Abstract: A system is configured to implement a graphical overlay in a streaming game based on a current game state. Game data generated by a video game is received including game video in the form of a video stream containing game video frames. The game video is displayed on a display screen of a computing device to represent the video game to a user playing the video game at the computing device. At least one feature of the video game is identified at least in the game data. A user interface (UI) control configuration associated with the identified at least one feature is selected from among a plurality of UI control configurations for the video game and a graphical overlay corresponding to the selected UI control configuration is implemented on the video game in the display screen.

Abstract: A system is configured to implement a graphical overlay in a streaming game based on a current game state. Game data generated by a video game is received including game video in the form of a video stream containing game video frames. The game video is displayed on a display screen of a computing device to represent the video game to a user playing the video game at the computing device. At least one feature of the video game is identified at least in the game data. A user interface (UI) control configuration associated with the identified at least one feature is selected from among a plurality of UI control configurations for the video game and a graphical overlay corresponding to the selected UI control configuration is implemented on the video game in the display screen.

Abstract: A system is configured to implement a graphical overlay in a streaming game based on a current game state. Game data generated by a video game is received including game video in the form of a video stream containing game video frames. The game video is displayed on a display screen of a computing device to represent the video game to a user playing the video game at the computing device. At least one feature of the video game is identified at least in the game data. A user interface (UI) control configuration associated with the identified at least one feature is selected from among a plurality of UI control configurations for the video game and a graphical overlay corresponding to the selected UI control configuration is implemented on the video game in the display screen.

Abstract: Different target functions at a target computing platform having limited resources are invoked by a single generic function call from a calling computing platform having substantial resources. A target function can be called in a consistent and efficient manner, so that custom code can be avoided at the target computing platform for each target function. The generic function call can have parameters which identify a memory location at which a target function is stored, and one or more parameters to be passed to the target function in a format (e.g., length, endianness, enumerated data type, structured record type, float or integer type) which the target function uses, so that further conversion at the target computing platform is avoided. Parameters can also identify a thread and processor on which the function should run. The target computing platform loads and executes the target function using the registers in a deterministic way.

Abstract: A common game controller is compatible with multiple platforms including game devices and general purpose processors. The common controller can be utilized by both developers and users. Game software can easily be implemented on multiple platforms. Common source code can be developed and compiled to run on multiple systems, for example XBOX 360®, WINDOWS XP®, and WINDOWS® VISTA. Users only have to learn and get familiar with a single game controller. The common controller includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) compatible interface allowing the controller to be coupled to multiple types of platforms. The common controller can also include a wireless interface.

Abstract: Different target functions at a target computing platform having limited resources are invoked by a single generic function call from a calling computing platform having substantial resources. A target function can be called in a consistent and efficient manner, so that custom code can be avoided at the target computing platform for each target function. The generic function call can have parameters which identify a memory location at which a target function is stored, and one or more parameters to be passed to the target function in a format (e.g., length, endianness, enumerated data type, structured record type, float or integer type) which the target function uses, so that further conversion at the target computing platform is avoided. Parameters can also identify a thread and processor on which the function should run. The target computing platform loads and executes the target function using the registers in a deterministic way.

Abstract: A compliance interface is disclosed that takes in queries from applications which may want to know if they are compliant with associated polices stored on a computing system. The interface can then interpret these queries and provide notifications and instructions to the applications. Notifications may give notice of how a policy may impact an application, and instructions may tell an application how to behave in order to stay compliant with the policies. In one aspect, the interface exposes policies set forth by parents. Via a management control panel, parents can set or alter various policies, stored in a settings store, to protect children from contact with undesirable content. The interface interprets these policies to ensure that applications, such as those provided by third party vendors, are compliant with the wishes set forth in the parents' policies.

Abstract: Mechanisms are disclosed for detecting protocols independently of the ports used by streams associated with the protocols or applications that may send out such streams. The detecting may entail using a content filter that is hosted on a networking stack, where the content filter may be composed of a stream buffer and handlers for detecting the protocols. The handlers may be further used to modify streams incoming to a port or streams outgoing from an application. The handlers can modify the streams in a variety of ways, including reading, inserting, replacing, deleting, and completing data in the streams according to some policy criteria, such as those set by parental controls. Individual handlers may be selected from a plurality or set of handlers so that they can be matched up to the appropriate streams.

Abstract: A compliance interface is disclosed that takes in queries from applications which may want to know if they are compliant with associated polices stored on a computing system. The interface can then interpret these queries and provide notifications and instructions to the applications. Notifications may give notice of how a policy may impact an application, and instructions may tell an application how to behave in order to stay compliant with the policies. In one aspect, the interface exposes policies set forth by parents. Via a management control panel, parents can set or alter various policies, stored in a settings store, to protect children from contact with undesirable content. The interface interprets these policies to ensure that applications, such as those provided by third party vendors, are compliant with the wishes set forth in the parents' policies.

Abstract: A compliance interface is disclosed that takes in queries from applications which may want to know if they are compliant with associated polices stored on a computing system. The interface can then interpret these queries and provide notifications and instructions to the applications. Notifications may give notice of how a policy may impact an application, and instructions may tell an application how to behave in order to stay compliant with the policies. In one aspect, the interface exposes policies set forth by parents. Via a management control panel, parents can set or alter various policies, stored in a settings store, to protect children from contact with undesirable content. The interface interprets these policies to ensure that applications, such as those provided by third party vendors, are compliant with the wishes set forth in the parents' policies.

Abstract: A common game controller is compatible with multiple platforms including game devices and general purpose processors. The common controller can be utilized by both developers and users. Game software can easily be implemented on multiple platforms. Common source code can be developed and compiled to run on multiple systems, for example XBOX 360®, WINDOWS XP®, and WINDOWS® VISTA. Users only have to learn and get familiar with a single game controller. The common controller includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) compatible interface allowing the controller to be coupled to multiple types of platforms. The common controller can also include a wireless interface.

Abstract: A common game controller is compatible with multiple platforms including game devices and general purpose processors. The common controller can be utilized by both developers and users. Game software can easily be implemented on multiple platforms. Common source code can be developed and compiled to run on multiple systems, for example XBOX 360®, WINDOWS XP®, and WINDOWS® VISTA. Users only have to learn and get familiar with a single game controller. The common controller includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) compatible interface allowing the controller to be coupled to multiple types of platforms. The common controller can also include a wireless interface.

Abstract: Communications provided via e-mail, instant messaging, chat, and web-based telephony applications, are monitored and restricted at a computer host. In one approach, messages from unknown or unsafe senders are intercepted and stored in a location inaccessible to all but an authorized person, until they can be reviewed by the authorized person, such as a parent. Via a user interface, the authorized user can review the messages at a later time to determine if the intended recipient, such as a child, should be able to access them. Once access is authorized, the stored messages are retrieved and provided to the recipient. In another aspect, a shared allow/block contact list identifies a user having different user names from one or more service providers. The contact list can integrate users from different services and communication modes. In another aspect, notification of monitoring is provided in the monitored messages or in newly generated messages.