Abstract: Search results may be yielded based on a search query. A search query inspired by a user may be received. Based on the search query, multiple search results each including links may be determined. The multiple search results may include a first search result that includes a link to a first digital instance that describes or embodies a first content item, and a second search result that includes a link to a second digital instance that describes or embodies a second content item. A perceived popularity may be assessed for each of the first and second content items. The perceived popularity may be a measure of the popularity of the first and second content items, and may be distinct from a popularity of the first and second digital instances. A presentation of the multiple search results may be determined based on the accessed perceived popularity.

Abstract: An instant messaging user may be able to convey information about the user by displaying self-expression items in the instant message communications. Examples of self-expression items generally include non-animated icons, animated avatars, sounds, wallpaper, or objects associated with an avatar or wallpaper. A user may select an avatar, and one or more other types of self-expression items, from among many available avatars and other types of self-expression items. A user profile that provides information about the user (e.g., geographical location of the user, the user's occupation, and various interests held by the user) may be used to identify a subset of the universe of available avatars and self-expression items to be presented to the user for selection.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a user of a communication system includes enabling a first user to initiate monitoring of a second user, automatically monitoring status of activity by the second user on the communication system, and delivering to the first user, one or more of an indication that the second user has added or changed a profile or away message, received a new or updated profile or away message comment, visited an Internet location, engaged in communication device activity, or has generated audio or visual input.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for identifying and recommending electronic content to consumers. In accordance with an implementation, one or more elements of electronic content are associated to generate video graph data. In an exemplary method, information associated with first and second elements of video content is obtained and decomposed into corresponding first and second segments. A value indicative of an association between the first and second elements of video content is generated when the similarity measure satisfies at least one association rule.

Abstract: A first content selection stored on a portable media device is associated with a first tag. In addition, a second tag that is associated with a second content selection and that indicates that supplemental content related to the second content selection is stored on a peer device is accessed from a peer device. The first tag is compared to the second tag, and, if a commonality shared by the first content selection and the second content selection is identified, an exchange of the supplemental content from the peer device to the portable media device is initiated.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to client-server architectures for allowing generic upload and download functionality between a web application at a server and a client. One exemplary method includes sending a download/upload request to a web application at the server, where the download/upload request specifies at least one file to download/upload; receiving a transmission from the server; parsing the transmission to identify a download/upload command and an associated download/upload manifest, where the download/upload manifest includes executable code that, when executed on the client, will perform the download/upload of the at least one file.

Abstract: A facility for selecting targeted advertising messages for presentation with sets of media sequences forming playlists is described. The facility stores search queries that are used by a user to locate pre-existing playlists, to generate new playlists, or to modify existing playlists. Prior to the use of a stored playlist, or contemporaneously with the use of a stored playlist, the facility uses the stored search queries to select one or more advertising messages to be presented with the media sequences in the playlist. The advertising messages that are presented may be updated each time the playlist is accessed in order to remove advertising messages from expired campaigns, to remove advertising messages that are not having a desired marketing effect, or to add new advertising messages.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering customized versions of web pages to users. In one implementation, a method is provided for customizing a delivered version of a web page to reflect a current time-of-day at a geographic location of the user. According to the method, a request for a web page is received from a client device of the user. The request for the web page includes an IP address of the client device. Based on the IP address, a current time is determined for the received request. Thereafter, a version of the requested web page corresponding to the current time is generated, and the generated version of the requested web page is delivered to the client device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for horizontally paginating HTML content. One method includes receiving, at a web browser of a device and over a network, HTML content of dynamic or previously unknown length; and populating an article element with the received HTML content. The method also includes setting a width of the article element to a width of the web browser; setting a column width of the article element to the width of the web browser; and splitting the HTML content into a plurality of pages based on the width of the web browser. The method also includes calculating a number of the plurality of pages based on a scroll width of the article element and the width of the web browser; and displaying a user element and at least one of the plurality of pages based on the calculated number of the plurality of pages.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a meta-social graph. In accordance with one implementation, a computerized method comprises collecting a plurality of different online identities of a first online user, each of the different online identities corresponding to a unique social network system. The method also includes collecting a plurality of communication data associated with the first user and determining bi-directional connections of the first user with other users from the collected communication data. In addition, the method may also include creating a meta-social graph from the determined bi-directional connections and the plurality of different online identities and generating a global identifier for the first user. The method also includes storing, in at least one memory device, the meta-social graph with at least one of the generated global identifier, the determined bi-directional connections, and the collected communication data.

Abstract: A graphical user interface between a user of a computer service and the computer service includes a list of other users of the computer service selected by the user as significant to the user and an icon associated with one of the other listed users indicating that a communication has occurred between the user and the other user.

Abstract: A web-based system scans content for specific terms, and transforms occurrences of the terms into hypertext links. Each hypertext link provides access to a dynamically generated web page which contains aggregated content related to the respective term. The aggregated content may be gathered through a distributed keyword search of various content sources, including web sites and other sources on a wide area network. The results of the keyword search are aggregated into a single page or document, preferably with filtering to remove page elements not well suited for display on a mobile device. Occurrences of specific terms on this dynamically generated page may similarly be transformed into links, such that the user can browse content from various sources within a confined environment.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing non-intrusive advertising content to users. The method includes receiving user input reflecting user content preferences for receiving desired content related to specific topics in lieu of standard advertising slots while watching playable media content via a set-top box. The method may further include receiving a request for playable media content and then retrieving desired content based on user content preferences. Thereafter, the method may include choosing non-intrusive advertising content and generating datagrams that include the desired content and the non-intrusive advertising content. The datagrams may be concatenated with the playable media content to generate displayable content. The display content may then be provided for displaying.

Abstract: Computerized systems and methods are disclosed for aggregating information and digital services into an interactive user interface. In accordance with certain embodiments, computerized systems and methods are provided that display a plurality of tiles for a plurality of sources, the plurality of sources being provided by at least a first information provider and a second information provider. The systems and methods may further include receiving a selection of content within a first tile in the plurality of tiles, the content being provided by the first information provider. The systems and methods may further include dragging, based on input from the first user, the selected content onto a second tile linked to the second information provider. The systems and methods may further include sending, based on the dragging, the selected content to the second information provider to share the selected content with a second user.

Abstract: A method of disseminating advertisements includes the step of transmitting to a media device (110) an embedded media player page for playing a media file. The embedded media player page allows a user of the media device (110) to create a bookmark for a browser. The bookmark points to the embedded media player page. The bookmark includes an address of the media file as a parameter. When the bookmark is used in the browser to play the media file, the embedded media player page instructs the media device (110) to request an advertisement from an advertisement server (104) for display in the embedded media player page.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a secondary website with content mirrored from a primary website. One method includes accessing a generated primary website provided by one or more primary servers; generating a secondary website based on the generated primary website; storing the secondary website on a secondary server; and providing the secondary website from the secondary server when primary website is unavailable.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for configuring a web application based on a general property hierarchy. An application property scheme including one or more property hierarchy levels may be generated based on values within a system configuration file. Each level defines configuration values for various properties associated with the web application. A property retrieval subsystem of the general property hierarchy may be used to look up configuration values from the appropriate hierarchy level(s) of the application property scheme in order to configure one or more properties of the web application during its execution. The values in the system configuration file may be changed and the changes may be reflected dynamically in the application property scheme without substantial interruption to the execution of the web application.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining in real-time geographic areas having a threshold level of content consumption and deploying dynamic geo-fences to contain these geographic areas. These dynamic geo-fences provide a means for timing message notifications in order to optimize the chances of delivering targeted content to a mobile device user based on the current geographic location of the user's device relative to a threshold level of content consumption area. As mobile device users may be more likely to launch a client application in a place where other users are currently consuming content, a general message notification sent to the user's device located in a dynamic geo-fence created based on real-time content consumption, may increase the likelihood that the user will launch the client application and thereby, allow targeted content to be delivered to the user's mobile device.

Abstract: Digital content encoded in a media file format may be presented by accessing the media file, reading parameters that describe the content, and processing the media file using the encoded parameters to “play” or generate output. Although the media file format may have multiple optional extensions, the media file generally includes one or more frames. Each frame may include a synchronized frame with the synchronized frame having a synchronized header, a video format indicator, an audio format indicator, a width indicator, a height indicator, a frame rate index, and a payload. Although the digital content may include different types and formats, the parameters used in the media file may be used to describe the digital content so that it may be processed independent of the underlying algorithm used. For example, multiple channels of audio signals may be described.

Abstract: A “buddy member match” feature is directed to matching computer users of like interests, particularly computer users who are members of an online service provider. In general, a member (the match recipient) may update or create a member profile maintained by a service provider such as AOL. Once the match recipient has a member profile, a search is initiated to identify matching members by comparing the member profile of the match recipient to the member profiles of other members. Matching members are other members whose member profiles have at least one personal attribute matching an attribute of the match recipient's member profile. When contact information of the matching member is displayed, the contact information is accompanied by an indication that the contact information belongs to a matching member.