Abstract: A search server receives a first grammar rule and a second grammar rule via a network communication device. The first grammar rule specifies a first set of entity types and the second grammar rule specifies a second set of entity types. The intersection of the first and second sets includes at least one entity type. The search server generates a first grammar tree to represent the first grammar rule and a second grammar tree to represent the second grammar rule. The first root node of the first grammar tree and a second root node of the second grammar tree are identical. The search server merges the first and second grammar trees to form a merged grammar tree that represents a union of the first and second sets of entity types. The search server optimizes the merged grammar tree by purging duplicate nodes from each level of the merged grammar tree.

Abstract: A method includes retrieving event analytics data for a software application installed on a plurality of user devices. The event analytics data indicates a number of times each of the application states of the software application were accessed by the user devices. The method further includes mapping function names to the application states, each of which indicates a functionality associated with the software application. The method further includes determining a usage fraction value for each of the function names based on the number of times each of the function names was mapped and assigning function keywords to an application search record associated with the software application based on the usage fraction values. Additionally, the method includes receiving a query, identifying the application search record based on a match between the query and the function keywords, generating search results based on the identified application search record, and transmitting the search results.

Abstract: A computerized link generation system includes a webpage data acquisition module that receives a first web URL from a link requesting device and requests webpage data from the specified web server. From the webpage data, access data and rendering data is extracted, including a text string and an image. Each stored access mechanism template includes web URL matching data and a set of parameter types. The access mechanism generation module generates a first access mechanism by populating a selected access mechanism template with the extracted access data based on a mapping of the extracted access data to the set of parameter types. The first access mechanism invokes specific functionality of a native application. A rendering module arranges the display of the extracted rendering data. A transmission device provides the first access mechanism with the arranged extracted rendering data to the link requesting device.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a search query from a user device, determining a geographic search location, and determining geographic endpoint locations for search lines. The search lines radiate outwardly from the geographic search location in predetermined directions. The method includes determining geographic boundaries of a search area for the search query by connecting stored ones of the geographic endpoint locations for the search lines. The method includes determining, from the entity records stored in the memory, search results entities that have geographic locations within the geographic boundaries of the search area and satisfy the search query. The method includes obtaining access mechanisms associated with the search results entities. Each access mechanism, when executed by the user device, causes the user device to transition an application to a corresponding specific state. The method includes transmitting, to the user device, the access mechanisms and link data for the search results entities.

Abstract: A method includes retrieving event analytics data for a software application installed on a plurality of user devices. The event analytics data indicates a number of times each of the application states of the software application were accessed by the user devices. The method further includes mapping function names to the application states accessed by the user devices, each of the function names indicating a functionality associated with the software application. The method further includes determining a usage fraction value for each of the function names, the usage fraction value for each function name indicating the number of times the function name was mapped relative to the number of times each of the function names was mapped. Additionally, the method includes receiving a search query, generating search results based on at least one of the usage fraction values, and transmitting search results.

Abstract: A method includes retrieving, at computing devices, event analytics data for a software application installed on user devices. The event analytics data indicates an amount of time each accessible application state was accessed by the user devices. The method includes mapping function names indicating functionality to the application states. The method includes determining an amount of time associated with application states corresponding to each function name. The method includes determining a usage fraction for each of the function names indicating the amount of time associated with the function name relative to the rest of the function names. The method includes assigning function keywords to an application search record associated with the software application based on the usage fractions. The method includes, in response to a search query, identifying and transmitting an application search record based on a match between terms of the search query and terms of the function keywords.

Abstract: A method of operating a geo-fence pre-caching system that includes a cache server and caches is provided. The method includes receiving from a user device and at a cache server a query wrapper including a cache identifier and a location of the user device. The cache server is implemented in a cloud-based network. The method includes selecting a cache based on the cache identifier. The method includes mapping the location to a first geographical area and accessing a cache entry of a cache record based on the first geographical area. The cache entry indicates the first geographical area. The method includes, based on content of the cache entry, accessing cache entries corresponding to geographical areas adjacent to the first geographical area. The content of the cache entry links to the cache entries. The method includes retrieving and formatting content included in the cache entries for presentation at the user device.

Abstract: A system provides search results in response to a search query. The system includes a query understanding module configured to receive the search query and output a processed search query based on the search query. The search query includes one or more words and the processed search query selectively includes tags assigned to the one or more words. The system includes a fuzzy knowledge module configured to receive the processed search query, generate a set of candidate tags for selected ones of the words in the search query, and selectively validate the candidate tags. The system is configured to provide the search results to a user device based in part on the candidate tags generated and validated by the fuzzy knowledge module.

Abstract: An advertisement (ad) server that receives ad campaigns from advertiser computers. An ad campaign includes conditions that trigger the ad. The ad server stores the ad campaigns in ad records of an ad data store. The ad server receives an ad request from a mobile computing device. The ad request includes contextual data that indicates a context of the mobile computing device. The ad server provides an ad to the mobile computing device, if the ad server determines that the conditions associated with the ad are satisfied based on the contextual data included in the ad request.

Abstract: Methods for ranking search results are disclosed. The methods include obtaining an unranked set of functionally similar search that all correspond to an action. The methods further include retrieving a ranking vector corresponding to the action. The ranking vector identifies a plurality of software applications that perform a function corresponding to the action and a ranking range for each of the plurality of software applications. The methods further include iteratively ranking the functionally similar search results of the unranked set to obtain a ranked set of functionally similar search results. The ranking is based on the retrieved ranking vector and a random number generator that generates random numbers between the minimum value and the maximum value of the ranking vector.

Abstract: An on-demand executable system includes an application acquisition engine configured to acquire a first application that is programmed to perform a first function and a second function. An applet extractor includes a function analyzer configured to analyze the first application to identify functions that the first application is programmed to perform. The identified functions include the first function. The applet extractor includes a code analyzer configured to analyze code of the first application to identify first code segments that implement the first function. The applet extractor includes an applet packager configured to package the first code segments into a first executable. An executable request servicer is configured to, in response to a request, transmit the first executable to a user device.

Abstract: A mobile device includes a user interface allowing a user to enter search parameters. A query wrapper module generates a query wrapper based on the entered search parameters. A search system communication module transmits the query wrapper to a search system and receives a set of results from the search system. A first result corresponds to a first applet. A results presentation module displays the set of results to the user. An access mechanism module, in response to the user selecting the first result, selectively triggers an applet request to be sent to an applet distribution system. The applet request instructs the applet distribution system to transmit the first applet to the mobile device. The first applet includes native code for execution on an operating system of the mobile device. The first applet from the applet distribution system is executed.

Abstract: An on-demand executable system includes an application acquisition engine configured to acquire a first application that is programmed to perform a first function and a second function. An applet extractor includes a function analyzer configured to analyze the first application to identify functions that the first application is programmed to perform. The identified functions include the first function. The applet extractor includes a code analyzer configured to analyze code of the first application to identify first code segments that implement the first function. The applet extractor includes an applet packager configured to package the first code segments into a first executable. An executable request servicer is configured to, in response to a request, transmit the first executable to a user device.

Abstract: Techniques include, for an application (app) state record including an app access mechanism (AAM) that references a native app and indicates operations for it to perform and app state information (ASI) that describes a state of the app after it performs the operations, determining connections (e.g., links with other resources) associated with the app and generating a quality value indicating quality of the app based on the connections. The techniques further include identifying the record based on a search query and the quality value (e.g., using the value as a boost factor within Lucene® information retrieval software). Additionally, or alternatively, the techniques include generating a result score for the record based on the quality value and selecting the record from among other records based on the score. The techniques also include selecting the AAM from the record and transmitting the AAM to the user device as a search result.

Abstract: Techniques include, for an application (app) record specifying a software app and including an app download address (ADA) for downloading the app, determining connections (e.g., links to and from other resources) associated with the app and generating a quality value indicating the quality of the app based on the connections. In some examples, the techniques further include receiving a search query from a user device and identifying the record based on the query and the quality value (e.g., using the value as a boost factor within Lucene® information retrieval software). Additionally, or alternatively, the techniques include identifying the record based on the search query, generating a result score for the record based on the quality value, and selecting the record from among other records based on the score. The techniques also include selecting the ADA from the record and transmitting the ADA to the user device as a search result.

Abstract: Techniques include, for an application (app) record specifying a software app and including an app download address (ADA) for downloading the app, determining connections (e.g., links to and from other resources, such as other apps, APIs, app libraries, and websites) associated with the app and determining terms (e.g., keywords) associated with resources connected with the app by the connections. In some examples, the techniques include receiving a search query from a user device and identifying the record based on (e.g., matches between) the query and the terms. Additionally, or alternatively, the techniques include identifying the record based on the search query, generating a result score for the record based on the terms, and selecting the record from among other records based on the score. The techniques also include selecting the ADA from the record and transmitting the ADA to the user device as search results.

Abstract: Techniques include, for application (app) records each specifying a software app and including an app download address (ADA) for downloading the app, determining connections (e.g., links to and from other resources) associated with the apps. The techniques include receiving a search query from a user device and identifying multiple ones of the app records using the query. In some examples, the techniques include determining that the apps specified by the identified records are connected by the connections with another app specified by another record and including the other record in the identified records. In other examples, the techniques include determining that the apps are connected by the connections with another app specified by another record identified using the query and generating a result score for the other record based on the determination. The techniques include selecting the ADAs from the identified records and transmitting the ADAs to the user device.

Abstract: A mobile computing device that is configured to: display an icon for a native application via an application launcher, the icon comprises a first image, the application launcher being configured to launch the native application into a first state upon receiving a user selection of the first image; receive a data object that includes information regarding a second state of the native application, the information comprises: an access mechanism that provides access to the second state; and a second image that corresponds with the second state; display the second image in association with the icon, the second image being displayed in conjunction with the first image; launch the native application into the first state in response to the user selection corresponding with the first image; and launch the native application into the second state in response to the user selection corresponding with the second image.

Abstract: A mobile computing device includes a computing processor that displays an indication in association with a native application icon to indicate that an advertised state of the native application can be accessed by pressing and holding the icon. The mobile computing device receives a user selection includes a press-and-hold of the native application icon. In response to the user selection, the mobile computing device displays a preview of the advertisement state adjacent to the icon. An application launcher is configured to launch the native application into the advertised state upon receiving a user selection that includes a press of the advertisement preview. The computing processor launches the native application into the advertised state via an access mechanism associated with the advertised state upon receiving a user selection of the advertisement preview.

Abstract: A device that displays signed application cards. The device receives a card object that includes: an application function identifier that identifies an application function of a native application, a digital signature, and a certificate that comprises a public key. The device verifies the authenticity of the digital signature with the public key in the certificate. The device determines that the certificate is signed by a developer of the native application referenced by the card object. The device renders an application card on the display based on the information included in the card object. The application card includes a text string, an image, an audio, and/or an image. The device overlays an indicator onto the application card. The indicator indicates that the authenticity of the digital signature has been verified. The indicator also indicates that the developer of the native application authorized the rendering of the application card.