Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for learning a program with a large number of parameters. In one embodiment, a method not only distorts the input values, but also distorts some of the parameters in the program model. Such an approach not only forces the learned program to acquire parameter values to predict missing or desired data, but also to correct errors in the input data and the program parameters themselves, thereby rendering the learned program more resilient to overfitting and falling into local optima.

Abstract: An instant messaging (IM) system has an IM server connected to a communication network, and logic operable on the IM server enabling a first user to browse contacts associated with a second user. In some cases the first user can add and list contacts accessed by browsing the contacts associated with the second user.

Abstract: Communications between entities who may share common interests. For entities determined to be sharing common interests (e.g., searching using the same terms or topics, browsing a page, a site or a groups of topically related sites), options for communication among the entities are provided. For example, a chat room may be dynamically created for persons who are currently searching or browsing the same or related information. As another example, a “homepage” may be created for each query and contain various types of information related to the query. A permission module controls which entities may participate, what types of information (and from what sources) an entity can (or desires to) receive, what types of information the entity may (or desires to) share.

Abstract: An instant messaging (IM) system has an IM server connected to a communication network, and logic operable on the IM server enabling a first user to browse contacts associated with a second user. In some cases the first user can add and list contacts accessed by browsing the contacts associated with the second user.

Abstract: Communications between entities who may share common interests. For entities determined to be sharing common interests (e.g., searching using the same terms or topics, browsing a page, a site or a groups of topically related sites), options for communication among the entities are provided. For example, a chat room may be dynamically created for persons who are currently searching or browsing the same or related information. As another example, a “homepage” may be created for each query and contain various types of information related to the query. A permission module controls which entities may participate, what types of information (and from what sources) an entity can (or desires to) receive, what types of information the entity may (or desires to) share.

Abstract: An optimization in machine learning is achieved using Newton's algorithm together with an efficient technique for solving linear equations, such as the method of conjugate residuals. The techniques of the present invention are applicable to learning language models, predicting classes of objects from images and videos, and classifying financial transactions for prevention of fraud. Other uses include determining a function from a sequence of words to a relevant web page for a search engine, or to inverting arbitrary output values of an analyzed system into an internally running simulation.

Abstract: An ordering of advertisements requested by an ad consumer is based on scores generated for the ads. In each case, a score may be a function of at least one performance parameter associated with the ad. The ad consumer may generate presentation information (e.g., a Web page) including advertisements and non-advertisement content (e.g., search results) by (i) accepting the non-advertisement content and advertisements, each of the advertisements including a score, and (ii) combining the non-advertisement content and the advertisements such that relative placements of the advertisements are based on their associated scores.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for learning a program with a large number of parameters. In one embodiment, a method not only distorts the input values, but also distorts some of the parameters in the program model. Such an approach not only forces the learned program to acquire parameter values to predict missing or desired data, but also to correct errors in the input data and the program parameters themselves, thereby rendering the learned program more resilient to overfitting and falling into local optima.

Abstract: The relevance of advertisements to a user's interests is improved. In one implementation, the content of a web page is analyzed to determine a list of one or more topics associated with that web page. An advertisement is considered to be relevant to that web page if it is associated with keywords belonging to the list of one or more topics. One or more of these relevant advertisements may be provided for rendering in conjunction with the web page or related web pages.

Abstract: A method for verifying an identity of a user includes (a) receiving a request for an identification phrase from a user associated with a user account; (b) selecting the phrase from a pool of phrases and associating the phrase with the user account; (c) sending the phrase to the user; (d) receiving a video recording showing a person reading one or more phrases aloud, and (e) verifying that a phrase read by the person in the video recording corresponds to the selected phrase. A third party may desire verification of the user's identity. The method confirms to the third party the user's identity based on whether or not the phrase read aloud in the video recording matches the randomly selected phrase associated with the user account.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of providing invitations to a shared communication space, performed by a server system, includes providing the shared communication space, which includes content associated with a set of characteristics, and identifying a user, in accordance with a set of characteristics associated with the user and the set of characteristics associated with the content in the shared communication space. The method further includes sending to the identified user a invitation to participate in the shared communication space, and upon acceptance of the invitation by the user, enabling access by the user to the shared communication space by the user and enabling the user to exchange information with other participants in the shared communication space via the shared communication space.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus to provide a personalized page to a user have been disclosed. In one embodiment, a user is identified as a member of a first group and a member of a second group. The first group's level of interest (LOI) in a first item is identified, as well as the second group's LOI in a second item. The user's LOI in at least one of the first and the second items is identified.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus to provide a personalized page to a user have been disclosed. In one embodiment, a user is identified as a member of a first group and a member of a second group. The first group's level of interest (LOI) in a first item is identified, as well as the second group's LOI in a second item. The user's LOI in at least one of the first and the second items is identified.

Abstract: Targeting information (also referred to as ad “serving constraints”) or candidate targeting information for an advertisement is identified. Targeting information may be identified by extracting topics or concepts from, and/or generating topics or concepts based on, ad information, such as information from a Web page to which an ad is linked (or some other Web page of interest to the ad or advertiser). The topics or concepts may be relevant queries associated with the Web page of interest, clusters, etc.

Abstract: The relevance of advertisements to a user's interests is improved. In one implementation, the content of a web page is analyzed to determine a list of one or more topics associated with that web page. An advertisement is considered to be relevant to that web page if it is associated with keywords belonging to the list of one or more topics. One or more of these relevant advertisements may be provided for rendering in conjunction with the web page or related web pages.

Abstract: A method using a recognizer program structure is used in a program that is learned over training data. The method includes (a) for each vector in an input tuple of vectors, (i) mapping the vector to one of a domain index; (ii) using the domain index to select one or more corresponding linear transformations; (iii) applying one or more of the selected linear transformations on the vector to obtain a resulting vector in a first intermediate space; and (iv) applying a predetermined function on each element of the resulting vector to obtain an output vector in a second intermediate space; and (b) mapping the resulting vectors of the second intermediate space by linear transformation to obtain an output tuple of vectors in RN space.

Abstract: A method provides program structures for constructing a program that is learned over training data. In one example, two specific program structures are provided in which the first program structure transforms each vector in an input tuple of vectors to provide an output tuple of vectors, and the second program structure operates on an input tuple of vectors to provide an output tuple of vectors by applying one or more transformations that each involves two or more vectors in the input tuple. The transformations of the first and second program structures may be linear transformations. The program may alternatively execute the first program structure and the second program structure in any suitable order a number of times, beginning with operating one of the program structures on an initial tuple of vectors. The vectors may each consist of an ordered set of real numbers.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for learning a program with a large number of parameters. In one embodiment, a method not only distorts the input values, but also distorts some of the parameters in the program model. Such an approach not only forces the learned program to acquire parameter values to predict missing or desired data, but also to correct errors in the input data and the program parameters themselves, thereby rendering the learned program more resilient to overfitting and falling into local optima.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a client-server network system implementing a multi-tier caching strategy for a user to access a document efficiently. When serving a document to client, the document is examined for embedded references to other documents. The embedded references are extracted and then assigned a priority. The referenced documents are preloaded to the client prior to receiving a request for them. The referenced documents are obtained locally from the server cache or obtained from their respective web hosts and transmitted according to the assigned priority.

Abstract: An optimization in machine learning is achieved using Newton's algorithm together with an efficient technique for solving linear equations, such as the method of conjugate residuals. The techniques of the present invention are applicable to learning language models, predicting classes of objects from images and videos, and classifying financial transactions for prevention of fraud. Other uses include determining a function from a sequence of words to a relevant web page for a search engine, or to inverting arbitrary output values of an analyzed system into an internally running simulation.