Abstract: A hierarchical resource analysis system, for a building that has a plurality of zones each with a corresponding resource arranged to alter an environment of the zone, includes one or more processors that implement a plurality of causal agents and a causal coordinator. Each of the causal agents reports to the causal coordinator parameter values describing a state of the environment of one of the zones and parameter values describing a state of the corresponding resource for the zone. The causal coordinator, responsive to indication that at least one of the parameter values describing a state of the environment of one of the zones is outside a predefined zone range and all of the parameter values describing the states of the corresponding resources for the zones being within corresponding predefined resource ranges, commands at least one of the causal agents to operate the corresponding resource within an altered span.

Abstract: A digital assistant supported on devices such as smartphones, tablets, personal computers, game consoles, etc. exposes an updated and enhanced set of alarm functions to improve a device's user wake-up routines by applying automation rules to a variety of collected or sensed data and inputs in a context-aware manner in order to surface user experiences and content that are contextually meaningful and catered to the particular device user. The digital assistant can support an alarm system having network connectivity to other devices and external systems that enables the user to set an alarm and be awoken using a wide variety of stimuli such as sounds, voice, music, lights, and tactile sensations and then be given a summary of the upcoming day using verbal narration and graphical displays on the device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating handwritten personalized messages using a digital personal assistant are provided. A message for a user associated with the digital personal assistant is initiated. The message is to be communicated to a recipient by way of the digital personal assistant. Content is generated for the message, and the user may add handwritten content to the message. Once the recipient of the message is determined and the message is completed, the message is communicated to the recipient.

Abstract: A digital assistant supported across devices such as smartphones, tablets, personal computers (PCs), wearable computing devices, game consoles, and the like is configured to interact with one or more music and/or search services so that various user experiences, content, or features that enhance a user's involvement with music and other media content can be integrated with the digital assistant and rendered as a native digital assistant user experience. The digital assistant is configured to behave like the user's personal radio host or disc jockey (DJ), for example, by determining the user's intent and preferences, maintaining awareness of history and context, performing tasks and actions to curate personalized playlists and offer them at contextually-relevant times and places, providing information, recommendations, content, and commentary relating to the user's music, and proactively interacting with the user to make existing music easy to find and new music easy to discover.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating handwritten personalized messages using a digital personal assistant are provided. A message for a user associated with the digital personal assistant is initiated. The message is to be communicated to a recipient by way of the digital personal assistant. Content is generated for the message, and the user may add handwritten content to the message. Once the recipient of the message is determined and the message is completed, the message is communicated to the recipient.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are described for implementing a digital personal assistant. The digital personal assistant is capable of determining that a user has asked a question or made a statement that is intended to engage with a persona of the digital personal assistant. In response to determining that the user has asked such a question or made such a statement, the digital personal assistant provides a response thereto by displaying or playing back a multimedia object associated with a popular culture reference within or by a user interface of the digital personal assistant. Additionally or alternatively, in response to determining that the user has asked such a question or made such a statement, the digital personal assistant provides the response thereto by generating or playing back speech that comprises an impersonation of a voice of a person associated with the popular culture reference.

Abstract: A digital assistant supported on devices such as smartphones, tablets, personal computers, game consoles, etc. exposes an updated and enhanced set of alarm functions to improve a device's user wake-up routines by applying automation rules to a variety of collected or sensed data and inputs in a context-aware manner in order to surface user experiences and content that are contextually meaningful and catered to the particular device user. The digital assistant can support an alarm system having network connectivity to other devices and external systems that enables the user to set an alarm and be awoken using a wide variety of stimuli such as sounds, voice, music, lights, and tactile sensations and then be given a summary of the upcoming day using verbal narration and graphical displays on the device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are described for implementing a digital personal assistant. The digital personal assistant is capable of determining that a user has asked a question or made a statement that is intended to engage with a persona of the digital personal assistant. In response to determining that the user has asked such a question or made such a statement, the digital personal assistant provides a response thereto by displaying or playing back a multimedia object associated with a popular culture reference within or by a user interface of the digital personal assistant. Additionally or alternatively, in response to determining that the user has asked such a question or made such a statement, the digital personal assistant provides the response thereto by generating or playing back speech that comprises an impersonation of a voice of a person associated with the popular culture reference.

Abstract: Techniques are described for automatically creating calendar items. For example, calendar-related activity can be detected within user-accessed content on a computing device. In response to the detected calendar-related activity, calendar information can be displayed to a user of the computing device that indicates availability of the user. The user can indicate initiate creation of a calendar item based on the detected calendar-related activity and save the calendar item to the user's calendar.