Abstract: Various embodiments enable a customer to quickly search additional information (e.g., product variations, sizes, price and availability) related to a specific product. For example, the customer can request additional information of a specific product by submitting an image of the specific product from a computing device. In one embodiment, location of the customer can be determined based on the image submitted by the customer. Product features can be extracted from the image according to various imaging processing and text recognition algorithms and then used to match products that are within view of the customer. A search results with additional information of the specific product can be provided to the computing device for presentation to the customer.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for providing a plurality of notifications to mobile devices. A broadcast is rendered by a device that is detected by a mobile device. Software on the mobile device decodes the broadcast to obtain an identification number associated with a notification. The mobile device requests a notification based at least on the identification number. A notification is sent to the mobile device if certain requirements associated with the notification are met. The notification may then be rendered on a display of the mobile device.

Abstract: An entity using a computing device can upload searchable data to a network service to be indexed and stored. The data can include a plurality of data fields, each data field having one or more associated values. The network service can analyze the data fields and their respectively associated values to determine data field types for the data fields and search options to be enabled for the data fields. Based at least in part on the data field types and the search options, the network service can generate a search index configuration/schema. Based at least in part on the generated search index configuration/schema, the network service can generate a search index for the data. In some embodiments, the network service can also convert the data into a format compatible with the search index.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing dynamic and category specific search suggestions are provided. According to one embodiment, a partial search query entered by a user can be used to determine a set of relevant search queries, which can be displayed as search suggestions within a search query suggestion window. Each query in the list can be associated with at least one specific category. According to various embodiments, the set of relevant queries and associated categories are dynamically updated as the user modifies the partial search query. Furthermore, each category is selectable by the user such that a detailed list of items associated only with the selected category can be displayed to the user.

Abstract: Techniques for peer-binding are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for peer-binding includes: receiving event information associated with an event detected on Web content associated with a trusted script executing on a first client computing device; and in response to a request, retrieving the received event information and sending the retrieved event information to a second client computing device. The second client computing device is peer-bound with the first client computing device via the trusted script associated with the Web content.

Abstract: Object identification through image matching can utilize ratio and other data to accurately identify objects having relatively few feature points otherwise useful for identifying objects. An initial image analysis attempts to locate a “scalar” in the image, such as may include a label, text, icon, or other identifier that can help to narrow a classification of the search, as well as to provide a frame of reference for relative measurements obtained from the image. By comparing the ratios of dimensions of the scalar with other dimensions of the object, it is possible to discriminate between objects containing that scalar in a way that is relatively robust to changes in viewpoint. A ratio signature can be generated for an object for use in matching, while in other embodiments a classification can identify priority ratios that can be used to more accurately identify objects in that classification.

Abstract: A system is provided for providing location-specific images to a mobile device for display. The system generally comprises three components: a mobile device having a screen, a position identification system (e.g., a GPS receiver) that determines the position of the mobile device, and a database containing location-specific images taken at various locations. Each location-specific image is associated with geographic coordinates of the location at which the image was taken. Based on the position of the mobile device as determined by the position identification system, a location-specific image is selected from the database and displayed on the screen of the mobile device. For example, when a user is using the mobile device as a car navigation system, a location-specific image of the user's destination location can be selected and displayed when the determined position of the mobile device comes within a certain distance from the geographic coordinates of the destination location.

Abstract: Information from a position and/or gesture detection system can be embedded in a Web page, or other such presentation of content, and used to select or otherwise interact with content on the page. In some embodiments, video is captured and displayed showing a current view of the user. Position data corresponding to the video is provided and used to determine directions and extents of motion without having to do significant amounts of image processing. The position data is used to determine locations on the page where the user is attempting to provide input, such as to select an item of content. The content can be modified and/or rendered to appear to be associated with the user in the rendered view. Information from multiple gesture systems can be combined on a single page, and information from one or more gesture systems can be shared among multiple pages and devices.

Abstract: Techniques for enabling content animation in substantially real time are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for content animation in substantially real time includes providing content for display including at least one image, detecting an interaction of a user with respect to the at least one image, determining a boundary within the image comprising a contour of an object represented in the at least one image, applying a set of movement constraints to the object within the determined boundary, and enabling animation of a portion of the at least one image corresponding to the object in the displayed content based at least in part upon the applied movement constraints. The animation may occur in response to a user selecting a portion of the object and moving the object within the selected image.

Abstract: Information from a position and/or gesture detection system can be embedded in a Web page, or other such presentation of content, and used to select or otherwise interact with content on the page. In some embodiments, video is captured and displayed showing a current view of the user. Position data corresponding to the video is provided and used to determine directions and extents of motion without having to do significant amounts of image processing. The position data is used to determine locations on the page where the user is attempting to provide input, such as to select an item of content. The content can be modified and/or rendered to appear to be associated with the user in the rendered view. Information from multiple gesture systems can be combined on a single page, and information from one or more gesture systems can be shared among multiple pages and devices.

Abstract: Various approaches provide for detecting and recognizing text to enable a user to perform various functions or tasks. For example, a user could point a camera at an object with text, in order to capture an image of that object. The camera can be integrated with a portable computing device that is capable of taking the image and processing the image (or providing the image for processing) to recognize, identify, and/or isolate the text in order to send the image of the object as well as recognized text to an application, function, or system, such as an electronic marketplace.

Abstract: An image or video of a location can be captured using an electronic device. A physical location associated with the image or video can be determined by analyzing the image data, and information about the physical location can be presented to a user of the electronic device. Images or video may include multiple locations, and information about each of the multiple locations can be presented to the user or a single location can be automatically determined and information about the single location can be displayed. Data from other sensors of the electronic device, such as GPS, digital compasses, accelerometers, gyroscopes, barometers, or altimeters, can also be acquired and combined with image analysis to determine a location. The information presented to the user regarding the recognized location may be based on user preferences or user behavior of the specific user of the electronic device, or a community of users who share demographic traits with the specific user.

Abstract: Embodiments provide methods and systems for encoding and decoding variable-length data, which may include methods for encoding and decoding search engine posting lists. Embodiments may include different encoding formats including group unary, packed unary, and/or packed binary formats. Some embodiments may utilize single instruction multiple data (SIMD) instructions that may perform a parallel shuffle operation on encoded data as part of the decoding processes. Some embodiments may utilize lookup tables to determine shuffle sequences and/or masks and/or shifts to be utilized in the decoding processes. Some embodiments may utilize hybrid formats.

Abstract: Systems and methods of verifying ownership of content can receive and process requests for access to digital content associated with the items. Verifying ownership of content can include receiving, from a device, an image of a first portion of an item. The item can be a book, music disc, movie disc, software disc, or other item having associated digital content. The current location of the device can be transmitted with the image to verify that the device is not in a prohibited location. A comparison of the image received from the device and the current location of the device to verification data associated with the requested digital content can be processed to verify ownership of the physical item. Upon verifying ownership, access to digital content associated with the physical item can be granted on a permanent basis or a temporary basis.

Abstract: Information from a position and/or gesture detection system can be embedded in a Web page, or other such presentation of content, and used to select or otherwise interact with content on the page. In some embodiments, video is captured and displayed showing a current view of the user. Position data corresponding to the video is provided and used to determine directions and extents of motion without having to do significant amounts of image processing. The position data is used to determine locations on the page where the user is attempting to provide input, such as to select an item of content. The content can be modified and/or rendered to appear to be associated with the user in the rendered view. Information from multiple gesture systems can be combined on a single page, and information from one or more gesture systems can be shared among multiple pages and devices.

Abstract: In various embodiments, approaches for identifying missing search phrases are described. Search terms are behaviorally associated with an item in the electronic repository. If a search of the electronic repository fails to surface the item, the at least one search term can be identified as a missing search phrase for the item.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a method for determining color information for an image. For example, a color descriptor for an image can be determined and compared against color descriptors stored for each of a number of sample images, which each represent a color in a color space. Upon comparison, matching scores can be generated for a color match between the image and each respective sample image. In this example, the number of sample images with a matching score above a threshold value can be summed and the image can be assigned to a color associated with a highest frequency of the number of sample images. Accordingly, the assigned color of the image can then be used in a “query by color” search or a browse-by-color capability.

Abstract: A method and system for assisting a user to generate a task list based on a task description is presented. The task description can be provided as user input or detected based on information about the user. The generated task list includes a series of actions (subtasks) which as a whole complete a task specified in the task description and relevant information. During the task list being generated, some actions are automatically executed without user intervention, or remembered for future execution.

Abstract: Various embodiments enable text aggregation from multiple image frames of text. Accordingly, in order to stitch newly scanned areas of a document together, text in a respective image is recognized and analyzed using an algorithm to identify pairs of corresponding words in other images. Upon identifying a minimum number of matching pairs between two respective images, a mapping between the same can be determined based at least in part on a geometric correspondence between respective identified pairs. Based on this mapping, the recognized text of the two images can be merged by adding words of one image to the other using the matching word pairs as alignment data points.

Abstract: A facility for navigating within a body of data using one of a number of distinct browse graphs is described. Initially, a navigation request is received. Based upon information contained in the received navigation request, the facility selects one of the plurality of browse graphs. In response to user input, the facility browses the body of data using the selected browse graph. The browse graphs may each correspond to a collection of the body of data, such as a website.