Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises identifying, in a network, user selection preferences of an identified user having accessed the network, the identifying based on an accumulation of user selection inputs executed by the identified user, the user selection inputs accumulated relative to input options presented to the user and identifying respective available network items; classifying, by an apparatus in the network, the identified user into one of multiple user affinity categories relative to an advertisement campaign for a targeted product, the classifying based on determining whether one of the user selection inputs represents a view gesture of the user having viewed the targeted product; and selecting an advertisement asset for delivery to the identified user based on the classifying of the identified user into the one user affinity category.

Abstract: The present invention includes a device, method, and user interface for providing optimized entry of alphanumeric text. In one form, a method for providing selectable characters within a user interface includes determining an operating mode of a communication device and receiving an input associated with a selected input key. The method determines a group of characters associated with the selected key based on the operating mode and displays the group of characters within the user interface. The user interface may display a first character of the group of characters within a first portion of the user interface and the group of characters proximal to the first character within a second portion of the user interface.

Abstract: Techniques for presenting identification of a remote network entity to a human user include determining one or more vectors of presentation elements that are readily distinguishable and memorable to a user. Message data is received from a remote process on the network and includes a network identity that uniquely identifies an associated remote entity. The network identity is input to a secure function to produce a secure number. A secure function produces dissimilar output values for similar input values. A particular presentation element is selected from a vector based only on the secure number and presented to the user. Even when the network identity is similar to that of a trusted entity, the particular presentation element is expected to be dissimilar to one associated with the trusted entity.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises identifying user selection preferences of an identified user having accessed the network, the identifying based on an accumulation of user selection inputs executed by the identified user, relative to input options presented to the user and identifying respective available network items, the accumulation including an identification of the input options not having been selected by the identified user; determining a group of network users having a highest correlation of shared interests with the identified user, based on identifying preferred network items for the identified user, and identifying first network users providing highest relative user affinity values for each of the preferred network items; and determining at least one of new network items most likely to be preferred by the identified user, based on determining, from among network items not presented to the identifier user, the preferred network items for each of the first network users in the group.

Abstract: A network provides distributed client services based on participation in respective resource groups by computing nodes, each resource group including a corresponding resource requirement for any computing node that joins the corresponding resource group for execution of the corresponding distributed client service. Each computing node, in response to determining its corresponding available node capacity, is configured for selectively creating and joining at least one new resource group for execution of a corresponding distributed client service having a corresponding resource requirement, and/or selectively joining at least one of the available resource groups, based on the corresponding available node capacity satisfying the corresponding resource requirement. Each distributed client service also includes service attributes that define parameters for execution of the distributed client service, and data attributes that define the attributes required for data to be used in the distributed client service.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises identifying an identifiable video object from a video picture of a digital video having video content and commercial content, the video picture contained within the video content; encoding the identifiable video object as a video overlay object; encoding the commercial content based on generating a first key frame, and storing the video overlay object within the first key frame as an object that is not displayed as part of the commercial content; and encoding the video picture based on generating a second key frame that includes a default video object in place of the identifiable video object, the default video object including an overlay reference to the video overlay object within the first key frame, wherein unavailability of the video overlay object during rendering of the second key frame causes display of the default video object to visually corrupt the video picture.

Abstract: A Domain Name System (DNS) server is configured for dynamically selecting, for a client device, a selected resolution from available resolutions, the selected resolution identifying at least one destination for the specified service. The dynamic selection of the selected resolution is based on an attribute of the client device and/or a determined attribute of the network. Hence, the selected resolution directs the client device to a specific server based on prescribed selection criteria, for example service level agreements, the location of the client device, network performance or detected congestion conditions, authentication of the user of the client device, etc. The selected resolution also can be for enforcement of load balancing policies.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing a search using a search keyword and associated aliases for the search keyword are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method includes obtaining a search keyword via a user interface, and obtaining a search keyword via a user interface and automatically determining if there is at least one alias for the search keyword by searching a first database using the search keyword. The first database is a profile database that is configured to include a plurality of profiles that contain contact information, including a first profile that contains the search keyword. The method also includes automatically searching for at least one document using the alias if there is one, and the search keyword. The document is associated with a document data source.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer readable medium to encode a series of quantized transform coefficients. The method includes identifying events that each includes a run of one or more non-zero-valued coefficients, and for each such event, encoding the event with a codeword that for at least some events, relatively more likely-to-occur events are encoded by a shorter codeword than relatively less likely-to-occur events, and for each identified event, jointly encoding according to an amplitude coding method, a plurality of consecutive values in the run of consecutive non-zero-valued coefficients. The method is applicable to encoding a region in the series where there is likely to be a cluster of non-zero-valued coefficient.

Abstract: Coding quantized transform coefficients as occur in image compression includes, for a subset of coefficient amplitude values coding by a first method corresponding to each amplitude of the subset, events of a run of zero or more zero-valued coefficients ending in the single non-zero amplitude, coding by a second method events of a run of zero or more zero-valued coefficients ending in any single non-zero amplitude not in the subset, and coding by a third method the amplitude values of the concatenation of the non-zero amplitude not in the subset. The coding methods produce variable length codewords. The method is suitable for series that have scattered non-zero-valued coefficients.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, a method for editing a web page includes identifying a plurality of components that collectively form a programmatic representation of a first web page. At least one of the components has content that dynamically changes in response to data retrieved externally from the content. A second web page is generated. The second web page includes a plurality of parameters. Each parameter of the second web page corresponds to a respective one of the identified plurality of components. One or more modifications made to the plurality of parameters are interpreted. A programmatic representation of a third web page is generated, the generation based at least in part on the interpretation.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of image compression, and a memory to store a data structure for compression. The method includes, for an ordered series of quantized coefficients of a transform of an image block, forming from the series events that are a run of non-zero-valued coefficients in a first contiguous region defined by a breakpoint, a run of zero-valued coefficients in the first region, or a run of zero-valued coefficients that ends in a non-zero-amplitude coefficient in a second region defined by the breakpoint. A codeword is formed for each runlength of non-zero-valued and zero-valued coefficients in the first region using a first and a second coding method, respectively, and, and encoding the runs of zero-valued coefficient that end in a non-zero value in the second region according to a third coding method, including providing an exception codeword when the ending amplitude is not 1.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for using a presence status to generate a list of possible contacts based on a partial entry of a contact address are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method includes obtaining at least a partial entry of a destination address that identifies a first destination to be accessed. The method also includes identifying a plurality of potential destinations that each includes the partial entry, and determining a presence status of each potential destination. Finally, the method also includes ordering the potential destinations based on the presence status of each potential destination.

Abstract: Determining presence status associated with a user includes receiving presence statuses of endpoints associated with a first user. It is determined whether an endpoint exhibits significant activity. If an endpoint exhibits significant activity, it is determined whether any other endpoint is co-located with that endpoint. An aggregate presence status is generated from the presence status of the at least one endpoint and presence status of the other endpoint.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identifying experts in a subject area are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method includes receiving a request to locate a source of expertise in a subject area within an enterprise, and determining if there is at least one individual associated with the enterprise that has the expertise in the subject area. The method also includes identifying the individual if it is determined that there is the at least one individual who has the expertise in the subject area by comparing a profile associated with an initiator of the request with a profile associated with the individual. Information associated with the individual is provided such that the individual may be identified as the source of expertise in the subject area.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and carrier medium to encode a series of quantized transform coefficients. The method includes identifying events that each includes a run of zero-valued coefficients preceding a run of one or more non-zero-valued coefficients, and for each such event, jointly encoding the run lengths of the preceding run of zero-valued coefficients and the following run of non-zero-valued coefficients with a codeword, such that for at least some events, relatively more likely-to-occur pairs of runlengths are encoded by a shorter codeword than relatively less likely-to-occur runlengths. The method further includes encoding each amplitude in the run of consecutive non-zero-valued coefficients, and encoding the signs of such coefficients. The method is applicable to encoding a region in the series where there is likely to be a cluster of non-zero-valued coefficients.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises supplying, by a network node to a peer network node, a randomization seed assigned to the network node for generating a prescribed sequence of pseudorandom numbers according to a prescribed pseudorandom number generation function; encoding each data block having a corresponding position in an ordered sequence of a stream of data blocks, by the network node into a corresponding differentially-encoded data block based on applying a product of the corresponding data block and the corresponding pseudorandom number, having the corresponding position in the prescribed sequence, to a corresponding successively-preceding differentially-encoded data block from the prescribed ordered sequence, the data block recoverable solely based on a determined difference between the corresponding differentially-encoded data block and the corresponding successively-preceding differentially-encoded data block relative to the corresponding pseudorandom number; and outputting each differentially-e

Abstract: The present invention includes a method, device, and database for providing communication addresses for communication devices. In one form, a method for providing a communication address for establishing communication with a communication device is disclosed. The method includes receiving an input character associated with a selectable communication address and determining a communication address reference based upon a communication criteria associated with the input character. The communication device may then display a communication address reference within a user interface in response to determining a communication address.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a list of suggested attendees for a meeting that is being scheduled using a conferencing system are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a conferencing system includes an interface that receives a keyword associated with a meeting. The system also includes a data store that stores information, logic that searches the data store to determine if a first association between the keyword and a first entity of the plurality of entities is stored, and logic that identifies the first entity as a suggested attendee for the meeting if it is determined that the association between the keyword and the entity is stored in the data store.

Abstract: A network provides distributed database services based on replicating data records to a new storage location that is closest to consumers of the data records, based on comparing a network distance between the new storage location and an attribute identifying a center of activity of at least one data element, relative to the network distance between any existing storage location in the center of activity. If the new storage location is closer to the center of activity relative to any of the other existing stores locations, than at least the one data element associated with the center of activity is copied to the new storage location. Multiple centers of activity may be utilized for respective data records, enabling data records to be copied on a per-record basis, or grouped as needed.