Abstract:
In a decoupled messaging system, a producer device sends produced messages to a message fabric. The message fabric either stores the received message in designated queues, from which consumer devices may retrieve the messages, or broadcasts the messages to consumer devices that subscribe to topics assigned to the messages. A message consumption orchestrator service gathers capabilities information for the message producer, the message fabric, and the message consumer, and configures resources allocated for the message consumer to more fully optimize message throughput. Further, the message consumption orchestrator identifies patterns in changes of the rate of produced messages, i.e., through analysis of historical data and/or received information. The message consumption orchestrator configures resources for the message consumer to account for predicted need based on the identified patterns.
Abstract:
An improved system and method for updating software is described. The system, upon detecting one or more changes within the set of eligibility attribute values associated with the one or more particular components of previously-provided software, selects a replacement component. The component is selected based on one or more changed eligibility attribute values within the set of eligibility attribute values, and the metadata of the user device. Using the replacement component, the replacement software is constructed and sent to the user device.
Abstract:
Optimizing a priority queue for a computer network. In an embodiment, instructions are executed by a server computer, which cause the server computer to maintain the priority queue with a plurality of queue entries, wherein the priority queue includes a first queue entry and a second queue entry, and a first score is associated with the first queue entry, and a second score is associated with the second queue entry; receive, from a first client computer, input indicating performance of a first activity associated with the first queue entry; receive, from a second client computer, input indicating performance of a second activity associated with the second queue entry; update, at the server computer, the first score by the first amount and the second score by a second amount; change, at the server computer, the position of the first queue entry and the second queue entry in the priority queue.
Abstract:
A method of operating an online teaching system provides an activity tool that enables participation in an activity related to a learning object. The method provides a note tool for taking notes. The method determines that notes taken by users using the note tool were taken in conjunction with the users participating in an activity using the activity tool. Metadata is generated for notes based on any of: semantic analysis of content of each note, content of the learning object, performance information that indicates how the user that created the note performed on tasks, performance information that indicates how users that read the note performed on tasks, or professional performance information of the user that created the note. The method stores data that associates the notes with the metadata generated for each note. The method performs further action on notes based on the metadata generated for each note.
Abstract:
A method for selecting a tag for a content item includes obtaining a first content item; obtaining data associated with a first user; based on the data associated with the first user, selecting a first tag for the first content item; and generating a second content item comprising (a) at least a portion of the first content item and (b) the first tag.
Abstract:
Techniques for providing customized learning material for a particular course so that each student can learn efficiently and effectively based on their own skills and depth of knowledge in the particular subject. The system allows customization of a path through the course material by setting waypoints. Each waypoint corresponds to a particular position within the course material. By setting multiple waypoints, a user can create a customized path through the course material. The user can further specify, for each waypoint, the level of detail of the course material presented to the user. By following the sequence of waypoints, the system can automatically present the course material via a course player to the user in the order the user prefers.
Abstract:
A multi-selection system allows selection of multiple displayed items in a GUI, and processes an underlying data set based on the selection. Users may utilize swipes or concurrent point interactions with the GUI to co-select items. The system identifies actions to perform for selected items based on selection criteria associated with the selected items, or mapping data that maps the selected items to actions. The system automatically identifies grouping criteria for data returned from performed actions and displays resulting groups for further user selection. The system provides suggestive visual highlights that identify commonly co-selected items in the interface. The system collects instrumentation items, for historical usage data, that record aspects of users' interactions with the system. As such, the system may identify, from the historical usage data, sets of commonly co-selected items, mappings between combinations of items and one or more actions, productive arrangements of items displayed in GUIs, etc.
Abstract:
A method and system are provided for generating a comprehension indicator that indicates how well an individual understood the subject matter covered by a test. In one implementation, a question-level comprehension indicator is generated for each of the questions on the test. The question-level comprehension indicators may be generated based upon one or more question-level factors, which may include behavioral aspects of the individual while taking the test. After the question-level comprehension indicators are generated, they may be used to generate a first test-level comprehension indicator. A second test-level comprehension indicator may also be generated. Unlike the first test-level comprehension indicator, the second test-level comprehension indicator is generated based upon test level rather than question level factors. After the first and second test-level comprehension indicators are generated, they may be used to derive an overall comprehension indicator for the individual for that test. The overall comprehension indicator may then be used in addition to or in lieu of a test score to determine how well the individual understood the subject matter covered by the test, as well as other purposes.
Abstract:
A mechanism is provided for controlling a process on a computing node. In one implementation, a determination is made as to whether the participation status of a computing node has changed. The participation status may, for example, be active, in which case the computing node is participating in the processing of requests from a request handler, or it may be passive, in which case the computing node is not participating in the processing of requests from the request handler. In response to a determination that the participation status of the computing node has changed from a current status to a new status, one or more processes on the computing node may be caused to begin or halt processing, in accordance with the new status. For example, if the current status is passive and the new status is active, a process on the computing node may be caused to begin processing. On the other hand, if the current status is active and the new status is passive, the process on the computing node may be caused to halt processing. Doing so helps to ensure that a process (such as a self-initiated process) executing on a passive node will not perform any processing that may lead to incorrect or inconsistent results, or even worse, to system corruption or failure.
Abstract:
Techniques are described for displaying help articles, for a web page, that are related to the context of the web page. A help article provider has access to a database of help articles, each of which are associated with target-context data that may include content identifiers for the help article and/or user profile attributes for users that the help article targets. The help article provider identifies content identifiers for a viewed web page based on one or more of: metadata and a URL for the web page. The help article provider searches the help article database using the identified content identifiers. The help article provider may filter the help articles based on an authenticated user's attributes. An ordered list of the identified help articles is displayed, with the most relevant or important help articles displayed at or near the top of the list.