Abstract: Named Entity Recognition in Query (NERQ) involves detection of a named entity in a given query and classification of the named entity into one or more predefined classes. The predefined classes may be based on a predefined taxonomy. A probabilistic approach may be taken to detecting and classifying named entities in queries, the approach using either query log data or click through data and Weakly Supervised Latent Dirichlet Allocation (WS-LDA) to construct and train a topic model.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of determining the relevance, to a user, of documents accessible over a computer network involves analyzing information relating to a first document, identifying a second document corresponding to the first document using a computer, obtaining information that indicates the relevance of a second document, determining the relevance of the first document using the information indicating relevance of the second document. The first document may be a mobile document, while the second may be a non-mobile document.

Abstract: Performing a user initiated search query is disclosed and comprises receiving user input comprising description details of at least one desired object, retrieving a plurality of objects from a database sharing one or more of the description details of the user input, constructing a tree data structure based on the description details of the plurality of objects, the tree data structure comprising one or more attributes related to each of the plurality of objects retrieved, displaying visual images associated with the retrieved plurality of objects, the visual images matching at least one of the attributes related to the plurality of objects, and receiving a user selection of one or more of the visual images.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to receive a request for media content from a set top box of an Internet Protocol Television System, perform a search of one or more storage devices associated with other set top boxes for the media content based at least in part on a user profile associated with the set top box where the other set top boxes are located remotely from the set top box, receive the media content, and adjust a format of the media content prior to delivery to the set top box based at least in part on the user profile. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The specification relates to the creation of an image space by receiving an initial image query. A plurality of search queries related to the initial search query are determined. Image results for the initial search query and the plurality of related search queries are obtained. A panel of images representing a number of images from the initial search query and panels of images representing a number of images from the plurality of related search queries are generated. These panels are used to provide an image space. The image space can be centered on the panel representing the resultant images related to the initial search query and can be surrounded by panels representing the resultant images related to the plurality of related search queries.

Abstract: When a one or more identifiers and a plurality of data request types is received, a first data request from the one or more identifiers and from a first data request type can be generated and performed. When at least one first result from the first data request can be received, a second data request from the one or more identifiers and from a second data request type can be generated and performed at any time after receiving the one or more identifiers and the plurality of data request types, and then the at least one second result from the second data request can be retrieved either one of a before, during, and after the at least one first result from the first data request is presented. The correspondence between identifiers and request types may be one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one, or many-to-many relationship. A response type may employ a plurality of response methods to access multiple network resources corresponding to any generated and/or selected identifiers and/or request types.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for modifying a document format. In one embodiment, a structure of a first document is extracted to form a first data structure, including multiple subdocuments, each subdocument having a label assigned thereto. A table of contents listing the labels of the subdocuments is then generated. The various labels are then ordered according to the amount of text of the associated subdocument, a comparison of the text of a previous link and the text of the associated subdocument, a comparison of the text of the previous document and the text of the associated subdocument, a comparison of the text of the previous link and the text of the associated subdocument, or a combination of these.

Abstract: Techniques and tools are described for augmenting search using association information. Searches can be performed using a combination of index information and association information. In some examples, index information is stored in a first data store and association information is stored in a second data store. Search queries can be received and modified using association information. Modified search queries can be executed using a combination of index information and association information. Index information can be generated by indexing a set of documents. Association information can be generated by monitoring user activity occurring between users and a set of documents.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for obtaining an address book, and a server. The method includes: performing matching in the address book according to a name to be searched for and entered by a user, to obtain to-be-sorted names; and obtaining a sorting attribute of the to-be-sorted names, sorting the to-be-sorted names according to the sorting attribute, and generating a name list, where the sorting attribute includes a department attribute or a department contact frequency. According to the method and apparatus for obtaining an address book, and the server in embodiments of the present invention, names that match a name to be searched for are sorted according to a sorting attribute, so that a user can find a desired name quickly and obtain corresponding contact information or other information, which saves the user's search time and improves user experience.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a food item type of a food item to be cooked, a cooking appliance type of a cooking appliance for cooking the food item, a doneness and a temperature of the food item at a server, performing a search of a database stored in a memory of the server, and determining a suggested cooking set temperature and a suggested cooking duration, the database comprising food item type data, cooking appliance data, food item temperature data and doneness data stored in association with cooking set temperature data and cooking duration data, sending, from the server, a suggested cooking set temperature and a suggested cooking time.

Abstract: A computing device categorizes data items as a corporate data items when a first criterion is satisfied and as personal data items when a second criterion is satisfied. The computing device provides identified corporate data items to a first backup system that stores the corporate data items to a corporate data store. The computing device further provides identified personal data items to a second backup system that stores the personal data items to a personal data store.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for processing query information includes receiving prior queries followed by a current query, the prior and current queries being received within an activity period an originating with a search requester. The method also includes receiving a plurality of search results based on the current query. Each search result identifying a search result document, each respective search result document being associated with a query specific score indicating a relevance of the document to the current query. The method also includes determining a first category based, at least in part, on the prior queries. The method also includes identifying a plurality of prior activity periods of other search requesters, each prior activity period containing a prior activity query where the prior activity query matches the current query, and where the prior activity period indicates the same first category.

Abstract: The present application discloses a computer-assisted method for determining relevance between a first text content and a second text content, and displaying relevant contents.

Abstract: Weighting sentiment information includes capturing sentiment information of a post from an electronic source, categorizing the post into categories based on the sentiment information, and assigning a weight to the post based on an interest attribute.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for recommending web content to a second screen. A server computer analyzes closed captioning text associated with a media program being experienced in a time period by a user having a client device. In response to the analyzing of the closed captioning text, the server automatically extracts an entity from the closed captioning text and determines an online web page describing the entity. The server utilizes a graph model to retrieve a relevant information item for the entity, where the graph model includes a plurality of entity nodes and a plurality of query nodes. The server communicates, within the time period, the relevant information item to the client device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for programmatically causing a machine to classify and extract the meaning of text are discussed herein. Some embodiments may provide for a system including circuitry configured to identify topics associated with a block of text and one or more categories for each of the topics. Each unique category across the one or more categories may be further associated with one or more levels of parent and/or child categories to form an expanded category set of category nodes having parent-child relationships. Based on a number of category nodes connected to each unique category, the circuitry may be configured to determine one or more filtered categories from the unique categories and one or more filtered topics. Filtered topics or categories may be used to programmatically classify text with a more relevant data set than may be possible without the filtering.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for augmenting search results with a user defined suggestion and/or for providing a user defined suggestion. For example, a venue entity may be associated with search results and/or user information (e.g., a set of search results may correspond to the Eiffel Tower). User defined data associated with the venue entity may be evaluated to generate a user defined suggestion associated with the venue entity. For example, user generated content about the Eiffel Tower, such as tips, advice, opinions, and/or other information specified by social network users, may be evaluated to determine a user defined suggestion “get tower tickets early, they sell out fast”. The user defined suggestion may be provided to a user (e.g., visiting the venue entity) and/or used to augment the set of search results. In this way, practical information, derived from opinions shared by other users, may be provided.

Abstract: Architecture that provides results and data which are alternative (“orthogonal”) to the original (or primary) query and encourage the user to engage with dimensions of information other than, but related to, the original query intent. The architecture computes the original intent of original search query, computes a category of the original query based on the original intent, computes a target document (result) of a domain based on the query intent, determines if orthogonal intent is desired, computes an alternative document result of the domain related to the intent, and presents content associated with the alternative document result.

Abstract: Implementing query classification includes receiving a core term from a search query responsive to execution of a first module. The first module searches a table for the core term and yields a first result. The query classification also includes receiving a second result from the search query responsive to execution of a second module. The second module searches an index of terms that are mapped to documents and corresponding categories in the index. The second result is indicative of one of the corresponding categories in the index based on a probability score. Upon determining the first result is a category associated with the core term in the table, the query classification also includes calculating a weighted average for the first result and the second result. The calculation yields a third result. The query classification further includes transmitting the third result to a computer device that generated the query.

Abstract: Described herein is a technology that facilitates efficient automated mining of topic-related aspects of user-generated content based on automated analysis of the user-generated content. Locations are automatically learned based on dividing documents into document segments, and decomposing the segments into local topics and global topics. Techniques are described that facilitate automatically extracting snippets. These techniques include, for example, computer annotating travelogues with learned tags and images, performing topic learning to obtain an interest model, performing location matching based on the interest model, calculating geographic and semantic relevance scores, ranking snippets based on the geographic and semantic relevance scores, and searching snippets with a “location+context term” query.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for classification and segmentation of user's browsing logs based on search goals of the user. In one aspect, the method includes receiving a browsing log of a user; extracting web page features from the browsing log; generating web page classifiers based on the extracted features of the browsing log, wherein different classifiers are related to different search goals of the user; segmenting the browsing log using the one or more classifiers into a plurality of separate logical browsing sessions related to different search goals of the user; and performing an Internet search based on a search query of the user and information about one of the logical browsing sessions.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing communication initiation controls. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a term that a user has entered into a text field, selecting one or more contacts that match the term, providing a communication initiation control for each of multiple communication modes, determining, for each of the multiple communication modes, whether any of the selected contacts are available or are capable of communicating through the communication mode, and enabling or disabling, for each of the multiple communication modes, the communication initiation control for the communication mode based on determining whether any of the selected contacts are available or are capable of communicating through the communication mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a meaning of a document to match the document to content are described. In one aspect, a source article is accessed, a plurality of regions in the source article are identified, at least one local concept associated with each region is determined, the local concepts of each region are analyzed to identify any unrelated regions, the local concepts associated with any unrelated regions are eliminated to determine relevant concepts, the relevant concepts are analyzed to determine a source meaning for the source article, and the source meaning is matched with an item meaning associated with an item from a set of items.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for providing entities. For a keyword, historical data is used to generate a list of entities, wherein a recommendation score is associated with each of the entities. The entities are ranked based on the recommendation score associated with each of the entities. A drop point that is associated with an entity whose recommendation score is low is determined. One or more additional entities are identified for at least one of the entities having a high recommendation score in the list. The one or more additional entities are inserted above the drop point in the list. The list is stored with the keyword.

Abstract: A program search device is configured to extract a program using search condition attribute information of the program. The device includes a unit storing information concerning the storage condition, and a display control to control display of a list that includes both search condition information and a program list. The display control highlights a search condition as most recently stored in the storing unit.

Abstract: The present inventors devised, among other things, systems, methods, and software for enhancing the relevancy of content presented to users in response to queries in an online information retrieval system. One exemplary system refines a user input query by making suggestions of alternatives queries, classifying the query using language processing, or selecting one or more databases or search engines as targets for the refined query. A switchboard module converts the refined query, administers one or more searches, and collects search results from one or more search engines based on the refined query. And, a post-processor module refines the collected search results by, for example, modifying the order of the results, removing inappropriate or undesirable content from the results, and/or applying historical performance analysis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for information repository workflows enables the transfer of information between healthcare sites and medical research facilities. Large quantities of medical information may be directly transferred to an information repository or indirectly transferred to the repository through the use of pointers. The information is cleansed and normalized prior to storage in a production database within the repository. The cleansing process is conducted while ensuring integrity of the production database is maintained and while continuing to receive additional information transfers. Errors encountered during processing are logged and reported.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for using relevance indications provided by a user in performing a search. Search results corresponding to a search query are provided to a user of a client computing device. The user provides a relevance indication corresponding to relevance of at least one of the search results. A subsequent search is performed which takes the relevance indication into account.

Abstract: A data processing system for searching information recorded in one or more databases and for generating one or more corresponding search results for presentation via a user interface is beneficially implemented such that the system includes computing hardware which is operable to execute one or more software products recorded on machine-readable data storage media; the system operates in a manner which reduces an overall computational effort at the one or more databases and reduces an amount of data exchange between the one or more databases and the user interface. The system is operable to enable a user to define, via the user interface, one or more categories into which search results are to be sorted after analysis thereof. Moreover, the system is operable to provide on the user interface supplementary information describing in greater detail the search results in response to user-interrogation of the one or more graphical objects.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure can be embodied in a method that includes receiving a search query from a user via an interface of a search engine. User-selected options are identified for excluding at least one search category in a plurality of predetermined search categories. Each search category corresponds to one or more query signals and page signals used by the search engine to execute search queries. The search query is executed based on the user-selected options, one or more query signals related to the search query received from the user, and one or more page signals related to each potential result of the search query to be executed. Search results are provided to the user based on the executed search query.

Abstract: A search system includes: a data rewriting system that obtains, from a database, one or more search term candidates that are relevant to a present search query. The data rewriting system retrieves properties of the present search query and the one or more search term candidates, where the properties describe respective matching results of the present search query and the one or more search term candidates. Based at least in part on the matching results, the data rewriting system determines whether or not the present search query needs to be rewritten, and rewrites the present search query based at least in part on the matching results to provide a rewritten present search query if it is determined that the present search query needs to be rewritten. A search engine performs a search based at least in part on the rewritten present search query.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improving user search experience with a search engine by providing a way for associated users to create and share personalized lists of local search results and/or advertisements through endorsements of such local search results and/or ads. Local search endorsements can be used to personalize the search engine's ranking of local search results by offering a way for users to re-rank the results for themselves and for those who trust them.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure help content providers identify popular topics based on Internet search data, as well as to quantify the popularity of content addressing those topics. A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises receiving search data by a computer system; identifying a category related to at least a portion of the search data; determining, by the computer system and based on the search data, a topic for content associated with the identified category; and determining, by the computer system, a score indicative of a level of popularity for the topic, wherein determining the score is based on the search data and on one or more formats for the content associated with the topic.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for improving search relevance. In one implementation, a method identifies a first group of mappings generated for dominant queries associated with a query log. The method also identifies a second group of mappings that includes mappings between a first set of queries and categories shown for the first set of queries, and mappings between a second set of queries and clicked products for the second set of queries. Upon receipt of a query, the method applies the second group of mappings for the received query if the category mappings for the received query are in the second group of mappings. Alternatively, the method applies the first group of mappings for the received query if the category mappings for the received query are in the first group of mappings but not in the second group of mappings.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for training a classification model to predict categories. In one implementation, a method identifies category mappings generated for dominant queries associated with a query log. The method identifies mappings between a first set of queries and categories shown for the first set of queries, and identifies mappings between a second set of queries and clicked products for the second set of queries. A classification model is trained based on the mappings generated for dominant queries, the mappings between queries and the shown categories, and the mappings between queries and the clicked products.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for classifying e-commerce queries to generate category mappings for dominant products. A query log is mined for any query records with click through information that indicates one or more products were selected from among corresponding query results. For each of one or more categories, a selection rate is calculated for any product selected from among at least one corresponding query result returned in response to a query of the category. A specified top number of products are identified in the category. The specified top number of products has higher selection rates relative to other products in the category. A category score is calculated for the category based on product information associated with the specified top number of products in the category. The one or more categories are ranked based on the calculated category scores.

Abstract: Example systems and methods that classify queries to generate category mappings are described. In one implementation, a method mines a query log to identify query records with click through information and display information that indicate one or more products were selected or displayed within a specified date range. A category is associated with each of the products. The method calculates a display rate and a selection rate for any product selected or displayed among the products. A mapping is identified between queries and the shown categories, and between queries and the clicked products. A category score is calculated for a particular category based on a number of times the category is shown and a number of times the category is clicked.

Abstract: Visualization for presenting event information indicative of a computer security threat is automatically selected from available visualizations. Event information received from data sources is assigned a category prior to being stored in an event log. The event log may be searched for relevant event information using the assigned categories. Visualizations applicable to the relevant event information are retrieved and given an importance score, which may be based on execution of prioritization algorithms using corresponding relevant event information. The retrieved visualizations are ranked based on their importance scores. One or more retrieved visualizations that have the best importance scores relative to other retrieved visualization are selected for rendering.

Abstract: A system may identify a set of first documents associated with an organization, and identify clusters to which the first documents belong. Each of a number of the identified clusters may include a group of documents that includes one of the first documents and one or more second documents associated with one or more different organizations. The system may determine a quality score for each of the documents in each of the identified clusters, and determine, for each of the number of the identified clusters, whether the quality score of the one of the first documents in the identified cluster is higher than the quality score of the one or more second documents in the identified cluster. The system may generate a proxy pad score based on the determinations, and store the proxy pad score.

Abstract: Text analysis methods, text analysis apparatuses, and articles of manufacture are described according to some aspects. In one aspect, a text analysis method includes accessing information indicative of data content of a collection of text comprising a plurality of different topics, using a computing device, analyzing the information indicative of the data content, and using results of the analysis, identifying a presence of a new topic in the collection of text.

Abstract: A system and/or method is provided for using a scatter gather information retrieval system for live recommendation generation. The method may include retrieving user information classified in a plurality of categories. For at least one of the plurality of categories, a document recommendation query may be generated based on the user information classified in a corresponding one of the plurality of categories. For each generated recommendation query, a plurality of documents satisfying the recommendation query may be retrieved from a corpus of documents. The corpus may classify a plurality of documents of a determined type available for consumption by the user. Each retrieved plurality of documents may be ranked to generate a final list of recommendations for the user. Each of the plurality of documents may include identifying information for a book, a song, a video, a movie, a music album, an application, and/or a TV show.

Abstract: An acquisition unit acquires a content image corresponding to content. A content image display unit arranges a plurality of content images side by side in a display screen image, and a related information display unit displays information related to an arranged content image. A first reception unit acquires a first moving instruction for the content images arranged side by side, and a second reception unit acquires a second moving instruction for the content images arranged side by side. The content image display unit moves the content images according to a moving instruction acquired by the first reception unit or the second reception unit. A related information display unit displays different types of related information when the first reception unit acquires the first moving instruction and when the second reception unit acquires the second moving instruction.

Abstract: In some embodiments, techniques for searching comprise providing a user interface, wherein the user interface is associated with an input area and a selector, receiving a search term and a desired category simultaneously, wherein the search term is associated with the input area and the category is associated with the selector, determining a plurality of documents, wherein each of the plurality of documents is associated with the search term and the category, and providing a search result, wherein the search result is associated with the plurality of documents.

Abstract: An object may be categorized upon distribution of the object from a sender system to a recipient system. The object may be assigned to at least one recipient category in a recipient category hierarchy according to a first predefined mapping from a sender category hierarchy to the recipient category hierarchy. The object is initially assigned to a sender category in the sender category hierarchy. There is applied to the object a second predefined mapping from the recipient category hierarchy to the sender category hierarchy. It is determined whether the first and second predefined mappings converge. If the first and second predefined mappings do not converge, there may be executed a rule-based reassignment algorithm to make the first and second predefined mappings converge.

Abstract: Systems and methods for search and search optimization using a pattern in a location identifier is disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of search and search optimization. The method includes, detecting a set of location identifiers that have a pattern that matches a specified pattern and identifying a set of search results as having content related to the semantic type. The specified pattern can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium and corresponds to a semantic type. The set of search results can include objects associated with the set of location identifiers having the specified pattern.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for information repository workflows to transfer information between a first domain, such as healthcare sites, and a second domain, such as medical research facilities. Large quantities of medical information may be directly transferred to an information repository or indirectly transferred to the repository through the use of pointers. The information is cleansed and normalized prior to storage in a production database within the repository. The cleansing process is conducted while ensuring integrity of the production database is maintained and while continuing to receive additional information transfers. Errors encountered during processing are logged and reported.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for controlling metadata associated with content on an electronic device that includes displaying interface screens for user entry of metadata control instructions, accepting user instructions, modifying metadata of applicable content, and associating the modified metadata with the applicable content. The system can export and/or store the applicable content along with modified metadata. The system can automatically modify metadata according to one or more profiles. Relevant profiles can be determined based on the export mechanism, destination or type of content. The system can add watermarks to indicate metadata modification. The system can display metadata for user modification. The content can include photos, videos or other content. The system can display metadata and geolocation indicators for each content item that indicate whether that item has associated metadata and geolocation information. The user can selectively modify metadata of selected content.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating search results including searching by subdomain and providing sponsored results by subdomain is provided. A search system according to embodiments of the present invention analyzes search queries to determine if they are to be routed to subdomains and presents results include sponsored hits sponsored on a subdomain by subdomain basis.

Abstract: A classifier development process seamlessly and intelligently integrates different forms of human feedback on instances and features into the data preparation, learning and evaluation stages. A query utility based active learning approach is applicable to different types of editorial feedback. A bi-clustering based technique may be used to further speed up the active learning process.

Abstract: A documents database has a plurality of documents, including but not limited to text files, video clips and sound files. Each document is associated with at least one category of a plurality of categories in a categories database, and each category has at least one keyword. A search request having at least one search term is received from a user, and a categories database is searched for categories having a keyword corresponding to the user search term to identify first level categories. The other keywords from the identified first level categories are retrieved and the documents database is searched for documents having a user search term or a retrieved keyword. The identified documents are then ranked and presented to the user. Other search expansion techniques, and display techniques, are also discussed.