Abstract: Data files (205) are categorised in order to facilitate the searching for information. The analysis is performed in order to identify items which may be considered as having high value without actually being directly specified. Occurrences of unspecified candidate items are identified (207) in contexts for a preferred specified category. Occurrences of unspecified candidate items are identified (209) in non-preferred contexts. The preferred occurrences are processed (211) with the non-preferred occurrences for each candidate item in order to select candidate items as being high value items. In the preferred embodiment, data relating to companies is identified without specific company names being defined.

Abstract: A computer system is provided that includes a database storing user histories of selected products, and a database associating products with assessments of their content in a number of different categories. The computer system generates user profile data reflecting the underlying characteristics of user preferences by identifying categories and groups of categories corresponding to products in the user histories whose content assessments are one of an extremely high and low evaluation. In the user profile data, larger groups of categories having extremely high or low content evaluations are weighted more heavily than smaller groups of categories and singly identified categories having extremely high or low content evaluations. The generated user profile data can be utilized to provide targeted advertising and/or to automatically select products are identified with similar underlying characteristics of the user. preferences.

Abstract: An automatic text classification system is provided which extracts words and word sequences from a text or texts to be analyzed. The extracted words and word sequences are compared with training data comprising words and word sequences together with a measure of probability with respect to the plurality of qualities. Each plurality of qualities may be represented by an axis whose two end points correspond to mutually exclusive characteristics. Based on the comparison, the texts to be analyzed are then classified in terms of the plurality of qualities. In addition, a fuzzy logic retrieval system and a system for generating the training data are provided.

Abstract: A unit for mounting on a user's forearm comprises at least one sensor for detecting movement of a user to which the unit is mounted and a wireless communication device for transmitting a signal in response to such movement. The unit is ideally suited as a remote control device for controlling electronic apparatus such as domestic entertainment apparatus.