Abstract: A mobile computing device that supports cost-aware application components for operation over a metered network. A current basis for computing usage charges over one or more networks may be made available to the cost-aware application components through an application programming interface supported by an operating system service. That service may receive a policy for charging for data usage over a network and may also obtain information defining data usage for the mobile computing device. Based on this information, the service may determine a current basis for charging for data usage. With this information, the application component can determine a manner for executing network operations that involve data transmission over the network, such as deferring the operation or selecting an alternative network.

Abstract: The present invention relates to coating compositions for surfactant-containing bars (e.g., soap bars and dish bars).

Abstract: A mobile computing device that supports cost-aware application components for operation over a metered network. A current basis for computing usage charges over one or more networks may be made available to the cost-aware application components through an application programming interface supported by an operating system service. That service may receive a policy for charging for data usage over a network and may also obtain information defining data usage for the mobile computing device. Based on this information, the service may determine a current basis for charging for data usage. With this information, the application component can determine a manner for executing network operations that involve data transmission over the network, such as deferring the operation or selecting an alternative network.

Abstract: A context dependent computing device. The computing device configures itself for operations based on its context. The computing device may determine its context by reading a value from a tag using low power transmissions such that receiving a value from the tag provides an indication of proximity to a location where the tag is affixed. The value read provides an indication of a desired operation. In response to reading a value of a tag, the computing device may identify an application to launch, identify devices with which to pair or take other actions that configure the computing device for its context.

Abstract: A dock for interacting with a computing device. The computing device configures itself for operations based on its context, which may be determined form the dock by reading a value from a tag on the dock. The computing device may use low power transmissions such that receiving a value from the tag provides an indication of proximity to the dock. The value read provides an indication of a desired operation, and, in response to reading a value of the tag, the computing device may launch an application, pair with devices in the vicinity of the dock, or take other actions that configure the computing device. A universal dock, usable with computing devices of a plurality of form factors, may be implemented by providing an array of tags and, in some cases, a non-contact power supply.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for printing by a client computer reduce network usage and print delay, while performing print configuration and management at a centralized print server. The print server controls enablement of a branch office printing mode. When the branch office printing mode is enabled, the client computer sends spooled print data directly to a selected printer in the branch office. When the branch office printing mode is disabled, the client computer sends the spooled print data to the centralized print server, and the print server routes the print data to the selected printer. The print server performs configuration and management functions for the client computer in both operating modes. The print server may enable and disable the branch office printing mode on a per queue basis.

Abstract: Methods and computer readable mediums are described that facilitate inviting user entities on a network. The method may include initiating a first application for sending an invitation by a first user entity on a first endpoint, selecting a second user entity to receive the invitation, and selecting an activity. The method may also include sending from the first endpoint to the second user entity the invitation to participate in the activity if the first endpoint determines the activity is supported by a computing application on the first endpoint.

Abstract: A method for creating, discovering, and joining meetings over a peer-to-peer network involves creation of a graph of meetings on a local subnet. When a meeting is created a meeting record is added to the graph where it may be discovered by other potential meeting attendees. A user may select from a list of meetings displayed in a meeting management window and send requested showing the selected meaning. Credentials, such as a password, may be supplied with the request. When the request is validated, information is sent to the requester for use in joining the meeting. When an ad hoc wireless session is used to hold a meeting the discovery process may further include analyzing data traffic to determine which wireless sessions are meetings.

Abstract: A method and system may provide a unified concept of presence across all connected hosts by providing a common point of access for all presence-related data on the system. The application abstraction layer may provide a common interface for all presence-enabled applications to access and publish information related to locally or remotely-executing presence applications. The application abstraction layer may push presence data to the presence-enabled applications, or each application may access the layer to gain presence data related to other applications. Also, the application abstraction layer may store all presence data locally or remotely.

Abstract: The claimed invention adapts an existing operating system native replication service component to interface with a general application running on a peer-to-peer network. The claimed invention provides the general application with replication services without the need for coding this functionality from scratch. The claimed invention also adapts the replication service functionality to create a topology of connections based on information received from a peer-to-peer network component, thereby making the replication service function more efficiently with a peer-to-peer network.

Abstract: By adding a server as a node on a peer-to-peer network, the network may become more scalable, more reliable and more manageable, especially when the peer-to-peer network becomes very large.

Abstract: Users on a peer-to-peer network, particularly a local subnet or ad hoc wireless network, may publish first contact information to a graph or data store on the network. The first contact information may include a certificate with a public-key and a user identification, such as a peer name. Other users may discover the first contact information and use the first contact information to request additional information from the user. Data in the first contact information may also be “promoted” by adding the information to a trusted contacts database, allowing the user additional privileges. The user publishing the first contact information may be given the opportunity to approve or deny the request for additional information.

Abstract: A method for creating, discovering, and joining meetings over a peer-to-peer network involves creation of a graph of meetings on a local subnet. When a meeting is created a meeting record is added to the graph where it may be discovered by other potential meeting attendees. A user may select from a list of meetings displayed in a meeting management window and send requested showing the selected meaning. Credentials, such as a password, may be supplied with the request. When the request is validated, information is sent to the requester for use in joining the meeting. When an ad hoc wireless session is used to hold a meeting the discovery process may further include analyzing data traffic to determine which wireless sessions are meetings.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for facilitiating collaboration and/or communication in a peer-to-peer serverless system. The system may transmit to other computing systems associated with other entities information regarding presence information associated with a user entity. Also, the system may request of other computing systems associated with other entities information regarding presence information associated with the other entities. Presence information may generally indicate the willingness and/or ability of an entity to communicate and/or collaborate with other entities, for example.

Abstract: A method of converting a peer name to a PNRP DNS is disclosed. The method may take a peer name and encode it into a common DNS name. The method may also take a PNRP DNS name and convert it to a peer name.

Abstract: A set of collaborative contacts may be selected with an invitation user interface. An invitation to participate in a collaborative activity may be sent to the selected contacts from the invitation user interface or from a collaborative application. The invitation may be received by a collaborative services platform. A user of the collaborative services platform may be presented with the invitation along with an ability to choose one of accept, decline and ignore in response to the invitation. The user may choose to accept, decline or explicitly ignore the invitation, and a response may be sent to the sender of the invitation indicating the user's choice. An application programming interface for a collaborative invitation service of the collaborative services platform may include an invitation element, a send invitation element, a respond to invitation element and a cancel invitation element. The cancel invitation element may be used to cancel issued invitations.

Abstract: Collaboration between collaborative endpoints may be facilitated by a serverless publication service of a collaborative services platform. The serverless publication service may be configured to accept communicative connections from the collaborative endpoints. Users of the collaborative services platform may publish their associated collaborative presences with the serverless publication service. For example, the collaborative presence of a user may include information with respect to valid collaborative endpoints for the user and collaborative capabilities at those endpoints. Subscriptions to published collaborative presences may be placed through the serverless publication service. A collaborative presence subscribe message may specify a subscription to a collaborative presence of a user. Upon receipt of a presence subscribe message, if there is no subscription policy with respect to the sender, the recipient may be queried for a subscription policy with respect to the sender.

Abstract: Methods and computer readable mediums are described that facilitate inviting user entities on a network. The method may include initiating a first application for sending an invitation by a first user entity on a first endpoint, selecting a second user entity to receive the invitation, and selecting an activity. The method may also include sending from the first endpoint to the second user entity the invitation to participate in the activity if the first endpoint determines the activity is supported by a computing application on the first endpoint.

Abstract: A method of discovering a community relay node within a network community wherein the community relay node is operatively coupled to an access-protected client and adapted to facilitate communication between the access-protected client and a requesting client, includes receiving a request message from a requesting client relating to a request for a community relay node, associating the request message with a serverless name resolution protocol name, selecting a community relay node from among a list of community relay nodes based on the serverless name resolution protocol name, wherein the list of community relay nodes comprises at least one internet protocol address associated with a community relay node, and returning an internet protocol address of the selected community relay node to the requesting client.

Abstract: A method of identification used for communication within a network includes generating a network identity associated with a user, modifying the network identity according to a user preference to create a modified network identity, identifying the user with the modified network identity within a first network communication for a first network communication application, and identifying the user with the modified network identity within a second network communication for a second network communication application.