Abstract: Providing a speculative search result for a search query prior to completion of the search query is described. In response to receiving a search query from a client node, a speculative search result is provided to the client node for the search query prior to receiving an indication from the client node that said search query is completely formed. The speculative search result may be displayed on the same web page on the client node as the search query, while the search query is being entered by the user. As the user further enters the search query, a new speculative search result may be provided to the user.

Abstract: Techniques for analyzing a social graph of a social network service to identify and then present connection paths connecting various entities are described. With some embodiments, subsequent to a user selecting or otherwise identifying a person to whom a message is to be communicated, a social graph is analyzed to identify connection paths connecting the message sender, or an entity on whose behalf the message sender is acting, to the message recipient. The social graph is implemented with a graph data structure having nodes and edges representing entities and associations between entities, respectively. With some embodiments, the nodes represent people, companies, educational institutions (e.g., schools, universities, etc.), and groups. After identifying the connection paths, the connection path having the highest path score, as derived by aggregating edge scores assigned to the edges, may be presented.

Abstract: Providing a speculative search result for a search query prior to completion of the search query is described. In response to receiving a search query from a client node, a speculative search result is provided to the client node for the search query prior to receiving an indication from the client node that said search query is completely formed. The speculative search result may be displayed on the same web page on the client node as the search query, while the search query is being entered by the user. As the user further enters the search query, a new speculative search result may be provided to the user.

Abstract: A system for presenting goal-related insights—an insights module—may be configured determine a goal for a subject member represented by a subject profile in an on-line social network, identify a further profile that includes a feature indicative of achievement of the goal by a further member represented by the further profile, and cause presentation of a link to the further profile together with a compare visual control. The compare visual control is selectable to cause display of one or more features of the further profile. Activating the compare visual control may cause presentation of a further profile web page, such that the subject member can examine the further profile.

Abstract: Providing a speculative search result for a search query prior to completion of the search query is described. In response to receiving a search query from a client node, a speculative search result is provided to the client node for the search query prior to receiving an indication from the client node that said search query is completely formed. The speculative search result may be displayed on the same web page on the client node as the search query, while the search query is being entered by the user. As the user further enters the search query, a new speculative search result may be provided to the user.

Abstract: Method and system to assist a user in formulating a search query is described. The system may be configured to examine an input string submitted by a user via a search box and present suggestions in the form of structured queries, determine an entity and an entity type that corresponds to the input string and generate search suggestions in the form of complex structured queries. The generated query may be presented on a display device of a user.

Abstract: Method and system to generate structured queries is described. The system may be configured to examine an input string submitted by a user via a search box and present suggestions that may include references to entities grouped by entity type. The search system examines the input string, determines one or more entity types that may correspond to the input string, and provides suggestions that may be the form of one or more of keywords and also in the form of values of or references to typed entities.

Abstract: Method and system to assist a user in formulating a search query is described. The system may provide suggested entities, entity types, and relationship operators to a user and interactively build a complex structured query. Complex structured queries may include a combination of one or more entities and entity types, together with one or more relationship operators.

Abstract: Systems and methods for searching for information within social networks are described. In some examples embodiments, a search assist system receives a query, such as a partial query, identifies two or more categories of data that include information satisfying the query, ranks the identified categories of data based on various selection criteria, and presents suggested search terms based on the rankings.

Abstract: Method and system to present suggested facets is described. The system includes a search request detector, a search results generator, a facet selector, and a presentation module. The search request detector detects a search request comprising search criteria. The search results generator 220 retrieves search results based on the search criteria. The facet selector selects a suggested facet from a plurality of facets, where a facet represents a category may have a variable value and indicates a filter for refining search results. The presentation module generates a list of items that includes search results and the suggested facet.

Abstract: Systems and methods for searching for information within social networks are described. In some examples embodiments, a search assist system receives a query, such as a partial query, identifies two or more categories of data that include information satisfying the query, ranks the identified categories of data based on various selection criteria, and presents suggested search terms based on the rankings.

Abstract: Systems and methods for searching for information within social networks are described. In some examples embodiments, a search assist system receives a query, such as a partial query, identifies two or more categories of data that include information satisfying the query, ranks the identified categories of data based on various selection criteria, and presents suggested search terms based on the rankings.

Abstract: Providing a speculative search result for a search query prior to completion of the search query is described. In response to receiving a search query from a client node, a speculative search result is provided to the client node for the search query prior to receiving an indication from the client node that said search query is completely formed. The speculative search result may be displayed on the same web page on the client node as the search query, while the search query is being entered by the user. As the user further enters the search query, a new speculative search result may be provided to the user.

Abstract: Obtaining alumni data from a database includes storing standardized alumni data in alumni data profiles, receiving a selected data entity representing an institution, searching the alumni data profiles to locate the profiles of alumni of the institution, determining a plurality of ranked sets of data by searching the profiles of alumni of the institution, and displaying each of the elements of the plurality of ranked sets of data respectively as elements in a plurality of facets. The elements in the plurality of facets may be displayed visually as a graphics display. A further operation may include receiving a selected data entity representing an element of a first facet and, responsive to receiving the selected data entity, displaying, at each of the facets of the plurality of facets other than the first facet, the elements of the facet ranked in order of the number of alumni in each element of the facet.

Abstract: Providing a speculative search result for a search query prior to completion of the search query. In response to receiving a search query from a client node, a speculative search result is provided to the client node for the search query prior to receiving an indication from the client node that said search query is completely formed. The speculative search result may be displayed on the same web page on the client node as the search query, while the search query is being entered by the user. As the user further enters the search query, a new speculative search result may be provided to the user.

Abstract: Techniques for analyzing a social graph of a social network service to identify and then present connection paths connecting various entities are described. With some embodiments, subsequent to a user selecting or otherwise identifying two entities represented as nodes in a social graph, the social graph is analyzed to identify connection paths connecting the nodes representing the two entities. The social graph is implemented with a graph data structure having nodes and edges representing entities and associations between entities, respectively. With some embodiments, the nodes represent people, companies, educational institutions (e.g., schools, universities, etc.), and groups. After identifying the connection paths, the connection path or paths having the highest path scores, as derived by aggregating edge scores assigned to the edges, may be presented.

Abstract: Techniques for analyzing a social graph of a social network service to identify and then present connection paths connecting various entities are described. With some embodiments, subsequent to a user selecting or otherwise identifying two entities represented as nodes in a social graph, the social graph is analyzed to identify connection paths connecting the nodes representing the two entities. The social graph is implemented with a graph data structure having nodes and edges representing entities and associations between entities, respectively. With some embodiments, the nodes represent people, companies, educational institutions (e.g., schools, universities, etc.), and groups. After identifying the connection paths, the connection path or paths having the highest path scores, as derived by aggregating edge scores assigned to the edges, may be presented.