Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for handling maintenance events in Public Cloud Deployments with no or minimal service impact.

Abstract: The present invention relates to communications methods and apparatus for session load balancing among session processing entities. An exemplary method embodiment includes the steps of receiving from a first device at a Signaling Front End Load Balancer (SLB) a first session initiation request destined for a second device; making a first session load balancing decision at the SLB with respect to the received first session initiation request; transmitting the first session initiation request to a first Session Border Controller (SBC) worker based on the first load balancing decision, the first SBC worker being one of a plurality of SBC workers forming a cluster of SBC workers, making a session mismatch determination at the first SBC worker with respect to a first session corresponding to the first session initiation request; and when the session mismatch determination is that a session mismatch has occurred notifying the SLB of the session mismatch.

Abstract: The present invention relates to communications methods and apparatus for session load balancing among session processing entities. An exemplary method embodiment includes the steps of receiving from a first device at a Signaling Front End Load Balancer (SLB) a first session initiation request destined for a second device; making a first session load balancing decision at the SLB with respect to the received first session initiation request; transmitting the first session initiation request to a first Session Border Controller (SBC) worker based on the first load balancing decision, the first SBC worker being one of a plurality of SBC workers forming a cluster of SBC workers, making a session mismatch determination at the first SBC worker with respect to a first session corresponding to the first session initiation request; and when the session mismatch determination is that a session mismatch has occurred notifying the SLB of the session mismatch.

Abstract: A system for providing advertisements with search results in response to a search query comprises a front end and an advertisement server. The front end is configured: to receive a search query; to send a first search request to a search server and sending a first advertisement request to an advertisement server, wherein the first search request includes the search query or information based on the search query, and wherein the first advertisement request includes the search query or information based on the search query and an indication that an advertisement response is not to be provided; to receive search results from the search server; and to send at least some of the search results to the advertisement server in a second advertisement request, wherein the second advertisement request includes an indication that an advertisement response is to be provided.

Abstract: A system for providing advertisements with search results in response to a search query comprises a front end and an advertisement server. The front end is configured: to receive a search query; to send a first search request to a search server and sending a first advertisement request to an advertisement server, wherein the first search request includes the search query or information based on the search query, and wherein the first advertisement request includes the search query or information based on the search query and an indication that an advertisement response is not to be provided; to receive search results from the search server; and to send at least some of the search results to the advertisement server in a second advertisement request, wherein the second advertisement request includes an indication that an advertisement response is to be provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to communications methods and apparatus for session load balancing among session processing entities. An exemplary method embodiment includes the steps of receiving from a first device at a Signaling Front End Load Balancer (SLB) a first session initiation request destined for a second device; making a first session load balancing decision at the SLB with respect to the received first session initiation request; transmitting the first session initiation request to a first Session Border Controller (SBC) worker based on the first load balancing decision, the first SBC worker being one of a plurality of SBC workers forming a cluster of SBC workers, making a session mismatch determination at the first SBC worker with respect to a first session corresponding to the first session initiation request; and when the session mismatch determination is that a session mismatch has occurred notifying the SLB of the session mismatch.

Abstract: A system for providing advertisements with search results in response to a search query comprises a front end and an advertisement server. The front end is configured: to receive a search query; to send a first search request to a search server and sending a first advertisement request to an advertisement server, wherein the first search request includes the search query or information based on the search query, and wherein the first advertisement request includes the search query or information based on the search query and an indication that an advertisement response is not to be provided; to receive search results from the search server; and to send at least some of the search results to the advertisement server in a second advertisement request, wherein the second advertisement request includes an indication that an advertisement response is to be provided.

Abstract: A system for providing advertisements with search results in response to a search query comprises a front end and an advertisement server. The front end is configured: to receive a search query; to send a first search request to a search server and sending a first advertisement request to an advertisement server, wherein the first search request includes the search query or information based on the search query, and wherein the first advertisement request includes the search query or information based on the search query and an indication that an advertisement response is not to be provided; to receive search results from the search server; and to send at least some of the search results to the advertisement server in a second advertisement request, wherein the second advertisement request includes an indication that an advertisement response is to be provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus include computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, including a system including a search engine server that provides a search user interface. The search user interface includes a search field that enables a user to submit a search request as well as a set of contextual labels that enable a user to specify, through interaction with one of multiple different presented contextual labels, a topical context for the search request. The search engine server identifies a set of search results using the search request and the topical context for the search request. The system also includes a content server that identifies additional content related to both the search request and the topical context and provides the identified additional content for presentation with the set of search results in the search user interface.

Abstract: Methods and systems for supporting parallel processing utilizing Central Processing Unit(s) (CPU(s)) and at least one Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) device to provide high scale processing of content streams. An exemplary method embodiment including the steps of: receiving at a CPU multiple data units corresponding to a first frame time for each of first through Nth content streams; sequentially processing by the CPU data units corresponding to different content streams and the first frame time; operating a set of cores of a GPU, in parallel, to perform processing on a set of data units, processing including operating each core of the set of cores to perform an operation on a data unit corresponding to a single one of the first plurality of content streams, each core in the set of cores processing a data unit of a different content stream, said processing generating a set of generated data units.

Abstract: Context values used by filters corresponding to different streams are stored in an interleaved manner in a block of contiguous memory locations, e.g., of a buffer, to facilitate coalesced access of data units, e.g., context values, corresponding to different channels to facilitate filtering of multiple streams, e.g., audio streams, in parallel using a graphics processing unit. Context values corresponding to different channels are intentionally grouped together on an interleaved per channel basis in staging memory. This allows context values for multiple different streams to be transferred, e.g., loaded, as a single block e.g., with a context value of each different channel being loaded into a different GPU core. By organizing the context values to facilitate GPU processing, device operation is improved and execution efficiency is achieved as compared to what would be the case if multiple non-contiguous memory locations had to be implemented to load the cores of the GPU.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, and including a computer-implemented method for providing creatives. The method comprises identifying, using one or more processors, a creative for processing, the creative including a title portion and a body portion, where the body portion includes a visual uniform resource locator (URL), the visual URL comprising a visual portion and a link to a resource. The method further comprises evaluating the visual URL for inclusion in the title portion, including determining when promotion of the visual URL satisfies one or more promotion criterion, and if so, promoting the visual URL for inclusion in the title portion. The method further comprises providing the creative including the title portion with the promoted visual URL.

Abstract: Context values used by filters corresponding to different streams are stored in an interleaved manner in a block of contiguous memory locations, e.g., of a buffer, to facilitate coalesced access of data units, e.g., context values, corresponding to different channels to facilitate filtering of multiple streams, e.g., audio streams, in parallel using a graphics processing unit. Context values corresponding to different channels are intentionally grouped together on an interleaved per channel basis in staging memory. This allows context values for multiple different streams to be transferred, e.g., loaded, as a single block e.g., with a context value of each different channel being loaded into a different GPU core. By organizing the context values to facilitate GPU processing, device operation is improved and execution efficiency is achieved as compared to what would be the case if multiple non-contiguous memory locations had to be implemented to load the cores of the GPU.

Abstract: Methods and systems for supporting parallel processing utilizing Central Processing Unit(s) (CPU(s)) and at least one Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) device to provide high scale processing of content streams. An exemplary method embodiment including the steps of: receiving at a CPU multiple data units corresponding to a first frame time for each of first through Nth content streams; sequentially processing by the CPU data units corresponding to different content streams and the first frame time; operating a set of cores of a GPU, in parallel, to perform processing on a set of data units, processing including operating each core of the set of cores to perform an operation on a data unit corresponding to a single one of the first plurality of content streams, each core in the set of cores processing a data unit of a different content stream, said processing generating a set of generated data units.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, and including a computer-implemented method for providing creatives. The method comprises identifying, using one or more processors, a creative for processing, the creative including a title portion and a body portion, where the body portion includes a visual uniform resource locator (URL), the visual URL comprising a visual portion and a link to a resource. The method further comprises evaluating the visual URL for inclusion in the title portion, including determining when promotion of the visual URL satisfies one or more promotion criterion, and if so, promoting the visual URL for inclusion in the title portion. The method further comprises providing the creative including the title portion with the promoted visual URL.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, and including a computer-implemented method for providing creatives. The method comprises identifying, using one or more processors, a creative for processing, the creative including a title portion and a body portion, where the body portion includes a visual uniform resource locator (URL), the visual URL comprising a visual portion and a link to a resource. The method further comprises evaluating the visual URL for inclusion in the title portion, including determining when promotion of the visual URL satisfies one or more promotion criterion, and if so, promoting the visual URL for inclusion in the title portion. The method further comprises providing the creative including the title portion with the promoted visual URL.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus include computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium for selecting content. A method includes: receiving an initial request for content that is to be presented along with search results responsive to a search request; identifying one or more eligible content items from the candidate content items that satisfy the initial request; receiving information describing the search results; re-processing the initial request using the information including one or more of adding other eligible content items, removing one or more previously eligible content items, adjusting a quality score or a bid associated with one or more eligible content items, or re-ranking the eligible content items; conducting an auction based on ranked eligible content items; and selecting one or more content items from among the eligible content items based on the results of the auction and transmitting the selected one or more content items.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which participation probabilities for content items in content item selection processes are adjusted based upon predicted performance measures. The predicted performance measures can be compared to one or more other predicted performance measures and/or threshold/scaling data to determine how to adjust the participation probability of the content item in the content item selection process.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, and including a computer-implemented method that includes identifying, using one or more processors, a creative for processing. The creative includes a title portion and a body portion. The body portion includes a plurality of lines of text includes a first line of text and a second line of text. The method further includes evaluating the body portion including determining when the body portion includes a complete phrase. The evaluating includes applying a test to one or more words in the body portion. The method further includes promoting, using the one or more processors, the complete phrase into the title portion. The method further includes providing the creative includes the title portion with the promoted complete phrase.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus include computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, including a system including a search engine server that provides a search user interface. The search user interface includes a search field that enables a user to submit a search request as well as a set of contextual labels that enable a user to specify, through interaction with one of multiple different presented contextual labels, a topical context for the search request. The search engine server identifies a set of search results using the search request and the topical context for the search request. The system also includes a content server that identifies additional content related to both the search request and the topical context and provides the identified additional content for presentation with the set of search results in the search user interface.