Abstract: A targeted delivery of content and related metadata is made to users of various types of electronic devices that are adapted to render or play the content. Images of each user are captured at various times while various items of the content are being played. According to one embodiment the images are processed via one or more facial recognition algorithms so that the identity of each of the users, including their names, is determined. This data is stored in a central server thereby establishing a database of profiles of these users. The profiles are comprised of tracking information of content played by each of the users on a per-content basis. The central server either uses this tracking information directly or transmits it to another server or another business entity, such as for example another content provider, for use by the other business entity.

Abstract: A targeted delivery of content and related metadata is made to users of various types of electronic devices that are adapted to render or play the content. Images of each user are captured at various times while various items of the content are being played. According to one embodiment the images are processed via one or more facial recognition algorithms so that the identity of each of the users, including their names, is determined. This data is stored in a central server thereby establishing a database of profiles of these users. The profiles are comprised of tracking information of content played by each of the users on a per-content basis. The central server either uses this tracking information directly or transmits it to another server or another business entity, such as for example another content provider, for use by the other business entity.

Abstract: A targeted delivery of content and related metadata is made to users of various types of electronic devices that are adapted to render or play the content. Images of each user are captured at various times while various items of the content are being played. According to one embodiment the images are processed via one or more facial recognition algorithms so that the identity of each of the users, including their names, is determined. This data is stored in a central server thereby establishing a database of profiles of these users. The profiles are comprised of tracking information of content played by each of the users on a per-content basis. The central server either uses this tracking information directly or transmits it to another server or another business entity, such as for example another content provider, for use by the other business entity.

Abstract: A targeted delivery of content and related metadata is made to users of various types of electronic devices that are adapted to render or play the content. Images of each user are captured at various times while various items of the content are being played. According to one embodiment the images are processed via one or more facial recognition algorithms so that the identity of each of the users, including their names, is determined. This data is stored in a central server thereby establishing a database of profiles of these users. The profiles are comprised of tracking information of content played by each of the users on a per-content basis. The central server either uses this tracking information directly or transmits it to another server or another business entity, such as for example another content provider, for use by the other business entity.

Abstract: A method of choosing jobs to run in a stream based distributed computer system includes determining jobs to be run in a distributed stream-oriented system by deciding a priority threshold above which jobs will be accepted, below which jobs will be rejected. Overall importance is maximized relative to the priority threshold based on importance values assigned to all jobs. System constraints are applied to ensure jobs meet set criteria.

Abstract: Audio and video (A/V) content information is acquired from each of a group of web-based servers located outside of a home network. The A/V content information identifies A/V content stored in association with each of the group of web-based servers. The A/V content information acquired from each of the group of web-based servers is aggregated. The aggregated A/V content information is provided to a DLNA client device within the home network. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A television apparatus for performing personalized viewing mode adjustments in response to identifying individual viewers. A camera and image/facial recognition subsystems are configured to identify individuals and retrieve stored viewing adjustment preference information for use in automatically adjusting the viewing mode of the television, and optional external devices (e.g., electronically controlled lights, shades, and so forth), to enhance the television viewing experience for individuals and groups.

Abstract: A storage system includes a plurality of data vats, and a processor including an optimizing unit that optimizes a value of data stored in the storage system. The optimizing unit optimizes the value by computing and implementing an optimal decision for allocating new data to a first data vat of the plurality of data vats, moving existing data from at least a second data vat of the plurality of data vats to the first data vat, and deleting existing data from the first data vat, based on an amount of data in each of the plurality of data vats.

Abstract: A method (and system) of storing data in a value-based storage system, includes optimizing a value of data stored in the value-based storage system.

Abstract: In a technique for managing keyword bid amounts in an online advertising system (OAS), a closed-loop feedback technique that integrates data integration, keyword management, bid management, product-search results and user activities is used to optimize revenue generation from online advertisements for websites, such as e-commerce websites. In particular, bids on a group of keywords associated with products are based on an estimated profitability of the group of keywords. Then, the resulting traffic to an associated e-commerce website is monitored by determining a financial performance metric of the e-commerce website, which facilitates subsequent feed-back adaptation. For example, a layout of the e-commerce website (such as product information, which is associated with the products, and/or relative positions of the displayed product information on the e-commerce website) is adjusted based on the determined financial performance metric.

Abstract: The disclosed technology combines biometric authentication and data transmission technologies to provide for secure storing of private information and wireless transmission of the private information in order to perform predefined tasks. A user may securely store his private information in an electronic database. To access the private information stored securely, the user provides his biometric data. Upon successful biometric authentication of the user, authorization is granted to the user to access the private information stored in the electronic database. Upon successful biometric authentication, the private information can be transmitted via short range wireless communication. Optionally, upon successful biometric authentication, the private information can be transmitted via wireless communication over a computer network.

Abstract: In a technique for publishing keywords for use in an online advertising system (OAS), keywords are extracted from product information that is received from entities that provide products. Based on calculated performance metrics associated with the extracted keywords, an estimated viability of the keywords (such as an estimated profitability) when used in the OAS is determined and a subset of the keywords is selected. Then, the selected subset of the keywords is published to the OAS. For example, the selected keywords may be bid on for use in search-engine-based online-advertising campaigns. Note that the performance metrics for a given keyword may include: a performance metric that is independent of the product information, a performance metric that is based on the product information, and/or an OAS performance metric.

Abstract: A method of choosing jobs to run in a stream based distributed computer system includes determining jobs to be run in a distributed stream-oriented system by deciding a priority threshold above which jobs will be accepted, below which jobs will be rejected. Overall importance is maximized relative to the priority threshold based on importance values assigned to all jobs. System constraints are applied to ensure jobs meet set criteria.

Abstract: A method of choosing jobs to run in a stream based distributed computer system includes determining jobs to be run in a distributed stream-oriented system by deciding a priority threshold above which jobs will be accepted, below which jobs will be rejected. Overall importance is maximized relative to the priority threshold based on importance values assigned to all jobs. System constraints are applied to ensure jobs meet set criteria.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing a storage system to support short data object lifetimes and highly utilized storage space are provided. With the system and method, data objects are clustered based on when they are anticipated to be deleted. When an application stores data, the application provides an indicator of the expected lifetime of the data, which may be a retention value, a relative priority of the data object, or the like. Data objects having similar expected lifetimes are clustered together in common data structures so that clusters of objects may be deleted efficiently in a single operation. Expected lifetimes may be changed by applications automatically. The system automatically determines how to handle these changes in expected lifetime using one or more of copying the data object, reclassifying the container in which the data object is held, and ignoring the change in expected lifetime for a time to investigate further changes in expected lifetime of other data objects.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making fractional assignments of processing elements to processing nodes for stream-based applications in a distributed computer system includes determining an amount of processing power to give to each processing element. Based on a list of acceptable processing nodes, a determination of fractions of which processing nodes will work on each processing element is made. To update allocations of the amount of processing power and the fractions, the process is repeated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for scheduling stream-based applications in a distributed computer system includes a scheduler configured to schedule work using three temporal levels. Each temporal level includes a method. A macro method is configured to schedule jobs that will run, in a highest temporal level, in accordance with a plurality of operation constraints to optimize importance of work. A micro method is configured to fractionally allocate, at a medium temporal level, processing elements to processing nodes in the system to react to changing importance of the work. A nano method is configured to revise, at a lowest temporal level, fractional allocations on a continual basis.

Abstract: In a home network, a proxy is used to convert information in UPnP format from UPnP devices to IEEE 1394 format so that IEEE 1394 devices in the network can access the information which was originally in UPnP format. Likewise, the proxy converts information in IEEE 1394 format from IEEE 1394 devices to UPnP format so that UPnP devices in the network can access the information which was originally in IEEE 1394 format.

Abstract: A method of choosing jobs to run in a stream based distributed computer system includes determining jobs to be run in a distributed stream-oriented system by deciding a priority threshold above which jobs will be accepted, below which jobs will be rejected. Overall importance is maximized relative to the priority threshold based on importance values assigned to all jobs. System constraints are applied to ensure jobs meet set criteria.

Abstract: An item of audio and video (A/V) content is identified stored in association with a DLNA server that does not have a thumbnail image associated with it. The item of A/V content is streamed at a DLNA client device. Intra-coded frames (I-Frames) are selected from the streamed A/V content. The selected I-Frames are presented to a user of the DLNA client device. A selection is received from the user identifying one of the selected I-Frames. The identified I-Frame is stored in association with the item of A/V content. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.