Abstract: A system and method for dynamically monetizing keyword values based on a correlation between one or more indices. The method includes generating a first index for a subject being searched by users via web server, and a second index for the subject based on a corresponding level of popularity. The first index is correlated with the second index to predict a future second index for the subject based on the first index.

Abstract: Systems and methods allowing publishers to define relationships between their own content items (e.g., World Wide Web pages) and content items created or maintained by other publishers. Publishers insert referral labels into their content items to indicate a referral relationship between or among publishers. In one embodiment, advertisements to be displayed while the user is viewing a content item are selected based at least in part on matching a referral label included in the target content item to a referral label in the advertisement. The referral label can also be used to manage referral-based revenue sharing among publishers.

Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods for synchronizing data on a network based on temporal, spatial, social and logical data available to the network. The method includes receiving a first information object (IO) containing attributes for a first real-world entity (RWE), the first IO associated with a second RWE; identifying one or more second IOs, each second IO containing one or more attributes for the first RWE and each second IO independently associated with a third RWE; generating a different probability for each IO based on a comparison of contents of the first and second IOs and their associated RWEs; and replacing one or more of the attributes in at least one IO with at least one attribute from a different IO based on the probabilities for each IO.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for a pay-per-action (PPA) advertising model. An advertiser reports actions and pays an advertising provider for each action that is reported. The payment may be based on the rate at which the actions are reported. The action rate may be updated based on each reported action, which may modify the payment for that action and may modify the payment for previous actions. A one-time premium may be charged to advertisers and a minimum action rate may be established to encourage advertisers to accurately report actions.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards employing a multi-pass ad-hoc spam message filtering approach that dynamically generates a temporary classifier during a first pass based on a result of a previously applied message filter that sorts messages into various folders for a user. The first pass scans messages in a user's mail folders, and reads various information within the messages, including, but not limited to sender information, headers, including a subject, an originating network address, message contents, attachments, and the like. After creating a classification model, the classifier with its model is used in a second pass on the message folders to retrospectively inspect the messages and present to the user a list of messages that might be misclassified. The classification model is maintained within memory on a user's client device, as memory resident only, and is not stored on disk or within another persistent data store.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a first computing device accesses a first search query issued by a user and one or more first documents identified in response to the first search query; determines a first set of tokens for each of the first documents; and transmits the first documents and their associated first sets of tokens to a second computing device associated with the user for display to the user, wherein: each of the first documents is displayed together with its associated first set of tokens; and the tokens of each of the first sets of tokens are visually distinguished based on the concepts they represent and their levels of relevance with respect to the first document associated with the first set of tokens.

Abstract: An example of a method includes determining, electronically, a source location and a destination location in response to an input received through one of a first short message service (SMS) and a general packet radio service (GPRS). The method also includes determining, electronically, a first milestone between the source location and the destination location. Further, the method includes sending directions to reach the first milestone from the source location through a second SMS and an identifier associated with the first milestone. Furthermore, the method includes detecting when to send directions to reach one of a second milestone and the destination location from the first milestone. In addition, the method includes sending directions to reach one of the second milestone and the destination location through a third SMS based on detecting.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for customizing content presented to individual users or user segments is provided. There may be three components, a web portal and toolbar component, a modeling component, and a scoring component. The web portal and toolbar component presents content items and collects data. The web portal and toolbar component generates user event data based on the user actions. The user event data is forwarded to the modeling component. The modeling component generates content scoring functions based on user event data and attributes of content items. Content scoring functions may be unique to individual user segments. The content scoring functions based on content features generate probability a content item will be viewed. The scoring component decides which content items are placed in a portal. The scoring component uses the scoring functions generated by the modeling component to rank content items in real time.

Abstract: Techniques for extracting content from a rendered page are provided. In one approach, a tool allows a user to specify executable code (e.g., JavaScript) to be inserted into a file (e.g., HTML file). The code-injected file is interpreted and the executable code is executed, including, optionally, any executable code already in the file. Content is subsequently generated and provided to another application for further processing.

Abstract: A method of notifying a user about the existence of relevant software and facilitating the installation of such software using a browser. A user's interactions with the browser are monitored to determine a context for a given browsing session, and it is determined whether software relevant to the context is available. If such software is available, it is recommended to the user, and if the user wishes to install the software, the installation can be performed via the browser. The software can be recommended to the user through a variety of means, including incorporating the recommendation in a static web page, incorporating the recommendation in a dynamic web page, and delivering the recommendation as part of advertising content. The recommendation may include a link to installation scripts or the like which facilitate the installation of the software by the browser.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for updating user data from multiple data sources in a data gateway are disclosed. The data gateway includes a persistent job table for centrally storing jobs to be processed by the plurality of servers, a server table for centrally storing statuses of activities of the plurality of servers, and a job engine for processing job requests from the multiple data sources using the persistent job table and the server table. The data gateway includes a server farm having a plurality of servers, and where both the persistent job table and the server table reside outside the plurality of servers. The data gateway further includes a virtual Internet Protocol load balancer for dynamically mapping of jobs to be processed to particular servers according to user identifiers.

Abstract: Machine-learned ranking algorithms, e.g. for ranking search results, often use a sequence of decision trees involving decision nodes based on threshold values of features. Modules, systems and methods of optimizing such algorithms involve analyzing threshold feature values to determine threshold intervals for each feature and grouping decision trees according to the feature used in a root decision node. Then coalescing the decision trees within each group to form a coalesced group tree for each group and finally coalescing the coalesced group trees to form a coalesced tree that implements the algorithm.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards a Modified Sequitur algorithm (MSA) using pipelining and indexed arrays to identify trending topics within a plurality of documents having user generated content (UGC). The documents are parallelized and distributed across a plurality of network devices, which place at least some of the received documents into a buffer for which the MSA may then be applied to the documents within the buffer to identify n-grams or phrases within the documents' contents. The identified phrases are further analyzed to remove extraneous co-occurrences of phrases, and/or words based on a part of speech analysis. A weighting of the remaining phrases is used to identify trending topic phrases. Links to content in the plurality of UGC documents that is associated with the trending topic phrases may then be displayed to a client device.

Abstract: Exemplary methods and apparatuses are provided which may be implemented using one or more computing devices within a networked computing environment to identify certain shared search interests and to provide additional search capabilities based thereon to a plurality of users in a social search manner. For example, a “search crowd” capability and information may be provided based on a plurality of related search queries received from two or more users. A number of determining factors may be considered to identify, establish, maintain, and/or otherwise manage a search crowd and related information.

Abstract: A search-enabled remote control device to facilitate viewers' ability to search through programming and/or content options and view results. In one embodiment, a viewer is able to use a traditional remote control interface to navigate through menus or selections and to display search results on screen. In another embodiment, a viewer's watching behavior and/or searching habits are tracked by the search-enabled remote control and used to develop a viewer profile, which may in turn be used to target advertisements, information and/or future programming options.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards methods and computer readable media for annotating and ranking user reviews on social review systems with inferred analytics. A reference framework is provided by creating context according to previous activity, bias, or background information of a given reviewer. The method of the present invention comprises receiving a first query identifying a given content item, generating a collection of content items based on one or more identical objective attributes associated with the given content item, identifying one or more subjective attributes associated with a given item in the collection of items, and providing a reference framework to interpret the subjective attributes associated with each item in the collection.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for use in providing advertisers and other entities with information relating to target audiences. Techniques are provided in which, in reply to an advertiser query, the advertiser is provided with, in connection with a specified target audience, topics of interest, levels of interest per topic, and a level or levels of engagement with the advertiser. Other information may also be provided, including topic of interest trending information, as well as topics of interest that best differentiate between the target audience and a specified comparison audience.

Abstract: A network device, method, and mobile device are directed towards enabling a computing device to initiate an Internet Protocol (IP) connection with a mobile device using text messaging. The initiating computing device may attempt to contact the mobile device by sending a request to a gateway device. In one embodiment, the request may include a phone number for the mobile device. If an existing IP connection is detected, the gateway device may employ it to establish an IP connection to the initiating computing device. Otherwise, the gateway device may employ the phone number to send a text message to the mobile device. The text message may, in one embodiment, include instructions, or the like, requesting the mobile device to establish an IP connection with the gateway device. The gateway device may then complete the IP connection between the mobile device and the initiating computing device.

Abstract: A system and method which may directly resolve a URL into the IP address of a web server running a regional website of a web service provider based on a user's geographic location. A user may type a URL of a website in his browser. A user location analyzer may decide the user's geographic location according to his IP address. With the user's geographic location, a DNS server may resolve the URL to a regional website of a web service provider which provides services specific to the user's geographic location. Consequently, the user may be presented a regional website of a web service provider without delays caused by re-directing, and save the user's time and effort to look for a regional website himself.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and interfaces are provided for enabling a user to adjust confidence rankings of predictions of outcomes of fantasy sports games.