Abstract: Techniques for facilitating automatic detection of a type of wireless network are described. In accordance with one or more embodiments, wireless network client(s) can automatically detect the “type” of a network (e.g., method of authentication and encryption) without requiring input from the user. In accordance with one or more embodiments, a wireless network detection system having a connection component and a detection component is provided. The connection component facilitates connection of a client system to at least one of a plurality of wireless networks. The detection component identifies a type of an available wireless network. Identification can be based, for example, upon information received in an information element and/or iterative probing of the wireless network beacon.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating automatic detection of a type of wireless network is provided. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, wireless network client(s) can automatically detect the “type” of a network (e.g., method of authentication and encryption) without requiring input from the user. For example, unencrypted network, WEP encrypted network requiring a WEP key, WPA encrypted network requiring a pre-shared key, an IEEE 802.1x enabled network supporting WPA and/or an IEEE 802.1x enabled network not supporting WPA. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a wireless network detection system having a connection component and a detection component is provided. The connection component facilitates connection of a client system to at least one of a plurality of wireless networks. The detection component identities a type of an available wireless network.

Abstract: A materials trouble shooter is provided for use with 3D models in computer graphics. An error texture is displayed that is distinguishable from textures without errors. If a texture is missing or is applied incorrectly to the 3D model, an error texture is displayed using an error shader instead of a regular shader for the texture for which an error in loading or application has been detected.

Abstract: An interactive development environment enables a user to create a customized image filter through a user interface that provides the developer with a capability to create a directed acyclic graph representing the mathematical operations and values that generate a customized visual effect. During development of the customized image filter, a visual shader designer engine may execute the operations and values associated with each node in a prescribed order and display the rendered outcome in the render view area of each node. In this manner, the developer is able to quickly visualize the visual effect produced by the image filter in real time.

Abstract: An integrated development environment includes a visual shader designer engine that enables a user to create a pixel shader embodied as a directed acyclic graph. The directed acyclic graph contains nodes, where each node is associated with an operation that is used to generate a color characteristic of a final rendered model. The visual shader designer engine displays a rendered image at each node that is the result of the node's operation during development of the directed acyclic graph. An error texture is rendered in a node when an erroneous condition is detected in rendering a node's operations.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to automatically identifying groups and subgroups in dependency data. In aspects, a data structure that indicates dependencies between components is analyzed to create groups that are related by dependencies. The groups are further analyzed to create subgroups that depend on shared components but that do not depend on each other. Information about the components is used to generate names for the groups that are indicative of the components included in the groups. The groups, their names, and their relationships may then be displayed.

Abstract: A method and user interface for informing a user of the status of a network connection are provided. Conventionally, the “connected” icon in the system tray only informs the user that the computer is linked to a network medium, such as an Ethernet or wireless access point. This icon does not indicate whether a routable IP address has been obtained. In this invention, an icon is used to inform the user that the network connection is disabled, connecting, connected (routable IP address obtained), or in a warning state. The warning state indicates that a non-routable IP address (e.g. autonet address) has been obtained, which will likely be unsatisfactory to the user. However, when connected to an 802.11 ad-hoc network, or when IP status checking is disabled, a non-routable IP address is deemed acceptable, and thus the “connected” icon is displayed.

Abstract: Software execution with minimal impact deployment allows software to be executed on a system without first running a conventional installation process. Techniques are used to avoid any requirement of writing settings to restricted areas of operating system maintained data stores.

Abstract: Exception-based component models can be generated from non-exception-based models. For example, a non-exception-based interface contract (such as a non-exception-based interface contract in a header file) for a consumable software component can be parsed. Additionally, a wrapper for the consumable software component can be generated from the non-exception-based interface contract. The wrapper can have an exception-based interface contract implementation, and the exception-based interface contract implementation can be a mirror equivalent of the non-exception-based interface contract. If the non-exception-based interface contract hints at one or more arguments as being out argument(s) for a function in the consumable software component, then predefined heuristics can be used to select one of those argument(s) to be used by the exception-based interface contract implementation as a return value for the function.

Abstract: Scalable architecture for managing and rendering a large graph containing a large number of nodes and edges. The user can group arbitrary nodes to encapsulate complexity without losing any of the cross-group edges dependencies. All edges of the nodes contained in the group are rolled up into roll-up links (or “arteries”) where the graphical thickness indicates relatively how many links are bundled. By collapsing groups the entire view gives the user a clearer understanding of the graph. Information related to the groups and links is retained for drill-into to obtain the details inside each group on the same canvas and for user navigation across groups.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating automatic detection of a type of wireless network is provided. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, wireless network client(s) can automatically detect the “type” of a network (e.g., method of authentication and encryption) without requiring input from the user. For example, unencrypted network, WEP encrypted net work requiring a WEP key, WPA encrypted network requiring a pre-shared key, an IEEE 802.1x enabled net work supporting WPA anchor an IEEE 802.1x enabled network not supporting WPA. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a wireless network detection system having a connection component and a detection component is provided. The connection component facilitates connection of a client system to at least one of a plurality of wireless networks The detection component identities a type of an available wireless network.

Abstract: A branding sub-file is associated with one or more SSID's. A user interface which displays available networks takes the available branding sub-files into account when displaying the names of networks within range. If branding is available for a given SSID, it shows a rich view of the network, using the branding information, allowing the user to make a more informed choice. A sign-up sub-file is also provided. The sign-up sub-file includes information, such as a list of items, that a network desires from a user to allow the user to access the network.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to automatically identifying groups and subgroups in dependency data. In aspects, a data structure that indicates dependencies between components is analyzed to create groups that are related by dependencies. The groups are further analyzed to create subgroups that depend on shared components but that do not depend on each other. Information about the components is used to generate names for the groups that are indicative of the components included in the groups. The groups, their names, and their relationships may then be displayed.

Abstract: A user interface for creating and joining meetings over a peer-to-peer network involves presentation of user interface windows including windows for selecting parameters corresponding to the ad-hoc network, activating sharing of Internet connections and joining an existing ad-hoc network by entering network name and optional password. The user interface further provides for entry of a country to select an appropriate wireless network protocol for use in that country when an attached wireless device supports such agility, for example, an 802.11(d) wireless network adapter.

Abstract: A download component queries a computer containing an application for requesting resources to determine languages associated with the computer. The download component then accesses the remote database and conducts a match between the queried languages on the computer and available languages in the database. The download component then downloads resources for each of the matched languages and a default language, such as English. A smart query module associated with the application on the computer is provided for choosing language resource files for the application. An algorithm is provided for choosing a language resource based upon user default settings and available resources, with a fall back to a default language, e.g., English.

Abstract: Component identifications in a package identify components to be installed and/or components to be uninstalled. Each component has one or more install-uninstall-privilege requirements, namely, credentials that must be available to an installer-uninstaller in order to install-uninstall that component. Individual components and component sets are installed and/or uninstalled based on the privilege requirement(s) and the privilege(s) available to a current user of a target system. If required privilege(s) are not available, notice is given and additional privileges are requested. A user may receive partial functionality from a partially completed installation, and additional components may be installed later as more privileges become available.

Abstract: User interface functionality in a presentation layer is coupled with data and data processing functionality of an application in a domain-specific layer. A UI-element-factory-registrar supports registration of a UI-element-factory with the domain-specific layer for invoking a UI-element to create a UI-element object. The UI-element object is bound to a domain-specific data-source object. The presentation layer may be asynchronously notified of changes in the data-source object. Data-converter objects may be provided to convert between data formats, e.g., from a native code domain-specific layer format to a managed code presentation layer format.

Abstract: Interrelated items in a complex item set (such as a set of components in a complex software architecture) may be difficult to present in a manner that facilitates an understanding and evaluation of the item set, due to the amount of information and the difficulty in automatically discerning the organization of the item set. A set of criteria may be utilized to form criterion groups to which items matching respective criteria may be automatically assigned. Further grouping assignments may be achieved by identifying an ungrouped item that is associated with a grouped item. Such techniques may be applied in many variations to yield a representation of the item set, and a presentation of the item set to a user, that aggregates similar items and interrelationships, thereby promoting an understanding and analysis of the structure and organization of the item set while reducing the user involvement in the generation of same.

Abstract: An Extensible Mark-up Language (XML) schema is used to generate configuration settings files. A wireless configuration XML schema defines an XML file for configuring wireless network settings on a wireless device. A wide area network (WAN) configuration schema defines an XML file for configuring a WAN device. A local area network (LAN) configuration schema defines an XML file for configuring a LAN device. A broadband modem configuration schema defines an XML file for configuring a broadband modem device. A device configuration schema defines an XML file for reporting the configuration of a device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for simplified creation of, connection to, and termination from an ad hoc wireless network. Graphical user interfaces are used to guide users though creation and joining ad hoc network. The option to share one user's Internet connection with the entire ad hoc network is also described. The ad hoc networks described can provide some managed services traditionally unavailable in ad hoc networks, such as IP address assignment and name resolution services. The ad hoc networks can be created with termination criteria, such that a computer's connection to the ad hoc network is automatically terminated and previous network configuration settings are restored when one or a combination of termination criteria are met.