Abstract: A system and method for generating a channel includes a channel engine that retrieves candidate content items based on a topic from heterogeneous data sources. The channel engine generates a stream of content with selected content items and populates the stream of content for the channel and providing the stream of content to users associated with the channel. In response to receiving feedback, the channel engine modifies the at least one topic based at least in part on the feedback. The scoring engine generates a second stream of content from the first stream of content that is personalized for the first user based at least in part on a model. Other users can subscribe to the second stream.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a channel includes a channel engine that retrieves candidate content items based on a topic from heterogeneous data sources. The channel engine generates a stream of content with selected content items and populates the stream of content for the channel and providing the stream of content to users associated with the channel. In response to receiving feedback, the channel engine modifies the at least one topic based at least in part on the feedback. The scoring engine generates a second stream of content from the first stream of content that is personalized for the first user based at least in part on a model. Other users can subscribe to the second stream.

Abstract: A system and method for generating privacy-enhanced aggregate statistics within a social network system is provided. Data is collected and processed to gather information to generate the aggregate statistics. A threshold is assigned. The threshold includes a criterion used in making a determination on what aggregate statistic will be generated. In some embodiments, the threshold is a numerical value. In some embodiments, the numerical value, or quantitative data is then translated into qualitative descriptors. In some embodiments, noise is then added to randomize the assigned threshold. In other embodiments, noise is added to the collected data. In some embodiments, checks to guard against attacks from adversarial users are performed. Examples of indications of adversarial behavior include, but are not limited to, manipulation of profiles, continuous manipulation of affinity groups, and manipulation of preferences for one or more users. The threshold is applied and aggregate statistics are generated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for indexing a representative document from a set of duplicate documents are disclosed. Disclosed systems and methods comprise selecting a first document in a plurality of documents on the basis that the first document is associated with a query independent score. Each respective document in the plurality of documents has a fingerprint that indicates that the respective document has substantially identical content to every other document in the plurality of documents. Disclosed systems and methods further comprise indexing, in accordance with the query independent score, the first document thereby producing an indexed first document. With respect to the plurality of documents, only the indexed first document is included in a document index.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for facilitating online conversation. In one aspect, a method includes determining that a user has submitted a question to be viewed by trusted participants of an online conversation, wherein the trusted participants include the user, one or more advertisers and one or more social network friends of the user, obtaining a reply to the question from one of the trusted participants, and providing the reply to the trusted participants.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for facilitating online conversation. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining a search query; identifying, by a search engine, resources that are responsive to the search query, wherein the resources include information that references an online conversation in which a user has submitted questions to be viewed by trusted participants and one or more of the trusted participants has replied to the question, and wherein the trusted participants include the user, one or more advertisers and one or more social network friends of the user; and providing information that identifies the resources for display.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for facilitating online conversation. In one aspect, a method includes determining that a user has submitted a question to be viewed by trusted participants of an online conversation, wherein the trusted participants include the user, one or more advertisers and one or more social network friends of the user, obtaining a reply to the question from one of the trusted participants, and providing the reply to the trusted participants.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for facilitating online conversation. In one aspect, a method includes determining that a user has submitted a question to be viewed by trusted participants of an online conversation, wherein the trusted participants include the user, one or more advertisers and one or more social network friends of the user, obtaining a reply to the question from one of the trusted participants, and providing the reply to the trusted participants.

Abstract: Systems and methods for indexing a representative document from a set of duplicate documents are disclosed. Disclosed systems and methods comprise selecting a first document in a plurality of documents on the basis that the first document is associated with a query independent score. Each respective document in the plurality of documents has a fingerprint that indicates that the respective document has substantially identical content to every other document in the plurality of documents. Disclosed systems and methods further comprise indexing, in accordance with the query independent score, the first document thereby producing an indexed first document. With respect to the plurality of documents, only the indexed first document is included in a document index.

Abstract: Duplicate documents are detected in a web crawler system. Upon receiving a newly crawled document, a set of documents, if any, sharing the same content as the newly crawled document is identified. Information identifying the newly crawled document and the selected set of documents is merged into information identifying a new set of documents. Duplicate documents are included and excluded from the new set of documents based on a query independent metric for each such document. A single representative document for the new set of documents is identified in accordance with a set of predefined conditions.

Abstract: Methods, and systems, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable storage mediums, including a method for displaying advertisements. The method includes providing query data specifying a search query including search terms; in response to providing the query: receiving a first advertisement associated with search terms and video element data comprising a video selection element for a video in response to a determination by the advertisement system that the video is eligible to be displayed with the first advertisement, the eligibility of the video to be displayed with the first advertisement being specified by an advertiser of the first advertisement; and receiving a second advertisement not including video element data in response to a determination that the second advertisement is not eligible to be displayed with a video; displaying the first advertisement and the video selection element proximate to the first advertisement, and displaying the second advertisement with the first advertisement.

Abstract: A query including one or more keywords is received. An advertisement associated with the one or more keywords is identified, and display data for displaying the advertisement is generated and a determination is made as to whether the advertisement is associated with a video. Video selection data is generated for displaying the video proximate to the advertisement if the advertisement is determined to be associated with the video, and the display data and the video selection data are provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for facilitating online conversation. In one aspect, a method includes determining that a user has submitted a question to be viewed by trusted participants of an online conversation, wherein the trusted participants include the user, one or more advertisers and one or more social network friends of the user, obtaining a reply to the question from one of the trusted participants, and providing the reply to the trusted participants.

Abstract: Duplicate documents are detected in a web crawler system. Upon receiving a newly crawled document, a set of documents, if any, sharing the same content as the newly crawled document is identified. Information identifying the newly crawled document and the selected set of documents is merged into information identifying a new set of documents. Duplicate documents are included and excluded from the new set of documents based on a query independent metric for each such document. A single representative document for the new set of documents is identified in accordance with a set of predefined conditions.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for social media advertising. In one aspect, a method includes associating keywords with a social media network property of an advertiser, periodically obtaining from the social media network property content on the social media network property of the advertiser, receiving a keyword for an advertisement request for a user device, determining that the received keyword is one of the keywords associated with the social media network property and in response to the determination generating an advertisement responsive to the request, the advertisement including at least some of the content obtained from the social media network property, providing the advertisement for display on a user device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for facilitating online conversation. In one aspect, a method includes determining that a user has submitted a question to be viewed by trusted participants of an online conversation, wherein the trusted participants include the user, one or more advertisers and one or more social network friends of the user, obtaining a reply to the question from one of the trusted participants, and providing the reply to the trusted participants.

Abstract: Duplicate documents are detected in a web crawler system. Upon receiving a newly crawled document, a set of documents, if any, sharing the same content as the newly crawled document is identified. Information identifying the newly crawled document and the selected set of documents is merged into information identifying a new set of documents. Duplicate documents are included and excluded from the new set of documents based on a query independent metric for each such document. A single representative document for the new set of documents is identified in accordance with a set of predefined conditions.

Abstract: Duplicate documents are detected in a web crawler system. Upon receiving a newly crawled document, a set of documents, if any, sharing the same content as the newly crawled document is identified. Information identifying the newly crawled document and the selected set of documents is merged into information identifying a new set of documents. Duplicate documents are included and excluded from the new set of documents based on a query independent metric for each such document. A single representative document for the new set of documents is identified in accordance with a set of predefined conditions.

Abstract: Duplicate documents are detected in a web crawler system. Upon receiving a newly crawled document, a set of documents, if any, sharing the same content as the newly crawled document is identified. Information identifying the newly crawled document and the selected set of documents is merged into information identifying a new set of documents. Duplicate documents are included and excluded from the new set of documents based on a query independent metric for each such document. A single representative document for the new set of documents is identified in accordance with a set of predefined conditions.

Abstract: A method of distributing files operates in a system having a master and a plurality of slaves, interconnected by a communications network. Each slave determines a current file length for each of a plurality of files and sends slave status information to the master, the slave status information including the current file length for each file. The master schedules copy operations based on the slave status information. The master stores bandwidth capability information indicating data transmission bandwidth capabilities for the resources required to transmit data between the slaves, and also stores bandwidth usage information indicating a total allocated bandwidth for each resource. For each schedule copy operation, an amount of data transmission bandwidth is allocated and the stored bandwidth usage information is updated accordingly. The master only schedules copy operations that do not cause the total allocated bandwidth of any resource to exceed the bandwidth capability of that resource.