Abstract: To provide data from a database in response to an application query, the database is queried an initial time to provide a first set of data. For example, a “fast first page” may be requested, by requesting that all data which might appear on a first page to be displayed is obtained from the database first. After this, one or more subsequent asynchronous queries obtain the remaining information responsive to the query. Or, certain columns from the database (“spine columns”) may be requested in the initial query of the database, and the rest of the data requested subsequently. Thus, information needed to make an initial presentation to a user can be obtained first, and other information filled in subsequently.

Abstract: In order to efficiently handle change notification requests to a storage system based on a database data store and a database engine, the change notification requests are multiplexed. This can be done by issuing a query which refers, for information about what changes are being tracked, to a data structure. The information about what changes to track for each request to be multiplexed is stored in the data structure. Additionally, information about the request can be stored in the data structure. By adding information to the data structure, the query can be altered without needing to directly modify or reissue the query.

Abstract: A schema-based service for Internet access to per-user services data, wherein access to data is based on each user's identity. The service includes a schema that defines rules and a structure for each user's data, and also includes methods that provide access to the data in a defined way. The services schema thus corresponds to a logical document containing the data for each user. The user manipulates (e.g., reads or writes) data in the logical document by data access requests through defined methods. In one implementation, the services schemas are arranged as XML documents, and the services provide methods that control access to the data based on the requesting user's identification, defined role and scope for that role. In this way, data can be accessed by its owner, and shared to an extent determined by the owner.

Abstract: Described is a schema-based notification platform that provides regularized notification handling including user control and normalization of the operation of policies across different information types and contexts. Information-service schemas and services are combined to build a content-sensitive and context-sensitive information service to communicate information to recipient devices of users that subscribe to those services. An information agent service collects the information, and based on various criteria, determines if, when, and how to send and render the information, and to which subscribing client device or devices. The set of schemas include a notification schema that represents the subscription of a service to an information source and details about that information, and a device schema that represents information about user devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods to provide rich interaction with persisted data. In particular, an application view is generated for each application and dynamically maintained to provide a rich experience working with data, including but not limited to an ability to scroll through large sets of data while viewing additions, deletions, and other changes made to the underlying data in real-time. According to one aspect of the invention, the application view is generated from a view table that includes aggregates and fully expanded groups at each level and a second table that comprises the expanded/collapsed state of grouped rows.

Abstract: Described is a schema-based notification platform that provides regularized notification handling including user control and normalization of the operation of policies across different information types and contexts. Information-service schemas and services are combined to build a content-sensitive and context-sensitive information service to communicate information to recipient devices of users that subscribe to those services. An information agent service collects the information, and based on various criteria, determines if, when, and how to send and render the information, and to which subscribing client device or devices. The set of schemas include a notification schema that represents the subscription of a service to an information source and details about that information, and a device schema that represents information about user devices.

Abstract: Described is a schema-based notification platform that provides regularized notification handling including user control and normalization of the operation of policies across different information types and contexts. Information-service schemas and services are combined to build a content-sensitive and context-sensitive information service to communicate information to recipient devices of users that subscribe to those services. An information agent service collects the information, and based on various criteria, determines if, when, and how to send and render the information, and to which subscribing client device or devices. The set of schemas include a notification schema that represents the subscription of a service to an information source and details about that information, and a device schema that represents information about user devices.

Abstract: Described is a schema-based notification platform that provides regularized notification handling including user control and normalization of the operation of policies across different information types and contexts. Information-service schemas and services are combined to build a content-sensitive and context-sensitive information service to communicate information to recipient devices of users that subscribe to those services. An information agent service collects the information, and based on various criteria, determines if, when, and how to send and render the information, and to which subscribing client device or devices. The set of schemas include a notification schema that represents the subscription of a service to an information source and details about that information, and a device schema that represents information about user devices.

Abstract: Described is a schema-based notification platform that provides regularized notification handling including user control and normalization of the operation of policies across different information types and contexts. Information-service schemas and services are combined to build a content-sensitive and context-sensitive information service to communicate information to recipient devices of users that subscribe to those services. An information agent service collects the information, and based on various criteria, determines if, when, and how to send and render the information, and to which subscribing client device or devices. The set of schemas include a notification schema that represents the subscription of a service to an information source and details about that information, and a device schema that represents information about user devices.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a storage platform comprising: a data store in which data stored therein is defined in terms of items, elements, and relationships, wherein an item is a unit of data storable in the data store and comprises one or more elements, an element is an instance of a type comprising one or more fields, and a relationship is a link between at least two items; a set of schemas that define different types of items, elements, and relationships; and an application programming interface comprising a class for each of the different items, elements, and relationships defined in the set of schemas. Data may also be stored in the data store in the form of an extension to an existing item type, and wherein the application programming interface comprises a class for each different item extension.

Abstract: A schema-based device service that provides centralized access to per-user device data, wherein access to the device data is based on each user's identity. The device service includes a schema that defines rules and a structure for each user's data, and also includes methods that provide access to the data in a defined way. The device schema thus corresponds to a logical document containing the data for each user. A service such as a notification/alerts service accesses data in the logical document by data access requests through defined methods, such as in order to customize or modify a notification for a device based on the device characteristics. In one implementation, the device schemas are arranged as XML documents, and the services provide methods that control access to the data based on the requesting user's identification, defined role and scope for that role.

Abstract: A schema-based contacts service for Internet access to per-user contact data, wherein access to data is based on each user's identity. The contacts service includes a schema that defines rules and a structure for each user's data, and also includes methods that provide access to the data in a defined way. The contacts schema thus corresponds to a logical document containing the data for each user. The user manipulates (e.g., reads or writes) data in the logical document by data access requests through defined methods. In one implementation, the contacts schemas are arranged as XML documents, and the services provide methods that control access to the data based on the requesting user's identification, defined role and scope for that role. In this way, data can be accessed by its owner, and shared to an extent determined by the owner.

Abstract: Described is an information preferences schema for controlling the sending of data to a user, such as a notification, in accordance with the user's information preference settings. The information preference schema provides structure for conditions as to whether a notification will be send to a user, and if so how, such as how a notification sent to a device will alert a user, how a notification sent to a device will be rendered, and an action to take (e.g., send to another device, discard, journal) if a notification sent to a device is not received by the device. An information agent accesses the preference settings when a notification is received to handle the notification in accordance with the preference settings data.

Abstract: A schema-based notification/alert service for providing schema-based notifications. The notification service includes a schema that defines rules and a structure for sending, handling and/or receiving notifications and alerts. Senders and receivers manipulate (e.g., read or write) data in the logical document by data access requests through defined methods. In one implementation, the notification schemas are arranged as XML documents, and the services provide methods that control access to the data based on the requesting user's identification, defined role and scope for that role. Extensibility is defined into the schema. An architecture is provided to intelligently route alerts from senders to client user agent recipients.

Abstract: Described is a schema-based notification platform that provides regularized notification handling including user control and normalization of the operation of policies across different information types and contexts. Information-service schemas and services are combined to build a content-sensitive and context-sensitive information service to communicate information to recipient devices of users that subscribe to those services. An information agent service collects the information, and based on various criteria, determines if, when, and how to send and render the information, and to which subscribing client device or devices. The set of schemas include a notification schema that represents the subscription of a service to an information source and details about that information, and a device schema that represents information about user devices.

Abstract: A robust and efficient service-to-service communications protocol that handles change information in an identity-centric data access architecture. The protocol enables the automatic publication and subscription by services of changes made to data of millions of users. The protocol is role-based in that a user controls the users that can subscribe for the user's data changes and is efficient in that data is change data for users are combined and batched, and robust to handle failure scenarios. In one implementation, the a “publisher” refers to the .NET MyServices service which is the source of the data, while a “subscriber” refers to the .NET MyServices service that receives the data. The publisher and subscriber maintain updated information about each other's users in order to accomplish selective data communication and filtering. To provide robustness, requests are acknowledged, and until acknowledged, retried regularly for awhile, with delays between regular retries.

Abstract: A schema-based contacts service for Internet access to per-user contact data, wherein access to data is based on each user's identity. The contacts service includes a schema that defines rules and a structure for each user's data, and also includes methods that provide access to the data in a defined way. The contacts schema thus corresponds to a logical document containing the data for each user. The user manipulates (e.g., reads or writes) data in the logical document by data access requests through defined methods. In one implementation, the contacts schemas are arranged as XML documents, and the services provide methods that control access to the data based on the requesting user's identification, defined role and scope for that role. In this way, data can be accessed by its owner, and shared to an extent determined by the owner.

Abstract: A schema-based presence service for Internet access to per-user presence data, wherein access to data is based on each user's identity. The presence service includes a schema that defines rules and a structure for each user's data, and also includes methods that provide access to the data in a defined way. The presence schema thus corresponds to a logical document containing the data for each user. The user manipulates (e.g., reads or writes) data in the logical document by data access requests through defined methods. In one implementation, the presence schemas are arranged as XML documents, and the services provide methods that control access to the data based on the requesting user's identification, defined role and scope for that role. In this way, data can be accessed by its owner, and shared to an extent determined by the owner.