Abstract: Front end preprocessing includes an augmentation function that augments the query with additional query terms that have an associated weighting value. The terms include identifying characters so that they are recognizable as being added by the augmentation module, but are treated as any other query term by all processing components. The terms are selected based on user context, preferences, and likely intent and the confidence levels are used when ranking results.

Abstract: A method and system that aggregates data associated with one or more entities from different data sources are provided. The data sources include documents, web pages, or images that have information about one or more entities. The information is extracted from the data sources based on criteria that define the entities. The extracted information is utilized to generate a hash identifier that corresponds to each entity and one or more storage locations. The one or more storage locations and associated hash identifiers are utilized to store the extracted information corresponding to the entities, and the extracted information for each entity is structured as a virtual page that is stored in an index having references to the data sources.

Abstract: The subject disclosure pertains to Internet or web search engines and more particularly toward a media service integrated or associated therewith. The media service can identity particular media queries as well as provide and present useful information in an easily accessible manner. The search engine can therefore provide a common ground for people to locate things they perceive with respect to media (e.g., advertisements, music, video . . . ) and further facilitate purchase of media items and/or related content or items.