Abstract: Keywords may be extracted from conversations, such as Instant Messaging (IM) conversations, and content may be served based on the extracted keywords. In one example, an analysis component runs on a machine alongside a conversation application, such as an IM client. The analysis component compares words in the conversation with a dictionary of keywords. When keywords are detected, the keywords are sent to a server. Analysis components also run on other machines that participate in the conversation and, likewise, send keywords to the server. The server selects ads based on the detected keywords, and provides the ads to the machines that the participants are using to participate in the conversation, so that the ads can be displayed to the participants. The ads may be synchronized, so that all of the participants see the same ad impressions (or similar or related ad impressions).

Abstract: Watermarks may be used to deter certain types of information leaks. In one example, leaks occur in the form of posting, in public forums, screen shots of private pages. To deter this example kind of leak, private web pages within an organization may be watermarked with an experience identifier that identifies the session in which the screen shot is captured. Other information may also be included in the watermark. The watermark may be designed to survive image compression, so that it can be recovered from either a compressed or uncompressed image of the web page. By using an experience identifier recovered from the watermark, and logs that describe activity associated with that experience identifier, it may be possible to identify the source of the information leak.

Abstract: Techniques for asynchronous task execution are described. In an implementation, tasks may be initiated and executed asynchronously, thereby allowing a plurality of calls to be made in parallel. Each task may be associated with a respective timeout that triggers an end to execution of the task. If a timeout for a low priority task expires without completing both the low priority task and a relatively higher priority task, then the low priority task may use the relatively higher priority task to extend execution time of the low priority task in order to allow additional time to perform the low priority task.

Abstract: An advertisement is associated with an advertiser-sponsored theme. An application generates a page that includes the advertisement. If a first user input event is detected with respect to the advertisement, the advertiser-sponsored theme is temporarily applied to the page, thereby providing a preview of the advertiser-sponsored theme. If a second user input event is detected with respect to the advertisement, the preview of the advertiser-sponsored theme is removed from the page. If a third user input event is detected with respect to the advertisement, the advertiser-sponsored theme is selected for use with the application. A notification may also be provided to other users indicated that the advertiser-sponsored theme was selected for use.