Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Jonathan Thomas Grudin

Eric J Horvitz

Prasun Dewan

Michael Tholfsen

Chris J Guzak

Daniel J Shapiro

Brian R Meyers

Chad Magendanz

Gavin Jancke

Paul Ronald Ray

Michael G Tricker

Sadiq Dhafir Alkhalili

Anoop Gupta

Yong Rui

Thomas Wionzek

Ivan Hor Siu Han

Elad Graiver

Jason James Geiger

Yonatan Turkin

A computing device executing software displays a view of a search assignment in a user interface to a learning platform. The device receives user input comprising search terms associated with the search assignment, and generates queries based on the user input. The device submits the queries to a search engine, whereupon the search engine performs searches based on the queries, and the device displays the results. As a user evaluates resources provided in the results, the device updates the user interface to include an option selectable for adding evaluated ones of the resources to a collection of resources for the search assignment. In response to the user selecting the option with respect to a resource of the evaluated ones of the resources, the device adds the resource to the collection of resources.

Online learning platforms with enhanced search assignments

A method of operating a search service includes observing, on a per-user basis with respect to each user in a group of users, usage of features of a search engine over a period of in association with search queries submitted to the search engine. The method continues with identifying, on a per-user basis with respect to each of the group of users, one or more insights into the usage of the features over the period of time. The service may then enable display of the one or more insights in a user interface.

Insights service for search engine utilization

The present invention provides methods for using abstractions of people, including dynamic and static groups of people, to enhance the efficiency of the specification and automation of policies for sharing information between users with a 'need-to-know.' An instance of the present invention can also provide these users information based on a 'time-to-know.' By providing access to information based on group affiliation and properties of the content of the information, the present invention maintains optimal information privacy while minimizing encumbrances to sharing data with appropriate users and even at appropriate times. The present invention can be integrated with other communication technologies to facilitate access to information in a time appropriate manner. Other instances of the present invention employ automated and semi-automated, mixed-initiative techniques, to make information-sharing decisions. Additional instances of the present invention include the employment of machine-learning techniques to facilitate construction of access policies from the actions or profile of a single user or a community of users, including the construction of automated sharing agents that work in an automated or mixed-initiative manner to respond to real-time requests for information.

Abstractions and automation for enhanced sharing and collaboration

A method of adding a co-teacher to an original teacher's class notebook can include, in response to receiving a request, at a client device, to add a co-teacher to a class notebook managed by a classroom notebook application, assigning the co-teacher full read/write permissions to the teacher's class notebook including any section groups having connected role inheritances. The co-teacher is also assigned full read/write permissions to the student-specific section groups and the collaboration space section group, which are all in the class notebook and which have broken permission inheritance. To protect the teacher's personal folder, which is a parent folder to the teacher's class notebook, the classroom notebook application removes the co-teacher's permissions to the teacher's personal folder.

Managing access permissions to class notebooks and their section groups in a notebook application

The present invention provides methods for using abstractions of people, including dynamic and static groups of people, to enhance the efficiency of the specification and automation of policies for sharing information between users with a 'need-to-know.' An instance of the present invention can also provide these users information based on a 'time-to-know.'By providing access to information based on group affiliation and properties of the content of the information, the present invention maintains optimal information privacy while minimizing encumbrances to sharing data with appropriate users and even at appropriate times. The present invention can be integrated with other communication technologies to facilitate access to information in a time appropriate manner. Other instances of the present invention employ automated and semi-automated, mixed-initiative techniques, to make information-sharing decisions. Additional instances of the present invention include the employment of machine-learning techniques to facilitate construction of access policies from the actions or profile of a single user or a community of users, including the construction of automated sharing agents that work in an automated or mixed-initiative manner to respond to real-time requests for information.

An automated camera management system and method for capturing presentations using videography rules. The system and method use technology components and aesthetic components represented by the videography rules to capture a presentation. In general, the automated camera management method captures a presentation using videography rules to determine camera positioning, camera movement, and switching or transition between cameras. The videography rules depend on the type of presentation room and the number of audio-visual camera units used to capture the presentation. The automated camera management system of the invention uses the above method to capture a presentation in a presentation room. The system includes a least one audio-visual (A-V) camera unit for capturing and tracking a subject based on vision or sound. The (A-V) camera unit includes any combination of the following components: (1) a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera; (2) a fixed camera; and (3) a microphone array.

Automated camera management system and method for capturing presentations using videography rules

Disclosed is a method for one computing device (the 'provider') to provide peripheral services to another device (the 'host'). A user directly runs the host. The host accesses the provider as if the provider were a set of peripheral devices attached to the host. In this way, the host and provider become, in effect, one device with the combined capabilities of both devices. The provider switches between two modes: In standalone mode, the provider acts as an individual device; upon switching to auxiliary mode, the provider provides peripheral services to the host but can still run applications and present an input/output interface to its own user. When the peripheral device provided to the host is a display screen, the host can map the provided screen into the host's own video memory, thus hiding implementation details from applications that use the screens. One device can simultaneously act as provider and host.

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Issaquah, WA, United States of America

Jonathan Thomas Grudin