Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Jason Michael Anderson

William Jefferson Westerinen

Allen Marshall

Tony Dwayne Pierce

Adrian Mark Chandley

Therron Powell

Kenneth Wade Stufflebeam, Jr

Steven T Kaneko

Pasquale DeMaio

Chad Magendanz

Dale Clark Crosier

Christopher Allen Schoppa

Juan J Perez

Andrew John Fuller

Clark David Nicholson

Matthew P Rhoten

Peter G Viscarola

Brian D Harry

Theodore C Tanner, Jr

Douglas Todd Neumann

Daniel J Makoski

Sam Guckenheimer

Raju Ramanathan

Serdar Unal

Shaun Wiley

Yingchun Simon Zhang

Wes Witt

James Tse-Ching Yu

Christian M Lucas

Edward R Hintz, Iii

Peter Viscaraola

Pasquale Demaio

Chad L Magendanz

Jr Kenneth W Stufflebeam

Described is a technology by which independent computing functions such as corresponding to separate operating systems may be partitioned into coexisting partitions. A virtual machine manager, or hypervisor, manages the input and output of each partition to operate computer system hardware. One partition may correspond to a special purpose operating system that quickly boots, such as to provide appliance-like behavior, while another partition may correspond to a general purpose operating system that may load while the special purpose operating system is already running. The computer system that contains the partitions may transition functionality and devices from one operating system to the other. The virtual machine manager controls which computer hardware devices are capable of being utilized by which partition at any given time, and may also facilitate inter-partition communication.

Fast booting a computing device to a specialized experience

Systems and methods for producing a simulated off condition in a computing device using a set of software drivers that interact with a system service and the device BIOS. The computing device includes system components such as a power supply, processors and fans that are put into a low power state upon receiving a signal to power off the device. This provides the appearance to users that the computing device is off. The system components, however, remain enabled to run applications when the computing device is in the simulated off condition. If necessary, the device can be returned to a fully on condition to process applications that require the system components to be brought out of the low power state to execute.

Always ready computing device

In one embodiment, a method and apparatus for automatically evaluating compliance of at least one source code file against at least one checkin policy. In a further embodiment, providing information about the compliance or non-compliance of the at least one source code file with the at least one checkin policy. In another embodiment, providing an option to override a policy failure and submit the at least one source code file to a source code repository. In one embodiment, in response to an override of a policy failure, providing a notification about the override of the policy failure. In some embodiments, an extensible framework enabling the installation of at least one checkin policy plugin, and providing a notification that at least one checkin policy plugin is not installed. In further embodiments, providing and using a work item association policy plugin, a unit tests policy plugin, and a static analysis policy plugin.

Methods and apparatus for implementing checkin policies in source code control systems

Systems and methods for improving the signal to noise ratio for audio input in a computing system are provided. Signal to noise ratio improvements are enabled for an input audio signal by incorporating a plurality of microphones into the PC environment, for example, to improve the processing of voice or speech input or other audio capture applications. In various embodiments, a plurality of microphones are spaced apart, e.g., attached to or within a PC housing, in such a way that noise from PC components can be 'subtracted' or reduced from an input audio signal, which increases the signal to noise ratio and improves audio processing accuracy. The 'subtraction' or reduction techniques applied by the present invention are unique to the PC environment wherein different noises having particular characteristics can be identified, including, but not limited to, rattle of device components, fan noise and disk noise.

Systems and methods for improving the signal to noise ratio for audio input in a computing system

A method and system for controlling the spin rate of an optical device. A device driver provides notification that media has been inserted into the optical device. A control service determines the format of information on the media. The spin rate of the optical device is locked or unlocked based on the format.

Optical drive spin rate control

An auxiliary computing device normally used for remotely controlling a primary device may change its functionality and extend its usefulness based on a usage context. An auxiliary device may change its usage context by connecting differently to a primary device depending on any number of parameters including distance from the device, battery life, connection method, and proximity to other devices. The device may change its usage context by interfacing with a primary device service that communicates with various applications to feed the auxiliary device different information in different usage contexts. Further, the device may control different functions of the primary device based on the usage context.

Controlling an auxiliary display user interface based on usage context

An improved operating system method that, in addition to the primary operating system, stores one or more alternate or recovery operating systems. The system monitors the operation of the present operating system and accesses the alternate or recovery operating system based on a fail-over algorithm when a fault condition is detected. The alternate or recovery operating systems are periodically updated.

Operating system update and boot failure recovery

Method of providing a simulated off condition in a computing device wherein the device is able to run applications while in an off state

A computing system that incorporates an auxiliary processor to the main system processor. The auxiliary system utilizes a separate application runtime for processes and is capable of operating even when the primary system is in an off state. Methods for load-balancing are provided based on computing needs respective to power consumption requirements. Processes that are not computationally intensive are processed by a low-power, auxiliary processor. In addition, peripheral components accessible to the overall computing system are shared.

Task-oriented processing as an auxiliary to primary computing environments

Systems and methods for reducing the size of a power supply in a computing device by monitoring activities to maintain the load on the power supply below a predetermined threshold. Through a set of software drivers, various components are placed into low power states in order to reduce the load on the power supply. The methods allow manufacturers to utilize smaller power supplies that are better fitted for the actual operating conditions of the computing device, rather than a large power supply designed for worst case conditions.

Method for making power supplies smaller and more efficient for high-power PCs

A mechanism is provided for a personal computer to preserve user and system state data in the event of an AC power failure when the computer is in a standby state. When the AC power failure occurs, a switchover circuit connects a rechargeable energy storage medium, such as a rechargeable battery, to the power supply of the computer for powering components of computer, and the computer is awaken. A critical battery alarm is then issued to trigger the operating system of the computer to perform a transition into a hibernation state, during which the state data of the computer are persistently stored. The energy storage medium is disconnected from the power supply after the computer system has entered hibernation.

System and method for preserving state data of a personal computer in a standby state in the event of an AC power failure

Growing community of inventors

Snoqualmie, WA, United States of America

Jason Michael Anderson