Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for creating mobile device applications using a visual programming integrated development environment (IDE). In one aspect, a method includes receiving, by a visual programming IDE, one or more user inputs entered by a user through a visual programming interface at a first client device, where the one or more user inputs collectively select and arrange components that define an application, and where at least one of the components accesses functionality that is specific to mobile devices, generating, by the visual programming IDE, executable code that implements the application defined by the one or more user inputs, and providing, by the visual programming IDE, the executable code to a second client device.

Abstract: A system gathers user behavior data from a group of web retailers and/or non-web retailers, analyzes the user behavior data to identify product recommendations for products offered by the web retailers, and provides one of the identified product recommendations in connection with a product page associated with one of the web retailers.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention comprises a system that provides recommendations to a user. During operation, the system performs a computer-based lookup operation to identify trusted entities that the user trusts (or is likely to trust) to make recommendations. Next, the system performs another computer-based lookup operation to obtain recommendations associated with the identified trusted entities. The system then uses the obtained recommendations to provide recommendations to the user. In a variation on this embodiment, the system additionally receives information indicating that the user trusts recommendations associated with an entity. The system then stores a corresponding record for the trust relationship between the user and the trusted entity in a computer-based lookup structure to facilitate subsequently identifying trusted entities that the user trusts to make recommendations.

Abstract: Methods and systems for segmenting printed media pages into individual articles quickly and efficiently. A printed media based image that may include a variety of columns, headlines, images, and text is input into the system which comprises a block segmenter and a article segmenter system. The block segmenter identifies and produces blocks of textual content from a printed media image while the article segmenter system determines which blocks of textual content belong to one or more articles in the printed media image based on a classifier algorithm. A method for segmenting printed media pages into individual articles is also presented.

Abstract: A system and method estimates video coding complexity of a source video for adaptively transcoding the source video. A video coding complexity engine of the system is configured to receive the source video in its native format and to encode the source video into an intermediate video format. The video coding complexity engine computes a video coding complexity score for the source video. The coding complexity score can be used by an adaptive bitrate transcoding sub-system and/or an adaptive resolution transcoding sub-system for transcoding the source video.

Abstract: A computer-implemented user interface method includes displaying on a touch screen a portion of a large scale graphical space that is at least multiples larger than the device display, receiving from a user of the device an input to pan within the graphical space, automatically generating a pop up graphical panning control in response to receiving the user input, and receiving a user input to the panning control and providing panning in the graphical space, wherein movement of the panning control in a single selection is able to pan the display across a substantial portion of the large scale graphical space.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-process browser architecture are described herein. In an embodiment, a system for providing multi-process browser architecture includes at least one rendering process for each browser instance that renders a content area; and at least one browser process that communicates with one or a plurality of rendering engine processes. In another embodiment, a method for providing a multi-process browser architecture includes instantiating a unique rendering process for each content area instance and instantiating a unique browser process. In this way browsers may avoid the effects of faulty processes affecting other browser processes. This may improve user efficiency while enhancing user experience.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for finding an estimate of the delay of a signal travelling between two points. A quantity is evaluated from the signal at a final number of time instants, at both a reference point and a reception point. The values are quantized by comparison with a threshold adapted to a typical magnitude of the quantity. If the quantized values from the reception point are shifted back by the true delay with respect to the quantized values from the referenced point, then certain co-occurrences of quantized values have very low probability. Hence, the best delay estimate is that shift which yields the least number of low-probability co-occurrences.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for encoding at least one video frame having a plurality of blocks including a current block, including determining motion vectors for each of at least some of blocks surrounding the current block, identifying surrounding blocks having that have the same motion vector and assigning the identified surrounding blocks to a plurality of groups, determining a number of blocks in at least two of the plurality of groups and selecting a motion vector to encode the current block based on the determined number of blocks in the at least two groups.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system are provided to explore branches of a conditional statement in software code. For example, an embodiment of the method includes selecting a first branch of the conditional statement to evaluate, placing a second branch of the conditional statement in a pending branch list, storing checkpoint information on a program state for the conditional statement associated with the second branch, and evaluating the second branch after an evaluation of the first branch. The evaluation of the second branch is based on the checkpoint information. By exploring the first and second branches of the conditional statement (e.g., true and false conditions), wide coverage is possible in the analysis of software code.

Abstract: A method of compressing video data having at least one frame having at least one block and each block having an array of pixels is provided. The method transforms the pixels of each block into coefficients and creates an optimal transmission order of the coefficients. The method also optimizes the speed of processing compressed video data by partitioning the data bitstream and coding each partition independently. The method also predicts fractional pixel motion by selecting an interpolation method for each given plurality or block of pixels depending upon at least one metric related to each given block and varies the method from block to block. The method also enhances error recovery for a current frame using a frame prior to the frame immediately before the current frame as the only reference frame for lessening quality loss during data transmission. Enhanced motion vector coding is also provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer program products, for generating a sitemap where a last modified time of website content is not available to a network crawler. A sitemap generator determines that a file has a previously stored version number, compares a current version number of the file to the previously stored version number of the file, generates a sitemap having an entry corresponding to the file if the current version number of the file is changed from the previously stored version number, and assigns a new last modified time to a last modified time value for the entry wherein an actual last modified time of the file is not available. A search engine receives the sitemap, determines that the entry was previously indexed at a time before the last modified time value, and accesses file information associated with the file to update an index with the file information.

Abstract: A method and system for browsing videos that are organized as channels. A browsing interface allows a user to browse videos with primarily a simple directional controller. The up and down inputs of the directional controller control navigation between levels of the interface such as search, playback control, full screen playback, video browsing and channel browsing. The left and right inputs of the directional controller control various options at the active level of the user interface and the select input allows the user to select an option. The user can browse various channels and videos within a channel to select media for playback. Videos in a channel play continuously to minimize input from the directional controller.

Abstract: A method for providing suggestions includes capturing audio that includes speech and receiving textual content from a speech recognition engine. The speech recognition engine performs speech recognition on the audio signal to obtain the textual content, which includes one or more passages. The method also includes receiving a selection of a portion of a first word in a passage in the textual content, wherein the passage includes multiple words, and retrieving a set of suggestions that can potentially replace the first word. At least one suggestion from the set of suggestions provides a multi-word suggestion for potentially replacing the first word. The method further includes displaying, on a display device, the set of suggestions, and highlighting a portion of the textual content, as displayed on the display device, for potentially changing to one of the suggestions from the set of suggestions.

Abstract: Methods and systems for identification of paraphrases from an index of information items and associated sentence fragments are described. One method described comprises identifying a pair of sentence fragments each having a same associated information item from an index, wherein the index comprises a plurality of information items and associated sentence fragments, and identifying a paraphrase pair from the pair of sentence fragments.

Abstract: Configurations providing a reusable stream model for a user interface over SMS for interacting with one or more interactive systems in a parallel manner are described. An SMS server can implement the reusable stream model in which an available number from a sequence of numbers (e.g., a block of numbers) is assigned to a user session upon receiving an SMS message to initiate the user session from a communication device. The user session corresponds with a message stream for the interactive system. In one aspect, the SMS server places each number from the sequence of numbers in a respective status to indicate whether the number is currently assigned to a user session. When a subsequent SMS message is received that requests to initiate an additional user session for another interactive system, the SMS can assign the next available number from the sequence to the additional user session.

Abstract: In one example, a method includes, displaying, at a presence-sensitive screen of a computing device, an input field in a region of a graphical user interface (GUI). The method further includes receiving, at the presence-sensitive screen, user input including one or more gestures to select the input field, wherein the one or more gestures to select the input field include motion at a location of the presence-sensitive screen that corresponds to the region of the GUI displaying the input field. The method also includes, while the input field is selected, detecting, by the computing device, an audio signal and identifying, by the computing device, at least one input value based on the detected audio signal. The method also includes assigning, by the computing device, the at least one input value to the input field in the GUI.

Abstract: A system and method for encoding and decoding a video image having a plurality of frames is disclosed. The method includes a previously reconstructed frame that is segmented to create an alternate reference frame used to encode a current frame. The segments of the previously reconstructed frame are assigned motion parameters, which are used to compile the alternate reference frame. The current frame is encoded and the segmentation parameters and motion parameters are transmitted in the bitstream. The segmentation parameters and motion parameters can be used by a decoder to recreate the alternate reference frame in order to decode the encoded current frame.

Abstract: An audio signal generated by a device based on audio input from a user may be received. The audio signal may include at least a user audio portion that corresponds to one or more user utterances recorded by the device. A user speech model associated with the user may be accessed and a determination may be made background audio in the audio signal is below a defined threshold. In response to determining that the background audio in the audio signal is below the defined threshold, the accessed user speech model may be adapted based on the audio signal to generate an adapted user speech model that models speech characteristics of the user. Noise compensation may be performed on the received audio signal using the adapted user speech model to generate a filtered audio signal with reduced background audio compared to the received audio signal.

Abstract: A method for encoding and decoding a video signal having frames with blocks comprised of pixels. The method reduces the complexity of the video signal to be encoded by applying a filter scheme to the input data stream in an encoder and later reversing the filter scheme in a decoder. A number of filter schemes may be tested to determine the best filter scheme that most reduces the number of distinct color values per color plane. The best filter scheme is used to filter the data to be encoded. Filter information of the best filter scheme is included in the encoded data to enable the decoder to identify the best filter scheme in order to apply the best filter scheme in reverse to re-create the original data stream.

Abstract: A product search engine uses web-crawling software to index textual webpage content from multiple internet sources. The product data obtained from the web-crawling process is then granulized by parsing methods into key words, such as, words and/or phrases. These components are compared with existing key words from search queries or webpage content. Each key word includes component tags, where the component tags map each component to product classification information in the form of structural parameters; and other product information such as, URLs, product images and product descriptions. When at least one matching key word is found, structural parameters are extracted from the matching components and assigned to the received key words. A search results webpage including product information grouped by associated structural parameter may be provided.

Abstract: In one example, a method includes, displaying, at a presence-sensitive screen of a computing device, an input field in a region of a graphical user interface (GUI). The method further includes receiving, at the presence-sensitive screen, user input including one or more gestures to select the input field, wherein the one or more gestures to select the input field include motion at a location of the presence-sensitive screen that corresponds to the region of the GUI displaying the input field. The method also includes, while the input field is selected, detecting, by the computing device, an audio signal and identifying, by the computing device, at least one input value based on the detected audio signal. The method also includes assigning, by the computing device, the at least one input value to the input field in the GUI.

Abstract: A method performed by two or more devices of a group of devices in a distributed data replication system may include receiving a group of chunks having a same unique temporary identifier, the group of chunks comprising an object to be uploaded; creating an entry for the object in a replicated index, the entry being keyed by the unique temporary identifier, and the replicated index being replicated at each of the two or more devices; and determining, by an initiating device of the two or more devices, that a union of the group of chunks contains all data of the object. The method may also include calculating a content-based identifier to the object; creating another entry for the object in the replicated index, the other entry being keyed by the content-based identifier; and updating the replicated index to point from the unique temporary identifier to the content-based identifier.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for estimating demographic compositions of television audiences. In an aspect, audience demographics are estimated from viewing device log records and household demographic data describing demographic segments to which members of the households belong.

Abstract: In response to a query for information in a geographic region or at a location, ranked ads may be plotted on, or in association with, a map (e.g., as a list beside the map), satellite photo, or any other form of visual representation of geographic information (referred to generally as “maps”). Sponsored ads might be shown in a dedicated place and/or might be elevated above other non-sponsored search results (e.g., Yellow Page listings). The number of ads shown in the list and/or plotted on the map could vary as a function of the resolution of the map or geographic image. The ads could be ranked or scored, and attributes or features of various ads may be a function of such a score or ranking. The plots on the map might be selectable to provide a pop-up with further information and possibly sponsored information (such as images, further ads, etc).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for encoding a video signal having at least one frame with a plurality of blocks having pixels. The method includes determining motion vectors for a first block in the at least one frame and at least some of the blocks that are neighbors to the first block, identifying neighboring blocks having motion vectors that are similar to the motion vector of the first block, assigning the first block and the identified neighboring blocks to a segment using a processor, applying a segment parameter to at least one block in the segment and encoding the at least one block using the segment parameter.

Abstract: A data object submitted for storage is analyzed, and a set of values is extracted from the data object that can correspond to a set of attributes. The analysis of the data object can also identify possible new ontology terms. One or more extracted values are presented to the entity which submitted the data object for approval and feedback. This feedback can be used to characterize the data object with appropriate terms, train the extraction process for future extractions, and/or expand the set of known ontology terms.

Abstract: A method of forming ad hoc RSI hierarchical communication networks among pluralities of wireless transceivers includes assigning to each of the transceivers one or more common designations. A network organization routine of the transceivers operates to establish hierarchical networks based on the transceivers' common designations, resulting in a logical network organization that provides efficiencies for acquiring information from particular transceivers that share a common designation. Each transceiver's common designation is used by a digital processor of the transceiver to selectively receive data packets that are intended for receipt by transceivers sharing the particular common designation. Such a “common designation” network reduces power consumption and signal interference thereby increasing battery life.

Abstract: A wireless telecommunication device including a foreground unit, and a background unit that is physically separated from the foreground unit and in local communication with the foreground unit. The foreground unit is provided to support incoming calls independently of the background unit. Furthermore, the foreground unit and the background unit cooperate to support outgoing calls. The scope of the invention also includes a method for doing business by offering the foreground unit for sale in a packaging having a form factor selected from the group consisting of a pen, a pen cap, a wristwatch, and a necklace.

Abstract: Shipping containers are networked for transferring data between the shipping containers. The shipping containers include sensors for detecting conditions associated with the shipping containers. The conditions sensed by any shipping container whether transported by rail or ship is transmitted from an ad hoc network, via a gateway configured for satellite or cellular communications for example, to a container-tracking application server or equivalent computer system. The computer system is remotely located to the shipping container for central compilation, analysis, and/or display of data regarding the shipping containers.

Abstract: A system and method for executing replication requests for objects in a distributed storage system is provided. A replication queue is identified from a plurality of replication queues corresponding to a replication key. The replication key includes information related to at least a source storage device in a distributed storage system at which objects are located and a destination storage device in the distributed storage system to which the objects are to be replicated. A distributed database is scanned using an identifier of the replication queue to produce a list of replication requests corresponding to the replication queue. The records of the distributed database are distributed across a plurality of nodes of the distributed database. The replication requests in the list of replication requests are executed in priority order. Replication requests are deleted from the distributed database only when the replication requests are complete.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for selecting input video signals in a video conference for transmission. The method bases its selection decision on the momentary voice activity of the participants, but does so while observing constraints aimed at: improving stability of the image seen by each participant; decreasing flickering of the image; choosing comfortable and helpful swapping times between different image configurations; and reflecting the importance which is attributed to persons having a higher past average activity in a natural conference. In one embodiment of the invention, the set of constraints includes an override, by which one or more participants can be selected irrespectively of the selection decision. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided video selector hardware comprising units to perform the steps of the method.

Abstract: An instant messaging (IM) system has an IM server connected to a communication network, and logic operable on the IM server enabling a first user to browse contacts associated with a second user. In some cases the first user can add and list contacts accessed by browsing the contacts associated with the second user.

Abstract: In an aspect, a method includes the actions of displaying, at a touch-sensitive display, a plurality of characters that each represent a distinct consonant included in a language script; receiving, at the touch-sensitive display, a touch selection of a first character from the plurality of characters, the touch selection being received at a location on the touch-sensitive display at which the first character is displayed; and in response to receiving the touch selection: detecting a gesture input, selecting a vowel marker based at least in part on an association of the gesture input with one or more vowel markers; and displaying, at the touch-sensitive display, an updated representation of the first character based at least in part on the selected vowel marker. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer programs, configured to perform the actions of the methods, encoded on computer storage devices.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for performing multi-factor authentication. In one aspect, a method includes determining that the identity of a user has been successfully proven using a first of two or more authentication factors, allowing updates or requests for updates to be initiated after the identity of the user has been successfully proven using the first authentication factor, logging the updates or requests for updates that are initiated after the identity of the user has been successfully proven using the first authentication factor, determining that the identity of the user has not been successfully proven using a second of the two or more authentication factors, and reverting the updates, or discarding the requests for updates, based on determining that the identity of the user has not been successfully proven using the second authentication factor.

Abstract: A computer-implemented subsystem and method is disclosed for receiving user qualification data, comparing that data to certification criteria, and providing user certification according thereto, in the context of a system for designing a structure. A variety of users may be certified, including architects, designers, component and service providers, permitting authorities, builders, financers, future tenants, etc. A wide variety of certifications may be provided including by trade, by attributes of the structure, by intended use of the design system, etc. Certification may be based on general experience, references, time spent with the design system, training completed, examination passed, other certifications, etc. Certification may be stand-alone or may be part of an ongoing continuing education process. The design system may limit actions a user may perform on a design based on certification and certification level.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for detecting correlations between terms. During operation, the system identifies one or more lists contained in one or more documents and identifies two terms co-occurring in the lists. The system further determines a correlation between the co-occurring terms, and places the co-occurring terms in a correlated-pair list based on the correlation.

Abstract: The invention pertains to dynamic specification of location collection and computation logic. First, a request for location data from an end device is received. The location data is loaded from at least one electronic database. It is then determined whether an algorithm version number is indicated in the request and whether the algorithm version number indicated in the request equals a latest algorithm version number. The location data and an algorithm for location collection and computation is embedded in a stream, if it is determined that the algorithm version number is not indicated in the request or that the algorithm version number indicated in the request is not equal to the latest algorithm version number. Only the location data is embedded in the stream, if it is determined that the algorithm version number is indicated in the request and that the algorithm version number indicated in the request is equal to the latest algorithm version number. The stream is then streamed to the end device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for language translation are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes accessing a translation hypergraph that represents a plurality of candidate translations, the translation hypergraph including a plurality of paths including nodes connected by edges; calculating first posterior probabilities for each edge in the translation hypergraph; calculating second posterior probabilities for each n-gram represented in the translation hypergraph based on the first posterior probabilities; and performing decoding on the translation hypergraph using the second posterior probabilities to convert a sample text from a first language to a second language.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for implementing mobile device-based bandwidth throttling. In one aspect, a method includes receiving policy from a wireless carrier that specifies one or more data usage thresholds allotted by the wireless carrier for data transferred over a wireless carrier network during a predetermined period of time, determining an amount of data that has been transferred by the mobile device over the wireless carrier network during the predetermined period of time, determining that the amount exceeds one or more of the data usage thresholds, and throttling the bandwidth of a mobile device over the wireless carrier network based on determining that the amount exceeds one or more of the data usage thresholds.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for identifying and ranking digital resources relating to places. A keyword included in a search query that is received, is determined to be a name of a place. A database of names of distinct places that uniquely identifies distinct places that have a same name is searched. It is determined that the database associates the keyword with a first and a second place. First and second resources, determined to be relevant to the first and the second place, respectively, are identified from the database. In response to receiving the search query, search results directed to the first place and separate search results directed to the second place are provided. The search results include one or more links to the provided one or more resources.

Abstract: Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method relating to selecting content for publication includes receiving a term to be used in selecting content for publication. The method includes obtaining information from a record using the received term, the information reflecting a correspondence between contents in a repository and the received term. The method includes determining, using at least the obtained information, a query to be performed on the repository for selecting at least part of the content.

Abstract: Configurations providing a rolling sequence model for a user interface over SMS for an interactive system are described. An SMS server can implement the rolling sequence model in which a number from a sequence of numbers (e.g., a block of numbers) is assigned to a user session. A subsequent number from the sequence of numbers is assigned for each session turn-around. Upon receipt of an SMS message from a user to initiate a session, the SMS server assigns a first number from the sequence of numbers to a user session. The SMS server then assigns the next phone number to the user session after receiving a subsequent SMS message from the user. In the event that the last number from the sequence of numbers is assigned, the SMS can cycle through the sequence of numbers by assigning the first number to the user session.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, a system and a computer program product for determining whether a browser extension leaks information over a network, is provided. A control flow graph (CFG) is generated from a source code included in the browser extension. The CFG is particular to the programming language included in the source code. A sensitive path in the CFG is determined. The sensitive path begins at a sensitive source node and ends at a sensitive end node. A set of tainted variables in the CFG are identified, where each tainted variable stores sensitive or personal information. A subset of tainted variables is generated where each tainted variable in the subset is included in the sensitive path. When a tainted variable in the subset is included in the sensitive end node, the browser extension is determined to leak information over the network.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for rendering an approximate webpage screenshot client-side are disclosed. A system may receive an indication to render a screenshot of a webpage presented on the client device, and create a canvas at the client device. The system may traverse a document object model (DOM) of the webpage, whereby for each of one or more nodes in the DOM, the system may identify a property of a respective node and render data in the respective node on the canvas based on the property.

Abstract: Perceived domain name service (DNS) lookup latency can be reduced for the user of a browser program. A server determines domain names that the user is likely to request in the future. In one implementation, a list of these domain names is transmitted to the browser program as a separate command. The browser program may then lookup up the domain names in the background before the user selects a link corresponding to the domain names. In another implementation, the domain names are transmitted to the browser program by embedding the domain names in a web document, in which the embedded information is not visible in the rendered version of the web document.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing a user with feedback regarding power consumption in a battery-operated electronic device. In one aspect, a method performed by data processing apparatus includes identifying, using the data processing apparatus, usage of a hardware component of a battery-operated electronic device that includes the data processing apparatus, attributing the usage of the hardware component to the hardware component or to a software application that uses the hardware component, recording, using the data processing apparatus, a power consumption resulting from the usage, and presenting power consumption feedback to a user using the data processing apparatus. The power consumption feedback identifies the hardware component or the software application of the electronic device and the power consumption resulting from the usage.

Abstract: Systems and methods for clustering a group of data points based on a measure of similarity between each pair of data points in the group are provided. A pairwise similarity function can be estimated for each pair of data points in the group. A clustering algorithm can be executed to create clusters and associate data points with the clusters using the pairwise similarity function. The algorithm can be iterated multiple times until a stopping condition is reached in order to reduce variance in the output of the algorithm. The pairwise similarity function for each pair of data points can be updated between iterations of the algorithm and the results of each iteration can be aggregated. The data in each data point associated with a cluster can be consolidated into a consolidated data point.

Abstract: A product catalog includes information regarding products for sale online by various merchants, including product review information. An analysis module collects product reviews and determines whether each product review includes a product identifier, such as a Global Trade Item Number (“GTIN”). For product reviews having a product identifier, the module adds the product review to the product catalog and associates the product review with the product identifier. For product reviews lacking a product identifier, the module initiates an Internet search using information from the product review and analyzes search results to identify a product identifier for the product review. If the analysis module identifies a product identifier for the product review, the analysis module adds the product review to the product catalog and associates the product review with the identified product identifier. The analysis module may discard product reviews that are not associated with a product identifier.