Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with the invention relate to matching user attributes. In one exemplary implementation, the system and methods may store predetermined general attribute descriptors reflecting attributes of users generally, receive personal attribute descriptors selected from the predetermined general attribute descriptors as corresponding to attributes of a first user and a second user, receive a rating associated with each received personal attribute descriptor, compare at least one personal attribute descriptor associated with the first user with at least one personal attribute descriptor associated with the second user to determine a descriptor match, and calculate a match score based on the determined descriptor match and the received ratings. In addition, first and second display points may be displayed and may be separated by a one-dimensional display distance that is a function of the calculated match score.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a granular restore operation of a database from a differential backup of the database. A bitmask is created during a differential backup and stored with the differential backup file. When a user requests a granular restore operation, views of how the database existed at different points of time may be presented to the user. The objects the user wishes to restore may be selected from one of the views. Next, the bitmask may be read to determine if the objects should be retrieved from the differential backup file or a full backup file. Finally, the objects may be restored to the database from the proper file.

Abstract: Database management systems associate a user identifier with an application and monitor access by the application to a database replication. Any changes to a schema associated with the database replication or different instances of the database are identified based on the monitoring. Identified changes are verified and a usage parameter of the database or database replication is analyzed to determine usage data, which can be stored in a database usage repository. A determination regarding the expected impact of an identified change is determined from the usage data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a system and method for optimizing transaction termination. A database interface receives an indication to terminate a transaction. The database interface decides whether to send a command to the underlying database server to terminate the transaction. If the database interface does send a command to the database server, it determines which command is appropriate to send.

Abstract: When collecting and integrating data present in separately managed information sources, data are collected from the information sources through a physical model of the information sources. Integration is executed by a process of converting a data configuration (mapping) into a logical model predefined for each utilization-side application and a process of converting and conforming values (cleansing); and the result thereof is provided as a view (logical model) for each application to the utilization-side application.

Abstract: A relational database replication system includes a client, at least one primary database, a plurality of secondary databases and replication agents which coordinate database transactions. The system provides a high level of performance, reliability, and scalability with an end result of efficient and accurate duplication of transactions between the primary and secondary databases. In one implementation, the client transmits sets of database update statements to the primary database and primary agent in parallel; the primary agent replicates the statements to at least one secondary agent. A transaction prepare and commit process is coordinated between the primary database and the primary agent, which in turn coordinates with the at least one secondary agent.

Abstract: An index monitoring system for selectively removing an index, where the index is used in a computerized database search. An example method implemented by the system includes displaying a list of indexes on the display device; providing an indication of an index usage criterion associated with each of two or more of the indexes, where the index usage criterion is derived at least in part from prior execution of a particular database query statement; displaying on the display device an indication of the particular database query statement; and optionally accepting a signal from a user-input device to remove an index.

Abstract: A system and method for restoring list items to a database while maintaining the referential integrity of the list items. Before requested list items are restored to a database, a dependencies tablemetadata is read to determine the links between list items of the database. A map is created, and the links between list items are stored in the map. When the requested list items are restored to the database, the requested items and any dependent items are identified from the map and restored to the database. By restoring the dependent items of the selected item to be restored, referential integrity of the database is maintained.

Abstract: Cluster recovery time is reduced by an incremental refresh technique that is described herein. The goal of the technique is to salvage the portion of the redundant distributed database lost (e.g., during a fault) by performing an incremental refresh of only the updates occurring to that portion of the database since the time of loss.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that calculate the interestingness of a set of one or more records in a database, either absolutely (i.e., compared to an overall collection of records) or relative to some other set of records. In one embodiment, the measure is a relative entropy value that has been normalized. Various applications of the measure are described in the context of an information retrieval system. These applications include, for example, guiding query interpretation, guiding view selection and summarization, intelligent ranges, event detection, concept triggers and interpreting user actions, hierarchy discovery, and adaptive data mining.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reslicing data in a representation of a relational database are disclosed. In one embodiment, the database includes a representation including a first slice. The database system creates a plurality of new slice and to create a plurality of write queues. The database system copies units of data in the first slice to the new slices according to a distribution function. The distribution function determines, for each unit of data in the first slice, one of the new slices into which to copy the unit of data. The database system asynchronously writes one or more actions of a set of one or more asynchronous database transactions to the first slice when copying the data in the first slice to the new slices. The database asynchronously enqueues the one or more actions of the set of asynchronous database transactions in the write queues according to the distribution function.

Abstract: Systems and methods for redistributing data in a relational database are disclosed. In one embodiment, the database includes a plurality of rows of data distributed across a plurality of slices of a table in the database. The database system is configured to distribute the rows of data across the slices according to a first function based on one or more columns of the database. The database system monitors at least one database statistic indicative of variation in a distribution of the rows of data across the slices and detects a redistribution condition based on the at least one monitored database statistic. The database system is further configured to respond to the detected redistribution condition by redistributing the rows of data across the slices according to a second function based on a different number of columns than the first function.

Abstract: An item record in an item database contains an item description generated by a seller of an item. A server machine is configured to access the item database, analyze the item description, and extract descriptive information by inferring an attribute and a corresponding attribute value from the item description. The attribute and its attribute value constitute an attribute-value pair. The server machine uses the attribute-value pair to map the item record to a product record stored in a product database. The mapping of the item record to the product record is based on comparing the attribute-value pair of the item record to a reference attribute-value pair in the product record to identify the product record. The mapping is performed upon detection of a match between the attribute-value pairs.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems to determine a niche market of items or services, the first phase of which identifies a gap between demand and supply for a set of items. Session logs may be evaluated to compare transactions involving a specific item to those of a larger group of items. The resultant information identifies areas of high demand, but with low availability. The niche market information may be provided as direct merchandising items for sellers. In one example, the method generates niche market item web pages in specific categories. Additional methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that calculate the interestingness of a set of one or more records in a database, either absolutely (i.e., compared to an overall collection of records) or relative to some other set of records. In one embodiment, the measure is a relative entropy value that has been normalized. Various applications of the measure are described in the context of an information retrieval system. These applications include, for example, guiding query interpretation, guiding view selection and summarization, intelligent ranges, event detection, concept triggers and interpreting user actions, hierarchy discovery, and adaptive data mining.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for storing data in a file system. A determination is made as to whether space is available in an inode of the file in the file system. The data is stored into the inode in response to space being available. Additionally, data for a file may be stored in a block that is partially filled with data from another file. Data for a file may be stored using either the inode or by sharing a block. Data also may be stored using both of these mechanisms.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the present invention provide for the word splitting and reliability score for an entered character string. A list of keywords may be extracted from the character string entered into a user interface on a client. These keywords may be compared to potential matches in a dictionary database and a reliability score for word splits and keywords strings may be compiled and displayed to the user. The client may also display the reliability score using a plurality of logical groupings within a reliability score process.

Abstract: Systems and methods of performing a simplified data transfer are provided. For example, a method of simplified data transfer may involve downloading an index of files accessed or modified on a home computer onto a handheld device from an online data storage server, displaying on the handheld device a user selectable list of files based on the index of files, issuing a request for a file selected by a user from the list of files from the handheld device to the data storage server, and receiving the file selected by the user onto the handheld device from the data storage server.

Abstract: A processing unit retrieves a content name of a first content data stored in an internal storage medium, in response to a transmission of a retrieval key, and a content name of a second content data stored in an external storage medium, in response to a transmission of the retrieval key. A network interface receives a content name of a third content data and content identification information of a third content data over a network, in response to a transmission of the retrieval key over the network. The network interface receives a content name of a fourth content data over the network in response to a transmission of the retrieval key and the content identification information of the third content data over the network. The processing unit generates a content presentation image including the content names of the first, second, third, and fourth content data.

Abstract: An “operate with missing region” feature of this disclosure allows the cluster to continue servicing reads for available regions even when some regions are missing. In particular, upon a given node failure condition, the cluster is placed in an effective read-only mode for all regions. The node failure condition typically is one where there has been a failure of an authoritative region copy and no backup copy is then available. As used herein, “read-only” means that no client write or update requests will succeed while the cluster is in this state. In particular, those requests should fail with an error message (or the like) that indicates failure because of the read-only status. Preferably, such requests are then re-tried. In this mode, all regions are only allowed to perform read operations. During the read-only state, the cluster continues to operate with missing regions, and missing regions are entered on the region map.