Abstract: Techniques to optimize messages sent to a user of a social networking system. In one embodiment, information about the user may be collected by the social networking system. The information may be applied to train a model for determining likelihood of a desired action by the user in response to candidate messages that may be provided for the user. The social networking system may provide to the user a message from the candidate messages with a selected likelihood of causing the desired action.

Abstract: Techniques to increase engagement with a social networking system. In one embodiment, an engagement level of a user with a social networking system is monitored. A low engagement user type associated with the user is identified from a plurality of low engagement user types. It is determined whether the engagement level of the user is less than a threshold. If so, a communication is provided for the user based on the low engagement user type associated with the user. The communication may be a notification or a digest communication.

Abstract: Techniques to optimize messages sent to a user of a social networking system. In one embodiment, information about the user may be collected by the social networking system. The information may be applied to train a model for determining likelihood of a desired action by the user in response to candidate messages that may be provided for the user. The social networking system may provide to the user a message from the candidate messages with a selected likelihood of causing the desired action.

Abstract: Techniques to increase engagement with a social networking system. In one embodiment, activities are prioritized based on relatedness to a user. References associated with at least a portion of the prioritized activities are created. The references are categorized into a plurality of types. The reference types may include notifications, friend identifications, and top stories. The references are embedded in digest communications for the user. Descriptive information about the activities are omitted from the digest communications. Digest communications for the user are provided during a time period when the user is not engaged with the social networking system. Notifications for a user are ceased when a level of engagement of the user with the social networking system is less than a threshold value.

Abstract: Techniques to increase engagement with a social networking system. In one embodiment, an engagement level of a user with a social networking system is monitored. A low engagement user type associated with the user is identified from a plurality of low engagement user types. It is determined whether the engagement level of the user is less than a threshold. If so, a communication is provided for the user based on the low engagement user type associated with the user. The communication may be a notification or a digest communication.

Abstract: Techniques to increase engagement with a social networking system. In one embodiment, activities are prioritized based on relatedness to a user. References associated with at least a portion of the prioritized activities are created. The references are categorized into a plurality of types. The reference types may include notifications, friend identifications, and top stories. The references are embedded in digest communications for the user. Descriptive information about the activities are omitted from the digest communications. Digest communications for the user are provided during a time period when the user is not engaged with the social networking system. Notifications for a user are ceased when a level of engagement of the user with the social networking system is less than a threshold value.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a message associated with a user at an information exchange system. At least one correspondent associated with the user may be determined, based on the message. A social connection between the user and the at least one correspondent may be assessed with respect to a social-networking system. The information exchange system may provide an interface for display to the user, the interface comprising information associated with the message. If the social connection is confirmed, the interface may include social-networking information associated with the at least one correspondent. Otherwise, the interface may provide functionality to create a social connection between the user and the at least one correspondent with respect to the social-networking system.

Abstract: A method and system are provided providing electronic communications between users in a similar geographic location. Mobile devices determine geographic location information based on signals received from external devices, such as GPS satellites or cell sites, and web browsers determine geographic location using external devices or third party software, such as Google Loader, or based on the IP address of the computer running the web browser. The system receives geographic location information from a mobile device or web browser in addition to a user-input message. The system distributes the message to users of the system with geographic locations within a predetermined distance from the geographic location that the message was input.

Abstract: A method and system are provided providing electronic communications between users in a similar geographic location. Mobile devices determine geographic location information based on signals received from external devices, such as GPS satellites or cell sites, and web browsers determine geographic location using external devices or third party software, such as Google Loader, or based on the IP address of the computer running the web browser. The system receives geographic location information from a mobile device or web browser in addition to a user-input message. The system distributes the message to users of the system with geographic locations within a predetermined distance from the geographic location that the message was input.

Abstract: Techniques to increase engagement with a social networking system. In one embodiment, an engagement level of a user with a social networking system is monitored. A low engagement user type associated with the user is identified from a plurality of low engagement user types. It is determined whether the engagement level of the user is less than a threshold. If so, a communication is provided for the user based on the low engagement user type associated with the user. The communication may be a notification or a digest communication.

Abstract: Techniques to optimize messages sent to a user of a social networking system. In one embodiment, information about the user may be collected by the social networking system. The information may be applied to train a model for determining likelihood of a desired action by the user in response to candidate messages that may be provided for the user. The social networking system may provide to the user a message from the candidate messages with a selected likelihood of causing the desired action.

Abstract: Techniques to increase engagement with a social networking system. In one embodiment, activities are prioritized based on relatedness to a user. References associated with at least a portion of the prioritized activities are created. The references are categorized into a plurality of types. The reference types may include notifications, friend identifications, and top stories. The references are embedded in digest communications for the user. Descriptive information about the activities are omitted from the digest communications. Digest communications for the user are provided during a time period when the user is not engaged with the social networking system. Notifications for a user are ceased when a level of engagement of the user with the social networking system is less than a threshold value.

Abstract: A method and system are provided providing electronic communications between users in a similar geographic location. Mobile devices determine geographic location information based on signals received from external devices, such as GPS satellites or cell sites, and web browsers determine geographic location using external devices or third party software, such as Google Loader, or based on the IP address of the computer running the web browser. The system receives geographic location information from a mobile device or web browser in addition to a user-input message. The system distributes the message to users of the system with geographic locations within a predetermined distance from the geographic location that the message was input.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for web search customization and web site rating. The system receives user input web sites, stores the web sites in a database, and groups them into user-specified categories. The system further allows users to select one or more web sites for customizing web search and querying the preselected sites using user input keywords. The system further provides the users with options to query a plurality of search engines. All web sites stored within the system are rated in response to the user operations. Each web site has at least a global rating indicating the rating within the system, a category rating indicating the rating within a given category, and a keyword rating indicating the rating for a given keyword. The system provides the users with a list of recommended web sites based on the web sites' ratings.

Abstract: Described herein is a system and method for enabling an application to pass a structure containing a pointer member to an external entity, wherein the application represents a computer program executing in a computer system, and the computer program is written in a computer programming language that does not support pointers. The application declares a variable V, a structure type having a member P, and a variable M of the structure type. The application invokes a function written in a computer programming language that supports pointers. A reference to the variable V is passed to the function. The function, when executed, obtains and returns an address of the variable V. The application sets the member P in the variable M equal to the address of the variable V. The application then passes the variable M to an external entity. In this manner, the present invention enables a structure having a pointer embedded therein to be passed to the external entity.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring a file from a client platform to a server platform. A procedure.sub.-- to.sub.-- invoke parameter is set equal to information identifying a file transfer procedure located at the server platform. A pointer in a first "sqlvar" parameter is caused to point to the string representing the file, and a pointer in a second sqlvar parameter is caused to point to a file name of the file. The first and second sqlvar parameters are part of an input.sub.-- args parameter. A "sqleproc" function is invoked at the client platform. The procedure.sub.-- to.sub.-- invoke and input.sub.-- args parameters are passed to the sqleproc function. The sqleproc function when executed causes the input.sub.-- args parameter to be passed to the file transfer procedure at the server platform, and also causes the file transfer procedure to be invoked at the server platform.

Abstract: A power conservation computer architecture is provided for disabling a clock signal to all peripheral devices and bus controllers located on a plurality of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) buses when it is determined that all of the PCI buses are idle. The PCI buses are determined to be idle through the use of a Power Management Unit (PMU) controller connected to the first of the plurality of PCI buses. The PMU controller first determines and stores in memory a time constant corresponding to the amount of time required for the PMU controller to read the head configuration of the farthest peripheral device from the PMU controller when there is no activity on any of the buses. Then, during the operation of the computer architecture, if the first PCI bus is determined to be idle, a comparison is made between the time constant and a measurement of the length of time required to read the head configuration of the farthest peripheral device from the PMU controller.

Abstract: A user input/output device comprises a lighted, segmented bar graph type display and an array of light transmitting touch sensitive areas superimposed over the bar graph display. A suitable circuit means is responsive to the touch sensitive areas and connected for driving the segments of the bar graph such that when any one of the touch sensitive areas is touched, a corresponding display segment and all display segments to one side are energized and the remaining display elements are de-energized.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for monitoring the internal temperature of food being cooked in the cooking cavity of a microwave oven with microwaves of a predetermined frequency having a predetermined wavelength .lambda.. The apparatus includes a needle-like temperature-sensing probe adapted for insertion into the food being cooked, the probe including a thermally-responsive electrical element positioned internally of the probe housing near the tip end. A flexible shielded cable connects the probe to circuitry responsive to thermally-induced changes in a characteristic of the electrical element, the cable shield being connected at one end to the probe housing and at the other end to a wall of the cooking cavity. The total effective electrical length of the probe and the cable, measured along the cable and probe from the cooking cavity wall to the distal end of the probe, is selected to be an integer multiple of one-half the predetermined wavelength .lambda..