Abstract: Methods and systems for verifying the identity and trustworthiness of a user of an online system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving online and offline identity information for a user and comparing them to a user profile information provided by the user. Furthermore, the user's online activity in a third party online system and the user's offline activity are received. Based on the online activity and the offline activity a trustworthiness score may be calculated.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting spam across a social network using a spam detector is disclosed. The system comprises a post receiving module, a fingerprint generator, a fingerprint comparison module, fingerprint storage and a spam response module. A comment is received by the post receiving module and a fingerprint is generated by the fingerprint generator using the comments. The fingerprint is compared to other fingerprints previously generated and stored by the fingerprint comparison module. If the fingerprint matches any previously stored fingerprints, it is assumed to be spam and processed accordingly by a spam response module. If the fingerprint does not match any previously stored fingerprints, it is posted in the social network.

Abstract: A system and method for generating an ordered set of suggested profile images. The profile image application includes a scorer, a recognition engine, a trend analyzer, a suggestion module and a user interface engine. The scorer scores user images based on metadata, such as the number of people tagged in the image and the recency of the image. The recognition engine identifies people and objects in the image. The trend analyzer identifies trends. The suggestion module generates the ordered set of suggested profile images based at least in part on the score. The user interface engine generates a user interface that includes the ordered set of suggested profile images.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for generating a shortened context-specific URL are provided. An exemplary method for generating a shortened context-specific URL includes identifying a first service associated with a first URL, where the first URL includes a first quantity of characters, and the first service maps to a first Unicode character that provides context for underlying subject matter found at the first URL. The exemplary method further includes generating a second URL that includes a second quantity of characters, where the second URL includes the first Unicode character as part of the domain name and at least one additional character outside the domain name, and the second quantity of characters is less than the first quantity of characters. The exemplary method also includes mapping the second URL to the first URL.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for receiving a request to set a first cookie from a first server. A first domain name associated with the first cookie is determined. The first domain name includes a first top-level domain and a first sub-domain. Based in part on the first top-level domain name, it is determined if a cookie is allowed to be set.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying a current configuration of graphical representations displayed in a user interface presented by a computing device, each of the graphical representations being associated with a respective computer-executable application, determining at least one usage signal corresponding to each of the graphical representations, the usage signal reflecting user interaction with the respective associated computer-executable application, determining one or more success metrics indicative of an efficiency of the current configuration of graphical representations, generating, using an optimization technique, a modified configuration of graphical representations based on the usage signals and the one or more success metrics, and presenting, in the user interface, at least a portion of the modified configuration of graphical representations.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods of processing web pages based on content quality are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request for a web page. The method includes determining the content quality of the requested web page based on whether it is a parked web page, a content farm web page, or a link farm web page. The method includes providing for display, based on the content quality of the requested web page, a graphical component providing options to proceed to the requested web page or to an alternate web page relevant to the request for the web page. The method includes receiving an indication of a selection of an option from the graphical component to proceed to the requested web page or to an alternate web page. The method further includes providing, based on the received indication, the requested web page or an alternate web page.

Abstract: A computer-implemented technique is presented. The technique includes determining, at a server including one or more processors, one or more phones associated with a virtual phone number associated with a user. The technique includes determining, at the server, a location for each of the one or more phones. The technique includes receiving, at the server, position information from a mobile phone associated with the user indicating the user crossed a geo-fence corresponding to a specific location of a specific one of the one or more phones. The technique includes determining, at the server, a status of the specific phone associated with the geo-fence based on a previous status of the specific phone and the position information. The technique further includes selectively forwarding, from the server, an incoming phone call to the virtual phone number to the one or more phones based on their respective statuses.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying a current configuration of graphical representations displayed in a user interface presented by a computing device, each of the graphical representations being associated with a respective computer-executable application, determining at least one usage signal corresponding to each of the graphical representations, the usage signal reflecting user interaction with the respective associated computer-executable application, determining one or more success metrics indicative of an efficiency of the current configuration of graphical representations, generating, using an optimization technique, a modified configuration of graphical representations based on the usage signals and the one or more success metrics, and presenting, in the user interface, at least a portion of the modified configuration of graphical representations.

Abstract: In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes accessing, by a computer system, information that describes use of one or more computer-based services by a particular user from one or more computing devices that are associated with the particular user; identifying one or more native applications that are associated with the one or more services, wherein the one or more native applications are configured to be installed and executed by one or more types of mobile computing devices; determining whether to recommend the one or more native applications based on the information and one or more threshold levels of use of the one or more computer-based services; and providing, based on the determining, a recommendation that is associated with the particular user and that identifies at least one of the one or more native applications.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying a current configuration of graphical representations displayed in a user interface presented by a computing device, each of the graphical representations being associated with a respective computer-executable application, determining at least one usage signal corresponding to each of the graphical representations, the usage signal reflecting user interaction with the respective associated computer-executable application, determining one or more success metrics indicative of an efficiency of the current configuration of graphical representations, generating, using an optimization technique, a modified configuration of graphical representations based on the usage signals and the one or more success metrics, and presenting, in the user interface, at least a portion of the modified configuration of graphical representations.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying a current configuration of graphical representations displayed in a user interface presented by a computing device, each of the graphical representations being associated with a respective computer-executable application, determining at least one usage signal corresponding to each of the graphical representations, the usage signal reflecting user interaction with the respective associated computer-executable application, determining one or more success metrics indicative of an efficiency of the current configuration of graphical representations, generating, using an optimization technique, a modified configuration of graphical representations based on the usage signals and the one or more success metrics, and presenting, in the user interface, at least a portion of the modified configuration of graphical representations.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for generating a shortened context-specific URL are provided. An exemplary method for generating a shortened context-specific URL includes identifying a first service associated with a first URL, where the first URL includes a first quantity of characters, and the first service maps to a first Unicode character that provides context for underlying subject matter found at the first URL. The exemplary method further includes generating a second URL that includes a second quantity of characters, where the second URL includes the first Unicode character as part of the domain name and at least one additional character outside the domain name, and the second quantity of characters is less than the first quantity of characters. The exemplary method also includes mapping the second URL to the first URL.

Abstract: A system and machine-implemented method for deleting an electronic correspondence stored on a server is provided. A command for sending an electronic correspondence from a sender to a recipient is received. The electronic correspondence is provided for delivery to the recipient based on an electronic correspondence address for the recipient included in the electronic correspondence. A sender specified time value associated with the electronic correspondence is received from the sender of the electronic correspondence. The electronic correspondence is deleted from the server on which the electronic correspondence is stored when the received time value has elapsed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented technique is presented. The technique includes determining, at a server including one or more processors, one or more phones associated with a virtual phone number associated with a user. The technique includes determining, at the server, a location for each of the one or more phones. The technique includes receiving, at the server, position information from a mobile phone associated with the user indicating the user crossed a geo-fence corresponding to a specific location of a specific one of the one or more phones. The technique includes determining, at the server, a status of the specific phone associated with the geo-fence based on a previous status of the specific phone and the position information. The technique further includes selectively forwarding, from the server, an incoming phone call to the virtual phone number to the one or more phones based on their respective statuses.