Abstract: An image formation system that includes: an image formation device configured to form an image on a medium; a terminal device holding image data; a condition setting unit provided to the terminal device and configured to cause a user to set a condition for forming an image on the medium based on the image data; an information exchange unit provided to the terminal device and configured to exchange information with the image formation device by near field communication, the information being necessary for comparison between the condition and a device information piece representing a function possessed by the image formation device; a comparison unit configured to compare the condition with the device information piece; and a comparison result display unit provided to the terminal device and configured to display a comparison result obtained by the comparison unit.

Abstract: An event generated in a communication apparatus is sensed. Whether a communication partner apparatus exists in the effective range of a communication unit is detected in accordance with the sensed event. When it is detected that the communication partner apparatus exists in the effective range of the communication unit, application information about an application that operates in the communication partner apparatus is obtained. Activation information including identification information indicating an application to be activated in the communication partner apparatus, and execution information to be executed by the application is transmitted to the communication partner apparatus via the communication unit, based on the obtained application information.

Abstract: A display processing apparatus acquires a plurality of images and time data corresponding to the respective images. The display processing apparatus selects, as the time interval at which the plurality of images are switched and displayed one by one, either a time interval based on the difference between time data corresponding to images before and after switching, or a predetermined interval. The display processing apparatus switches the plurality of images at the selected time interval, and displays them on a display device.

Abstract: An application interface processing method includes: receiving, by an application interface processing apparatus, an interface presentation instruction to present an interface of a target application, the interface presentation instruction including an identifier of the target application and an identifier of a port for generating the interface corresponding to the target application; calling the port according to the identifier of the target application and the identifier of the port to generate the interface; and presenting the interface on a desktop. The techniques of the present disclosure present an interface more conveniently, and enhance the flexibility of interface presentation.

Abstract: A method and system for deploying a display screen of an electronic personal display device. The device includes a processor, primary and secondary touch screen displays, and a memory storing instructions and an e-book, the e-book having content displayable according to a sequence of digitally constructed pages. The method comprises receiving a page transition action enacted upon a page of the e-book content rendered at the primary touch screen display, activating the secondary display screen for operation; and transitioning operation of the computing device to the secondary display screen by rendering the e-book content for reading thereon.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a mobile device detachable accessory display screen. The method comprises receiving a request to electrically couple a detachable accessory at the computing device, the detachable accessory including a secondary display screen, monitoring for a display screen transition event, transitioning operation of the computing device to the secondary display screen upon detecting the display screen transition event, and rendering the digital content item for reading on the secondary display screen of the detachable accessory.

Abstract: The invention relates to an encoder and a decoder and methods therein for supporting screen sharing, where the screen sharing comprises encoding pictures F representing pixels of a shared screen, providing said pictures to a decoder where they are decoded. The method performed by the encoder comprises deriving information related to an object which is moved on the shared screen between two pictures Fn and Fn+1. At least part of the derived information is related to an intermediate position of the object, on the shared screen, between the two pictures Fn and Fn+1. The method further comprises providing said information to the decoder, thereby enabling the decoder to generate intermediate pictures, FIMD, in addition to the pictures, F, based on the provided information, wherein the object is generated in different positions in said intermediate pictures, FIMD, thus reconstructing the movement of the object between two provided pictures Fn and Fn+1.

Abstract: A system and method for controlled collaboration among a plurality of users, each at one of a plurality of computing appliances having a display apparatus and an input apparatus. An initial video presentation is displayed on at least two of the display apparatus. At least a part of the initial presentation is captured and stored and used to provide a presentation of a background image. Each of at least two users provide via the input apparatus a User Input having an associated presentation relative to the background image presentation, said User Input being stored as associated with the computing appliance/user providing the input. Data for the User Input is stored in a non-transient memory as associatively mapped to the user/computing appliance providing the User Input.

Abstract: In one aspect, a device includes a processor and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory bears instructions executable by the processor to determine that a portion of audio has been skipped a threshold number of times, and in response to the determination that the portion of the audio has been skipped the threshold number of times, skip the portion without input from a user to skip the portion upon a subsequent presentation of the audio.

Abstract: Embodiments are described herein that provide a dedicated command device that is bonded to a zone player or zone to perform adjustments to the zone player or zone. In an example implementation, a command device receives an instruction to pair with a first playback device that is associated with a group of playback devices that includes the first playback device and at least one additional playback device. The group of playback devices is associated with at least one group variable controlling playback by the playback devices of the group. The command device receives an input to adjust a first group variable of the at least one group variable and transmits, via a wireless communications interface, a command that causes an adjustment of the first group variable for the group of playback devices.

Abstract: A system is described for maintaining synchrony of operations among a plurality of devices that have independent clocking arrangements. The system includes a task distribution device that distributes tasks to a synchrony group comprising a plurality of devices that are to perform the tasks distributed by the task distribution device in synchrony. The task distribution device distributes each task to the members of the synchrony group over a network. Each task is associated with a time stamp that indicates a time, relative to a clock maintained by the task distribution device, at which the members of the synchrony group are to execute the task.

Abstract: A system is described for maintaining synchrony of operations among a plurality of devices that have independent clocking arrangements. The system includes a task distribution device that distributes tasks to a synchrony group comprising a plurality of devices that are to perform the tasks distributed by the task distribution device in synchrony. The task distribution device distributes each task to the members of the synchrony group over a network. Each task is associated with a time stamp that indicates a time, relative to a clock maintained by the task distribution device, at which the members of the synchrony group are to execute the task.

Abstract: A system is described for maintaining synchrony of operations among a plurality of devices that have independent clocking arrangements. The system includes a task distribution device that distributes tasks to a synchrony group comprising a plurality of devices that are to perform the tasks distributed by the task distribution device in synchrony. The task distribution device distributes each task to the members of the synchrony group over a network. Each task is associated with a time stamp that indicates a time, relative to a clock maintained by the task distribution device, at which the members of the synchrony group are to execute the task.

Abstract: A system is described for maintaining synchrony of operations among a plurality of devices that have independent clocking arrangements. The system includes a task distribution device that distributes tasks to a synchrony group comprising a plurality of devices that are to perform the tasks distributed by the task distribution device in synchrony. The task distribution device distributes each task to the members of the synchrony group over a network. Each task is associated with a time stamp that indicates a time, relative to a clock maintained by the task distribution device, at which the members of the synchrony group are to execute the task.

Abstract: Example techniques disclosed herein relate to location-based music content identification. In an example implementation, a first computing device receives, over one or more networks, a location message comprising location information indicating a particular location of a second computing device at a given time. Based on the location information and the given time, the first computing device determines identification information indicating media content played by one or more playback devices at the particular location and availability information indicating availability of at least one media item of the media content from a media streaming service. The first computing device transmits, over the one or more networks to the second computing device, the identification information indicating the media content and an indication that the at least one media item of the media content is available for playback via the media streaming service.

Abstract: A system for an avatar to read an message comprising a program installed on a computer, where the program is synced with at least one user's message receiving application; an avatar present when the program starts, where the avatar reads the messages available in the message receiving application; a voice selected for the avatar, where the voice is selected from a plurality of voices; and a voice recognition program, where the voice recognition program allows the user to voice command the avatar to operate the message receiving application. The message receiving application is an email mailbox or an instant message application. The use is able to customize the avatar by either uploading a photo, or selecting a plurality of facial features for the avatar's appearance.

Abstract: A method executed in a processor of a computing device for providing a page transition effect is provided. The method includes receiving input defining a virtual page material type for an e-book, receiving a request for audio enhancement corresponding to page turning the e-book, tracking progress of a user through a current page and in response to the user turning the current page, generating a sound corresponding to the virtual page type material.

Abstract: Method and system for displaying images on headphones worn by a user and/or for displaying a status of the user. The headphones include a display screen on an outward-facing surface of the headphones. The display screen can display images related to audio being listened to by the user. The display screen can also display a status of the user, such as “on the phone” or “busy.” The display screen can be a touch screen display, and the user can input commands to the headphones by touching and/or gesturing on the display.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch panel, a storage device, at least one processor, and one or more modules that are stored in the storage device and executed by the at least one processor. The one or more modules includes a voice obtaining module, an identifying module, and an executing module. The voice obtaining module receives voice commands from users and pre-processes the voice commands. The identifying module acquires characteristics of the voice commands and compares the characteristics of the voice commands with a sound database stored in the storage device to obtain an identification result. The executing module executes data of animated visual images stored in the storage device according to the identification result to show the animated visual images on the touch panel.

Abstract: A random byte generator comprising a noise source configured to generate a noise signal, a digitizer with a resolution of no less than two bits and configured to digitize the noise signal from the noise source, and a processor configured to apply pre-defined rules for selecting bits captured by said digitizer and to generate random bit strings by combining the selected bits.

Abstract: A present invention embodiment includes a system with at least one processor for accessing data. The system creates a rule including one or more conditional expressions to link a first data object of a first data source to a second data object of a second data source. Data of the first data object is retrieved from the first data source in accordance with a request for the first data object. The system processes the rule to retrieve data of the second data object from the second data source that satisfies the one or more conditional expressions of the rule. Results for the request are produced by merging the data retrieved from the first and second data objects. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for accessing data in substantially the same manner described above.

Abstract: Real-time messaging is a very familiar activity for users. Messaging apps allow users to create messaging channels through which users can message each other. Some of these channels are direct messaging channels between two users while others are group messaging channels connecting multiple users. For group messaging, users are able to bring in other users to the group via a user-interface for adding users. This invention describes how this user-interface can be easily extended to include interconnection with other data channels to create ingoing and outgoing message flows to other applications and services. This allows users to mashup content, message across platforms, share Internet of Things devices, and chain services all within the convenience of their messaging app.

Abstract: Implementations provide for a source to image framework for a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) system. A method of the disclosure includes invoking source-to-image (STI) orchestration logic to perform a build for an application of a multi-tenant PaaS system, launching a build container for the build in view of a base image of the application, the base image providing a core functionality for the application, accessing source code of the application at the build container, assembling an application image using the base image and the source code, and committing the application image to a repository.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for generating a dynamic, user interface that is capable of frequently changing and learning to provide the most relevant information to the user. The method includes executing a plurality of user interface (UI) modules on a computing device. Each UI module is a software component that provides content for display in the user interface. Each UI module determines its own content and its own priority level and bids for user interface space using its determined priority level. A UI controller is executed on the computing device. The UI controller is a software component that receives bids for the UI modules, determines the number of available spots for UI modules in the user interface, and selects UI modules associated with the highest priority for display in the available user interface spots.

Abstract: Stateful computations are transformed into stateless computations automatically to facilitate scalability. Programmers can write code in a traditional imperative stateful style, which is subsequently transformed automatically into a stateless, state transformer monadic style. After the transformation, state is passed as an additional argument in a call and returns as a new state as an additional result.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, live migration in a datacenter may include JIT compiling a process that is configured to be executed on both a source instruction set architecture and a destination instruction set architecture, mapping variables and address stacks of the process on both the source instruction set architecture and the destination instruction set architecture into a labeled form thereof, and mapping the labeled form of the variables and address stacks onto the destination instruction set architecture.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for directly using input devices of a personal computer to operate a mobile device connected thereto. The method includes: a) designating a specific USB port in the personal computer; b) detecting whether the mobile device is connected to the specific USB port; c) checking whether the mobile device has been installed with a first driver; d) installing the first driver to the mobile device; e) sending a command to the mobile device to make it serve as a GOOGLE accessory device; f) installing a second driver in the personal computer for the mobile device as a GOOGLE accessory device; g) transferring a control right of an input device of the personal computer to the mobile device; h) converting signals of the input device into a format compatible with the mobile device; and i) sending the converted signals to the mobile device.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for installing an application into a handheld computer and a personal computer, which are connected to each other. The method includes the steps of: a) connecting the handheld computer to the personal computer with a USB cable with a memory in which an ADK utility application is stored; b) installing the ADK utility application to the personal computer; c) directing the handheld computer to a specific website; d) downloading a specific program including a personal computer version and a handheld computer version; e) installing the handheld computer version of the specific program into the handheld computer; and f) installing the personal computer version of the specific program into the personal computer.

Abstract: A system and machine-implemented method for facilitating an application launcher providing direct access to one or more items, the method including identifying one or more items maintained at one or more sources accessible by the user at the computing device meeting search criteria specified by a user, determining an application associated with each of the one or more items facilitating access to the item, generating an instance of each of the one or more items facilitating direct user interaction with the item, where the user is able to interact with the item directly from the instance of the item and providing the instance of each of the one or more items for display to the user at the computing device in response to the request.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a memory; at least one processor operatively coupled to the memory, configured to: execute a plurality of platforms that are different from each other in at least one of type and version, each of the platforms being associated with one or more respective applications; and perform an operation including at least one of deleting a first platform, installing a second platform, deleting a first application from one of the platforms, and installing a second application in one of the platforms.

Abstract: A method (and structure) for providing a computing infrastructure based on virtual machines. A virtual machine provisioning system, as executed by a processor on a network, receives a virtual machine request, as an input; retrieves a virtual machine image from a library of virtual machine images, to accommodate the virtual machine request; constructs an instantiated virtual machine from the selected virtual machine image by provisioning the selected virtual machine image to accommodate the virtual machine request; and outputs the instantiated virtual machine. An image update system determines an update timing for updating at least one of the virtual machine image and the virtual machine as instantiated, based on update costs.

Abstract: A system for remotely updating firmware of individual lighting controllers in an aviation light system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes at least one individual lighting controller for, when a firmware is updated, changing an application mode of controlling a lamp to a boot mode of performing the update and directly storing the firmware on a program memory equipped therein, and a relay for receiving the firmware and update related data from an external device to transfer them to the individual lighting controller.

Abstract: A technology/operating system-agnostic and protocol-agnostic modular-based service delivery system that includes a management of enterprise-wide deployment of services and updates to services delivered by the modules of the system. Management includes determination and automatic implementation of an optimal schedule for service deployment, service version updates and service version roll-backs based on (i) predetermined lifecycle levels assigned to networked devices in the enterprise executing the service delivery application, and/or (ii) segments within the enterprise.

Abstract: A technology/operating system-agnostic and protocol-agnostic modular-based service delivery system that includes a management of enterprise-wide deployment of services and updates to services delivered by the modules of the system. Management includes determination and automatic implementation of an optimal schedule for service deployment, service version updates and service version roll-backs based on (i) predetermined lifecycle levels assigned to networked devices in the enterprise executing the service delivery application, and/or (ii) segments within the enterprise.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing deployment of an update to computing devices are provided. An update deployment manager determines one or more initial computing devices to receive and execute an update. The update deployment manager further monitors a set of performance metrics with respect to the initial computing devices or a collection of computing devices. The update deployment manager may modify the rate of deployment based on the monitored performance metrics. For example, the update deployment manager may select additional computing devices to receive and execute an update. Further, the update deployment manager may halt deployment of the update. Moreover, the update deployment manager may rollback the deployment of the update.

Abstract: A utility application store may be configured to present an interface displaying multiple applications that are available from the utility application store. By accessing the interface of the utility application store, a utility supplier may, with a single request, initiate installation or activation of an application on multiple utility meters or other smart sensors in a utility communication network. The utility application store may be configured to provide notification of the availability of applications for utility meters or other smart sensors, consumer computing devices, and/or utility supplier back office computing devices. The utility application store may include one or more distributed applications that include a first portion configured for execution by a utility meter and one or more other portions configured for execution by another computing device (e.g., a personal computer, mobile device, utility supplier back office server, cloud service, or the like).

Abstract: Methods and systems that facilitate efficient and effective application program maintenance and patch distribution are described. A device comprises: a memory that stores application source code files and instructions for creating a hot patch file, wherein the application source code files include an update source code file and initial source code files before an application update; and a processor operable to create the hot patch file, wherein the hot patch file is created based upon differences between a pair of optimized source code file sets that result from optimization of a first set of the initial source code files and separate optimization of a second set of source code files; wherein the second set includes an update source code file and associated files selected from the first set based on results from a graph indicating manners in which said source code files related to one another.

Abstract: Software that uses machine logic to identify expert(s) for functional components of source code, determining a confidence value for each functional component based on the availability of its respective expert(s), by performing the following steps: (i) receiving a first functional component of a set of source code; (ii) receiving a set of knowledgeable person(s) information including identifying information for at least one person and respectively associated availability information for each identified person, where each person identified in the set of knowledgeable person(s) information has knowledge of the first functional component; and (iii) calculating, based, at least in part, on the identified person(s) and their respectively associated availability information, a confidence value for the first functional component indicating an amount of availability of person(s) with knowledge of the first functional component.

Abstract: Approaches presented herein enable correction of source code that fails to comply with an established coding standard in a code base within an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Specifically, a non-compliant segment of code, which requires correction, and that was coded by a first developer, is assembled into a stand-alone artifact that is dispatched to a second developer. The code segment is then corrected by the second developer, and the artifact containing the corrected segment is merged back into the code base from whence the segment originated. In one approach, the artifact comprises the code segment, dependent code classes of the segment, unit tests results, and test data. In another approach, the second developer is identified utilizing a skill-matching algorithm. In yet another approach, the corrected segment is unit-tested prior to being merged back into the code base.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for clearing specified blocks of main storage. In one embodiment, an EADM start subchannel is executed. The instructions of the execution of the EADM start subchannel may include a SAP receiving an ADM request block, which specifies a main-storage-clearing operation command. The address and size of a block of main memory to be cleared by the SAP is specified in an MSB designated by the ADM request block.

Abstract: A computer system may recognize a busy-wait loop in program instructions at compile time and/or may recognize busy-wait looping behavior during execution of program instructions. The system may recognize that an exit condition for a busy-wait loop is specified by a conditional branch type instruction in the program instructions. In response to identifying the loop and the conditional branch type instruction that specifies its exit condition, the system may influence or override a prediction made by a dynamic branch predictor, resulting in a prediction that the exit condition will be met and that the loop will be exited regardless of any observed branch behavior for the conditional branch type instruction. The looping instructions may implement waiting for an inter-thread communication event to occur or for a lock to become available. When the exit condition is met, the loop may be exited without incurring a misprediction delay.

Abstract: A processor of an aspect includes a plurality of logical processors. A first logical processor of the plurality is to execute software that includes a memory access synchronization instruction that is to synchronize accesses to a memory. The processor also includes memory access synchronization relaxation logic that is to prevent the memory access synchronization instruction from synchronizing accesses to the memory when the processor is in a relaxed memory access synchronization mode.

Abstract: A transaction executing within a computing environment ends prior to completion; i.e., execution is aborted. Pursuant to aborting execution, a hardware transactional execution CPU mode is exited, and one or more of the following is performed: restoring selected registers; committing nontransactional stores on abort; branching to a transaction abort program status word specified location; setting a condition code and/or abort code; and/or preserving diagnostic information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptively managing registers in an instruction processor are disclosed. The system identifies one or more registers with inoperable cells. An operand manager identifies a set of operable cells within the one or more registers with inoperable cells and determines if a present instruction will use an operand that can be supported by the set of operable cells. When the set of operable cells can support the operand, the operand manager generates an assignment which is communicated to a register file manager.

Abstract: A method and system for instruction fetching within a processor instruction unit, utilizing a loop buffer, one or more virtual loop buffers, and/or an instruction buffer. During instruction fetch, modified instruction buffers coupled to an instruction cache (I-cache) temporarily store instructions from a single branch, backwards short loop. The modified instruction buffers may be a loop buffer, one or more virtual loop buffers, and/or an instruction buffer. The instruction fetch within the instruction unit of a processor retrieves the instructions for the short loop from the modified buffers during the loop cycles of the single branch, backwards short loop, rather than from the instruction cache.

Abstract: A method and system to provide user-level multithreading are disclosed. The method according to the present techniques comprises receiving programming instructions to execute one or more shared resource threads (shreds) via an instruction set architecture (ISA). One or more instruction pointers are configured via the ISA; and the one or more shreds are executed simultaneously with a microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor includes multiple instruction sequencers.

Abstract: Branch prediction is provided by generating a first index from a previous instruction address and from a first branch history vector having a first length. A second index is generated from the previous instruction address and from a second branch history vector that is longer than the first vector. Using the first index, a first branch prediction is retrieved from a first branch prediction table. Using the second index, a second branch prediction is retrieved from a second branch prediction table. Based upon additional branch history data, the first branch history vector and the second branch history vector are updated. A first hash value is generated from a current instruction address and the updated first branch history vector. A second hash value is generated from the current instruction address and the updated second branch history vector. One of the branch predictions are selected based upon the hash values.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving control in a kernel mode via a ring transition from a user thread during execution of an unbounded transactional memory (UTM) transaction, updating a state of a transaction status register (TSR) associated with the user thread and storing the TSR with a context of the user thread, and later restoring the context during a transition from the kernel mode to the user thread. In this way, the UTM transaction may continue on resumption of the user thread. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Computing devices, computer-readable storage media, and methods associated with providing an operating system (OS)-absent firmware sensor layer to support a boot process are disclosed herein. In embodiments, a computing device may include a processor and firmware to be operated on the processor. The firmware may include one or more modules and a sensor layer. The sensor layer may be configured to receive, in the OS-absent environment, sensor data produced by a plurality of sensors. The sensor layer may be further configured to selectively provide the sensor data to the one or more modules via an interface of the sensor layer that abstracts the plurality of sensors. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: An operation terminal is provided that starts an application selected by a user from among a plurality of applications installed therein. The operation terminal includes an electronic data list acquiring unit that acquires from an information storage apparatus, a list of electronic data items stored in the information storage apparatus and priority application information of a priority application associated with each of the electronic data items; a display unit that displays an operation screen including the list of electronic data items and a startup accepting unit provided with respect to each of the electronic data items for accepting from the user a startup request for the priority application associated with a relevant electronic data item; and a starting unit that selects the relevant electronic data item that is associated with the priority application for which the startup request has been accepted from the user and start the priority application.