Abstract: A tracking system comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a programmed processor is provided. The storage medium of the tracking system includes instructions for receiving a request for content from a device using a first shortened content address, the first shortened content address including a shortened content address base and a first link identifier. The storage medium further includes instructions for determining a content address identifier associated with the first shortened content address and instructions for searching the device for a cookie associated with the content address identifier, the cookie including a cookie link identifier.

Abstract: A crowdsourcing approach is used to collect from contributors, e.g., a large group of consumers, item pricing offered by the sellers from which the contributors have purchased the items. A contributor may provide item pricing information associated with a given store by uploading a receipt from the store, which receipt identifies the item(s) purchased by the contributor and a price for each item purchased, store information, e.g., store name, location, telephone number, etc. A database or other data store may be used to maintain contributor, store and item information. The stored information may identify which store is/are selling which item(s) and at what price(s). A shopping list may be generated, which includes information identifying one or more items and, for each item, the store at which the item(s) may be purchased at the lowest available price relative to other stores. By analyzing consumers' shopping habits, personalized target of ads and/or promotions can be achieved.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting expiration time of an article include receiving the article for a pre-planned event. The article is analyzed to identify one or more attributes. The article is matched to an event identifier using the article attributes. The event identifier is pre-defined and stored in an event database. The event identifier acts as an index to the event database for obtaining event characteristics of the pre-planned event. The article attributes are examined to identify event phase indicators that correlate to a specific event phase of the pre-planned event. The expiration time of the article is computed based on the specific event phase identified for the pre-planned event. The expiration time is used to rank the article and for considering assigning the article to a content pool of articles that is selected for publishing for the specific event phase of the pre-planned event.

Abstract: A method of acquiring rights to content to be burned to a CD, comprising defining a first content set; defining a second content set comprised of content selected from the first content set whose content attributes match those selected by a user; identifying as a third content set that content in the second content set for which DRM rights sufficient to permit the content to be burned to CD are not currently possessed; allowing a user to authorize obtaining rights for members of the second content set for which rights permitting the content to be burned to CD are not currently possessed; obtaining rights which allow at least a subset of the third content set to be burned to CD; and, allowing the content defined in the second content set and for which appropriate rights have been obtained to be burned to CD.

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 or support one or more processes or operations for recirculating on-line traffic within a special purpose search engine.

Abstract: Users are provided with feedback regarding blurriness of an image in real-time. When an image is received, a blur score is automatically generated in addition to a visual that indicates the extent of blurriness across the picture. The blur score is calculated by aggregating an image_blur_score and optionally a motion_blur_score. A user can also be provided with suggestions on improving image sharpness and help in determining if another image needs to be taken.

Abstract: An electronic computer appliance, method, and computer program product are provided for providing a user of a mobile electronic device with a predetermined message during a communication network page loading latency time. The method comprises pre-caching the predetermined message; detecting the beginning of a page loading latency time; displaying the predetermined message on the mobile electronic device during the page loading latency time; and supplanting the predetermined message with a page that had been loaded during the page loading latency time.

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

Abstract: A system and method for automatic draft email notification includes the following steps or acts performed while a user is engaged with a first email in an active email session: retrieving a value from the first email to use as a search term; accessing draft emails associated with the user; determining if the search term from the first email matches a corresponding string in the draft emails associated with the user; and presenting the draft emails that match the search term as a listing of selectable draft emails.

Abstract: Live preview of themes is provided. At least one invoked activity is detected in a web application. At least one candidate theme is obtained. The at least one candidate theme includes at least one style element for the web application. On the client device, display of a theme preview interface is caused. The theme preview interface includes at least one live preview. Each live preview corresponds to one of the at least one invoked activity and one of the at least one candidate theme. In response to selection of a selected theme, a current theme of web application is switched to the selected theme.

Abstract: Methods and/or systems are provided that may be utilized to read from or write to a resource, such as a shared memory, for example.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that can include value-based quasi-proportional allocation of combinations of online content items, such as online advertisements, for potential serving on Web pages. Combinations may be assembled and valued. A highest valued or otherwise qualified subset of combinations may be identified for serving. Combinations of the highest valued subset may be allocated for serving, and served, in accordance with a value-based quasi-proportional allocation scheme.

Abstract: Invoked states of one or more activities invoked in a web application is detected. The web application is configured to display, in a foreground, a current activity on a client device. On the client device, display of a multitask preview interface that includes one or more live previews is caused. Each live preview of the one or more live previews corresponds to an invoked state of an activity of the one or more activities. The one or more live previews includes a particular live preview that corresponds to a particular invoked state of a particular activity of the one or more activities. Selection of the particular live preview is detected. In response to detecting selection of the particular live preview, the current activity displayed in the foreground of the web application is switched to the particular state of the particular activity.

Abstract: A just-in-time advertisement supply forecasting system includes a query engine configured to receive an advertiser query specifying an advertising contract time period of a contract, an historical database having stored therein time series data for a plurality of base profiles, each time series representing previously stored samples corresponding to daily impression counts over a predetermined period of time, and a forecasting engine operatively coupled to the query engine and to the historical database, and configured to generate an impression inventory forecast to satisfy the advertiser query, where the impression inventory forecast is generated in real-time based on the time series, upon receipt of the advertising query.

Abstract: The present description is directed towards systems and methods for directing a user request for content over a network to a given content server on the basis of one or more rules. Methods and systems implemented in accordance with the present description comprise receiving a request for content form a user, the request for content including a profile of the user identifying one or more characteristics associated with the user. One or more rules are retrieved for identifying a content server to which a request for content is to be delivered, the one or more rules including at least one of business rules, network rules, and user profile rules. The one or more retrieved rules are applied to the request for content to identify a content server to which the request for content is to be delivered and the request for content is delivered to the identified content server.

Abstract: A method for adjusting pricing for advertisements of non-guaranteed delivery (“NDG”) advertising auctions includes retrieving dwell time information for users that engage advertisements streamed to the users in a display content stream. The method aggregates the advertisements into different groups according to display context (such as advertisement category, viewing device, product in which the advertisement is streamed, etc.) and computes short-click ratios of advertisements in each group based on a short-click threshold assigned to the group and the user dwell time information for the group. The method further determines average dwell time by users on advertisements in respective groups. The method adjusts pricing of the advertisements of a group for NGD bidding based on the short-click ratio and average dwell time of the group, to favor groups having higher dwell times and lower short-click ratios. Prices may be dynamically adjusted across different contexts based on user engagement information.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable media are provided for managing user generated content in relation to content. One example method includes receiving content from a mobile device. The received content is associated to one or more entities. The method associates the received content to a media forum. The association of the content to the media forum enabling at least one discussion regarding the received content on the media forum. The media forum having an interest graph that adjusts over time. Responsive to receiving a request to view an article, the method selects the media forum to be associated with the article when the article is presented on a display, the association of the media forum to the article provides an adjustment to the interest graph of the media forum.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for detecting online social communities through network-oblivious community detection techniques that involve modeling social contagion from a log of user activity. The log includes a dataset of tuples that record the instances when a user has adopted an item at a specific time. The disclose systems and methods then apply a stochastic framework that assumes that the adoptions of the item are governed by an underlying diffusion process over an unobserved social network, and that such diffusion model is based on community-level influence. By fitting the model parameters to the user activity log, community membership information and level of influence information can be derived for each user in each community.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable media are provided for managing user generated content in relation to content. One example method includes receiving a request to access an article having descriptive content that includes one or more entities. Each entity in the article has an assigned prominence score, and the request is received from a website in response to user selection of the article. The method further includes identifying one or more media forums to relate to the article. Each media forum includes one or more discussion threads, and each media forum is associated with an interest graph that changes over time. Responsive to the request, the method selects a media forum from the one or more media forums to associate with the article based on examination of the interest graph of the media forum and the assigned prominence scores of entities in the article.

Abstract: A user device is enabled by an audio-visual assistant for audio-visual interaction with a user. The audio-visual assistant enables the user device to track the user's eyes and face to determine objects on the screen that the user is currently observing. Various tasks can be executed on the objects based on further input provided by the user. The user can provide further inputs via facial gestures, voice or combinations thereof for executing the various tasks.

Abstract: A client-side component in a real-time bidding (RTB) system for video advertisements configures the client device to, in response to a request for a video advertisement sent by the client device to the real-time bidding system, receive a first set of information associated with the video advertisement, parse the received first set of information to obtain the video advertisement and associated pixel firing information, provide the video advertisement to a video player on the client device, and fire a first pixel upon occurrence of a first predefined event associated with the video advertisement.

Abstract: A method is provided for building a user interest profile, including the following method operations: identifying features of each of a plurality of articles; for a given user, logging views of one or more of the plurality of articles; for each view, measuring a corresponding dwell time for the view by the given user; applying a weight to each view based on the corresponding measured dwell time; determining user interest scores for features of the one or more of the plurality of articles based on the weighted views; generating a user interest profile for the given user based on the user interest scores.

Abstract: A method for providing a cross-platform interface for a television device is provided, including the following method operations: identifying available services for consumption on a television device, wherein the available services include two or more of a broadcast television service, an on-demand video service, and an internet content service; determining a current date and time; determining content items available for consumption from each of the available services at the current date and time; determining an allocation of display locations in a cross-platform interface for content items from each of the available services, the allocation defining a relative amount of display locations for each of the available services based on a device profile associated with the television device; assigning content items to the display locations in accordance with the determined allocation.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for selecting news articles for presentation to a user. One method includes an operation for measuring dwelltimes for a first set of news items, where the dwelltime for a news item is based on the amount of time that the news item is displayed to a viewer. Further, the method includes an operation for training a classifier of news items based on the measured dwelltimes and based on features associated with the first set of news items. Additionally, the method includes an operation for ranking with the classifier a second set of news items for presentation to the user, the ranking also using the profile of the user for delivery of customized news to the user. The ranked second set of news item is then presented to the user.

Abstract: A method for recommending television content is provided, including the following operations: identifying available television channels for a television device; determining a current date and time; identifying a plurality of content items broadcast on the available television channels at approximately the current date and time; determining a device profile associated with the television device, the device profile being time-dependent; determining recommended content items from the plurality of content items based on the device profile of the television device.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for playback and event reporting of video advertisements on a user device. Two different event reporting protocols are simultaneously supported to enable application-based playback of video advertisements while collecting event information associated with the video playback. In some configurations, initialization of the event reporting protocols is serialized to avoid conflict conditions during the video playback.

Abstract: A system and method for database storage may be dynamically optimized for entity-attribute-value (EAV) data. In one embodiment, this dynamic EAV database may include one column for the entity identification (“ID”) and a second column for the serialized data for that ID (each attribute and the values for those attributes). The database may be dynamically updated to move or copy certain attributes to a separate column. The dynamic updating of one or more attributes may be based on certain factors (seasonal, temporal, usage, etc.), such as frequent requests for a particular attribute. This dynamic updating and indexing of particular attributes may improve certain queries and data requests.

Abstract: In an example of masterless cache replication, a processor of a server of a plurality of servers hosting a distributed application can receive a local cache event for a local data item stored in an application cache of the server. The processor can determine whether the local cache event is from another server. The processor can also determine whether a remote cache event of the other server is different from the local cache event and whether the local cache event is in conflict with at least one other cache event for the local data item. The processor can also determine whether the local cache event has a higher priority over the at least one other cache event and direct performance of the local cache event amongst the plurality of servers.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and software related product (e.g., a computer readable memory) are presented for exchanging information between two or more devices when they are in a close proximity using gestures and web technologies. According to an embodiment, the identification of one or more devices using gestures is asynchronous, so that the two or more devices do not have to be shaken together at the same time synchronously, which is one advantage over conventional approaches. Another advantage is that various embodiments described herein do not require a user to download any special software (application), and it can work on all platforms, for example, with HTML5-compliant browsers.

Abstract: Techniques for organizing and presenting deals/commercial offers received by users in emails are provided. Emails directed to a user that contain commercial offers for the user are determined. The determined emails are stored in a deal folder for the user. A deal newsletter is generated that at least summarizes commercial offers contained in at least a portion of the emails stored in the deal folder. The deal folder may be displayed to show the user the received deal emails. Furthermore, the deal newsletter may be displayed to the user to summarize the received deals for the user.

Abstract: A system and method for assuring the privacy of a computer application includes generating a user interface with a privacy feature coupled with a computer application. Through the user interface, the user is able to activate the privacy feature while interacting with the computer application. The computer application displays application-based screen elements against a backdrop. Once activated, the privacy feature presents a visual display hiding the application-based screen elements in the application from view without closing or logging out of the application.

Abstract: An email system is configured to enable a user to identify frequent email senders and block or consolidate emails from such senders. The emails received within a predetermined time period from a sender, who is selected for consolidation by a user of an email account, are consolidated into one entry in the inbox. This mitigates the inbox from getting overcrowded with frequent emails from various senders. Statistics related to various senders are also generated in order to aid the user in identifying senders whose emails need to be consolidated or blocked.

Abstract: One embodiment of a method for summarizing an electronic document includes splitting the electronic document into a plurality of terms, wherein each of the plurality of terms is associated with a respective length, a respective informativeness score, and a respective coherence score, automatically selecting a subset of the plurality of terms, such that an aggregate informativeness score of the subset is maximized while an aggregate length of the subset is less than or equal to a maximum length, and arranging the subset as a summary of the electronic document.

Abstract: A distribution device according to the present application includes a receiving unit, a calculation unit, and a distribution unit. The receiving unit receives location information from a terminal device owned by a user. The calculation unit calculates, once the receiving unit receives the location information, an expected time within which the user arrives from a first coverage region in which communication is possible by way of an out-of-coverage region in which communication is impossible to a second coverage region. The distribution unit distributes an alert to a predetermined distribution destination if the location information of the second coverage region is not received from the terminal device within the expected time calculated by the calculation unit.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling online user account using a mobile device. The method includes receiving an option to lock an online account of a user from a service provider. The computer-implemented method also includes locking the online user account by using a mobile device. Further, the computer-implemented method includes initiating a user action at a later point of time. Furthermore, the computer-implemented method includes receiving an alert to unlock the online user account in order to perform the user action and obtaining an unlock password from the service provider. Moreover, the computer-implemented method includes unlocking the online user account with the unlock password by using the mobile device and performing the user action subsequent to the unlocking, thereby controlling the online user account using the mobile device. The system includes a computing device, a web browser, a service provider and a mobile device.

Abstract: A secure user input system is implemented for a computer system having a user input apparatus and a user output apparatus. The system comprises a user input template, provided to the user on the user output apparatus; and a personal user output interface providing, to the user, personal input interface information, mapped to the user input template, to enable the user to input information through the user input apparatus that is intelligible only to a party having access both to the user input template and the personal input interface information.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system, method, and computer readable medium for collaboratively detecting location. A computing device detects a client device in communication with the computing device. The computing device requests, from the client device, a location of the client device and receives this location. The computing device performs the detecting, requesting, and receiving steps for each of a plurality of client devices, where the performing occurs for a predetermined number of client devices. The computing device then determines its location from the received locations of the predetermined number of client devices.

Abstract: Software for an online social service receives a request for a newsfeed from a user. The newsfeed depends at least in part on a memory-cached list of social friends of the user and on a memory-cached list of events associated with each social friend. The software refreshes a memory-cached copy of the list of social friends from a corresponding list in a persistent data store, based upon a determination of a utility associated with the user. And the software refreshes a memory-cached copy of a list of events associated with a social friend from a corresponding list of events in a persistent data store, based upon a determination of a utility associated with the social friend. Then the software causes the newsfeed to be displayed to the user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for progressively deploying a large size wallpaper of a web page, without compromising on image quality, perceived load time or user experience. The present disclosure involves embodiments for reducing the size of background image of a web page for initial deployment of the page. This reduced size background image maintains its high quality features; however, there is a reduction in detail resulting in a “blurred” image. Therefore, the deployed page does not reduce page performance upon attempting to download large background images. Upon serving the web page with the compressed image, higher detail versions of the compressed background image are progressively downloaded until the original high quality image is displayed.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and software related product (e.g., a computer readable memory) are presented for automatic testing of software products such as front-ends of computing devices. Various embodiments described herein can simplify the delivery and verification of software products and services across computing devices and screens by comparing user interface images using image analysis. For example, a screen buffer or visual representation of a new version of a software application can be compared with those representations generated using one or more previously released (positively tested) software versions of that application. This can broaden the reach of the solution and facilitate automation of workflows, which previously required human interaction.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing content from multiple content sources includes identifying a plurality of content sources for rendering content on a website. A plurality of content modules associated with the website, are identified. Each content module is configured to render content from each of the plurality of content sources. A rendering size of each of the content modules selected for rendering on the website, is identified. The content format for each of the plurality of content module is defined for the identified rendering size of each of the content modules. A selection of one of the plurality of content modules is received. The selection causes a reconfiguration of the rendering sizes of one or more of the plurality of content modules. The content format of the one or more of the plurality of content modules is adjusted based on the rendering sizes after the reconfiguration.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for assisting a user of a portable computing device with a touch screen display in formulating a search engine search query. The techniques may assist the user in a more efficient funnel querying approach when compared to conventional funnel querying approaches. In particular, with the techniques, the user can add one or more additional keywords to an initial search query without having to enter the individual letters of the additional keywords. As a result, the techniques enable the user to find relevant search results with less tedium and frustration compared to conventional funnel querying approaches, thereby increasing user satisfaction with the search engine.

Abstract: A recommendation engine and a user profile stored on a user device are employed by the user device to select from a content store, content that is relevant to a current display of the user device. The selected content is combined with the current display to generate the contextually relevant display. The user profile on the user device is updated based on user interaction with the displayed content and the updated profile may be uploaded to the server in accordance with privacy settings associated with the user profile.

Abstract: A unified end-user notification platform delivers event alerts to different types of clients including mobile devices and HTTP clients. Users can subscribe to a plurality of notification channels and select from the associated various delivery options via a single user interface. The events are received by the unified notification platform which matches the received events with the user subscription data to identify subscribers and their respective delivery options. Corresponding event alerts are generated and delivered based on the user or subscriber specified options. Multiple event alerts corresponding to public and private data notification channels are provided to a user device via a single connection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for presenting and/or browsing images on a digital content platform. In one embodiment, for example, there is provided an image-browsing system, including: (1) a database having a plurality of images; (2) an image frame provided on the digital content platform, wherein the image frame displays a first image from the database; and (3) a user-actionable interface, wherein activation of the interface replaces the first image within the frame with a second image. Various alternative aspects and embodiments are further described herein. For example, in certain instances, such systems and methods may be used to browse images on a digital content platform (e.g., a web page), conduct image searches directly from an image frame within a digital content platform, and/or provide contextually relevant advertising on the digital content platform.

Abstract: Systems and methods have been developed for expanding collections of media objects that are stored remotely. More specifically, systems and methods have been developed for continuously monitoring and updating collections of media objects stored in a user's media repository (e.g., a “media locker”).

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for email management that leverages information derived from automatically generated templates in order to identify types of message and message content. The systems and methods discussed herein involve identifying messages matching specific template types and structures, and automatically extracting important data from email messages matching those templates. The extracted data enables improvements for a user's experience and increased monetization. That is, templates can be analyzed to determine a type of email message, which in turn can be presented to a receiving user within an automatic folder or tag designation. Additionally, email snippets or previews can be generated from the extracted data for display within a user's inbox. Also, the extracted data can be used for monetization purposes, by serving targeted advertisements based upon the data extracted from such messages.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a more relevant user viewing experience on a mobile device includes providing a video application providing access to a virtual video channel store with selectable tiles representing digital video content sources (channels). A user is able to select channels from the virtual channel store and interact with the selections within a graphical user interface that enhances the channel viewing experience.

Abstract: A system is described for providing for a revenue generator to bid exclusively on mobile search traffic. The system may include a processor, a memory and an interface. The memory may store a plurality of bids, a keyword, a mobile search request and a mobile advertisement associated with a revenue generator. The interface may communicate with a user and a plurality of revenue generators. The processor may receive bids on the keyword from the revenue generators. The bids may apply to the keyword when the keyword is searched for through the mobile carrier. The processor may receive the mobile search request from the user. The processor may determine if the mobile search request originated from the mobile carrier. The processor may serve the user the advertisement if the mobile search request originated from the mobile carrier, otherwise the mobile advertisement is not served for the keyword.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for detecting and resolving conflicts between native and transactional applications sharing a common database. As transactions are received at the database system, a timestamp is assigned to both the start and the commit time of a transaction, where the timestamps are synchronized with a logical clock in the database system. When the database system receives a native operation, the database system increments the time in the logical clock and assigns that updated time to the native operation. When the transaction is ready to commit, database system may determine conflicts between native and transactional operations. If the database system determines that a native operation conflicts with a transactional operation, database system will abort the transaction.