Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Tyron Michael Balascio

Ajay Arvind Bhave

Chih-Pin Benjamin Kao

Aaron J Smith

Mikael P Horal

Emeron Bachhuber

Mario A Rodriquez

Sumeet S Solanki

Michael T Yriondo

Antonio Wong

Stephanie A Drenchen

Methods and systems are disclosed in which inherited activation opens a secure communication path from the host operating system (OS) to the guest (virtual machine) OS. The license state of the software on the host is passed through this channel, and software installed in the guest uses this information to inform its own product activation process. The virtualized (guest) software may then activate without any outside communication when the license requirements for the host are met.

Inherited product activation for virtual machines

Software update selection information can be obtained for each of multiple machines in a managed environment. The update selection information for each machine can represent selections of software updates corresponding to software installed on the machine. The software update selection information for the machines can be aggregated to produce aggregated software update selection information. In addition, the aggregated software update selection information can be used to produce a subscription set of software update selections corresponding to software to update on the machines. The subscription set can exclude available software update selections that do not correspond to software installed on the machines.

Managed environment update selection

The user who has signed onto an online gaming service can be immediately joined in playing an instance of a game with a friend appearing in the user's friends list. After signing onto the online service, the user has the option to select 'Quick Join,' causing the online service to immediately join the user in an instance of the game having an opening for the user and also being played by the first player found in the friends list. Alternatively, the user may selectively display the friends list and select a specific friend who is online, before activating the Quick Join option to immediately join in playing within the friend's game. Depending upon the type of game, the user will either be immediately placed into play or joined to a portion of the game that enables the user to select options, so that the user can participate in the next session of the game.

Method and apparatus for quickly joining an online game being played by a friend

Growing community of inventors

Monroe, WA, United States of America

Tyron Michael Balascio