Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that automatically identifies a standalone location, wherein a standalone location is a location which can be unambiguously identified by a name for the location alone. During operation, the system receives inputs from an interface for a search engine, wherein the interface includes two or more boxes, including a non-location box for receiving terms specifying what a user is searching for in a query, and a location box for receiving terms specifying a geographic location associated with the query. Next, the system receives a term to be evaluated. The system then uses the inputs to determine: a non-location score for the term which indicates how frequently the term appears in the non-location box; and a location score for the term which indicates how frequently the term appears in the location box. Next, the system determines whether the term is a standalone location based on the non-location score and the location score for the term.

Abstract: A self-governing, self-healing and self-optimizing policy oriented grid architecture. The architecture can include a hosting service configured for use in a computing grid. The hosting service can include a Web service; grid instrumentation coupled to the Web service; a Web service descriptive document; and, a service policy element disposed in the Web service descriptive document. The Web service descriptive document can include a WSDL type document. Moreover, at least one WSLA can be referenced in the WSDL type document. Notably, the service policy element can include at least one policy selected from the group consisting of a security assertion and a business rule. The security assertion can include a security assertion markup language (SAML) formatted authentication statement having a subject specifying a role identifier.