Abstract: Provided are a method for optimizing the multicast group and an anchor. A set of nodes requesting for the same multicast group data and sharing the same Access Gateway (AG) is identified in a multicast group, and the same multicast group data is transmitted to each node in the set of nodes via the same AG thereby forwarding multicast data to different nodes via the same gateway, saving traffic of a network side, and optimizing the multicast group. In addition, the node optimization method allows the anchor to optimize multicast routing of the nodes requesting for the same multicast group data and sharing the same AG to the same shared gateway for forwarding if a node has a plurality of access interfaces in the present application.

Abstract: A method for self-adaptively visualizing location based digital information may comprise: obtaining context information for a location based service, in response to a request for the location based service from a user; and presenting, based at least in part on the context information, the location based service through a user interface in at least one of a first mode and a second mode for the location based service, wherein a control of the location based service in one of the first mode and the second mode causes, at least in part, an adaptive control of the location based service in other of the first mode and the second mode.

Abstract: An approach is provided for providing a trust level to access a resource. A system receives a request at a device, from a first user, to access a resource associated with a second user. The resource is further associated with a predetermined privacy level. The system calculates a trust level between the first user and the second user based, at least in part, on a trust metric. The system then determines whether the trust level meets the predetermined privacy level and grants an access right to the resource based, at least in part, on the determination.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and apparatus for live user recognition. There is disclosed a method for live user recognition. The method comprises: obtaining an image containing a face; while recognizing the face based on the image, detecting whether gaze of the face moves into proximity of a random position on a display screen every time an object is displayed at the random position; and determining whether the image is obtained from the live user based on the detection. The corresponding apparatus is disclosed as well.

Abstract: The embodiments of the invention relates to a method and a technical equipment for social network. The method comprises determining a relation degree between a user and a connection for each user relation at a specific time; listing the determined relations in time order to create a time-serial relation sequence; repeating the previous steps for all connections of the user; and grouping the connections according to the created time serial relation sequences.

Abstract: Techniques for expanded content tag sharing include determining that a first user is associated with content provided by a different second user. Data is recorded that indicates the first user is authorized to associate a different third user with the content provided by the second user, without further input by the second user. In some embodiments, the data that indicates the content provided by the second user includes data that indicates a plurality of contents. Some techniques include determining a message received from a first user indicates a portion of content associated with the first user, and a second user. The portion of the content is rendered on an apparatus of the second user. The second user is prompted for associating, with the portion of the content, an item identifier, such as text or another user, for the portion of the content.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) that can be modified as desired. Roughened (e.g., porous) surfaces can be utilized to lock in place a lubricating fluid, referred to herein as Liquid B to repel a wide range of objects, referred to herein as Object A (Solid A or Liquid A). Use of an external stimuli or degradation of the Liquid B can be utilized to change the characteristics of SLIPS structures reversibly or irreversibly that may be desired in a number of different applications. Numerous characteristics, such as adhesion, optical, mechanical, and the like, can be dynamically changed.

Abstract: An approach is provided for determining the intent of a question and determining an appropriate audience to answer the question based on the intent of the question. The approach comprises processing and/or facilitating a processing of a query to cause, at least in part, a determination of one or more topics of the query based, at least in part, on one or more user preferences. The approach also comprises processing and/or facilitating a processing of the query to cause, at least in part, a determination of a classification of the query, The approach further comprises determining an audience comprising one or more candidate audience members for the query based, at least in part, on the classification of the query and the one or more topics of the query.

Abstract: An approach is provided for providing a trust level to access a resource. A system receives a request at a device, from a first user, to access a resource associated with a second user. The resource is further associated with a predetermined privacy level. The system calculates a trust level between the first user and the second user based, at least in part, on a trust metric. The system then determines whether the trust level meets the predetermined privacy level and grants an access right to the resource based, at least in part, on the determination.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system for image processing is provided that creates an object note for a picture. The method, apparatus or system includes: automatically obtaining picture description information from a picture source, wherein the picture description information at least partly have been formed automatically; obtaining annotation information from at least two object sources, wherein the two object sources are different from the picture sources, automatically fusing the said annotation information from the two object sources to form fused annotation information, and attaching said fused annotation information to the picture to create the object note for the picture.

Abstract: A system and method for sharing user information between online services may determine a degree of relationship between the services to determine how much, and what precision level, of user information should be shared. In one example, the user information may be global positioning system (GPS) location information for the user, and requesting users (or systems) receive different levels of the location information based on their respective relationships to the user and/or the user's online information service. The relationship between services may be user-defined using onscreen graphical tools. The determination may also include determining the levels of activity of users at the services, whereby information regarding less active users is less detailed than information regarding active users.

Abstract: A system and method for sharing user information between online services may determine a degree of relationship between the services to determine how much, and what precision level, of user information should be shared. In one example, the user information may be global positioning system (GPS) location information for the user, and requesting users (or systems) receive different levels of the location information based on their respective relationships to the user and/or the user's online information service. The relationship between services may be user-defined using onscreen graphical tools. The determination may also include determining the levels of activity of users at the services, whereby information regarding less active users is less detailed than information regarding active users.