Abstract: Embodiments include apparatus and method for collecting observation data for updating a geographic database. An initial observation is collected by a first mobile device, a first vehicle, or a first sensor. Along with the geographic position, data indicative of the first observation is send to a server. The central server may analyze of the initial observation data to determine if additional observations should be made and define a bounding box from the geographic position of the first mobile device and the analysis of the initial observation data. A request for additional observations is generated and sent to at least one second mobile device, second vehicle, or second sensor based on the bounding box.

Abstract: Embodiments include apparatus and method for collecting observation data for updating a geographic database. An initial observation is collected by a first mobile device, a first vehicle, or a first sensor. Along with the geographic position, data indicative of the first observation is send to a server. The central server may analyze of the initial observation data to determine if additional observations should be made and define a bounding box from the geographic position of the first mobile device and the analysis of the initial observation data. A request for additional observations is generated and sent to at least one second mobile device, second vehicle, or second sensor based on the bounding box.

Abstract: Embodiments include apparatus and method for collecting observation data for updating a geographic database. An initial observation is collected by a first mobile device, a first vehicle, or a first sensor. Along with the geographic position, data indicative of the first observation is send to a server. The central server may analyze of the initial observation data to determine if additional observations should be made and define a bounding box from the geographic position of the first mobile device and the analysis of the initial observation data. A request for additional observations is generated and sent to at least one second mobile device, second vehicle, or second sensor based on the bounding box.

Abstract: Embodiments include apparatus and method for collecting observation data for updating a geographic database. An initial observation is collected by a first mobile device, a first vehicle, or a first sensor. Along with the geographic position, data indicative of the first observation is send to a server. The central server may analyze of the initial observation data to determine if additional observations should be made and define a bounding box from the geographic position of the first mobile device and the analysis of the initial observation data. A request for additional observations is generated and sent to at least one second mobile device, second vehicle, or second sensor based on the bounding box.

Abstract: Aggregating a content item with an event is disclosed. An event is created based on a user-provided or a feed sourced content item. The user-provided or feed sourced content item is aggregated with the event. The user-provided or feed sourced content item is identified using a query to one or more repositories.

Abstract: Associating a content item with an event is disclosed. A location associated with a received content item is determined. The received content item is associated with an event, at least in part based on an indicia of relatedness, other than the determined location, between the received content item and the event. A criterion that the indicia of relatedness is required to satisfy for the content item to be determined to be associated with the event has a lower value if the determined location associated with the received content item has a first degree of correspondence to a location associated with the event than if the determined location associated with the received content item has a second, lower degree of correspondence to the location associated with the event.

Abstract: A relevance of a content item to an event is determined. A user rating of the content item is received. A ranking of the content item is determined with respect to the event, relative to one or more other content items associated with the event based at least in part on the relevance and the user rating. In some embodiments, the ranking is determined based at least in part on a sentiment score associated with the content item. A ranking algorithm provides a novel method for retrieving, scoring, ranking, and presenting content related to an event based on a combination of scoring contributions such as user rating, relevance, and sentiment. Embodiments provide users with the most relevant, engaging, and informative content concerning events of interest to them.

Abstract: Ranking content items is disclosed. A user input is received from each of one or more users indicating an opinion of the user with respect to a content item included in a plurality of content items. Based at least in part on a number of users from whom user input has been received, a degree is determined to which a ranking of the content item relative to one or more other content items in the plurality of content items is determined by user input.

Abstract: Associating a content item with an event is disclosed. A location associated with a received content item is determined. The received content item is associated with an event, at least in part based on an indicia of relatedness, other than the determined location, between the received content item and the event. A criterion that the indicia of relatedness is required to satisfy for the content item to be determined to be associated with the event has a lower value if the determined location associated with the received content item has a first degree of correspondence to a location associated with the event than if the determined location associated with the received content item has a second, lower degree of correspondence to the location associated with the event.

Abstract: The invention described herein can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a process; an apparatus; a system; a composition of matter; a computer program; a product embodied on a computer readable storage medium, e.g., RAM, ROM, and other hardware storage devices; and/or a processor, such as a processor configured to execute instructions stored on and/or provided by a memory coupled to the processor. In this specification, these implementations, or any other form that the invention may take, may be referred to as techniques. In general, the order of the steps of disclosed processes may be altered within the scope of the invention. Unless stated otherwise, a component such as a processor or a memory described as being configured to perform a task may be implemented as a general component that is temporarily configured to perform the task at a given time or a specific component that is manufactured to perform the task.

Abstract: Ranking content items is disclosed. A user input is received from each of one or more users indicating an opinion of the user with respect to a content item included in a plurality of content items. Based at least in part on a number of users from whom user input has been received, a degree is determined to which a ranking of the content item relative to one or more other content items in the plurality of content items is determined by user input.

Abstract: Associating a content item with an event is disclosed. A location associated with a received content item is determined. The received content item is associated with an event, at least in part based on an indicia of relatedness, other than the determined location, between the received content item and the event. A criterion that the indicia of relatedness is required to satisfy for the content item to be determined to be associated with the event has a lower value if the determined location associated with the received content item has a first degree of correspondence to a location associated with the event than if the determined location associated with the received content item has a second, lower degree of correspondence to the location associated with the event.

Abstract: Aggregating a content item with an event is disclosed. An event is created based on a user-provided or a feed sourced content item. The user-provided or feed sourced content item is aggregated with the event. The user-provided or feed sourced content item is identified using a query to one or more repositories.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for automatically retrieving, selecting, and presenting compelling stories from online sources. The system mines the online sources and collects texts that are likely to contain compelling stories. The system then extracts candidate stories from them and transforms these candidate stories to make them appropriate for presentation. The candidate stories are then passed through a set of filters to focus the system on stories with a heightened emotional state. Techniques are used to ensure retrieval of appropriate and meaningful content for the performance of the stories. The modified and filtered stories are then prepared for presentation, including marked up with speech and animation cues, gender classification, and dramatic Adaptive Retrieval Charts (or ARCs). These ARCs allow for various performance types from an ongoing performance of multiple actors in a physical installation to single actor performance of a single story for an online system.