Abstract: Advertisements are selected for presentation on search result pages and web pages based on phrases generated from lateral concepts and topics identified for the search result pages and web pages. A search query or an indication of a web page is received for which advertisements are to be provided. Lateral concepts and topics are identified based on the search query or content of the web page. The lateral concepts and topics are used as phrases for selecting advertisements from an advertisement inventory. Selected advertisements are provided for presentation on a search results page in response to a search query or on a web page initially identified.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-storage media for generating contextual queries are provided. The system includes a search engine to receive user queries and contexts, a query understanding component to generate a semantic representation of the query, and a data source command generator to transform the semantic representation into commands for multiple data sources. The data source command generator is connected to the query understanding component. The data source command generator selects data source commands based on lexical information associated with each data source.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-storage media for generating and providing knowledge content to users utilizing a web architecture that integrates information across data silos through a common, flexible data storage schema, such as a star or snowflake schema, are provided. Data from a content graph, a user activity graph, a social graph, and temporal data as it relates to each of the content graph, the social graph and the user activity graph, is stored in a knowledge content database utilizing the star schema. In this way, data from each of these formerly disparate sources may be accessed from a common, extensible application platform utilizing ontologies and pivot table functionality, thus providing smarter, more comprehensive knowledge in response to received user queries.

Abstract: A method for registering a media for configurable advertising is described herein. Advertising policies from a publisher of the media may be received at a video advertising platform. A request from the publisher to register the media for advertising may be received at a video advertising platform. The request may have media metadata. A media manifest may be generated at the video advertising platform. The media manifest may be based on the media metadata and the advertising policies. The media manifest may be configured to be received by a media player. The media player may play the media with one or more advertisements as specified by the media manifest.

Abstract: Technology is described for local ad targeting. An engine executing on a client computing device may select ads based on rules that can be modified without modifying the engine. The engine can select from advertisements stored locally based on data discovered at the client computing device, such as by observing the user's actions, stored documents, state of the client computing device and/or its peripherals, etc. The technology can employ plug-ins to extend functionality provided by the engine. The technology can include a plug-in manager that manages plug-ins. The technology can also download and manage rules. Each rule can specify what actions to take, such as when an event occurs. When a component of the operating system observes an event, the engine (or a rule executor component associated with the engine) executes each related rule. The technology can thus select ads based on arbitrary events of the operating system, applications, or other components.

Abstract: Systems, computer-implemented methods and computer-storage media are provided for presenting customizable advertisements to a user. Advertising is customized through the use of user-specific or user-relevant data. Items such as keywords, profile data, and application data are received and are then used to retrieve customizations. These customizations are stored by a server or group of servers that the vendor makes available to the advertising provider. Items that could further identify adaptations desirable for advertising, such as a user profile, may be sent to the vendor's server as well. The adaptations take forms that include pictures, text, graphics, links, audio, and video files. Systems that comprise an advertising server, a vendor server, and a client application used for completing the above method, as well as computer-readable media necessary at each device to accomplish the customizations, are also described.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable media are presented for displaying an interactive viewer associated with an advertisement within a user interface. In one aspect, the system includes an advertisement manager for providing advertisements in response to request from clients. The system further includes a rendering component for determining if an advertisement has an associated interactive viewer, determining features associated with the advertisement, and displaying the interactive viewer including the determined features. Additionally, the system includes an event tracking module for monitoring a user's interaction with the interactive viewer, and reporting feedback regarding the interaction to the advertisement manager.

Abstract: A system, method and data structure enabling remote users to selectively participate in electronic auctions and electronic classified advertisements. The system includes a user interface and a negotiation engine. The method includes obtaining from a first remote user a request to perform an action in connection with one or more electronic transactions and a selection from a plurality of available transaction types and then performing the requested action in connection with the electronic transactions. The data structure, which is stored on one or more computer-readable media, includes a first field containing data identifying an item and a second field containing data indicating whether the item is associated with an auction, a classified advertisement, or another form of electronic transaction.