Abstract: A method for template based recognition of food product information includes capturing an image of food product packaging and extracting an attribute from the image. The attribute is used to find a matching template in a template-database. The matching template is then used to extract food product information from the image.

Abstract: Presented are systems and methods, as well as computer-readable media, for obtaining search results according to an expanded search query that is automatically generated from the received search query. An expanded search query is generated according to the received search query, the related entity data, and the determined search model. According to various embodiments, in response to receiving a search query, an entity is identified from the search query. Related entity data that is related to the identified entity is obtained. A search model for obtaining search results for the identified entity is determined. An expanded search query is generated for the received search query. Search results matching the expanded search query are identified and a search results presentation is generated according to the matching search results. The search results presentation is returned in response to the search query.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for augmenting a social snippet with an augmentation tagline. For example, a search user may submit a search query through a search interface (e.g., “algebra help” search query). An entity associated with the search query may be identified (e.g., a math professor). A set of taglines associated with the entity may be retrieved (e.g., descriptive information about the math professor extracted from social networks, documents, websites, etc.). A social snippet for the entity may be augmented with an augmentation tagline selected from the set of taglines or generated based upon information relating to the entity. The augmented social snippet may be displayed through the search interface, and the augmentation tagline may indicate a relevance of the entity to the search user (e.g., an indication that the math professor teaches algebra at a university attended by the search user).

Abstract: Presented are systems and methods, as well as computer-readable media, for responding to a search query for content (or references to content) relating to a person identified in the search query. According to various embodiments, upon receiving a search query from a computer user, related entity data is obtained from at least one related entity source for the identified person. Related entity data comprises at least one of a related entity (or entities) or a category associated with the identified person. An expanded search query is generated according to the search query from the computer user and the related entity data. Search results are obtained according to the expanded search query and a search results presentation is generated and returned to the computer user in response to the search query.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing improved news results to a news query according to entity expansion are presented. In response to receiving a news query from a computer user, a news engine identifies one or more interest entities of the computer user. Expanded entity data corresponding to the one or more interest entities is obtained, the expanded entity data identifying related entities to the one or more interest entities. The expanded entity data also includes category data corresponding to the categories of the one or more interest entities. Expanded news queries are generated according to the interest entities, the related entities, and category entities corresponding to the categories. News results are obtained according to the expanded news queries and a news presentation is generated and returned to the computer user.

Abstract: A method for deconvolution of digital images includes obtaining a degraded image from a digital sensor, a processor accepting output from the digital sensor and recognizing a distorted element within the image. The distorted element is compared with a true shape of the element to produce a degrading function. The degrading function is deconvolved from at least a portion of the image to improve image quality of the image. A method of indirectly decoding a barcode includes obtaining an image of a barcode using an optical sensor in a mobile computing device, the image comprising barcode marks and a textual character. The textual character is optically recognized and an image degrading characteristic is identified from the textual character. Compensating for the image degrading characteristic renders previously undecodable barcode marks decodable. A system for deconvolution of digital images is also included.

Abstract: A method for deconvolution of digital images includes obtaining a degraded image from a digital sensor, a processor accepting output from the digital sensor and recognizing a distorted element within the image. The distorted element is compared with a true shape of the element to produce a degrading function. The degrading function is deconvolved from at least a portion of the image to improve image quality of the image. A method of indirectly decoding a barcode includes obtaining an image of a barcode using an optical sensor in a mobile computing device, the image comprising barcode marks and a textual character. The textual character is optically recognized and an image degrading characteristic is identified from the textual character. Compensating for the image degrading characteristic renders previously undecodable barcode marks decodable. A system for deconvolution of digital images is also included.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for resolving a search query for a person using an image of the person are provided. An image index containing web images and links to the web images is created. Identifiers of the web images are mapped to the links to the web images and stored in the image index. A search query for a person is received. Upon recognizing the intent of the search query is to find information about the person, at least one digital image related to the person is selected, and an identifier of the digital image is submitted to the image index. The identifier of the digital image is compared against the identifiers of the stored web images and determined to correspond to an identifier of a web image. A link mapped to the identifier of the web image is read and distributed for presentation to a user.

Abstract: A method for noise removal from color barcode images includes acquiring a barcode image using a color imaging array and separating the barcode image into color channels. Weighting factors are associated with the color channels and at least one weighting factor is reduced. The weighting factors are applied to the color channels to produce a first transformed image. A portion of the first transformed image is analyzed to produce a first set of decoded data from the barcode.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for analyzing information from social media websites and providing advertisements based on this information. Social media websites are analyzed to determine topics of conversation and, for particular users, areas of interest, levels of expertise, and areas of influence over other users. User information, content, and relationships may be analyzed across different social media websites to match users on different social media websites to a single actual person and thereby obtain additional information about that person. Advertisements may be created which are targeted to a very specific type of user, such as by targeting a particular interest, level of expertise, etc. Users of the social media websites may be qualified according to their interest, expertise, and area of influence and particular users may be chosen for advertisements based on these metrics. Advertisements may be presented to particular qualified users and not to general users.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for analyzing information from social media websites and providing advertisements based on this information. Social media websites are analyzed to determine topics of conversation and, for particular users, areas of interest, levels of expertise, and areas of influence over other users. User information, content, and relationships may be analyzed across different social media websites to match users on different social media websites to a single actual person and thereby obtain additional information about that person. Advertisements may be created which are targeted to a very specific type of user, such as by targeting a particular interest, level of expertise, etc. Users of the social media websites may be qualified according to their interest, expertise, and area of influence and particular users may be chosen for advertisements based on these metrics. Advertisements may be presented to particular qualified users and not to general users.

Abstract: A method for deconvolution of digital images includes obtaining a degraded image from a digital sensor, a processor accepting output from the digital sensor and recognizing a distorted element within the image. The distorted element is compared with a true shape of the element to produce a degrading function. The degrading function is deconvolved from at least a portion of the image to improve image quality of the image. A method of indirectly decoding a barcode includes obtaining an image of a barcode using an optical sensor in a mobile computing device, the image comprising barcode marks and a textual character. The textual character is optically recognized and an image degrading characteristic is identified from the textual character. Compensating for the image degrading characteristic renders previously undecodable barcode marks decodable. A system for deconvolution of digital images is also included.

Abstract: A method for noise removal from color barcode images includes acquiring a barcode image using a color imaging array and separating the barcode image into color channels. Weighting factors are associated with the color channels and at least one weighting factor is reduced. The weighting factors are applied to the color channels to produce a first transformed image. A portion of the first transformed image is analyzed to produce a first set of decoded data from the barcode.

Abstract: A method for template based recognition of food product information includes capturing an image of food product packaging and extracting an attribute from the image. The attribute is used to find a matching template in a template-database. The matching template is then used to extract food product information from the image.

Abstract: A method for supply chain management using mobile devices with a server on an electronic data network includes receiving identifying information for a product transmitted from a mobile device via the network, the server being periodically updated with product recall data. The server queries a traceability server via the network for master data and event data related to the product using the identifying information. The server processes the recall data, master data, and event data to produce product data which is output to the mobile device.