Abstract: The present invention comprises systems and methods, and computer readable media comprising the methods, for installing software components. A user's need for a software component may be determined prior to installation. The systems and methods of the present invention provide automation and flexibility to the installation process. In an embodiment, processor usage and network usage are monitored and software installation are initiated and/or continued during periods where processor and/or network usage are low. The installation process may be halted when the processor and/or network connection are called upon for other uses. Processor and/or network usage may also be throttled, for example limiting the bandwidth available for the installation to maintain sufficient processor share and/or bandwidth for other tasks. Adverse impact on a computer user is minimized.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ranking implicit search queries are described. In one embodiment a method comprising receiving an event, the event comprising user interaction with an article on a client device, wherein the article is capable of being associated with at least one of a plurality of client applications, extracting at least one keyword from the event, generating a query based at least in part on the at least one keyword, performing a search based at least in part on the query to determine a result set, wherein the result set comprises one or more article identifiers associated with articles comprising the at least one keyword, and determining a ranking for each of the one or more article identifiers comprising the result set is described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing instant messenger messages are described. In one embodiment, an instant messenger event is captured by compiling event data associated with at least one instant messenger message, the instant messenger event is associated with a conversation, and at least some of the event data associated with the instant messenger event is indexed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating multiple implicit search queries are described. In one described system, a query system receives a user context attribute and generates a plurality of implicit search queries based at least in part on the user context attribute. The query system then receives result sets associated with each of the plurality of implicit search queries and combines the results for display to a user.

Abstract: Methods and systems that identify a representative image for an article are described. In one aspect of the invention, an article is received, an image data signal is determined for each image associated with the article, and a representative image based at least in part on an image data signal is determined.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method enables communication between a first client and a second client mutually participating in a communication session including a multi-dimensional virtual environment is claimed. The method includes determining one or more concepts based on the one or more communications in the multi-dimensional virtual environment between the first client and second client. The method includes searching a media database based on the one or more concepts to produce a search result and transmitting the search result to the first and second clients for presentation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating multiple implicit search queries are described. In one described system, a query system receives a user context attribute and generates a plurality of implicit search queries based at least in part on the user context attribute. The query system then receives result sets associated with each of the plurality of implicit search queries and combines the results for display to a user.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing dynamic weather simulation in a computer gaming environment are disclosed. Weather may be user-specified, computer simulated, based on periodic updates of real-world weather conditions, or based on a pre-existing or user-created weather profile. A weather profile may include a data structure that stores weather over a location neutral geographical space, which may subsequently be applied dynamically to any selected geographical space in a simulated environment. To dynamically simulate weather while conserving computer resources, a weather simulation manager may periodically alter temperature and dew point values and determine whether to render or dissipate clouds based on the current temperature and dew point values.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying a named entity are described. In one described system, a computer program, such as a query system, identifies an event associated with an article, identifies a named entity within the event, and creates an implicit search query comprising the named entity.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating textual information are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, a method of generating textual information is disclosed that comprises identifying a plurality of candidate summaries related to textual information based at least in part on a document, determining first and second attribute values based at least in part on the candidate summaries, and determining an optimal candidate summary based at least in part on the first and second attribute values.

Abstract: Systems and methods for refreshing a content display are described. In one described system, a query system obtains from an index a search result associated with a search query. The search result comprises a first article identifier. The query system then determines whether to update a content display using the search result. The query system may use any of several factors to determine whether or not to update the content display, including, for example, the difference between attributes of the first and second article identifiers and activity of a mouse pointer in relation to the content display.

Abstract: Systems and computer-readable mediums constructing and using a user profile are described. In one described system, a query system receives an implicit query comprising a first search term, receives a user search attribute from a user profile derives a second search term from the user search attribute, and processes the search query based on the second search term and/or the user search attribute. The query system may add the first search term to the user profile for use in modifying a subsequent query.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ranking implicit search queries are described. In one embodiment a method comprising receiving an event, the event comprising user interaction with an article on a client device, wherein the article is capable of being associated with at least one of a plurality of client applications, extracting at least one keyword from the event, generating a query based at least in part on the at least one keyword, performing a search based at least in part on the query to determine a result set, wherein the result set comprises one or more article identifiers associated with articles comprising the at least one keyword, and determining a ranking for each of the one or more article identifiers comprising the result set is described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for associating a keyword with a window are described. In one described system, a computer program, such as an indexer, captures processor, or query system, associates a keyword with a first user interface area. The query system or other computer program receives a signal that the first user interface is inactive and that a second user interface area is active and, in response, generates an implicit search query that includes the keyword associated with the first user interface area.

Abstract: Systems and methods for constructing a query result set are described. In one described method, a display processor or query system refreshes a first result set comprising a first plurality of article identifiers. The display processor or query system receives or creates a second result set comprising a second plurality of article identifiers. The display processor then creates a third result set based at least in part on the first result set and the second result set. The display processor may create the third result set by modifying the first result set based at least in part on the second plurality of article identifiers or by modifying the second result set based at least in part on the first plurality of article identifiers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for associating a keyword with a window are described. In one described system, a computer program, such as an indexer, captures processor, or query system, associates a keyword with a first user interface area. The query system or other computer program receives a signal that the first user interface is inactive and that a second user interface area is active and, in response, generates an implicit search query that includes the keyword associated with the first user interface area.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing dynamic weather simulation in a computer gaming environment are disclosed. Weather may be user-specified, computer simulated, or based on periodic updates of real-world weather conditions. To dynamically simulate weather while conserving computer resources, a weather simulation manager may periodically alter temperature and dew point values and determine whether to render or dissipate clouds based on the current temperature and dew point values. Weather may be morphed back to real-world weather as updated weather is retrieved from a database over the Internet. The weather simulation manager may simulate weather independently for each of a plurality of geographic cells, thus allowing different weather to appear in different directions during game play. Cloud dissipation may be based on increasing a transparency value of sprites located at the outer edges of each cloud, and gradually working towards the center of the cloud until the cloud has disappeared completely.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing dynamic weather simulation in a computer gaming environment are disclosed. Weather may be user-specified, computer simulated, or based on periodic updates of real-world weather conditions. To dynamically simulate weather while conserving computer resources, a weather simulation manager may periodically alter temperature and dew point values and determine whether to render or dissipate clouds based on the current temperature and dew point values. Weather may be morphed back to real-world weather as updated weather is retrieved from a database over the Internet. The weather simulation manager may simulate weather independently for each of a plurality of geographic cells, thus allowing different weather to appear in different directions during game play. Cloud dissipation may be based on increasing a transparency value of sprites located at the outer edges of each cloud, and gradually working towards the center of the cloud until the cloud has disappeared completely.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing dynamic weather simulation in a computer gaming environment are disclosed. Weather may be user-specified, computer simulated, or based on periodic updates of real-world weather conditions. To dynamically simulate weather while conserving computer resources, a weather simulation manager may periodically alter temperature and dew point values and determine whether to render or dissipate clouds based on the current temperature and dew point values. Weather may be morphed back to real-world weather as updated weather is retrieved from a database over the Internet. The weather simulation manager may simulate weather independently for each of a plurality of geographic cells, thus allowing different weather to appear in different directions during game play. Cloud dissipation may be based on increasing a transparency value of sprites located at the outer edges of each cloud, and gradually working towards the center of the cloud until the cloud has disappeared completely.

Abstract: Systems and methods that identify and extract information from articles are described. In one embodiment, a search engine implements a method comprising capturing an event in real time upon the occurrence of the event, wherein the event comprises a user interaction with an article on a client device, wherein the article is capable of being associated with at least one of a plurality of client applications, determining if the event should be indexed, and if the event should be indexed, indexing the event and storing the event and at least a portion of content associated with the article.