Abstract: In one implementation a method for disambiguation of search phrases is provided, which may include identifying interpretation clusters using bidded search terms of content providers and influencing a position of a search result in a search results list based on the interpretation clusters. In one implementation a method is provided for interpretation clustering, which may include identifying terms and associated content providers and calculating a matrix from the identified terms and associated content providers. Similarity scores between content providers based on the matrix are calculated and interpretation clusters are assigned using the similarity scores. Bidded search terms and/or searcher clickthrough terms may be used. In one implementation, a method is provided for increasing the relevance of search results, which may include receiving a search query and identifying the search query as ambiguous.

Abstract: Provided is a method and system for blending a plurality of search engine results from a respective plurality of search sources into one search engine. A result list of entries is received from each search source. Each result list includes at least, for each entry on the list, a position of the entry, an address of a document, and a relevance score of the document. A determined transformation is applied to the relevance scores of at least a subset of the documents in at least one of the received result lists so as to generate transformed scores. Finally portions of the respective results lists are combined to produce a blended search engine result comprising a blended list of entries. The ordering of the blended list of entries is based, at least in part, on the transformed scores of the documents.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for selecting a resource, among a plurality of resources, for servicing a request. To select a resource to service the request, a first resource is randomly selected. If a first load value associated with the first resource does not exceed a threshold value, the request is assigned to the first resource for servicing. Otherwise a second resource is randomly selected. If a second load value associated with the second resource does not exceed a threshold value, the request is assigned to the second resource for servicing. If the second load value exceeds the threshold value, the request is assigned whichever of the first and second resources has a lower load value.

Abstract: Provided is a method and computer program product for determining a document relevance function for estimating a relevance score of a document in a database with respect to a query. For each of a plurality of test queries, a respective set of result documents is collected. For each test query, a subset of the documents in the respective result set is selected, and a set of training relevance scores is assigned to documents in the subset. In one embodiment, at least some of the training relevance scores are assigned by human subjects who determine individual relevance scores for submitted documents with respect to the corresponding queries. Finally, a relevance function is determined based on the plurality of test queries, the subsets of documents, and the sets of training relevance scores.

Abstract: A method and software for determining the presence status of a client device while decreasing the use of available bandwidth used. A software module collects a client's presence status, optionally over one or more time periods. The collected presence status is combined to create an observed presence profile for a client. The observed presence profile is compared with one or more model presence profiles to determine the model presence profile that is the closest match to the observed presence profile. When the closest match is determined, a status code representing the model profile is transmitted to a requesting client device, obviating the need to transmit a plurality of presence status updates.

Abstract: A mobile communication system utilizes a mobile two-way communication device such as a cellular telephone, pager, personal digital assistant (PDA), palm-held computing device, and the like, connected to a network. The mobile two-way communication device has a display screen, such as an liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, that is capable of displaying a barcode. The image of a barcode is displayed on the two-way communication device by creating an optical image that can modulate a laser in motion, such as the laser used in a retail barcode scanning device.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems by for identifying, from within a host operating environment, related data from two or more data sources, one or more of which data sources being an external data source to a host operating environment, and for assembling a result data group derived from the related data. The result data group may be assembled as a virtual native document within the host operating environment, such that data from the data group may be accessed and manipulated as a first class participant through the host operating environment by client computers, without requiring nonvolatile storage of external data as native data to the host operating environment.