Abstract: System and methods for performing automatic identification and contextual reformulation of implicit device-related queries are described. In some examples, a query server may receive a query from an electronic device, receive data associated with the electronic device, determine that the query is related to the electronic device, generate a new query based at least in part on the query and the data associated with the electronic device, retrieve results related to the new query, and send the results related to the new query to the electronic device. In some examples, determining that the query is related to the electronic device includes determining that the query is a semi-implicit device query or a fully implicit device query. The data associated with the electronic device can include a model name of the electronic device, an operating platform for the electronic device, and/or additional data related to the electronic device.

Abstract: System and methods for performing automatic identification and contextual reformulation of implicit device-related queries are described. In some examples, a query server may receive a query from an electronic device, receive data associated with the electronic device, determine that the query is related to the electronic device, generate a new query based at least in part on the query and the data associated with the electronic device, retrieve results related to the new query, and send the results related to the new query to the electronic device. In some examples, determining that the query is related to the electronic device includes determining that the query is a semi-implicit device query or a fully implicit device query. The data associated with the electronic device can include a model name of the electronic device, an operating platform for the electronic device, and/or additional data related to the electronic device.

Abstract: A system is described for integrating a search engine and one or more social network resources. The system operates by determining whether a search operation being conducted by a user warrants interaction with a social network resource. If so, the system may provide an invitation to the user to forward a query-related message to the social network resource. The system then sends the message to a group of contacts via the social network resource, where the group of contacts can be defined in various ways. The system receives a response from at least one contact in the group of contacts and presents that response to the user using various delivery mechanisms, as governed by various delivery timings.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques and systems are disclosed for saving and retrieving browser-based content or portions thereof for browser-based interactions. Metadata is generated for a selection of a portion or an entire browser page, when a user selects content for the page. The selected content, comprising at least a portion of the browser page, is stored in a database in a remote data store, where the database is indexed by the associated metadata. The selection is presented in a multi-level representation in a user interface (UI) by using the associated metadata to organize the selection(s) in the UI.

Abstract: A system described herein includes a receiver component that receives a first dataset, wherein the first dataset comprises temporal dynamics pertaining to a document that is accessible by a search engine, wherein the temporal dynamics comprise an identity of a term corresponding to the document and an indication that the term has been subject to change over time. The system also includes a weight assignor component that assigns a relevance weight to the document based at least in part upon the temporal dynamics pertaining to the document, wherein the relevance weight is utilized by the search engine to assign a ranking to the document with respect to at least one other document when the search engine retrieves the document.

Abstract: Techniques provide time-aware ranking, such as ranking of information, files or URL (uniform resource locator) links. For example, time-aware modeling assists in determining user intent of a query to a search engine. In response to the query, results are ranked in a time-aware manner to better match the user intent. The ranking may model query, URL and query-URL pair behavior over time to create time-aware query, URL and query-URL pair models, respectively. Such models may predict behavior of a query-URL pair, such as frequency and timing of clicks to the URL of the pair when the query of the pair is posed to the search engine. Results of a query may be ranked by predicted query-URL behavior. Once ranked, the results may be sent to the user in response to the query.

Abstract: System and methods for performing automatic identification and contextual reformulation of implicit device-related queries are described. In some examples, a query server may receive a query from an electronic device, receive data associated with the electronic device, determine that the query is related to the electronic device, generate a new query based at least in part on the query and the data associated with the electronic device, retrieve results related to the new query, and send the results related to the new query to the electronic device. In some examples, determining that the query is related to the electronic device includes determining that the query is a semi-implicit device query or a fully implicit device query. The data associated with the electronic device can include a model name of the electronic device, an operating platform for the electronic device, and/or additional data related to the electronic device.

Abstract: A user's domain expertise may be estimated through several factors by monitoring different aspects of a user's interaction with a web browser. Based on the user's domain expertise, search results may be presented to the user that is commensurate with their expertise, resulting in a more efficient and productive on line session. A user's expertise in a knowledge domain may be determined from the user's behavior, including analyzing search queries, monitoring how the user navigates between and through websites, and analyzing the specific cites visited. As a user interacts with a browser, the user's estimated domain expertise may be updated and used to provide appropriate and useful search results. In many embodiments, a user may have different expertise levels for different technical domains.

Abstract: Technologies pertaining to generating crowd-sourced answers are described herein. A text string is received, and the text string is parsed to determine if the text string represents an information need that is desirably answered by a collective of crowd workers. When it is determined that the information need is desirably answered by the collective of crowd workers, a query or question that represents the information need is provided to a first plurality of crowd workers, who generate proposed answers for the information need. The proposed answers are provided to a second plurality of crowd workers, who vote on the proposed answers. An answer to the information need is output based upon responses of the crowd workers.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are described herein for providing context-based services. In one embodiment, context-based output is provided. The context-based output can include context-based search results for a query. Contextual information can be used to improve access to real-time, social, and other content by enabling a search engine to better understand and/or to supplement queries based upon the context within which the query is received. The contextual information can include, but are not limited to, searches and content associated with the searcher, one or more locations associated with the searcher, the time of day at which a query is received, the device from which a query is received, an application running at the device from which the query is received, the capabilities of the device from which the query is received, and other variables.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methodology for dynamic presentation of search result information within a selected area of a display. In one aspect, a computerized interface for data presentation is provided. The system includes a lens component associated with a portion of a user interface display, wherein the lens component defines an area to display information from at least one search result. A layout component displays a detailed subset of information within the lens component based upon the search result.

Abstract: Techniques provide time-aware ranking, such as ranking of information, files or URL (uniform resource locator) links. For example, time-aware modeling assists in determining user intent of a query to a search engine. In response to the query, results are ranked in a time-aware manner to better match the user intent. The ranking may model query, URL and query-URL pair behavior over time to create time-aware query, URL and query-URL pair models, respectively. Such models may predict behavior of a query-URL pair, such as frequency and timing of clicks to the URL of the pair when the query of the pair is posed to the search engine. Results of a query may be ranked by predicted query-URL behavior. Once ranked, the results may be sent to the user in response to the query.

Abstract: A user's domain expertise may be estimated through several factors by monitoring different aspects of a user's interaction with a web browser. Based on the user's domain expertise, search results may be presented to the user that is commensurate with their expertise, resulting in a more efficient and productive on line session. A user's expertise in a knowledge domain may be determined from the user's behavior, including analyzing search queries, monitoring how the user navigates between and through websites, and analyzing the specific cites visited. As a user interacts with a browser, the user's estimated domain expertise may be updated and used to provide appropriate and useful search results. In many embodiments, a user may have different expertise levels for different technical domains.

Abstract: Techniques provide time-aware ranking, such as ranking of information, files or URL (uniform resource locator) links. For example, time-aware modeling assists in determining user intent of a query to a search engine. In response to the query, results are ranked in a time-aware manner to better match the user intent. The ranking may model query, URL and query-URL pair behavior over time to create time-aware query, URL and query-URL pair models, respectively. Such models may predict behavior of a query-URL pair, such as frequency and timing of clicks to the URL of the pair when the query of the pair is posed to the search engine. Results of a query may be ranked by predicted query-URL behavior. Once ranked, the results may be sent to the user in response to the query.

Abstract: Web page change may be related to revisitation patterns to support web interaction. In an example embodiment, a method involves analyzing change and revisitation data for a web page, determining a relationship between the data, inferring consumption intent by a user for the web page, and utilizing the inferred consumption intent. More specifically, change data is analyzed to produce a change characterization, with the change data reflecting differences between content of a web page at different times. Revisitation data is analyzed to produce a revisitation characterization, with the revisitation data including visit times to the web page by a user. A relationship is determined between the change and the revisitation data based on the change and the revisitation characterizations. Consumption intent of the user for the content of the web page is inferred responsive to the relationship. The inferred consumption intent is utilized to support interaction with the web page.

Abstract: A system that facilitates ranking search results returned by a search engine in response to receipt of a query is described herein. The system includes a receiver component that receives categorical metadata pertaining to an item and categorical metadata pertaining to the query and a computation component that computes at least one of a document feature pertaining to the item, a query feature pertaining to the query, or a document-query feature pertaining to the item and the query based at least in part upon one or more of the categorical metadata pertaining to the item or the categorical metadata pertaining to the query. The system also includes a ranker component that selectively places the item in a particular location in a sequence of items based at least in part upon the at least one of the document feature, the query feature, or the document-query feature.

Abstract: A user's domain expertise may be estimated through several factors by monitoring different aspects of a user's interaction with a web browser. Based on the user's domain expertise, search results may be presented to the user that is commensurate with their expertise, resulting in a more efficient and productive on line session. A user's expertise in a knowledge domain may be determined from the user's behavior, including analyzing search queries, monitoring how the user navigates between and through websites, and analyzing the specific cites visited. As a user interacts with a browser, the user's estimated domain expertise may be updated and used to provide appropriate and useful search results. In many embodiments, a user may have different expertise levels for different technical domains.

Abstract: A user's domain expertise may be estimated through several factors by monitoring different aspects of a user's interaction with a web browser. Based on the user's domain expertise, search results may be presented to the user that is commensurate with their expertise, resulting in a more efficient and productive on line session. A user's expertise in a knowledge domain may be determined from the user's behavior, including analyzing search queries, monitoring how the user navigates between and through websites, and analyzing the specific cites visited. As a user interacts with a browser, the user's estimated domain expertise may be updated and used to provide appropriate and useful search results. In many embodiments, a user may have different expertise levels for different technical domains.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can scale a content feed in terms of the amount of content delivered in order to facilitate satisfactory experiences in connection with a social network. In particular, the architecture can utilize a content feed to disseminate content between members of a network community, generally relative to a particular social circle of a given user. The architecture can maintain a personal space for the user and display to the personal space content provided by a content feed. Content provided to the personal space (as well as that retrieved from the personal space) can be scaled based upon a variety of commitment characteristics associated with the social circle. In addition, the architecture can employ smart dispersal of content and can intelligently acquire additional content from the user or import suitable settings from disparate users.

Abstract: Technologies pertaining to generating crowd-sourced answers are described herein. A text string is received, and the text string is parsed to determine if the text string represents an information need that is desirably answered by a collective of crowd workers. When it is determined that the information need is desirably answered by the collective of crowd workers, a query or question that represents the information need is provided to a first plurality of crowd workers, who generate proposed answers for the information need. The proposed answers are provided to a second plurality of crowd workers, who vote on the proposed answers. An answer to the information need is output based upon responses of the crowd workers.