Abstract: A vortal is a specific type of search engine that provides information and resources related only to one (or a small number) specific topic. These sites typically contain focused information, such as “vertical” or “in-depth” information pertinent only to their particular targeted topic of interest. Vortals include information pertinent to a targeted topic of a very small horizontal breath, but a larger depth. A method and system for creating a vertical search engine is presented. The method and system may help allow vortals to be created for the Internet and other computer networks that efficiently index and search lists of Uniform Resource Locators (“URLs”) created from an appropriate list of keywords for a selected topic. The created vortals may provide greater user satisfaction and less user frustration when searching for information about a selected topic.

Abstract: A method and system for cooperative resolution of joint statistical effects. A statistical cooperative game is used to represent statistical joint effects in a multivariate statistical model. Access relationships are created between players in a cooperative game and variables in a multivariate statistical model. A worth of a coalition in a cooperative game is determined, based on a multivariate statistical model and a performance measure of the multivariate statistical model. Cooperative resolution methods are applied to particular analytical procedures. Thus, the present invention may be used to construct statistical cooperative games and use cooperative game theory to resolve statistical joint effects in a variety of situations. The methods may be applicable to other types of joint effects problems such as those found in engineering, finance and other disciplines.