Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing an explanation of an estimate for information missing from a data graph. An example method may include receiving a query that requests information for a first entity and receiving an estimate for the information, the estimate being based on a plurality of features of a joint distribution model. The method may include determining respective contribution scores for the plurality of features, selecting a quantity of the features with highest contribution scores, generating, using the selected quantity of features, an explanation for the estimate; and providing the explanation and the estimate as part of a search result for the query.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for grouping related entities. One of the methods includes receiving a search request that includes query text that identifies a first entity. A first entity node in an entity graph that represents the first entity is identified. A highest ranked first group of related entity nodes from a ranking of a plurality of groups of related entity nodes is identified, wherein each related entity node in the first group is connected to the first entity node by a respective path from the related entity node through one or more links in an entity graph. A presentation of information associated with one or more entity nodes in the first group of related entity nodes is provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing rich content with an answer to a question query. A method includes receiving a query determined to be a question query and a corresponding answer generated in response to the question query, generating a contextual query that includes an element relating to the question query and an element relating to the answer; submitting the contextual query to a rich content search process and receiving data specifying a first set of rich content items responsive to the contextual query, determining first rich content item in the first set of rich content items that meet a context condition that is indicative of a rich content item providing contextual information of both elements of the question query and the answer query; and preferentially selecting from the first content items relative to the second rich content items to be provided as one or more answer rich content items.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing rich content with an answer to a question query. A method includes receiving a query determined to be a question query and a corresponding answer generated in response to the question query, generating a contextual query that includes an element relating to the question query and an element relating to the answer; submitting the contextual query to a rich content search process and receiving data specifying a first set of rich content items responsive to the contextual query, determining first rich content item in the first set of rich content items that meet a context condition that is indicative of a rich content item providing contextual information of both elements of the question query and the answer query; and preferentially selecting from the first content items relative to the second rich content items to be provided as one or more answer rich content items.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing rich content with an answer to a question query. A method includes receiving a query determined to be a question query and a corresponding answer generated in response to the question query, generating a contextual query that includes an element relating to the question query and an element relating to the answer; submitting the contextual query to a rich content search process and receiving data specifying a first set of rich content items responsive to the contextual query, determining first rich content item in the first set of rich content items that meet a context condition that is indicative of a rich content item providing contextual information of both elements of the question query and the answer query; and preferentially selecting from the first content items relative to the second rich content items to be provided as one or more answer rich content items.

Abstract: A multi-user computer network, in which graphics performance of client machines running graphics-based applications is optimized using an automated Internet-based graphics application profile management system. The automated Internet-based graphics application profile management system includes an Internet-based communication server, operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet, and to a central database server, through an application server. The central database server stores graphic application profiles (GAPs) for different graphics-based applications that are capable of running on the client machines. The graphics application profiles are stored in a profile database in the multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem of each client machine. The Internet-based communication server communicates with each client machine over the Internet, and automatically programs updated graphics application profiles (GAPs) in the profile database of each client machine.

Abstract: A multiple graphics processing unit (GPU) based parallel graphics system comprising multiple graphics processing pipelines with multiple GPUs supporting a parallel graphics rendering process having an object division mode of operation. Each GPU comprises video memory, a geometry processing subsystem and a pixel processing subsystem. According to the principles of the present invention, pixel (color and z depth) data buffered in the video memory of each GPU is communicated to the video memory of a primary GPU, and the video memory and the pixel processing subsystem in the primary GPU are used to carry out the image recomposition process, without the need for dedicated or specialized apparatus.

Abstract: A multi-pass method of generating an image frame of a 3D scene while eliminating the overdrawing of objects within the multiple graphics processing pipelines (GPPLs) supported on a parallel graphics processing system The GPPLs include a primary GPPL, and each GPPL, includes a color frame buffer and Z depth buffer. The GPPLs support an object-division based parallel graphics rendering process, in which the 3D scene is decomposed into objects that are assigned to particular GPPLs for processing. The multi-pass method involves, during a first pass, locally a Global Depth Map (GDM) which is provided to the Z depth buffer of each GPPL. This step involves the transmission of graphics commands and data for all objects in the image frame, to all GPPLs to be rendered. Then, during subsequent passes, a complementary-type partial image consisting of visible pixels only is generated within the color buffer of each GPPL using the GDM and a Z test filter supported by the Z depth buffer.

Abstract: A parallel graphics rendering system is embodied within a host computing system and includes a plurality of graphic processing pipelines (GPPLs) and graphics processing modules. The parallel graphics rendering system supports one or more modes of parallel operation selected from the group consisting of object division, image division, and time division. a plurality of graphic processing pipelines The GPPLs support a parallel graphics rendering process that employs one or more of the object division, image division and/or time division modes of parallel operation in order to execute graphic commands and process graphics data, and render pixel-composited images containing graphics for display on a display device during the run-time of the graphics-based application. An automatic mode control module automatically controls the mode of parallel operation of the parallel graphics rendering system during the run-time of the graphics-based application.

Abstract: A game console system capable of parallelizing the operation of multiple graphics processing units (GPUs) supported on game console board, using a graphics hub device, and a multi-mode parallel graphics rendering subsystem supporting multiple modes of parallel operation and having software and hardware implemented components. The game console system includes (i) CPU memory space for storing one or more graphics-based applications, (ii) one or more CPUs for executing the graphics-based applications, (iii) a plurality of graphic processing pipelines (GPPLs), implemented using the GPUs, and (iv) an automatic mode control module. During the run-time of the graphics-based application, the automatic mode control module automatically controls the mode of parallel operation of the multi-mode parallel graphics rendering subsystem so that the GPUs are driven in a parallelized manner.

Abstract: A multi-mode parallel 3-D graphics system having multiple graphics processing pipelines with multiple GPUs supporting a parallel graphics rendering process having time, frame and object division modes of operation, wherein each GPU comprises video memory, a geometry processing subsystem and a pixel processing subsystem, and wherein 3D scene profiling is performed in real-time, and the parallelization state/modes of the system are dynamically controlled to meet graphics application requirements. The multiple modes of parallel graphics rendering use real-time graphics application profiling, and dynamic control over time-division, frame-division, and object-division modes of parallel operation, within the same parallel graphics platform, which can be realized on PC-based computing system architectures.

Abstract: A method of controlling the mode of parallel operation of a multi-mode parallel graphics processing system (MMPGPS) embodied within a host computing system having (i) host memory space (HMS) for storing one or more graphics-based applications and a graphics library for generating graphics commands and data (GCAD) during the run-time (i.e. execution) of the graphics-based application, (ii) one or more CPUs for executing said graphics-based applications, (iii) a display device for displaying images containing graphics during the execution of said graphics-based applications, and (iv) a multi-mode parallel graphics rendering subsystem supporting multiple modes of parallel operation selected from the group consisting of object division, image division, and time division and having a plurality of graphic processing pipelines (GPPLs) supporting a parallel graphics rendering process that employs one of the object division, image division and/or time division modes of parallel operation.

Abstract: A computing system capable of parallelizing the operation of multiple graphics processing units (GPUs) supported on a hybrid CPU/GPU fusion-architecture chip and/or on an external graphics card, and employing a multi-mode parallel graphics rendering subsystem having software and hardware implemented components. The computing system includes (i) CPU memory space for storing one or more graphics-based applications, (ii) one or more CPUs for executing the graphics-based applications, (iii) a multi-mode parallel graphics rendering subsystem supporting multiple modes of parallel operation, (iv) a plurality of graphic processing pipelines (GPPLs), implemented using the GPUs, and (vi) an automatic mode control module. During the run-time of the graphics-based application, the automatic mode control module automatically controls the mode of parallel operation of the multi-mode parallel graphics rendering subsystem so that the GPUs are driven in a parallelized manner.

Abstract: A computing system capable of parallelizing the operation of multiple graphics processing units (GPUs) supported on an integrated graphic device (IGD) embodied within a bridge circuit, and employing a multi-mode parallel graphics rendering subsystem having software and hardware implemented components. The computing system includes (i) CPU memory space for storing one or more graphics-based applications, (ii) one or more CPUs for executing the graphics-based applications, (iii) an external graphics card supporting at least one GPU and being connected to the bridge circuit by way of a data communication interface, (iv) a multi-mode parallel graphics rendering subsystem supporting multiple modes of parallel operation, (v) a plurality of graphic processing pipelines (GPPLs), implemented using the GPUs, and (vi) an automatic mode control module.

Abstract: An apparatus for structuring web content including a structuring web server. The structuring web server includes a data collection server, a data analyzer, and a structured content server. The data collection server is configured to collect usage data associated with at least one user. The data analyzer is configured to generate improvement data based on the usage data. The structured content server is configured to send the improvement data to a browser associated with the at least one user. The browser uses the improvement data to alter a webpage displayed to the at least one user.

Abstract: A multi-user computer network, in which graphics performance of client machines running graphics-based applications is optimized using an automated Internet-based graphics application profile management system. The automated Internet-based graphics application profile management system includes an Internet-based communication server, operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet, and to a central database server, through an application server. The central database server stores graphic application profiles (GAPs) for different graphics-based applications that are capable of running on the client machines. The graphics application profiles are stored in a profile database in the multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem of each client machine. The Internet-based communication server communicates with each client machine over the Internet, and automatically programs updated graphics application profiles (GAPs) in the profile database of each client machine.

Abstract: A multi-mode parallel graphics rendering and display system supporting real-time graphics rendering and display operations using a graphics hub device. The system includes a CPU memory space, one or more CPUs for executing graphics-based applications, and a multi-mode parallel graphics rendering system (MPGRS) supporting multiple modes of parallel operation including object division, image division, and time division. The MMPGRS includes a plurality of graphic processing pipelines (GPPLs) that support a parallel graphics rendering process employing one or more modes of parallel operation.

Abstract: A computing system capable of parallelizing the operation of multiple graphics processing pipelines (GPPLs), and including one or more CPUs, in communication with a memory space, and a parallel graphics processing subsystem (PGPS) supporting an object-division mode of parallel operation including at least four stages, namely, decomposition, distribution, rendering and recomposition. The PGPS includes a plurality of graphic processing pipelines (GPPLs), wherein each GPPL includes a color frame buffer and Z depth buffer. Within each GPPL, a partial complementary-type color image of the 3D scene is rendered and buffered in its color frame buffer.

Abstract: In a PC-level hosting computing system embodying a parallel graphics processing subsystem (PGPS) having a plurality of GPPLs and supporting at least a task-based object division mode of parallel operation, a method of method of operating the GPPLs its task-based object division mode of operation during the run-time of a graphics based application executing on the CPU(s) of the host computing system, and, within each frame in the scene to be rendered, analyzing the stream of graphics commands and data generated by the graphics application for graphics processing tasks associated the frame. The graphics processing tasks are then distributed among plurality of GPPLs, and each GPPL executes its received graphics processing tasks, by processing the graphics commands and data associated with its distributed graphics processing tasks, and renders partial image components.

Abstract: A computing system supporting parallel 3D graphics processes based on the division of objects in 3D scenes. The computing system includes (i) a CPU memory space for storing one or more graphics-based applications and a graphics library for generating graphics commands and data (GCAD) during the run-time of the graphics-based applications, (ii) one or more CPUs for executing the graphics-based applications, and (iii) parallel graphics processing system (PGPS) having multiple graphics processing pipelines (GPPLs), supporting object division based parallelism among the GPPLs, and performing pixel depth value comparison within each GPPL using a common global depth map (GDM) during pixel rendering processing.