Abstract: Methods and systems for extending keyword searching techniques to syntactically and semantically annotated data are provided. Example embodiments provide a Syntactic Query Engine (“SQE”) that parses, indexes, and stores a data set as an enhanced document index with document terms as well as information pertaining to the grammatical roles of the terms and ontological and other semantic information. In one embodiment, the enhanced document index is a form of term-clause index, that indexes terms and syntactic and semantic annotations at the clause level. The enhanced document index permits the use of a traditional keyword search engine to process relationship queries as well as to process standard document level keyword searches. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Land classification based on analysis of image data. Feature extraction techniques may be used to generate a feature stack corresponding to the image data to be classified. A user may identify training data from the image data from which a classification model may be generated using one or more machine learning techniques applied to one or more features of the image. In this regard, the classification module may in turn be used to classify pixels from the image data other than the training data. Additionally, quantifiable metrics regarding the accuracy and/or precision of the models may be provided for model evaluation and/or comparison. Additionally, the generation of models may be performed in a distributed system such that model creation and/or application may be distributed in a multi-user environment for collaborative and/or iterative approaches.

Abstract: Feature extraction of image data using feature extraction modules. The feature extraction modules may be provided in an architecture that allows for modular, decoupled generation and/or operation of the feature extraction modules to generate feature data corresponding to image data. In this regard, the feature extraction modules may communicate with a file system storing image data and feature data by way of a common interface format. Accordingly, regardless of the nature of the execution of the feature extraction module, each feature extraction module may be communicative by way of the common interface format, thereby providing a modular approach that is highly scalable, flexible, and adaptive.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and techniques for cluster-based content recommendation are described. Some embodiments provide a content recommendation system (“CRS”) configured to recommend news stories about events or occurrences. In some embodiments, a news story about an event includes multiple related content items that each include an account of the event and that each reference one or more entities or categories that are represented by the CRS. In one embodiment, the CRS identifies news stories by generating clusters of related content items. Then, in response to a received query that indicates a keyterm, entity, or category, the CRS determines and provides indications of one or more news stories that are relevant to the received query. In some embodiments, at least some of these techniques are employed to implement a news story recommendation facility in an online news service.

Abstract: Techniques for providing quotations obtained from text documents using natural language processing techniques are described. Some embodiments provide a content recommendation system (“CRS”) configured to provide quotations by extracting quotations from a corpus text documents, and providing access to the extracted quotations in response to search requests received from users. The CRS may extract quotations by using natural language processing-based techniques to identify one or more entities, such as people, places, objects, concepts, or the like, that are referenced by the extracted quotations. The CRS may then store the extracted quotations along with identified entities, such as quotation speakers and subjects, for later access via search requests.

Abstract: Feature extraction of image data using feature extraction modules. The feature extraction modules may be provided in an architecture that allows for modular, decoupled generation and/or operation of the feature extraction modules to generate feature data corresponding to image data. In this regard, the feature extraction modules may communicate with a file system storing image data and feature data by way of a common interface format. Accordingly, regardless of the nature of the execution of the feature extraction module, each feature extraction module may be communicative by way of the common interface format, thereby providing a modular approach that is highly scalable, flexible, and adaptive.

Abstract: Land classification based on analysis of image data. Feature extraction techniques may be used to generate a feature stack corresponding to the image data to be classified. A user may identify training data from the image data from which a classification model may be generated using one or more machine learning techniques applied to one or more features of the image. In this regard, the classification module may in turn be used to classify pixels from the image data other than the training data. Additionally, quantifiable metrics regarding the accuracy and/or precision of the models may be provided for model evaluation and/or comparison. Additionally, the generation of models may be performed in a distributed system such that model creation and/or application may be distributed in a multi-user environment for collaborative and/or iterative approaches.

Abstract: Methods and systems for extending keyword searching techniques to syntactically and semantically annotated data are provided. Example embodiments provide a Syntactic Query Engine (“SQE”) that parses, indexes, and stores a data set as an enhanced document index with document terms as well as information pertaining to the grammatical roles of the terms and ontological and other semantic information. In one embodiment, the enhanced document index is a form of term-clause index, that indexes terms and syntactic and semantic annotations at the clause level. The enhanced document index permits the use of a traditional keyword search engine to process relationship queries as well as to process standard document level keyword searches.

Abstract: Methods, techniques, and systems for using natural language processing to recommend related content to an associated text segment or document. Example embodiments provide a NLP-based content recommender (“NCR”) which uses NLP-based search techniques, potentially in conjunction with context or other related information, to locate and provide content related to entities that are recognized in the associated material. NCRs may be embedded as widgets, for example on Web pages to assist users in their perusal and search for information, provided by means of browser plug-ins or other application plug-ins, provided in libraries or in standalone environments, or otherwise integrated into other code, programs, or devices. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Techniques for category-based content recommendation are described. Some embodiments provide a content recommendation system (“CRS”) configured to recommend content items (e.g., Web pages, images, videos) that are related to specified categories. In one embodiment, the CRS processes content items to determine entities referenced by the content items, and to determine categories related to the referenced entities. The determined entities and/or categories may be part of a taxonomy that is stored by the CRS. Then, in response to a received request that indicates a category, the CRS determines and provides indications of one or more content items that each have a corresponding category that matches the indicated category. In some embodiments, at least some of these techniques are employed to implement a category-based news service.

Abstract: Enhanced computer- and network-based methods, systems, techniques are provided for retrieving more accurate and responsive search results when searching content for a designated entity using an off-the-shelf keyword-based search engine. For example, the embodiments described herein may be used to improve search results by eliminating off-topic results when presenting queries to an existing keyword-based search engine invoked by means of an API from an intermediating application. Example embodiments provide a Keyword-Based Search Enhancement System (“KBSES”), which enables intermediating applications to obtain information more closely related to user queries by enhancing such queries, on behalf of the user, with disambiguating information when deemed necessary.

Abstract: Techniques for providing quotations obtained from text documents using natural language processing techniques are described. Some embodiments provide a content recommendation system (“CRS”) configured to provide quotations by extracting quotations from a corpus text documents, and providing access to the extracted quotations in response to search requests received from users. The CRS may extract quotations by using natural language processing-based techniques to identify one or more entities, such as people, places, objects, concepts, or the like, that are referenced by the extracted quotations. The CRS may then store the extracted quotations along with identified entities, such as quotation speakers and subjects, for later access via search requests.

Abstract: Methods and systems for entity recognition and disambiguation using natural language processing techniques are provided. Example embodiments provide an entity recognition and disambiguation system (ERDS) and process that, based upon input of a text segment, automatically determines which entities are being referred to by the text using both natural language processing techniques and analysis of information gleaned from contextual data in the surrounding text. In at least some embodiments, supplemental or related information that can be used to assist in the recognition and/or disambiguation process can be retrieved from knowledge repositories such as an ontology knowledge base. In one embodiment, the ERDS comprises a linguistic analysis engine, a knowledge analysis engine, and a disambiguation engine that cooperate to identify candidate entities from a knowledge repository and determine which of the candidates best matches the one or more detected entities in a text segment using context information.

Abstract: Techniques for category-based content recommendation are described. Some embodiments provide a content recommendation system (“CRS”) configured to recommend content items (e.g., Web pages, images, videos) that are related to specified categories. In one embodiment, the CRS processes content items to determine entities referenced by the content items, and to determine categories related to the referenced entities. The determined entities and/or categories may be part of a taxonomy that is stored by the CRS. Then, in response to a received request that indicates a category, the CRS determines and provides indications of one or more content items that each have a corresponding category that matches the indicated category. In some embodiments, at least some of these techniques are employed to implement a category-based news service.

Abstract: Methods, techniques, and systems for using natural language processing to recommend related content to an associated text segment or document. Example embodiments provide a NLP-based content recommender (“NCR”) which uses NLP-based search techniques, potentially in conjunction with context or other related information, to locate and provide content related to entities that are recognized in the associated material. NCRs may be embedded as widgets, for example on Web pages to assist users in their perusal and search for information, provided by means of browser plug-ins or other application plug-ins, provided in libraries or in standalone environments, or otherwise integrated into other code, programs, or devices. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Techniques for providing quotations obtained from text documents using natural language processing techniques are described. Some embodiments provide a content recommendation system (“CRS”) configured to provide quotations by extracting quotations from a corpus text documents, and providing access to the extracted quotations in response to search requests received from users. The CRS may extract quotations by using natural language processing-based techniques to identify one or more entities, such as people, places, objects, concepts, or the like, that are referenced by the extracted quotations. The CRS may then store the extracted quotations along with identified entities, such as quotation speakers and subjects, for later access via search requests.

Abstract: Enhanced computer- and network-based methods, systems, techniques are provided for retrieving more accurate and responsive search results when searching content for a designated entity using an off-the-shelf keyword-based search engine. For example, the embodiments described herein may be used to improve search results by eliminating off-topic results when presenting queries to an existing keyword-based search engine invoked by means of an API from an intermediating application. Example embodiments provide a Keyword-Based Search Enhancement System (“KBSES”), which enables intermediating applications to obtain information more closely related to user queries by enhancing such queries, on behalf of the user, with disambiguating information when deemed necessary.

Abstract: Methods and systems for entity recognition and disambiguation using natural language processing techniques are provided. Example embodiments provide an entity recognition and disambiguation system (ERDS) and process that, based upon input of a text segment, automatically determines which entities are being referred to by the text using both natural language processing techniques and analysis of information gleaned from contextual data in the surrounding text. In at least some embodiments, supplemental or related information that can be used to assist in the recognition and/or disambiguation process can be retrieved from knowledge repositories such as an ontology knowledge base. In one embodiment, the ERDS comprises a linguistic analysis engine, a knowledge analysis engine, and a disambiguation engine that cooperate to identify candidate entities from a knowledge repository and determine which of the candidates best matches the one or more detected entities in a text segment using context information.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and techniques for cluster-based content recommendation are described. Some embodiments provide a content recommendation system (“CRS”) configured to recommend news stories about events or occurrences. In some embodiments, a news story about an event includes multiple related content items that each include an account of the event and that each reference one or more entities or categories that are represented by the CRS. In one embodiment, the CRS identifies news stories by generating clusters of related content items. Then, in response to a received query that indicates a keyterm, entity, or category, the CRS determines and provides indications of one or more news stories that are relevant to the received query. In some embodiments, at least some of these techniques are employed to implement a news story recommendation facility in an online news service.

Abstract: Techniques for category-based content recommendation are described. Some embodiments provide a content recommendation system (“CRS”) configured to recommend content items (e.g., Web pages, images, videos) that are related to specified categories. In one embodiment, the CRS processes content items to determine entities referenced by the content items, and to determine categories related to the referenced entities. The determined entities and/or categories may be part of a taxonomy that is stored by the CRS. Then, in response to a received request that indicates a category, the CRS determines and provides indications of one or more content items that each have a corresponding category that matches the indicated category. In some embodiments, at least some of these techniques are employed to implement a category-based news service.