Abstract: Data exploration as search over automated pre-generated plot objects can include data analytics systems with automated data mining and simplified user experience front ends. A computer-implemented method, that can be performed by the described data analytics systems, includes receiving a request for plots or plot types of a specified criteria; searching a plot object resource for plots relevant to the specified criteria, the plot object resource comprising an indexed repository of available plots; sorting and ranking the plots or plot types according to associated scores, the associated scores for each plot being based on information theoretic metrics relevant to a measure of interest; and providing plots satisfying a criteria of the sorting and the ranking to a source of the request.

Abstract: Data exploration as search over automated pre-generated plot objects can include data analytics systems with automated data mining and simplified user experience front ends. A computer-implemented method, that can be performed by the described data analytics systems, includes receiving a request for plots or plot types of a specified criteria; searching a plot object resource for plots relevant to the specified criteria, the plot object resource comprising an indexed repository of available plots; sorting and ranking the plots or plot types according to associated scores, the associated scores for each plot being based on information theoretic metrics relevant to a measure of interest; and providing plots satisfying a criteria of the sorting and the ranking to a source of the request.

Abstract: In a method for a direct answer for search, a search query is received over a network, one or more answer candidate snippets for the search query are received, with an answer candidate snippet having at least a portion of content available over the network for an answer candidate, one or more answer entities are determined within a selected answer candidate snippet, a frequency of the one or more answer entities found within the one or more answer candidate snippets for the search query is determined, a confidence score is adjusted for the selected answer candidate in accordance with the frequency of the one or more answer entities found within the one or more answer candidate snippets, and at least one answer candidate snippet is sent for a response to the search query.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for presenting factoids includes receiving a user query concerning an object, providing object information associated with the object for presentation to a user, and providing one or more factoids pertaining to the object for presentation to the user. The factoids are presented independently from the object information, and each of the factoids indicates at least one special characteristic of the object in a distinct area.

Abstract: Systems and methods for answering user questions using databases annotated with answerable questions are disclosed. The database includes database items organized into columns. Each of the columns may have a question annotated thereto. The question is a parameterized question that is answerable by the database items in the column. A question answering algorithm is used to search the database for an annotated question corresponding to a question that needs to be answered.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for increasing query traffic to a web site includes providing initial information pertaining to an initial object for presentation to a user, and providing connection information identifying a logical connection between the initial object and one or more additional objects for presentation to the user. The connection information contains data prompting the user to submit a new query concerning one of the additional objects. The method may further include receiving the new query concerning one of the additional objects, and providing a result of the new query to the user.

Abstract: In a method for a direct answer for search, a search query is received over a network, one or more answer entities are determined from one or more answer candidate snippets, with an answer candidate snippet having at least a portion of content available over the network for an answer candidate, a content identifier is determined for an answer candidate, a title is tokenized for the content identifier, a comparison is performed between a vector of tokens for the title and a vector of the one or more answer entities, an indicator of the relevance is adjusted for the content identifier in accordance with the comparison, and at least one answer candidate snippet is sent for a response to the search query.

Abstract: In a method for a direct answer for search, a search query is received over a network, one or more answer entities are determined from one or more answer candidate snippets, with an answer candidate snippet having at least a portion of content available over the network for an answer candidate, a content identifier is determined for an answer candidate, a title is tokenized for the content identifier, a comparison is performed between a vector of tokens for the title and a vector of the one or more answer entities, an indicator of the relevance is adjusted for the content identifier in accordance with the comparison, and at least one answer candidate snippet is sent for a response to the search query.

Abstract: In a method for a direct answer for search, a search query is received over a network, one or more answer candidate snippets for the search query are received, with an answer candidate snippet having at least a portion of content available over the network for an answer candidate, one or more answer entities are determined within a selected answer candidate snippet, a frequency of the one or more answer entities found within the one or more answer candidate snippets for the search query is determined, a confidence score is adjusted for the selected answer candidate in accordance with the frequency of the one or more answer entities found within the one or more answer candidate snippets, and at least one answer candidate snippet is sent for a response to the search query.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for transformation of an electronic document through learning transformation rules during training from the original electronic document using visual user feedback and applying the learned transformation rules to either the original electronic document or a second electronic document having a similar structure as the original document or all future instances of the original electronic document. Accordingly, the transformed document is customized to the user's preference learned during training. Preferably, the transformed document is created in a queriable form. For example, the original electronic document can be defined any type of mark-up language or electronic document generation language, such as Hypertext mark-up language (HTML), extended mark-up language (XML), portable data file (PDF) or Microsoft® Word, and the like and the transformed document is defined in a queriable language such as (XML) views and the like.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of at least in part operating a computer system. A game includes receiving a plurality of rephrases, associating each rephrase with a respective player identification, comparing each rephrase with a threshold, associating a winner with one of the player identifications, the winner being at least in part based on a comparison of the rephrases with the threshold, and declaring the winner. The rephrases of the game are associated with one another on a computer readable medium and can then be used to generate equivalent phrases for a search engine.

Abstract: A method for answering search queries about services is disclosed. The method includes searching a plurality of storage media on a network for a natural language service metastatement. The natural language service metastatement is typically generated by a service provider and describes the services provided by the service provider in detail. The method also includes locating the natural language service metastatement in the storage media and extracting the natural language metastatement from the storage media. The method also includes indexing the natural language metastatement in a service description index. Thus, when a search query for a service is received, the service description index is searched for a natural language service metastatement corresponding to the search query, and the search result is provided in the form of a natural language answer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating query and result-based relevance indexes are provided. For one embodiment, a plurality of queries is received from a plurality of users. Each query of the plurality of queries is measured based on one or more metrics. The measured data of each query is stored. The queries are associated into topical query categories. A performance of a first query category is calculated based on at least one metric of the one or more metrics. A metric data request for a select category is received from a client. Lastly, the stored measured data of the selected category is transmitted to the client in response to the metric data request.

Abstract: A method for answering search queries about services is disclosed. The method includes searching a plurality of storage media on a network for a natural language service metastatement. The natural language service metastatement is typically generated by a service provider and describes the services provided by the service provider in detail. The method also includes locating the natural language service metastatement in the storage media and extracting the natural language metastatement from the storage media. The method also includes indexing the natural language metastatement in a service description index. Thus, when a search query for a service is received, the service description index is searched for a natural language service metastatement corresponding to the search query, and the search result is provided in the form of a natural language answer.

Abstract: A method for answering search queries about services is disclosed. The method includes searching a plurality of storage media on a network for a natural language service metastatement. The natural language service metastatement is typically generated by a service provider and describes the services provided by the service provider in detail. The method also includes locating the natural language service metastatement in the storage media and extracting the natural language metastatement from the storage media. The method also includes indexing the natural language metastatement in a service description index. Thus, when a search query for a service is received, the service description index is searched for a natural language service metastatement corresponding to the search query, and the search result is provided in the form of a natural language answer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for annotating images with search queries are described. Systems and methods for forming search queries by browsing annotated images are also described.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for increasing query traffic to a web site includes providing initial information pertaining to an initial object for presentation to a user, and providing connection information identifying a logical connection between the initial object and one or more additional objects for presentation to the user. The connection information contains data prompting the user to submit a new query concerning one of the additional objects. The method may further include receiving the new query concerning one of the additional objects, and providing a result of the new query to the user.

Abstract: A method for answering search queries about services is disclosed. The method includes searching a plurality of storage media on a network for a natural language service metastatement. The natural language service metastatement is typically generated by a service provider and describes the services provided by the service provider in detail. The method also includes locating the natural language service metastatement in the storage media and extracting the natural language metastatement from the storage media. The method also includes indexing the natural language metastatement in a service description index. Thus, when a search query for a service is received, the service description index is searched for a natural language service metastatement corresponding to the search query, and the search result is provided in the form of a natural language answer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating query and result-based relevance indexes are provided. For one embodiment, a plurality of queries is received from a plurality of users. Each query of the plurality of queries is measured based on one or more metrics. The measured data of each query is stored. The queries are associated into topical query categories. A performance of a first query category is calculated based on at least one metric of the one or more metrics. A metric data request for a select category is received from a client. Lastly, the stored measured data of the selected category is transmitted to the client in response to the metric data request.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of remotely executing actions in real-time transparent to a user are described. The method includes an execution engine that receives a natural language executable string from a user, identifies a remote entity capable of executing the natural language executable string, sending the executable string to the remote entity to remotely execute an action using information from the executable string, and receiving a result for the user from the remote entity based on the action.