Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for processing join predicates in full-text indexes is provided. The method includes evaluating local predicates of an outer full text index to generate a first posting list of documents. For each document in the first posting list, the value of a join attribute is determined and an inner full text index is probed to obtain a second posting list of documents containing one of the join attributes determined for each document. Local predicates of an inner full text index are evaluated to generate a third posting list of documents, and the second posting list is merged with the third posting list to generate a merge list of documents. Documents in the first posting list may be paired up with documents in the merge list.

Abstract: A method and a system for providing snippets of source documents of an answer to a fact query are disclosed. Snippets of source documents may be provided in response to a user request for the source documents from which the fact answer to a fact query was extracted. The snippets include the terms of the fact query and terms of the answer. The snippets may be displayed along with Uniform Resource Locators (URL's) of the source documents.

Abstract: A “forward” delta data management technique uses a “sparse” index associated with a delta file to achieve both delta management efficiency and to eliminate read latency while accessing history data. The invention may be implemented advantageously in a data management system that provides real-time data services to data sources associated with a set of application host servers. A host driver embedded in an application server connects an application and its data to a cluster. The host driver captures real-time data transactions, preferably in the form of an event journal that is provided to the data management system. In particular, the driver functions to translate traditional file/database/block I/O into a continuous, application-aware, output data stream. A given application-aware data stream is processed through a multi-stage data reduction process to produce a compact data representation from which an “any point-in-time” reconstruction of the original data can be made.

Abstract: An aggregation service aggregates discussions of events and topics within a given subject area using seed search queries, seed URLs, and/or search engine data. A subject area is selected and a set of seed search queries and/or seed URLs relevant to that subject area are manually generated. The set of seed search queries and/or seed URLs are used to identify URLs containing content relevant to the subject area. The URLs are crawled at given intervals to identify content items, which are analyzed using a classifier to identify content items relevant to the subject area. The content items are grouped into clusters surrounding events and/or topics within the subject area. The various clusters are ranked against one another to facilitate ordering clusters for presentation to end-users.

Abstract: Methods and systems generate content-categorization hierarchies and assign each content object to a set of nodes in the hierarchies. Each hierarchy includes a series of levels, each level including nodes which represent a categorization. A node in a top level is connected with multiple nodes in a lower level via a direct path. Each content object is assigned to a set of nodes, such that assignment to a lower-level node also results in assignment to each higher-level node in the lower-level node's direct path to a top of the hierarchy. Metadata of the content object is then modified to include a set of tags, each tag being a term from an assigned node. Tags are used to categorize the content object, summarize of the content object, identify recommended content objects, identify content objects responsive to a search query, and/or identify other content objects to supplement the content object.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improve leak analysis resistance by improving randomness of a pseudorandom number. A pseudorandom number generator as a representative embodiment of the invention includes a shift resistor obtained by coupling a plurality of flip flop circuits and can generate a pseudorandom number by shifting signals by the shift register synchronously with a clock signal. A shift amount changing circuit capable of changing a shift amount in the shift register in accordance with a control signal supplied from the outside of the pseudorandom number generator is provided. By changing the shift amount in the shift register in accordance with a control signal supplied from the outside of the pseudorandom number generator by the shift amount changing circuit, it becomes difficult to make outputs of the pseudorandom number generator the same. By using such a pseudorandom number generator, leak analysis resistance can be improved.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a service for data management and integration across a wide range of applications. Clustered computers may be arranged in a cloud-type configuration for storing and handling large amounts of user data under the control of a front-end management server. Communities of distributed users may collaborate on the data across multiple enterprises. Very large tabular data files are uploaded to the storage facilities. The data files are maintained as tables, and a composite table of related information is created and maintained in response to user queries. Different ways of visualizing the data are provided. Depending on the amount of information that can be displayed, features in a spatial index may the thinned for presentation. Spatial and structured queries are processing and results are intersected to obtain information for display.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and providing enhanced screenshots may include executing instructions stored in memory to evaluate at least a portion of a viewing frustum generated by the instructions to determine one or more objects included therein, obtain metadata associated with the one or more objects, and generate at least one enhanced screenshot indicative of the at least a portion of the viewing frustum by associating the metadata of each of the one or more objects with a location of each of the one or more objects within the at least one enhanced screenshot to create hotspots indicative of each of the one or more objects such that selection at least one hotspot by a computing system causes at least a portion of the metadata associated with the at least one hotspot to be displayed on a display device of a computing system.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining similarity measures for objects in a dataset that include contextual associations of the objects with contexts. In one aspect, a method includes calculating a similarity measure for any two objects that include a common feature f based, in part, on the likelihood that the two object representations in the dataset that both include f will we associated with distinct contexts, and the likelihood that the two objects in the dataset that both include f will be associated with the same context.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system for web data transformation sourcing is disclosed to include a search module defined to receive a set of original input data types and a set of ultimate output data types. The search module is defined to locate one or more web based sources defined to transform the set of original input data types into the set of ultimate output data types. The search module is further defined to generate a transformation solution that when executed utilizes the one or more located web based sources to transform the set of original input data types into the set of ultimate output data types. The transformation solution is digitally conveyed.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for managing image storage. An image source of a computing device can include one or more functions and a reference to image views for an image object, such as a bitmap object. The image object can include a reference to first storage that stores an image. The image source, the reference to the image views, and the image object are stored in a managed portion of memory. The first storage is stored in an unmanaged portion of memory differing from the managed portion. The computing device displays the image. Upon determining to discontinue displaying the image, an unbind function of the image source is called. The image source responsively discontinues display of the image. The image source receives an indication that the image views are solely weakly referenced. In response to the indication, the image source deallocates the first storage.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and providing enhanced screenshots may include executing instructions stored in memory to evaluate at least a portion of a viewing frustum generated by the instructions to determine one or more objects included therein, obtain metadata associated with the one or more objects, and generate at least one enhanced screenshot indicative of the at least a portion of the viewing frustum by associating the metadata of each of the one or more objects with a location of each of the one or more objects within the at least one enhanced screenshot to create hotspots indicative of each of the one or more objects such that selection at least one hotspot by a computing system causes at least a portion of the metadata associated with the at least one hotspot to be displayed on a display device of a computing system.

Abstract: A method and system are presented in which predisposition predictions are generated for an individual with respect to an attribute indicated in a query. The predictions are based on the identification of predisposing attribute combinations within the attribute profile of the individual and statistical results that indicate the strength of association of the identified attribute combinations with the query attribute.

Abstract: Information exploration is described. For example, a user provides gathering terms to an information exploration system which uses those terms to generate many composite items formed from content of different media types obtained from a web search engine. For example, the composite items are displayed simultaneously on a user interface and provide a user with a partial map of information “territory” accessible through the system. In some examples the user is able to select a composite item and use it to explore further in the same direction by generating more composite items using related gathering terms. In some examples the user is able to select a composite item and use it to explore further in a manner indirectly related to the selected composite item. In examples the composite items may be saved in scrap books, sent to other users or used to access content.

Abstract: A method for creating networking database containing a plurality of records for different individuals in which individuals are connected to one another in the database by mutual recognition of a relationship. This mutual recognition of a relationship is inferred by the possession of the Guest Key of one member by the other member. This paradigm for network expansion allows users to proactively grow their networks both using the site features and using tools they may be more familiar with, such as email, messaging, talking, etc.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for query execution management in a data processing system and, more particularly, for managing execution of queries including user-defined functions. One embodiment includes an operation for managing execution of a query against data of a database. The operation includes receiving a query against the data of the database, the query having at least one query condition including a user-defined function. It is determined whether the user-defined function satisfies a predefined index applicability criterion. If the user-defined function satisfies the predefined index applicability criterion, an index over relevant data of the database is created for the user-defined function. The index is suitable for use in execution of the query against the data of the database to determine a corresponding query result.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a data input file, the data input file defining a first set of data fields to be included in a database and including a set of data elements to be included in the database. The method also includes identifying a second set of data fields in the data input file that are designated to contain a Boolean element, said second set of data fields being a subset of the first set of data fields. The method further includes defining at least one new data field, each new data field collectively storing a plurality of the Boolean elements. The first set of data fields are modified to eliminate the second set of data fields. The method also includes storing in a catalog data that defines an arrangement of the first set of data fields, wherein the arrangement includes the at least one new data field for collectively storing the Boolean elements.

Abstract: Methods and computer-storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that facilitate generating a machine-learned model for ranking search results using click-based data are provided. Data is referenced from user queries, which may include search results generated by general search engines and vertical search engines. A training set is generated from the search results and click-based judgments are associated with the search results in the training set. Based on click-based judgments, identifiable features are determined from the search results in a training set. Based on determining identifiable features in a training set, a rule set is generated for ranking subsequent search results.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing data is provided. An embodiment of the method includes receiving, at a server, information identifying a detected user interaction with a device, determining, at the server, a probability that a user will access a service provided by the server using the device at a time, and generating, at the server, a session signature based on the determined probability, wherein the session signature is used by the device to generate refresh requests associated with the service.

Abstract: A system for producing custom media images, the system including a media server which includes a title database and a creation server connected to the media server, the title database containing a plurality of title records, each title record including a title description file and a plurality of compiled title media files, the creation server receiving a request to produce a media image from a selection of titles respective of the title records, the creation server producing a set of media management files according to the title description file of each the selected title records, and generating a media image containing the media management files and a copy of the compiled title media files of each the selected title records.