Abstract: In one embodiment, display of a user entry window of a graphical user interface is initiated. Search terms entered into the user entry window to initiate a first search are received. One or more first search results from a corpus of documents are determined according to the search terms. Display of the search terms at a current search terms window of the graphical user interface is initiated. Display of the first search results at a search results window of the graphical user interface is initiated. Display of the first search suggestions at a search suggestion window of the graphical user interface is initiated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly scalable architecture for a three-dimensional graphical, multi-user, interactive virtual world system. In a preferred embodiment a plurality of users interact in the three-dimensional, computer-generated graphical space where each user executes a client process to view a virtual world from the perspective of that user. The virtual world shows avatars representing the other users who are neighbors of the user viewing the virtual word. In order that the view can be updated to reflect the motion of the remote user's avatars, motion information is transmitted to a central server process which provides positions updates to client processes for neighbors of the user at that client process. The client process also uses an environment database to determine which background objects to render as well as to limit the movement of the user's avatar.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly scalable architecture for a three-dimensional graphical, multi-user, interactive virtual world system. In a preferred embodiment a plurality of users interact in the three-dimensional, computer-generated graphical space where each user executes a client process to view a virtual world from the perspective of that user. The virtual world shows avatars representing the other users who are neighbors of the user viewing the virtual word. In order that the view can be updated to reflect the motion of the remote user's avatars, motion information is transmitted to a central server process which provides positions updates to client processes for neighbors of the user at that client process. The client process also uses an environment database to determine which background objects to render as well as to limit the movement of the user's avatar.

Abstract: In one embodiment, modeling topics includes accessing a corpus comprising documents that include words. Words of a document are selected as keywords of the document. The documents are clustered according to the keywords to yield clusters, where each cluster corresponds to a topic. A statistical distribution is generated for a cluster from words of the documents of the cluster. A topic is modeled using the statistical distribution generated for the cluster corresponding to the topic.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a set of target search terms for a search is received. Candidate terms are selected, where a candidate term is selected to reduce an ontology space of the search. The candidate terms are to a computer to recommend the candidate terms as search terms. In another embodiment, a document stored in one or more tangible media is accessed. A set of target tags for the document is received. Terms are selected, where a term is selected to reduce an ontology space of the document. The terms are sent to a computer to recommend the terms as tags.

Abstract: In one embodiment, identifying clusters of words includes accessing a record that records affinities. An affinity between a first and second word describes a quantitative relationship between the first and second word. Clusters of words are identified according to the affinities. A cluster comprises words that are sufficiently affine with each other. A first word is sufficiently affine with a second word if the affinity between the first and second word satisfies one or more affinity criteria. A clustering analysis is performed using the clusters.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, generating a hierarchy of terms includes accessing a corpus comprising terms. The following is performed for one or more terms to yield parent-child relationships: one or more parent terms of a term are identified according to directional affinity; and one or more parent-child relationships are established from the parent terms and each term. A hierarchical graph is automatically generated from the parent-child relationships.

Abstract: In one embodiment, assigning tags to a document includes accessing the document, where the document comprises text units that include words. The following is performed for each text unit: a subset of words of a text unit is selected as candidate tags, relatedness is established among the candidate tags, and certain candidate tags are selected according to the established relatedness to yield a candidate tag set for the text unit. Relatedness between the candidate tags of each candidate tag set and the candidate tags of other candidate tag sets is determined. At least one candidate tag is assigned to the document according to the determined relatedness.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly scalable architecture for a three-dimensional graphical, multi-user, interactive virtual world system. In a preferred embodiment a plurality of users interact in the three-dimensional, computer-generated graphical space where each user executes a client process to view a virtual world from the perspective of that user. The virtual world shows avatars representing the other users who are neighbors of the user viewing the virtual word. In order that the view can be updated to reflect the motion of the remote user's avatars, motion information is transmitted to a central server process which provides positions updates to client processes for neighbors of the user at that client process. The client process also uses an environment database to determine which background objects to render as well as to limit the movement of the user's avatar.

Abstract: A motion controlled handheld device includes a display having a viewable surface and operable to generate an image and a gesture database maintaining a plurality of predefined gestures. Each gesture is defined by a motion of the device with respect to a first position of the device. The device includes an application having a plurality of predefined commands and a motion detection module operable to detect motion of the handheld device within three dimensions and to identify components of the motion in relation to the viewable surface. The device includes a user interface operable to receive user input associating selected ones of the gestures with corresponding ones of the commands and a gesture mapping database comprising a command map for the application. The command map comprises mappings of the selected gestures to the corresponding commands as indicated by the user input.

Abstract: A motion controlled handheld device includes a first accelerometer operable to detect acceleration along a first axis and a second accelerometer operable to detect acceleration along a second axis. The second axis is perpendicular to the first axis. The device includes a tilt detection component operable to detect rotation having a component around at least one of the first axis and the second axis and a display operable to present a current image. The device includes a motion tracking module operable to track motion of the device in three dimensions using the first accelerometer, the second accelerometer, and the tilt detection component. The device also includes a controller operable to generate the current image and to modify the current image in response to the motion of the device.

Abstract: A motion controlled handheld device includes a display having a viewable surface and operable to generate an image and a gesture database maintaining a plurality of gestures. Each gesture is defined by a motion of the device with respect to a first position of the device. The device includes a plurality of applications each having a plurality of predefined commands and a gesture mapping database comprising a plurality of command maps. Each of the command maps corresponds to a particular one of the applications and maps each of the predefined commands to one of the gestures. The device includes a motion detection module operable to detect motion of the handheld device within three dimensions and to identify components of the motion in relation to the viewable surface.

Abstract: A motion controlled handheld device includes a display having a viewable surface and operable to generate an image. The device includes a motion detection module operable to detect motion of the device within three dimensions and to identify components of the motion in relation to the viewable surface. The device also includes a motion response module having a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. The motion response module is operable in the first mode of operation to monitor the motion of the device, to determine that the motion matches a predetermined mode selection trigger, and, in response to determining that the motion matches the predetermined mode selection trigger, to measure a baseline orientation of the device based on measurements of the components, and to switch to the second mode of operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly scalable architecture for a three-dimensional graphical, multi-user, interactive virtual world system. In a preferred embodiment a plurality of users interact in the three-dimensional, computer-generated graphical space where each user executes a client process to view a virtual world from the perspective of that user. The virtual world shows avatars representing the other users who are neighbors of the user viewing the virtual word. In order that the view can be updated to reflect the motion of the remote user's avatars, motion, information is transmitted to a central server process which provides positions updates to client processes for neighbors of the user at that client process. The client process also uses an environment database to determine which background objects to render as well as to limit the movement of the user's avatar.

Abstract: A motion controlled handheld device includes a display having a viewable surface and operable to generate an image and a gesture database maintaining a plurality of gestures. Each gesture is defined by a motion of the device with respect to a first position of the device. The device includes a motion detection module operable to detect motion of the handheld device within three dimensions and to identify components of the motion in relation to the viewable surface. The device also includes a control module operable to detect an indication to record a new gesture, detect a stabilization of the components of the motion of the device, upon detecting the stabilization, determine a base reference position, record movement of the device with respect to the base reference position, detect an indication to stop recording the new gesture, define the new gesture using the recorded movement of the device with respect to the base reference position, and store the new gesture in the gesture database.

Abstract: A motion controlled handheld device includes a display having a viewable surface and operable to generate an image and a motion detection module operable to detect motion of the device within three dimensions and to identify components of the motion in relation to the viewable surface. The components comprise a first component parallel to the viewable surface, a second component parallel to the viewable surface and perpendicular to the first component, and a third component perpendicular to the viewable surface. The device includes a motion processing module operable to compare the components, to isolate a preferred one of the components based on the comparison, and to adjust a magnitude of the preferred component by an augmentation factor. The device also includes a motion response module operable to modify the image based on the augmented preferred component.

Abstract: A motion controlled handheld device includes a display having a viewable surface and operable to generate a current image. The device includes a motion detection module operable to detect motion of the device within three dimensions and to identify components of the motion in relation to the viewable surface. The device also includes a gesture database comprising a plurality of gestures, each gesture defined by a motion of the device with respect to a first position of the device. The gestures comprise at least four planar gestures each defined by a motion vector generally aligned in parallel with the viewable surface. The device includes a gesture mapping database mapping each of the gestures to a corresponding command, the gesture mapping database mapping each of the four planar gestures to a corresponding grid navigation command.

Abstract: A motion controlled handheld device includes a display having a viewable surface and operable to generate an image. The device includes a motion detection module operable to detect motion of the device within three dimensions and to identify components of the motion in relation to the viewable surface. The device also includes a motion response module operable to identify a base reference position, to track the motion of the device in relation to the base reference position, to modify the image in response to the motion, to detect a predetermined pattern of motion of the device, to maintain the image without adjustment during the predetermined pattern of motion, to detect a completion of the predetermined pattern of motion, and to reset the base reference position upon detecting completion of the predetermined pattern of motion.

Abstract: A motion controlled handheld device includes a user interface comprising a display having a viewable surface and operable to generate a current image and a motion detection module operable to detect motion of the device within three dimensions and to identify components of the motion in relation to the viewable surface. The device includes a device state tracking module operable to analyze the components to determine an environmental state of the device. The environmental state comprises a motion state and an orientation of the device with respect to gravity. The device also includes a controller operable to execute an application and to perform an operation of the application based on the environmental state.

Abstract: A system supports automated negotiations between any number of appropriately enabled computing devices. These devices provide for automated negotiation of potential transactions using an iterative process in which multiple proposal are exchanged between negotiating parties.