Abstract: The invention features a system and method for finely tuning the rate at which ad impressions are delivered to users based on various metrics used to characterize the quality of the ad opportunities. With the present invention, more relevant ads can be selected and delivered to a wide range of recipients while still compensating for the variations in the volume of Internet traffic and usage over the course of the day. The system and method of the present invention employ a plurality of bid boundaries corresponding to different volumes of ad opportunities, thereby enabling the invention to adjust the number of ad opportunities sought over the course of day while consistently targeting the mix of ad opportunities yielding the highest response rates and margin. The bid boundaries are selected in real-time based on the behavior of prior ad recipients. The behavior may include click-through rates or entry into a geo-fence, for example.

Abstract: A delivery assurance system for ensuring that people have an opportunity to view messages shared by authors to which they subscribe is disclosed. The delivery assurance system is configured to communicate with at least one author and a plurality of followers associated with the at least one author. The system in the preferred embodiment comprises a computer processor configured to receive a post from an author; transmit a first copy of the post to a plurality of users; determine if any of the plurality of users did not see the post; automatically transmit a second copy of the post to each of the plurality of users that did not see the first copy of the post; and remove the first copy of the post from a timeline of each user to which a second copy of the post was transmitted. Transmission of multiple copies of the messages, therefore, enables users to see a message regardless of when the author initially transmitted it.

Abstract: Embodiments of a search engine are disclosed that enable authors and third parties to influence the persistence and ranking of the author or the author's posts in search result listings using a bidding process or other compensation-based mechanism. In one embodiment, the search engine allows authors to submit bids in auction for ranking in order to keep their posts (or posts of other authors) visible to targeted searchers for a longer period of time than would normally be available. The bid amount, together with other attributes, can be used to determine the relevance and ranking of posts or authors provided in a search results page to a searcher. Embodiments of the search engine may be utilized with a microblogging service or a social networking service.

Abstract: The invention in some embodiments features a contextual content delivery system (CCDS) for enhancing conventional web content with pop-up bubbles that display information when a cursor hovers over a word, link, or icon. The CCDS is configured to identify words or links in a document, determine their context, select the appropriate bubble from a plural of bubble types for each of the words or links, select content for each bubble based, in part, on the context in which the words and hyperlinks are used. The context can be determined from various sources including the resource in which the word or link appears and the target resource to which the link points. Thereafter, the CCDS enhances the words or links so that bubbles are automatically invoked in response to the appropriate trigger.

Abstract: A data picker system configured to allow a user to select data from a data site for submission to a data repository comprises an interface unit configured to provide a user with an interface for the user to input location information of a data site, a parsing unit configured to parse data in the data site and extract a data set from the data site, a selection mechanism configured to permit the user to select at least a portion of the extracted data set, and a processing unit configured to process at least a portion of the extracted data set selected by the user.

Abstract: Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for providing user interfaces, determining screen layouts, and displaying microblog posts are presented. A microblog client may receive a set of microblog posts and provide a user interface for displaying the received microblog posts. The microblog client also may parse the received posts and identify one or more content elements within the posts. The microblog client may then download additional information based on the content elements, and may determine a screen layout for displaying the posts based on the content elements and the additional downloaded information. In certain examples, microblog posts may be parsed and the additional related information may be downloaded prior to the selection of the posts in the user interface. The determination of a screen layout for displaying the microblog posts may also depend on the display characteristics, for example, screen size or orientation of a client device.

Abstract: Embodiments of a search engine are disclosed that enable authors and third parties to influence the persistence and ranking of the author or the author's posts in search result listings using a bidding process or other compensation-based mechanism. In one embodiment, the search engine allows authors to submit bids in auction for ranking in order to keep their posts (or posts of other authors) visible to targeted searchers for a longer period of time than would normally be available. The bid amount, together with other attributes, can be used to determine the relevance and ranking of posts or authors provided in a search results page to a searcher. Embodiments of the search engine may be utilized with a microblogging service or a social networking service.