Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus include computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, including a method for updating graphs. Labels associated with nodes of a graph are identified, including designators describing an attribute associated with a given node. The graph is provided, wherein labels have been assigned to each node in the graph. An initial set of weights for the labels are assigned reflecting a magnitude of a contribution of an associated label to a characterization of a respective node. A portion of the labels are assigned based on a propagation from other nodes. A change is identified in the graph that, when propagated, will affect other nodes. Sparse matrices, generated to describe the change, contain nonzero entries only in rows wherein connection weights and/or labels have changed. A new graph is generated using the sparse matrices without having to recalculate weights for other nodes not affected by the change.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating results for a client-requested query involves receiving a query produced by a client communication device, generating a result for the query in response to reception of the query, determining one or more predictive follow-up requests before receiving an actual follow-up request from the client device, and initiating retrieval of information associated with the one or more predictive follow-up requests, and transmitting at least part of the result to the client device, and then transmitting to the client device at least part of the information associated with the one or more predictive follow-up requests.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for three-dimensional shape capture. In one aspect, a method includes displaying a first, a second and a third illumination patterns on a display screen, and capturing a first, a second and a third image of an object while the first, the second and the third illumination patterns are respectively displayed. The method further includes determining the three-dimensional shape of the object based on the captured images.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a computer-implemented method that includes receiving a plurality of images having human faces. The method further includes generating a data structure having representations of the faces and associations that link the representations based on similarities in appearance between the faces. The method further includes outputting a first gender value for a first representation of a first face that indicates a gender of the first face based on one or more other gender values of one or more other representations of one or more other faces that are linked to the first representation.

Abstract: Systems and processes for data presentation may be implemented with a variety of operations and techniques. In particular aspects, a system and process for data presentation may include the ability to receive a data request at a data distribution device and determine data responsive to the data request, the responsive data including textual data. The system and process may also include the ability to modify the textual responsive data based on a user interface for visually presenting the textual responsive data and generate a data response including the modified textual responsive data.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products are provided for ranking distinct book content items based on implicit links to other distinct book content items. The implicit links are defined based on the identification of matching features in the distinct book content items. In some implementations, the matching features are uncommon phrases in textual content of the distinct book content items. Edges representing implicit links are generated between distinct nodes representing distinct book content items in a weighted graph. Search results for distinct book content items can be ordered based on the edges connected to the distinct nodes in the weighted graph that represent the distinct book content items.

Abstract: A method of providing information responsive to a request from a wireless communication device involves receiving an information request from a mobile device and generating responsive information for the information request, transmitting a first portion of the responsive information to the mobile device in a first communication session, and transmitting a second portion of the responsive information to the mobile device in a second, overloaded communication session.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating results for a client-requested query involves receiving a query produced by a client communication device, generating a result for the query in response to reception of the query, determining one or more predictive follow-up requests before receiving an actual follow-up request from the client device, and initiating retrieval of information associated with the one or more predictive follow-up requests, and transmitting at least part of the result to the client device, and then transmitting to the client device at least part of the information associated with the one or more predictive follow-up requests.

Abstract: Techniques for identifying groups of local features in an image and presenting advertisement information associated with stored images that match one or more features within the group of local features are described. The techniques include providing an image, identifying a region of interest in the image, providing a user-selectable link associated with the region of interest in the image, receiving a request for the region of interest in the image via the user-selectable link, and presenting advertisement information associated with a stored image that matches one or more features within the requested region of interest.

Abstract: Implementations consistent with the principles described herein relate to ranking a set of images based on features of the images determine the most representative and/or highest quality images in the set. In one implementation, an initial set of images is obtained and ranked based on a comparison of each image in the set of images to other images in the set of images. The comparison is performed using at least one predetermined feature of the images.

Abstract: A method of providing information responsive to a request from a wireless communication device involves receiving an information request from a mobile device and generating responsive information for the information request, transmitting a first portion of the responsive information to the mobile device in a first communication session, and transmitting a second portion of the responsive information to the mobile device in a second, overloaded communication session.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, including a method that comprises: determining a target geographic feature that has insufficient targeting information associated therewith, the target geographic feature defining a location; determining one or more similar geographic features to the target geographic feature, each geographic feature including targeting information, the determining based on shared excess queries that are shared between geographic features that are determined to be similar to the target geographic feature, wherein each excess query is a query associated with and exceeds an expected query count for each of the similar geographic features and the target geographic feature; attributing targeting information associated with at least one of the one or more similar geographic features to the target geographic feature; and serving content responsive to queries that relate to the target geographic feature based at least in part on the at

Abstract: A method for generating a speech recognition model includes accessing a baseline speech recognition model, obtaining information related to recent language usage from search queries, and modifying the speech recognition model to revise probabilities of a portion of a sound occurrence based on the information. The portion of a sound may include a word. Also, a method for generating a speech recognition model, includes receiving at a search engine from a remote device an audio recording and a transcript that substantially represents at least a portion of the audio recording, synchronizing the transcript with the audio recording, extracting one or more letters from the transcript and extracting the associated pronunciation of the one or more letters from the audio recording, and generating a dictionary entry in a pronunciation dictionary.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, including a method for ranking content using location-based query log analysis. The method comprises: identifying a region defining an area of interest including identifying a plurality of content items that are associated with the region; evaluating query logs associated with users that submitted queries associated with the region to determine a ranking associated with the plurality of content items; receiving a request for content associated with the region; and providing one or more of the content items based at least in part on the ranking.

Abstract: Methods, system, and apparatus, including computer programs are encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing content based on geographic location data. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request from a website for a map segment corresponding to a particular location. Keywords are extracted from the website as targeting criteria for the particular location. The targeting criteria is associated with the particular location. A subsequent request for advertising content associated with the particular location is received. One or more advertising content items are selected based on the targeting criteria. The selected advertising content items are provided responsive to the subsequent request.

Abstract: A method and system for presenting promotional content to a user of a communication device involves receiving information from a communication device, where the information relates to the communication device, and identifying a result relating to the information that is capable of being presented in a plurality of formats on the communication device, and dynamically selecting a format for the result from among the plurality of formats, and presenting the result in the selected format for display by the communication device.

Abstract: A method of initiating a telecommunication session for a communication device include submitting to one or more telecommunication carriers a proposal for a telecommunication session, receiving from at least one of the one or more of telecommunication carriers a bid to carry the telecommunications session, and automatically selecting one of the telecommunications carriers from the carriers submitting a bid, and initiating the telecommunication session through the selected telecommunication carrier.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, including a method that comprises: determining a target geographic feature that has insufficient targeting information associated therewith, the target geographic feature defining a location; determining one or more similar geographic features to the target geographic feature, each geographic feature including targeting information, the determining based on shared excess queries that are shared between geographic features that are determined to be similar to the target geographic feature, wherein each excess query is a query associated with and exceeds an expected query count for each of the similar geographic features and the target geographic feature; attributing targeting information associated with at least one of the one or more similar geographic features to the target geographic feature; and serving content responsive to queries that relate to the target geographic feature based at least in part on the at

Abstract: A method for generating a speech recognition model includes accessing a baseline speech recognition model, obtaining information related to recent language usage from search queries, and modifying the speech recognition model to revise probabilities of a portion of a sound occurrence based on the information. The portion of a sound may include a word. Also, a method for generating a speech recognition model, includes receiving at a search engine from a remote device an audio recording and a transcript that substantially represents at least a portion of the audio recording, synchronizing the transcript with the audio recording, extracting one or more letters from the transcript and extracting the associated pronunciation of the one or more letters from the audio recording, and generating a dictionary entry in a pronunciation dictionary.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of providing text entry assistance data includes receiving at a system location information associated with a user, receiving at the system information indicative of predictive textual outcomes, generating dictionary data using the location information, and providing the dictionary data to a remote device.