Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Western Digital Technologies, Inc.

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Sailesh Rachabathuni

David Berbessou

Edward James Gayles

Lawrence Arnold Lynch-Freshner

Jonathan Gaillard

Kenneth Paul Kiraly

Robert Wai-Chi Chu

Christopher S A MacGregor

Gabriel Ribeiro

Dennis Paul Fleming

Beryl Tomay

Laurent An Minh Nguyen

Laurent E Sellier

Stephen Allen Hellwege

Samuel Kevin Baughman

Xuejin Zhou

Valient I Gough

Paul John Rankin

Jonathan Charles Griffiths

Cipson Jose Chiriyankandath

Sapna Murari Todwal

Ruslan Azibovich Sharifullin

Laurent Ah Minh Nguyen

An electronic book distribution system includes electronic devices that reset their passcodes after specified authentication failures. The passcodes of an individual electronic device is reset to a value that is generated using a predefined function of a randomly generated support code. The support code is displayed to the user, and the user is instructed to contact a support service in order to obtain the new passcode. The support service independently authenticates the user, calculates the new device passcode using the same predefined function used by the electronic device, and provides the new passcode to the user.

Assigning new passcodes to electronic devices

Systems and methods are disclosed for reconstructing a file hierarchy by scanning attributes of stored files. Stored files can have a file hierarchy that is maintained in a database stored on a storage device. The files can be stored as objects on the device using a flat file structure. The file database provides the file hierarchy. The systems and methods disclosed herein store information in file system extended attributes for individual storage files such that the database can be reconstructed by scanning the storage files, using values in the extended attributes to recreate the hierarchical database.

Using file system extended attributes to update databases in hierarchical file systems

Systems and methods are disclosed for managing access between a data storage server and a client that are on the same local network. Access is managed using a cloud service that is remote from both the data storage server and the client requesting access to the server. The cloud-based management of local connections described herein simplifies the process of connecting to a data storage server on a local network from a client program or device. Connections are authorized based on the use of a local code. The local code is generated by the cloud service and includes a concatenation of a device identifier associated with the data storage server and a time-varying value, such as a timestamp.

Restricting access to a data storage system on a local network

Systems and methods are disclosed for managing partial-edit files for shared storage applications. A network-attached storage device (NAS) includes a non-volatile memory module, a network interface, and control circuitry configured to connect to a first client over a network connection using the network interface, receive, from the first client, a request to access a first portion of an existing file stored in the non-volatile memory module, create a first partial-edit file based on the existing file, receive modifications associated with the first portion of the existing file from the first client, modify the first partial-edit file according to the received modifications, and at least partially overwrite the existing file with at least a portion of the first partial-edit file.

File consistency in shared storage using partial-edit files

Systems and methods are disclosed for remote configuration of applications on a network-attached storage device (NAS). In certain embodiments, a NAS includes a non-volatile memory module, a network interface, and control circuitry configured to store a mapping of an application identifier and a port for each of the plurality of applications stored in the non-volatile memory. The control circuitry receives, from a client over the network interface, a request to configure a first application of the plurality of applications, the request comprising a first port corresponding to the first application. The control circuitry determines a first embedded web server of the first application based on the mapping and the first port received in the request and transmits the request to the first embedded web server on the first application. The control circuitry receives, from the first application, data for providing a user interface for configuring the first application and transmits the user interface data to the client.

Remote application configuration on network-attached storage

Cloud-based management of access to a data storage system on a local network

Using file system extended attributes to recover databases in hierarchical file systems

An architecture and techniques for outputting requested information from reference works (e.g., dictionaries, thesauruses, almanacs, atlases, encyclopedias, gazetteers) in a context-sensitive manner. For instance, when a user reads an electronic book (eBook) and requests a definition for a word found within the eBook, the techniques may display a definition for the word that has been selected based on the context of the request. In one example, the techniques may display a definition that corresponds to an identified genre of the eBook in which the word appears. In another example, the techniques may display a definition that corresponds to known information about the user, such as a preference of the user or the like.

Context-sensitive reference works

The techniques disclosed herein allow a user to synchronize the playing and displaying of digital content on an electronic device. The device may render a first portion of digital content so it may be displayed. The device may also play a segment of the digital content as audio using text to speech software. The device may also render a second portion of digital content for display depending on whether the position of the last word read is greater than the last position in the first portion of digital content.

Synchronizing the playing and displaying of digital content

A sharing service receives a request to store a media item stored on an electronic book reader device for sharing with one or more other content rendering devices. In response, the sharing service associates a pass phrase with the request. The sharing service then provides the media item to those devices (e.g., eBook reader devices) that provide the pass phrase to the sharing service within a predetermined amount of time.

Sharing media items with pass phrases

A processing device receives a schedule from a server, the schedule identifying delivery times for a set of items associated with the user device. At each delivery time, the processing device contacts the server to obtain one or more items from the server in accordance with the schedule.

Scheduled device communication

Techniques for dynamically selecting example passages to output on an electronic device in response to a user selecting a word or other portion of a content item are described herein. In one example, a user selects a word from a rendered electronic book. In response, the device outputs an entry for the word from a reference work (e.g., a definition from a dictionary, etc.). In addition, the device outputs passages that include the word from other electronic books stored on the device. These passages are more likely to be recognized and appreciated by the user than generic passages, since the dynamically-selected passages are found in electronic books that the user has previously acquired and potentially previously read.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Sailesh Rachabathuni