Abstract: Techniques are described for exchanging data between software applications, such as project-related data between a project management software application (“PMSA”) and an unaffiliated organizational project tracking software application (“OPTSA”). A computing architecture with multiple interacting computer systems, such as a client-server architecture, can be used to allow users of remote computing systems to access project-related data and/or functionality from other computing systems, such as a thin client computing system with limited or no local capabilities to execute software applications and/or store associated application data accessing a remote central server computing system in order to interact with a PMSA executing on the server, to interact with an OPTSA executing on the server, and/or to invoke data exchange functionality available at the server for exchanging project-related data between the PMSA and OPTSA.

Abstract: Software update distribution techniques are disclosed. Authentication information is received, from a content source authenticator, by an update agent included in a client device. The authentication information comprises a list of a plurality of content sources, wherein the plurality of content sources have been verified by the content source authenticator as being authentic content sources for legitimate software applications. The update agent selects a first content source of the plurality of content sources, where the first content source is configured to provide updates for a first software application. The update agent checks the first content source for updates for the first software application.

Abstract: Techniques for managing content downloads to a computing device. The techniques include an agent on the computing device determining for each network of a plurality of networks available to the computing device, costs of downloading content and an exemption list. The exemption list includes content downloads that are exempted from costs charged by a particular network. The agent determines possible content downloads for the computing device. The agent also assesses potential costs associated with the possible content downloads based upon the costs and exemption lists determined for the plurality of networks. Based upon the assessment, the agent selects one of the networks for downloading at least part of the possible content downloads.

Abstract: A hosting center that is remote from a plurality of customer environments is provided so that users can interact with data from the user's selected customer environment. The data interaction includes bi-directional synchronization of data between that of the hosting center and that of the user's selected customer environment.

Abstract: Techniques are described for exchanging data between software applications, such as project-related data between a project management software application (“PMSA”) and an unaffiliated organizational project tracking software application (“OPTSA”). A mapping and other related information may be defined for the data exchange, such as by defining data fields of the OPTSA database and PMSA data file that correspond, and optionally specifying related information such as additional processing to be performed for various data fields during the data exchange, conditions when a mapping is to be used, ordering information for data fields during import and/or export, preferred data formats for stored values, etc. Also, in some situations round-trip data import/export is performed for a single PMSA data file, which may include tracking whether data entity instances previously existed in the destination in order to support changes to stored inter-relationships between data entity instances.

Abstract: A method for controlling the update installation behavior of a computing device according to installation attributes is presented. When present, a mandatory installation attribute associated with a software update causes the installation process executed on the computing device to disallow a user to selectively not install the software update. A priority installation attribute causes the computing device to request a higher amount of network bandwidth for obtaining the software update's content for installation on the client computing device. A deadline installation attribute associated with the software update causes the computing device to permit a user to selectively not install the software update until an associated deadline passes, at which time the software update is installed without further user interaction.

Abstract: A software distribution mechanism evaluates network addresses of requesting clients to determine a location for each client. The clients from a particular location are grouped together and a fraction of those clients in a particular group are recipients of a software distribution. The faction is adjusted to enable more or fewer clients to download, thus effectively throttling the amount of bandwidth consumed by a mass distribution event. The fraction may be adjusted for particular geographical locations and the time of day to make more effective use of network bandwidth.

Abstract: Techniques are described for exchanging data between software applications, such as project-related data between a project management software application (“PMSA”) and an unaffiliated organizational project tracking software application (“OPTSA”). A computing architecture with multiple interacting computer systems, such as a client-server architecture, can be used to allow users of remote computing systems to access project-related data and/or functionality from other computing systems, such as a thin client computing system with limited or no local capabilities to execute software applications and/or store associated application data accessing a remote central server computing system in order to interact with a PMSA executing on the server, to interact with an OPTSA executing on the server, and/or to invoke data exchange functionality available at the server for exchanging project-related data between the PMSA and OPTSA.

Abstract: Techniques are described for exchanging data between software applications, such as project-related data between a project management software application (“PMSA”) and an unaffiliated organizational project tracking software application (“OPTSA”). A mapping and other related information may be defined for the data exchange, such as by defining data fields of the OPTSA database and PMSA data file that correspond, and optionally specifying related information such as additional processing to be performed for various data fields during the data exchange, conditions when a mapping is to be used, ordering information for data fields during import and/or export, preferred data formats for stored values, etc. Also, in some situations round-trip data import/export is performed for a single PMSA data file, which may include tracking whether data entity instances previously existed in the destination in order to support changes to stored inter-relationships between data entity instances.

Abstract: A hosting center that is remote from a plurality of customer environments is provided so that users can interact with data from the user's selected customer environment. The data interaction includes bidirectional synchronization of data between that of the hosting center and that of the user's selected customer environment.

Abstract: A method for controlling the update installation behavior of a computing device according to installation attributes is presented. When present, a mandatory installation attribute associated with a software update causes the installation process executed on the computing device to disallow a user to selectively not install the software update. A priority installation attribute causes the computing device to request a higher amount of network bandwidth for obtaining the software update's content for installation on the client computing device. A deadline installation attribute associated with the software update causes the computing device to permit a user to selectively not install the software update until an associated deadline passes, at which time the software update is installed without further user interaction.