Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing, ordering and presenting item listings are described. In one example embodiment, a search query is processed to identify item listings satisfying the search query. Then, for each item listing that satisfies the search query, a ranking score is derived and assigned to the item listing. The ranking score is based in part on a relevance score, a listing quality score and a business rules score (or, adjustment factor). Finally, the item listings are ordered, based on their corresponding ranking score, and presented in order in a search results page.

Abstract: A source storage system replicates snapshots stored on the source storage system to a target storage system. The source storage system stores a plurality of snapshots. The source storage system also stores parent child relationships between snapshots. The source storage system allows child snapshots of a parent snapshot to be modified independent of each other. The source storage system determines changed blocks of a snapshot compared to a previously transmitted snapshot and sends only the changed blocks to the target storage system. The source storage system determines the changed blocks of a snapshot compared to a previously replicated snapshot based on time of creation of a common ancestor of two snapshots. The source storage system transmits a data block of a snapshot if either the data block or a corresponding data block of the previously replicated snapshot was modified after the creation of the common ancestor snapshot.

Abstract: Techniques for enhancing content being rendered on an electronic device are described herein. In some instances, the techniques include monitoring interactions between a user and a content item that the user consumes on an electronic device. The content items may include electronic books, songs, videos, documents, or the like. In response to detecting an interaction between the user and the content item, the techniques may publish an event indicative of the interaction to an application platform that hosts one or more applications. The applications may be designed to enhance the content that the user consumes in one or more specified ways.

Abstract: Information from source databases is retrieved and stored on a database storage system. Multiple point-in-time copies are obtained for each database. A source database may contain partitions comprising sets of database tables. A partition is imported into a virtual database created. The database storage system validates the partition before importing, by checking whether the partition includes database tables that refer to database tables outside the partition. A partition imported in a virtual database may be rewinded to an older state or refreshed to a more recent state. Multiple partitions may be included in a virtual database and the state of each partition modified independent of the state of the remaining virtual database including the other partitions. Multiple versions of the same partition corresponding to different points in time are incorporated in the same virtual database, thereby allowing a query to process different versions of the same database table.

Abstract: A database storage system creates secure snapshots or virtual databases based on a source database that stores sensitive information. The database storage system applies a masking function to the sensitive data and stores the masked data in the secure snapshot. The database storage system creates secure snapshots that share masked database blocks with other secure snapshots. The database storage system shares masked database blocks by storing information identifying a previously created masked database block for a new secure snapshot. If a masked database block for the new secure snapshot is different from the previously created masked database block, the database storage system stores metadata including the difference between the two masked database blocks. The database storage system allows sharing any transformed database blocks across snapshot, if the transformed database blocks are obtained by applying a transformation function to data of the source database.

Abstract: A source storage system replicates snapshots stored on the source storage system to a target storage system. The source storage system stores a plurality of snapshots. The source storage system also stores parent child relationships between snapshots. The source storage system allows child snapshots of a parent snapshot to be modified independent of each other. The source storage system determines changed blocks of a snapshot compared to a previously transmitted snapshot and sends only the changed blocks to the target storage system. The source storage system determines the changed blocks of a snapshot compared to a previously replicated snapshot based on time of creation of a common ancestor of two snapshots. The source storage system transmits a data block of a snapshot if either the data block or a corresponding data block of the previously replicated snapshot was modified after the creation of the common ancestor snapshot.

Abstract: A database storage system allows users to modify the state of a virtual database. The database storage system provides a respective virtual database (VDB) at a respective destination, the respective VDB having a first timeflow stored in a respective container. A user can send a request to rewind a VDB. The request identifies timeflow of the VDB and a state of the VDB associated with a timeflow. The database storage system modifies the virtual database to refer to database blocks associated with a snapshot of the VDB associated with the identified timeflow. The database storage system maintains a new timeflow for the modified VDB. The database storage system also allows the virtual database to be refreshed to a state of a source database. The source database can be a database stored in an external system or a virtual database stored within the database storage system.

Abstract: A database storage system allows users to modify the state of a virtual database. The database storage system provides a respective virtual database (VDB) at a respective destination, the respective VDB having a first timeflow stored in a respective container. A user can send a request to rewind a VDB. The request identifies timeflow of the VDB and a state of the VDB associated with a timeflow. The database storage system modifies the virtual database to refer to database blocks associated with a snapshot of the VDB associated with the identified timeflow. The database storage system maintains a new timeflow for the modified VDB. The database storage system also allows the virtual database to be refreshed to a state of a source database. The source database can be a database stored in an external system or a virtual database stored within the database storage system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for using a demand metric for disambiguating a keyword entered from a user of a client machine, the keyword ambiguously identifying a product category, deriving a dominant product category that indicates the probable identity of the product category, and providing selectable images of aspects of the dominant product category for rendering at the client machine. Selection of one of the selectable images of aspects of the dominant product category disambiguates the identity of the ambiguously identified product category. Additional aspects of the disambiguated product category are then presented to the user.

Abstract: Methods and systems for using a demand metric for disambiguating a keyword entered from a client machine, the keyword identifying a product brand and ambiguously identifying a product category of the product brand; computing the dominant product category that indicates the probable identity of the product category; and providing signals representing selectable images of aspects of the dominant product category for rendering at the client machine.

Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing, ordering and presenting item listings are described. In one example embodiment, a search query is processed to identify item listings satisfying the search query. Then, for each item listing that satisfies the search query, a ranking score is derived and assigned to the item listing. The ranking score is based in part on a relevance score, a listing quality score and a business rules score (or, adjustment factor). Finally, the item listings are ordered, based on their corresponding ranking score, and presented in order in a search results page.

Abstract: A database storage system allows users to modify the state of a virtual database. The database storage system provides a respective virtual database (VDB) at a respective destination, the respective VDB having a first timeflow stored in a respective container. A user can send a request to rewind a VDB. The request identifies timeflow of the VDB and a state of the VDB associated with a timeflow. The database storage system modifies the virtual database to refer to database blocks associated with a snapshot of the VDB associated with the identified timeflow. The database storage system maintains a new timeflow for the modified VDB. The database storage system also allows the virtual database to be refreshed to a state of a source database. The source database can be a database stored in an external system or a virtual database stored within the database storage system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing, ordering and presenting item listings are described. In one example embodiment, a search query is processed to identify item listings satisfying the search query. Then, for each item listing that satisfies the search query, a ranking score is derived and assigned to the item listing. The ranking score is based in part on a relevance score, a listing quality score and a business rules score (or, adjustment factor). Finally, the item listings are ordered, based on their corresponding ranking score, and presented in order in a search results page.

Abstract: Systems and methods to search with a mobile device are described. The system may receive a request, over a network, from a device. The request may include search information to search a database and location information including a first location that identifies a location of the device. The system may further generate search results based on the search information that describes items and arranges their descriptions based on the search information, the first location, and a current event corresponding to the location of the device. The system may further arrange the descriptions of the items as a first arrangement based on an order associated with a second location that is associated with a historical event that matches the current event. The system may further communicate a user interface, over the network, to the device. The user interface include the descriptions of the items in accordance with the first arrangement.

Abstract: A method and system for determining an order of presentation of the search results is provided. An example system comprises a search request detector, a search engine, and an intermingler. The search request detector may be configured to receive a search request, and the search engine may be configured to determine search results based on the search request. The search results may comprise a first set of items of a first type and a second set of items of a second type. The number of items in the first set and the number of items in the second may reflect a predetermined target ratio. The intermingler may be configured to determine an order of presentation of the search results in a list of search results based on the target ratio.

Abstract: Methods and systems to search with a mobile device are described. The system receives a request, over a network, from a mobile device. The request includes search information to search a database and location information to identify the location of the mobile device. Next, the system generates search results based on the search information. The search results include a plurality of items. Next, the system arranges items in the search results based on the location of the mobile device. Finally, the system communicates a user interface, over the network, to the mobile device. The user interface includes the search results. The search results include the items. The arrangement of the items in the search results is based on the location of the mobile device.

Abstract: A method and system for determining an order of presentation of the search results is provided. An example system comprises a search request detector, a search engine, and an intermingler. The search request detector may be configured to receive a search request, and the search engine may be configured to determine search results based on the search request. The search results may comprise a first set of items in a first format and a second set of items in a second format. The number of items in the first set and the number of items in the second may reflect a predetermined target ratio and respective exposure percentages for items in the first format and items in the second format. The intermingler may be configured to determine an order of presentation of the search results in a list of search results based on the target ratio.

Abstract: Methods and systems for evaluating business rules for the purpose of promoting or demoting an item listing are presented. Consistent with an example embodiment, a conditional statement of a business rule that includes one or more expressions involving an item attribute and/or a seller attribute for an item listing is evaluated. If the conditional statement evaluates true, an adjustment factor set forth in the business rule is applied to a ranking score assigned to the item listing. The item listing is then presented in a search results page in a position relative to other item listings based upon the adjusted ranking score.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for generating marketplace listings using a camera enabled mobile device are described in which a request is received via a camera enabled mobile device to list one or more sale items. An image taken by the camera enable mobile device and depicting the one or more sale items is received. Image recognition is performed on the received image to identify the one or more sale items. Based on the identification of the one or more sale items depicted in the image, a set of descriptive data is automatically generated. The one or more sale items are listed on a marketplace using the image and the automatically generated set of descriptive data.

Abstract: A computer is programmed to execute a diagnostic procedure either on a pre-set schedule or asynchronously in response to an event, such as an error message, or a user command. When executed, the diagnostic procedure automatically checks for integrity of one or more portions of data in the computer, to identify any failure(s). In some embodiments, the failure(s) may be displayed to a human, after revalidation to exclude any failure that no longer exists.