which are meaningful at a user level, with application events and user interaction data as a user interacts with one or multiple software applications with a computing device, and uses those associations to build and maintain a user-specific contextual model. In some embodiments, the contextual models of multiple users are leveraged to form one or more collective contextual user models. Such models are useful in many different applications.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for facilitating cross-application searching and retrieval of computer-stored content using a contextual user model includes using passive and/or active interaction data to formulate a user-specific search query. In some embodiments, inferences relating to the user's current interaction context may be used to automatically retrieve relevant information for the user.

Abstract: A device, method and system for automatically inferring a mobile user's current context includes applying a user activity knowledge base to real-time inputs and stored user-specific information to determine a current situation. Automated reasoning is used to infer a user-specific context of the current situation. Automated candidate actions may be generated and performed in accordance with the current situation and user-specific context.

Abstract: A device, method and system for monitoring, predicting, and accelerating interactions with a computing device includes determining a current interaction context at a computing device based on interactions occurring at the computing device, predicting a number of potential subsequent interactions, speculatively executing at least some of the potential subsequent interactions, and presenting interactive representations of the speculatively-executed interactions at the computing device.

Abstract: A device, method and system for automatically inferring a mobile user's current context includes applying a user activity knowledge base to real-time inputs and stored user-specific information to determine a current situation. Automated reasoning is used to infer a user-specific context of the current situation. Automated candidate actions may be generated and performed in accordance with the current situation and user-specific context.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed to support adaptive interaction with legacy software applications, without a need for rewriting those applications. The methods are for use with an interactive electronic system including a processor, a display, and an input device with user-manipulated controls. When the legacy application is executed, a supplemental software program, such as a plugin, is also executed and is utilized in order to identify currently relevant interactive features of the legacy application during execution. Functionality is dynamically assigned to the various user-manipulated controls based on the identified features. In one embodiment, detection of objects (particularly the user's hands) proximate to the input controls is also employed in determining the assignment of functionality and/or in displaying a visual representation to the user of the available interactive choices.

Abstract: A device, method and system for automatically inferring a mobile user's current context includes applying a user activity knowledge base to real-time inputs and stored user-specific information to determine a current situation. Automated reasoning is used to infer a user-specific context of the current situation. Automated candidate actions may be generated and performed in accordance with the current situation and user-specific context.

Abstract: A device, method and system for automatically inferring a mobile user's current context includes applying a user activity knowledge base to real-time inputs and stored user-specific information to determine a current situation. Automated reasoning is used to infer a user-specific context of the current situation. Automated candidate actions may be generated and performed in accordance with the current situation and user-specific context.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for facilitating cross-application searching and retrieval of computer-stored content using a contextual user model includes using passive and/or active interaction data to formulate a user-specific search query. In some embodiments, inferences relating to the user's current interaction context may be used to automatically retrieve relevant information for the user.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for modeling interactions of a group of users with a computing system includes monitoring passive and active interaction data of multiple users and discovering common interests among the users based on the interaction data. Collective contextual user models may be dynamically formed based on the common interests. Such models have many useful applications that can benefit the group or the individual members of the group.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for adapting the presentation of user interface elements based on a contextual user model includes using passive interaction data, such as gaze-tracking inputs and/or certain proximity inputs, to determine an aspect of the user's current interaction context (e.g., the user's current focus of attention or current hand position). User interface elements may be changed or relocated based on the user's current interaction context.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for modeling user interactions with a computer system associates semantic descriptions of passive and active user interactions, which are meaningful at a user level, with application events and user interaction data as a user interacts with one or multiple software applications with a computing device, and uses those associations to build and maintain a user-specific contextual model. In some embodiments, the contextual models of multiple users are leveraged to form one or more collective contextual user models. Such models are useful in many different applications.

Abstract: A device, method and system for monitoring, predicting, and accelerating interactions with a computing device includes determining a current interaction context at a computing device based on interactions occurring at the computing device, predicting a number of potential subsequent interactions, speculatively executing at least some of the potential subsequent interactions, and presenting interactive representations of the speculatively-executed interactions at the computing device.