Abstract: A computer-implemented method monitors a video-based graphic. The method includes displaying a video-based graphic. A position of a pointer interaction is monitored. The method includes determining a designation of a pixel of the video-based graphic at a location of the pointer interaction. An action is performed based on the designation of the pixel of the video-based graphic at a location of the pointer interaction.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for automatically pausing advertisements based on user attention includes rendering a digital video to a user, in response to the user initiating the digital video through a web multimedia player. The computer-implemented method also includes streaming an advertisement to the user once the user begins to watch the digital video and monitoring the user attention as the user watches the advertisement. The user attention is monitored based on keystrokes and mouse movements. Further, the computer-implemented method includes detecting one or more changes in the user attention. Furthermore, the computer-implemented method includes pausing the advertisement automatically at instance of detecting the one or more changes. Moreover, the computer-implemented method includes detecting the one or more changes that directs the user attention to the paused advertisement and resuming streaming of the advertisement.

Abstract: The disclosure provides technology for managing the placement of advertisements. An ad insertion platform contains one or more lists that allow the ad insertion platform to filter advertisement placements and manage placing advertisement opportunities to the appropriate buyers. The disclosure also provides a database and monitoring software to allow faster querying and management of data for the real time bidding system.

Abstract: A modular search object framework can provide monetization of entity based content. Such a framework can include circuitry configured to manually or automatically link monetized search terms with entities, so that the entities can be monetized without additional bids on the entities. Once the framework generates such links, advertisers may continue to bid on search terms, and create new links or change initial links. Also, through the framework advertisers may bid on an entity that can encompass a set of associated search terms. For example, instead of bidding on a great number of search terms, an advertiser can bid on a few entities that include at least a majority of the associated search terms. With such functionality, the workload of the advertiser can be greatly reduced.

Abstract: Provided herein is a system or method for a users-to-follow recommendation engine for, based at least in part on social network information and information about users in one or more social networks, determining features relating to users, including topical features and social features, determining, using a model constructed utilizing the determined features, for a set or users, a subset of the set of users for which the user has a high linkage, relative to other linkages in the set, and determining, using the model, and displaying to the user, a recommendation to follow and an associated explanation, of at least one particular user of the subset of the users wherein the associated explanation includes a topical-based explanation when a predominant basis for the high linkage is determined to be topical and a social-based explanation when a predominant basis for the high linkage is determined to be social.

Abstract: Techniques are provided that include identifying and recommending one or more user segments as an audience for a particular campaign, such as an online advertising campaign, such as even if historical performance information for the particular campaign is limited or unavailable. Similar campaigns to the particular campaign may be identified. High-performing user segments for the similar campaigns may be identified. From these, one or more predicted best-performing user segments for the particular campaign may be identified and recommended as an audience for the particular campaign.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for smooth and effective budget delivery in online advertising. The system includes a storage including a plurality of user groups, where each user group corresponds to a layer comprising a layer-specific parameter. The system further includes a pacing control server in communication with the storage. The pacing control server is programmed to dynamically update the layer-specific parameter for each layer. The system also includes an ad server in communication with the pacing control server. The ad server is programmed to receive an ad call, assign a layer to the ad call, and get a pacing parameter corresponding to the assigned layer from the pacing control server.

Abstract: Techniques are provided that include displaying an offer for an interest-based content subscription on an email application Web site, the offer being selectable and displayed in a native format of the email application, and, upon receiving an indication that the offer has been selected by a user, generating an interest-based content subscription without directing a browser application away from the email application Web site. According to some such arrangements, generating the interest-based content subscription may include contacting a third-party Web site associated with the offer, and communicating at least one of an actual identification and a disposable identification of the user to the third-party Web site. The interest-based content subscription may be limited based on at least one of a time duration and a frequency parameter.

Abstract: A system stored in a non-transitory medium executable by processor circuitry is provided for generating retargeting keywords based on distributed query word representations. The system includes one or more system databases storing historical web search data. Search retargeting circuitry receives requests to generate sets of retargeting keywords related to one or more categories of an advertisement campaign and pre-processing circuitry retrieves a set of historical web search data related to the one or more categories of the advertisement campaign. Modeling circuitry further applies one or more computational linguistic models to the retrieved set of historical web search data and generates distributed query word representations from the retrieved set of historical web search data. Keyword generator circuitry generates a list of retargeting keywords related to the one or more categories of the advertisement campaign using the generated distributed query word representations.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for displaying images and contextually relevant content on a digital content platform, such as a web page. In one embodiment, for example, the systems and methods include receiving a request for content call from an end-user device, identifying content that is contextually relevant to the image, delivering the content to the end-user device, and delivering a computer-readable instruction that causes the end-user device to perform an animation that displays the content in a spatial relationship with respect to the image as originally published. The spatial relationship is defined such that the content appears to be displayed on a backside of the image.

Abstract: Described herein are solutions for determining quality of online ads and matching the ads to content so that the content is not devalued by the ads. Such solutions may also identify relationships between ads and their influence on user engagement with host content. The solutions may also define and provide the relationships to advertisers, in forms of historical scores and projected scores. The historical scores may include historical elasticity scores and the projected scores may include projected elasticity scores. The scores may be determined per ad and content pair. The solutions can use the scores to influence ad pricing.

Abstract: A system stored in a non-transitory medium executable by processor circuitry is provided for generating sponsored verbs and contexts. The system includes interface circuitry for receiving a search query from a user device and query processing circuitry for identifying search results comprising entity search result objects and non-entity search result objects related to the search query. Targeting circuitry determines a set of verb keywords associated with the search result objects and analytics circuitry selects one or more sponsored verbs for at least one entity or non-entity search result. Display logic circuitry is communicatively coupled to the interface circuitry and dynamically generates interface elements for each of the one or more sponsored verbs, and displays, in response to the search query, the interface elements as a sub-component of the at least one entity or non-entity search result.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a matching of multiple different social graphs to generate a combined social graph. Such a combined social graph may be searched and used in determining information to provide to a user, for example. An iterative metric learning approach may be used in matching multiple different social graphs. A mechanism is provided to validate a match from different social graphs. Match validation of data field matching is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system, method, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium for predicting future messages. A processor receives a message sent to a user operating a client device, analyzes the message in light of previously identified patterns and scores assigned to scanned messages, determines a future message that should be received by the client device based on the received message, and transmits an item of information based on the determined future message.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed which allow shifting inventory to fulfill guaranteed delivery advertisement contracts. Inventory may be allocated from a supply of unallocated inventory to one or more advertisers in accordance with guaranteed delivery agreements. Inventory may be reserved for the one or more advertisers from the remaining supply of unallocated inventory. Inventory may then be allocated to an additional advertiser by using unallocated inventory or shifted inventory, or a combination of unallocated inventory and shifted inventory. The shifted inventory is shifted out of the allocation for the first advertiser and the shifted inventory is replaced by the reserve inventory for the respective advertiser.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for automatically pre-delivering messages such as emails that satisfy a certain criteria. Upon a received email satisfying certain criteria conforming to a pattern, an appropriate rule is triggered which pre-delivers an email(s) to other appropriate inboxes. The pre-delivered emails are marked with a display flag and a time-to-live (TTL) flag. The display flag masks the pre-delivered email. The display flag results in the pre-delivered email being hidden until the sending user actually executes the send/forward action. At that time, the display flag is toggled so that the pre-delivered email is instantly displayed in the recipient's inbox. The TTL flag set enables pre-delivered emails to have a life-span, such that in cases where the user chooses not to forward/send the email, they auto-destruct after a period of time.

Abstract: Event logs in a video advertisement insertion network are processed to remove duplicate entries. One or more ad servers are continuously generating new event entries and writing them to a database. The entries are randomized such that generated time contiguous entries are distributed over multiple storage locations, thereby facilitating resource scaling and a uniform use of storage and computing resources. The distributed entries are read from the storage locations using sequential reads of chunks of the entries and processed to remove duplicate entries.

Abstract: Users consume a wide variety of content from various sources, such as videos accessible through websites. As provided herein, content recommendations that are contextually and/or semantically relevant to current content consumed by a user may be identified and provided to the user. For example, metadata for a video being watched by the user may be identified (e.g., terms extracted from a description, user reviews, a category, and/or other information). The metadata may be used to identify content recommendations based upon the metadata corresponding to terms grouped into a set of refined topic groupings of a graph comprising terms and relationships between terms extracted from a content corpus. The metadata may be matched to relevant terms within the set of refined topic groupings, and content recommendations comprising content corresponding to the relevant terms may be suggested to the user.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for targeting users for content provision. In one method, the method receives at a server, one or more content objects and one or more ZIP+4 codes as targeting parameters for the one or more content objects. The method retrieves personal information of a plurality of users. The method then identifies one or more of the plurality of users located in geographic areas corresponding to the one or more ZIP+4 codes based, at least in part, on the personal information. Subsequently, the method targets a content object of the one or more content objects to the one or more of the plurality of users based on the identified geographic areas of the users and the ZIP+4 codes associated with corresponding ones of the one or more content objects.

Abstract: Briefly, embodiments disclosed herein may relate to formulating synthetic questions, such as in response to a search query, for example. Candidate synthetic questions may be presented to a user who may initiate a search at least in part by selecting one or more candidate synthetic questions, for example, in an embodiment.

Abstract: Techniques for monitoring an online video advertisement system include receiving a request for insertion of an online video advertisement, determining, selectively based on presence of a debug suffix, whether the request includes a debug request, performing a bidding auction to select a winning bid, and sending debug information, in response to the request, upon determination that the request includes the debug request. The debug data includes bid data received during the bidding auction. In one advantageous aspect, the use of hypertext transfer protocol headers to communicate debug information allows for activation and deactivation of the debugging operation transparently, e.g., without changing the underlying application layer workflow.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture are disclosed that may be implemented, in whole or in part, using one or more computing devices to facilitate and/or support one or more processes and/or operations for rendering of on-line content, such as via a browser, for example.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for displaying search results upon the occurrence or detection of an event and/or time-delay. The present provides a user with the ability to view search results upon satisfaction of an event trigger or specified time delay (e.g., a rule). The disclosed systems and methods enable features that allow a user to link a search query and/or a set or sets of results for the search query to a trigger, whereby upon detection and satisfaction of such trigger, the search (and/or related results) are displayed. Such trigger can be associated with, but not limited to, a calendar event, to-do list item, location, a product or contact person, among other types of event based information events.

Abstract: Described herein is a system that can link multiple electronic media production and/or publication applications. The linking of the multiple applications may be facilitated through a browser. Also, a toolbar included in the browser may facilitate the links between applications and assist a user in controlling one or more workflows that use the linked applications.

Abstract: A modular search object framework can provide modular search results including sponsored entity search results. The framework includes circuitry that outputs an interactive entity section based on an online search. The interactive section or at least parts of the section may be sponsored by one or more entities. The interactive section includes a plurality of moveable visual objects, such as cards that can be shuffled, flipped, or swiped around. The visual objects and features associated with the objects may be monetized.

Abstract: Method, system, and programs for measuring user engagement with content items. In one example, a query is received. A presentation of a content item related to the query is provided on a user interface. A user activity (e.g., related to manipulation of the content item) is determined. A score associated with the content item is determined based on the user activity. Information related to user engagement with the content item is generated based on the score.

Abstract: Methods, systems and programming for evaluating user satisfaction with respect to a user session are presented. In one example, one or more queries in a use session are received from a user. Information about one or more user activities is obtained. Each user activity is related to manipulation of a content item associated with one of the one or more queries. A score associated with the user session is computed based at least partially on the one or more user activities. User satisfaction with respect to the user session is determined based on the score.

Abstract: A system and method generates and recommends a short and pleasant path between a source s and destination d in a geo-location such as a city or city center. The routes are not only short but emotionally pleasant, offering an engaging user experience, going beyond just showing paths on a map.

Abstract: Method, system, and programs for measuring user engagement with content items. In one example, a query is received. A set of content items related to the query is obtained. A presentation of at least one content item of the set of content items is provided on a user interface. A user activity related to the at least one content item is determined. An amount of time between a time at which the presentation of the at least one content item is provided on the user interface and a time at which the user activity occurred is determined. A score associated with the content item is determined based on the amount of time. Information related to user engagement with the set of content items is generated based on the score.

Abstract: Methods, systems and programming for evaluating query suggestions quality. In one example, a plurality of query suggestions are provided in a ranking to a user. A user activity with respect to one of the plurality of query suggestions is detected. A position of the one of the plurality of query suggestions in the ranking is determined. A quality measure of the plurality of query suggestions is calculated based, at least in part, on the user activity and the position of the one of the plurality of query suggestions.

Abstract: A system stored in a non-transitory medium executable by processor circuitry is provided for generating a tinted glass visual effect. The system includes interface circuitry configured to receive a search query and query processing circuitry configured to identify a content item related to the search query and to retrieve data for the content item. Image editing circuitry is communicatively coupled to the query processing circuitry. The image editing circuitry is configured to identify a display element associated with the content item from the retrieved data, dynamically generate a semi-transparent portion of the display element, and apply the semi-transparent portion of the display element to a background of an interface element. Display logic circuitry is also communicatively coupled to the interface circuitry and is configured to display, in response to the search query, the interface element as a sub-portion of the display element associated with the content item.

Abstract: A modular search object framework provides modular search results, including entity and non-entity search results, with search suggestions in a combined visual display. The framework includes circuitry that outputs search results and search suggestions comprising perceivable differences between the results and the suggestions. In addition, circuitry of the framework outputs search results, wherein non-entity and entity search results are distinguishable from each other, for example in shape, size, color, or other visual effect.

Abstract: Methods, systems and programming for providing a search result based on user selection of query suggestions. In one example, a query is received from a user. A plurality of query suggestions generated based on the query is obtained and provided to the user. A selection of one or more query suggestions from the plurality of query suggestions is received from the user. A first search result generated based on at least one of the one or more query suggestions is obtained and provided to the user.

Abstract: Methods, systems and programming for providing query suggestions including entities. In one example, a prefix of a query is first received. A plurality of query suggestions are then identified based on the prefix of the query. The plurality of query suggestions include at least one entity. Scores of each of the plurality of query suggestions are computed using a first model. The first model includes an adjustable parameter used for computing the score of the at least one entity. The plurality of question suggestions are ranked based, at least in part, on the scores.

Abstract: A modular search object framework provides modular search results including entity and non-entity search results. The framework includes circuitry that outputs an interactive entity section based on an online search. The interactive section includes a plurality of moveable visual objects, such as cards that can be shuffled, flipped, or swiped around.

Abstract: A modular search object framework provides modular search results including entity search results reflecting the intent of a searcher. Also, an interface (such as a graphical user interface provided by the framework), aids in organizing results (such as links, titles, and description) according to the intent of the user as manifest in the search query and interactions with the interface. Circuitry of the framework also predicts user intent from historical information corresponding to the searcher (or to a group with which the searcher is associated).

Abstract: Systems and methods for commercial query suggestion are disclosed. The system includes a database including search logs. The system includes a set of initial suggestion phrases extracted from the database. The system includes a search engine that generates a query search result based on a query and generates a suggestion search result based on each suggestion phrase in the set of initial suggestion phrases. The system includes a feature generation device that generates a query vector and a suggestion vector based on the query search result and the suggestion search result. The system obtains a relevance score for each suggestion phrases based on a relevance model. The system includes a subset of the initial suggestion phrases based on the relevance scores. The system obtains a click probability score for each suggestion phrases in the subset of initial suggestion phrases based on a click model.

Abstract: Methods, systems and programming for entity recognition in a query. In one example, an index that associates an alias with one or more entities is obtained. Each of the one or more entities is associated with one or more features. A query associated with one or more features is received from a user. The alias is then identified in the query. At least one of the one or more entities is determined based, at least in part, on the features associated with each of the one or more entities and the features associated with the query.

Abstract: In one embodiment, location information indicating a region of a web page with which a user is interacting may be obtained. Contextual information pertaining to the region of the web page with which the user is interacting may be ascertained. Content may be obtained based, at least in part, upon the contextual information pertaining to the region of the web page with which the user is interacting. The content may then be provided for presentation to the user.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a search query may be obtained. A set of one or more use cases may be determined based, at least in part, upon the search query. A set of one or more search results may be identified based, at least in part, upon the search query. Information that answers the search query for at least one of the set of use cases may be obtained, where the information has been derived from at least a subset of the set of search results. An indication of at least a portion of the information may be provided.

Abstract: A content-generating user is enabled to set visible attributes for a content item from any device so that the content item maintains a uniform look and feel across the various platforms. The visible attributes set by the generating user are stored in the user's profile on a user profile database. When a request to display the content item is received from a client device, the platform associated with the request is determined. Display data comprising one or more of the visible attributes retrieved from the user profile database, the content item and a template based on the platform is transmitted to the client device. The client device configures a display of the content item to a viewer based on the received display data.

Abstract: Content items are provided to users and their interactions with the provided content items are recorded in respective user profiles. The users' interactions thus recorded over time are analyzed to determine if the users have a balanced information intake. A reading habit score is determined for a user based various criteria. The user's reading habit score is analyzed to determine if the user's habits indicate a balance in the user's content consumption. If the user's reading habit score indicates an imbalance in the user's content consumption, suggestions are provided to the user for achieving a more balanced reading habit and thereby improving the user's reading habit score.

Abstract: A tracking system is provided comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a programmed processor for monitoring a database. The storage medium comprises instructions for receiving a current shortened content address from a requesting user, the current shortened content address including a shortened content address base and an appended link identifier, and instructions for determining a content address associated with the current shortened content address. The storage medium further comprises instructions for storing the shortened content address base and the appended link identifier in a database and instructions for determining if the tracking system has previously received a request for a shortened content address associated with the content address from the requesting user.

Abstract: Based on a user's search query, a search result (such as a sponsored search result) can appear within a graphical user interface (GUI) of a client-side application, and the client-side application can provide a mechanism for user interaction with the search result. The GUI of the client-side application can be a page view of a web browser. The mechanism of the client-side application can occur within the same page view as the search result. For example, the mechanism can include a sub-GUI that extends out from the search result on the same page view as the search result. Also, the search result and/or the sub-GUI can be monetized.

Abstract: Techniques are provided that include obtaining a Document Object Model of an HTML document, such as a web page of a publisher. Elements of the Document Object Model may be identified that are associated with native advertisement placement candidate containers. Based at least in part on analysis associated with the Document Object Model, and utilizing at least some of the identified elements, one or more native advertisement placement candidate containers may be determined. Some techniques may utilize, in the analysis, construction and utilization of a suffix tree of a string of tags comprising all tags in the Document Object Model. Some techniques may utilize, in the analysis, a node flattening technique in connection with the Document Object Model.

Abstract: Many applications may display information through lists. For example, an email application may display a current visual interface comprising a list of emails. A gesture input may be received for an item within the item list. Responsive to receiving the gesture input, the item may be selected. In an example, the item list may be transitioned into an editing mode based upon the gesture input. While in the editing mode, context indicators (e.g., indicating whether an email item has been read or is unread) may be modified (e.g., shrunk) and/or selection indicators may be displayed for items within the item list. A selection indicator may be selected to select a corresponding item. In this way, gesture input (e.g., single gesture) may be used to select items and/or to transition the item list into the editing mode without transitioning away from the item list.

Abstract: Software receives a communication from a smart-television device. The communication includes a device identifier, which is unique, for the smart-television device and a geo-location associated with the smart-television device. The software causes the smart-television device to display a first view that includes a visual icon along with a message identifying a connected-television service. The software receives a request from a mobile device to connect to the connected-television service. The request results in transmission of a geo-position from the mobile device. Upon determining that the geo-position of the smart-television device is proximate to the geo-location of the mobile device, the software causes the mobile device to display a second view that includes the visual icon for the device identifier. The software receives a communication from the mobile device that indicates a match between the visual icons.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for presenting content to users using desktop widgets. Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure allow users to quickly and easily access content (such as news articles) from their home screen without having to independently start a software application to do so.

Abstract: Techniques are provided that include determining recommendations, of items, to be provided to users, based on information that may include social graph information. Techniques may be used prior to recommendation determination, or afterwards to modify initially determined recommendations. The techniques may improve diversity or privacy aspects associated with recommendations, such as by reducing duplication, or reducing effects of social grouping connections on recommendation determination or on initially determined recommendations.

Abstract: Techniques are provided that include obtaining a Document Object Model of an HTML document, such as a web page of a publisher. Elements of the Document object model may be identified that are associated with native advertisement placement candidate containers. Based at least in part on analysis associated with the Document Object Model, and utilizing at least some of the identified elements, one or more native advertisement placement candidate containers may be determined. With some techniques, the analysis includes identifying a deepest set of nodes in the Document Object Model, corresponding to a particular tag sequence, whose cardinality is no less than a cardinality of a set of nodes in the Document Object Model, corresponding to a particular tag sequence, corresponding to the identified elements. Some techniques may utilize XPaths in the analysis.