Abstract: Methods and apparatus to improve user experience on computing devices are disclosed. An example computing device includes a microphone to capture audio corresponding to spoken words. The example computing device further includes a speech analyzer to: detect a keyword prompt from among the spoken words, the keyword prompt to precede a query statement of a user of the computing device; and identify topics associated with a subset of the spoken words, the subset of the spoken words captured by the microphone before the keyword prompt. The example computing device also includes a communications interface to, in response to detection of the keyword prompt, transmit information indicative of the query statement and ones of the identified topics to a remote server.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for managing communication connections in a virtualization environment includes a plurality of host machines implementing a virtualization environment, wherein each of the host machines includes a hypervisor, at least one user virtual machine (user VM), and a distributed file server that includes file server virtual machines (FSVMs) and associated local storage devices. Each FSVM and associated local storage device are local to a corresponding one of the host machines, and the FSVMs conduct I/O transactions with their associated local storage devices based on I/O requests received from the user VMs. Each of the user VMs on each host machine sends each of its representative I/O requests to an FSVM that is selected by one or more of the FSVMs for each I/O request based on a lookup table that maps a storage item referenced by the I/O request to the selected one of the FSVMs.

Abstract: Technology for a display controller is described. The display controller can detect a frame update when the display controller is in a dynamic sleep state. The display controller can wake up from the dynamic sleep state and enter a selective update state at a programmed vertical blanking interrupt (VBI) that precedes an actual VBI. The display controller can perform a scan-out with a display panel during the selective update state. The display controller can return to the dynamic sleep state in a same time frame after the scan-out is completed. The display controller can exclude timing logic to send a VBI at every time frame to the display panel to maintain time synchronization between the display controller and the display panel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to improve user experience on computing devices are disclosed. An example computing device includes an image sensor. The example computing device further includes wireless communication circuitry. The example computing device also includes an operations controller to cause the wireless communication circuitry to switch between different operation modes based on an analysis of image data generated by the image sensor. Different ones of the operation modes to consume different amounts of power.

Abstract: A video source device for wireless display sharing, including: an encoder operable to dynamically switch between encoding a video full-frame into a first bitstream at a first resolution, and a video sub-frame into a second bitstream at a second resolution, wherein the second resolution is higher than the first resolution; processing circuitry operable to decide between encoding the video full-frame and encoding the video sub-frame based on an amount of available wireless transmission bandwidth, a number of pixels in a changed region of the video full-frame, spatial complexity of a changed region of the video full-frame, temporal complexity of a changed region of the video full-frame, or a category of region change of the video full-frame; and a transmitter operable to wirelessly transmit the first bitstream and the second bitstream to a video sink device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for managing a virtualization environment includes host machines implementing a virtualization environment, a plurality of clusters of the host machines, a virtualized file server (VFS) comprising a plurality of file server virtual machines (FSVMs), and a VFS cluster manager (CM) configured to distribute storage items among the clusters and receive cluster storage statistics for one or more shares of the VFS. The CM is further configured to, in response to a request from a first FSVM to identify a storage location for a storage item, identify a cluster at which the storage item is to be located based on the cluster storage statistics, identify a second FSVM at which the storage item is to be located based on compute usage statistics of one or more FSVMs in the identified cluster, and send an address of the second FSVM to the first FSVM.

Abstract: A video source device for wireless display sharing, including: an encoder operable to dynamically switch between encoding a video full-frame into a first bitstream at a first resolution, and a video sub-frame into a second bitstream at a second resolution, wherein the second resolution is higher than the first resolution; processing circuitry operable to decide between encoding the video full-frame and encoding the video sub-frame based on an amount of available wireless transmission bandwidth, a number of pixels in a changed region of the video full-frame, spatial complexity of a changed region of the video full-frame, temporal complexity of a changed region of the video full-frame, or a category of region change of the video full-frame; and a transmitter operable to wirelessly transmit the first bitstream and the second bitstream to a video sink device.

Abstract: Technology for a display controller is described. The display controller can detect a frame update when the display controller is in a dynamic sleep state. The display controller can wake up from the dynamic sleep state and enter a selective update state at a programmed vertical blanking interrupt (VBI) that precedes an actual VBI. The display controller can perform a scan-out with a display panel during the selective update state. The display controller can return to the dynamic sleep state in a same time frame after the scan-out is completed. The display controller can exclude timing logic to send a VBI at every time frame to the display panel to maintain time synchronization between the display controller and the display panel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for managing a virtualization environment includes host machines implementing a virtualization environment, a plurality of clusters of the host machines, a virtualized file server (VFS) comprising a plurality of file server virtual machines (FSVMs), and a VFS cluster manager (CM) configured to distribute storage items among the clusters and receive cluster storage statistics for one or more shares of the VFS. The CM is further configured to, in response to a request from a first FSVM to identify a storage location for a storage item, identify a cluster at which the storage item is to be located based on the cluster storage statistics, identify a second FSVM at which the storage item is to be located based on compute usage statistics of one or more FSVMs in the identified cluster, and send an address of the second FSVM to the first FSVM.

Abstract: Display pixels having integrated memory are disclosed. A disclosed example memory pixel includes a light emitter on a semiconductor substrate, memory co-located with the light emitter on the same semiconductor substrate, and a comparator in circuit with the memory, the comparator to control a flow of electrical current to the light emitter based on pixel data from the memory and timing information.

Abstract: Example smart panel display apparatus and related methods are disclosed herein. An example apparatus to control a display of an electronic device includes a user presence detector to determine a presence of a user relative to the device based on image data generated by an image sensor of the device. The example apparatus includes a gaze detector to determine a direction of a gaze of the user relative to the image sensor based on the image data. The example apparatus includes a backlight manager to selectively adjust a display brightness based on the presence of the user and the direction of the gaze of the user.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for managing communication connections in a virtualization environment includes a plurality of host machines implementing a virtualization environment, wherein each of the host machines includes a hypervisor, at least one user virtual machine (user VM), and a distributed file server that includes file server virtual machines (FSVMs) and associated local storage devices. Each FSVM and associated local storage device are local to a corresponding one of the host machines, and the FSVMs conduct I/O transactions with their associated local storage devices based on I/O requests received from the user VMs. Each of the user VMs on each host machine sends each of its representative I/O requests to an FSVM that is selected by one or more of the FSVMs for each I/O request based on a lookup table that maps a storage item referenced by the I/O request to the selected one of the FSVMs.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for managing communication connections in a virtualization environment includes a plurality of host machines implementing a virtualization environment, wherein each of the host machines includes a hypervisor, at least one user virtual machine (user VM), and a distributed file server that includes file server virtual machines (FSVMs) and associated local storage devices. Each FSVM and associated local storage device are local to a corresponding one of the host machines, and the FSVMs conduct I/O transactions with their associated local storage devices based on I/O requests received from the user VMs. Each of the user VMs on each host machine sends each of its representative I/O requests to an FSVM that is selected by one or more of the FSVMs for each I/O request based on a lookup table that maps a storage item referenced by the I/O request to I/O the selected one of the FSVMs.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for managing a virtualization environment includes host machines implementing a virtualization environment, a plurality of clusters of the host machines, a virtualized file server (VFS) comprising a plurality of file server virtual machines (FSVMs), and a VFS cluster manager (CM) configured to distribute storage items among the clusters and receive cluster storage statistics for one or more shares of the VFS. The CM is further configured to, in response to a request from a first FSVM to identify a storage location for a storage item, identify a cluster at which the storage item is to be located based on the cluster storage statistics, identify a second FSVM at which the storage item is to be located based on compute usage statistics of one or more FSVMs in the identified cluster, and send an address of the second FSVM to the first FSVM.

Abstract: Techniques for selective display frame fetching are disclosed. Some example techniques disclosed herein cause at least one processor to at least determine if an indication of a new frame includes an indication of a flip event, and identify one or more dirty regions of the new frame based on the flip event. Disclosed example techniques also cause the at least one processor to fill a display buffer with the one or more dirty regions of the new frame, scan out the one or more dirty regions of the new frame from the display buffer to a display port, and apply an adaptive contrast and backlight enhancement based on a histogram of changes in the new frame.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to manage power and performance of computing devices based on user presence are disclosed. An apparatus includes an engagement detector to determine an engagement of a user with a device based on at least one of image data generated by an image sensor or an application running on the device; and an operation mode selector to select one of a plurality of operation modes for the device based on a level of engagement of the user, the plurality of operation modes including (1) a first operation mode associated with the device operating at a first performance level and a first power level and (2) a second operation mode associated with the device operating at a second performance level and a second power level, the first performance level being higher than the second performance level, the first power level being higher than the second power level.

Abstract: Examples relate to a display control apparatus for a display, to a computing device with an integrated display and a display control apparatus, a processing unit for a computing device with an integrated display and to corresponding methods and computer programs. The display control apparatus comprises interface circuitry and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to obtain, via the interface circuitry, information on a user of the display, the information on the user indicating a presence of the user relative to the display or an engagement of the user with the display. The processing circuitry is configured to control, based on the information on the user, a display mode of the display, the display mode affecting at least one of a refresh rate and a backlight of the display.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for managing communication connections in a virtualization environment includes a plurality of host machines implementing a virtualization environment, wherein each of the host machines includes a hypervisor, at least one user virtual machine (user VM), and a distributed file server that includes file server virtual machines (FSVMs) and associated local storage devices. Each FSVM and associated local storage device are local to a corresponding one of the host machines, and the FSVMs conduct I/O transactions with their associated local storage devices based on I/O requests received from the user VMs. Each of the user VMs on each host machine sends each of its respective I/O requests to an FSVM that is selected by one or more of the FSVMs for each I/O request based on a lookup table that maps a storage item referenced by the I/O request to the selected one of the FSVMs.

Abstract: Techniques for selective display frame fetching are disclosed. Some example techniques disclosed herein cause at least one processor to at least determine if an indication of a new frame includes an indication of a flip event, and identify one or more dirty regions of the new frame based on the flip event. Disclosed example techniques also cause the at least one processor to fill a display buffer with the one or more dirty regions of the new frame, scan out the one or more dirty regions of the new frame from the display buffer to a display port, and apply an adaptive contrast and backlight enhancement based on a histogram of changes in the new frame.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for managing a virtualization environment includes host machines implementing a virtualization environment, a plurality of clusters of the host machines, a virtualized file server (VFS) comprising a plurality of file server virtual machines (FSVMs), and a VFS cluster manager (CM) configured to distribute storage items among the clusters and receive cluster storage statistics for one or more shares of the VFS. The CM is further configured to, in response to a request from a first FSVM to identify a storage location for a storage item, identify a cluster at which the storage item is to be located based on the cluster storage statistics, identify a second FSVM at which the storage item is to be located based on compute usage statistics of one or more FSVMs in the identified cluster, and send an address of the second FSVM to the first FSVM.