Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are provided for determining whether a user is a human agent or a non-human agent. A user is initially classified as a human or non-human agent based on user request properties. Sensor data is received from the user device and used to determine whether the user is to be reclassified as a human agent or non-human agent. Based on the sensor data, the user is then reclassified as a human agent or non-human agent. A service is adapted based on the classification.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are provided for determining whether a user is a human agent or a non-human agent. A user is initially classified as a human or non-human agent based on user request properties. Sensor data is received from the user device and used to determine whether the user is to be reclassified as a human agent or non-human agent. Based on the sensor data, the user is then reclassified as a human agent or non-human agent. A service is adapted based on the classification.

Abstract: Techniques to operate an experiment (online) over a computer network comprised of computing devices. The experiment may consist of a series of tests on experiment variants of a software application running on the computing devices of which each variant refers to a particular application version or implementation. These techniques may be configured into hardware operative to run such tests over the computer network by selecting one group or multiple groups of computing devices. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Enhancements of the user experience are provided when a user returns to a previously viewed page, such as a previously viewed page of search results. When a user returns to a previously viewed page, additional context information from a user's actions since the initial view of a page can be used to modify the previously viewed page and/or obtain a new version of the previously viewed page. In situations where the previously viewed page corresponds to a page of responsive results from a search engine, the modified and/or new version of the search engine results page can include an expanded or reduced group of results, different types of results, different rankings for existing results, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Enhancements of the user experience are provided when a user returns to a previously viewed page, such as a previously viewed page of search results. When a user returns to a previously viewed page, additional context information from a user's actions since the initial view of a page can be used to modify the previously viewed page and/or obtain a new version of the previously viewed page. In situations where the previously viewed page corresponds to a page of responsive results from a search engine, the modified and/or new version of the search engine results page can include an expanded or reduced group of results, different types of results, different rankings for existing results, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for automatically detecting associations between particular sets of search criteria, such as particular search strings, and particular items. Actions of users of an interactive system, such as a web site, are monitored over time to generate event histories reflective of searches, item selection actions, and possibly other types of user actions. An analysis component collectively analyzes the event histories to automatically identify and quantify associations between specific search strings (or other types of search criteria) and specific items.

Abstract: Computing services that unwanted entities may wish to access for improper, and potentially illegal, use can be more effectively protected by using Active HIP systems and methodologies. An Active HIP involves dynamically swapping one random HIP challenge, e.g., but not limited to, image, for a second random HIP challenge, e.g., but not limited to, image. An Active HIP can also, or otherwise, involve stitching together, or otherwise collecting and including, within Active HIP software, i.e., a HIP web page, to be executed by a computing device of a user seeking access to a HIP-protected computing service x number of software executables randomly selected from a pool of y number of software executables. The x number of software executables, when run, generates a random Active HIP key.

Abstract: The controversiality of an offering in a computer implemented system is computed based on user satisfaction feedback. A controversiality index can be provided to indicate the extent to which the offering is controversial.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for automatically detecting associations between particular sets of search criteria, such as particular search strings, and particular items. Actions of users of an interactive system, such as a web site, are monitored over time to generate event histories reflective of searches, item selection actions, and possibly other types of user actions. An analysis component collectively analyzes the event histories to automatically identify and quantify associations between specific search strings (or other types of search criteria) and specific items.

Abstract: A continuous website trial allows ongoing observation of user interactions with website for an indefinite period of time that is not ascertainable at initiation of the trial. Users are randomly assigned to either a control group or one or more test groups. The control and test groups are served different sets of web pages, even though they access the same website. During the trial, the web pages for the control group are held constant over time, while the web pages for the test group(s) undergo multiple modifications at separate occasions over time. As the web pages for the test group(s) are modified, statistical data collection continues to learn how user behavior changes as a result of the modifications. The statistical data obtained from the users of the various groups may be compared and contrasted and used to gain a better understanding of customer experience with the website.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for automatically detecting associations between particular sets of search criteria, such as particular search strings, and particular items. Actions of users of an interactive system, such as a web site, are monitored over time to generate event histories reflective of searches, item selection actions, and possibly other types of user actions. An analysis component collectively analyzes the event histories to automatically identify and quantify associations between specific search strings (or other types of search criteria) and specific items. As part of this process, a decay function reduces the weight given to a post-search item selection event based on intervening events that occur between the search event and the item selection event.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for automatically detecting associations between particular sets of search criteria, such as particular search strings, and particular items. Actions of users of an interactive system, such as a web site, are monitored over time to generate event histories reflective of searches, item selection actions, and possibly other types of user actions. An analysis component collectively analyzes the event histories to automatically identify and quantify associations between specific search strings (or other types of search criteria) and specific items. As part of this process, a decay function reduces the weight given to a post-search item selection event based on intervening events that occur between the search event and the item selection event.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for automatically detecting associations between particular sets of search criteria, such as particular search strings, and particular items. Actions of users of an interactive system, such as a web site, are monitored over time to generate event histories reflective of searches, item selection actions, and possibly other types of user actions. An analysis component collectively analyzes the event histories to automatically identify and quantify associations between specific search strings (or other types of search criteria) and specific items. As part of this process, a decay function reduces the weight given to a post-search item selection event based on intervening events that occur between the search event and the item selection event.

Abstract: An automated method and system for providing an item comparison includes identifying a first item and a set of one or more other items for comparison with the first item, prioritizing attributes of the first item and the other items, and providing the item comparison with prioritized attributes to a user. Identifying comparable items may involve a multiple step process in which a candidate set of items is first selected for possible comparison with the first item, and thereafter selecting one or more items from the candidate set for comparison. Prioritizing the attributes of the items may include measuring like attributes of the items against each other and arranging the attributes to appear in an order according to the degree the like attributes distinguish the items from each other. A modified item comparison may be prepared and provided in accordance with user feedback.

Abstract: Computing services that unwanted entities may wish to access for improper, and potentially illegal, use can be more effectively protected by using Active HIP systems and methodologies. An Active HIP involves dynamically swapping one random HIP challenge, e.g., but not limited to, image, for a second random HIP challenge, e.g., but not limited to, image. An Active HIP can also, or otherwise, involve stitching together, or otherwise collecting and including, within Active HIP software, i.e., a HIP web page, to be executed by a computing device of a user seeking access to a HIP-protected computing service x number of software executables randomly selected from a pool of y number of software executables. The x number of software executables, when run, generates a random Active HIP key.

Abstract: Strategies are described for generating recommendations. The strategies generate a set of original recommendations based on a source of information. The strategies then transform the set of original recommendations into a set of similarity-spaced recommendations based on “repulsion force” analysis applied to the set of original recommendations. In a first implementation, the set of spaced recommendations represent a diverse sampling of items in the set of original recommendations. In a second implementation, the set of spaced recommendations represent a sampling of items in the set of original recommendations which omits or excludes recommendations assessed as obvious. A third implementation can combine the first and second implementations.

Abstract: Strategies are described for generating recommendations. The strategies generate a set of original recommendations based on a source of information. The strategies then transform the set of original recommendations into a set of similarity-spaced recommendations based on “repulsion force” analysis applied to the set of original recommendations. In a first implementation, the set of spaced recommendations represent a diverse sampling of items in the set of original recommendations. In a second implementation, the set of spaced recommendations represent a sampling of items in the set of original recommendations which omits or excludes recommendations assessed as obvious. A third implementation can combine the first and second implementations.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting against computer malware, comprising: a data inputter for intercepting data units flow, a trust level assigner, associated with the data inputter, for assigning to each of the data units a respective trust level, an isolated-processing environment, operable to process the data units in an isolated manner and configured to send copies of the processed data units out of the isolated-processing environment, and a processing environment selector, associated with the trust level assigner and the isolated-processing environment, operable to determine if a data unit is to be executed on the isolated-processing environment, in accordance with the respective trust level.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting against computer malware, comprising: a data inputter for intercepting data units flow, a trust level assigner, associated with the data inputter, for assigning to each of the data units a respective trust level, an isolated-processing environment, operable to process the data units in an isolated manner and configured to send copies of the processed data units out of the isolated-processing environment, and a processing environment selector, associated with the trust level assigner and the isolated-processing environment, operable to determine if a data unit is to be executed on the isolated-processing environment, in accordance with the respective trust level.

Abstract: An automated method and system for providing an item comparison includes identifying a first item and a set of one or more other items for comparison with the first item, prioritizing attributes of the first item and the other items, and providing the item comparison with prioritized attributes to a user. Identifying comparable items may involve a multiple step process in which a candidate set of items is first selected for possible comparison with the first item, and thereafter selecting one or more items from the candidate set for comparison. Prioritizing the attributes of the items may include measuring like attributes of the items against each other and arranging the attributes to appear in an order according to the degree the like attributes distinguish the items from each other. A modified item comparison may be prepared and provided in accordance with user feedback.