Abstract: Features are disclosed for providing items from an item store to an item store consumer. An item store organizer can request an item store from an item redemption system based on item store parameters. The item store organizer can receive a single use token from the item redemption system to provide initial access to the item store. The item redemption system can validate the item store consumer based on the single use token. The item redemption system can further validate redemption requests from the item store consumer based on the item store parameters. The item redemption system can fulfill the redemption request based on payment information of the item store organizer and shipping information of the item store consumer. The item redemption system can transmit redemption information to the item store organizer based on fulfilling the redemption request.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for providing items from an item store to an item store consumer. An item store organizer can request an item store from an item redemption system based on item store parameters. The item store organizer can receive a single use token from the item redemption system to provide initial access to the item store. The item redemption system can validate the item store consumer based on the single use token. The item redemption system can further validate redemption requests from the item store consumer based on the item store parameters. The item redemption system can fulfill the redemption request based on payment information of the item store organizer and shipping information of the item store consumer. The item redemption system can transmit redemption information to the item store organizer based on fulfilling the redemption request.

Abstract: Techniques for sharing content across groupings of users sharing a common topic of interest are provided. A subgroup of users from a plurality of users can be identified based on contextual information indicating the common topic of interest. The subgroup of users can access a common user interface generated with a media server that allows interaction between the subgroup of users. New media content can be automatically chosen in an intelligent manner based on user activity related to currently shared content, and other media content can also be chosen by, and confirmed by, individual users of the subgroup of users. New content can also be selected and displayed in response to threshold levels of user activity. The common user interface and automatic presentation of new content allows for an immersive experience across a plurality of platforms.

Abstract: The selection of a media content item having preferred instance attributes includes finding a preferred instance of a media content item having two or more different instances by recognizing a first instance of the media content item having a first set of instance attributes and recognizing a second instance of the media content item having a second set of instance attributes. The selection of a media content item having preferred instance attributes further includes selecting either the first instance of the media content item or the second instance of the media content item based on differences between the first set of instance attributes and the second set of instance attributes.

Abstract: Various embodiments related to the ability to find content for consumption across all endpoint computing devices in a computing system are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method for presenting content including aggregating endpoint metadata for each endpoint computing device in a computing system and content metadata of content stored on each of a plurality of endpoint computing devices, receiving a request for a content item on a selected endpoint computing device, querying aggregated endpoint metadata and content metadata to find instances of the content item and corresponding endpoint computing device locations, generating a ranked list of instances of the content item based on selection criteria, and selecting an instance of the content item from the ranked list for playback by the selected endpoint computing device.

Abstract: Various embodiments related to the ability to find content for consumption across all endpoint computing devices in a computing system are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method for presenting content including aggregating endpoint metadata for each endpoint computing device in a computing system and content metadata of content stored on each of a plurality of endpoint computing devices, receiving a request for a content item on a selected endpoint computing device, querying aggregated endpoint metadata and content metadata to find instances of the content item and corresponding endpoint computing device locations, generating a ranked list of instances of the content item based on selection criteria, and selecting an instance of the content item from the ranked list for playback by the selected endpoint computing device.

Abstract: Various embodiments related to the ability to expose content for synchronization and consumption across all endpoint computing devices in a computing system are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method for communicating between authenticated clients of a cloud-based computing system, including sending a read request for metadata of each of a plurality of endpoint computing devices and content stored on each of the plurality of endpoint computing devices that is aggregated in a data store, receiving the requested metadata. The method further includes performing a content consumption operation that changes a state of the requested metadata. The method further includes sending updated metadata generated based on the content consumption operation to synchronize aggregated metadata in the data store, and deleting local metadata.

Abstract: A content author provides content to be displayed, including some content elements for which display is conditional on the state of the machine in which the content will be viewed. The conditional statements controlling the display of these content elements, in one embodiment refer to states provided by a state monitor. The state may refer to the state of any aspect of the viewing environment, including hardware, software, firmware, user preferences, software operating modes, and any other detectable state. The resulting content is optionally combined with other similar content via a structural transform. This content is transformed with a presentation transform. One of the transforms checks the states and resolves the conditional statements included by the content author. The result of the transforms is presentation data. A display of this presentation data includes the content which, according to the conditional statements and the state of the viewing environment is appropriate for display.

Abstract: Content including links to behaviors (code which can be executed and return supplemental content for insertion, or can modify existing content) is stored, and at run-time, the links to behaviors are followed and the supplemental content or the modifications to existing comment are used to create a final version of content which will be presented to the user. Security enhancements including a security check ensure that only behaviors which are secure will be run. Default content may be provided, which may be inserted if the security check is not passed, or if the content returned from the behavior is unusable for some reason.

Abstract: The selection of a media content item having preferred instance attributes includes finding a preferred instance of a media content item having two or more different instances by recognizing a first instance of the media content item having a first set of instance attributes and recognizing a second instance of the media content item having a second set of instance attributes. The selection of a media content item having preferred instance attributes further includes selecting either the first instance of the media content item or the second instance of the media content item based on differences between the first set of instance attributes and the second set of instance attributes.

Abstract: Flexible information appearance and behavior can be achieved with an extensible multi-phase transform engine. The transform engine can apply a series of transforms to markup language content. In a help service embodiment, application creators can specify a Uniform Resource Indicator (URI) for help content, and a collection of transforms and/or executable code for formatting and presenting the help content. The transforms may be custom transforms registered with the help service, or may be selected from a set of stock pre-registered transforms. The transforms can be applied by the engine to the help content. Custom transforms and transform selection may be used to control content appearance and engine output format. Transform operation may also trigger custom executable code to accomplish desired help behaviors.

Abstract: Computer assistance content related to a plurality of software entities is combined into a single assistance content corpus. The corpus may be organized hierarchically. The hierarchical organization can be done using content sets that relate assistance content with associated metadata. Content sets can be related to each other in parent-child relationships. The relationship definitions can be separate from the content set definitions. Scope and bias information can be used to constrain assistance content searching over the corpus and to bias search results based on one or more state variables of the user's computer. A remote assistance server can be used to provide updated or newer assistance content to the user. When the remote assistance server is used, an assistance request from the user is supplemented with scope information.

Abstract: An active content trust model provides security in a help system. The security is provided in response to a call from a calling application to access active content. When the call is received, a determination is made, based on predetermined criteria, which execution mode to use to access the active content. The active content is then accessed in the determined execution mode, thus providing the security.

Abstract: Computer assistance content related to a plurality of software entities is combined into a single assistance content corpus. The corpus may be organized hierarchically. The hierarchical organization can be done using content sets that relate assistance content with associated metadata. Content sets can be related to each other in parent-child relationships. The relationship definitions can be separate from the content set definitions. Scope and bias information can be used to constrain assistance content searching over the corpus and to bias search results based on one or more state variables of the user's computer. A remote assistance server can be used to provide updated or newer assistance content to the user. When the remote assistance server is used, an assistance request from the user is supplemented with scope information.

Abstract: The aforementioned need is satisfied by the present invention in which a help architecture supports an application and a help engine operating on a computer, where the help engine is for locating help topics relevant to the application. In the help architecture, at least one help library stores a plurality of help topics therein, where the help topics are accessible to a user from the help library by way of the computer, and a central store stores topic metadata corresponding to help topics available from each help library. The central store in response to a search request from the help engine locates topic metadata relevant to the search request and returns information from the located topic metadata.

Abstract: An application and a context-based help system operate on a computer. The application includes a plurality of components that effectuate application functions, where each component of the application is constructed to describe a current context of the component representative of a current state of the component. At least some of the components are active at any one time. The help system includes a help engine that receives the current context from each active component, dynamically builds a current overall context of the application based on each received current context, locates help topics based on the current overall context, and filters and prioritizes the located help topics.

Abstract: The aforementioned need is satisfied by the present invention in which a help architecture supports an application and a help engine operating on a computer, where the help engine is for locating help topics relevant to the application. In the help architecture, at least one help library stores a plurality of help topics therein, where the help topics are accessible to a user from the help library by way of the computer, and a central store stores topic metadata corresponding to help topics available from each help library. The central store in response to a search request from the help engine locates topic metadata relevant to the search request and returns information from the located topic metadata.

Abstract: An application and a context-based help system operate on a computer. The application includes a plurality of components that effectuate application functions, where each component of the application is constructed to describe a current context of the component representative of a current state of the component. At least some of the components are active at any one time. The help system includes a help engine that receives the current context from each active component, dynamically builds a current overall context of the application based on each received current context, locates help topics based on the current overall context, and filters and prioritizes the located help topics.