Abstract: A blog search engine may receive a search query. The blog search engine may determine scores for a group of blog documents in response to the search query, where the scores are based on a relevance of the group of blog documents to the search query and a quality of the group of blog documents. The blog search engine may also provide information regarding the group of blog documents based on the determined scores.

Abstract: A method for private keyword searching on streaming data such that the searching does not reveal what keywords are being searched for and does not reveal whether any such keywords have been located nor which documents in the data stream are saved.

Abstract: Two methods for measuring keyword-document relevance are described. The methods receive a keyword and a document as input and output a probability value for the keyword. The first method is a similarity-based approach which uses techniques for measuring similarity between two short-text segments to measure relevance between the keyword and the document. The second method is a regression-based approach based on an assumption that if an out-of-document phrase (the keyword) is semantically similar to an in-document phrase, then relevance scores of the in and out-of document phrases should be close to each other.

Abstract: Federated search is disclosed. A result associated with a search of a content source not natively configured to provide content type data for content items is received. A content type is associated with a content item included in the result based at least in part on information associated with the result.

Abstract: Systems and methods maintain at least one point of interest data file within a computer-readable storage medium and automatically identify a current user location of a user based on a geographic positioning feature of a portable electronic device that is maintained within a first predetermined distance from the user. The systems and methods automatically compare the current user location with the point of interest data file to identify whether the user is located within a second predetermined distance of a point of interest maintained within the point of interest data file. If the user is within the second predetermined distance of a point of interest, the systems and methods automatically create a user status data file. The user status data comprises data identifying that the user is currently at the point of interest.

Abstract: Generally, a method and apparatus provides for rating user generated content (UGC) with respect to search engine results. The method and apparatus includes recognizing a UGC data field collected from a web document located at a web location. The method and apparatus calculates: a document goodness factor for the web document; an author rank for an author of the UGC data field; and a location rank for web location. The method and apparatus thereby generates a rating factor for the UGC field based on the document goodness factor, the author rank and the location rank. The method and apparatus also outputs a search result that includes the UGC data field positioned in the search results based on the rating factor.

Abstract: A system and a method is provided for extracting, classifying, and displaying related words for a query, if an internet or local computer or a mobile appliance user inputs the query. In a system for providing related words composed of a client and a server connected to the client through a network, the method of providing related words for a query includes the steps of the server searching for the co-occurrence frequency by words from source data, the server storing the result of the search in a database, the server receiving an input of a query from the client, and the server extracting related words related to the input query from the database.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying items by receiving a query, identifying query feature values for similarity features associated with the query, identifying items each having item feature values for similarity features thereof, for each of the identified items and for each of the similarity features, determining a feature distance between the query feature value and the item feature value, and presenting the identified items in a two dimensional array of cells. The array defines reference vectors corresponding to the similarity features. The identified items are positioned within the array relative to the origin cell, for any of the cells, by determining difference function values. for the identified items each based on the feature distances of the item, the reference vectors and the coordinates of the cell, and placing one of the items in the cell based upon the determined difference function values.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a system for comparing documents based on different document-similarity calculation methods using adaptive weighting. During operation, the system receives at least two document-similarity values associated with two documents, wherein the document-similarity values are calculated by different document-similarity calculation methods. The system then determines the weight of a respective document-similarity calculation method for each of the two documents, as well as a weight-combination function for calculating a combined weight of the respective document-similarity calculation method associated with the two documents. Next, the system generates a combined similarity value based on the document-similarity values and the weight-combination function.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining similar queries for image searches. In one aspect, a method includes generating, for each of a plurality of search queries, a selection vector for the search query, each selection vector including a plurality of vector elements, each vector element corresponding to a unique image, and the value of each vector element being proportional to a number of selections of its corresponding unique image in response to the unique image being presented as a search result for the search query. The method further includes selecting a first search query and a second search query from the plurality of search queries and determining, from the selection vectors for the first and second search queries, a similarity measure that is a measurement of the similarity of the first search query to the second query.

Abstract: Methods and systems for aggregating search query results include receiving search query results and schema information for the query results from multiple heterogeneous sources, determining types for elements of the query results based on the schema information, determining potential aggregations for the query results based on the types, which are based on accumulated information from the plurality of heterogeneous resources, and aggregating the query results according to one or more of the potential aggregations.

Abstract: A table of contents is generated for search results in response to a search query by identifying semantic concepts as topics for inclusion within the table of contents. When a search query is received, a search is performed to identify search results. The search results are compared to an ontology of topics to identify relevant topics. Additionally, search results are compared to an ontology of partial topics to identify relevant partial topics, which are named. Independent key-phrases are further generated from search results and identified as key-phrase topics. The identified topics, named partial topics, and key-phrase topics are ranked, and topics are selected for inclusion within a table of contents. A search results page is returned in response to the search query that includes search results and the generated table of contents.

Abstract: Systems and methods identify a current location of a user based on a known location of an electronic device including kiosk, beacon, or location-aware camera when the user interacts with the electronic device. The systems and methods automatically create a user status data file based on the known location. The user status data file contains data identifying that the user is currently at the known location and other data captured about the event or venue at that location. The systems and methods automatically upload the user status data file to a personal storage account which can then be used to post to a social networking web site associated with the user as an activity post associated with the user.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide personalized search services. The personalized search services operate to contextualize what is being searched for and to provide at least some search results in that context that are specific to the user to whom the results are to be provided.

Abstract: A method and system for querying hierarchically classified data. The system first receives a query request and then identifies classifications of the data that may satisfy the received query request. The system then displays the identified classifications. In response to selection of a displayed classification, the system displays sub-classifications when the selected classification has sub-classifications and displays the data within the classification when the selected classification has no sub-classifications. In another aspect, the system generates search results for items that are hierarchically classified. For classifications within the hierarchy of classifications, the system generates a search entry containing terms describing the items within that classification. The system then receives a search criteria. The system selects as initial search results those search entries whose terms most closely match the received search criteria.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with grouping automated search results are described. One embodiment includes a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions operable to perform a method that includes identifying items to group. The method also includes selectively grouping a first item and a second item upon determining that a comparison of a metadata attributes indicates that the first item and the second item are to be treated as members of a group.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that detects sensitive content in a document. In doing so, the system receives a document, identifies a set of terms in the document that are candidate sensitive terms, and generates a combination of terms based on the identified terms that is associated with a semantic meaning. Next, the system performs searches through a corpus based on the combination of terms and determines hit counts returned for each term in the combination and for the combination. The system then determines whether the combination of terms is sensitive based on the hit count for the combination and the hit counts for the individual terms in the combination, and generates a result that indicates portions of the document which contain sensitive combinations.

Abstract: In response to a query of discernible facial attributes, the locations of distinct and different facial regions are estimated from face image data, each relevant to different attributes. Different features are extracted from the estimated facial regions from database facial images, which are ranked in base layer rankings by matching feature vectors in a bipartite graph to a base layer ranking sequence as a function of edge weights parameterized by an associated base layer parameter vector. Second-layer rankings define second-layer attribute vectors as bilinear combinations of the base-layer feature vectors and associated base layer parameter vectors for common attributes, which are matched in a bipartite graph to a second-layer ranking sequence as a function of edge weights parameterized by associated second-layer parameter vectors. The images are thus ranked for relevance to the query as a function of fusing the second-layer rankings.

Abstract: To provide an improved user experience for users of a web browser, embodiments of the invention save queries entered by a user via the web browser. The queries may be for execution on different network search services, such as search engines, social networks, message posting services, and the like. At various times in the future, the web browser then executes the saved search queries on their corresponding network search services, identifies search results that are new and highly relevant to the user, and provides the identified search results to the user.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a system of providing assistance to a user to identify at least one context of a received content. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by receiving at least one content location as input from the user, extracting the content from the received content location and displaying a plurality of contexts relevant to the content from the received content location, wherein the contexts include one or more topics, and wherein the topics are part of one or more ontologies. In second embodiment, this is accomplished by receiving at least one search result of a search query and providing the contexts relevant to the search results, wherein the contexts include one or more topics, and wherein the topics are part of one or more ontologies.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are described for retrieving query results based at least in part on a query and one or more similar queries. Upon receiving a query, one or more similar queries may be identified and/or calculated. In one embodiment, the similar queries may be determined based at least in part on click-through data corresponding to previously submitted queries. Information associated with the query and each of the similar queries may be retrieved, ranked, and or combined. The combined query results may then be re-ranked based at least in part on a responsiveness and/or relevance to the previously submitted query. The re-ranked query results may then be output to a user that submitted the original query.

Abstract: A system and associated method for advanced searching of a service registry for a service description that is most closely matches a service name provided by a user. A Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) service registry system receives the service name and searches the service registry for the service description that is an exact match of the service name. Upon determining that the exact match does not exist in the service registry, the SOA service registry system generates an alternative service name list by use of a name parser, a dictionary, and a name composer of the SOA service registry system and calculates respective ranks of alternative service names. The service registry is searched pursuant to respective ranks of the alternative service names and the SOA service registry system returns the service description that is searched by a highest ranked alternative service name from the ranked alternative service name list.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the relevance of search results is disclosed. Voters who may be human searchers or guides may review search results or other review items associated with a search request or other reference item. A review may be activated based on a usage indicator(s) which may improve utilization of guides. A vote by a voter may be weighted based on a voting history associated with the voter and one or more reference voters who may be designated by the system. A voter may be presented with a group of items for review including simultaneously. A number of comparison voting sessions or elections may be used to determine a rating or ranking of a review item associated with a reference item.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems and methods for providing relevant information based on data space activity items are described herein. Data space activity items of a user are identified while the user is working through an application. Several context elements relevant to each data space activity item are then determined Content locations are searched to find content items relevant to the context elements. The content items are then ranked to determine relevant information. The relevant information can be accessed by the user when required.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed for merging search results. In one embodiment, the method comprises identifying a query, splitting the query into sub-queries, and calculating information content for each of the sub-queries. This method also comprises executing each of the sub-queries to obtain a plurality of search results, and combining the search results based on the information content calculated for the sub-queries. In an embodiment, the execution of each of the sub-queries includes identifying a multitude of search results for at least one of the sub-queries; and the combining includes grouping said multitude of search results into a plurality of clusters, and computing a relevance score for each of said clusters. In the embodiment the combining further includes merging the clusters based on the relevance scores computed for the clusters as well as the information content calculated for the sub-queries.

Abstract: Systems and methods for social weighting of content items from a plurality of content sources, such as the Internet, are described. Disclosed implementations include, but are not limited to, receiving a search request from a user, retrieving content items related to the search request to obtain a number of results, weighting the results according to at least one social factor, and providing the weighted results in response to the request.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a search method and system. A method obtains a first search result set of first search results relevant to query data submitted by a client. According to a first relevance score and a preset diversity field of each first search result in the first search result set, a second relevance score of each first search result is calculated. The preset diversity field represents an attribute category of a respective first search result. According to the first relevance score and the second relevance score, a relevance parameter score for each first search result is generated. According to a preset number of second search results and the relevance parameter score, the present number of second search results are extracted from the first search result set to display to the client. The technique achieves lower consumption of system resources, faster computation speed and more flexibility in diversification of search results.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for a method of propagating signals across a web graph. A signal describes a document or otherwise provides useful information about a document in a web graph. A web graph is a collection of documents that are related to one another through links, such as hyperlinks. The signals are propagated in the sense that information from the related pages is associated with the target page even though the information may not be directly found in the target page. This information may then be used by a search engine to determine that a particular page is relevant to a search query.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for configuring an identity resolution system to support distinct relevance types. Identity records are accessed that are assigned relevance scores of distinct relevance types. Upon determining that the identity records refer to a common individual, the identity records are resolved into an entity representing the common individual. Relevance scores of the distinct relevance types are then determined for the entity, based on the identity records.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for predictive query identification for advertisements are disclosed. Candidate query are identified from queries stored in a query log. Relevancy scores for a plurality of web documents are generated, each relevancy score associated with a corresponding web document and being a measure of the relevance of the candidate query to the web document. A web document having an associated relevancy score that exceeds a relevancy threshold is selected. The selected web document is associated with the candidate query.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a domain-aware snippet for a search result. A uniform resource locator (URL) is identified for a search result obtained in response to a search query, and it is determined that the URL corresponds to a single domain that has a plurality of web pages that are generated using a template that is common to each of the web pages in the domain. The template comprises a hypertext markup language (HTML) layout pattern that includes multiple sections shared by the web pages. A ranking value is assigned to the multiple sections and is used to identify a first section of the template that is relevant to the search query. A snippet is provided to a user for the search result; the snippet includes at least a portion of text from the first section.

Abstract: A method, system and medium for accepting geospatial data queries through an interface allowing dynamic predicates are disclosed. The geospatial data queries are translated into one or more intermediate formats, and then the intermediate format is provided to one or more geospatial data servers. Each of the one or more geospatial data servers will receive the appropriate language and syntax for which it was designed. Each of the one or more geospatial data servers will simultaneously process the request and, when processing is complete, render an appropriate result from that geospatial data server and application to an end user.

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention allows for the determination of the relevance of a content item to a query through the use of a machine learned relevance function that incorporate query differentiation. A method for selecting a relevance function to determine a relevance of a query-content item pair comprises generating a training set comprising one or more content item-query pairs. Content item-query pairs in the training set are collectively used to determine the relevance function by minimizing a loss function according to a relevance score adjustment function that accounts for query differentiation. The monotocity of relevance score adjustment function allows the trained relevance function to be directly applied to new queries.

Abstract: A meaning of a term is determined using the contents of a corpus of books through use of metadata about the books within the corpus, terms in the same work which provide context, and so forth. Users may query to determine the meaning of a term. Users may also build vocabulary skills by testing as well. A changing meaning of a term over time may be determined and utilized as well. Searches are facilitated by the enhanced ability to determine meaning of the terms, particularly in context. Feedback from the searches may also be used to refine future searches.

Abstract: The technology provides content about a user to a currently executing instance of an application which uses the provided content to personalize and make its processing contextually relevant for a user. When the application instance is launched, a message requesting data related to categories for a user is sent to a context relevant, content aggregation and distribution system. The service executes within a cloud computing system, and provides the application instance with content derived from sources like other applications and data stored on devices the application instance is not or cannot communicate with. The service gathers content from many different types of online resources such as e-mail, social networking sites, websites, and other data accessible over communication networks with different communication protocols.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically updating searches are described. In one embodiment, a first search result may be compared with a second search result to automatically identify from the first search result at least one data item that is new or modified as compared to the second search result. The first search result may comprise a first set of data items satisfying a first set of user-specific search criteria, and the second search result may comprise a second set of data items satisfying a second set of user-specific search criteria. A notification of a result of the comparing may be sent to a user device.

Abstract: A blog search engine may receive a search query. The blog search engine may determine scores for a group of blog documents in response to the search query, where the scores are based on a relevance of the group of blog documents to the search query and a quality of the group of blog documents. The blog search engine may also provide information regarding the group of blog documents based on the determined scores.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving an initial search entry to search text data. The text data may be, for example, an N word lattice, transcribed by a text to speech engine. The difference between the initial search entry and one or more entries in the dictionary may be measured. One or more similar entries may be selected from the dictionary that have the smallest measures of difference to the initial search entry. The text data may be searched for the one or more selected similar entries. Each of the searched similar entries found in the text data may be displayed as a search result.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods that employ statistical filtering and ranking techniques to improve content search engine search results by tuning a general-purpose search engine for an entry point for a group of users. The filter can be manually and/or automatically configured via providing training sets of relevant and non-relevant data. For example, a relevant set of data comprising web pages associated with a desired search context for the group utilizing the entry point can be employed. In addition, a non-relevant set of data comprising random and unrelated documents can be employed. The learned filter can then be employed to compare a returned result with the known relevant and the known non-relevant data sets to determine whether the result is relevant to the user for the entry point, and the degree of relevance. The results can then be presented to the user based on the relevance.

Abstract: Aspects of this invention disclose a system for providing a purchaser specified product search engine, including providing storage circuitry comprising a database of products, storing product data in the database, receiving from a prospective product purchaser, product data of a desired product to purchase, accessing the database of products and comparing the product data to product data in the database, and determining a probability that the product data matches product data stored in the database. Other aspects may include a data processing apparatus providing a purchaser specified product search engine, including storage circuitry comprising a database of product data, processing circuitry configured to receive purchaser specified product search inquiry data, accessing the database of product data, and comparing the purchaser specified product search inquiry data to the product data; and determining a probability that the prospective purchaser product data matches the product data stored in the database.

Abstract: A method of searching for Personal Information Management information of a handheld electronic device includes accepting input of one or more search criteria, such as text search criteria and/or name search criteria; accepting input of a representation of a plurality of different databases or applications of the handheld electronic device including Personal Information Management information to be searched; and conducting a search of the different databases or applications based upon the one or more search criteria and the representation of different databases or applications. The method determines one or more search results from the search and displays those search results.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for consolidating information retrieval results. According to some embodiments of the invention, a computer system can be used to create a result set in response to a query. Results in the result set can then be compared with each other to determine whether they contain information regarding a single object or entity, in which case the records are consolidated and redundant data is removed. The computer system can then present the consolidated result on a display.

Abstract: A first image having annotations is segmented into one or more image regions. Image feature vectors and text feature vectors are extracted from all the image regions to obtain an image feature matrix and a text feature matrix. The image feature matrix and the text feature matrix are projected into a sub-space to obtain the projected image feature matrix and the text feature matrix. The projected image feature matrix and the text feature matrix are stored. First links between the image regions, second links between the first image and the image regions, third links between the first image and the annotations, and fourth links between the annotations are established. Weights of all the links are calculated. A graph showing a triangular relationship between the first image, image regions, and annotations is obtained based on all the links and the weights of the links.

Abstract: An automated method for identifying confidential information may include inputting a search term based on a set of policy rules into a search engine, and causing the search engine to perform a search based on the search term. The method may also include analyzing search results obtained from the search engine against the policy rules to identify the search results containing confidential information.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for an information mediation system is provided for assisting the user to discover an information source that matches a sense of value of the user which normally can not be explicitly expressed in language, from a plurality of information sources such as bulletin board sites. The information mediation apparatus collects information from the plurality of information sources, analyzes the information, and generates one or more guideposts corresponding to information values thereof and data indicating a correlation between the plurality of information sources relative to the guideposts. A client apparatus receives one or more guideposts and a set of data containing information indicating the correlation of the information sources relative to the guidepost from the information mediation apparatus, and displays the correlation between these information sources in such a mode that the user can easily understand.

Abstract: An intelligent query system for processing voiced-based queries is disclosed, which uses semantic based processing to identify the question posed by the user by understanding the meaning of the user's utterance. Based on identifying the meaning of the utterance, the system selects a single answer that best matches the user's query. The answer that is paired to this single question is then retrieved and presented to the user. The system, as implemented, accepts environmental variables selected by the user and is scalable to provide answers to a variety and quantity of user-initiated queries.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product providing ordered search results within a search engine. Items are retrieved from a network satisfying search criteria provided by a user. Computer-related activities performed by the user, including social networking activities, are determined, and the retrieved items are ranked based on the computer-related activities. The ranking of the retrieved items is dependent upon whether any retrieved item has been referenced by the social networking activities of the user, and the search results are provided including the retrieved items in order of the ranking.

Abstract: A method for searching a database that includes private network data includes providing one or more databases including a plurality of database entries, a first portion of the database entries including private social network data and a second portion including non-social network data that is publicly accessible on the World Wide Web. The method further includes receiving a keyword search request from a search request user and searching the one or more databases or a keyword index thereof using one or more keywords and ranking ranking the search result items according to relevancy. The method also includes displaying at least a portion of the search results items as a selectable link where a first portion of the selectable links are to private network data and a second portion of the links are to public, non-social network data.

Abstract: Domain specific topics, and optionally uniform resource locators (URLs) can be received from a user, and from those domain specific topics and URLs, domain tuned search definitions are generated for a given domain. The domain tuned search definitions are saved and the user is provided with a definition of a domain tuned search interface that is embedded on a site specified by the user. When someone reviewing the user's web site performs a search using the domain tuned, embedded search interface, a search engine is invoked which performs a search on the user's input query, and then returns domain specific search results. The search engine searches for domain specific search results over web sites in addition to the web site that the user is currently reviewing, so the search is more precise than a general web search but broader than a specific site search.

Abstract: Apparatus for analysing non-deterministic results of a search query of data, comprising a processor and a user interface, the processor being operably in communication with a plurality of data sources and adapted to communicate with the user interface which enables the user to query the content of the data sources, wherein the processor is adapted to determine the probable relevance of at least the part of a searched data source for a user query and the user interface is adapted to present to the user the search results in a form comprising two or more portlets, wherein the portlets comprises two or more of: a portlet presenting the search results (suchas search strings) for a data source(s); a portlet presenting the data source (such as by source name) of a data soruce(s); a portlet presenting a data source filter tree for selecting currently active source(s); a portlet presenting the hit(s) of a search query for a data source; a portlet presenting the hit location within a data source; and at least one of t