Abstract: A method and system directed to performing account activity tracking is provided. More specifically, user activity associated with a user's first account may influence when a user's second account is signed out due to inactivity. Accordingly, an activity request including a first identifier associated with a first user account may be received from a first entity, and based on the first identifier associated with the first user account, a second identifier associated with a second user account may be retrieved, where the first identifier and the second identifier are linked to one another. Activity information for the second identifier associated with the second user account may be obtained which may be provided to the entity. A decision as to whether or not to keep the user signed in may be based on the activity information.

Abstract: An apparatus for a real-time collaboration in calendar is described herein. The apparatus includes a state change module to receive a change notification at a second calendar client rendering a shared calendar. The apparatus also includes an identification module to retrieve an identification (ID) of calendar content, a change in a user interface state, and an extent of a calendar view from a first data structure. Finally, the apparatus includes a replica module of the second client to retrieve calendar content from a second data structure using the ID as an index value.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to structure switching in a 3D environment. In examples, an authoring application is used to select characteristics for the 3D environment and to insert content. For example, a structure is selected in which to present the content in the 3D environment. An asset container comprises assets associated with the selected structure, which are included in the 3D environment. In some examples, a common asset container comprises other assets that are included in the 3D environment. End users are able to view the 3D environment using a viewer application. If the author decides to change the selected structure, an asset container associated with the new structure is identified. Assets for the old structure are removed from the 3D environment and assets for the new structure are included instead. Thus, a set of asset containers is used generate the 3D environment and change characteristics therein.

Abstract: Systems and methods of maintaining a focal point of a camera in a 3D environment of a 2D graphical user interface of an authoring application includes displaying a surface upon which one or more content items can be placed and a camera centrally positioned relative to the surface. Further, responsive to an indication to add a content, determining a first elevation of the camera, determining an angle of view of the camera at the first elevation and elevating the camera to a second elevation that is greater than the first elevation of the camera while maintaining a perceived angle of view of the camera. Systems and methods for translating a 3D object include preventing translation of the 3D object in one of three dimensions of the three-dimensional environment while enabling simultaneous translation of the 3D object in the two remaining dimensions of the three dimensions of the 3D environment.

Abstract: A system includes a waveguide and an edge-emitting laser. The edge-emitting laser is configured to lase coherent light into the waveguide. The edge-emitting laser includes an optical cavity having an active gain section and a passive section. The active gain section is configured to amplify an optical power of light reflecting within the optical cavity. The passive section increases a functional length of the optical cavity such that a total length of the optical cavity reduces fringe interference of the coherent light propagating through the waveguide.

Abstract: Methods and systems for normalizing a 3D object with a 2D graphical user interface of an authoring application includes retrieving the 3D object, which has an existing offset center, removing the existing the offset center, defining a bounding box about the 3D object, calculating and assigning a new center of the 3D object, and adding the 3D object to the 3D environment including displaying the 3D object within the 3D environment within the 2D GUI according to the new bounding box and new center.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system for processing data. During operation, the system obtains labels representing an international orientation or a non-international orientation of a first set of members of an online system, wherein the international orientation includes an interest in or an exposure to foreign entities. Next, the system inputs the labels with features for the first set of members as training data for a machine learning model. The system then applies one or more rules derived from the machine learning model to additional features for a second set of members of the online system to classify some or all members in the second set of members as having the international orientation or the non-international orientation. Finally, the system outputs one or more attributes associated with the classified members for use in improving use of the online system by the members.

Abstract: A computing device is provided, including memory storing an instruction storage location. The computing device may further include a processor system including a plurality of processor threads. The processor system may suspend execution of one or more respective processor threads of the plurality of processor threads. The processor system may store one or more respective processor thread contexts of the one or more processor threads in the memory. The processor system may enter a system management mode (SMM). The processor system may determine that the instruction storage location includes a code update instruction. The processor system may perform a code update based on the code update instruction. The processor system may exit the SMM. The processor system may retrieve the one or more processor thread contexts from the memory and resume execution of the one or more processor threads without rebooting the computing device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for facilitating operation of a plurality of computing devices. Data indicative of enumerated resources of a computing device is collected. The data is collected without dependency on write permissions to a file system of the one computing device. A condition of the computing device is determined based on historical data associated with enumerated resources of other computing devices. The identified condition can be updated as updated historical data becomes available. A communication to the computing device may be sent based on the identified condition.

Abstract: A method for managing a mailbox based on user activity comprises receiving output signals from each of a plurality of mailbox workloads. The output signals may be indicative of user activity for each workload. A last user action time may be determined based on the received output signals using pre-determined, workload specific criteria. A pre-determined action may be performed on the mailbox responsive to a lapsed duration from the last user action time increasing above a threshold.

Abstract: A method that enables time as data is described herein. The method includes constructing a tree structure, wherein data of the tree structure is a plurality of time intervals, and layers of the tree below a root node comprise identical sibling nodes for layers above a threshold interval length and parent nodes share identical sibling nodes. The method also includes assigning a node identification to each node of the tree structure, wherein each node of the tree structure corresponds to a time interval, and traversing the tree structure to convert a timestamp to a human readable time.

Abstract: A system and method for blocking path detection is provided. A job comprises tasks with at least some of the tasks dependent on other task(s). Each task is assigned to an ownership team. At a particular point in execution of the job, states of tasks of the job are identified. The states include one of three mutually exclusive states: waiting for another task/finished, in progress, and, blocked. When all the tasks with identified states of in progress or blocked are assigned to a particular ownership team, the particular ownership team is identified as on a blocking path. An action can be performed regarding the blocking path, for example, selected in accordance with policy-defined response actions such as generating an incident, escalating an existing incident, and/or sending a notification (e.g., an accumulated time on the blocking path can be calculated for each team with team(s) notified when certain threshold(s) are exceeded).

Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to dynamically controlling light sources on an optically trackable peripheral device. One disclosed example provides a near-eye display device comprising an image sensor, a communications subsystem, a logic subsystem, and a storage subsystem. The storage subsystem stores instructions executable by the logic subsystem to control a peripheral device comprising a plurality of light sources by receiving image data from the image sensor, identifying in the image data a constellation of light sources formed by a subset of light sources of the peripheral device, and based upon the constellation of light sources identified, send to the peripheral device via the communications subsystem constellation information related to the constellation of light sources identified.

Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure describe systems and methods for rendering 3D text in a 3D environment. In aspects, a three dimensional (3D) object may be generated in a virtual reality, augmented reality, or mixed reality (MR) environment. A two dimensional (2D) graphical user interface (GUI) texture may be applied to a plane of the 3D object. A graphical control element, such as a text frame, and associated content may be rendered on the GUI texture. In some aspects, the graphical control element may be associated with editing controls that enable the dimensions and/or orientation of the graphical control element to be modified within the boundaries of the GUI texture and/or the 3D object.

Abstract: Methods and systems for displaying a content indicator in a 3D environment of a 2D graphical user interface of an authoring application includes receiving an indication to load the object into the 3D environment, displaying the content indicator, which indicates a loading status of the object, based on receipt of the indication and scaling the content indicator. The scaling includes determining a forward direction of the camera, determining a difference in position between the forward direction of the camera and the content indicator, determining a scalar value based on the difference in position and applying the scalar value to the content indicator.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to contextual input in a three-dimensional (3D) environment. In an example, a 3D environment is authored using an authoring application, wherein the author selects and positions one or more content items within the 3D environment. The 3D environment has a set of possible environment events that are associated with user input events. As a result, an environment event is generated when a user input event is received from an input device. An author uses the authoring application to associate an environment event with an action of the content item. A user is able to use a variety of input devices to interact with the 3D environment. When an input event is received from an input device, an environment event is generated accordingly, and a content item action associated with the environment event is performed in response to the environment event.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system for managing inter-process communication. During operation, the system executes a block storage manager for managing shared memory that is accessed by a write process and multiple read processes. Next, the block storage manager manages one or more data structures storing mappings that include block identifiers (IDs) of blocks representing chunks of the shared memory, files in the blocks, and directories containing the files. The block storage manager then applies an update by the write process to a subset of the blocks by atomically replacing, in the one or more data structures, a first directory containing an old version of the subset of the blocks with a second directory containing a new version of the subset of the blocks.

Abstract: A method that enables information sharing is described herein. The method includes receiving a query from a first collaborator at a content management system, wherein a relationship between the first collaborator and a second collaborator is maintained by the content management system. The method also includes determining query results in content stored at a second shard belonging to the second collaborator in response to the query, wherein the query results are relevant to a search based on the received query. Additionally, the method includes releasing the query results from the second shard in response to an indication from the second collaborator, and returning the released query results to the first collaborator.

Abstract: Described herein is a system and method for sharing an AR game within a shared coordinate space created between devices with initially disjoint relative coordinate spaces. Once the shared coordinate space is created, an AR video game can provide a first mode in which the users engage in game play action that have consequences according to pre-established game rules. The AR video game can provide a second mode (“sandbox mode”) in which users engage in non-destructive game play actions that do not have consequences once the second mode has been terminated. Further described herein is a system and method of using geolocation information within an AR session in which a virtual action can be initiated by a user that causes a corresponding virtual action to be displayed on a map of a virtual environment that parallels a physical environment displayed on a user gaming device of another user.

Abstract: Described herein is a system and method of generating self-portrait within augmented realty session. A first camera of a device can capture an image of user(s) in a physical environment (e.g., real-world). A depth sensor can determine a distance of the user(s) from the device. A second camera of the device can determine an orientation and/or change of orientation of the device in the physical environment. Virtual object(s) in proximity to the user(s) can be determined based, at least in part, upon the determined physical location and determined orientation of the user gaming device. Each virtual object can have an associated physical location within the physical environment. A representation of the identified virtual object(s) can then be generated and an AR self-portrait can be generated based, at least in part, the captured representation of the user in the physical environment and the generated representation of the identified virtual object(s).

Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to touch-sensitive input devices, systems, and methods for providing user input to a computing device. In one example, a touch-sensitive input device comprises an elongated body and a plurality of force-sensing elements spaced along a length of the body. The touch-sensitive input device also comprises a wireless communication subsystem configured to communicatively couple the input device to the computing device and provide signals from the plurality of force-sensing elements to the computing device.

Abstract: A system for a map calendar is described herein. The map calendar includes a calendar content database that is to store at least one item of calendar content and a navigation system that determines a zoom level and a panning position of the map calendar. The map calendar also includes a processor that is to determine a summarization level based on the zoom level and the panning position of the map calendar and render the calendar content according to the summarization level.

Abstract: A computing device including a user input device. The computing device may further include memory storing a file tree that includes a plurality of files arranged in a hierarchical structure having a plurality of nodes. The computing device may further include at least one processor configured to receive, via the user input device, a scoping selection of one or more nodes of the plurality of nodes. The scoping selection may indicate a respective display status for each of the one or more nodes. The processor may generate a scoped view of the file tree in which for each selected node, whether that selected node is displayed or hidden in the scoped view is determined based at least on the respective display status indicated for that selected node by the scoping selection. The processor may output the scoped view to a display for display in a graphical user interface (GUI).

Abstract: A Near-Eye-Display (NED) devices that translates combinations of user gaze direction and predetermined facial gestures into user input instructions. The NED device includes an eye tracking system and a display that renders computer-generated images within a user's field-of-view. The eye tracking system may continually track the user's eye movements with a high degree of accuracy to identify specific computer-generated images that a user is focused on. The eye tracking system may also identify various facial gestures such as, for example, left-eye blinks and/or right-eye blinks that are performed while the specific computer-generated images are being focused on. In this way, NED devices are enabled to identify combinations of user gaze direction and predetermined facial gestures and to translate these identified combinations into user input instructions that correspond to specific computer-generated images.

Abstract: A stylus placed in a docking station is used as a joystick by setting up a self-capacitance or mutual capacitance between the stylus and the docking port and measuring changes in that mutual capacitance as the stylus is moved by the user. The mutual capacitance is set up using electrodes and/or the housing of the stylus and the changes may be measured either from the stylus or from the docking station.

Abstract: The present concepts relate to a virtual reality controller that enables fine control of virtual objects using natural motions involving the dexterity of the user's fingers and provides realistic haptic sensations to the user's fingers. The controller may have a rigid structure design without moving parts. Force sensors under finger rests can detect forces exerted by user's fingers. Actuators can render haptic feedback from the virtual reality world to the user's fingers. The controller may include one or more trackpads on which the user may slide her fingers. The controller may be used for exploring and manipulating virtual objects, for example, by grasping, releasing, rotating, and feeling the surface of virtual objects.

Abstract: A method of and system for presentencing a user interface for the visually impaired is carried by dividing a user interface area of a user interface into a plurality of sections, mapping a different audible tone to each one of the plurality of sections, associating each one of the plurality of sections with a category, displaying a pane in one section of the plurality of sections, the pane having information about the category associated with the one section, receiving a first touch gesture on the pane, outputting a first audio signal having an audible tone mapped to the section, and depending on a type of the first touch gesture, outputting speech data for at least some of the information, the some of the information depending on a duration and a direction of the first touch gesture.

Abstract: An optical device including a first rigid substrate, a flexible holographic optical element, a transparent flexible material having a variable shear transmission property across an in-plane direction of the flexible holographic optical element, and a second rigid substrate, where the flexible holographic optical element and the transparent flexible material are located between the first and second rigid substrates, where the variable shear transmission property of the transparent flexible material transmits variable amounts of a shear force applied to the first or second rigid substrates across the in-plane direction of the flexible holographic optical element.

Abstract: The description relates to determining tiles of interest to a user. One example includes a computing device comprising a display, a user input receiving means, and a processing means. The processing means is configured to render on the display a first plurality of tiles each having a respective value of a first classification. The processing means is configured to receive from the user input receiving means a first user input indicating user interest in a first tile of the first plurality of tiles, the first tile having a first value of the first classification. The processing means is configured, in response to receiving the first user input, to render on the display a second plurality of tiles each having a respective value of a second classification and being related to the first tile by having a value of the first classification within a threshold similarity of the first value.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to providing information regarding nearby locations that may be familiar to a user to help inform the user of a current location within an area. One disclosed example provides a computing device comprising a display, a logic subsystem, and a storage subsystem comprising instructions executable by the logic subsystem to form a list of familiar locations for a user based upon a user history regarding the familiar locations, determine that the user is within a threshold proximity to a nearby familiar location on the list of familiar locations, and in response, output directional information indicating a relative position of the nearby familiar location on the list of familiar locations.

Abstract: A panorama display application shows objects from a spreadsheet such as charts in primary screen of a mobile device adjoined by left and right virtual screens. The application overlays interaction controls such as sort and filter functions on the object. The application also provides additional interaction controls for the object on the left virtual screen and associated objects links on the right virtual screen. The application may expose the additional interaction controls and the associated objects links by overlaying portions of the virtual screens on the primary screen. The application fluidly shifts content from virtual screens to the primary screen subsequent to detected user action on the overlaid portions.

Abstract: A game controller includes a grip, one or more finger-actuatable controls on the grip, and a rim located on the grip. The rim defines an aperture. The game controller further includes a paddle-actuatable sensor accessible through the aperture and a pivot spaced apart from the aperture. The pivot is configured to removably affix a selected paddle accessory to the game controller and to translate a touch applied to the selected paddle accessory outside of the aperture to an actuation of the paddle-actuatable sensor inside the aperture.

Abstract: A Root of Trust hardware hierarchy provides firmware security for motherboard and peripheral devices. Power is received at a computer system and, in response to the receipt of power, of a standby power rail of a motherboard of the computer system is energized, and a first microcontroller mounted on the motherboard authenticates first firmware associated with a baseboard management controller mounted on the motherboard and coupled to the first microcontroller. If the authentication of the first firmware is successful, the baseboard management controller is powered on, a central processing unit coupled to the first microcontroller is held in reset, and a standby power rail of a peripheral component card coupled to the motherboard is energized.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for an optical waveguide display configured for use with a near-eye display (NED) device. In an embodiment the waveguide display includes a light-transmissive substrate and an optical coupling element configured to input light rays to the substrate or output light rays from the substrate, the optical coupling element configured to deflect a plurality of wavelengths of an incident light ray collinearly for propagation within the light-transmissive substrate through total internal reflection (TIR). The optical coupling element can include a pattern of nano-structures that collectively form a metasurface on the substrate.

Abstract: A server system comprising: a respective storage area for each of a plurality of respective parties including a first party and a second party, and a manager function for managing the storage. Each of at least some of the storage areas stores a primary instance of one or more data resources of the respective party. The manager function is configured so as, in response to the second party forming a relationship with one of the resources of the first party, to establish a secondary copy of that one of the resources of the first party in the respective storage area of the second party. In the secondary copy, the manager function also includes personal metadata describing one or more attributes of the relationship between the second party and the resource.

Abstract: Techniques for sharing across environments are described. Generally, different types of input may be employed to share content, such as using a pen, a stylus, a finger, touchless gesture input, and so forth. According to various embodiments, content may be shared between devices in local proximity, and/or between devices that are remote from one another. In at least some embodiments, content is shared based on an identity of a sharing user and/or sharing device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software are described herein to support view-based storage. A service application that provides a user interface to a service receives data communicated by the service and identifies at least a service item to present in at least one of various views rendered in the user interface. The service application then identifies with which of the views to associate the service item and stores the service item in association with an identified view or views.

Abstract: The description relates to display devices. One example can include a display having an active area surrounded by an inactive deadband. The example can also include a chassis, the display received in the chassis and secured to the chassis beneath the inactive deadband with adhesive. The example can further include a fastening assembly positioned below the inactive deadband and farther beneath the plane than the adhesive, where the fastening assembly creates a retention force between the display and the chassis.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a seamless transition between applications is disclosed. The system includes a framework which includes an application manager for managing operations of the system, a component retriever in communications with the application manager for retrieving components associated with the applications, a data retriever in communications with the application manager for retrieving data associated with the applications, a memory for storing the retrieved components or data, and a service group including one or more services associated with applications.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing an improved optical tracking signal. A system receives an input signal which is based on a reflected optical signal comprising light reflected off of two or more real-world objects. The input signal includes a first region representing light reflected off of a first real-world object, a second region representing light reflected off of a second real-world object, and a transition region between the first region and the second region. The input signal includes jitter in at least one of the first region, the second region, or the transition region. The system also performs a sharpening operation to sharpen the transition region for an output signal created from the input signal. The sharpening operation includes a complex operation utilizing both real and imaginary components of the input signal. The system also outputs the output signal as an improved version of the input signal.

Abstract: A system for protecting personally identifiable information (PII) associated with audio, image and video. The system includes an output device and a processor. The processor receives a document including an audio, an image, or a video containing both non-personally identifiable information and personally identifiable information, scans the document for a voice, a face, a graphically rendered text, or a personal attribute, match the voice, face, graphically rendered text, or personal attribute with records in a database to determine whether the voice, face, graphically rendered text, or personal attribute in the document is associated with personally identifiable information.

Abstract: An improved eye tracking illumination system is disclosed. The system includes (i) an RGB laser device that is associated with a first collimating optic and (ii) an IR illumination device that is associated with a second collimating optic. The system also includes a DMA that has a MEMS mirror system. The DMA optically combines IR light and RGB light to generate combined light. The combined light is then directed towards a user's eye via a transport medium (e.g., a waveguide). One or more photodetector(s) are positioned to capture reflected light that is reflected off of the user's eye. The photodetectors include an IR detector configured to detect reflected IR light off of the user's eye in order to perform eye tracking.

Abstract: The discussion relates to unconscious bias detection. One example can detect potential bias words in a text sample and suggest alternative phrasing to eliminate the potential bias words from the text sample.

Abstract: Template based calendar events with graphic enrichment are provided. In some examples, upon receiving a request to create a calendar event, an event creation prompt may be presented. The prompt may include an event template selection element comprising visual aids, such as icons or emojis, that each represent different event templates for selection. Upon receiving a visual aid selection, information associated with the user requesting the calendar event may be retrieved based on the selected visual aid to infer one or more aspects of the requested event such as title, timing, and location. A suggested event with the inferred aspects may be presented to the user and upon receiving confirmation and/or modification, the suggested or modified event may be added to the user's calendar. Some events may be presented with a visual background such as an image or graphics on the calendar for prompt recognition.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining knowledge-guided information for a recurrent neural networks (RNN) to guide the RNN in semantic tagging of an input phrase are presented. A knowledge encoding module of a Knowledge-Guided Structural Attention Process (K-SAP) receives an input phrase and, in conjunction with additional sub-components or cooperative components generates a knowledge-guided vector that is provided with the input phrase to the RNN for linguistic semantic tagging. Generating the knowledge-guided vector comprises at least parsing the input phrase and generating a corresponding hierarchical linguistic structure comprising one or more discrete sub-structures. The sub-structures may be encoded into vectors along with attention weighting identifying those sub-structures that have greater importance in determining the semantic meaning of the input phrase.

Abstract: In non-limiting examples of the present disclosure, systems, methods and devices for interacting with one or more electronic messages in a virtual space are presented. One or more avatars corresponding to the senders of a plurality electronic messages may be displayed within a virtual space. A user may navigate within the virtual space and execute one or more actions associated with an electronic message and/or its sender from the virtual space. In some examples, each of a plurality of electronic messages may be spatially arranged in the virtual space according to a corresponding message thread. In additional examples, each of a plurality of electronic messages may be spatially arranged in the virtual space based on a time that each message was sent or received.

Abstract: Described are examples for determining an effective color space of a display. A two-dimensional parametric surface that intersects a color volume defined for the display can be defined for at least one color volume vertex. A flat bitmap to which the two-dimensional parametric surface is mapped can be displayed, on the display, for the at least one color volume vertex. A selection of a point on the flat bitmap that corresponds to a perceived maximum color can be received for the at least one color volume vertex. The effective color space of the display can be determined based at least in part on the perceived maximum color selected for the at least one color volume vertex.

Abstract: An electronic stylus device includes a stylus tip element having a stylus tip end and an opposing end. The stylus tip element is positioned at an end of the electronic stylus device and aligned along the long center axis of the electronic stylus device. A nutation collar is positioned about the stylus tip element and the long center axis. The nutation collar provides one or more bearing surfaces around the stylus tip element between the stylus tip end and the opposing end of the stylus tip element. The one or more bearing surfaces permit the stylus tip element to nutate within the nutation collar. A deflection sensor is positioned proximate to the opposing end of the stylus tip element on the long center axis and detects lateral deflection of the opposing end of the stylus tip element relative to the long center axis of the electronic stylus device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for rendering a surface in a synthetic scene using gutter space padding for texture atlases. Gutter space adjacent to UV shells may be padded with texels from the UV shells used for neighboring surfaces, rather than merely extending the interior texels. The result is that distracting artifacts, caused by mesh downsampling that produces sub-optimal polygon shapes and vertex placement may be mitigated. The resulting rendering, manifesting lessened artifacts, may appear to be less impacted by downsampling, and thus improve the experience for the viewer or other synthetics data consumer. The improvement may be used in rendering for human users and also training neural networks in computer vision tasks, such as object detection and recognition.

Abstract: A relational database server may concurrently execute many relational queries, but a complex relational query may cause performance delays in the fulfillment of other relational queries. Instead, the relational database server may generate a query plan for the relational query, and may endeavor to partition the relational query between a spool operator and a scan operator into two or more query slices, where each query slice may be executed within a query slice threshold. Many alternative candidate query plans may be considered, such as inserting spool and scan operators after various operators and parameterizing operators in order to partition the records of a relation into two or more ranges based on an attribute of the relation. A large search space of candidate query plans may be reviewed in order to select a query plan that respects the query slice threshold while efficiently executing the logic of the relational query.