Abstract: A client device presents content received from various content sources to a user. Different portions of the client device's memory are allocated for storing content from different content sources. The client device determines a quality score for a content source based on usability of content received from the content source. Based on the quality score for a content source, the client device allocates a portion of its memory for content from the content source. Additionally, if content from a content source is larger than an amount of memory allocated for the content source, the client device stores a portion of the content and requests storage of an additional portion of the content by an additional client device. When the client device has sufficient memory to store the content, the additional portion is retrieved from the additional client device and combined with the portion of the content.

Abstract: There is described a display having a front surface, in which the display comprises a first area of the front surface and a second area of the front surface located adjacent to the first area. A direction of the longer dimension of the first area is substantially orthogonal to a direction of the longer dimension of the second area.

Abstract: A client device presents content received from various content sources to a user. Different portions of the client device's memory are allocated for storing content from different content sources. The client device determines a quality score for a content source based on usability of content received from the content source. Based on the quality score for a content source, the client device allocates a portion of its memory for content from the content source. Additionally, if content from a content source is larger than an amount of memory allocated for the content source, the client device stores a portion of the content and requests storage of an additional portion of the content by an additional client device. When the client device has sufficient memory to store the content, the additional portion is retrieved from the additional client device and combined with the portion of the content.

Abstract: In embodiments of device to device content upgrades, a computing device includes a peer sharing manager that shares content and upgrades to content with peer devices. The computing device downloads content and upgrades from sources on the Internet, and shares the content and upgrades with peer devices that lack an Internet connection. A lowest supported version of the content can be shared from the computing device to one of the peer devices. The lowest supported version of the content determines capabilities of the peer device and establishes a peer-to-peer communication link with the computing device. The peer device reports the capability information to the computing device and, if the computing device determines that the peer device is capable of supporting an upgraded version of the content, the computing device communicates the upgraded version of the content to the peer device.

Abstract: There is described a display having a front surface, in which the display comprises a first area of the front surface and a second area of the front surface located adjacent to the first area. A direction of the longer dimension of the first area is substantially orthogonal to a direction of the longer dimension of the second area.

Abstract: Multiple computing devices (102, 122) transfer data and otherwise communicate directly with one another, and do so in the absence of any intervening devices such as devices accessed over the Internet or other wide-range network. A user of a particular device can select which other devices, if any, are to be trusted by the particular device. Once another device is trusted by the particular device, data from the particular device is backed up to the trusted device while the two devices are in close physical proximity to one another. In the event that data on the particular device is lost, the lost data can be restored from the trusted device to the particular device while the two devices are in close physical proximity to one another.

Abstract: Techniques are described that may be utilized to manage membership of peers in a peer-to-peer network. For example, membership may be based at least in part on a score that is calculated that describes a reputation for peers in the peer-to-peer network. The calculation of the score may be based, at least in part, on a number of peers that provided reports of inappropriate content, rather than relying solely on a number of reports received from the peers as was performed using conventional techniques. In another example, this score may also be calculated, at least in part, to reflect a positive score for the peer. For instance, the score may also be adjusted based on a number of peers that also received the content but did not report the content as inappropriate.

Abstract: In embodiments of device to device content upgrades, a computing device includes a peer sharing manager that shares content and upgrades to content with peer devices. The computing device downloads content and upgrades from sources on the Internet, and shares the content and upgrades with peer devices that lack an Internet connection. A lowest supported version of the content can be shared from the computing device to one of the peer devices. The lowest supported version of the content determines capabilities of the peer device and establishes a peer-to-peer communication link with the computing device. The peer device reports the capability information to the computing device and, if the computing device determines that the peer device is capable of supporting an upgraded version of the content, the computing device communicates the upgraded version of the content to the peer device.

Abstract: A client device presents content received from various content sources to a user. Different portions of the client device's memory are allocated for storing content from different content sources. The client device determines a quality score for a content source based on usability of content received from the content source. Based on the quality score for a content source, the client device allocates a portion of its memory for content from the content source. Additionally, if content from a content source is larger than an amount of memory allocated to the content source, the client device stores a portion of the content and requests storage of an additional portion of the content by an additional client device. When the client device has sufficient memory to store the content, the additional portion is retrieved from the additional client device and combined with the portion of the content.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing an action while a portable computing device is in a locked state is disclosed. An unlock image is displayed in a first region of a touch-sensitive display. Responsive to detecting contact with the touch-sensitive display at the first region, an action image is displayed in a second region of the touch-sensitive display. While the unlock image remains stationary at the first region, movement of the contact with the touch-sensitive display is detected and a direction of movement of the contact is determined. Responsive to determining the direction of movement of the contact is towards the action image, the action image is visually modified to distinguish it from the unlock image. Responsive to the contact with the touch-sensitive display reaching the second region, an action associated with the action image is performed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing an action while a portable computing device is in a locked state is disclosed. An unlock image is displayed in a first region of a touch-sensitive display. Responsive to detecting contact with the touch-sensitive display at the first region, an action image is displayed in a second region of the touch-sensitive display. While the unlock image remains stationary at the first region, movement of the contact with the touch-sensitive display is detected and a direction of movement of the contact is determined. Responsive to determining the direction of movement of the contact is towards the action image, the action image is visually modified to distinguish it from the unlock image. Responsive to the contact with the touch-sensitive display reaching the second region, an action associated with the action image is performed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes irrigation control software for a computer that interacts with the features of a plurality of advanced sprinklers, environmental sensors, and other available data. The irrigation control software provides a graphical user interface to create a more efficient irrigation scheduling control interface.

Abstract: A system is implemented on a mobile communication device for establishing preferred contacts for a central user of the mobile communication device. The system comprises a data collection device that captures the central user's interaction with other users on a network according to frequency during situational factors; and a query apparatus that inquires, for current situational factors, which contacts are preferred that the central user will communicate with based on central user's past interactions during same situational factors that correspond only to the central user. A list is provided to the central user of one or more of the preferred contacts that the central user selects from; and an application launcher is communicatively coupled to the list for display of the list of preferred contacts that are also functionally related to the application launcher.

Abstract: A user request is received for a workflow guide that pertains to a workflow involving tasks of multiple applications that cooperate with database management software. In response to receiving the indication, the workflow guide is presented for display, where the workflow guide provides information regarding tasks associated with the multiple applications involved in the workflow. Interactive selections made by a user in the displayed workflow guide are received to cause further information to be retrieved.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes irrigation control software for a computer that interacts with the features of a plurality of advanced sprinklers, environmental sensors, and other available data. The irrigation control software provides a graphical user interface to create a more efficient irrigation scheduling control interface.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes irrigation control software for a computer that interacts with the features of a plurality of advanced sprinklers, environmental sensors, and other available data. The irrigation control software provides a graphical user interface to create a more efficient irrigation scheduling control interface.