Abstract: Contextual or cumulative interpretation is applied to individual user queries to improve the accuracy of sponsored and/or non-sponsored search results. Queries are interpreted based on present features derived from a user query in the context of past features derived from qualified past queries such as those previously received during a user query session. Based on contextual interpretation, present features may be augmented using past features. A search is performed using augmented features instead of present features. Contextual interpretation of queries improves search system understanding of the context in which queries are submitted, which is particularly helpful when interpolating query intent to develop features not expressed in a query. Contextual interpretation permits queries to be interpreted and treated more uniformly and more intelligently. As a result, users and advertisers benefit from more precise sponsored and/or non-sponsored search results.

Abstract: In embodiments, methods and systems for improving a query in a database system are provided. These method and system embodiments can enable greater contextual knowledge about the types and use of data in tables underlying a relational database to be employed to improve query efficiency. By employing contextual information, embodiments can provide improved queries and/or make recommendations to a query optimizer of a database system to improve its operation based upon knowledge of the data and/or application gathered. Embodiments can be useful in improving query performance in multi-tenant database systems.

Abstract: A method and system disclosed herein can be used to determine relationships between objects, determining which of those relationships are significant for a specific action, and determining physical dependencies between the objects. The method and system can be used to perform actions consistent with integrity constraints, and therefore, performs the actions in the correct order with a reduced likelihood of errors. The method and system are highly beneficial in that they can significantly enhance content management and can be implemented without having to write new or edit existing applications. Also, existing content data and applications may be used without any changes. Accordingly, the method and system can be advantageously useful in deploying or otherwise pushing out new content to existing content systems.

Abstract: For improving data placement optimization in a computing storage environment, an application layer and/or a user are allowed to attach anticipated usage metadata and directive metadata to a file.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the field of segmenting social media users (such as users of a social media network) by means of life event detection (such as based upon social media messages and/or postings) and entity matching. In various embodiments, systems, methods and computer program products are provided.

Abstract: Enhanced techniques for data retrieval in a distributed computing environment are described. A computing node of a distributed computing environment may receive a data request. The computing node may include one or more subsets of data. The computing node may be configured to search among the one or more subset of data for a beginning of a data range that is responsive to the data request. The computing node may be further configured to forward a data range responsive to the search to another computing node of the distributed computing system to be merged with one or more additional data ranges. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Metadata can be provided to multiple processing units of a database system by using local storages respectively provided for the processing units, such that a local storage is accessible only to its respective processing unit. As a result, processing units can access metadata when needed (e.g., when needed to process a database request at runtime) without having to access a source external to the database system. In addition, metadata (e.g., an XML object, XML schema, XSLT stylesheets, XQuery modules) can be provided using a database request or command, for example, by using a register statement.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for establishing preferences for sites that are explicitly identified by a user by either a textual input or an acceptance in response to a recommendation, and adjusting the presentation of search results based on these preferences.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to clustering documents based on one or more classification terms and optionally based on similarity of structural paths of the documents. In some implementations, the documents are communications such as structured emails or other structured communications. In some of those implementations, clustering the communications includes identifying a plurality of classification terms indicative of a classification, identifying a corpus of communications that includes communications that are not labeled with an association to the classification, and determining a cluster of the communications based on occurrence of one or more of the classification terms in the communications of the cluster.

Abstract: Humans have collaborated in both small and large groups for thousands of years, sometimes achieving great feats for the good of all mankind. However, most groups have failed to achieve greatness, often because of poor group “chemistry” and/or because of missing skills or insights. These problems typically arise because group organizers build groups using human mental processes that suffer from social, racial, gender, ethnic, or other unconscious biases. To reduce impact of these biases and help organizers form more effective groups or teams, the present inventors have devised, among other things, an exemplary system that subdivides a group of user data structures into subgroups, based on similarities between electronic surveys and/or other data types, such as social media and network analysis data types. The system further includes user interfaces for creating surveys, implementing user preferences regarding subgroup membership and sizes, controlling the subdivision process, and displaying the subgroups.

Abstract: A container-based processing method includes: when a container state needs to be backed up, determining that content of a first control group file in at least one control group file of the container is modified; acquiring, a file name of the first control group file corresponding to the first flag bit; searching for, according to a correspondence between the file name of the at least one control group file and a storage location of the at least one control group file, a storage location of the first control group file corresponding to the file name of the first control group file, and extracting modified content of the first control group file from the first control group file stored in the storage location of the first control group file; and backing up the file name of the first control group file and the modified content of the first control group file.

Abstract: A method processes data records. The method partitions the data records into groups and assigns each group to a respective process of a first plurality of processes, which execute in parallel. For each group, the assigned process extracts information from the data records, applies a script with information processing commands applied sequentially to produce intermediate values, stores the intermediate values in a respective intermediate data structure, and updates the status of the group to indicate completion. When the predefined threshold percentage of the data records are completed, the process assigns each group to a respective second process as a backup. When each of the groups has been completed by at least one process (either the original or the backup), the method executes a second plurality of processes to aggregate intermediate values from the intermediate data structures to produce output data. The aggregation includes intermediate values only once for each group.

Abstract: An enhanced multidimensional data management system significantly reduces the resources required to convert a spreadsheet into an enterprise collaborative system. A spreadsheet may be imported as is without modifications. Additional information that cannot be automatically inferred about the data model used in the spreadsheet is obtained. Dimensions, timescale, and measure data are clearly defined and located. The spreadsheet is kept in the system in the form of both a spreadsheet and as a multidimensional data structure such as an online analytical processing (OLAP) cube or structure. This duality allows the spreadsheet to be manipulated as if it was an OLAP cube, modifying iterations within the dimensions, and the OLAP cube to be computed as if it was a spreadsheet.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image file searching method and a three-dimensional image file searching system are provided, and the three-dimensional image file searching method includes the following steps. A three-dimensional query image file is received. The three-dimensional query image file is converted to generate a first image group including a plurality of two-dimensional image files. The first image group is compared with a plurality of second image groups corresponding to a plurality of three-dimensional candidate image files respectively in a database, so as to obtain a search result conforming to the three-dimensional query image file.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for analyzing documents. In one implementation, a computer implemented method is provided for analyzing a patent application and providing a visual representation. According to the method, a selection is received from a user to view claims of the patent application in a claim tree hierarchy and a computer displays the claims in the claim tree hierarchy on a display. The claim tree hierarchy visually depicts relationships between the claims. The method identifies one or more words of at least one of the claims that constitutes an element and displays, in the claim tree hierarchy, the words constituting the element in association with the claim.

Abstract: Various embodiments for preserving data redundancy in a data deduplication system in a computing environment are provided. In one embodiment, a method for such preservation is disclosed. An indicator is configured. The indicator is provided with a selected data segment to be written through the data deduplication system to designate that the selected data segment must not be subject to a deduplication operation, such that repetitive data can be written and stored on physical locations despite being identical.

Abstract: A manager program for managing virtual machines includes a process which receives a notification message indicating an occurrence of an event affecting a data storage unit in a data storage system that supports a shared file system. The notification message might have come from a virtual machine host or resulted from a hardware reconfiguration. The manager program then determines whether another virtual machine host is sharing the data storage unit. The manager program might make this determination by polling each of the virtual machine hosts it manages or by checking information previously collected and stored in a database. If another virtual machine host is sharing the data storage unit, the manager program sends a refresh message to that virtual machine host that causes the virtual machine host to update information relating to the data storage unit in a cache associated with the virtual machine host.

Abstract: Various embodiments for preserving data redundancy in a data deduplication system in a computing environment are provided. An indicator is configured. The indicator is provided with a selected data segment to be written through the data deduplication system to designate that the selected data segment must not be subject to a deduplication operation, such that repetitive data can be written and stored on physical locations despite being identical.

Abstract: Native applications inherit transaction contexts when invoked by primary applications running in separate hosting environments, by: receiving, by an interface of a native application server in a first hosting environment, a unique transaction context identifier for an invocation of the native application at the native application server by the primary application at a primary application server in a second hosting environment; receiving a SQL statement from the native application by the interface of the native application server; sending the SQL statement and the unique transaction context identifier to the primary application server for execution by the interface of the native application server; receiving a result of the execution of the SQL statement and the unique transaction context identifier from the primary application server by the interface of the native application server; and sending the result to the native application by the interface of the native application server.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems to make compressed backup copies of in-use compressed database indices are described. In general, an “oldest” time at which index pages in working memory had been updated is identified. Compressed index pages may be directly copied without the need to bring them into working memory or uncompressing them. The identified “oldest” time is then associated with the compressed backup copy. In some embodiments, an entire compressed backup copy may be associated with a single point in time (e.g., the identified “oldest” time). In other embodiments, a compressed backup copy may be associated with multiple points in time (e.g., one time for each portion of the compressed index that is being backed-up). Compressed indices copied in accordance with the invention may be used during restore operations to reconstruct database indices using the identified “oldest” time and database log files.