Abstract: A cursor in a viewable portion of a webpage, or pan region, visually encounters a friction field when the cursor enters a margin of the viewable portion. As a user moves the cursor into the margin of the viewable portion, the movement of the displayed position of the cursor is limited as if the cursor is being restricted by a friction field in the margin. Also, as the cursor enters the margin of the viewable portion of the webpage, the webpage scrolls in the opposite direction of movement of the cursor. The amount of scroll of the webpage is proportional to a distance the cursor is away from an inner edge of the margin. When a user no longer attempts to move the cursor in the margin, the cursor fluidly drifts back toward a center of the viewable portion and so that scrolling of the webpage pauses.

Abstract: Methods and systems for conserving power using predictive models and signaling are described. Parameters of a power management policy are set based on predictions based on user activity and/or signals received from a remote computer which define a user preference. In an embodiment, the power management policy involves putting the computer into a sleep state and periodically waking it up. On waking, the computer determines whether to remain awake or to return to the sleep state dependent upon the output of a predictive model or signals that encode whether a remote user has requested that computer remain awake. Before returning to the sleep state, a wake-up timer is set and this timer triggers the computer to subsequently wake-up. The length of time that the timer is set to may depend on factors such as the request from the remote user, context sensors and usage data.

Abstract: Exemplary methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed for capturing, organizing, sharing, and/or displaying media. For example, using embodiments of the disclosed technology, a unified playback and browsing experience for a collection of media can be created automatically. For instance, heuristics and metadata can be used to assemble and add narratives to the media data. Furthermore, this representation of media can recompose itself dynamically as more media is added to the collection. While a collection may use a single user's content, sometimes media that is desirable to include in the collection is captured by friends and/or others at the same event. In certain embodiments, media content related to the event can be automatically collected and shared among selected groups. Further, in some embodiments, new media can be automatically incorporated into a media collection associated with the event, and the playback experience dynamically updated.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to facilitating navigation through a predefined list of websites, such as a list of favorite websites. One embodiment provides a method of operating a web browser. The method comprises receiving a user input corresponding to a web address list navigation command, and sending to the display device a representation of a navigational overlay that illustrates a change of a current location within a predefined list of web addresses responsive to the user input. The method further comprises, after sending the representation of the navigational overlay, ceasing sending of the representation of the navigational overlay to the display device, and sending to the display device a representation of website content obtained from a web address at the current location within the predefined list of web addresses.

Abstract: A voice interface for web pages or other documents identifies interactive elements such as links, obtains one or more phrases of each interactive element, such as link text, title text and alternative text for images, and adds the phrases to a grammar which is used for speech recognition. A click event is generated for an interactive element having a phrase which is a best match for the voice command of a user. In one aspect, the phrases of currently-displayed elements of the document are used for speech recognition. In another aspect, phrases which are not displayed, such as title text and alternative text for images, are used in the grammar. In another aspect, updates to the document are detected and the grammar is updated accordingly so that the grammar is synchronized with the current state of the document.

Abstract: A disambiguation process for a voice interface for web pages or other documents. The process identifies interactive elements such as links, obtains one or more phrases of each interactive element, such as link text, title text and alternative text for images, and adds the phrases to a grammar which is used for speech recognition. A group of interactive elements are identified as potential best matches to a voice command when there is no single, clear best match. The disambiguation process modifies a display of the document to provide unique labels for each interactive element in the group, and the user is prompted to provide a subsequent spoke command to identify one of the unique labels. The selected unique label is identified and a click event is generated for the corresponding interactive element.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to facilitating navigation through a predefined list of websites, such as a list of favorite websites. One embodiment provides a method of operating a web browser. The method comprises receiving a user input corresponding to a web address list navigation command, and sending to the display device a representation of a navigational overlay that illustrates a change of a current location within a predefined list of web addresses responsive to the user input. The method further comprises, after sending the representation of the navigational overlay, ceasing sending of the representation of the navigational overlay to the display device, and sending to the display device a representation of website content obtained from a web address at the current location within the predefined list of web addresses.

Abstract: A cursor in a viewable portion of a webpage, or pan region, visually encounters a friction field when the cursor enters a margin of the viewable portion. As a user moves the cursor into the margin of the viewable portion, the movement of the displayed position of the cursor is limited as if the cursor is being restricted by a friction field in the margin. Also, as the cursor enters the margin of the viewable portion of the webpage, the webpage scrolls in the opposite direction of movement of the cursor. The amount of scroll of the webpage is proportional to a distance the cursor is away from an inner edge of the margin. When a user no longer attempts to move the cursor in the margin, the cursor fluidly drifts back toward a center of the viewable portion and so that scrolling of the webpage pauses.

Abstract: Methods and systems for conserving power using predictive models and signaling are described. Parameters of a power management policy are set based on predictions based on user activity and/or signals received from a remote computer which define a user preference. In an embodiment, the power management policy involves putting the computer into a sleep state and periodically waking it up. On waking, the computer determines whether to remain awake or to return to the sleep state dependent upon the output of a predictive model or signals that encode whether a remote user has requested that computer remain awake. Before returning to the sleep state, a wake-up timer is set and this timer triggers the computer to subsequently wake-up. The length of time that the timer is set to may depend on factors such as the request from the remote user, context sensors and usage data.

Abstract: Methods and systems for conserving power using predictive models and signaling are described. Parameters of a power management policy are set based on predictions based on user activity and/or signals received from a remote computer which define a user preference. In an embodiment, the power management policy involves putting the computer into a sleep state and periodically waking it up. On waking, the computer determines whether to remain awake or to return to the sleep state dependent upon the output of a predictive model or signals that encode whether a remote user has requested that computer remain awake. Before returning to the sleep state, a wake-up timer is set and this timer triggers the computer to subsequently wake-up. The length of time that the timer is set to may depend on factors such as the request from the remote user, context sensors and usage data.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to dynamically scaling a mapping between a touch sensor and a display screen. One disclosed embodiment provides a method including setting a first user interface mapping that maps an area of the touch sensor to a first area of the display screen, receiving a user input from the user input device that changes a user interaction context of the user interface, and in response to the user input, setting a second user interface mapping that maps the area of the touch sensor to a second area of the display screen. The method further comprises providing to the display device an output of a user interface image representing the user input at a location based on the second user interface mapping.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides techniques to effectuate and facilitate efficient and flexible selection of display objects. The system can include devices and components that acquire gestures from pointing instrumentalities and thereafter ascertains velocities and proximities in relation to the displayed objects. Based at least upon these ascertained velocities and proximities falling below or within threshold levels, the system displays flags associated with the display object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting two wireless devices to share information is disclosed. To connect the wireless devices the users communicate to each other a desire to connect their devices. Following this communication the users electronically identify each device, initiate and propose the connection. Once the connection has been made the users are able to share information across the devices. Alternative embodiments provide the user with expedited methods to identify the wireless device, identify the information to share, or provide additional security in forming the connection.

Abstract: Methods and systems for conserving power using predictive models and signaling are described. Parameters of a power management policy are set based on predictions based on user activity and/or signals received from a remote computer which define a user preference. In an embodiment, the power management policy involves putting the computer into a sleep state and periodically waking it up. On waking, the computer determines whether to remain awake or to return to the sleep state dependent upon the output of a predictive model or signals that encode whether a remote user has requested that computer remain awake. Before returning to the sleep state, a wake-up timer is set and this timer triggers the computer to subsequently wake-up. The length of time that the timer is set to may depend on factors such as the request from the remote user, context sensors and usage data.

Abstract: Techniques and technologies are provided which can allow for touch input with a touch screen device. In response to an attempt to select a target displayed on a screen, a callout can be rendered in a non-occluded area of the screen. The callout includes a representation of the area of the screen that is occluded by a selection entity when the attempt to select the target is made.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides techniques to effectuate and facilitate efficient and flexible selection of display objects. The system can include devices and components that acquire gestures from pointing instrumentalities and thereafter ascertains velocities and proximities in relation to the displayed objects. Based at least upon these ascertained velocities and proximities falling below or within threshold levels, the system displays flags associated with the display object.

Abstract: Techniques and technologies are provided which can allow for touch input with a touch screen device. In response to an attempt to select a target displayed on a screen, a callout can be rendered in a non-occluded area of the screen. The callout includes a representation of the area of the screen that is occluded by a selection entity when the attempt to select the target is made.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting two wireless devices to share information is disclosed. To connect the wireless devices the users communicate to each other a desire to connect their devices. Following this communication the users electronically identify each device, initiate and propose the connection. Once the connection has been made the users are able to share information across the devices. Alternative embodiments provide the user with expedited methods to identify the wireless device, identify the information to share, or provide additional security in forming the connection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods providing content-access-based information retrieval. Information items from a plurality of disparate information sources that have been previously accessed or considered are automatically indexed in a data store, whereby a multifaceted user interface is provided to efficiently retrieve the items in a cognitively relevant manner. Various display output arrangements are possible for the retrieved information items including timeline visualizations and multidimensional grid visualizations. Input options include explicit, implicit, and standing queries for retrieving data along with explicit and implicit tagging of items for ease of recall and retrieval. In one aspect, an automated system is provided that facilitates concurrent searching across a plurality of information sources.

Abstract: Learning, inference, and decision making with probabilistic user models, including considerations of preferences about outcomes under uncertainty, may be infeasible on portable devices. The subject invention provides systems and methods for pre-computing and storing policies based on offline preference assessment, learning, and reasoning about ideal actions and interactions, given a consideration of uncertainties, preferences, and/or future states of the world. Actions include ideal real-time inquiries about a state, using pre-computed value-of-information analyses. In one specific example, such pre-computation can be applied to automatically generate and distribute call-handling policies for cell phones. The methods can employ learning of Bayesian network user models for predicting whether users will attend meetings on their calendar and the cost of being interrupted by incoming calls should a meeting be attended.