Abstract: Systems and methods for using virtual currency to compensate workers in a crowd sourced task are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of determining target accuracy in completion of the task by the online workers, computing a number of results to be collected for a unit job of the task based on the target accuracy; and/or setting a wage amount that is offered to a worker for completing a unit job of the task based on the number of results. In response to determining that the worker has completed the unit job, the wage is provided to the online worker in a form of virtual currency.

Abstract: Systems and methods of crowd sourcing by distributing a task over a network to multiple workers for completion while providing quality control are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of identifying an attribute of the task, the task including multiple unit jobs, determining target accuracy in completion of the task by the multiple workers, computing a number of results to be collected for a unit job of the task based on the target accuracy, setting a wage amount that is offered to a worker for completing a unit job of the task based on the attribute and the target accuracy, and/or collecting and aggregating statistics of the workers completing the select unit jobs for quality control.

Abstract: Tools and techniques are described herein for checkpointing iterators during search. These tools may provide methods that include instantiating iterators in response to a search request. The iterators include fixed state information that remains constant over a life of the iterator, and further include dynamic state information that is updated over the life of the iterator. The iterators traverse through postings lists in connection with performing the search request. As the iterators traverse the posting lists, the iterators may update their dynamic state information. The iterators may then evaluate whether to create checkpoints, with the checkpoints including representations of the dynamic state information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating a worker in performing crowd sourced tasks and providing in-task training are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, for selecting a job distributed through a job distribution platform for workers to work on, for use to generate a test task, the job being associated with a known correct result, associating a manipulated result, known to be an incorrect result for the job, with the job to generate the test task, and/or presenting the job with the manipulated result as the test task to a worker for evaluation of work quality of the worker. The job distribution platform crowd sources tasks online to workers to work on via their respective computing devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating a worker in performing crowd sourced tasks and providing in-task training are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, for selecting a job distributed through a job distribution platform for workers to work on, for use to generate a test task, the job being associated with a known correct result, associating a manipulated result, known to be an incorrect result for the job, with the job to generate the test task, and/or presenting the job with the manipulated result as the test task to a worker for evaluation of work quality of the worker. The job distribution platform crowd sources tasks online to workers to work on via their respective computing devices.

Abstract: The system automatically personalizes the assignment of problems to students in learning situations to enable every student to learn as efficiently and effectively as possible. Students are continuously tracked on their individual learning curve so that both they and their teachers can immediately see their progress and growth, and assess their need for additional support or instruction. Further, the system can immediately grade each exercise and provide instant feedback to both students and teachers without burdening the teacher with the grading of homework. Still further, the system incorporates a teacher settable mastery level control and a student learning efficiency meter that returns the “locus of control” over learning back to the student to enhance their concentration and motivate effective, efficient learning by enabling them to do just the number of problems that it takes to reach mastery of the topic or lesson.

Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating a worker in performing crowd sourced tasks and providing in-task training are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, for selecting a job distributed through a job distribution platform for workers to work on, for use to generate a test task, the job being associated with a known correct result, associating a manipulated result, known to be an incorrect result for the job, with the job to generate the test task, and/or presenting the job with the manipulated result as the test task to a worker for evaluation of work quality of the worker. The job distribution platform crowd sources tasks online to workers to work on via their respective computing devices.

Abstract: Tools and techniques are described herein for checkpointing iterators during search. These tools may provide methods that include instantiating iterators in response to a search request. The iterators include fixed state information that remains constant over a life of the iterator, and further include dynamic state information that is updated over the life of the iterator. The iterators traverse through postings lists in connection with performing the search request. As the iterators traverse the posting lists, the iterators may update their dynamic state information. The iterators may then evaluate whether to create checkpoints, with the checkpoints including representations of the dynamic state information.

Abstract: Tools and techniques are described herein for checkpointing iterators during search. These tools may provide methods that include instantiating iterators in response to a search request. The iterators include fixed state information that remains constant over a life of the iterator, and further include dynamic state information that is updated over the life of the iterator. The iterators traverse through postings lists in connection with performing the search request. As the iterators traverse the posting lists, the iterators may update their dynamic state information. The iterators may then evaluate whether to create checkpoints, with the checkpoints including representations of the dynamic state information.

Abstract: A role tree having nodes corresponding to semantic roles in a hierarchy is defined. A posting list is generated for each association of a term and a semantic role in the hierarchy. The posting lists are stored contiguously on a physical storage medium such that a subtree of the hierarchy of semantic roles can be loaded from the storage medium as a single contiguous block. The posting lists for a subtree of the hierarchy are retrieved by obtaining data identifying the beginning location on the physical storage medium of the posting lists for the term at the top of a desired subtree of the hierarchy and data identifying the length of the posting lists of the desired subtree of the hierarchy. A single contiguous block that includes the posting lists for the desired subtree of the hierarchy is then retrieved from the beginning location through the specified length.

Abstract: Computer-readable media, computerized methods, and computer systems for conducting semantic processes to present search results that include highlighted regions which are relevant to a conceptual meaning of a query are provided. Initially, content of document(s) is accessed and semantic representations are derived by distilling linguistic representations from the content. These semantic representations may be stored at a semantic index. Also, a proposition is derived from the query by parsing search terms of the query, and distilling the proposition from the search terms. Typically, the proposition is a logical representation of the conceptual meaning of the query. The proposition is compared against the semantic representations at the semantic index to identify a matching set. Regions of the content within the document, from which the matching set of semantic representations are derived, are targeted.

Abstract: A computer-based educational system provides the user or instructor with a suite of graphic editing tools, allowing the design of graphical objects, such as symbols and text that can be displayed to a viewer, such as a student, using a projector or computer terminal. In order to facilitate the educational process, the invention provides the user with robust ability to control parameters of the graphical objects, allowing the user to create simulations or models of subject matter, such as mathematical principles, in order to facilitate the educational process. In the preferred embodiment, the parameters of these graphical objects can actually be defined in terms of variables and specifically functions or expressions including those variables and then the values of the variables controlled in real-time by the user. This ability allows the user to control the execution of the simulations or models, enabling the user or instructor to dovetail the execution of those simulations with the instructional process.

Abstract: Systems and methods of crowd sourcing by distributing a task over a network to multiple workers for completion while providing quality control are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of identifying an attribute of the task, the task including multiple unit jobs, determining target accuracy in completion of the task by the multiple workers, computing a number of results to be collected for a unit job of the task based on the target accuracy, setting a wage amount that is offered to a worker for completing a unit job of the task based on the attribute and the target accuracy, and/or collecting and aggregating statistics of the workers completing the select unit jobs for quality control.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using virtual currency to compensate workers in a crowd sourced task are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of determining target accuracy in completion of the task by the online workers, computing a number of results to be collected for a unit job of the task based on the target accuracy; and/or setting a wage amount that is offered to a worker for completing a unit job of the task based on the number of results. In response to determining that the worker has completed the unit job, the wage is provided to the online worker in a form of virtual currency.

Abstract: A role tree having nodes corresponding to semantic roles in a hierarchy is defined. A posting list is generated for each association of a term and a semantic role in the hierarchy. The posting lists are stored contiguously on a physical storage medium such that a subtree of the hierarchy of semantic roles can be loaded from the storage medium as a single contiguous block. The posting lists for a subtree of the hierarchy are retrieved by obtaining data identifying the beginning location on the physical storage medium of the posting lists for the term at the top of a desired subtree of the hierarchy and data identifying the length of the posting lists of the desired subtree of the hierarchy. A single contiguous block that includes the posting lists for the desired subtree of the hierarchy is then retrieved from the beginning location through the specified length.

Abstract: Tools and techniques are described herein for checkpointing iterators during search. These tools may provide methods that include instantiating iterators in response to a search request. The iterators include fixed state information that remains constant over a life of the iterator, and further include dynamic state information that is updated over the life of the iterator. The iterators traverse through postings lists in connection with performing the search request. As the iterators traverse the posting lists, the iterators may update their dynamic state information. The iterators may then evaluate whether to create checkpoints, with the checkpoints including representations of the dynamic state information.

Abstract: Computer-readable media and computer systems for conducting semantic processes to facilitate navigation of search results that include sets of tuples representing facts associated with content of documents in response to queries for information. Content of documents is accessed and semantic structures are derived by distilling linguistic representations from the content. Groups of two or more related words, called tuples, are extracted from the documents or the semantic structures. Tuples can be stored at a tuple index. Representations of the relational tuples are displayed in addition to documents retrieved in response to a query.

Abstract: Computer-readable media, computerized methods, and computer systems for conducting semantic processes to present search results that include highlighted regions which are relevant to a conceptual meaning of a query are provided. Initially, content of document(s) is accessed and semantic representations are derived by distilling linguistic representations from the content. These semantic representations may be stored at a semantic index. Also, a proposition is derived from the query by parsing search terms of the query, and distilling the proposition from the search terms. Typically, the proposition is a logical representation of the conceptual meaning of the query. The proposition is compared against the semantic representations at the semantic index to identify a matching set. Regions of the content within the document, from which the matching set of semantic representations are derived, are targeted.

Abstract: A computer-based educational system provides the user or instructor with a suite of graphic editing tools, allowing the design of graphical objects, such as symbols and text that can be displayed to a viewer, such as a student, using a projector or computer terminal. In order to facilitate the educational process, the invention provides the user with robust ability to control parameters of the graphical objects, allowing the user to create simulations or models of subject matter, such as mathematical principles, in order to facilitate the educational process. In the preferred embodiment, the parameters of these graphical objects can actually be defined in terms of variables and specifically functions or expressions including those variables and then the values of the variables controlled in real-time by the user. This ability allows the user to control the execution of the simulations or models, enabling the user or instructor to dovetail the execution of those simulations with the instructional process.

Abstract: A computer-based educational system provides the user or instructor with a suite of graphic editing tools, allowing the design of graphical objects, such as symbols and text that can be displayed to a viewer, such as a student, using a projector or computer terminal. In order to facilitate the educational process, the invention provides the user with robust ability to control parameters of the graphical objects, allowing the user to create simulations or models of subject matter, such as mathematical principles, in order to facilitate the educational process. In the preferred embodiment, the parameters of these graphical objects can actually be defined in terms of variables and specifically functions or expressions including those variables and then the values of the variables controlled in real-time by the user. This ability allows the user to control the execution of the simulations or models, enabling the user or instructor to dovetail the execution of those simulations with the instructional process.