Abstract: A query in an imprecise syntax is received, and a plurality of assumptions relating to the meaning of the query are determined. One of the assumptions is chosen from the determined plurality of assumptions, and a first response to the query is generated based on the chosen assumption. A user interface mechanism is provided to permit a user to change the assumption on which the first response was based, and a second response to the query is generated based on the changed assumption.

Abstract: A system and method facilitate the use of a multi-function computer for an examination. An application implementing the method receives a hash input from a user and, upon successful completion of the examination, displays a hash output. The hash output may be displayed as a visual hash. During the examination, the application or system monitors the multi-function computer to determine whether the user has activated, viewed, or launched any prohibited functions or applications on the multi-function computer. If the user views a prohibited function or application, the examination application does not display the hash output. The system and application implement various security measures to prevent spoofing or duplication of the hash output or tampering with the application.

Abstract: In a method for generating musical tones, a plurality of raw data sequences are generated using at least one recursive system implemented by a computing system. The plurality of raw data sequences are converted, using the computing system, into a plurality of sequences of musical tones that follow a set of aesthetic music principles.

Abstract: In a method to help a user determine a formula, (e.g., a fact, rule, or principle expressed in scientific, mathematical, technical, etc. symbols), a user may input an indication of the formula in an imprecise syntax. The inputted indication may be in ASCII text, for example, and may include technical shorthand, technical abbreviations, pseudocode, etc. In response, one or more formulas corresponding to the user's input are determined. Optionally, other outputs related to the determined formula (s) may be generated. In one implementation, software programming code corresponding to the formula is generated. Then, the formula (s) and the output(s) are presented to the user.

Abstract: In a method for providing to a user commercial information regarding at least one of a product or a service, at least one of 1) a query of the user, or 2) an answer to the query is analyzed, and an activity of the user is inferred based on the analysis of the query and/or the answer. A general product or service to support the activity is determined, and a vendor that provides the general product or service is determined in response to determining the general product or service. Information regarding a specific product or service provided by the vendor is obtained, wherein the specific product or service corresponds to the general product or service. Commercial information corresponding to the specific product or service provided by the vendor is generated, wherein the commercial information is for electronic transmission to the user.

Abstract: A subset of graphical display items, in a set of graphical display items stored in the one or more electronic storage devices, that have not previously been viewed by a user is determined. A graphical display item is selected from a subset of graphical display items. The graphical display item may be selected according to an order, or selected randomly. An initial display item and the selected graphical display item are electronically transmitted to a user computing device. The initial display item and the selected graphical display item are configured such that the selected graphical display item is displayed on a display device of the user computing device in response to the user selecting the initial display item when the initial display item is displayed on the display device.

Abstract: A visual display that changes with time and/or an audio signal is rendered while a task is being completed by a computing device (e.g., performing a computation, retrieving information, powering up a device, starting a computer application, etc.). The visual display and/or audio signal are configured to engage the user in order to mitigate latency of the task. Because the user is being engaged by the visual display and/or audio signal, the user may be less likely to notice and/or be bothered by the latency.

Abstract: In a method for generating example queries, an actual query is received, and the actual query is portioned into one or more tokens. One or more fragments of the actual query are generated based on reassembly of the one or more tokens. A plurality of example queries are generated based on different interpretations of one or more fragments, and at least one example query is outputted.

Abstract: In a method to help a user determine a formula, (e.g., a fact, rule, or principle expressed in scientific, mathematical, technical, etc. symbols), a user may input an indication of the formula in an imprecise syntax. The inputted indication may be in ASCII text, for example, and may include technical shorthand, technical abbreviations, pseudocode, etc. In response, one or more formulas corresponding to the user's input are determined. Optionally, other outputs related to the determined formula(s) may be generated. In one implementation, software programming code corresponding to the formula is generated. Then, the formula(s) and the output(s) are presented to the user.

Abstract: A result is generated, using a data processing or computational system, in response to a user-provided or user-indicated input expression. The result is displayed, or caused to be displayed, on a display device. The result is analyzed, and, based on the analysis of the result, one or more further data processing or computational actions that the user will perform on the result are predicted. A user interface mechanism is generated to facilitate performing the predicted one or more further data processing or computational actions or to facilitate viewing one or more further results generated in response to one or more of the predicted further data processing or computational actions. The user interface mechanism is displayed or caused to be displayed on the display device.

Abstract: An answer engine determines an entity related to a query from a user in a system designed for computation, search, or other activities involving the processing of queries. The system determines whether an entity page for the entity is stored in an answers database and, if so, retrieves and displays the stored entity page. If there is no stored entity page for the entity, the answer engine generates and displays an answer to the query and may optionally store the answer as an entity page. Additionally, the answer engine may pre-generate and store entity pages according to algorithmic variation of received queries and/or according to information received from external sources.

Abstract: A natural language query answering system includes an external data pre-processor configured to i) analyze a first data set, the first data set received via a communication network, to identify data in the first data set that corresponds to entities in a database comprising categorized entities, and ii) generate a second data set corresponding to the first data set and based on the analysis of the first data set, wherein the second data set includes information indicating how data in the second data set is to be interpreted by the natural language query answering system. The natural language query answering system is configured to retrieve data and/or process data from the second data set in response to natural language queries.

Abstract: In a method for presenting information, an interactive document, for example, may be created that includes both an input expression and a result generated by evaluating the input expression, and where the input expression can be selectively hidden. This may permit “decluttering” of the document so that it may be easier to follow. At the same time, user interface mechanisms allow a viewer to reveal the input expression if the viewer desires to see the input expression. In this method, an input expression and a result corresponding to an evaluation of the input expression are presented on a workspace associated with a computational software application. Additionally, a first user interface mechanism associated with the input expression is presented on the workspace. In response to an activation of the first user interface mechanism, the input expression may be hidden on the workspace, while the result is presented on the workspace.

Abstract: A user interface application is created to prompt a user for information and to generate a query to be submitted to a natural language (NL) query answering system. A first user is prompted to submit an NL query, and the NL query is received. The user interface application is generated using the NL query and so that the user interface application is configured to prompt the first user or a second user to provide information, receive the information, generate a computer-generated query based on the NL query and the received information, provide the computer-generated query to the NL query answering system, receive answer information from the NL query answering system in response to the computer-generated query, and cause at least some of the answer information to be displayed on a display device.

Abstract: In a method for delivering signaling tones to signaling devices or signaling systems, a signaling tone sequence is selected from a set of undelivered signaling tone sequences. The selected signaling tone sequence is removed from the set of undelivered signaling tone sequences, and the selected signaling tone sequence is delivered.

Abstract: In a method for delivering signaling tones to signaling devices or signaling systems, a signaling tone sequence is selected from a set of undelivered signaling tone sequences. The selected signaling tone sequence is removed from the set of undelivered signaling tone sequences, and the selected signaling tone sequence is delivered.

Abstract: In a method for generating signaling tones, a plurality of raw data sequences is generated using at least one recursive system. The plurality of raw data sequences is converted into a plurality of signaling tone sequences that follow a set of aesthetic music principles. In a system for generating signaling tones, a raw data sequence generator is configured to use at least one recursive system to generate a plurality of raw data sequences. A converter is configured to convert the plurality of raw data sequences into a plurality of signaling tone sequences that follow a set of aesthetic music principles. Signaling tone sequences generated by such a method or system may be suitable for use in, for example, telephones, cellular phones, pagers, personal digital assistants, consumer electronic devices, toys, games, paging systems, public address systems, intercom systems, etc.

Abstract: In a method for presenting information, an interactive document, for example, may be created that includes both an input expression and a result generated by evaluating the input expression, and where the input expression can be selectively hidden. This may permit “decluttering” of the document so that it may be easier to follow. At the same time, user interface mechanisms allow a viewer to reveal the input expression if the view desires to see the input expression. In this method, an input expression and a result corresponding to an evaluation of the input expression are presented on a workspace associated with a computational software application. Additionally, a first user interface mechanism associated with the input expression is presented on the workspace. In response to an activation of the first user inter mechanism, the input expression may be hidden on the workspace, while the result is presented on the workspace.

Abstract: In a method to help a user determine a formula, (e.g., a fact, rule, or principle expressed in scientific, mathematical, technical, etc. symbols), a user may input an indication of the formula in an imprecise syntax. The inputted indication may be in ASCII text, for example, and may include technical shorthand, technical abbreviations, pseudocode, etc. In response, one or more formulas corresponding to the user's input are determined. Optionally, other outputs related to the determined formula(s) may be generated. In one implementation, software programming code corresponding to the formula is generated. Then, the formula(s) and the output(s) are presented to the user.

Abstract: In a method for generating signaling tones, a plurality of raw data sequences is generated using at least one recursive system. The plurality of raw data sequences is converted into a plurality of signaling tone sequences that follow a set of aesthetic music principles. In a system for generating signaling tones, a raw data sequence generator is configured to use at least one recursive system to generate a plurality of raw data sequences. A converter is configured to convert the plurality of raw data sequences into a plurality of signaling tone sequences that follow a set of aesthetic music principles. Signaling tone sequences generated by such a method or system may be suitable for use in, for example, telephones, cellular phones, pagers, personal digital assistants, consumer electronic devices, toys, games, paging systems, public address systems, intercom systems, etc.