Abstract: A stream of media content is received in a media device. A value is determined in metadata of the media content relating to an indicia of interest in a portion of the media content. A first clip including the portion of the media content is stored based at least in part on the indicia of interest, whereby the first clip is made available for later retrieval.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method comprising: obtaining social media information associated with a user, wherein the social media information comprises historical social media information associated with the user and current social media information associated with the user; selecting, based upon the historical social media information, a selected personality type associated with the use; determining, based upon the selected personality type associated with the user, a candidate entertainment recommendation; determining, based upon the current social media information, whether the candidate entertainment recommendation should be provided to the user; responsive to determining that the candidate entertainment recommendation should not be provided to the user: determining, based upon the selected personality type associated with the user, an alternate entertainment recommendation; and providing to the user the second recommendation. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An online product recommendation method includes constructing a database in which model-based product information on a plurality of models is stored, the model-based product information including information on body measurements of each of the plurality of models and information on at least one product purchased or recommended by the corresponding model; receiving body measurements from a user through a web page; searching the database so as to determine at least one similar model, among the plurality of models, having body measurements similar to the body measurements inputted by the user; searching the database for information on at least one product purchased or recommended by the at least one similar model; and providing information on at least one product purchased or recommended by the at least one similar model to the user through the web page.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide customizable insurance according to consumer preferences and attributes. An enhanced attributes analysis server may analyze the attributes of a consumer and match these attributes with attributes of current customers of an entity managing the server. The insurance products/plans preferred by the matched customers may then be used to present insurance options to the consumer. In addition, the server may further customize insurance options based on answers to questions that relate to the consumer's specific situation. Further still, the consumer's social network may be used to understand insurance products/plans that may be preferred by the consumer.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system for improving use of a social network. During operation, the system obtains a set of member features associated with a member of a social network and a set of attribute features associated with a set of member attributes. Next, the system analyzes the member features and the attribute features to predict a propensity of the member to accept recommendations of the member attributes as profile edits to a member profile of the member. The system then uses the predicted propensity to output a subset of the member attributes as recommended profile edits to the member.

Abstract: Techniques for motivating a user during a workout using different coaching styles are provided. In one aspect, a method for motivational coaching of a user during workout sessions includes the steps of: selecting a coaching style for the user based on input from the user and from coaching styles used for at least one other user; determining, during a workout session, whether the coaching style should be changed to enhance performance of the user based on data obtained from the user via a mobile device worn by the user; changing the coaching style if it is determined that the coaching style should be changed to enhance performance of the user; continuing with a current coaching style if it is determined that the coaching style should not be changed; and providing feedback to the user during the workout session based on the coaching style.

Abstract: System and computer-implemented image search engine of analyzing tags associated with a sequence of images presented to a user to present a current object of interest of the user is disclosed. An image from among a plurality of images is presented on an electronic display. The image is associated with a set of tags. An input is received indicating a user's preference for the image. A plurality of tags is processed based on the preference and the set of tags to determine a next set of tags from the plurality of tags. A next image is determined from the plurality of images based on the next set of tags. The next image represents a physical object, different from a physical object represented by the previous image. A sequence of images is generated by repeating the above process with the next image in place of the previous image for present a user's current object of interest.

Abstract: Methods, computer-readable media, software, and apparatuses provide a system for establishing base stations and allocating service vehicles to the base stations in order to provide roadside assistance. The system may include computing devices associated with customer vehicles and service vehicles as well as network computing devices. The system may receive a service request from a customer regarding a disabled vehicle. The system may then identify an appropriate service vehicle to assist the customer and assign the service request to the identified service vehicle. The system may select the appropriate service vehicle based on a location of the disabled vehicle. In an example, the system may choose a service vehicle from a base station closest to or within the shortest driving time to the disabled vehicle. By setting-up base stations in advance of service requests, service vehicles may reach disabled vehicles within a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for intelligently learning hashtag relevance may include monitoring, with a relevance engine, a target's access to a plurality of hashtag-annotated content comprising a first content, updating, using the relevance engine, an access record with information indicative of a number of times the target is presented with the first content and the first content remains unselected by the target, determining a relevance of the plurality of hashtag-annotated content based on the access record, and presenting a second hashtag-annotated content based on the relevance.

Abstract: An illustrative implementation of the technology includes three primary components: a desktop application, a mobile phone application, and connections to retailer inventory and pricing APIs (e.g., for Walmart and/or Best Buy). The experience begins with the consumer going to an online retailer's website (e.g., Amazon) to search for a product. The desktop application automatically searches for the same product using the APIs of Walmart and/or Best Buy. If matches and near-matches of the product are found, the product name, model, price, and local availability at affiliate locations is shown. With a mobile phone camera-scan of the product page, relevant information is transferred to the consumer's phone. From there, the consumer can interact with the options on the mobile phone to be directed to the nearby brick and mortar store of choice carrying that product at the price they want. Along the way, the retailer can present offers and additional product information directly to the consumer.

Abstract: A testing device for performing testing across a plurality of smart devices is disclosed. The testing device may be configured to register the plurality of smart devices to be accessed for performing testing. At least one time-window at which each smart device is idle may be determined, by the testing device, for the plurality of smart devices. Upon gathering the testing criteria and time duration for performing a testing operation, the testing device may be configured to dynamically create a test group that includes one or more smart devices from the plurality of smart devices such that the one or more smart devices in the test group satisfy the testing criteria and the at least one time-window of smart devices in the test group is within the time duration.

Abstract: Balancing a workload based on commitments to projects includes monitoring messages in a collaboration system, the messages representing correspondences between users of the collaboration system, selecting a number of the users associated with the collaboration system to form a group of users, retrieving the messages from each of the users in the group of users, analyzing data associated with the messages to determine which of the messages relate to at least one project, and executing, based on a threshold, at least one action to optimize a workload for at least one user in the group of users for the at least one project.

Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and computer-implemented method for providing recommendations based on social network sharing activity. Sharing activity relating to the sharing of the content item on a social network by a first user is accessed. Consumption information related to the consumption of the content item. A correlation between the sharing activity and the consumption information is determined. A recommendation is then generated based on the correlation.

Abstract: Balancing a workload based on commitments to projects includes monitoring messages in a collaboration system, the messages representing correspondences between users of the collaboration system, selecting a number of the users associated with the collaboration system to form a group of users, retrieving the messages from each of the users in the group of users, analyzing data associated with the messages to determine which of the messages relate to at least one project, and executing, based on a threshold, at least one action to optimize a workload for at least one user in the group of users for the at least one project.

Abstract: Identifying user input data on a mobile user device may provide a way to predict the types of questions and actions a user will take and offer information contemporaneously with such actions. One example method of operation includes identifying an active application programming interface (API) of a presently operating application executing on the user device, and identifying input data populating the application. Then, storing and processing the input data to identify a topic of interest and retrieving relevant content that is associated with the topic of interest, and creating a recommendation message based on the relevant content.

Abstract: Techniques for providing a number of items may be described. For example, a request for a delivery of an item within a time frame may be received. An additional item may be determined based at least in part on the item and the time frame. Both items may be scheduled for delivery based at least in part on the time frame. Information associated with the items and including an option to accept a delivery of the additional item may be provided. If the option may have been selected, a delivery of the additional item may be caused.

Abstract: The relevance or ranking of various dynamically-determined instances of content can be adjusted or otherwise improved based on aspects such as the freshness or seasonality of the content. In many conventional relevance or ranking algorithms, factors such as popularity, performance, and profit are used to determine which content to present to a user, as well as how to display the selected content. Such algorithms do not necessarily reflect domain-specific knowledge very well, and thus fail to accurately select content that is of differing levels appeal at various ages of the content and/or during various seasons of the year. Freshness and/or seasonality adjustment scores can be used to generate improved relevance, selection, or ranking determinations for various categories of content.

Abstract: A method of classifying content items utilizes user-generated playlists. A content item is included in playlists from a plurality of distinct users. A server system receives, from respective users of the plurality of distinct users, respective playlist titles for the playlists. In accordance with a determination that the respective playlist titles from a threshold number of the plurality of distinct users specify a first attribute, the server system assigns the first attribute to the content item. The server system receives a request, from a first user via an application that is executing on a client device that is distinct from the server system, for content having the first attribute. In response to receiving the request, the server system selects the content item according to the first attribute and delivers the selected content item for playback to the first user.

Abstract: Among other things, information is obtained by computer about Internet-related assets of organizations. The information is used to identify relationships between the organizations with respect to the assets. The information about the identified relationships is made available for display or analysis or both.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating social networking recommendations. A color preference of a first user may be determined from a color palette of a first image associated with the user and/or a color palette of an item associated with the user. Other users may be identified that have a similar color preference as the first user based at least in part on the determined color preference of the first user. Interactions between the first user and one or more other users having similar color preferences with respect to the first user may be facilitated. A social networking recommendation may be generated with respect to the one or more other users having similar color preferences with respect to the first user.

Abstract: A recommendation system divides users into a plurality of segments based on scores generated for each of a plurality of users of an electronic service that provides functionality for users to browse and purchase or select items. The scores can be RFM (Recency, Frequency, and Monetary amount) scores based on at least purchase or selection recency, purchase or selection frequency, and in some instances, the monetary amount spent. The recommendation system can further detect behavior-based correlations between particular segments and particular items and/or item attributes. The correlations can be based on purchase or selection histories of the users assigned to specific segments. The recommendation system can select items to recommend to particular users based at least partly on the detected behavior-based correlations.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a sales channel for a product in a brick and mortar store include displaying to customers in a brick and mortar store information on an interactive data collection system relating to a product; collecting, via the data collection system, information indicative of customer interest in the product by tracking inputs at the interactive data collection system; collecting, via an online website, information indicative of customer interest relating to the product; and based upon both the information obtained at the brick and mortar store and the information obtained by the online website, determining a sales channel from a plurality of channels to offer the product for purchase by a customer.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example network device having a controller to receive multiple streams of content for portions of a multimedia work, perform a high level analysis for features in each of the streams for the multimedia work, perform a specialized analysis on the portion having a detected general feature to generate a content analysis output, correlate the content analysis output with other content analysis of the multimedia work, and output a weighted content description based on the correlation function. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for a virtualized services discovery and recommendation engine. A request for a service can be received from a requestor. The request can include feature data that can define two or more features. Two or more features can be determined based on the feature data and requestor data associated with the requestor can be obtained. Two or more services that satisfy the request can be identified and a recommendation that represents the two or more services can be generated. The recommendation can include a data representation of a custom product that can include the two or more services. The recommendation can be tested to determine if the custom product functions, and the recommendation can be provided to the requestor.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for transferring electronic data between users of a communications system include a host system structured and arranged to receive and deliver messages of various types between users of the communications system. The host system includes an instant messaging network; a mail gateway; and a configuring network in communication with both the instant messaging network and the mail gateway. The instant messaging network enables instant messaging communication between users of the communications system and has the capability to monitor whether a certain user is capable of receiving an instant message at a particular moment. The mail gateway receives and delivers e-mail messages to users of the communications system. The configuring network is dedicated to automatically configuring instant messaging communication between an intended recipient of an e-mail message and the sender of the e-mail message.

Abstract: Methods for generating and sharing a virtual body model of a person, created with a small number of measurements and a single photograph, combined with one or more images of garments. The virtual body model represents a realistic representation of the users body and is used for visualizing photo-realistic fit visualizations of garments, hairstyles, make-up, and/or other accessories. The virtual garments are created from layers based on photographs of real garment from multiple angles. Furthermore the virtual body model is used in multiple embodiments of manual and automatic garment, make-up, and, hairstyle recommendations, such as, from channels, friends, and fashion entities. The virtual body model is sharable for, as example, visualization and comments on looks. Furthermore it is also used for enabling users to buy garments that fit other users, suitable for gifts or similar.

Abstract: A method may include identifying a candidate user based on a connection to an established user of a business management application (BMA). The candidate user may have an associated user identifier. The method may further include collecting, using the user identifier, social network data of the candidate user from an online social network, identifying, using the social network data of the candidate user, application programming interfaces (APIs) for collecting public data about the candidate user, retrieving, using the user identifier and an API, public data corresponding to the candidate user, generating, using the public data corresponding to the candidate user, an account creation request including the user identifier, and transmitting the account creation request to the BMA.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for mapping an integral into a thread of a parallel architecture, in the course of which the integral is mapped into a summation expressed by coefficient values and summation values, and a directed graph is generated corresponding to the computation of the summation. Furthermore, in the course of the method a level of a traversal sequence to each of the nodes is assigned, respectively, and at each level of the traversal sequence, a storage location of the intermediate value corresponding to the edge connected with its input to the node corresponding to the given level is specified in a memory corresponding to the thread and including a register storage, a local storage, and a global storage. A system is also disclosed for mapping an integral into a thread of a parallel architecture.

Abstract: A media item recommendation can be based on application purchase data. Application purchase data of a population of users can be used to create application preference clusters that represent unique application preference profiles. Media preference data of the same population of users can be used to create media preference clusters that represent unique media preference profiles. A preference relationship between an application preference cluster and a media preference cluster can be identified based on the number of members of the media preference cluster that are also members of the application preference cluster. Upon receiving a recommendation request from a user, the user's application preference profile can be determined based on the user's application purchase data. A media item can then be recommended based on a media preference cluster that has a preference relationship with an application preference cluster that represents the application preference profile of the user.

Abstract: A first cluster of web objects is identified from a click-through data structure. The click-through data structure can organize web objects into clusters based on query results of web objects selected by a user. Also, a second cluster of web objects can be identified from a metadata data structure. The metadata data structure can organize web objects into clusters based on metadata associated with the web objects. An output set of web objects is selected, in real time, from the identifier clusters.

Abstract: A reading device scans receipts, and transmits image data of the receipts to an analyzer. The analyzer receives the image data, extracts images of the receipts from the image data; counts a number of the images; executes a character recognition process to obtain text data; transmits, to the display device, a number of all of the images, and sequentially transmits, to the display device, the images for which the character recognition process has been completed, together with the text data. The display device sequentially displays each image, together with the text data; and upon detecting that the number of all of the images matches a number of the sequentially transmitted images, receives a command to report to the analyzer that the reception the images is completed.

Abstract: A method and system for managing an instrumentation device include accessing an image of the instrumentation device. Based on the image, an identity for the instrumentation device is determined. The identity is used to register the instrumentation device by configuring a gateway at a multimedia content distribution network client location to access and communicate with the instrumentation device. The identity of the instrumentation device and the gateway may be stored for future configuration of the gateway.

Abstract: An item recommendation method and apparatus are provided. The item recommendation method and apparatus may recognize items preferred before a user uses items, based on items rated by the user, and may recommend an item to the user based on preferences for the recognized items.

Abstract: Provided is a computer implemented process for reminding users of offers that were discovered by the user at one location when, at a later time, the user is at another location, the process including: displaying, with a mobile device, an offer and a reminder interface to indicate that the user requests themselves or another reminder recipient to be reminded of the offer when near another computing device of the reminder recipient; receiving an interaction with the reminder interface by the user and, in response, storing a reminder request in memory, the reminder request identifying the offer; obtaining data identifying the other computing device, a geographic area of the other computing device, or a wireless environment of the other computing device; detecting, with a processor of the mobile device, that the reminder recipient has interacted with the other computing device, entered the geographic area, or entered the wireless environment; and in response to the detection, presenting a notification reminding t

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for communicating a recommended item to a user are described. The method comprises determining that the user has a level of commitment to an item offered for sale, and, in response to this determination, communicating information concerning a recommended item to the user over a network. The recommended item is identified based on a set of longest words in a description of the item offered for sale.

Abstract: Native e-commerce transactables for social and other familiar and/or suitable user environments are enabled. A user of a network site may interact with a transactable to conduct a transaction with a 3rd party without leaving a user environment of the network site. The transactable may be configured to adopt the “look and feel” of the network site into which it is incorporated. While conducting the transaction with the transactable, the user may perceive that they remain at the network site, even though transaction information may be exchanged with a 3rd party network site. The transaction mediation service may obtain social activity data from a plurality of social network sites, as well as merchant activity data (e.g., transaction activity) from a plurality of merchant network sites. The data of each suitable network site may be translated, transformed and/or normalized into a unified and uniform format maintained by the transaction mediation service.

Abstract: A method and a system for processing recommended software are disclosed. A cluster analysis module performs a cluster analysis for users based on software using information reported by the users, and determines a software list corresponding to each user cluster, and sort software in the software list according to using condition of the software. A recommendation module determines a user cluster that is the most relevant to a specific user based on software using information of the specific user, and selects top N pieces of software from a software list corresponding to the user cluster to recommend the selected top N pieces of software to the specific user, where N is a predefined value.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a point-of-recognition optimizer system configured to optimize onsite user purchases at a physical location. In various aspects, a purchasable-unit identifier (ID) may be received via a computer transmission, where the purchasable-unit ID, as identified by an optimizer device, is associated with a recognized purchasable-unit located onsite with the optimizer device. Based on the purchasable-unit ID, a plurality of competing purchasable-units may be identified, which may be either onsite or offsite purchasable-units. An offer is transmitted via a second computer transmission for an offered purchasable-unit to the optimizer device where the offer originates from an outbidding purchasable-unit distributor, and where the outbidding purchasable-unit distributor outbid other competing purchasable-unit distributors, each distributor corresponding to the plurality of competing purchasable-units, for an opportunity for the optimizer device to receive the offer.

Abstract: In some examples, a buyer device is configured to present a first graphic user interface (GUI) including information about items available from a first merchant site. The first GUI may further include a virtual control for adding a selected item to a persistent virtual cart maintained by a service provider. The buyer device may be navigated to a second merchant site to present a second GUI that may receive a selection to cause a second item from the second merchant site to be added to the persistent virtual cart. The buyer device may present a cart GUI for accessing the persistent virtual cart. The cart GUI may be used to send an instruction for ordering the items associated with the cart, causing the service provider to send an order for the first item to the first merchant and an order for the second item to the second merchant.

Abstract: A simulation engine and method of operating a simulation system includes a plurality of user devices and an interface receiving user device data and a recommendation request from at least one the plurality of user devices. The system also includes a memory storing the user device data therein. The system also includes a recommendation engine that generates a content recommendation based on the user device data and an algorithm. The interface communicates the content recommendation to the user device. The recommendation engine receives a recommendation rating from at least one of the plurality of user devices and changes the algorithm in response to the recommendation rating. The user device receives a different recommendation of the changed algorithm within the simulation engine.

Abstract: An online system provides a continuous feed of content items to a client device. The online system maintains an ordered set of ranked content items for sending to the client device. The online system receives requests from the client device for content items and selects a subset from an ordered set of ranked content items in response to each request. The number of content items in the subset may be based on factors such as the network connection strength of the client device. The client device re-ranks content items received from the online system based on information received during a given session. The session information may indicate the types of content items viewed during the given session, or the speed at which the user is viewing content items during the given session.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for narrative generation using pattern recognition by topic are provided. A method includes identifying a topic from content. The method includes obtaining events associated with the topic from one or more sources. The method includes processing the events. The method includes generating a narrative of the topic using pattern recognition on the events. The method includes transmitting the narrative for presentation to a user.

Abstract: A method for locating real estate having desired attributes includes storing, in a profile database, at least one client profile, the client profile including a client identifier associated with a client and at least two preferences of the client, storing, in a neighborhood database, at least one neighborhood defined by at least one neighborhood attribute other than zip code, receiving, by a receiving unit, one or more properties not currently for sale within the at least one neighborhood, weighting, by a processing unit, the at least two preferences, generating, by the processing unit, a list of one or more properties not currently for sale within the at least one neighborhood having the at least two preferences, and transmitting, by a transmitting unit, the list of one or more properties to the client.

Abstract: Systems for managing user-level security in a cloud-based service platform. A server in a cloud-based environment is configured to interface with storage devices that store objects that are accessible over a network by two or more users. An enterprise entity is identified using an enterprise identifier associated with the enterprise, and an application service is associated with an application identifier. An application service request comprising a user identifier and the application identifier is received, and authentication is determined based on the combination of the user identifier and a pre-authenticated application identifier. Once the application service request is authenticated, then specific aspects of the service request are authorized. The integrity of the application identifier is confirmed by locating a secure association of the given application identifier to a pre-shared enterprise identifier.

Abstract: A method for providing a content gift to a gift-receiving terminal is provided. The method includes a gift server communicating with the gift-receiving terminal over a wireless communication link to determine what content is owned by the gift-receiving terminal. The method further includes the gift server generating catalog data including at least one content gift targeted for the gift receiving terminal. Further included in the method is the gift server wirelessly transmitting the catalog data to a gift-giving terminal. Additionally, the method includes the gift server receiving a selection of a content gift from the gift-giving terminal over a wireless communication link. Further included is the gift server facilitating delivery of the selected content gift to the gift-receiving terminal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a number of recommendations for a first user. Each recommendation being made by a second user and including information that: identifies an item being recommended; provides an explanation for the recommendation; identifies the first user as an addressee of the recommendation; and identifies the second user as an author of the recommendation. The method also includes providing for presentation to the first user one or more of the recommendations.

Abstract: A first document may be requested and received from a server device. Based on the first document, a web page may be rendered for display. The rendered web page may include a set of selectable items, each corresponding to a respective type of web page content. The set of selectable items may be defined in a user profile of a user associated with the client device. It may be determined that a scroll position of the rendered web page has a particular characteristic. Perhaps in response to determining that the scroll position of the rendered web page has the particular characteristic, one of the selectable items may be selected. A second document may be requested and received from the server device. The second document may be associated with the selected item. Based on the first document and the second document, the web page may be re-rendered for display.

Abstract: A method and system for creating a composite security rating from security characterization data of a third party computer system. The security characterization data is derived from externally observable characteristics of the third party computer system. Advantageously, the composite security score has a relatively high likelihood of corresponding to an internal audit score despite use of externally observable security characteristics. Also, the method and system may include use of multiple security characterizations all solely derived from externally observable characteristics of the third party computer system.

Abstract: Methods for generating and sharing a virtual body model of a person, created with a small number of measurements and a single photograph, combined with one or more images of garments. The virtual body model represents a realistic representation of the users body and is used for visualizing photo-realistic fit visualizations of garments, hairstyles, make-up, and/or other accessories. The virtual garments are created from layers based on photographs of real garment from multiple angles. Furthermore the virtual body model is used in multiple embodiments of manual and automatic garment, make-up, and, hairstyle recommendations, such as, from channels, friends, and fashion entities. The virtual body model is sharable for, as example, visualization and comments on looks. Furthermore it is also used for enabling users to buy garments that fit other users, suitable for gifts or similar.

Abstract: An application store tastemaker recommendation service determines experts within a user's social network(s), receives recommendations from the experts, filters and/or ranks mobile application query results based at least in part on the recommendations. Additionally, the service may further determine the experts based on data compiled about previous actions, reviews, comments, etc., of the experts. Further, the service may provide recommendations to the user to aid in selecting mobile applications for purchase, and may provide an avenue for completing such purchases.