Abstract: A search system generates an ordered list of destination targets including identified individuals and data objects, based on applying a user context to an information context and to a connection context. The user context identifies a search context (i.e., the information the user is seeking) relative to an identity of the user, and the information context identifies destinations accessible by the user, including data objects and communications-based actions (e.g., voice over IP telephony calls, instant messaging session transcripts, etc.). The connection context identifies relationships between chosen destinations throughout the system, and the strength of those relationships determined from artifacts of the chosen destinations: the connection context is updated based on artifact detection. The portion of the connection context that is relevant to the user context is used to order the portion of the information context that is relevant to the user context, resulting in the ordered list of destination targets.

Abstract: A search system generates an ordered list of destination targets including identified individuals and data objects, based on applying a user context to an information context and to a connection context. The user context identifies a search context (i.e., the information the user is seeking) relative to an identity of the user, and the information context identifies destinations accessible by the user, including data objects and communications-based actions (e.g., voice over IP telephony calls, instant messaging session transcripts, etc.). The connection context identifies relationships between chosen destinations throughout the system, and the strength of those relationships determined from artifacts of the chosen destinations: the connection context is updated based on artifact detection. The portion of the connection context that is relevant to the user context is used to order the portion of the information context that is relevant to the user context, resulting in the ordered list of destination targets.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally provides techniques and apparatuses for producing, for an initiating end user, a recommended mode of communication corresponding to a targeted end user in a network environment, based on a plurality of network accessible or determinable inputs. For example, the identity of an initiating end user, the identity of a targeted end user, the current activity of the targeted end user, the communication preferences of the targeted end user, information from available databases, and other available or determinable data may be used by a contact liaison to produce a recommended mode of communication.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes identifying at least one socially relevant gesture associated with a user and identifying at least one gesture graph that identifies content associated with at least one undesirable entity. The at least one socially relevant gesture is identified while the user is interacting with a system. The content includes a plurality of socially relevant gestures associated with the at least one undesirable entity. The method also includes determining when a distance between the at least one socially relevant gesture associated with the user and the content indicates that the user is undesirable, and processing the user as being undesirable when the distance indicates that the user is undesirable.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes recording a sequence of online activities of a first user. The online activities include online consumption of online content by the first user. The method includes constructing a path based on the sequence of online activities of the first user. The path includes a sequence of online activity points that each correspond to one of the online activities in the sequence of online activities of the first user, and the path enables a second user to experience personally for themselves at least an approximation of the sequence of online activities of the first user. The method includes communicating the path for traversal of a portion of the path by the second user.

Abstract: Distributed data, having been stored in a distributed storage system as a collection of distributed data elements, is recovered based on connection of multiple user nodes, each user node having stored selected distributed data elements as a corresponding portion of the distributed data during replication of the distributed data elements throughout the distributed storage system. Each distributed data element is identifiable by a corresponding unique object identifier (OID). Each user node includes a discovery resource for discovering reachable user nodes, a local cache configured for identifying at least the corresponding portion of the distributed data based on the respective OIDs, and an identification service module configured for resolving a data object to a corresponding OID, via the corresponding local cache, or based on sending a query to the reachable user nodes. Hence, user nodes can recover distributed data based on exchanging resolution information and OID information.

Abstract: Language translation of instant messages between a sending party and a destination party is automatically performed, based on the instant messaging system automatically determining the respective language preferences of the sending and receiving parties. The instant messaging system automatically determines the respective language preferences based on existing subscriber profile attributes for the sending and receiving parties, and automatically translates between the respective language preferences, without the necessity of any manual user intervention by any of the parties during the instant messaging session.

Abstract: Distributed data, having been stored in a distributed storage system as a collection of distributed data elements, is recovered based on connection of multiple user nodes, each user node having stored selected distributed data elements as a corresponding portion of the distributed data during replication of the distributed data elements throughout the distributed storage system. Each distributed data element is identifiable by a corresponding unique object identifier (OID). Each user node includes a discovery resource for discovering reachable user nodes, a local cache configured for identifying at least the corresponding portion of the distributed data based on the respective OIDs, and an identification service module configured for resolving a data object to a corresponding OID, via the corresponding local cache, or based on sending a query to the reachable user nodes. Hence, user nodes can recover distributed data based on exchanging resolution information and OID information.

Abstract: A selection resource executed within the network is configured for selecting from among a plurality of servers, distributed throughout the network at respective network-based server locations and each configured for providing a specified service, a selected server for providing the specified service for a client device at a network-based client location. The selection resource selects the selected server based on the corresponding server location relative to the client location, and causes a request having been generated by the client device to be sent to the selected server. Hence, the selection resource optimizes client-server interactions in a distributed computing network, based on the client location and the server location.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for configuring an appliance, such as a network node, for performing s service, such as communicating with a network, controlled by a service provider include inserting into an Ethernet port on the appliance an Ethernet couple on a device that is usually small compared to the appliance. The device is configured to send through the Ethernet couple without human intervention an Internet Protocol (IP) data packet that is directed to a logical port of an established standard, such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) port 80. The IP data packet includes appliance configuration data in a message form for the established standard, such as an HTTP POST. As a result, the appliance is configured automatically for performing the service controlled by the service provider.

Abstract: An apparatus, e.g., in a network edge device, a method, and a software program product for synchronizing two or more redundant media streams, e.g., MPEG video streams. The method includes receiving network packets encapsulating redundant media streams representing the same media program, buffering the received streams, learning a program identifier for the media program, searching the packets of the redundant streams for synchronization points defined by a plurality of parameters of stream packets, synchronizing the redundant streams based on the comparison, and providing a single stream as an output stream.

Abstract: A selection resource executed within the network is configured for selecting from among a plurality of servers, distributed throughout the network at respective network-based server locations and each configured for providing a specified service, a selected server for providing the specified service for a client device at a network-based client location. The selection resource selects the selected server based on the corresponding server location relative to the client location, and causes a request having been generated by the client device to be sent to the selected server. Hence, the selection resource optimizes client-server interactions in a distributed computing network, based on the client location and the server location.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a target template and processing the target template to identify at least one component of the target template. The method also includes searching at least one collection of content to identify at least a first instance of content that substantially matches the component of the target template. The first instance of content is presented as substantially matching the component. Finally, a first arrangement that includes the first instance of content is created. Such a first arrangement is associated with a mash-up related to the target template.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises detecting, by an apparatus at a user premises, a user method executed by a user at the user premises for submitting a web request for an identified web destination, the user method being one of a plurality of available user methods for submitting the web request; associating, by the apparatus, the user method with the identified web destination specified in the web request; and outputting, by the apparatus, the web request with at least one of a user method identifier specifying the corresponding user method or a user identifier that identifies the user independent of any data structure received from any web destination.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises detecting that a user has requested presentation of a media content item from a media series having a prescribed sequence of media series events, the media content item containing a subsequent media series event from the media series; determining that the user has not consumed an antecedent media series event, the antecedent media series event not in the media content item and preceding the subsequent media series event in the prescribed sequence of media series events; and sending a message notifying the user that the user has not consumed at least the antecedent media series event, enabling the user to defer presentation of the media content item and consume the antecedent media series event.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises detecting a user selection of media content having a prescribed quality and that is authorized for presentation to the user at the prescribed quality; detecting a media presentation device to be used in presenting the media content to the user; determining, relative to the prescribed quality of the media content, whether a higher-quality version of the media content is available for presentation to the user by the media presentation device; and selectively obtaining, for presentation to the user on the media presentation device, the higher-quality version of the media content based on detecting an authorized purchase of the higher-quality version of the media content to be presented to the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for configuring an appliance, such as a network node, for performing s service, such as communicating with a network, controlled by a service provider include inserting into an Ethernet port on the appliance an Ethernet couple on a device that is usually small compared to the appliance. The device is configured to send through the Ethernet couple without human intervention an Internet Protocol (IP) data packet that is directed to a logical port of an established standard, such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) port 80. The IP data packet includes appliance configuration data in a message form for the established standard, such as an HTTP POST. As a result, the appliance is configured automatically for performing the service controlled by the service provider.

Abstract: A selection resource executed within the network is configured for selecting from among a plurality of servers, distributed throughout the network at respective network-based server locations and each configured for providing a specified service, a selected server for providing the specified service for a client device at a network-based client location. The selection resource selects the selected server based on the corresponding server location relative to the client location, and causes a request having been generated by the client device to be sent to the selected server. Hence, the selection resource optimizes client-server interactions in a distributed computing network, based on the client location and the server location.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving, by a website server device providing a website service, a request from an identified user of a user device, the request requesting network content provided within the website service; determining by the website server device an absence of new network content within the website service relative to a last prior access by the identified user to the website service; and obtaining, by the website server device for presentation to the identified user within the website service, an ordered list of network items most likely to be preferred by the identified user.

Abstract: Techniques for associating a physical location with a network interface on an intermediate network node include receiving a data packet from a device connected to a network. Based on data in the data packet, a particular network interface is determined on a first hop intermediate network node. An identity for an entity that originated the data packet is determined based on data in the data packet. A possible physical location for the entity is determined based on the identity. The identity is associated with the possible physical location in an independent data source that is accessible over the network and different from the data packet. The particular network interface is associated with a highest confidence location for the device based on the possible physical location of the entity and any former locations associated with the particular network interface.