Abstract: Content source owners may associate their sites with a user as the user's preferred source. According to the disclosed subject matter, a preference communication is received indicating that an identified content source is to be a preferred source for an identified user. A set of search results is obtained responsive to a search request from the identified user. The set of search results include at least one search result referencing content from the identified content source. The set of search results is rearranged according preferred sources associated with the identified user, including the identified content source, such that the search result referencing content from the identified content source is repositioned within the ordered set of search results to a more prominent position in the rearranged set of search results. A search results page is generated from the rearranged set of search results and returned to the identified user.

Abstract: According to the disclosed subject matter, various embodiments for generating a search results page that provides contextual information to an entity/target site associated with a search result are presented. In response to receiving a search query from a user, a set of search results is obtained. Each search result in the set of search results comprises a hyperlink to content at a target site. From the set of identified search results, a search results page is generated. The generated search results page includes at least one search result that is encoded with data for providing contextual information of the user's current query context to the corresponding target site upon user selection of the at least one search result. The generated search results page is then provided to the user in response to the search query.

Abstract: Presented in this disclosure are systems and methods for enabling access to content from a preferred source to a computer user is presented. A preferred source is a source of content that a user has identified as being “preferred.” Once a user establishes a source as a preferred source (through a first channel), other channels by which the user can obtain content from the preferred source are identified. In various embodiments, the other channels are automatically enabled for the user or, alternative, presented to the user for opting into receiving the content from that channel.

Abstract: While some search engines personalize search results for a user, search engines have failed to enable personalization according to a user's explicitly preferred sources of content. According to the disclosed subject matter, a list of preferred sources is maintained for a user as well as a plurality of entities. When a search query is received from the user, a set of search results responsive to the query is obtained. From the set search results, one or more search results that correspond to a preferred source are identified. The set of search results is arranged with the one or more search results placed in more prominent positions in the set of search of search results. A search results page is generated according to the arranged set of search results and the generated search results page is returned in response to the user's search query.

Abstract: While some search engines personalize search results for a user, search engines have failed to enable personalization according to a user's explicitly preferred sources of content. According to the disclosed subject matter, a list of preferred sources is maintained for a user. When a search query is received from the user, a set of search results responsive to the query is obtained. From the set search results, one or more search results that correspond to a preferred source are identified. The set of search results is arranged with the one or more search results placed in more prominent positions in the set of search of search results. A search results page is generated according to the arranged set of search results and the generated search results page is returned in response to the user's search query.

Abstract: Search results may include both objective results and person results. In one example, a search query is evaluated to determine whether it is the type of query that a user might want to ask to a friend. If the query is of such a type, then the search engine may examine a social graph to determine which friends of the user who entered the query may have information that is relevant to answering the query. If such friends exist, then the friends may be displayed along with objective search results, along with an explanation of each friend's relevance to the query. Clicking on a person in the results may cause a conversation to be initiated with that person, thereby allowing the user who entered the query to ask his or her friend about the subject of the query.

Abstract: Embodiments for providing a search results page that includes at least one advertisement responsive to a search request are presented. A search request is received from a user. The search request is associated with a query term upon which advertisers have bid. A set of search results is obtained responsive to the search request. Bids from multiple advertisers are identified. Identifying bids from advertisers includes dynamically determining a present bid amount of a first bid according to the position of a search result in the set of search results. After determining the bid value of each bid, a winning bid is selected from the identified bids. A search result page is generated a portion of the search results and the advertisement corresponding to the selected bid. The generated search results page is returned to the user for display responsive to the search request.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically associating primary process data with reference data. The primary process data may include image, video, audio, text, search data, and the like. The reference data may include location, temperature, pressure, and the like. A primary process data processor device, such as a digital camera, is used to acquire the primary process data with time information, but without any reference data. A reference data collector device, such as a cellular telephone, is used to acquire the reference data with time information. The primary process data and the reference data are uploaded to a server and each are associated with a shared identifier, such as a user ID. Of the content and reference data associated with the shared ID, the server determines which primary process data and reference data were acquired near the same time, and automatically associates the reference data with the primary process data.

Abstract: Search results may include both objective results and person results. In one example, a search query is evaluated to determine whether it is the type of query that a user might want to ask to a friend. If the query is of such a type, then the search engine may examine a social graph to determine which friends of the user who entered the query may have information that is relevant to answering the query. If such friends exist, then the friends may be displayed along with objective search results, along with an explanation of each friend's relevance to the query. Clicking on a person in the results may cause a conversation to be initiated with that person, thereby allowing the user who entered the query to ask his or her friend about the subject of the query.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically associating primary process data with reference data. The primary process data may include image, video, audio, text, search data, and the like. The reference data may include location, temperature, pressure, and the like. A primary process data processor device, such as a digital camera, is used to acquire the primary process data with time information, but without any reference data. A reference data collector device, such as a cellular telephone, is used to acquire the reference data with time information. The primary process data and the reference data are uploaded to a server and each are associated with a shared identifier, such as a user ID. Of the content and reference data associated with the shared ID, the server determines which primary process data and reference data were acquired near the same time, and automatically associates the reference data with the primary process data.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically associating primary process data with reference data. The primary process data may include image, video, audio, text, search data, and the like. The reference data may include location, temperature, pressure, and the like. A primary process data processor device, such as a digital camera, is used to acquire the primary process data with time information, but without any reference data. A reference data collector device, such as a cellular telephone, is used to acquire the reference data with time information. The primary process data and the reference data are uploaded to a server and each are associated with a shared identifier, such as a user ID. Of the content and reference data associated with the shared ID, the server determines which primary process data and reference data were acquired near the same time, and automatically associates the reference data with the primary process data.

Abstract: A system and method for context based query augmentation. A question is received over a network from a questioning user comprising an identification of a user and at least one question criteria. A first query is formulated so as to search, via the network, for user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data so as to identify user context data relevant to question criteria. The question is modified using the user context data to create at least one modified question having at least one additional criteria based on the user context data. A second query is formulated so as to search, via the network, for knowledge data, user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data so as to identify knowledge data relevant to the identified user and the modified question criteria. The knowledge data is transmitted, over the network, to the questioning user.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for performing actions with respect to objects. An object having an action tag, that specifies that a particular action script is to be performed with respect to the object, is provided. The action tag can be in the form of a textual label or any suitable user interface object that can be associated with the object. A search is then performed in a plurality of reference action tags, that each correspond to a different action script, for the provided action tag. When a matching reference action tag is found for the provided action tag, the corresponding, matching action script is then invoked so that the matching action script is automatically performed with respect to the object.

Abstract: A system and method for deriving income from URL based context queries. A URL based user context query is received over a network from a user, wherein the user context comprises at least one user context criteria. A query is formulated based on the context criteria so as to search for user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data, topical data and context query bid data that is available via the network and relates to the context so as to identify entries in a context query bid database that relate to user context criteria. A dynamic webpage is generated having content relating to the query and advertisements associated with the selected bid are inserted into the webpage. The dynamic webpage is transmitted to the user. The advertiser associated with the selected bid is charged a fee when a user interface event relating to the dynamic webpage occurs.

Abstract: A system and method is described for constructing a proximity-based ad hoc network among a plurality of sensor-enabled devices and for using such a network to facilitate data sharing among users of those devices (referred to herein for simplicity as “sensors”). The system and method advantageously enables data to be shared among co-located sensors in a manner that does not require local connections or communication among those sensors and that protects user privacy. The system and method also beneficially enables data to be transferred among heterogeneous sensor types that would otherwise be incapable of detecting and/or communicating with each other. The system and method may perform user-initiated data transfer as well as automatic data transfer responsive to sensor proximity and other factors, such as commonality of user interests or activities or membership in a social network.

Abstract: A system and method for generation of URL context queries. A request is received over a network from a user for generation a URL based context query, wherein the request comprises at least one query generation criteria. A multidimensional dataspace having a spatial axis, a temporal axis, a topical axis and a social axis is searched for clusters of related data objects using the query generation criteria, wherein at least one cluster of data objects relating to the query generation criteria is identified. Permissions are checked relating to each data object cluster of related data objects. If the user does not have permission to view the data object, it is removed from the cluster. A URL having a context query comprising at least one context criteria is generated from the properties of the cluster of data objects. The URL having a context query is then transmitted to the end user.

Abstract: A system and method for context based query augmentation. A question is received over a network from a questioning user comprising an identification of a user and at least one question criteria. A first query is formulated so as to search, via the network, for user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data so as to identify user context data relevant to question criteria. The question is modified using the user context data to create at least one modified question having at least one additional criteria based on the user context data. A second query is formulated so as to search, via the network, for knowledge data, user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data so as to identify knowledge data relevant to the identified user and the modified question criteria. The knowledge data is transmitted, over the network, to the questioning user.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for providing location information for a current location of a portable device, such as a camera-phone. In general, a current, generic location, e.g., cell ID, of the portable device is mapped to a more specific location description, e.g., the name of a specific city, that is defined by one or more users. In a specific implementation, one or more users of portable devices may be encouraged to contribute specific location descriptions with respect to media objects or the like that are managed on their portable devices. When a particular user ties a specific location to a media object or the like, the media object serves to also tie the particular user's current generic location or cell ID to the media object. Thus, a plurality of media objects and their associated specific and generic location descriptions can be analyzed to determine a most relevant specific location description for a particular generic location or cell ID.

Abstract: Communicating data by transforming images or other non-text data into subsets of text characters and communicating each subset in an electronic message that can carry only a limited number of text characters. An embodiment transforms portions of binary data of an image or other non-text data into subsets of hexadecimal data that represents text characters. The subsets of hexadecimal text character data are included in SMS messages that have a predefined maximum number of characters. A header is included in the SMS messages to identify the ordering of the data. The SMS messages are communicated to a receiving device that orders the messages, transforms each subset of hexadecimal text characters back into the binary data, and assembles the binary data into it prior form for rendering to a user of the receiving device. A server may process the SMS messages, such as by inserting additional SMS messages with advertising data.

Abstract: A system and method is described for constructing a proximity-based ad hoc network among a plurality of sensors and for using such a network to perform location tracking. The system and method uses time-coded data received from each of the sensors to determine a current proximity of each of the sensors to one or more beacons. Then, by leveraging information relating to the effective transmission ranges of the beacons, the system and method determines the relative location of each of the plurality of sensors with respect to other sensors within the plurality of sensors. Where actual (as opposed to relative) location information is available for a particular sensor, it can be used to generate or augment location information associated with other sensors known to be spatially and temporally proximate to the particular sensor. The current location information for each of the sensors is then used in providing location-based services.