Abstract: A method and a system to rank search results based on dwell time is provided. The system comprises a search module to identify a plurality of listings stored in a listing database as search results. A dwell time module determines a respective dwell time associated with each of the plurality of listings. The dwell time is based on an elapsed amount of time one or more buyers view a view item page associated with the listing. A ranking module ranks the listings composing the identified plurality of listings based at least in part on the respective dwell time associated with each of the plurality of listings.

Abstract: A method searches a plurality of content registered onto a website. The method includes searching for a search text or a search character string sent from a client on the plurality of content, classifying information indicative of a location where a retrieved text or character string is registered per each of content, rearranging information classified per each of the content, extracting a given number of information in high order per each of content with regard to rearranged information classified per each of the content, and transmitting extracted information to the client.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for analyzing information about a user are presented which include obtaining at least one search result based on at least one search terms describing the user; presenting the at least one search result to the user; receiving an indication from the user of the desirability of a search result; and performing an action based on the desirability of the search result. Systems, apparatuses, and methods are also presented for determining a reputation score representing the reputation of a user which include collecting search results from data source, determining an effect on the reputation of the user of the search results from the data source, and calculating a reputation score for the user based on the determined effect on the reputation of the user from the search results from the data source.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for personalizing advertising for a user. In accordance with certain implementations, information is accessed indicating which documents were selected by a user and which documents were not selected by a user. At least one positive word vector is generated using words contained in at least one of the selected documents, and at least one negative word vector is generated using words contained in at least one of the unselected documents. Document word vectors are generated, and a document rank order is established based on a vector space relationship analysis. Categories associated with the documents are ranked based on the document rank order, and the ranked categories are sent to an ad server. Advertising material associated with the ranked categories may then be received from the ad server in a selected context.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing multi-core and multi-level topical organization in social indexes is provided. A corpus of articles is accessed. Each article includes online textual materials. A finite state pattern is provided for a topic that filters the articles as candidate articles, which are potentially on-topic. Similarity-based representations for on-topic and off-topic core meanings of the topic are provided. An aggregate score for each of the candidate articles is determined using the similarity-based representations to indicate whether the candidate article is sufficiently on-topic. The candidate articles are presented ordered by their aggregate scores. In a further embodiment, a hierarchy of topics is provided and used to guide the presentation of articles from subtopics, with considerations of fairness of subtopic coverage, elimination of similarity-duplicates in articles, and article freshness.

Abstract: Described is a technology by which forum web pages are processed into clusters for classification purposes, including by determining repetitive regions between pages and associating pages that have similar repetitive regions into a common cluster. Patterns corresponding to the regions are determined, and a feature set based at least in part on those patterns (e.g., pattern frequency) is extracted from the page. The feature set of a page is compared against the feature set of another page to determine similarity therewith, e.g., via a feature space distance computation that is evaluated against a threshold distance.

Abstract: Methods and systems for directed creation of construction documentation are provided. Example embodiments provide a Directed Documentation System (a “DDS”), which directs, in a computer-assisted manner, the creation of a historical record of a portion or an entire construction project. In one embodiment, the DDS comprises a directed construction data organization process/component, a directed documentation data acquisition process/component, a construction documentation data retrieval process/component, and a construction documentation data distribution process/component. These components cooperate to direct the documentation of a construction project in a manner that insures that all desired aspects of the project are documented thoroughly and uniformly. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A web search system uses humans to rank the relevance of results returned for various sample search queries. The search results may be divided into groups allowing training and validation with the ranked results. Consistent guidelines for human evaluation allow consistent results across a number of people performing the ranking. After a machine learning categorization tool, such as MART, has been programmed and validated, it may be used to provide an absolute rank of relevance for documents returned, rather than a simple relative ranking, based, for example, on key word matches and click counts. Documents with lower relevance rankings may be excluded from consideration when developing related refinements, such as category and price sorting.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for analyzing information about a user are presented which include obtaining at least one search result based on at least one search terms describing the user; presenting the at least one search result to the user; receiving an indication from the user of the desirability of a search result; and performing an action based on the desirability of the search result. Systems, apparatuses, and methods are also presented for determining a reputation score representing the reputation of a user which include collecting search results from data source, determining an effect on the reputation of the user of the search results from the data source, and calculating a reputation score for the user based on the determined effect on the reputation of the user from the search results from the data source.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for providing predictive contacts. A system configured to practice the method first analyzes a communication history and a current usage context of a user. Based on the analysis, the system ranks contacts that the user is likely to communicate with from a list of contacts to yield ranked contacts. The system identifies a respective motive for ranking each contact, and presents a predictive list of contacts based at least in part on the ranked contacts, wherein each ranked contact in the predictive list of contacts includes at least part of the respective motive. The system can update the predictive list of contacts in real time as the current usage context changes. The communication history can include, for example, emails, instant messages, phone calls, video conferences, and calendar events. The motive can include a user interaction history with a particular contact.

Abstract: A system and method for development of search success metrics. A plurality of search engine result pages are collected and a target page success metric is determined for each page. A plurality of machine learned page success metrics are trained using a first subset of the search engine result pages and each result page's respective target page success metric, wherein each of the machine learned page success metrics is trained to predict the target page success metric for each of the first subset of search engine result pages. A predicted target page success metric is predicted for each of a second subset of the search engine result pages using each of the machine learned page success metrics. The accuracy of each of the machine learned page success metrics in predicting the target page success metric associated with each of the second subset of search engine result pages is then evaluated.

Abstract: A method for classifying digital media files includes obtaining geographical information from geographical identification metadata associated with one or more digital media files stored in a memory of a mobile terminal, and assigning a respective ranking to the one or more digital media files within one or more media classification categories based on the obtained geographical information. A summary view of the one or more ranked digital media files is displayed, the summary view including two axes, each axis corresponding to at least one of the one or more media classification categories. A travel profile for a user of the mobile terminal, including the user's travel preferences as determined by the respective ranking of at least one ranked digital media file in one or more of the media classification categories, is generated, and relevant travel information is presented to the user. Related devices and computer program products are also discussed.

Abstract: An apparatus adapted to process and store data relating to a suspicious activity, the apparatus comprising: inputting means for inputting the data; a memory for storing the data; and a processor for processing the data and storing the data to memory, wherein the processor is adapted to match the inputted data with existing data which has previously been stored to memory or existing data stored at another source.

Abstract: Method of presenting search results to a user of a social network site on the Internet, in which each user of the social network site has a user profile with information regarding the user, includes obtaining content items satisfying a search of information on the Internet by a first user. The content items are ranked as a function of the information in the user profile of the first user such that the content items which are related to the information in the user profile of the first user are ranked higher than the content items which are unrelated to the information in the user profile of the first user. The content items according to ranking are then transferred to a display of the first user via the Internet such that higher ranked content items are displayed on the display prior to lower ranked content items being displayed on the display.

Abstract: A Mixed Media Reality (MMR) system and associated techniques are disclosed. The MMR system provides mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types (e.g., printed paper as a first medium and digital content and/or web link as a second medium). In one particular embodiment, the MMR system provides a user with information related to the location of the user. The system acquires a document, extracts location related information from the document, identifies the location of the users, and provides information to the user based on the identified location and the extracted information.

Abstract: Particular embodiments provide a search service using a search document. Complex, multi-site, multi-query searches may be performed using the search document. To use a search document, a user may activate the service. The search document may then capture data for an entire search performed for the users search across various online and offline resources. One or more partial search results may be determined for a search document. Partial search results may be automatically determined based on one or more resources being visited by a user during a search. Also, partial search results may be specified by a user from pages being visited, such as a user may select items on a page to be included in the search document. The partial search results are then used to provide a recommendation to the user for the specified search.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated systems, methods, and computer program products relate to identifying types of search query terms based on the location of information that matches the search query terms. The query terms may be assigned weights according to the query type. The assigned weights may be used, in conjunction with a scoring rule, to determine a score that indicates how relevant blocks of information in the selected document are to the search query terms. In one example, query terms that are located in the title or the URL information associated with a document are classified as a query type that is assigned little or no weight. In this way, relevance scoring within a document may be improved by discounting the influence of query terms that are likely to be primarily meaningful for locating (i.e., navigating to) a relevant document, but less meaningful for locating relevant information within a document.

Abstract: A community search system may utilize the results of previous queries from community members and user feedback associated with those results to provide results for subsequent, similar queries from within the same community. Thus, by modifying and combining query results based, in part, on user feedback regarding previous results for similar queries, the trial and error of the many may improve the results for an individual. Users may be grouped into communities whose members are associated by common interests or characteristics. Feedback from one community member may be used to modify the query results for other community members. By analyzing user feedback with the community regarding query results, negative, incorrect or unnecessary results may be omitted or removed from subsequent results for similar queries.

Abstract: A system may receive a model, extract information from the model, form a group of tags using the extracted information, and associate the group of tags with the model. The system may further receive a search query including one or more sequences of characters and determine whether to provide the model in a list of models created for the search query, based on the one or more sequences of characters and the group of tags.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus consistent with the invention provide improved organization of documents responsive to a search query. In one embodiment, a search query is received and a list of responsive documents is identified. The responsive documents are organized based in whole or in part on usage statistics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing metadata search with plug-in applications is disclosed. In one embodiment, in response to a search request for metadata stored in a metadata store, a plug-in associated with the metadata store is invoked to perform the request search within the metadata store. In addition, according to another embodiment, a search result of the metadata search may be filtered based on user privileges of a client initiating the search request, and some or all of the metadata from the search result may be returned to the client dependent upon the user privileges of the client. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: Contextually relevant pieces of alternative content, including advertisements, are selected for display with requested content based on documents or other second content sources that are referenced by or in the requested content.

Abstract: An expert list recommendation system is provided, including: a domain modeler for establishing an expert knowledge database according to a plurality of expert publications in different domains, receiving an inquired proposal, determining the academic field of the inquired proposal according to keywords of the inquired proposal and keyword sets of the expert publications in different domains stored in the expert knowledge database, and outputting a first domain expert list corresponding to the inquired proposal, wherein the first domain expert list comprises a first group of expert publications and a first group of expert names; and an expertise matcher for receiving the first domain expert list, comparing semantic relatedness between keywords of the inquired proposal and keywords corresponding to the first group of the expert publications of the first domain expert list to output a first expert list to a display device.

Abstract: Performing a category search to identify categories of web sites that relate to a search term includes receiving at least one search term that then is compared with a hierarchy of category identifiers, and with terms related to one or more categories, to determine whether matches exist. A category identifier is selected based on the matches that are determined to exist within the hierarchy and the terms, and at least the category identifier is displayed. Performing a search to identify web sites and categories of web sites that relate to a search term also may include receiving at least one search term that then is compared with a list of recommended web sites, previously performed searches, a hierarchy of category identifiers, and terms related to one or more categories to determine whether matches exist. Results based on matches that are determined to exist are displayed.

Abstract: A content management system (CMS) includes a component identification mechanism for identifying components in a component-centric way that takes into account specified conditions for a link location in a compound document as well as component relationships and conditions. By using the relationships and conditions, a more intelligent choice may be made when identifying components for a particular link location. The identifying of components for a given link location in a compound document may be used by the content management system when auto-population is enabled, and may be used by the content management system to provide a list of candidate components to a user when auto-suggestion is enabled.

Abstract: A method for browsing a collection of multimedia assets on a soft-copy display comprising: receiving a collection of multimedia assets, each multimedia asset having a set of associated metadata; defining an interest criterion; using a processor to analyze the metadata associated with the multimedia assets and rank the multimedia assets according to the interest criterion; displaying a portion of the multimedia assets on the soft-copy display according to the ranking; interactively user selecting a displayed multimedia asset using a user interface; updating the interest criterion based on the selected multimedia asset; using a processor to determine an updated ranking of the multimedia assets according to the updated interest criterion; and displaying a portion of the multimedia assets on the soft-copy display according to the updated ranking.

Abstract: A category may be associated, in a personal information manager (PIM) application, with a data item by associating a category pattern with the data item. Where the PIM application already associates keyword patterns with data items for enabling keyword searching, the category pattern may have a format of an ordered plurality of elements that satisfies at least one rule for the format of the keyword patterns. Optionally, the first element of the ordered plurality of elements may be an element predetermined to be specific to pluralities of elements associated with categories. Advantageously, this approach to the association of a category with a data item allows for the association of more than one category with a single data item. Such an allowance provides for more accurate synchronization with a PIM application on a desktop that also allows the association of more than one category with a data item.

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 and a system may be provided to sample media content similar to media content enjoyed by a user. Feature vectors, which describe a number of characteristics, with respect to media content enjoyed by the user, may be employed to find similar media content from a media library, or a media service. The similar media content may be played, interleaved with requested media content. Relevance feedback, with respect to played media content, may be transparently or explicitly provided. The feature vectors may be updated based on the provided relevance feedback. Additional similar media content may be found from the media library, or the media service, based on the updated feature vectors, and may be played. An interface may be provided such that the user may purchase sampled, media content via a media device for playing the content.

Abstract: Including search result based content in a webpage is disclosed. One or more search criteria and an indication that a search result based content associated with the search criteria is to be included in a web page are received. A computer script or code configured to enable the search result based content to be retrieved in accordance with the search criteria is generated automatically for the web page.

Abstract: Computer-readable media, systems, and methods for enabling a rich client search experience. In embodiments, a description is received from a data store. The description includes fields of information existing on the data store that are capable of being searched. A user interface is built based on the description and the user interface provides a user with a mechanism for searching the data store. And the user interface is presented to the user. The description is definable by the data store using a data-driven extension, allowing the data store to express schema and query capability information to a client and allowing the client to dynamically customize the user interface based upon the schema and query capability information expressed by the data store.

Abstract: Generally, a method and apparatus provides for rating user generated content (UGC) with respect to search engine results. The method and apparatus includes recognizing a UGC data field collected from a web document located at a web location. The method and apparatus calculates: a document goodness factor for the web document; an author rank for an author of the UGC data field; and a location rank for web location. The method and apparatus thereby generates a rating factor for the UGC field based on the document goodness factor, the author rank and the location rank. The method and apparatus also outputs a search result that includes the UGC data field positioned in the search results based on the rating factor.

Abstract: A machine-implemented search method comprises inputting a search query from a user, and before the query is executed, inputting from the user a weighting factor that has a specified relationship to the query. The method further includes initiating a search by causing the query to be applied according to the weighting factor, and returning a result of the search to the user. The weighting factor may represent, for example, a weight to be given to one of multiple information sources that are available to be searched in response to the query, such as an online search engine or a merchant online commerce web site. Alternatively, the weighting factor may represent a weight to be given to a term in the query.

Abstract: A document is stored in and retrieved from a repository being indexed by a search engine by applying to each document a first classification based on a profile of a user who is likely to access the repository. A query formulated by the user to the search engine results in the engine producing a list of references of documents. The list of references is reduced by eliminating from the lists the documents and references which do not correspond to the user's profile. A second classification level, representative of the particular nature of the problem to which the document refers, is performed. Automatic tagging and labeling mechanisms improve the repository partitioning.

Abstract: This invention concerns a web-based system comprising a server, computer storage and web-portal to provide an integrated management feedback system for the assessment of educational services. The system particularly comprises an interface to input definitions of graduate attributes related to levels of complexity; and input definitions of learning outcomes related to teaching theory which defines levels for outcomes. A database to map relationships between graduate attributes at particular levels of complexity and their related teaching methods and assessment items; and learning outcomes at particular levels and their related teaching methods and assessment items. A processor to automatically respond to the assessment results for a particular student and determine and record both the graduate attribute levels of complexity, and learning outcomes levels, achieved by that student.

Abstract: A navigation system is used in combination with a data retrieval system to more effectively locate the correct answers or information in search content. The navigation system provides taxonomies that identify different information categories and sub-categories (facets). Classifiers automatically classify the search content by identifying the content corresponding with associated facets. The facets, in conjunction with the associated classifiers, provide robust classification and correlation between both structured and unstructured content. Rules can be used in conjunction with the facets and classifiers to automatically control different navigation operations. The navigation system can also leverage ontologies to dynamically create taxonomies and provides unique facet expansion and intra-document classification operations.

Abstract: In a computerized search system, a document corpus is searched according to a query and results of the search are presentable as an ordered search result set comprising one or more search hits, a search hit being a document of the document corpus or reference thereto. Based on content of the search result set, a number of suggested queries and/or parameter options are presented to a querier, thereby allowing the querier to select a suggested query and/or provide values for the parameters and those selections can be used to reorder the hits of the search result set. The particular suggested queries and/or parameters presented depend on the page elements of the search result set's documents and their categorization. The categorization might be done using concept networks.

Abstract: Search results are ranked by applying sub-relevancies within a search result list. This permits search result lists to be further refined into more manageable relevant groupings from a user's perspective. The sub-relevancies or ‘group-by’ parameters are derived from search result attributes. Attribute values from the attributes are employed in a ranking scheme to group the search results based on attribute value relevancy. The grouped search results can then be displayed to users via a search result page. In one instance users can select which attribute value is used to group the search result list. Ranking processes are based on object ranking algorithms that consider each attribute value as an object type. Some instances provide for search result list group condensing based on relevancy of the attribute values as well. A top-k instance can be employed to limit the search results to control the amount of time required for processing groupings.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a record information storage module stores record information related to content recorded by an external apparatus in association with a keyword representing the content and user information. A search information storage module stores a search phrase used for searching in an external apparatus in association with user information. A search word handler extracts a predetermined number of words having high search frequency from search phrases stored in association with specific user information to generate a word list. A record information handler extracts keywords stored in association with the specific user information to generate a keyword list. A ranking processor generates ranking information indicating a word in the word list which matches a keyword in the keyword list. A communicator provides the ranking information to an external apparatus corresponding to the specific user information.

Abstract: Embodiments herein prevent or mitigate attacks on inverse query engines by providing safe mode routines that allow for the acceptance of third party messages and/or query expressions, as well as prevent trusted sources from accidental attacks. The mitigations fall into two categories: compile-time and runtime. Compile-time mitigations prevent query expressions from being accepted and compiled that are susceptible to known attacks. For example, the complexity of query expressions may be limited to functions with linear runtimes; constant memory usage; or ones that do not create large strings. Further, language constructs for the criteria in the query expression may not allow for nested predicates complexities. Runtime mitigations, on the other hand, monitor the data size and processing lengths of messages against the various query expressions. If these runtime quotas are exceeded, an exception or other violation indication may be thrown (e.g., abort), deeming the evaluation as under attack.

Abstract: A method of providing search results includes performing a search in response to a search request, providing a first list of results responsive to the search request, providing a list of selectable terms based on content included in the first list of results, receiving a user-selected term from the list of selectable terms, and providing a second list of results. The second list of results excludes results having content related to the user-selected term.

Abstract: A technique is provided for the classification of a document based on a lexicon structured into categories. Terms in the document may be matched with terms in the lexicon along with the relative position of the term in the document. A weight function may be used to compute a score for each category. The normalized category scores may be used to classify the content of the document.

Abstract: A computerized method for managing data performed in a computer system. The data is stored in a data base including flat lines. Each of the flat lines includes values of the data and tags associated with the values forming tag-value pairs. The flat lines are scanned and an object of a class is created. The class specifies a subset including one or more tags selected from the tags of the flat lines. The flat line points to the object if a portion of the tag-value pairs of the flat line includes all the tags of the subset. When the flat line contains multiple alternative ways, through the subset(s) of tags or through different tag-value pairs, of pointing to the object of the class, then the object as individually identified by the alternative ways is taken to be the same object.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for generating relevance functions for ranking documents obtained in searches are provided. One or more features to be used as predictor variables in the construction of a relevance function are determined. The relevance function is parameterized by one or more coefficients. A query error is defined that measures a difference between a relevance ranking generated by the relevance function and a training set relevance ranking based on a query and a set of scored documents associated with the query. The query error is a continuous function of the coefficients and aims at approximating errors measures commonly used in Information Retrieval. Values for the coefficients of the relevance function are determined that substantially minimize an objective function that depends on the defined query error.

Abstract: A system for modifying an order without requiring changes in the manufacturing processes associated with that order, or while minimizing such changes, may include a storage system having a database. The system may include a processor configured to load the database with orders that dealers want to modify, and to search the database to find one or more matches between the orders that dealers want to modify. The processor may be further configured to direct that the recipients of the matched orders be switched.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an interactive media guidance application that provides improved searching functionality for media information, such as media program listings, media programming information, celebrity information, and other related media information. Search objects may be defined in the entertainment context and applied to media information to enable efficient searching. Different types of media information may be categorized to enable proper organization of search results. A search object query may be performed based on a user entered search expression and the results may be a vertical slice through the organized categories of media information. User submitted tags may also be applied to the media information and used to search the media information. Atomic searching may be enabled for more generic search expressions, whereby an atomic search object is associated with a personalized atomic search algorithm comprised of individual searches.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for enhancing an initial set of data values generated by a query of one or more data stores. File parameters and file types are retrieved from the initial query and used to generate a second set of searches, actions, and information related to the initial set of data values. The results from the initial query and the secondary query are displayed on a presentation device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for creating an advertising profile and selecting advertisements for a user. In accordance with certain implementations, information is accessed indicating which documents were selected by a user. At least one positive word vector is generated using words contained in at least one of the selected documents, and at least one negative word vector is generated using words contained in at least one of the unselected documents. Document word vectors are generated, and a document rank order is established based on a vector space relationship analysis. Categories associated with the documents are ranked based on the document rank order, and an advertising profile comprising the ranked categories is created. Advertising material may then be selected based on the advertising profile for the user.

Abstract: A portable handheld electronic device provides automated compiling and categorizing of items and generating of categorized item lists in accordance with user-defined preferences including user-defined categories. The device includes a voice recognition processor for recognizing the received assortment data present in received voice data, a memory suitably adapted to store the assortment data, and categorizing means adapted for assigning respective predetermined and/or user-selected categories to the assortment data which may include an alphabetical or user-defined order, a sales outlet type or by name, a location within a sales outlet, a designation of one or more users associated with the device, or other categories. Generating means compile and synchronize selected categories, and generate the item list as an ordered list relative to one or more user-selected categories that is further displayed and printed at request of the user.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product provides for a semantic analyzer to produce and rank semantic terms to reflect their relationship to the theme and topics of a document. The text and the document can have no relationship to any pre-selected keywords before the semantic analyzer performs text extraction. The semantic analyzer extracts text from a document and performs semantic analysis on the extracted text. The semantic analyzer provides a plurality of ranked semantic terms as a result of the semantic analysis and associates semantic terms with the document as semantic keywords. The semantic terms define content to be presented with the document where the content is an advertisement, a link to a remote information resource or a second document.