Abstract: Inverse search systems and methods operate on identifiers of content items in a corpus such as the World Wide Web In an inverse search, the user submits a query that includes an identifier of a target content item in the corpus and receives information (metadata) about the target content item being returned to the user. Many types of metadata can be returned, including ratings or other metadata related to the target content item obtained from users, popularity data specific to the target content item, information about previously submitted forward search queries that led to the target content item being identified as a hit, and metadata extracted from the target content item.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for creating a personalized search index and supplementing searches with an additional set of keywords. A first set of keywords is received from a user. A first index associated with the user is searched using the first set of keywords to generate a first set of search results. The first index includes content identified by the user. A second set of keywords is defined based on the first set of search results. A second index is searched using the second set of keywords to generate a second set of search results. At least a portion of the first and second sets of search results is provided to the user. Some embodiments are implemented as a cloud computing service.

Abstract: Query threshold values are determined to be used to select advertisements to be displayed in response to a search query. A query threshold value is determined for each query based on query attributes characterizing the query, such as a query frequency, query length, whether the query is a navigational query, etc. By generating a threshold value for each query, and using the query threshold value for selecting advertisements to be displayed for the query (e.g., selecting advertisements having quality scores greater than the query threshold value), the advertisements can better correspond to the query, and thus are more likely to be selected by the user. As a result, the user experience can be enhanced and the advertising revenue can be correspondingly increased.

Abstract: Systems and methods for relevance scoring are provided. Traditional scoring models use word frequency and placement to determine relevance. In contrast to these models, embodiments of the present invention provide cluster-based relevance scoring and tagging. Some embodiments use various cluster mappings and vector space models to generate relevance scores. In addition, the cluster mappings can be updated overtime to reflect a change in topic clustering.

Abstract: A search engine discovers and indexes applications in a search index and receives queries from devices. The search engine is configured to obtain contextual data describing context associated with the devices and/or social networking data associated with one or more users of the devices. Based upon the contextual data and/or the social networking data, the search engine modifies the query and executes the query to identify applications. The search engine generates search results corresponding to the identified applications. The search engine also is configured to generate advertising relevant to the modified query, and to rank the search results in accordance with the query, the contextual data, and/or the social networking data. The ranked search results and the advertising are presented to the client as search results and/or in a web store format. Activity of the client and the search engine can be tracked and reported to authorized entities.

Abstract: A set of clusters associated with a plurality of web pages is received. A first data set and a second data set are generated by applying a first rule and the second rule, respectively, to web pages of a first cluster of the set of clusters. The second rule is substituted for the first rule responsive to having an acceptable extraction accuracy when applied to the first cluster. The extraction accuracy of the second rule is determined by comparing attributes of the second data set to attributes of the first data set.

Abstract: This patent application relates to button-activated contextual search techniques for providing contextually relevant search functionality on a display. The single button can be a search button on a pointing device (e.g., a computer mouse device, touch pad, track ball device, etc.) configured to move a pointer on the display. The pointer can be moved to a location that is on or near an entity on the display, allowing a search to be enabled and/or performed for that entity when the search button is activated (e.g., with a single user click). Furthermore, the search functionality can be based on one or more automatically generated search terms for the entity, and thus be contextually relevant to the entity.

Abstract: A computing device configured to determine a subset of the tags associated with at least one image of a plurality of received, tagged images is described herein. The computing device performs the determining based on one or more measures of consistency of visual similarity between ones of the images with semantic similarity between tags of the ones of the images.

Abstract: The subject disclosure is directed towards building one or more context and query models representative of users' search interests based on their logged interaction behaviors (context) preceding search queries. The models are combined into an intent model by learning an optimal combination (e.g., relative weight) for combining the context model with a query model for a query. The resultant intent model may be used to perform a query-related task, such as to rank or re-rank online search results, predict future interests, select advertisements, and so forth.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for identifying topics that are unassociated with a dominant URL. A set of keywords associated with a topic is identified. A search log is scanned to identify search queries associated with the set of keywords. The identified search queries are grouped into clusters. Clusters associated with similar URLs are merged to generate an extended seed query string. The extended seed query string is analyzed to determine whether it relates to an existing dominant URL. If the extended seed query string is determined to be unassociated with an existing dominant URL, a web page associated with the topic may be generated.

Abstract: Method, system, and programs for providing one or more explanations. An inquiry is received via a communication platform where the inquiry is about how a set of entities are related. Information is retrieved from a knowledge storage in accordance with the set of entities and such information describes a plurality of entities and relationships existing among the plurality of entities. Based on such retrieved information, one or more explanations with respect to each relationship by which the set of entities are connected are generated. The one or more explanations are then transmitted as a response to the inquiry.

Abstract: A method for network search integrated with an image sensor module is provided for an electric apparatus. An image is obtained by the image sensor module, wherein the image sensor module is coupled to the electric apparatus. The image is automatically inputted to an input field of a search engine, so as to search the image via a network.

Abstract: A query system for carrying out a query process corresponding to a received query element on a database system and/or a search-engine system, the query system comprising: a synchronisation unit operable, as a non-text-centric synchronisation process, to convert a non-text-centric data entry of the database system into a corresponding text-centric data entry representative of that non-text-centric data entry, and to enter the text-centric data entry into an index of the search-engine system so that the non-text-centric data entry of the database system is available to both the search-engine and database systems.

Abstract: A method of managing a database system that receives N number of requests from one or more nodes in the database system. The N requests are combined before initiating operations to attend to the requests. The number of operations to attend to the requests is reduced and this reduced number of operations is executed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to searching files. In aspects, a search engine is able to search not only the current files but also is able to search for deleted and previous versions of files that satisfy queries. The search engine may maintain an index that facilitates searches. In addition, the search engine may also determine not only that a file satisfies a query but what version(s) of the file satisfies the query.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention enhance the search experience of a user by looking at the search history of one or more friends to provide search enhancements to the user. The search enhancements may also be based on information within a user's online social network. Search enhancements based on the user's online social network include identifying people within the user's social network that may have information relevant to a query, posts within the social network that are relevant to the query, and feed items. Examples of search enhancements include an annotation or graphic adjacent to a search result indicating the search result has been visited by one of the user's friends. In another aspect, alternative queries from the friends' search history may be suggested to the user during the search session.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering a content signal from media stream protected by a digital rights management (DRM) system. A content access device includes a network interface configured to receive the protected media stream from a remote content provider via a network and a plurality of distinct DRM components corresponding to DRM systems supported by the content access device. A content extraction unit is operable to select a DRM component of the plurality of DRM components and execute the selected DRM component to recover a content signal from the protected media stream. When a search engine is used to discover available content, a list of references to available content is presented to the user, the presentation being dependent upon whether or not the content is protected by a DRM system supported by the content access device.

Abstract: A system and method is described herein that cache web documents in two or more caches in an optimized manner. The web documents result from a plurality of queries presented to a web search engine. Each web document has a tier score indicating a position of the web document in the caches. The tier scores are modified in a manner that rearranges the web documents in caches. This rearrangement of the web documents in the caches can advantageously improve the retrieval time for the web documents.

Abstract: There is provided methods and systems to enable navigation of data items based on aspect-value pairs extracted from the data items. First, the system receives the query. Second, the system identifies the plurality of data items found by the query. Third, the system identifies an aspect of at least one of the plurality of data items. Fourth, the system identifies a value of a plurality of values corresponding to the aspect. Fifth, the system a request to navigate to a set of data items within the plurality of data items, the request comprising the aspect and a requested value of the plurality of values. Each one of the set of data items has the aspect and the value. Sixth, the system presents, in a user interface, information about each one of the set of data items.

Abstract: A method of operating a location based system includes storing first web service definitions for first location data sources in the location based system, and storing second web service definitions for second location data sources in a server communicatively coupled to the location based system via the internet. A user is prompted to select one of the location data sources. One of the web service definitions is used to access the selected location data source via the internet.

Abstract: An improved search engine creates correlations linking terms from inputs provided by a user to selected target terms. The correlation search process receives pre-processed inputs from a user including a wide variety of input formats including keywords, phrases, sentences, concepts, compound queries, complex queries and orthogonal queries. The pre-processing also includes pre-processing of general digital information objects and static or dynamic generation of questions. After a correlation search of the information presented by the pre-processing, the search results are processed in novel ways to provide an improved relevance ranking of results.

Abstract: A system manages subscribers' data of mobile telephones in a wireless network. Data servers are located according to geographic service areas, and each of the data servers may store subscribers' data of mobile telephones based on the respective geographic area. Location of subscribers' data is determined depending upon subscribers' ID, to which two or more Mobile telephone Numbers (MTNs) are assigned. Two or more MTNs may have different area codes for which subscribers' data are stored in at least two or more of the data servers. A terminal, for example, receives a user request calling for subscriber's data of a first MTN, retrieves a subscriber's ID corresponding to the first MTN from an Electronic Telephone Number Inventory (eTNI) database and sends a request containing the subscriber's ID. A router determines a first data server corresponding to the retrieved subscriber's ID and routes the request to the first data server.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for updating a search index with new uniform resource locators (URLs) and with metadata for new and known URLs. Data associated with communications made by users using a social network is received. The communications include a URL therein that a user has shared, posted, or otherwise communicated to one or more other users using the social network. When the URL is not found in a search index it is identified as a new URL and is added to the search index. A measure of a trending interest, or virality, of the URL is determined from the data. The determined virality is associated with the URL in a search index as metadata. The virality is useable to inform a ranking of the URL against a plurality of other URLs for identification and presentation as a search result in a search engine results page.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to microblog-based customer support. One embodiment provides a method comprising receiving a stream of microblog messages including two or more microblog messages received at a designated microblog address associated with customer support, and sorting the stream of microblog messages into two or more different pools based on preselected criteria. The method further comprises receiving an input of a first microblog reply to a first microblog message of a first pool, and sending the first microblog reply via the designated microblog address associated with customer support. The method further comprises receiving an input of a second microblog reply to a second microblog message of a second pool different than the first pool, and sending the second microblog reply via the designated microblog address associated with customer support.

Abstract: Methods and computer-readable media are provided for interleaving multiple sets of blended search results to identify a preferred set of blended search results for a search query or for a category of search queries. A search query is received and routed to multiple ranking systems, which return search results that are blended into sets of blended search results. Interleaving experiments are performed to determined, based on user preferences, which set of blended search results are preferred for that particular search query. Based on the outcome, a preferred blending algorithm is identified.

Abstract: The subject disclosure is directed towards using a satisfaction model's prediction as to whether a user was satisfied or dissatisfied in satisfying a search goal to help estimate the relevance of a URL/document that was returned and clicked by the user. The clickthrough data for a search goal session is processed by either a utility model or a despair model based on whether the satisfaction model indicated that the search goal session ended with the user satisfied or dissatisfied, respectively. The utility model distributes a utility value to each clicked URL, while the despair model distributes a despair value to each clicked URL. The utility value and despair value of each query-URL pair may be used as corresponding feature data for learning a search ranker.

Abstract: Technologies pertaining to fact lookup queries are described herein. A relational database is automatically built by extracting attribute identities and attribute values from a one dimensional table, wherein the one dimensional table does not include an entity identity that corresponds to the attribute identity and the attribute value. The entity identity is inferred, and the attribute value is indexed in a relational database by the entity identity and the attribute identity. When a query is issued by a user that includes the entity identity and the attribute identity, the corresponding attribute value in the relational database is returned to the user.

Abstract: Provided is a creation supporting system and method using user-based metadata. According to the creation supporting system and method, metadata collected by a user for video content are stored so as to be provided to a creator. The creation supporting system includes a user terminal configured to receive evaluation data on video content from a user who watched the video content; a utilizer terminal configured to receive a search value from a utilizer desiring a search and request a video content search; and a service providing server configured to receive the evaluation data from the user terminal, construct metadata of video content, and compare the search value received from the utilizer server with the metadata for searching for a corresponding video content.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for providing answer box functionality to a third party search engine. In one aspect, a method includes receiving, by a search engine, a search query, generating one or more search results that are responsive to the search query, generating an answer box request based on the search query, transmitting the answer box request to another search engine, receiving, in response to the answer box request, an answer box result from the other search engine, generating a search engine results page that includes one or more of the search results, and that includes an answer box that references information included in the answer box result, and providing the search engine results page.

Abstract: Some implementations provide techniques for selecting web pages for inclusion in an index. For example, some implementations apply regularization to select a subset of the crawled web pages for indexing based on link relationships between the crawled web pages, features extracted from the crawled web pages, and user behavior information determined for at least some of the crawled web pages. Further, in some implementations, the user behavior information may be used to sort a training set of crawled web pages into a plurality of labeled groups. The labeled groups may be represented in a directed graph that indicates relative priorities for being selected for indexing.

Abstract: A system has a primary server storing search data sets (“staks”) and a linked social network server.

Abstract: The present invention outlines a genuine entity following system that also addresses data source limitation. When reviewing entity-related objects in web content, a web user designates one or more entities to follow in real time. More particularly, the present invention is directed through strategic deployment of a dynamic crawler upon selection of a “follow” pointer over an object in a web browser such that a web user can automatically designate entities to be followed and receive alerts at predetermined temporal intervals when new information regarding such designated entities becomes available. A web entity engine of the present invention is designed to discover trending entities at any given time while generating output activity (i.e., signal) streams for this entity.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatuses for searching contents, including structured search are described herein. Embodiments of the present invention use tree structures (or more generally, graph structures), layout structures, and/or content category information to capture within search results relevant content that would otherwise be missed, to reduce the incidence of false positives within search results, and to improve the accuracy of rankings within search results. Embodiments of the present invention further use tree structures (or more generally, graph structures), layout structures, and/or content category information to extend search results to include sub-document constituents. Embodiments of the present invention also support the use of distribution properties as criteria for ranking search results.

Abstract: Some implementations provide techniques for determining which URLs to select for crawling from a pool of URLs. For example, the selection of URLs for crawling may be made based on maintaining a high coverage of the known URLs and/or high discoverability of the World Wide Web. Some implementations provide a multi-level coverage strategy for crawling selection. Further, some implementations provide techniques for discovering unseen URLs.

Abstract: A search platform that can search for and correlate elements in written and drawing portions of a document. The search engine can receive an indication of an element associated with a written portion of a document, determine a location in a drawing portion of the document associated with the element, and provide the determined location for display. Conversely, the search engine can also receive an indication of an element associated with a drawing portion of a document, determine a location in a written portion of the document associated with the element, and provide the determined location for display. Elements can refer to any textual, symbolic, or coded phrase or graphical representation associated with a unique alphanumeric or symbolic identifier in a written or drawing portion of a document or documents.

Abstract: A media fingerprint is derived from a portion of media content. Information is associated with the media content portion based on the derived media fingerprint. Upon linking to the associated information, the associated content is presented with the media content portion. The media fingerprint includes a unique representation of the media content portion that is derived from a characteristic component of the media content portion. The media content may comprise an original instance of content or a derivative instance of the original content.

Abstract: Methods and systems for incrementally selecting and providing relevant search engines in response to a user query. A method of incrementally selecting and providing relevant search engines is based in part on identifying a set of search engines associated with corresponding metadata, receiving a partial search query entered by the user of a device, inferring after each user keypress a set of potential full queries intended by the user, using the potential full queries and the search engine metadata to identify a set of relevant search engines, and for each of these search engines, providing a direct link to launch a relevant query in the search engine. The user input may be either ambiguous, or erroneous, and may be entered using an input-constrained device.

Abstract: A method and a system for point-of-interest search is disclosed. A search request including a location information acquired by a mobile device at a location defined by the location information is received at a server. A search query is formulated using the search request and the location information. The search query is sent to a plurality of search engines and search results are received from the plurality of search engines and aggregated based on the search context.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program for a search engine to rank a set of pages returned as search results from a search query. The search query and a first origin page are received. The search query includes one or more keywords and the first origin page is chosen based on information associated with the search query. A set of results is generated based on the one or more keywords. The click distance from the first origin page to each page in the returned set is then calculated. The click distance represents the number of intermediate pages that a user would need to traverse in order to progress from the first origin page to a page in the set of search results. The set of search results are then ranked based on the calculated click distance from the first origin page to a page in the set of results.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing an enhanced search experience to a user by determining a user's presumptive intentions for an ongoing search session. A user's activities during the search session reveal clues to the user's intent for the search session. Embodiments of the present invention assign values to various context characteristics by analyzing the user's activities during a search session. The context characteristics describe different manifestations of user intent revealed by the user's actions. Embodiments of the present invention distribute the context information to applications that consume the context information and provide enhanced search results. This allows multiple context-based applications to have access to context information without accessing signal data or needing to independently process the signal data to determine an intent of the search session.

Abstract: A search engine system capable of displaying indicative information to a user from searches performed by entities connected directly or indirectly to the user, wherein said system includes at least one host computer processor connectable to one or more network(s), a database accessible over said network(s), a plurality of data input devices connectable to said network(s) said search engine being accessible over said network(s).

Abstract: Search engine reliance on link-based ranking algorithms has been shown to delay the visibility of fresh content added to the World Wide Web (Web), relative to established content. Fresh content abstracts are randomly inserted into top ranked search results to achieve more even visibility coverage of the Web and improve overall search quality. Searcher behavior is monitored to infer a rank for the fresh content, and for established content. Rank that is so inferred is termed “ResultRank.” ResultRank is used to compliment link-based ranking schemes to improve web visibility and avoid a bias toward established links. Searcher satisfaction is monitored during this process since the quality of fresh content is unknown. A search engine extended enterprise metric (R metric) is introduced and designed to monitor aggregate searcher satisfaction. ResultRank and the R metric are used to complement existing ranking and pricing algorithms for sponsored results as well.

Abstract: A data processing system collects messages to create user profiles for users of user devices. The messages are collected from various systems and include data regarding user events on user devices. The user profiles are stored in a targeting database. In response to a request for information corresponding to a user device, a user profile is identified using data from the request and information from the profile is provided to the requester.

Abstract: A system and method are described for collecting motor vehicle information and generating an individually ranked list from seller information, public databases and buyer inputs and behavior. The ranked list is dynamically generated and presents to the buyer a relevant result set from millions of non-relevant listings.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, there are provided mechanisms and methods for implementing virtual objects in an on-demand database environment. For example, in one embodiment, mechanisms include receiving a data request at a host organization, wherein the data request specifies a first data source internal to the host organization and further specifies a second data source external to the host organization; retrieving first data results from the first data source based on the data request; retrieving second data results from the second data source based on the data request; and returning aggregated data results responsive to the data request based on the first data results and the second data results retrieved. In one embodiment, the internal data source is a multi-tenant database within the host organization.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for presenting search query suggestions. In an aspect, query triggers in a resource are identified at a client device. For each query trigger identified in the resource, a rank score for the query trigger based on query trigger attributes is calculated at the client device. The query triggers are ranked at the client device based on the rank scores. Search query suggestions are generated at the client device from the query triggers identified in the resource. The search query suggestions include terms of the query triggers, expansion terms of the query triggers, and search query suggestions generated from templates applied to the terms of the query triggers and expansion terms of the query triggers. The search query suggestions are presented at the client device according to the rank of the corresponding query triggers.

Abstract: A method for identifying transactional queries includes associating user queries with forms clicks on by users who employ a search engine to place the queries during query sessions. A score is assigned to each user query. The score reflects a likelihood that the respective query is a transactional query. The query is classified as a transactional query if the score exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: Concept disambiguation is provided for search queries by analyzing search results in conjunction with an ontology of concepts. An ontology of concepts is identified, and at least one document is associated with each concept. The document associated with a concept is representative of the concept and used to generate a concept signature. When a search query is received, it is processed to obtain search results. The search results are used to generate a search results signature, which is compared to the concept signatures to identify one or more concepts that are relevant to the search query.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for searching the World Wide Web are disclosed. The method includes searching all the pages of at least one web site and then searching at least one search engine index for all the pages of at least one web site and determining if the pages are cached in the search engine index. A further embodiment provides for searching an index of a search engine, repeating the search after a specified period of time and then determining if any changes have been made to the web pages in the search engine index.

Abstract: An automated diagnostic system is presented here. The system includes a network-enabled device, a remote network-based search engine, and a data communication network to facilitate data communication between the network-enabled device and the remote network-based search engine. The device automatically detects a problem, error, or failure associated with its operation, and automatically sends a corresponding search query to the remote network-based search engine. The search engine receives the search query and, in response to the search query, searches for relevant information pertaining to the problem, error, or failure, and sends a corresponding response to the network-enabled device. The response includes response data having some contextual association with the solution. The device receives the response, processes at least some of the response data to determine a course of action, and initiates that course of action.