Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide automatic systems and methods for associating objects in databases of a web site by rate-based tagging. The frequencies of users entering specific tag terms for objects stored in the databases of the web site are used to determine hard associations between objects and tag terms and between objects. When the frequencies of user tags exceed established thresholds, hard associations between objects and tag terms are established. When objects are identified or determined to have hard association with tag terms, the objects are determined to be more clearly associated with the corresponding tag terms. Therefore, they should be highlighted or featured in more prominent locations on web pages of the web site to increase users' confidence in content of the web site. To identify hard-associated objects, more weights can be assigned to the hard-associated objects, which allows them to be more likely to be selected for display in prominent locations.

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: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for processing search query suggestions. In one aspect, a search service provides query suggestions responsive to a query suggestion request from a client device, and determines if a prediction criterion is met. The prediction criterion is independent of a user selection of a query suggestion provided in response to one or more query suggestion requests. In response to determining that the prediction criterion is met, the search system provides search results to the client device. The search results are responsive to one of the query suggestions provided in response to the query suggestion request or one or more previous query suggestion requests.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for facilitating searching of digital media assets are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user can be assisted in entering search strings for searching a media repository (e.g., online media store) having a plurality of digital media assets that are available, e.g., available for purchase. When the user enters a search character, a list of possible complete search strings corresponding to digital media assets available in the media repository can be obtained over a network and presented to the user. The list of possible search strings can be filtered based on whether a client device supports a media type associated with a word or based on a location of the client device.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying changes in trending topics to a user in a network environment is described. The method includes retrieving a first group of content items, generating a first group of topics for the first group of content items, and displaying a first display to the user. The method further includes retrieving a second group of content items, generating a second group of topics for the second group of content items and zero or more first content items from the first group of content items, determining a similarity or dissimilarity between a second topic from the second group of topics and a first topic from the first group of topics, and displaying a second display which includes the result of determining a similarity or dissimilarity.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for processing search query suggestions. In one aspect, interface instructions on a client device cause the client device to generate a search interface that includes a query input field and provide query characters input in the query input field to a search service as a first query suggestion request. The client device receives, in response the query suggestion request, first query suggestions and renders the first query suggestions according to and order. In response to the client device receiving first search results responsive to one of the first query suggestions and being received independent of user selection of a first query suggestion and independent of sending a completed query to the search service, the client device generates an indication in the interface that indicates the first query suggestion for which the search results are responsive.

Abstract: A method for activity based dynamic data prioritization is provided in the illustrative embodiments. A user activity corresponding to a user is selected. A query is constructed corresponding to the user activity. The query is executed on a data source to obtain a result set of data. A prioritization rule is constructed using a feature of the query and a policy. Data items in the result set of data are prioritized according to the prioritization rule to form prioritized data. The prioritized data is presented relative to the user activity.

Abstract: A system, and computer program product for activity based dynamic data prioritization are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A user activity corresponding to a user is selected. A query is constructed corresponding to the user activity. The query is executed on a data source to obtain a result set of data. A prioritization rule is constructed using a feature of the query and a policy. Data items in the result set of data are prioritized according to the prioritization rule to form prioritized data. The prioritized data is presented relative to the user activity.

Abstract: General entity retrieval and ranking is described. A first set of documents is retrieved from one or more document repositories based on a query formed according to the topic. The first set of documents is characterized based on its first set of metadata values. One or more candidate entities are identified based on the first set of documents and the original query is thereafter augmented according to a candidate entity. The second set of documents resulting from the augmented query is then characterized in a similar manner. For each candidate entity, the first and second document set characterizations are compared to determine their degree of similarity. Increasingly similar document set characterizations indicates that the candidate entity is increasingly relevant to the original query. Repeating this process for each of the one or more candidate entities can give rise to rankings according to the respective degrees of similarity.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying contrarian terms is disclosed. The system and method includes identifying a plurality of websites describing a product or service, analyzing content in the plurality of websites, the content relating to the described product or service, identifying contrarian terms based on the website content using a processing circuit, wherein the contrarian terms comprise descriptions of a product or service, associating the identified contrarian terms with a category, within which the product or service has been categorized in at least one of the plurality of websites, and storing the contrarian terms and the associated category in a memory.

Abstract: According to example configurations, a speech processing system can include a syntactic parser, a word extractor, word extraction rules, and an analyzer. The syntactic parser of the speech processing system parses the utterance to identify syntactic relationships amongst words in the utterance. The word extractor utilizes word extraction rules to identify groupings of related words in the utterance that most likely represent an intended meaning of the utterance. The analyzer in the speech processing system maps each set of the sets of words produced by the word extractor to a respective candidate intent value to produce a list of candidate intent values for the utterance. The analyzer is configured to select, from the list of candidate intent values (i.e., possible intended meanings) of the utterance, a particular candidate intent value as being representative of the intent (i.e., intended meaning) of the utterance.

Abstract: This invention relates to determining page elements to display in response to a search. A method embodiment of this invention determines a page element based on a search result. The method includes: (1) determining a set of result classifications based on the search result, wherein each result classification includes a result category and a result score; and (2) determining the page element based on the set of result classifications. In this way, a classification is determined based on a search result and page elements are generated based on the classification. By using the search result, as opposed to just the query, page elements are generated that corresponds to a predominant interpretation of the user's query within the search results. As result, the page elements may, in most cases, accurately reflect the user's intent.

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: Systems and methods disclosed herein relate to generating a set of priority contacts based on their strength of relationship with a user. Using the techniques introduced herein, contacts of users and communications from those contacts can be aggregated across multiple online accounts into a single set of communications in a centralized queue. The communications can then be analyzed to determine the category and frequency of the communications and weights can be assigned to each different category of communication based on a set of rules adapted to show the level of affinity of a particular contact with the user (and vice versa). An affinity score is calculated for each of the user's contacts based on adding up the total weight and frequency of communications with the user and a predetermined number of contacts having the highest affinity score can be identified as priority contacts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to displaying coordinated related-search feedback in a single active window, to help a user develop, refine and select a useful search. In particular, it relates to conducting a plurality of related searches and making the results simultaneously available to the user in a coordinated display.

Abstract: Providing category information includes: receiving a plurality of search key word sets that were previously input by a plurality of users; obtaining category information corresponding to the plurality of search key word sets; segmenting each of the plurality of search key word sets into search key word units; combining the search key word units into a plurality of search key word unit groups that correspond to a plurality of stages; based at least in part on the category information, determining category information that specifically corresponds to the plurality of search key word unit groups; and based at least in part on category information, establishing a plurality of search key word tables corresponding to the plurality of stages.

Abstract: A method for training a ranking application. The method includes ranking the help postings to create an initial ranking using initial parameter values, and storing user interactions with the help postings to obtain stored interactions. Simulations are performed using the stored interactions to generate revised parameter values for the ranking application. Performing the simulations includes calculating relevance values from the stored interactions, creating a test posting, assigning, to the test posting, an initial score and a relevance value randomly selected from the relevance values to generate a test ranking, and simulating user interactions with the test ranking to generate simulated rankings. The simulated rankings are analyzed to obtain revised parameter values. The method further includes ranking, using the revised parameter values, the help postings to generate a revised ranking, and displaying the help postings in the forum according to the revised ranking.

Abstract: A search engine considers events and stories described in electronic documents, a location of a searcher/reviewer, and a situs associated with a query and content of the document to determine how/if they should be presented to users as part of relevant search results.

Abstract: A content tagging and management capability is provided for enabling automatic tagging of content and management of tagged content. A registration capability is provided for enabling creation of a user account and association of information with the user account where the information is adapted for supporting automatic content tagging and management of tagged content. An object information management capability is provided for enabling access to object information which may be used when automatically tagging content. A tagged content access capability is provided for enabling access to an information structure by an end user viewing tagged content. A tagged content ownership management and remuneration capability is provided for enabling management of content ownership for tagged content of end users and for managing associated remuneration which may be provided to end user when tagged content is accessed.

Abstract: Providing a speculative search result for a search query prior to completion of the search query. In response to receiving a search query from a client node, a speculative search result is provided to the client node for the search query prior to receiving an indication from the client node that said search query is completely formed. The speculative search result may be displayed on the same web page on the client node as the search query, while the search query is being entered by the user. As the user further enters the search query, a new speculative search result may be provided to the user.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture for generating a media program database having a plurality of media programs is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method is comprises the steps of receiving first media program metadata from a first source, searching the Internet to find second media program metadata from a second source distinct from the first source, determining if the first media program metadata and the second media program metadata are associated with the same media program, merging the first media program metadata and the second media program metadata if the first media program metadata and the second media program metadata are associated with the same media program, and storing the merged first media program metadata and second media program metadata in the media program database.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for generating an output comprising data pertaining to a vehicle. A set of vehicle data pertaining to a selected vehicle is requested and the vehicle data is obtained from a database. The vehicle data is stored, e.g. using a hash map and a script generated outside of the system is obtained, which defines the structure of the output. The script is then run while using the vehicle data to generate the output and the output is provided to an application.

Abstract: Methods and systems to build containers of uncategorized items are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems access a search query received by a network-based publication system, identify a container of uncategorized items having a title that satisfies the search query, and return a result for the search query that is associated with the identified container.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for retargeting content in a search environment. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request for a content item to be provided with a search results page and determining that one or more retargeted content items are eligible for presentation with the search results page. Each of the retargeted content items is a content item that is eligible for presentation with the search results page based on: (1) the search query matching a targeting keyword for the retargeted content item, and (2) the user identifier matching a retargeted identifier that is included in a retargeting set for the retargeted content item. A responsive content item to be presented with the search results page is selected, based at least in part on bids that are associated with the retargeted content items, and data specifying the responsive content item are provided.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for generating a display of document clusters is described. Clusters of documents are presented in a multi-dimensional concept space. At least one document is selected from a collection of documents to be clusters. An angle ? of the document relative to a common origin of the multi-dimensional concept space is computed. The selected document is compared with each of the clusters. An angle ? from the common origin is determined for each cluster. A difference between the angle ? for the document and the angle ? for the cluster is determined. The difference is compared to the variance, and a new cluster is created when the difference exceeds the variance for all the clusters.

Abstract: A method and system of providing a search result to a user based on information indicated in a restricted access resource is described. A search system utilizing the assistance of human searchers or guides may obtain a search result using information included in a restricted resource. Access to a restricted resource is granted to guides based on access information provided to the search service. A guide may access information indicated in a restricted resource in order to obtain a search result. A search result obtained based on information indicated in a restricted resource may be returned to a user.

Abstract: Machine learning techniques may be used to train computing devices to understand a variety of documents (e.g., text files, web pages, articles, spreadsheets, etc.). Machine learning techniques may be used to address the issue that computing devices may lack the human intellect used to understand such documents, such as their semantic meaning. Accordingly, a topic model may be trained by sequentially processing documents and/or their features (e.g., document author, geographical location of author, creation date, social network information of author, and/or document metadata). Additionally, as provided herein, the topic model may be used to predict probabilities that words, features, documents, and/or document corpora, for example, are indicative of particular topics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically adjusting the user interface of a search engine in order to effectively communicate the improved relevancy achieved through real-time implicit re-ranking of search results is described. Real-time implicit re-ranking occurs without delay after every user action as the search is being conducted, so finding methods of immediately altering the search page without disrupting the user experience is important. Graphical icons next to search results are employed to enable generating and removing re-ranked results, referred to as “recommended” search results. Clusters based on the real-time user model are also displayed to facilitate query reformulations. Sponsored links are selected using the real-time user model along with a combination of RPC and CTR information and are displayed in a manner similar to the organic results, or used to replace the initial sponsored links altogether.

Abstract: A requirements management tool, where each requirement is defined by one or more design element values. Each of the design element values is a unique value and is a member of a group of design element values defined for the project. As each requirement is created, the design element values for the requirement are selected from the group of design element values, or alternatively, a new design element value may be entered by a user, and the new design element value will be added to the group of element values. Each design element value corresponds to a category that each of the requirements are broken down into. Design element values in the created requirement are compared to design element values in existing requirements, and results of this duplication check are presented to a user of the requirements management tool.

Abstract: A method for searching Web pages that begins with the identification of query criteria entered into a search provider. A set of Web pages that satisfies the query criteria are determined. Then, a page ranking is ascertained for each Web page in the set. The Web pages are presented in order by page ranking. The page ranking is based upon at least one relevancy factor that includes a browsing-time factor. The browsing-time factor can be calculated from browsing behavior exhibited by users, who provided similar query criteria. The set of users from which the browsing-time factor is calculated can include a current user, a set of users sharing characteristics with the current user, and/or a general set of users. Browsing behavior can include time spent at a Web page, where the browsed Web page is a page that was previously presented as a search result for the similar query criteria.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for ranking documents. In accordance with certain implementations, a user selects one or more documents for viewing from a set of documents. Documents selected by the user for viewing within a predetermined time period are maintained in a profile associated with the user. At least one positive word vector is generated using words contained in at least a segment of at least one of the documents stored in the profile. At least one negative word vector is generated using words contained in at least a segment of at least one of the documents that was not selected by the user for viewing. Document word vectors are generated for documents to be ranked. A vector space relationship analysis of the positive word vector, the negative word vector, and the document word vectors is performed. The documents are ranked based on the performed vector space relationship analysis.

Abstract: For categorizing content, a categorizing module categorizes content of a content stream into a category of a plurality of categories. A recording module records a navigation action directed to first content of the content stream. The recording module further elevates a ranking of a first category associated with the first content in response to the navigation action. In addition, the recording module displays highest ranking categories for selection.

Abstract: While browsing, a user may interact with a wide variety of images. The user may upload and share images taken with a digital camera and/or search for image using a search engine. Because images are rich in contextual information, it may be advantageous to provide additional information, such as adjacent market advertising based upon matching advertisements with contextual information of the images. Accordingly, a query image may be used to retrieve a video frame set. The video frame set may be expanded with related video frames corresponding to adjacent markets. The expanded video frame set may be grouped into clusters of similar frames. The clusters may be used to rank advertisements based upon how similar the advertisements are to the clusters and/or video frames within the clusters. In this way, one or more ranked advertisements may be presented with the query image.

Abstract: Information retrieval systems face challenging problems with delivering highly relevant and highly inclusive search results in response to a user's query. Contextual personalized information retrieval uses a set of integrated methodologies that can combine automatic concept extraction/matching from text, a powerful fuzzy search engine, and a collaborative user preference learning engine to provide accurate and personalized search results. The system and method can normalize documents or information objects into a graph of relationships between concepts (e.g., a knowledge base) and can normalize a search query into the same graph as a set of search criteria. The search can be executed using this graph and using indexes of concepts of the graph, and the results can be scored and presented to the user. User feedback (e.g., explicit and implicit feedback) can be collected to improve future searches.

Abstract: A tree structure has a node associated with each category of a hierarchy of item categories. Child nodes of the tree are associated with sub-categories of the categories associated with parent nodes. Training data including received queries and indicators of a selected item category for each received query is combined with the tree structure by associating each query with the node corresponding to the selected category of the query. When a query is received, a classifier is applied to the nodes to generate a probability that the query is intended to match an item of the category associated with the node. The classifier is applied until the probability is below a threshold. One or more categories associated with the nodes that are closest to the intent of the received query are selected and indicators of items of those categories that match the received query are output.

Abstract: This invention relates to determining page elements to display in response to a search. A method embodiment of this invention determines a page element based on a search result. The method includes: (1) determining a set of result classifications based on the search result, wherein each result classification includes a result category and a result score; and (2) determining the page element based on the set of result classifications. In this way, a classification is determined based on a search result and page elements are generated based on the classification. By using the search result, as opposed to just the query, page elements are generated that corresponds to a predominant interpretation of the user's query within the search results. As result, the page elements may, in most cases, accurately reflect the user's intent.

Abstract: Mining information from network data traffic to determine interests of online network users is provided herein. A data packet received at a network interface device can be accessed and inspected at line rate speeds. Source or addressing information in the data packet can be extracted to identify an initiating and/or receiving device. The packet can be inspected to identify occurrences of keywords or data features related with one or more subject matters. A vector can be defined for a network device that indicates a relative rank of interest in various subject matters. Furthermore, statistical analysis can be implemented on data stored in one or more interest vectors to determine information pertinent to network user interests. The information can facilitate providing value-added products or services to network users.

Abstract: A system receives location identifiers associated with documents visited by one or more users. The system retrieves the documents using the received location identifiers and maps the retrieved documents to one or more topics. The system determines a popularity value associated with the retrieved documents and correlates the popularity value with the one or more topics to determine a per-topic popularity for the retrieved documents.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a main server receives a content request identifying a content category from a client and identifies the client sending the request from the content request. Then, the content category from the content request is identified. The main server determines if the content category is included in a preference tag of the identified client. The preference tag comprises a plurality of hierarchical category identifiers selected from a hierarchical configuration of category identifiers. If the content category is included in the preference tag associated with the identified client, then personalized content according to the preference tag of the identified client is provided. Thus, a method and system for providing content according to personal preference are provided.

Abstract: A data creating apparatus extracts meta data about a topic from a document, the meta data including at least one linguistic expression about a behavior, a plurality of the linguistic expressions having a first modification relation. The data creating apparatus converts the linguistic expressions included in the behavioral meta data into each class, based on a behavior ontology that is expressed by a graph where the linguistic expression about a behavior is an instance and a concept of the instance is a class to create behavior map data that represents each of the classes converted and also representing a second modification relation among the classes as a link.

Abstract: A method for automatically determining an Internet home page corresponding to a named entity identified by a specified descriptor including building a trained machine-learning model, generating candidate matches from the specified descriptor, wherein each candidate match includes an Internet address, extracting content-based features from websites associated with the Internet addresses of the candidate matches, determining a model score for each candidate match based on the content-based features using the trained machine-learning model, and determining a match from among the candidate matches according to the scores, wherein the match is returned as the Internet home page corresponding to the named entity.

Abstract: Searching for documents using different sources includes receiving a search statement containing information for the documents, and determining a search strategy based on the search statement. The search strategy includes first and second search activities for searching first and second sources, respectively, where the first and second search activities are weighted. The first and second sources are searched using the first and second search activities, respectively, where an order in which the first and second search activities are performed is dictated by weightings of the first and second search activities.

Abstract: In response to a search query having a search term received from a client, a current language locale is determined. A state machine is built based on the current language locale, where the state machine includes one or more nodes to represent variance of the search term having identical meaning of the search term. Each node of the state machine is traversed to identify one or more postings lists of an inverted index corresponding to each node of the state machine. One or more item identifiers obtained from the one or more postings list are returned to the client, where the item identifiers identify one or more files that contain the variance of the search term represented by the state machine.

Abstract: A method and system for evaluating the reputation of a member of a social networking system is disclosed. Consistent with an embodiment of the invention, one or more attributes associated with a social networking profile of a member of a social network are analyzed. Based on the analysis, a ranking, rating or score is assigned to a particular category of reputation. When requested, the ranking, rating or score is displayed to a user of the social network.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for processing database query results. Database query results are retrieved from a database. The database query results are classified according to multiple, distinct categories and at least one of the database query results for each of the multiple categories is stored as a featured result and then provided to a client device upon receipt of a travel search request from an end user of the client device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for transforming data in vector form. Each vector is composed of a set of attributes that are either boolean or have been mapped to boolean form. The vectors may or may not fall into categories assigned by a subject matter expert (SME). If categories exist, the categorical labels divide the vectors into subsets. The first transformation calculates a prior probability for each attribute based on the links between attributes in each subset of the vectors. The second transformation computes a new numeric value for each attribute based on the links between attributes in each subset of the vectors. The third transformation operates on vectors that have not been categorized. Based on the automatic selection of categories from the attributes, this transformation computes a new numeric value for each attribute based on the links between attributes in each subset of the vectors.

Abstract: Computer-readable media and computerized methods for automatically organizing search results according to task groups are provided. The methods involve aggregating a gallery of entities (e.g., search queries that share a common categorization) into a query class and assigning a dictionary (e.g., list of terms that are drawn from various sources) to the query class. The task groups are identified from the list of terms within the dictionary. The process of identification includes analyzing patterns of user search behavior to select terms from the list of terms, which reflect popular user search intents, and ranking the selected terms based on predetermined parameters to produce an ordering. Based on the ordering, a set of the selected terms that are highest ranked are declared the task groups. The task groups are employed to arrange the search results on a UI display and to provide a consistent and intuitive format for refining a search.

Abstract: An image search method includes receiving a first query, the first query providing a first image constraint. A first search of a plurality of images is performed, responsive to the first query, to identify a first set of images satisfying the first constraint. A first search result, which includes the first set of images identified as satisfying the first constraint, is presented. A second query is received, the second query providing a second image constraint with reference to a first image of the first set of images. A second search of the plurality of images is performed, responsive to the second query, to identify a second set of images that satisfy the second constraint. A second search result, which includes the second set of images identified as satisfying the second constraint, is presented.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for dynamic information connection search engine. User actions may be detected on at least one client system. Determination may be made whether the user is searching for supported information. When the user is searching for supported information, information may be extracted electronically from, e.g., third party websites, direct supplier connections, and/or intermediate databases. Suppliers may be automatically selected in response to the user search. Queries may be formulated from the user search and transferred to one or more selected suppliers over a network coupling (e.g., the Internet and/or intranet). Queries may include one or more requests for information. One or more responses may be received from suppliers, and responses may be used to generate results for the user. Results may include information and/or query status information. An electronic link may be provided to a website of one or more suppliers from which information was derived.

Abstract: Some implementations provide techniques and arrangements to perform image retrieval. For example, some implementations identify an object of interest and a visual context in a first image. In some implementations, a second image that includes a second object of interest and a second visual context may be compared to the object of interest and the visual content, respectively, to determine whether the second image matches the first image.