Abstract: In a system in which documents are generated dynamically in response to user requests, historical data is collected regarding data retrieval subtasks, such as service requests, that are performed to generate such documents. This data is used to predict the specific subtasks that will be performed to respond to specific document requests, such that these subtasks may be initiated preemptively at or near the outset of the associated document generation task. A subtask that would ordinarily be postponed pending the outcome of a prior subtask can thereby be performed in parallel with the prior subtask, reducing document generation times. In one embodiment, the historical data is included within, or is used to generate, a mapping table that maps document generation tasks (which may correspond to specific URLs) to the data retrieval subtasks that are frequently performed within such tasks.

Abstract: A data processing system comprises web page generation logic and website experimentation logic. The web page generation logic is configured to generate web pages to be provided to visitors of a website. The website experimentation logic is coupled to the web page generation logic. The website experimentation logic is configured to detect a change in the manner in which the web page generation logic generates one or note of the web pages and to assess how the change impacts visitor interactions with the website.

Abstract: A method and system for anticipatory package shipping are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method may include packaging one or more items as a package for eventual shipment to a delivery address, selecting a destination geographical area to which to ship the package, shipping the package to the destination geographical area without completely specifying the delivery address at time of shipment, and while the package is in transit, completely specifying the delivery address for the package.

Abstract: In a system in which documents are generated dynamically in response to user requests, historical data is collected regarding data retrieval subtasks, such as service requests, that are performed to generate such documents. This data is used to predict the specific subtasks that will be performed to respond to specific document requests, such that these subtasks may be initiated preemptively at or near the outset of the associated document generation task. A subtask that would ordinarily be postponed pending the outcome of a prior subtask can thereby be performed in parallel with the prior subtask, reducing document generation times. In one embodiment, the historical data is included within, or is used to generate, a mapping table that maps document generation tasks (which may correspond to specific URLs) to the data retrieval subtasks that are frequently performed within such tasks.

Abstract: A method and system for anticipatory package shipping are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method may include packaging one or more items as a package for eventual shipment to a delivery address, selecting a destination geographical area to which to ship the package, shipping the package to the destination geographical area without completely specifying the delivery address at time of shipment, and while the package is in transit, completely specifying the delivery address for the package.

Abstract: Techniques are described for facilitating a supply of used items on behalf of an entity that desires to acquire such used items, such as a merchant that sells used items to customers. The used items are obtained based on interactions with recipients who receive items that are sold or otherwise provided by one or more merchants (or other suppliers of items), such as by supplying appropriate information and materials to the recipients along with the items. In some situations, when an item is delivered or otherwise supplied to a recipient by a merchant, the merchant also supplies information to the recipient that indicates an offer from a used item acquirer entity to re-acquire the item from the recipient (such as after the recipient has used the item) and shipping materials for use in returning the item to an indicated destination if the recipient accepts the offer.

Abstract: A method for providing protective assistance to a network site is presented. As implemented by a network protection service communicatively coupled to the network site via a network, the method comprises monitoring for a condition to provide protective assistance to the network site. Upon detecting that condition, the method includes causing network traffic directed to the network site be rerouted to the network protection service. Further still, determination is made as to whether a request in the rerouted network traffic corresponds to a request for information cached in a data store and, if so, responding with the cached information from the data store. Yet further, a portion of the rerouted network traffic is forwarded to the network site, the forwarded rerouted network traffic not including the request for cached information found in the data store.

Abstract: A community search system may utilize the results of previous queries from community members and user feedback associated with those results to provide results for subsequent, similar queries from within the same community. Thus, by modifying and combining query results based, in part, on user feedback regarding previous results for similar queries, the trial and error of the many may improve the results for an individual. Users may be grouped into communities whose members are associated by common interests or characteristics. Feedback from one community member may be used to modify the query results for other community members. By analyzing user feedback with the community regarding query results, negative, incorrect or unnecessary results may be omitted or removed from subsequent results for similar queries.

Abstract: A computer-implemented data processing method comprises receiving an index specification, storing data in a data repository, and indexing the data to create an index of the date stored in the data repository. The index specification comprises a user-specific index parameter. The data is indexed along a dimension of the data specified by the user-specified index parameter. The is received from data source computers and may be indexed as the data is received from the source computers.

Abstract: A service framework uses importance ranking information in making call decisions and/or wait-time decisions in connection with service requests. Each of the service requests has an importance ranking which reflects the importance of the information provided by the service to a task being performed. The health of a service may be controlled by permitting fewer (or more) service requests to be made to the service when the service is less (or more) healthy. The likelihood of a service request being made to the service may depend on the importance, ranking of the service request. When waiting for a response, a determination whether to continue waiting may be made based on the likelihood that the service has failed and based on the importance of the information to the task being performed.

Abstract: A service framework uses importance ranking information in making call decisions and/or wait-time decisions in connection with service requests. Each of the service requests has an importance ranking which reflects the importance of the information provided by the service to a task being performed. The health of a service may be controlled by permitting fewer (or more) service requests to be made to the service when the service is less (or more) healthy. The likelihood of a service request being made to the service may depend on the importance ranking of the service request. When waiting for a response, a determination whether to continue waiting may be made based on the likelihood that the service has failed and based on the importance of the information to the task being performed.

Abstract: A web server system selectively supplements dynamically-generated web pages with coding that allows developers and other authorized users to identify, and access remotely-stored information about, the executable server components used to generate such web pages. In one embodiment, the web server system includes a trace utility that monitors the dynamic generation of a requested web page. The trace utility outputs a mapping structure that maps components of the web page to corresponding server components that were invoked. The mapping structure is embedded within the web page along with code that is executable by an ordinary web browser to allow a user to interactively view associations between the page components and the executed server components. The system also provides restricted access to development and maintenance documents and functionality associated with the executable components.