Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention allow players to instantly access and begin playing games through an online service. To make the games instantly available, an online service keeps instances of games running in active memory waiting for a player to be added. The game instances running in active memory are not attached to a player profile or an I/O channel from a game client. Once the player requests a game, the player's player profile is loaded into the running game instance and an I/O channel is mapped from the game client to the game instance. From the player's perspective, the preloaded game instances allow the player to browse directly from game to game with very little delay. To optimize the usage of server-side resources, historical usage data may be analyzed to anticipate demand for different games.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention allow players to instantly access and begin playing games through an online service. To make the games instantly available, an online service keeps instances of games running in active memory waiting for a player to be added. The game instances running in active memory are not attached to a player profile or an I/O channel from a game client. Once the player requests a game, the player's player profile is loaded into the running game instance and an I/O channel is mapped from the game client to the game instance. From the player's perspective, the preloaded game instances allow the player to browse directly from game to game with very little delay. To optimize the usage of server-side resources, historical usage data may be analyzed to anticipate demand for different games.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention allow game play to migrate back and forth between a server-run video game and a client-run video game. For example, a user could start playing a video game running on a server and then migrate play to a client device, such as a game console. When a game is running on the server, the server executes the game code, renders a video image, and communicates the image to the client. The client may communicate game control commands to the server. The game play may also start on the client and transition to a server. For example, a user may reach a point in the game where the user does not have the game files stored on the client.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention allow players to instantly access and begin playing games through an online service. To make the games instantly available, an online service keeps instances of games running in active memory waiting for a player to be added. The game instances running in active memory are not attached to a player profile or an I/O channel from a game client. Once the player requests a game, the player's player profile is loaded into the running game instance and an I/O channel is mapped from the game client to the game instance. From the player's perspective, the preloaded game instances allow the player to browse directly from game to game with very little delay. To optimize the usage of server-side resources, historical usage data may be analyzed to anticipate demand for different games.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to automotive systems including automotive alerting systems and automotive heads-up display projection systems. In one case, an automotive system includes an internal-facing sensor and an external-facing sensor positioned within an automobile. The automotive system further includes an information processing system that performs various items including receiving interior sensor input from the internal-facing sensor and from the external-facing sensor. The interior sensor input indicates information about the actions the driver and any other automobile occupants. The exterior sensor indicates information about objects that are external to the automobile. The information processing system then determines, based on both the interior sensor input and the exterior sensor input, an appropriate action to perform and performs that action. Such actions may include increasing or decreasing the salience of a triggered alert.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention analyze a context in which a user interacts with a computer interface and automatically optimizes the interface for the context. The controller or control mode the user selects for interaction may define the context, in part. Examples of control modes include gesturing, audio control, use of companion devices, and use of dedicated control devices, such as game controllers and remote controls. The different input devices are designed for different tasks. Nevertheless, a user will frequently attempt to perform a task using a control input that is not adapted for the task. Embodiments of the present invention change the characteristics of the user interface to make it easier for the user to complete an intended task using the input device of the user's choice.

Abstract: In a gesture-based system, gestures may control aspects of a computing environment or application, where the gestures may be derived from a user's position or movement in a physical space. A gesture-based system may have a plurality of modes, each mode a hardware configuration, a software configuration, or a combination thereof. Techniques for transitioning a user's control, via the user's gestures, between different modes enables a system to coordinate controls between multiple modes. For example, while a first mode is active, the user's gestures may control aspects of the first mode. The system may transition the user's control from a control of the first mode to a control of a second mode. The transition may be between hardware, software, or a combination thereof. In another embodiment, reserved gestures that correspond to a first mode that may be executed whether or not a second mode is present.

Abstract: A gesture-based system may have default or pre-packaged gesture information, where a gesture is derived from a user's position or motion in a physical space. In other words, no controllers or devices are necessary. Depending on how a user uses his or her gesture to accomplish the task, the system may refine the properties and the gesture may become personalized. The personalized gesture information may be stored in a gesture profile and can be further updated with the latest data. The gesture-based system may use the gesture profile information for gesture recognition techniques. Further, the gesture profile may be roaming such that the gesture profile is available in a second location without requiring the system to relearn gestures that have already been personalized on behalf of the user.