Abstract: The invention provides a method of at least in part operating a computer system. A game includes receiving a plurality of rephrases, associating each rephrase with a respective player identification, comparing each rephrase with a threshold, associating a winner with one of the player identifications, the winner being at least in part based on a comparison of the rephrases with the threshold, and declaring the winner. The rephrases of the game are associated with one another on a computer readable medium and can then be used to generate equivalent phrases for a search engine.

Abstract: A method for answering search queries about services is disclosed. The method includes searching a plurality of storage media on a network for a natural language service metastatement. The natural language service metastatement is typically generated by a service provider and describes the services provided by the service provider in detail. The method also includes locating the natural language service metastatement in the storage media and extracting the natural language metastatement from the storage media. The method also includes indexing the natural language metastatement in a service description index. Thus, when a search query for a service is received, the service description index is searched for a natural language service metastatement corresponding to the search query, and the search result is provided in the form of a natural language answer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating query and result-based relevance indexes are provided. For one embodiment, a plurality of queries is received from a plurality of users. Each query of the plurality of queries is measured based on one or more metrics. The measured data of each query is stored. The queries are associated into topical query categories. A performance of a first query category is calculated based on at least one metric of the one or more metrics. A metric data request for a select category is received from a client. Lastly, the stored measured data of the selected category is transmitted to the client in response to the metric data request.

Abstract: A map user interlace is described, including a first view transmitted from a server computer system to the client computer system, the first view including a first map and the initial path displayed on the first map, the initial path being from a starting location via at least one intermediate location to an end location, a deletion selector, selection of the deletion selector causing transmission of a deletion command being indicative of removal of a selected one of the locations, and a second view generated in response to the transmission of the deletion command, the second view including a second map and the modified path displayed on the second map, the modified path including all of the locations but not including the selected location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for approximating a query classification are disclosed. The systems and methods may include an input interface that receives a textual input, an extractor that extracts at least one concept from the textual input, a database having a plurality of concepts stored therein, each concept associated with at least one classification, a classifier that associates the at least one concept with at least one category, a computational unit that determines a category of the textual input based on the at least one classification of the at least one concept from the database and the at least one category of the at least one concept from the classifier, and an output interface to store and transmit the category of the at least one concept in response to the textual input.

Abstract: A map user interface is described, including a first view transmitted from a server computer system to the client computer system, the first view including a first map and the initial path displayed on the first map, the initial path being from a starting location via at least one intermediate location to an end location, a deletion selector, selection of the deletion selector causing transmission of a deletion command being indicative of removal of a selected one of the locations, and a second view generated in response to the transmission of the deletion command, the second view including a second map and the modified path displayed on the second map, the modified path including all of the locations but not including the selected location.

Abstract: A method for answering search queries about services is disclosed. The method includes searching a plurality of storage media on a network for a natural language service metastatement. The natural language service metastatement is typically generated by a service provider and describes the services provided by the service provider in detail. The method also includes locating the natural language service metastatement in the storage media and extracting the natural language metastatement from the storage media. The method also includes indexing the natural language metastatement in a service description index. Thus, when a search query for a service is received, the service description index is searched for a natural language service metastatement corresponding to the search query, and the search result is provided in the form of a natural language answer.

Abstract: A method for answering search queries about services is disclosed. The method includes searching a plurality of storage media on a network for a natural language service metastatement. The natural language service metastatement is typically generated by a service provider and describes the services provided by the service provider in detail. The method also includes locating the natural language service metastatement in the storage media and extracting the natural language metastatement from the storage media. The method also includes indexing the natural language metastatement in a service description index. Thus, when a search query for a service is received, the service description index is searched for a natural language service metastatement corresponding to the search query, and the search result is provided in the form of a natural language answer.

Abstract: A method of organizing information in which the search activities of previous users is monitored and such activity is used to organize information for future users. The user activities are monitored from a time and use based perspective to insure more relevant results can be provided in response to a user's search for information.

Abstract: The invention provides a computer system, including a memory, a plurality of answers stored in the memory, and a classifier for matching each one of the answers with a category among a plurality of categories.

Abstract: The invention also provides a method of interfacing with a client computer system, wherein search results include search results with geographic locations outside the first selected area if the number of the search results that have geographic locations within the selected area are less than a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for searching data including an online query processing system, a ranking system, an offline data processing component, and a backend search engine.

Abstract: The invention provides for a system to transform user queries including a reception component that receives an original user query, a transformation component to transform the original user query into a processed user query, and a transmission component that sends the processed user query to a backend search engine.

Abstract: A user interface is described wherein information relating to a respective one of the search results are displayed on a map upon selection of at least one component of the respective search result.

Abstract: The invention provides a user interface to display search results including a first view transmitted from a server computer to a client computer system displaying a map including information relating to geographic location, at least one selector for drawing at least one figure element on the map displayed in the at least a first view, and a search identifier related to the at least one figure element drawn on the map of said at least first view.

Abstract: A user interface includes a first view transmitted from a server computer system to a client computer system, the first view including a search identifier, a user interacting with the search identifier causing transmission a first search request from the client computer system at the server computer system. A second view transmitted from the server computer system to the client computer system for display at the client computer system includes a search result. A third view includes a reproduction selector. A user selecting the reproduction selector causes transmission of a first reproduction command from the client computer system to the server computer system. A fourth view includes the first search result included in the second view.

Abstract: The invention provides a user interface including a profile page displayed independent of a search identifier that the user interacts with.

Abstract: The invention provides a user interface including an input to transmit a request from a client computer system at a server computer system, a view transmitted from the server computer system to the client computer system in response to the request, the view being displayed at the client computer system, wherein the view may include a map with boundary of an area displayed on the map.

Abstract: The invention provides for a system to correlate data including a feed data set, a correlated data set, and a correlator that links entries in the feed data set with entries in the correlated data set.

Abstract: A user interface includes a first view transmitted from a server computer system to the client computer system, the first view including a map and a search identifier. A second view transmitted from the server computer system to the client computer system for display at the client computer system includes a map and the information relating to the geographic location of the first search request may be used to indicate the geographic location on the map of the second view, wherein the second view includes at least a first static location marker on the map of the second view at a first fixed location due to selection of a location marker at the first fixed location on the map of the first view.