Abstract: A system and method for efficiently executing a plurality of live parallel Internet content usage experiments using a large pool of randomly selected participating users (separated into control and test groups) while minimally disturbing offered content is provided. In an illustrative implementation, a content provider communicates the parameters for a content usage experiment to a content server. A complimentary test subject verification script operates on the content server that determines which client computing devices are to be included in the experiment group. In operation, a participating client computing device requests content from the content provider's server. The content provider's server executes the test subject verification script to determine if the client computing device is to be considered as a test subject. The content usage of the experiment content and non-experiment content is tracked and compared to each other to determine if the experiment content impacted content usage.

Abstract: The subject application relates to a system(s) and/or methodology that facilitate filtering any set of items in a quick and efficient manner including messages and optionally calendar, notes, and task items. More specifically, as a filter string (input) is entered, it can be immediately compared to properties associated with a selected set of items to filter. As a result, the set of items can be dynamically filtered based on the input entered according to a one-to-one match of the filter string with any selected item or message property. Message properties can include sender, subject, and body of a message. Any items that match the input can be presented to the user in the form of a list. As additional input is entered, the list may dynamically change as more input or less input is received. Thus, any items that match the input appear on the list.

Abstract: Described is a system and method in which the account settings for managing (e.g., sending and receiving) data are maintained in association with the managed data, such that the account settings and data remain unified yet are independent of any computing device. In one electronic mail application implementation, the mail message data and the account settings are maintained in a common store of a same storage volume that is independent of the device, such as on a removable memory card. When a user connects the volume such as by inserting the card, the device automatically reads the email account settings, which are then used to properly receive or send any corresponding messages. Because the account settings are maintained in the same store with any related content (e.g., message) data, the settings and related data thus travel with the user/card when moved to another device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that facilitate minimizing data transfer from a post office protocol (POP) server to a client device by employing a date filter with a predefined date range and applying a message body size threshold above which only a message header will be downloaded to conserve bandwidth and/or memory space on the client device. A user can request download of a message for which only a message header was originally downloaded if the header comprises information of interest to the user.

Abstract: Described is a system and method in which client-side tracking mechanisms allow a computing device to efficiently decide which messages need to be downloaded from a server for subsequent filtering evaluation, and request only those messages. For example, the present invention may be used to limit a download of POP3 email messages to those received in the last n days. When a message is downloaded that does not meet user-specified filtering criteria such as a date window, the message data is discarded, but the state of that message as not meeting the criteria is preserved in an already-checked table. On a subsequent data request, the received list of unique message IDs is checked against the main message store and the checked table, and message data only downloaded if the unique ID is not found. Messages that are not listed are removed from the message store or the checked table.

Abstract: Described is a system and method in which the account settings for managing (e.g., sending and receiving) data are maintained in association with the managed data, such that the account settings and data remain unified yet are independent of any computing device. In one electronic mail application implementation, the mail message data and the account settings are maintained in a common store of a same storage volume that is independent of the device, such as on a removable memory card. When a user connects the volume such as by inserting the card, the device automatically reads the email account settings, which are then used to properly receive or send any corresponding messages. Because the account settings are maintained in the same store with any related content (e.g., message) data, the settings and related data thus travel with the user/card when moved to another device.

Abstract: A data migration throttle that supports the incremental and reversible migration of web site customization data from a client-side data store to a server-side data store. Initially, each user of the web site stores customization data, such as the user's zip code, in a cookies file together with a globally unique identifier (GUID) which identifies the user. In order to migrate data to a server side store, the throttle is set to a value. Each time a user contacts the web server a hash of the user's GUID is compared with the throttle value, and the user's data is migrated to the server if the hash value is less than the throttle value. The throttle may be lowered, thereby causing some users to revert to client-side storage of customization data.