Abstract: Querying databases includes receiving a query for information, the query including a common identifier for a plurality of collections of data and indicating whether a result of the query may include a null result, searching each of the collections of data for the information, and considering a speed of each of the collections of data in performing the searching.

Abstract: A secure flexible plugin architecture allows plugins to dynamically interconnect in highly flexible arrangements to permit the handling of many kinds of file formats. Interconnection is self-administered through a supervised volunteer system. In a media player example, the system is capable of handling files with multiple layers of formatting such as encryption, compression, etc. The resource selection is completely transparent and a user need not be concerned about the packaging of resource files. A security mechanism that is enforced at the level of the plugins is also provided. Plugins can opt in or out depending on the other components in the dynamically generated chain of plugins used to filter or convert a file.

Abstract: A method for collecting related queries, comprising the steps of obtaining a first query and a second query that have been submitted during a search for data, and determining whether the first query and the second query have a likelihood of being submitted by a class of searcher.

Abstract: A measure of the usefulness of an item in a collection of information with respect to a first set of one or more criteria is determined. A first measure of the usefulness of the item with respect to the first set of criteria is determined. A measure of the quality of the item is determined. A second measure of usefulness based on the first measure of usefulness and the measure of quality is determined.

Abstract: A number of user interface techniques for virtual instruments implemented using a computer are disclosed. These techniques include providing a multi-sized user interface, separating a user interface into two control regions, providing a pop-out control panel, providing a graphical playlist indicator, inter-relating band controls, controlling button illumination, sliding information onto and off of a display panel, integrating visualizations into an instrument, and providing a pop-out control panel with control buttons.

Abstract: A number of user interface techniques for virtual instruments implemented using a computer are disclosed. These techniques include providing a multi-sized user interface, separating a user interface into two control regions, providing a pop-out control panel, providing a graphical playlist indicator, inter-relating band controls, controlling button illumination, sliding information onto and off of a display panel, integrating visualizations into an instrument, and providing a pop-out control panel with control buttons.

Abstract: A search engine system is provided for a portal site on the internet. The search engine system employs a regular search engine to make one-shot or demand searches for information entities which provide at least threshold matches to user queries. The search engine system also employs a collaborative/content-based filter to make continuing searches for information entities which match existing wire queries and are ranked and stored over time in user-accessible, system wires corresponding to the respective queries. A user feedback system provides collaborative feedback data for integration with content profile data in the operation of the collaborative/content-based filter. A query processor determines whether a demand search or a wire search is made for an input query.

Abstract: An information processing system employs an integrated collaborative/content-based information filter structure to find network informons relevant to information desired by an individual user. The filter structure includes a three-level content-based filter which preprocesses informons in a first level to pass only relevant informons, applies community filters in a second level to pass relevant informons to matching communities of users, and applies in a bottom level user filters within each community to pass relevant informons to matching users. Collaborative filtering is integrated with content-based filtering through agent mind melding by which content profile data used in the content-based filtering is formed from a merger of an individual-user or member client data profile and any similar data profiles of other users or other member clients. A threshold level of similarity is required an other-user data profile to be classified as similar for merger with the individual-user data profile.

Abstract: A mindpool system develops collaboration informon rating data for use in filtering informons for a current user of a filter system. A plurality of commonly characterized user nodes are arranged in a 3-level heirarchical structure. Users input informon rating data to the bottom nodes. A mindpool manager system routes rating data received for an informon in any one user node to other user nodes in any node level according to selected criteria. This system distributes the rating data to selected users through bottom level nodes for use in filtering operations subsequently performed for the selected users. A common user characteristic applied to user nodes is increasingly generalized with upward node location and is increasingly detailed with downward node location. A mindpool manager operates for each user node to determine routings of the informon rating data to other user nodes.

Abstract: A computer system for performing searches on a collection of information includes a mechanism through which results from a search query are ranked according to user specified relevance factors to allow the user to control how the search results are presented. The relevance factors are applied to the results achieved for each query. That is, each item returned by the search has a set of attributes. Each of these attributes is assigned a weight according to the specified relevance factors. These weights are combined to provide a score for the item. Search results are provided to the user, ordered according to scores. The application of the relevance factors does not alter the query performed on the collection of information.

Abstract: An information entity rating system includes a content subsystem having a structured data sub-subsystem and an unstructured data sub-subsystem. The content subsystem receives content-based profile data for an information entity and separately processes structured and unstructured data to combine content-based profile data for an individual system user with the content-based profile data for the information entity to determine computed rating functions indicating structured and unstructured content-based value of the information entity to the user. A collaboration subsystem receives collaborative input data for the information entity and for processes the collaborative input data to determine at least one computed collaborative rating function indicating a collaboration-based value of the information entity to the user.