Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Microsoft Corporation

Robert S T Gibson

Rahim Maknojia

Shawn Lucas

Cheng Wei

Robert M Fries

Michael E Pietraszak

Jonathan A Wray

Vitaly Bordovskiy

Jun Liu

Daniel J Shoff

Eric J Wolz

John T Cooper, Iii

The application is directed to a cloud computing platform. The cloud computing platform includes a memory having instructions stored thereon for managing updates the cloud computing platform. The cloud computing platform also includes a controller, operably coupled to the memory. The controller is configured to execute an instruction of identifying an update for an existing cloud computing service operating on the cloud computing platform. The controller is also configured to download the update for the existing service. The controller is also configured to merge the differences between the downloaded update and the existing service to create a new image. The controller is also configured to test the new image offline. Further, the controller is configured to validate the new image online.

End-to-end automated servicing model for cloud computing platforms

System management services can discover the addition of new physical devices, take automated actions to provision software (operating system and other related cloud services software components) on them, and scale out management infrastructure based on the new capacity of the total resources (including the newly added resources). A configuration file can contain the rules for automatic expansion and contraction of the system.

Automatic system response to external field-replaceable unit (FRU) process

A cloud declarative language is used to configure and reconfigure cloud computing environments. The language includes physical and logical topology declarations as well as cloud operations commands, and allows users to declare commands at multiple topology hierarchies. The language may be used to create scripts and sets of scripts that are used to configure cloud stacks and other operational parameters. Scripts may be created through direct editing by cloud designers or with the aid of graphical user interfaces. Scripts may be automatically generated using templates of configurations and requirements and use for rapid prototyping and testing of cloud environments. Scripts may also be used to monitor conformance with specified configurations, and to facilitate deployment of incremental modifications to configurations.

Packaging tool for first and third party component deployment

An arbiter component receives a request from a media control object for control of a media resource. The arbiter determines whether a media resource is available, and if a media resource is available, forwards the request to the available media resource. The control object may lock control of the media resource to maintain control of the media resource until the media control unlocks control of the media resource.

TV control resource management

EPG services are provided, which enables a device such as a computer, a set top box or the like to collect EPG data from multiple EPG data providers or sources. The EPG data is collected at the device by EPG loaders. Each EPG loader collects EPG data from a particular source. The EPG loaders deliver the EPG data to a writer module, which performs scaling and formatting functions to the EPG data. The writer module also stores the scaled and formatted EPG data in a database or other storage. Once stored, applications gain access to the EPG data through a control module. The writer module may also be implemented by chaining EPG loaders in a priority scheme. However, EPG loader interaction reduces independence and forces more rigid interface and implementation constraints upon the design of EPG loaders. The control module provides the accessed EPG data to the applications. EPG services function to isolate the operation of the applications from the EPG data sources. Because the EPG data is stored by the writer module and accessed by the control module, the applications and EPG data sources can change independently of one another without having an effect on the ability of EPG services to collect and provide access to EPG data.

Systems and methods for electronic program guide data services

EPG services are provided, which enables a device such as a computer, a set top box or the like to collect EPG data from multiple EPG data providers or sources. The EPG data is collected at the device by EPG loaders. Each EPG loader collects EPG data from a particular source. The EPG loaders deliver the EPG data to a writer module, which performs scaling and formatting functions to the EPG data. The writer module also stores the scaled and formatted EPG data in a database or other storage. The writer module may also be implemented by chaining EPG loaders in a priority scheme. However, EPG loader interaction reduces independence and forces more rigid interface and implementation constraints upon the design of EPG loaders. Once stored, applications gain access to the EPG data through a control module. The control module provides the accessed EPG data to the applications. EPG services function to isolate the operation of the applications from the EPG data sources. Because the EPG data is stored by the writer module and accessed by the control module, the applications and EPG data sources can change independently of one another without having an effect on the ability of EPG services to collect and provide access to EPG data.

Application program interfaces for electronic program guide data services

EPG services are provided, which enables a device such as a computer, a set top box or the like to collect EPG data from multiple EPG data providers or sources. The EPG data is collected at the device by EPG loaders. Each EPG loader collects EPG data from a particular source. The EPG loaders deliver the EPG data to a writer module, which performs scaling and formatting functions to the EPG data The writer module also stores the scaled and formatted EPG data in a database or other storage. Once stored, applications gain access to the EPG data through a control module. The writer module may also be implemented by chaining EPG loaders in a priority scheme. However, EPG loader interaction reduces independence and forces more rigid interface and implementation constraints upon the design of EPG loaders. The control module provides the accessed EPG data to the applications. EPG services function to isolate the operation of the applications from the EPG data sources. Because the EPG data is stored by the writer module and accessed by the control module, the applications and EPG data sources can change independently of one another without having an effect on the ability of EPG services to collect and provide access to EPG data.

Virtual display layers are associated with each process within a programmable set top box requiring access to a shared front panel display therein. An ordered set of virtual display layers is used to determine the information that is ultimately displayed on the shared display device. The shared display device includes a plurality of selectively controllable light emitting diode (LED) elements located on the front panel of the set top box. These LED elements correspond to data defined in the virtual display layers. The data includes flag data that associates certain properties with an element, mask data that identifies if the element is visible (e.g., opaque) or not visible (e.g., transparent) to the process, and context data that sets the state or status of the element (e.g., ON/OFF). A composite display layer is created using applicable data from the ordered set of virtual display layers. The resulting composite display layer provides the data that defines the information displayed via the display device.

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Duvall, WA, United States of America

Robert S T Gibson