Abstract: The present invention includes methods, circuits, systems and corresponding executable code for locating and managing data files/objects such as image files, audio files, etc. According to some embodiments of the present invention, there may be provided a Dynamic Search and Linking Module (DSLM), which DSLM may be functionally associated with an Uploader (an application or module adapted to upload files) of an application or of an operating system. The DSLM may provide an Uploader with search engine querying (e.g. web searching) and search engine result (e.g results of a web search) linking functionality.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for triggering rich results in response to publication queries. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a publication query. One or more publication search results are obtained. A rich result is triggered based on a score of the first-ranked publication result if it meets a threshold relative to other publication search results. The rich result is populated with additional metadata about the publication obtained from web resources and product resources from multiple corpora. The rich result is provided with the publication search results.

Abstract: The present application describes systems and methods for Relationship Capital Management (“RCM”). An RCM system mines relationship capital, which it correlates to eliminate redundancies, that is made available for searching. An initial result set of the search may be narrowed to a single individual, e.g., the target. Weighted paths are identified that connect the user to the target, which may comprise one or more intermediaries between the two. Weighted paths are presented as maps, which may be embedded in other applications to improve business processes such as selling, marketing, hiring, etc. Selection of a path to the target initiates processing of requests for access to relationship capital and responses between the user and the one or more intermediaries. The processing of requests ultimately leads to the approval, conditional approval or denial of access to the relationship capital to which the user wishes to obtain access.

Abstract: Remoting a display. A method that may be practiced, for example, in a networked computing environment including a local computer system running one or more applications and a remote computer that displays graphical information to a user for the one or more applications at the local computer system. The remote computer includes a number of surfaces. Drawing information including drawing commands is sent to the remote computer. Meta information is sent to the remote computer defining information about which surface from among the number of surfaces the drawing information applies. Composition information is sent to the remote computer defining the display characteristics of the surface.

Abstract: Multiple degrees of context for media content that is consumable on computing platforms including PCs and personal media players is provided by logically organizing context objects into halos that surround each piece of consumable content. The context objects represent information and experiences that are contextually associated with media content to enable users to easily discover content and experiences that they will find interesting in a rich and personal manner. As a user navigates from a content item to a context object in the halo, the context object itself morphs into content that is then surrounded by a new halo of context objects to which the user may navigate. The organization of media content and information into halos enables an effective contextual paradigm that cuts across strict hierarchical structures to allow the user experience to be much more seamless and free-flowing.

Abstract: A system for responding to directory service operations includes a receiving data path for receiving operations. An alternate evaluator includes a local data store, the alternate evaluator responding to the received operations. A responding data path for sending the responses to the operations from the alternate evaluator.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for identifying candidate synonyms of transliterated terms for query expansion. In one aspect, a method includes identifying multiple transliterated terms in a target language. For each transliterated term of the multiple transliterated terms in the target language, the transliterated term is mapped to one or more terms in a source language. For a first transliterated term of the multiple transliterated terms in the target language, one or more second transliterated terms of the multiple transliterated terms in the target language are identified as candidate synonyms of the first transliterated term, where each of the one or more second transliterated terms is mapped to at least one term in the source language that is also mapped from the first transliterated term.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for achieving a balance between pre-filter efficiency and pre-filter throughput. Event subscriptions are obtained for a given event consumer. The event subscriptions define the events to be routed to this event consumer. Pre-filters of varying complexity and filtering power are constructed based on these event subscriptions. A balance between pre-filter efficiency and pre-filter throughput may be achieved by selecting the best pre-filter out of these constructed pre-filters to filter events to its associated event consumer. The best pre-filter is selected by comparing a complexity threshold (e.g., a limit for the number of atomic Boolean expressions in a pre-filter) with the actual complexity (e.g., the actual number of atomic Boolean expressions) for each constructed pre-filter and selecting the most complex pre-filter without exceeding the threshold.

Abstract: A method for reorganizing a first database includes copying data from the first database to a second database having an index structure different from that of the first database, updating the second database to reflect changes that have been made to the first database since the commencement of the copying, and switching the second database for the first database.

Abstract: This invention uses a storage device more effectively than ever before to store image data in a predetermined storage device for future security chasing. A determination unit (203) determines whether related image data which can be considered substantially identical to image data acquired by an acquisition unit (210) is stored in a predetermined storage device (202) for future chasing. If related image data is stored, link information to the related image data is written instead of writing the acquired image data to the storage device (202). On the other hand, no related image data is stored, the acquired image data is written to the storage device (202).

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for classifying a new item for purposes of estimating import fees associated with shipping the item internationally. In some embodiments, the classification is determined by calculating a similarity score for each of a plurality of previously classified items, each similarity score representing the similarity between a given previously classified item and the new item, identifying a similar item match for the new item, the similar item match corresponding to the previously classified item having the highest similarity score among the plurality of previously classified items, and assigning an item classification code associated with the similar item match to the new item.

Abstract: A numbering system for antecedents and outcomes providing a method for numbering antecedents and outcomes that reveals underlying information of relationships. The numbering system for antecedents and outcomes utilizes a mathematical relationship and an antecedent's or outcome's existing characterizing information to assign a unique indexing number identifying each antecedent and outcome. In an antecedent numbering system, the unique indexing number is able to provide information about the contributor line number, the cohort, the combination of the preceding multiple antecedents, and the sequence number of the outcome. In an outcomes numbering system, the unique indexing number provides information about the sequence line number, the cohort, the combination of the antecedents, and the order numberof the outcomes.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a computer-implemented method including selecting a person as a representative to collect information from businesses. The method further includes generating identifiers to be associated with the information. The method further includes providing the identifiers to the representative. The method further includes receiving business information that has been directly collected from a business among the businesses by the representative and an indication of a particular one of the identifiers to be associated with the directly collected business information. The method further includes storing the received business information with the associated particular identifier in a database. The method further includes, after storing the received business information with the particular identifier in the database, receiving authentication information including the particular identifier.

Abstract: A system for providing answers to questions presented in the form of electronic signals representing natural language words conveyed to said system by way of a network connected to a computer. The system includes a plurality of search indexes relating to a field of knowledge, each in a specific natural language. A store house of natural words is associated with each one of the search indexes, in which a list of natural words is maintained in an order reflecting the usage frequency of said words in that list. In addition, a language storehouse of natural words common to each of the search indexes associated each with a specific natural language. The search index includes a list of score ordered keywords, indexed answer items each associated with an internal list of references (ILOR) pointing to it, and a list of ordered numerical references associated with each of the ordered keywords. Each such reference represents quantitatively an association between the keyword and an indexed answer item.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium is described for facilitating interactions between software programs by providing a reliable data queuing service that enables the programs to store and retrieve elements of data queues. In some situations, the data queuing service is provided to users who purchase usage of the data queuing service for application programs executed by or otherwise affiliated with the users. In addition, accessibility of the data queuing service to remote executing programs may be enhanced via a defined API of the data queuing service, such as a Web services-based API. Availability of the data queuing service may also be enhanced in some situations by using multiple alternative distributed systems for a data queue such that each of the alternative systems stores a subset of the elements of the data queue.

Abstract: An automated method to replicate remote virtual files to local physical files is presented, wherein the method provides a replication algorithm comprising computer readable program code that can be used by a programmable computer processor to replicate the (N) remote virtual volumes to (N) local physical volumes, such that a computing device integral with those (N) local physical volumes can read data from, and write data to, each of the locally replicated virtual volumes without modifying volume assignments and without reconfiguring the computing device to communicate with the (N) local physical volumes.

Abstract: A computer readable storage medium comprises executable instructions to provide a query interface for formulating continuous queries of multi-dimensional data streams. The query interface is populated to generate a plurality of continuous queries. The plurality of continuous queries are executed. The plurality of continuous queries are modified at run-time.

Abstract: A method of performing a file search with specified attribute criteria includes generating or having access to a file system image of the data storage system. A substantially sequential scan of the file system image can then be performed. Based on the scan, a list of inodes (called a specified criteria inode map) on the file system image that have the specified attribute criteria can be built. This sequential scan eliminates the random scan of the file system image, thereby dramatically reducing the total time associated with reading of the inodes. A file tree of the data storage system can then be walked to find inodes (in the file tree) that match inodes in the specified criteria inode map. A list of files that correspond to matching inodes can thus be quickly and easily generated.

Abstract: A keyword management system for managing keywords used when a user terminal connected to a network accesses contents, includes a Burst value calculating unit that calculates a Burst value indicating an increase per unit time of a keyword, an overall Burst value calculating unit that calculates an overall Burst value by correcting the Burst value based on characteristics in the contents of the keyword corresponding to the Burst value, and an output controlling unit that extracts from the contents, a relevant keyword related to the keyword corresponding to the overall Burst value based on time series changes of the overall Burst value, and outputs the keyword and the relevant keyword associated with each other to the user terminal.

Abstract: A document management apparatus performs a first process to delete an object that is not to be presented to a user from document information registered in a database. The document management apparatus then performs a second process to determine whether a vacant block created as a result of the deleting of the object can be filled with another object. If it is determined by a CPU of the document management apparatus that a proper object to be put in the vacant block is not found, a third process is performed to adjust a layout associated with the vacant block. The document management apparatus then performs a forth process to provide a preview of a document with an adjusted layout thereby allowing a user to confirm the adjustment.