Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Chao-Chia Liu

Michael John Hillberg

David Bradley Probert, Jr

Heung-Yeung Shum

Kuansan Wang

Bo-June Hsu

Yu-ting Kuo

Daniel F Plastina

Arun Sacheti

Brian J Deen

Gopal Parupudi

Joel Mathew Soderberg

Clifford P Van Dyke

Van Christopher Van

James W Kelly

Robert E Corrington

William Paul Morel

Roger F Grambihler

Lawrence William Colagiovanni

Murthy Srinivas

Cornelia Carapcea

Susan E Strom

Yusuf Furkan Fidan

Systems, methods and computer-storage media are provided for identifying query formulation suggestions in response to receiving a search query. A portion of a search query is received. Query formulation suggestions are identified by semantically analyzing the search query. The query formulation suggestions are used to further formulate the received search query. The query formulation suggestions include semantic-pattern-based query suggestions that are derived from semantic query patterns, one or more entities, and information associated with these entities. The query formulation suggestions are transmitted for presentation.

Interactive semantic query suggestion for content search

Systems, methods and computer-storage media are provided for identifying low-match search queries and determining comparable item matches to suggest to the user in response to a low-match query. 'Low-match queries' are queries for which an insufficient number of exact item matches are available. In embodiments, exact and/or comparable item matches may be determined via semantic analysis. Also provided are systems, methods and computer-storage media for informing the user, by way of a presented indicator, or the like, that a presented item was selected for presentation based upon a similarity metric rather than being determined an exact match for the input query.

Identifying query formulation suggestions for low-match queries

A software layer (filter driver) residing between software components or application programs running locally or on a client across a network and a persistent store of an operating system provides on-the-fly conversions of persistent information formats. The filter driver determines which format a program expects, and dynamically converts the information from its storage format to the format expected by the program. Conversion includes both data format conversion, and conversion of access semantics. Loadable conversion modules are provided for converting application specific formats due to the potential large number of such formats which can be encountered. The filter driver may change the format that information is stored in based on access history or other system requirements. The software components or application programs may be ignorant of the true storage format used by the system, and thus the filter driver can be used to give old versions of software access to information stored in newer formats.

Converting information into different formats

A data structure is provided for storing a digital document to be rendered on a printer or viewer. The data structure includes a plurality of objects that define the content and layout of the document. The objects include at least one graphics object representative of a portion of at least one of the pages, a page object for each page, a document root object, a job object, and an index object. A canvas object can be provided which includes a list of graphics objects to be rendered on the associated page and the coordinates on the page at which each graphics object is located. Each page object includes a reference to the at least one graphics object, or a canvas object, for that page, and each document root object includes a list of the page objects for the document. The job object includes a list of all the document root objects for the documents to be rendered by the data structure, and the index object identifies the location of each of the objects in the data structure.

Data structure and method of storing a digital document

A software layer (filter driver) residing between software components or application programs running locally or on a client across a network and a persistent store of an operating system provides on-the-fly conversions of persistent information formats. The filter driver determines which format a program expects, and dynamically converts the information from its storage format to the format expected by the program. Conversion includes both data format conversion, and conversion of access semantics. Loadable conversion modules are provided for converting application specific formats due to the potential large number of such formats which can be encountered. The filter driver may change the format that information is stored in based on access history or other system requirements. The software components or application programs may be ignorant of the true storage format used by the system, and thus the filter driver can be used to transparently give old versions of software access to information stored in newer formats.

Dynamic information format conversion

A centralized manager for managing the data synchronization operations for multiple applications according to user preferences. Applications register respective COM handlers with the synchronization manager via COM methods. On a synchronize event the synchronization manager queues the registered application handlers, and calls the handlers to perform the synchronization of items therein. Progress and results are communicated to a user-viewable dialog via callbacks from the handlers to the synchronization manager. The synchronization manager provides consistent user interfaces for obtaining user preferences related to synchronization and for presenting information to the user, thus resulting in a consistent user experience.

Synchronization manager for standardized synchronization of separate programs

A method and system for maintaining the integrity of links in a computer network. The method and system is realized in a link tracking service including a local link tracking service, preferably running on all of the computers within the network, and a centralized link tracking server, preferably running on a network server. The local link tracking service manages the link tracking activities for the machine on which it resides. These activities include searching for link sources and tracking link source moves. The centralized link tracking service is provided to cooperate with the local link tracking services and, more particularly, for recording link source file movements as reported to it by the local link tracking services. The recorded information is available to be used by the local link tracking services should the local link tracking services need assistance in finding a link source that has been moved.

Method and system for maintaining the integrity of links in a computer network

A method is described for managing property information related to a resource such as a computer file or directory. First, a property file is created for storing property information related to the resource. Next, the property file is directly associated with the resource such that if the resource is moved, copied, or deleted, the corresponding property file is also moved, copied, or deleted, thus protecting against disassociation. The property file is also directly associated with the resource without having to refer to a separate look-up or sequel database, thus saving computer time. Organizing the property file in this manner allows for searches to be performed on the property information as well as on the content of the resource.

System and method for managing property information related to a resource

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Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Chao-Chia Liu