Abstract: The invention describes a query server and a computer-implemented method to provide a search service for finding online content. The query server may be incorporated in a system to provide the search service. A search query is received from a user and a set of sources of online content associated with said user is identified. The search query is output to said identified set of sources to generate search results from within said identified set of sources. The search results are then sent to said user.

Abstract: A system comprising a database of streams of online content and a processor for updating said database, the processor being arranged to receive a first user stream comprising a set of elements of online content together with an associated tag; determine whether or not said first user stream is to be added to the database by considering whether said associated tag meets predefined criteria; and update said database if said predefined criteria are met; wherein said updating step includes storing said first user stream in said database together with said associated tag and information identifying said first user.

Abstract: The application describes a first system for monitoring changes to a target web page and also a second system for providing information on changes to a target web page. The first system is configured to display said target web page to a user; receive a user specification of at least one sub-region within said displayed target web page; download, at a subsequent time, said target web page; determine whether or not there have been any changes to said at least one sub-region, and if there are any changes, output an update comprising data from said at least one sub-region. The second system is configured to download a target web page associated with said user specification; and if there is a new link, download a new web page associated with said new link; generate an article derived from said new web page; and output said article as an update.

Abstract: A data storage system comprising a plurality of storage devices, each storage device comprising a plurality of storage nodes and each storage node comprising a plurality of logical partitions such that there are at least Q copies of a particular logical partition in the storage system. Each logical partition is divided into a plurality of sub-ranges which are individually lockable to both data input and data output whereby data in a particular logical partition is synchronisable sub-range by sub-range with the other copies of said particular logical partition. A method of maintaining such a data storage, including creating and updating data in the data store, recovering from failure of an element of the data store and/or increasing capacity in the data store.

Abstract: At least some embodiments of this invention provide for a way to mix mobile content found as a result of searching and/or browsing on the Internet. Aspects of the invention provides software, systems (meaning software and hardware to run the software) or an exchange of signals with users to provide a mobile content service. Other related aspects provide methods for providing or using such a search service.

Abstract: A search service provides a set of search results (420) in response to a search query from a user, and provides one or more suggested search queries (430), for selection by the user to generate more search results, at least one of the suggested search queries having a correspondence with a corresponding subset of one or more of the search results. The set of search results are sent with an indication of the corresponding suggested search queries, for presentation to the user with a visual representation of the correspondence. Such a visual representation can mean locating the suggested search query adjacent to its corresponding search result, and can enable a user to select an appropriate further search query more quickly with a minimum of clicks, or less time for a user reviewing less relevant information or more efficient use of screenspace.

Abstract: At least some embodiments of this invention provide for an easy way to share mobile content found as a result of searching and/or browsing on the Internet. Aspects of the invention provides software, systems (meaning software and hardware to run the software) or an exchange of signals with users to provide a mobile content service. Other related aspects provide methods for providing or using such a search service. According to one aspect there is provided a system to provide a search service for finding and sharing online content, the system being arranged to receive a search query from a user on a mobile device, send search results to a user's mobile device, prompt the user to select one or more items from the search results to be published, and publish the selected item or items.

Abstract: A search engine (50, 35, 45,103) can find content items in a first corpus (6, 30), and return search results to the user as items ranked according to mentions in a second corpus (7, 77, 87, 30), of the respective found content items. This introduces a degree of independence or separation between the scope and type of the information for ranking and the scope and type of the content items used for responding to the search query. The second corpus can be limited to human moderated discussion sites, to provide a more reliable measure of how topical is the item. The first corpus can be limited to mobile web pages. The ranking can also involve a count of mentions in plain text referring to the respective found content items, or be according to a social distance between the user and another user, to whom the respective content item is related.

Abstract: A search engine (50, 35, 60, 63, 103) interacts (17) with the user while they are accessing (7) an existing online content item to enable the user to create a mobile web version of at least a portion of that existing online content item. The mobile version is stored (37, 63) and indexed (35, 709) as a user created search result, retrievable by the search engine in response to a search query (47). This can produce better results than automated conversion, and thus improve mobile search. The interaction can involve constraining a size and text format of the mobile web version so it can reasonably be viewed on a screen of a hand held mobile device.

Abstract: A system (29, 39, 59) generates spoiled audio thumbnails representing corresponding audio content items for a user to browse, such that during audio presentation of a given thumbnail the audio presentation is spoiled by a voice over or similar, but still enables recognition of the corresponding audio content item. This can encourage users to access the original item, and avoid the original items being regenerated from the thumbnails, or being enjoyed instead of the original. This is particularly useful where the audio thumbnail has some value itself, such as for use as a ringtone by mobile users. It can be useful for music libraries and search engines.