Abstract: Recommendation systems are widely used in Internet applications. In current recommendation systems, users only play a passive role and have limited control over the recommendation generation process. As a result, there is often considerable mismatch between the recommendations made by these systems and the actual user interests, which are fine-grained and constantly evolving. With a user-powered distributed recommendation architecture, individual users can flexibly define fine-grained communities of interest in a declarative fashion and obtain recommendations accurately tailored to their interests by aggregating opinions of users in such communities. By combining a progressive sampling technique with data perturbation methods, the recommendation system is both scalable and privacy-preserving.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to verifying query results of an untrusted server. A data owner outsources a data stream to the untrusted server, which is configured to respond to a query from a client with the query result, which is returned to the client. The data owner can maintain a vector associated with query results returned by the server and can generate a verification synopsis using the vector and a seed. The verification synopsis includes a polynomial, where coefficients of the polynomial are determined based on the seed. The data owner outputs the verification synopsis and the seed to a client for verification of the query results.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and/or methodology for selectivity estimation of set similarity queries. More specifically, the invention relates to a selectivity estimation technique employing hashed sampling. The invention providing for samples constructed a priori that can efficiently and quickly provide accurate estimates for arbitrary queries, and can be updated efficiently as well.

Abstract: Computer program products are provided for anonymizing a database that includes tuples. A respective tuple includes at least one quasi-identifier and sensitive attributes associated with the quasi-identifier. These computer program products include computer readable program code that is configured to (k,e)-anonymize the tuples over a number k of different values in a range e of values, while preserving coupling at least two of the sensitive attributes to one another in the sets of attributes that are anonymized to provide a (k,e)-anonymized database. Related computer systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A data structure that includes at least one partition containing non-confidential quasi-identifier microdata and at least one other partition containing confidential microdata is formed. The partitioned confidential microdata is disguised by transforming the confidential microdata to conform to a target distribution. The disguised confidential microdata and the quasi-identifier microdata are combined to generate a disguised data structure. The disguised data structure is used to carry out statistical analysis and to respond to a statistical query is directed to the use of confidential microdata. In this manner, the privacy of the confidential microdata is preserved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for optimizing queries. The present invention discloses an efficient method for providing answers to queries under parametric aggregation constraints.

Abstract: A vast amount of information currently accessible over the Web, and in corporate networks, is stored in a variety of databases, and is being exported as XML data. However, querying this totality of information in a declarative and timely fashion is problematic because this set of databases is dynamic, and a common schema is difficult to maintain. The present invention provides a solution to the problem of issuing declarative, ad hoc XPath queries against such a dynamic collection of XML databases, and receiving timely answers. There is proposed a decentralized architectures, under the open and the agreement cooperation models between a set of sites, for processing queries and updates to XML data. Each site consists of XML data nodes. (which export their data as XML, and also pose queries) and one XML router node (which manages the query and update interactions between sites). The architectures differ in the degree of knowledge individual router nodes have about data nodes containing specific XML data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ranked join indices includes a solution providing performance guarantees for top-k join queries over two relations, when preprocessing to construct a ranked join index for a specific join condition is permitted. The concepts of ranking join indices presented herein are also applicable in the case of a single relation. In this case, the concepts herein provide a solution to the top-k selection problem with monotone linear functions, having guaranteed worst case search performance for the case of two ranked attributes and arbitrary preference vectors.

Abstract: A method of receiving content includes joining an in-progress multicast stream to receive a first portion of a content. The method further includes sending a request to a peer for a catch-up portion of the content, the request including a deadline for delivery of the content, and receiving the catch-up portion of the content from the peer prior to the deadline.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for optimizing queries. The present invention discloses an efficient method for providing answers to queries under parametric aggregation constraints.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer instructions on computer readable media are disclosed for optimizing a query, including a first join path, a second join path, and an optimizer, to efficiently provide high quality information from large, multiple databases. The methods and systems include evaluating a schema graph identifying the join paths between a field X and a field Y, and a value X=x, to identify the top-few values of Y=y that are reachable from a specified X=x value when using the join paths. Each data path that instantiates the schema join paths can be scored and evaluated as to the quality of the data with respect to specified integrity constraints to alleviate data quality problems. Agglomerative scoring methodologies can be implemented to compute high quality information in the form of a top-few answers to a specified problem as requested by the query.

Abstract: A system for a data stream management system includes a filter transport aggregate for a high speed input data stream with a plurality of packets each packet comprising attributes. The system includes an evaluation system to evaluate the high speed input data stream and partitions the packets into groups the attributes and a table, wherein the table stores the attributes of each packets using a hash function. A phantom query is used to define partitioned groups of packets using attributes other than those used to group the packets for solving user queries without performing the user queries on the high speed input data stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ranked join indices includes a solution providing performance guarantees for top-k join queries over two relations, when preprocessing to construct a ranked join index for a specific join condition is permitted. The concepts of ranking join indices presented herein are also applicable in the case of a single relation. In this case, the concepts herein provide a solution to the top-k selection problem with monotone linear functions, having guaranteed worst case search performance for the case of two ranked attributes and arbitrary preference vectors.

Abstract: A vast amount of information currently accessible over the Web, and in corporate networks, is stored in a variety of databases, and is being exported as XML data. However, querying this totality of information in a declarative and timely fashion is problematic because this set of databases is dynamic, and a common schema is difficult to maintain. The present invention provides a solution to the problem of issuing declarative, ad hoc XPath queries against such a dynamic collection of XML databases, and receiving timely answers. There is proposed a decentralized architectures, under the open and the agreement cooperation models between a set of sites, for processing queries and updates to XML data. Each site consists of XML data nodes. (which export their data as XML, and also pose queries) and one XML router node (which manages the query and update interactions between sites). The architectures differ in the degree of knowledge individual router nodes have about data nodes containing specific XML data.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for receiving a data stream of multi-dimensional items, collecting a sample of the data stream having a predetermined number of items and dividing the sample into a plurality of subsamples, each subsample corresponding to a single dimension of each of the predetermined number of items. A query is then executed on a particular item in at least two of the subsamples to generate data for the corresponding subsample. This data is combined into a single value.

Abstract: Distribution of content between publishers and consumers is accomplished using an overlay network that may make use of XML language to facilitate content identification. The overlay network includes a plurality of routers that may be in communication with each other and the publishers and consumers on the Internet. Content and queries are identified by content descriptors that are routed from the originator to a nearest router in the overlay network. The nearest router, for each unique content descriptor, generates a hash identification of the content descriptor which is used by remaining routers in the overlay network to provide the appropriate functions with respect to the content descriptor. In particular, this allows all routers in the overlay network except the nearest router to properly route content without processing every content descriptor.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer instructions on computer readable media are disclosed for optimizing a query, including a first join path, a second join path, and an optimizer, to efficiently provide high quality information from large, multiple databases. The methods and systems include evaluating a schema graph identifying the join paths between a field X and a field Y, and a value X=x, to identify the top-few values of Y=y that are reachable from a specified X=x value when using the join paths. Each data path that instantiates the schema join paths can be scored and evaluated as to the quality of the data with respect to specified integrity constraints to alleviate data quality problems. Agglomerative scoring methodologies can be implemented to compute high quality information in the form of a top-few answers to a specified problem as requested by the query.

Abstract: A system for a data stream management system includes a filter transport aggregate for a high speed input data stream with a plurality of packets each packet comprising attributes. The system includes an evaluation system to evaluate the high speed input data stream and partitions the packets into groups the attributes and a table, wherein the table stores the attributes of each packets using a hash function. A phantom query is used to define partitioned groups of packets using attributes other than those used to group the packets for solving user queries without performing the user queries on the high speed input data stream.

Abstract: A method including receiving a plurality of elements of a data stream, storing a multi-dimensional data structure in a memory, said multi-dimensional data structure storing the plurality of elements as a hierarchy of nodes, each node having a frequency count corresponding to the number of elements stored therein, comparing the frequency count of each node to a threshold value based on a total number of the elements stored in the nodes and identifying each node for which the frequency count is at least as great as the threshold value as a hierarchical heavy hitter (HHH) node and propagating the frequency count of each non-HHH nodes to its corresponding parent nodes.

Abstract: Distribution of content between publishers and consumers is accomplished using an overlay network that may make use of XML language to facilitate content identification. The overlay network includes a plurality of routers that may be in communication with each other and the publishers and consumers on the Internet. Content and queries are identified by content descriptors that are routed from the originator to a nearest router in the overlay network. The nearest router, for each unique content descriptor, generates a hash identification of the content descriptor which is used by remaining routers in the overlay network to provide the appropriate functions with respect to the content descriptor. In particular, this allows all routers in the overlay network except the nearest router to properly route content without processing every content descriptor.