Abstract: An efficient computer-implemented technique is described herein for allowing a searcher to access result items by taking into account the perspective of a beneficiary entity. In some cases, the beneficiary entity may correspond to another person besides the searcher who submits a query, on whose behalf the searcher is performing the search. The technique operates by leveraging the activity of a group of relevant users who have a similar demographic profile to the beneficiary entity, with respect to a topic of the query under consideration.

Abstract: Deployment and execution of a service in a multiple datacenter environment may be facilitated using datacenter execution templates. Developers, business managers, and other interested parties may select and/or modify a declarative execution template embodying multiple factors. The execution template may then be used to generate an execution plan, which is then executed by datacenters which run the service. The execution template may be optimized after deployment of the service, allowing for ongoing adjustment in response to changing business, regulatory, and operational factors.

Abstract: An exemplary system for managing an applications and data space includes a strategy layer configured to receive a query statement and to formulate one or more custom queries based on the query statement and a query scheduler layer configured to schedule issuance of the one or more custom queries to one or more query response modules associated with the applications and data space. Other methods, devices and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Described is a technology by which a system corresponding to a large scale application is built from subsystems that are differentiated from one another based on characteristics of each subsystem. Example characteristics include availability, reliability, redundancy, statefulness and/or performance. Subsystems are matched to known design patterns, based on each subsystem's individual characteristics. Each subsystem's characteristics are associated with that subsystem for subsequent use in operation of the system, e.g., for managing/servicing the subsystem. The known design patterns may be provided in a library, in a programming framework, in conjunction with a development tool, and/or as data associated with one or more operating system services, server systems and/or hosted services that include at least one configuration, policy and or schema. Certain design patterns and/or characteristics patterns may be blocked to prevent their usage.

Abstract: A resource selection system is described for assisting a user in performing a task that includes multiple actions. At each stage of the task, the system presents a set resources from which the user may select to perform a subsequent action in the task. The system implicitly selects the set of resources based on context information that identifies the user's current informational needs. For example, the context information may be derived from textual information that is being presented on a user device, which the user is presumed to be viewing at the current time. In one implementation, the system selects the set of resources by computing language models for respective domains and respective entities. The system uses the language models to determine the relevance of the context information to each of the domains. The system then selects resources associated with domains that have been assessed as relevant.

Abstract: An exemplary system for managing an applications and data space includes a strategy layer configured to receive a query statement and to formulate one or more custom queries based on the query statement and a query scheduler layer configured to schedule issuance of the one or more custom queries to one or more query response modules associated with the applications and data space. Other methods, devices and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Within a social network, users may form social groups based on shared traits, such as experiences and interests. The social network may be able to detect a user interest among the users of a social group in one or more products offered by one or more vendors (e.g., by evaluating conversations within the social group and search queries executed by users of the social group), and to notify the vendors of the detected user interest. The vendors may be willing to extend an offer to the users of the social group regarding the product, and the social network may present the offer to the users of the social group. The social network may also track acceptances of the offer by users of the social group, and may provide an e-commerce infrastructure to allow users to complete purchases of the product and to provide the rewards featured in the offers.

Abstract: Many contemporary computing scenarios involve the submission by a user of a search query to be applied to a data set (such as a set of web pages indexed by a web search engine.) Additionally, many users participate in social networking and have generated a social profile, including demographic information, interests, and associations with other users who also have social profiles. It may be advantageous to improve the presentation of search results from search queries by adjusting the search queries according to a prediction of user interest of the user in the topics associated with respective search results, based on the information in the social profile of the user. For example, search results relating to topics in which the user or the user's friends have expressed an interest within the social network may be presented before other search results, thereby improving the relevance of the search results to the user.

Abstract: A resource selection system is described for assisting a user in performing a task that includes multiple actions. At each stage of the task, the system presents a set resources from which the user may select to perform a subsequent action in the task. The system implicitly selects the set of resources based on context information that identifies the user's current informational needs. For example, the context information may be derived from textual information that is being presented on a user device, which the user is presumed to be viewing at the current time. In one implementation, the system selects the set of resources by computing language models for respective domains and respective entities. The system uses the language models to determine the relevance of the context information to each of the domains. The system then selects resources associated with domains that have been assessed as relevant.

Abstract: An exemplary system for managing an applications and data space includes a strategy layer configured to receive a query statement and to formulate one or more custom queries based on the query statement and a query scheduler layer configured to schedule issuance of the one or more custom queries to one or more query response modules associated with the applications and data space. Other methods, devices and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Deployment and execution of a service in a multiple datacenter environment may be facilitated using datacenter execution templates. Developers, business managers, and other interested parties may select and/or modify a declarative execution template embodying multiple factors. The execution template may then be used to generate an execution plan, which is then executed by datacenters which run the service. The execution template may be optimized after deployment of the service, allowing for ongoing adjustment in response to changing business, regulatory, and operational factors.

Abstract: A network service runtime module executing on a processor is configured to accept a directed acyclic service graph representing elements of a network service application. During execution of the service graph, runtime events are stored. The service graph may by optimized by generating alternate service graphs, and simulating performance of the alternate service graphs in a simulator using the stored runtime events. A hill climber algorithm may be used in conjunction with the simulator to vary alternate service graphs and determine which alternate service graphs provide the greatest utility. Once determined, an alternate service graph with the greatest utility may be loaded into the network service runtime module for execution.

Abstract: A strategy is described for identifying anomalies in time-series data. The strategy involves dividing the time-series data into a plurality of collected data segments and then using a modeling technique to fit local models to the collected data segments. Large deviations of the time-series data from the local models are indicative of anomalies. In one approach, the modeling technique can use an absolute value (L1) measure of error value for all of the collected data segments. In another approach, the modeling technique can use the L1 measure for only those portions of the time-series data that are projected to be anomalous. The modeling technique can use a squared-term (L2) measure of error value for normal portions of the time-series data. In another approach, the modeling technique can use an iterative expectation-maximization strategy in applying the L1 and L2 measures.

Abstract: Described is a technology by which a system corresponding to a large scale application is built from subsystems that are differentiated from one another based on characteristics of each subsystem. Example characteristics include availability, reliability, redundancy, statefulness and/or performance. Subsystems are matched to known design patterns, based on each subsystem's individual characteristics. Each subsystem's characteristics are associated with that subsystem for subsequent use in operation of the system, e.g., for managing/servicing the subsystem. The known design patterns may be provided in a library, in a programming framework, in conjunction with a development tool, and/or as data associated with one or more operating system services, server systems and/or hosted services that include at least one configuration, policy and or schema. Certain design patterns and/or characteristics patterns may be blocked to prevent their usage.

Abstract: An exemplary system for managing an applications and data space includes a strategy layer configured to receive a query statement and to formulate one or more custom queries based on the query statement and a query scheduler layer configured to schedule issuance of the one or more custom queries to one or more query response modules associated with the applications and data space. Other methods, devices and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system customizes search results. In one implementation, an exemplary system personalizes search results based on recommendations from members of online social networks to which the user belongs, who have made similar search queries in the past. The system also enables the user to arrange, insert, and delete search result entries into a customized search results queue from across multiple search engines. The user's own customizations of the search results may be shared, in turn, as recommendations for other users who submit similar search queries and who are associated with the user through online social networks. The system may automatically provide personally relevant search results for a subjective query.

Abstract: A strategy is described for identifying anomalies in time-series data. The strategy involves dividing the time-series data into a plurality of collected data segments and then using a modeling technique to fit local models to the collected data segments, Large deviations of the time-series data from the local models are indicative of anomalies In one approach, the modeling technique can use an absolute value (L1) measure of error value for all of the collected data segments. In another approach, the modeling technique can use the L1 measure for only those portions of the time-series data that are projected to be anomalous. The modeling technique can use a squared-term (L2) measure of error value for normal portions of the time-series data. In another approach, the modeling technique can use an iterative expectation-maximization strategy in applying the L1 and L2 measures.

Abstract: Internet service providers and their clients communicate by transmitting messages across one or more networks and infrastructure components. At various points between the service provider and the clients, inclusively, records may be created of each messages occurrence and status. These records may be read and analyzed to determine the effects of the networks and infrastructure components on the provided quality of service. User-effecting incidents (e.g., failures) occurring at networks may also be identified and described.