Abstract: The invention proposes a storage system having a number of M storage media, having a number of N data producers each providing a data stream and each having one or more data members, and having a storage management device for distributing the data streams from the N data producers to the M storage media, wherein a group of (A+1) of the M storage media is statically assigned to each of the N data producers, where 1<A<M.

Abstract: In one method embodiment, providing a multiplex of compressed versions of a first video stream and a first audio stream, each corresponding to an audiovisual (A/V) program, the first video stream and the first audio stream each corresponding to a first playout rate and un-synchronized with each other for an initial playout portion; and providing a compressed version of a second audio stream, the second audio stream corresponding to a pitch-preserving, second playout rate different than the first playout rate, the second audio stream synchronized to the initial playout portion of the first video stream when the first video stream is played out at the second playout rate, the first audio stream replaceable by the second audio stream for the initial playout portion.

Abstract: A multimedia file and methods of generating, distributing and using the multimedia file are described. Multimedia files in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can contain multiple video tracks, multiple audio tracks, multiple subtitle tracks, a complete index that can be used to locate each data chunk in each of these tracks and an abridged index that can enable the location of a subset of the data chunks in each track, data that can be used to generate a menu interface to access the contents of the file and ‘meta data’ concerning the contents of the file. Multimedia files in accordance with several embodiments of the present invention also include references to video tracks, audio tracks, subtitle tracks and ‘meta data’ external to the file.

Abstract: Each of plural multimedia files desired to be backed up are transformed into vector representations and divided into segments, and the segments are sent to respective participating computers in a network as a means of backing up the files. The multimedia files can be recovered and may be reconstituted with less than 100% of the segments with minimal deleterious noticeability upon subsequent display of the content in the files.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a search query and identifying an entity record in an entity data store using the search query. The entity data store includes a plurality of entity records. Each of the entity records includes an entity name, an entity type, and entity information. The entity type indicates a category in which the entity name and the entity information belongs. The method further includes generating a reformulated query by inserting one or more terms from the identified entity record into the search query. Additionally, the method includes performing a search for software applications using the reformulated query and generating a list of software applications identified during the search.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media content asset recovery system 1) detecting a migration of a user account from being associated with a first DVR system to being associated with a second DVR system, 2) identifying, in response to the detecting, a media content asset included within a library of one or more media content assets stored by the first DVR system at a time associated with the migration, 3) selecting, in accordance with a source selection heuristic, a media content source other than the first DVR system and that is configured to distribute the media content asset, and 4) directing the second DVR system to acquire the media content asset from the selected media content source for storage by the second DVR system.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, apparatus, devices, method, computer program products, media and other implementations, including a method that includes capturing by an image capturing unit of a mobile device images of a scene including a target object, determining motion of the mobile device, and detecting from the captured images variations in one or more varying features of the target object based, at least in part, on the determined motion of the mobile device, the variations in the one or more varying features being independent of the target object's position in the scene.

Abstract: The different illustrative embodiments provide a computer program product and apparatus for managing user identifiers presented in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. In an illustrative embodiment, a determination is made whether the new user identifier matches an existing user identifier according to a policy for a minimum degree of character variation between the new user identifier and the existing user identifier responsive to receiving a request to store a new user identifier. The request to store the new user identifier is rejected responsive to a determination that the new user identifier matches the existing user identifier according to the policy. The request is approved responsive to an absence of a determination that the new user identifier matches the existing user identifier according to the policy.

Abstract: Assembling a cohort includes: receiving genetic characteristic information pertaining to a desired genetic characteristic; using the genetic characteristic information to search a data storage comprising information of previously genotyped individuals to derive a candidate group having the desired genetic characteristic; and assembling the cohort based at least in part on the candidate group.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a computing system. The computing system includes a processor and a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method. The method comprises assigning a vertex identifier of a first vertex to a second vertex in a graph based on an edge between the first vertex and the second vertex. The vertices represent elements in a data set, the edge represents a type and strength of relationship between the vertices. The method further comprises provisionally assigning each vertex to a vertex cluster associated with the vertex identifier, and converging the assignments based on a measure of cluster quality associated with all the vertex clusters. Each vertex cluster represents information of interest in the data set. One measure of clustering quality is called “modularity.

Abstract: In one example, a method for image triggered transactions includes capturing an image of a document with an imaging device and searching a database for a template matching the captured image. If a matching template is found for the captured image, then retrieving pre-authored tasks associated with the captured image, extracting fields from the image related to the tasks, processing the extracted fields to obtain content to complete the tasks; and executing the selected task. If a matching template is not found for the captured image, then an authoring application is launched to add the captured image as a new template and author tasks associated with the captured image.

Abstract: A search system for searching for electronic documents, and providing a search result in response to a search query is provided. The search system includes a processor, a user interface module adapted to receive a search query from a user, the search query having at least one search query term, and a query processing module that analyzes the search query term to identify candidate synonym words. The query processing module also determines which of the candidate synonym words are equivalent terms to the search query term, and in a same sense as the search query term. In addition, the search system includes a search engine that executes a search based on the search query term and the equivalent terms.

Abstract: A method, computer-usable medium, and a computer system for searching for webpages are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention provide a convenient and efficient mechanism for filtering results from a keyword search using semantic keys and semantic sub-keys, thereby enabling an increased number of irrelevant results to be filtered from a keyword search. The search query may be parsed to determine the focus of the query, where the focus may be used determine at least one semantic key for the search query. Each semantic key may be associated with at least one semantic sub-key, where the semantic keys and/or the semantic sub-keys may be used to filter the results of the keyword search. As such, broader keyword searches may be performed to include a larger number of relevant results, where the filtering mechanisms of the present invention may then filter an increased number of irrelevant results.

Abstract: Architecture that monitors interaction data (e.g., search queries, query results and click-through rates), and provides users with links to other users that fall into similar categories with respect to the foregoing monitored activities (e.g., providing links to individuals and groups that share common interests and/or profiles). A search engine can be interactively coupled with one or more social networks, and that maps individuals and/or groups within respective social networks to subsets of categories associated with searches. A database stores mapped information which can be continuously updated and reorganized as links within the system mapping become stronger or weaker. The architecture can comprise a social network system that includes a database for mapping search-related information to an entity of a social network, and a search component for processing a search query for search results and returning a link to an entity of a social network based on the search query.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a method includes, or a system has logic for, receiving a request to record a television program on a first output device; determining that recording the television program conflicts with a scheduled recording; and downloading the television program from a server in response to determining that the recording thereof conflicts with another scheduled recording. Additional systems and methods are also presented.

Abstract: A computer-based method for use in geotargeting online ads to users of search engines by allowing comparison of user's search terms with a set of geo-keywords. The method includes providing a geographic keyword generator on a server that is linked to the Internet. The method includes providing a spatial database storing classes of geographic keywords. The method continues with receiving a keyword request including a business address from a client node. The keyword generator determines a service area based on this location, and a set of geographic keywords is retrieved from the spatial database that are associated (e.g., within) the determined service area. This set of keywords is transmitted or reported to the client node (e.g., displayed in a web browser or user interface) for use in geotargeting of their online advertisements. The keyword request includes a business type, and the service area is sized based on the business type.

Abstract: A stereo image device includes a representative point selection unit for selecting a plurality of representative points in a first image of a stereo-pair image; a corresponding point control unit detecting a plurality of corresponding points corresponding to the plurality of representative points in a second image of the stereo-pair image and excluding any corresponding point(s) judged to be a deviating point; a deviation value calculation unit for judging whether corresponding points are the deviating points or not; an approximation curve calculation unit performing a curve approximation on all the corresponding points except the excluded corresponding points; a height correction value calculation unit calculating a height correction value from a plurality of approximation curves drawn up by the curve approximation; a parallelization execution unit performing parallelization of the second image on the basis of the height correction value.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a front-end component to receive requests for resources in a data center and configured to associate each request with identifying information, to locate one or more resources for each request and to store, in a log file, the identifying information and information about the location of the one or more resources; one or more distributed computation and storage components to acquire log file information and configured to analyze log information to decide if one or more resources associated with one or more requests should be migrated to a data center in a different geographical location; and a location service component to receive decisions made by the one or more distributed computation and storage components and configured to inform the front-end component when a decision causes one or more resources to be migrated to a data center in a different geographical location to thereby allow the front-end component to re-direct future requests for the one or more migrated resources to t

Abstract: Resource acquisition requests for a filesystem are executed under user configurable metering. Initially, a system administrator sets a ratio of N:M for executing N read requests for M write requests. As resource acquisition requests are received by a filesystem server, the resource acquisition requests are sorted into queues, e.g., where read and write requests have at least one queue for each type, plus a separate queue for metadata requests as they are executed ahead of any waiting read or write request. The filesystem server controls execution of the filesystem resource acquisition requests to maintain the ratio set by the system administrator.

Abstract: Technologies are generally provided for conveying tree and index needs of a database by collecting and forwarding a statistically representative set of data requests so that a new datacenter can use its existing auto-learning and adjustment techniques to create local indices before receiving its first real or live requests. In some examples, requests at an origin datacenter may be collected to provide a small population of queries that are representative of a larger population of queries. Filters anonymizers may be employed to adhere to data sharing rules and restrictions while still allowing a new datacenter to build indices and test performance. Thus, the new datacenter may be trained asynchronously from another site and without actual data changing hands. Training and testing of destination database services may be completed before committing to customer migration.