Abstract: A social environment is provided by creating an object in response to recognition of an entity in a portion of web content, wherein the object represents the entity, the object is associated with a type selected from a set of types, and the type is associated with a schema selected from a set of schemas, where the social environment includes a set of objects including the object, wherein the objects are instances of corresponding types in a rich system of predefined types, the schemas are associated with the types, metadata is associated with the objects, and there is at least one relationship between at least two objects selected from the set of objects, where the set of objects and the metadata are extensible, such that extensions provided by a first user are available for use by a second user. In one example, metadata provided by a first user is only available to a second user having a relationship with the first user.

Abstract: A social environment is provided by creating an object in response to recognition of an entity in a portion of web content, wherein the object represents the entity, the object is associated with a type selected from a set of types, and the type is associated with a schema selected from a set of schemas, where the social environment includes a set of objects including the object, wherein the objects are instances of corresponding types in a rich system of predefined types, the schemas are associated with the types, metadata is associated with the objects, and there is at least one relationship between at least two objects selected from the set of objects, where the set of objects and the metadata are extensible, such that extensions provided by a first user are available for use by a second user. In one example, metadata provided by a first user is only available to a second user having a relationship with the first user.

Abstract: A social environment is provided by creating an object in response to recognition of an entity in a portion of web content, wherein the object represents the entity, the object is associated with a type selected from a set of types, and the type is associated with a schema selected from a set of schemas, where the social environment includes a set of objects including the object, wherein the objects are instances of corresponding types in a rich system of predefined types, the schemas are associated with the types, metadata is associated with the objects, and there is at least one relationship between at least two objects selected from the set of objects, where the set of objects and the metadata are extensible, such that extensions provided by a first user are available for use by a second user. In one example, metadata provided by a first user is only available to a second user having a relationship with the first user.

Abstract: Methods and systems for presenting content such as articles based on utility are provided. In one embodiment, a plurality of articles are determined, each article in the plurality of articles including article content and a corresponding preview icon, the preview icon defining a link to the corresponding article content when presented. For each article in the plurality of articles, a user experience utility value is determined. And for each article in the plurality of articles, an economic utility value is also determined. A ranked order of the articles is determined based upon each article's user experience utility value and economic utility value.

Abstract: A set of item-item affinities for a plurality of items is determined based on collaborative-filtering techniques. A set of an item's nearest neighbor items based on the set of item-item affinities is determined. A set of user feature-item affinities for the plurality of items and a set of user features is determined based on least squared regression. A set of a user feature's nearest neighbor items is determined based in part on the set of user feature-item affinities. Compatible affinity weights for nearest neighbor items of each item and each user feature are determined. Based on user features of a user and items a user has consumed, a set of nearest neighbor items are identified as a set of candidate items, and affinity scores of candidate items are determined. Based on the affinity scores, a candidate item from the set of candidate items is recommended to the user.

Abstract: In a large-scale transaction such as the bulk loading of new records into an ordered, distributed database, a transaction limit such as an insert limit may be chosen, partitions on overfull storage servers may be designated to be moved to underfull storage servers, and the move assignments may be based, at least in part on the degree to which a storage server is underfull and the move and insertion costs of the partitions to be moved.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a process for receiving, evaluating and selecting of content modules such as content summary boxes and landing pages for display on network-accessible search engine results page. In one particular example, potential content providers may be provided with incentives and guidelines for the preparation of content summary boxes and landing pages over an electronic communications network, and the resulting submissions can be ranked and published in conjunction with the display of a search engine results page over the network.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for the efficient location, processing, and retrieval of local product information derived from web pages generally locatable through form queries submitted to web pages often referred to as the “deep” or “hidden” web. In an embodiment, information such as product information and dealer-location information is located on a web page form such as a dealer-locator form. After location of a suitable web page form, editorial wrapping is performed to create an automated information extraction process. Using the automated information extractor, deep-web crawling is performed. A grid-based extraction of individual business records is performed, and matching and ingestion are performed in conjunction with a business listing database. Finally, metadata tags are added to entries in the business listing database. Metadata tags also may be added to entries in other databases.

Abstract: Content display policies are evaluated using two kinds of methods. In the first kind of method, using information, collected in a “controlled” manner about user characteristics and content characteristics, truth models are generated. A simulator replays users' visits to the portal web page and simulates their interactions with content items on the page based on the truth models. Various metrics are used to compare different content item-selecting algorithms. In the second kind of method, no explicit truth models are built. Events from the controlled serving scheme are replayed in part or whole; content item-selection algorithms learn using the observed user activities. Metrics that measure the overall predictive error are used to compare different content-item selection algorithms. The data collected in a controlled fashion plays a key role in both the methods.

Abstract: A set of item-item affinities for a plurality of items is determined based on collaborative-filtering techniques. A set of an item's nearest neighbor items based on the set of item-item affinities is determined. A set of user feature-item affinities for the plurality of items and a set of user features is determined based on least squared regression. A set of a user feature's nearest neighbor items is determined based in part on the set of user feature-item affinities. Compatible affinity weights for nearest neighbor items of each item and each user feature are determined and stored. Based on user features of a particular user and items a particular user has consumed, a set of nearest neighbor items comprising nearest neighbor items for user features of the user and items the user has consumed are identified as a set of candidate items, and affinity scores of candidate items are determined.

Abstract: A method of improving quality of web content. The method includes analyzing search logs associated with a plurality of web pages by a processor. The search logs are stored in an electronic storage device. A plurality of queries from the search logs are assembled into one or more query profiles. Concepts for the one or more query profiles are generated and classified into one or more concept profiles. Further, the one or more concept profiles are ranked based on one or more parameters. The one or more concept profiles are then transmitted to one or more mediums.

Abstract: Protecting privacy in groups e-mails messages. A method includes the step of receiving an e-mail message having one or more intended recipients. The method also includes the step of comparing content of the e-mail message against content of previous e-mail messages. Further, the method includes the step of flagging the e-mail message. In another embodiment, a computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium when executed by a processor, performs the method for verifying intended recipients of an e-mail message with anomalous content. In yet another embodiment, a system to verify intended recipients of an e-mail message with anomalous content includes an e-mail interface and a content analyzer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for presenting content such as articles based on utility are provided. In one embodiment, a plurality of articles are determined, each article in the plurality of articles including article content and a corresponding preview icon, the preview icon defining a link to the corresponding article content when presented. For each article in the plurality of articles, a user experience utility value is determined. And for each article in the plurality of articles, an economic utility value is also determined. A ranked order of the articles is determined based upon each article's user experience utility value and economic utility value. And a portion of the preview icons of the articles are presented on a graphical display page in a priority orientation based on the ranked order of the articles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for customizing content presented to individual users or user segments is provided. There may be three components, a web portal and toolbar component, a modeling component, and a scoring component. The web portal and toolbar component presents content items and collects data. The web portal and toolbar component generates user event data based on the user actions. The user event data is forwarded to the modeling component. The modeling component generates content scoring functions based on user event data and attributes of content items. Content scoring functions may be unique to individual user segments. The content scoring functions based on content features generate probability a content item will be viewed. The scoring component decides which content items are placed in a portal. The scoring component uses the scoring functions generated by the modeling component to rank content items in real time.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for dynamically reorganizing the data within a replicated database system. One method, for example, includes performing a split operation across a plurality of replicated databases with regard to an existing partition therein, wherein the existing partition comprises a plurality of data records and the two new partitions each include at least a portion of the plurality of data records, and allowing at least one type of access to the plurality of data records during the split operation.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for the efficient location, processing, and retrieval of local product information derived from web pages generally locatable through form queries submitted to web pages often referred to as the “deep” or “hidden” web. In an embodiment, information such as product information and dealer-location information is located on a web page form such as a dealer-locator form. After location of a suitable web page form, editorial wrapping is performed to create an automated information extraction process. Using the automated information extractor, deep-web crawling is performed. A grid-based extraction of individual business records is performed, and matching and ingestion are performed in conjunction with a business listing database. Finally, metadata tags are added to entries in the business listing database. Metadata tags also may be added to entries in other databases.

Abstract: A social environment is provided by creating an object in response to recognition of an entity in a portion of web content, wherein the object represents the entity, the object is associated with a type selected from a set of types, and the type is associated with a schema selected from a set of schemas, where the social environment includes a set of objects including the object, wherein the objects are instances of corresponding types in a rich system of predefined types, the schemas are associated with the types, metadata is associated with the objects, and there is at least one relationship between at least two objects selected from the set of objects, where the set of objects and the metadata are extensible, such that extensions provided by a first user are available for use by a second user. In one example, metadata provided by a first user is only available to a second user having a relationship with the first user.

Abstract: A set of item-item affinities for a plurality of items is determined based on collaborative-filtering techniques. A set of an item's nearest neighbor items based on the set of item-item affinities is determined. A set of user feature-item affinities for the plurality of items and a set of user features is determined based on least squared regression. A set of a user feature's nearest neighbor items is determined based in part on the set of user feature-item affinities. Compatible affinity weights for nearest neighbor items of each item and each user feature are determined and stored. Based on user features of a particular user and items a particular user has consumed, a set of nearest neighbor items comprising nearest neighbor items for user features of the user and items the user has consumed are identified as a set of candidate items, and affinity scores of candidate items are determined.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for extracting (or annotating) structured information from web content. Web content of interest from a particular domain is represented as one or more tree instances having a plurality of branching nodes that each correspond to a web object such that the tree instances correspond to one or more structured data instances. The particular domain is associated with domain knowledge that includes one or more presentation rulesets that each specifies a particular structure for a set of data instances, a domain-specific concept labeler, one or more specified properties of the web objects in the tree instances, and a concept schema that specifies a representation of the data to be extracted from the web content. A structured data instance that conforms to the concept schema is extracted from the one or more tree instances based on the domain knowledge for the particular domain.

Abstract: A system is described for providing scalable in-memory caching for a distributed database. The system may include a cache, an interface, a non-volatile memory and a processor. The cache may store a cached copy of data items stored in the non-volatile memory. The interface may communicate with devices and a replication server. The non-volatile memory may store the data items. The processor may receive an update to a data item from a device to be applied to the non-volatile memory. The processor may apply the update to the cache. The processor may generate an acknowledgement indicating that the update was applied to the non-volatile memory and may communicate the acknowledgment to the device. The processor may then communicate the update to a replication server. The processor may apply the update to the non-volatile memory upon receiving an indication that the update was stored by the replication server.