Abstract: A method for answering at least one query directed by a user to a target comprises: obtaining a set of data from the target; obtaining at least a first term of a query from the user; searching within the set of data for at least the first term; categorizing the query, wherein the categorization is based at least in part on the search within the set of data for at least the first term; obtaining an initial set of one or more results for the query based at least in part on the first term; filtering the initial set of one or more results for the query based at least in part on the categorization of the query; and displaying the filtered initial set of one or more results to the user.

Abstract: A device, system, and method are directed towards enabling a user to disambiguate an identity of a member included in a user's social network (USN), and towards enabling an operation to be performed based on information about the member. The USN is determined. The NID of the member is received. If the NID is non-unique within the USN, member distinctions are determined for members in the USN who are associated with the same NID. The member distinctions are sent to the user. The user makes a selection of one of the members associated with one of the member distinctions. Based on the selection, information about the selected member is received. The operation is enabled to be performed based on the information about the selected member. The operation may include addressing the selected member, enabling a communication between the user and the selected member, or the like.

Abstract: A method for answering at least one query directed by a user to a target comprises: obtaining a set of data from the target; obtaining at least a first term of a query from the user; searching within the set of data for at least the first term; categorizing the query, wherein the categorization is based at least in part on the search within the set of data for at least the first term; obtaining an initial set of one or more results for the query based at least in part on the first term; filtering the initial set of one or more results for the query based at least in part on the categorization of the query; and displaying the filtered initial set of one or more results to the user.

Abstract: Syndication data feed items, corresponding to hosted content, are provided to a user program. A resource locator to hosted content to which a syndication data feed item corresponds is processed, including adjusting the resource locator to associate the resource locator with an intervention service with regard to the syndication data feed item. The processed syndication data feed items are provided to the user program. In addition, requests are processed to view hosted content corresponding to syndication data feed items. An intervention service receives a request from a user program to view hosted content to which a syndication data feed item corresponds, including a resource locator to the host that has been adjusted in the syndication data feed item to associate the resource locator with an intervention service. Intervention processing is performed, including causing interaction with the host of the requested content such that the host content is caused to be displayed at a user location.

Abstract: A device, system, and method are directed towards determining a start and/or an end time for a spontaneous event. A mobile device user creates a group for the spontaneous event, and sends the members an invite. During the event, members share media content and/or text messages with other members. Based, in part, on a flow of media content and/or text messages between the members, a determination of a start time and/or end time of the spontaneous event is automatically performed. The start time may be based on when the group is created and/or revised when a flow rate of the media content and/or messages exceed a threshold. The end time may be based on the flow rate being less than another threshold. The location of the spontaneous event may also be determined based on a location of the member's mobile devices during the event.

Abstract: A device, system, and method are directed towards enabling a mobile device user to perform a federated search across a plurality of disparate contact data stores, including a phone directory, IM store, an email address book, a buddy list, a social networking group, a SMS list, or any of a variety of other communication contact data stores. When a user inputs a character, a dynamic search is performed across the various contact data stores. The results of the search may be repeatedly updated based on additional input characters. The results of the search may be displayed on the mobile device organized by categories of the contact data stores and/or a preferred communication mechanism. The results may also indicate a preferred mechanism for communicating with the displayed name.

Abstract: One or more input syndication data feeds are processed to generate an adjusted syndication data feed. The input syndication data feeds are received, and include a plurality of syndication data items. Based on a configuration of a syndication feed adjuster, particular ones of the syndication data items in the received syndication data feed are determined to not be included in an output syndication data feed. The output syndication data feed is provided based on the received input syndication data feeds and a result of the determination. The determination may be provided via a user interface via which, for example, a user may indicate particular ones of the syndication data feed items to not include in the output syndication data feed. Furthermore, in some examples, if no decision has been made about a particular syndication data feed item, that syndication data feed item is not provided in the output syndication data feed.

Abstract: A device, system, and method are directed towards providing a recipient list for a message to be communicated within a group associated with an event. A recipient list for the message is defined based on identities of a plurality of members in the group. Ordering information for the recipient list is determined based on at least one characteristic of the event. Additional ordering information may also be determined based on other characteristics of other events. The recipient list is ordered based on the determined ordering information(s). The ordered recipient list is truncated if a length of the recipient list exceeds a first threshold. A selectable option to retrieve the (truncated) recipient list is provided with the message, if a length of the message plus a length if of the (truncated) recipient list exceeds a second threshold. Otherwise, the (truncated) recipient list is provided with the message.

Abstract: A device, system, and method are directed towards enabling a user to disambiguate an identity of a member included in a user's social network (USN), and towards enabling an operation to be performed based on information about the member. The USN is determined. The NID of the member is received. If the NID is non-unique within the USN, member distinctions are determined for members in the USN who are associated with the same NID. The member distinctions are sent to the user. The user makes a selection of one of the members associated with one of the member distinctions. Based on the selection, information about the selected member is received. The operation is enabled to be performed based on the information about the selected member. The operation may include addressing the selected member, enabling a communication between the user and the selected member, or the like.

Abstract: A device, system, and method are directed towards enabling a user to disambiguate an identity of a member included in a user's social network (USN), and towards enabling an operation to be performed based on information about the member. The USN is determined. The namespace identifier (NID) of the member is received. If the NID is non-unique within the USN, member distinctions are determined for members in the USN who are associated with the same NID. The member distinctions are sent to the user. The user makes a selection of one of the members associated with one of the member distinctions. Based on the selection, information about the selected member is received. The operation is enabled to be performed based on the information about the selected member. The operation may include addressing the selected member, enabling a communication between the user and the selected member, or the like.

Abstract: A device, system, and method are directed towards determining a suggested characteristic for an event. At least two events are determined. In one embodiment, at least one characteristic is determined for one of the event. A plurality of other characteristics is determined for the other event. The characteristics of the two events may be determined implicitly from communications during the events or from user input. Based on a relationship between the determined characteristics, the suggested characteristic for the event is then determined. In one embodiment, the relationship is defined as a match of characteristics. The event may then be modified based on the suggested characteristic. For example, a suggested member may be invited to join the event, or the event's time, location, or name may be changed. If the other event is current or pending, the event and the other event may be combined.

Abstract: A review writing tool guides a user through the process of writing an enhanced product review. The review writing tool can include a web user interface, which breaks the review writing process down into multiple stages so the review writer can incrementally write the review. In addition, the review writing tool provides prompts, examples, and instructions to guide the review writer through the writing process. The review writing tool also allows a review writer to add a list of related products from a related product database to the review. For example, a review writer may have evaluated a number of products before selecting the product the review writer ended up purchasing. Accordingly, the review writer can add information about those other products to his review. Doing so allows subsequent consumers to browse not only the product a review writer purchased, but also products the review writer recommends.

Abstract: A device, system, and method are directed towards determining a suggested characteristic for an event. At least two events are determined. In one embodiment, at least one characteristic is determined for one of the event. A plurality of other characteristics is determined for the other event. The characteristics of the two events may be determined implicitly from communications during the events or from user input. Based on a relationship between the determined characteristics, the suggested characteristic for the event is then determined. In one embodiment, the relationship is defined as a match of characteristics. The event may then be modified based on the suggested characteristic. For example, a suggested member may be invited to join the event, or the event's time, location, or name may be changed. If the other event is current or pending, the event and the other event may be combined.

Abstract: A Web browser provides the ability to separate content and hyper-links from a Web page and provides a list of the links for viewing on a mobile device display screen along with links to telephone numbers, addresses, email addresses, and other communication-related information in the Web page detected by a data detector portion of the Web browser to further enhance usability of the Web page information for mobile device users. Further, once a link is selected using the mobile device, a services portal link is provided to the mobile device display to provide selection of services to be performed on the selected link, such as faxing or printing.

Abstract: One aspect is a method of providing information relevant to a query. Syndication data feeds are processed, the syndication data feeds regarding the contents of publisher web pages. The processing of the syndication data feeds includes, for each syndication data feed, causing determination from that syndication data feed of at least one tag to associate with that syndication data feed and causing the at least one tag to be stored in association with an indication of syndication data feed information corresponding to that syndication data feed. The query is received, and the query is processed in view of the stored tags. Based thereon, an indication is provided of syndication data feed information corresponding to at least one syndication data feed.

Abstract: A pipe specification editor is provided to configure a plurality of modules for processing a syndication data feed. The editor is operable to provide a graphical user interface to receive a user specification of a plurality of modules and to receive a user specification of wires. Each module is characterized by at least one of a group consisting of an input node and an output node, wherein the input node, if present, is configured to input a syndication data feed and the output node, if present, is configured to output a syndication data feed. At least one of the modules is a module configured to retrieve a source syndication data feed. The wires are configured to provide a syndication data feed provided from an output node of a module to an input node of another module.

Abstract: User assistance functionality is associated with an application. The application is executed, including receiving input from a user to dynamically define a configuration of modules which may then be interpreted or compiled for execution. The configuration of modules may be, for example, a pipe, which is a configuration of constituent pipes, each constituent pipe having an input and an output for inputting and outputting, respectively, a syndication data feed, and the constituent pipes connected by wires for transmission of the syndication data feeds among the pipes. As the configuration of modules is being dynamically defined based on user input, which includes sequentially configuring a plurality of intermediate arrangements of constituent modules, an application assistance interface is dynamically determined to be displayed based on a context of a current one of the plurality of intermediate arrangements of constituent modules.

Abstract: A method is complementary to processing a retrieve and process pipe specification. The pipe specification is characterized by at least one constituent pipe, each constituent pipe being characterized by at least one of a group consisting of an input node and an output node. The input node is configured to input data, such as a syndication data feed or other data accessible via a web service and the output node is configured to output data, such as a syndication data feed. At least one of the constituent pipes includes a module configured to retrieve data via a web service, such as a source syndication data feed. The wires are configured according to the retrieve and process pipe specification. An amount of time to process the pipe specification is estimated, including an amount of time to retrieve data via the web services as specified in the pipe specification.

Abstract: A user interface is configured for browsing pipes. The pipes are characterized by a plurality of metadata values, including metadata values not discernible from the pipes themselves. Display is caused of a first list of pipe indications for pipes characterized by metadata values, of at least a first category of metadata, satisfying particular criteria. Also, display is caused of a first list of metadata values for at least a second category of metadata, other than the first category of metadata, the pipes of the first list of pipe indications being categorized by the metadata values of the first list of metadata values. Display is caused of a second list of pipe indications characterized by a selected at least one of the metadata values of the received first list of metadata values, as well as of a second list of metadata values, the pipes of the second list of pipe indications being categorized by the metadata values of the second list of metadata values.

Abstract: At least one computing device provides user assistance functionality associated with an application. The application is executed, including causing at least one user interface to be displayed via which a user may interact with the application. Each user interface corresponds to a particular function. For each function, in a portion of the user interface corresponding to that function, a user interface element is caused to be provided that, when activated, causes a user assistance video to be played regarding that function. Executing applications are thus provided associated in-context user assistance video tutorials. The users of the application are provided a mechanism to access the user assistance video tutorials in the context of the interface for which the help is sought.