Abstract: An illustrative embodiment includes a method for executing a query on a graph data stream. The graph stream comprises data representing edges that connect vertices of a graph. The method comprises constructing a plurality of synopsis data structures based on at least a subset of the graph data stream. Each vertex connected to an edge represented within the subset of the graph data stream is assigned to a synopsis data structure such that each synopsis data structure represents a corresponding section of the graph. The method further comprises mapping each received edge represented within the graph data stream onto the synopsis data structure which corresponds to the section of the graph which includes that edge, and using the plurality of synopsis data structures to execute the query on the graph data stream.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a listing activity engine for online computer users is disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: accessing a plurality of listings corresponding to items offered on a host site; accessing listing activity level information related to the plurality of listings, the listing activity level information including information indicative of a number of times particular listings of the plurality of listings were viewed or activated; producing search results that include only matched listings of the plurality of listings that were viewed or activated a number of times less than a pre-determined listing activity threshold; and displaying the search results to a user.

Abstract: A system and method for intent driven search presentation. A system and method for intent driven search presentation. A query is received, over a network, from a user, wherein the query comprises at least one query token. The query is analyzed wherein at least one query keyword is identified in the query. The query is classified wherein the query is classified into at least one intent using query keywords. A plurality of data objects that match query keywords is identified. The data objects are ranked, wherein at least one intent is assigned to at least some of the data objects. A result is built using the ranked plurality of data objects, wherein the result comprises display entries wherein if a data object has been assigned at least one intent, such intent is used to construct the display entry for the respective data object. The result is transmitted over the network to the user.

Abstract: A method of data retrieval from a data repository in response to a query having either list of keywords and/or list of attribute-value pairs, the method comprising the steps of: providing an inverted index generated from the data repository, the inverted index indicating the attribute with which each term is encountered in each entity when such an attribute is available; retrieving data from the inverted index by searching said inverted index based on said attribute-value pairs or keywords; providing scores to entities. A method of forming an inverted index from a data repository and a search engine for retrieval of data from a data repository is also provided.

Abstract: A computing system hosts a plurality of websites, a plurality of external data sources, and a search service. External resources in each of the external data sources are partitioned among a plurality of external partitions. The search service automatically generates an index comprising index entries. The index entries are partitioned among a plurality of index partitions, each associated with one or more of the websites. For each given index partition, the index entries in the given index partition map terms to resources in the given set of resources that contain the terms. The given set of resources includes web pages in a given set of websites associated with the given index partition and external resources in external partitions used by the given set of websites. The search service uses the index entries in given index partition to identify resources in the given set of resources containing query terms.

Abstract: In one embodiment, ranking search results generated in response to search queries comprises: receiving, a search query from a user; identifying a plurality of network contents in response to the search query; determining one or more ranking criteria for the search query; presenting the ranking criteria to the user; receiving from the user one or more weights assigned to one or more of the ranking criteria; ranking the identified network contents based on the ranking criteria and the weights; and presenting the network contents to the user in an order according to their ranking.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for identifying premium content items (such as video content items) that are responsive to a query. According to one embodiment, a method for identifying one or more items of video content responsive to a given query comprises receiving a query comprising one or more terms from a given user, identifying one or more items of video content responsive to the received query and generating a result set comprising one or more links to the one or more items of video content responsive to the received query. The one or more links the result set associated with items of premium video content are identified and the one or more links in the result set associated with items of premium video content are filtered on the basis information associated with the user from which the query was received.

Abstract: Techniques for dynamically compiling a list of one or more solution documents are provided. The techniques include receiving one or more questions, forming one or more of the one or more questions into one or more lists, wherein forming one or more questions into one or more lists comprises expressing each question in a compressed manner using one or more sets of one or more keywords, receiving input from a solution database, and using the one or more lists and input from a solution database to dynamically compile a list of one or more solution documents in connection with the one or more questions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for activity-based users' interests modeling for determining relevance of the content distributed to the users is provided. Modeling of the user's interests starts by collecting information about the actions that the user performed and about the contents that were associated with the actions. That information may be used to determine how much interest the user has had in the individual subjects up to date, and to determine which subjects became more or less important to the user over time. Further processing of the information about the interests of each of the individual users in a group of users may produce characteristics indicating the interests of the group as a whole. Additional processing may generate the information reflecting relative importance of the interests of an individual user in the group to the interests of other users in the same group.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for selecting a portion of a content repository for replication including receiving an input describing one or more desired relationship patterns for replication, generating a query for the desired relationship patterns, identifying content items of a content repository matching the desired relationship patterns, and selecting the identified content items of the content repository. The input is received at a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI operates on a computer. The relationship patterns are associated with an ontology describing relationships between content items in a content repository. The content repository includes a plurality of content items.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a computerized system and method for tracking and displaying data identifying the geographic relevance of website listings on Internet search engines, parked web pages, ISP redirect web pages, and other similar web listing services without requiring extra input from Internet users. Each time an Internet user clicks on a website link provided on one of these web services, the software of the present invention tracks that person's decision in selecting the link, along with his or her geographic location. The software automatically collects and stores this information in a database in a format that can be quickly accessed and used in the future when other Internet users perform the same keyword search or visit the parked/redirect page again.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for selecting a diverse mix of content items that may be displayed to a user. Content items such as user-generated events are received from a variety of sources. One or more content items are added to a set of content items based on a diversity of characteristics. The diversity of characteristics for the one or more content items may be calculated by measuring a diversity of characteristics of the set as if the one or more content items were added to the set. Content items that produce a greater diversity are selected for addition to the set. The set is displayed to the user, who is provided with a more meaningful mix of content due to the greater diversity in content.

Abstract: A Sales-Chip Associator process permits a creator of a Sales-Chip to share the Sales-Chip with a receiving party. The process utilizes a Sales-Chip Database and a Sales-Chip Subscriber Database to facilitate chip sharing. A handler is used in the Associator process and determines if an association exists between the Sales-Chip and the receiving party. The handler also facilitates recalling an association after being established by the receiving party.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for performing the dynamic generation of correlation scores between arbitrary objects. When a behavioral event is recorded, that is to say when an end user interacts with multiple objects, relationships between objects are created. These relationships are maintained as a list. When a request for correlated items is requested based upon a seed object, a list of correlated items is dynamically created through the generation of a pivot set and a scoring algorithm to compute the list of correlated items.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprises running, by a processor, a plurality of classifiers on a web page to obtain one or more keywords. The method further comprises selecting, by the processor, advertisements based on the one or more keywords.

Abstract: A system and method of filtering a domain name through the DNS includes a domain name processing application that generates a filtering domain name based on a filter service to a domain name. A DNS resolver sends the filtering domain name to a filter service through the DNS. The filter service determines if the filtering domain name is approved and returns a DNS record indicating whether the domain name is approved. The DNS resolver receives the DNS record from the filter service and sends a response to the user.

Abstract: An approach is provided for a small footprint, flexible client process for a document-flow based service on a mobile device. The approach includes initiating modification of a metadata extraction rule based on configuration data.

Abstract: Methods and systems for evaluating business rules for the purpose of promoting or demoting an item listing are presented. Consistent with an example embodiment, a conditional statement of a business rule that includes one or more expressions involving an item attribute and/or a seller attribute for an item listing is evaluated. If the conditional statement evaluates true, an adjustment factor set forth in the business rule is applied to a ranking score assigned to the item listing. The item listing is then presented in a search results page in a position relative to other item listings based upon the adjusted ranking score.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates generating sorted search results for a query. An interface component can receive a query in a first language. A first ranker can be trained from a portion of data related to a second language. A second ranker can correspond to the first language, wherein the second ranker is untrained due to a limited amount of data related to the first language. A sorting component can invoke the first ranker to generate and order a pre-defined number of search results for the received query and subsequently invoke the second ranker to the pre-defined number of search results to generate a re-ordered number of search results in the first language for the received query.

Abstract: Methods and systems for assessing the quality of an item listing are described. In an example embodiment, a listing quality score for an item listing is derived as a weighted sum of first and second parts. The first part represents a predicted score based on a comparison of item attributes for the item listing that are known at listing time, with item attributes of similar item listings that have historical data available for assessing their actual performance. The second part is based on one or more observed demand metrics representing actual historical performance of the item listing. The weighting factor is derived, such that over time, the emphasis shifts from the predicted to the observed score.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and methods of re-ranking sponsored search results by a search engine in response to a search query include: retrieving one or more organic search results and a plurality of sponsored search results (“search results”), along with their respective rankings, associated with a search query; determining a degree of association between each sponsored search result and the other search results through analyzing web links between the search results and other web documents to or from which the search results are at least indirectly linked; calculating a clustering score for each sponsored search result based on their respective degrees of linking association; generating a new ranking score for each sponsored search result based on their respective clustering scores and rankings; and re-ranking, and storing in memory, the plurality of sponsored search results based on the new ranking scores of each respective sponsored search result.

Abstract: Techniques are described for dynamically generating recommendations for users, such as for products and other items. In at least some situations, the techniques include using multiple recommendation strategies, such as by aggregating recommendation results from multiple different recommendation strategies. Such recommendation strategies may have various forms, and may be based at least in part on data regarding prior interactions of numerous users with numerous items. In addition, information about current selections of a particular user may be gathered based at least in part on providing a GUI (“graphical user interface”) for display to the user that includes selectable information about numerous recommended items, and dynamically updating the displayed GUI with newly generated recommendations of items as the user makes selections of particular displayed recommended items (e.g.

Abstract: A method for operating an apparatus to recall email which has already passed through a spam filter to user mailboxes. An apparatus stores a highly efficient database for a brief period of time after an email is received, filtered, and transmitted to an email server. Message id, recipient, connecting IP address and other spam attributes are stored in a searchable format. After receiving updated spam attributes, a spam filter apparatus under software control queries the database for messages that were not detected as spam before transmittal to the email clients and servers, and sends spam recall messages. Improved email clients and servers adapted by software instructions, move or modify email user mailboxes upon receipt of the spam recall.

Abstract: A method and system to index and search item listings in a network-based publication system, such as a network-based marketplace. For example, a listing query may be received from a user, the listing query including a query image. The query image may then be processed to generate a plurality of index sets. Each index set of the plurality of index sets may correspond to a respective portion of the query image and may comprise a set of index values. Each index value of the set of index values may be indicative of an image attribute, such as light intensity, for a respective sub-portion of the corresponding portion of the query image. At least one result image from a database of listing images may be identified by comparing the plurality of index sets for the query image to pre-compiled index sets in an index database. Each pre-compiled index set may be associated with at least one listing image which, in turn, may be associated with an item listing on a network-based marketplace.

Abstract: Improved techniques for automatic (or dynamic) updating (or maintaining) of playlists for a media system that stores and plays media content for a user of the media system. The automatic update to playlists can occur when additional media content is added to or removed from the media system. The automatic update to playlists can also occur when previously stored media content is otherwise altered.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for allowing a user of an interactive summary table to specify multi-condition data filters to modify the data displayed in the summary table. A user interface is displayed to the user that allows the user to specify a multi-condition data filter. The specification of the multi-condition data filter includes a set of filter conditions connected by logical operators. One or more filter expressions are parsed from the specification of the multi-condition data filter based on the filter conditions and the logical operators, and the filter expressions are applied to the summary data from which the summary table is displayed.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for enhancing a search result snippet that is associated with a URL. Potentially descriptive terms of the URL are identified by reconciling multiple sources of terms related to the URL. One aspect includes comparing search terms of historically relevant queries to anchor text for the URL. The search result snippet might be intelligently enhanced by causing common terms to be visibly distinguished when the snippet is displayed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for suggesting search terms is described. A server receives a search term from a client and generating one or more suggested search terms to the client based on an analysis of temporal data between prior search terms in relation to the search term. The server sends the suggested search terms to the client.

Abstract: Methods and systems for reviewing content items created by users for presentation in association with a website are provided. Automatic scrubbing (followed by manual review, if necessary) of user-created content items that have yet to be presented in association with a website is provided as is manual review of user-created content items that have already been presented in association with a website at the request of a user.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with the invention relate to matching user attributes. In one exemplary implementation, the system and methods may store predetermined general attribute descriptors reflecting attributes of users generally, receive personal attribute descriptors selected from the predetermined general attribute descriptors as corresponding to attributes of a first user and a second user, receive a rating associated with each received personal attribute descriptor, compare at least one personal attribute descriptor associated with the first user with at least one personal attribute descriptor associated with the second user to determine a descriptor match, and calculate a match score based on the determined descriptor match and the received ratings. In addition, first and second display points may be displayed and may be separated by a one-dimensional display distance that is a function of the calculated match score.

Abstract: A programmable search engine system is programmable by a variety of different entities, such as client devices and vertical content sites to customize search results for users. Context files store instructions for controlling the operations of the programmable search engine. The context files are processed by various context processors, which use the instructions therein to provide various pre-processing, post-processing, and search engine control operations. Spam related and biased contexts and search results are identified using offline and query time processing stages, and the context files from vertical content providers associated with such spam and biased contexts and results are excluded from processing on direct user queries.

Abstract: Techniques described herein describe a context-aware query suggestion process. Context of a current query may be calculated by analyzing a sequence of previous queries. Historical search data may be mined to generate groups of query suggestion candidates. Using the context of the current query, the current query may be matched with the groups of query suggestion candidates to find a matching query suggestion candidate, which may be provided to the user.

Abstract: A search engine computer system is configured to produce an optimized display of maps especially useful in mobile handheld devices with comparatively small screens. The system factors in scoring functions, visibility, and empirical data on map levels to provide optimal map based results to users. This minimizes or avoids graphical results that overlap each other.

Abstract: Methods and systems for searching comprise presenting a first information set to a user, receiving feedback, applying an evolutionary algorithm based on the feedback to generate a search query, causing the search query to be executed to generate a second information set, and presenting the second information set to the user. Then, in response to user input, the first information set is again presented to the user; feedback is again received, an evolutionary algorithm is again applied based on the feedback to generate a search query, and the new search query is caused to be executed to generate a third information set which is presented to the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for filtering and/or creating Points-of-Interest (POIs). In one embodiment, a list of POIs is obtained and then filtered based on crowd data related to the list of POIs to provide a filtered list of POIs. In another embodiment, one or more crowd-sourced POIs are created based on one or more crowds relevant to a corresponding bounding region for POI creation.

Abstract: Provided is an information retrieval device connected to a content server which stores contents to be retrieved through a network, the information retrieval device including: a content storing unit storing contents including some of the contents stored in the content server; a retrieval request reception unit receiving contents retrieval request for the content server and the content storing unit; a first retrieval unit acquiring a first retrieval result of the contents stored in the content storing unit based on the retrieval request received by the retrieval request reception unit; a second retrieval unit acquiring a second retrieval result of the contents stored in the content server based on the retrieval request received by the retrieval request reception unit; and an integrated retrieval result display unit displaying an integrated retrieval result obtained by integrating the first retrieval result and the second retrieval result.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing, for example, a search results listing for educational content, where the listing is ordered based not only on content relevance to the search request, but also on the subscription status and entity affiliation of the user as related to the content. This places, near the top of the list, results that may be not only more relevant to the user, but those that may also be more efficiently accessed. For example, a method for an education-related content search, configured according to the invention, receives a login input from a user and extracts user data corresponding to the login input. Upon receiving a search request, the user data and the search request is transmitted, and an ordered search list that is ordered based on the user data is received.

Abstract: An approach is described for using a query expressed in a source language to retrieve information expressed in a target language. The approach uses a translation dictionary to convert terms in the query from the source language to appropriate terms in the target language. The approach determines viable transliterations for out-of-vocabulary (OOV) query terms by retrieving a body of information based on an in-vocabulary component of the query, and then mining the body of information to identify the viable transliterations for the OOV query terms. The approach then adds the viable transliterations to the translation dictionary. The retrieval, mining, and adding operations can be repeated one or more or times.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for aggregating a plurality of feeds automatically without explicitly designing or developing an aggregated feed. In one embodiment, a collaboration module defines a collaboration group of one or more members with each member having an online relationship to each other. A definition module defines a feed tag protocol that members of the collaboration group agree to follow for marking content feeds. An aggregation module receives an aggregated feed request and retrieves a set of feeds tagged by members of the collaboration group that satisfy the aggregated feed request. The aggregation module also generates a single aggregated feed based on the set of feeds that satisfy the feed tag protocol.

Abstract: A data access engine and graphic interface for portable computer devices are disclosed. According to one embodiment a system comprises a server in communication with a network, a database in communication with the network, a device in communication with the network, and an interface displayed on the device. The interface has a nested ring structure, wherein the nested ring structure comprises a contiguous geometrical shape, and a labeled segment having a category. The contiguous geometrical shape and labeled segment are hierarchically structured.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards enabling generation of visual search criteria using visual elements for at least within an online dating context. A friend creates a dream date avatar for an intended search result recipient by combining one or more visual search criteria. The dream date avatar embodying the visual search criteria may be sent to other friends, each of which may then modify the search criteria by visually modifying the dream date avatar. Each time a modified dream date avatar is sent over a network, a new search may be performed, with the subsequent search results being sent to the intended search result recipient. The intended recipient may also modify the dream date avatar using visual search criteria resulting in another search to be performed. Moreover, the intended recipient may terminate one or more of the searches to minimize a likelihood of being spammed.

Abstract: Massively scalable, memory and model-based techniques are an important approach for practical large-scale collaborative filtering. We describe a massively scalable, model-based recommender system and method that extends the collaborative filtering techniques by explicitly incorporating these types of user and item knowledge. In addition, we extend the Expectation-Maximization algorithm for learning the conditional probabilities in the model to coherently accommodate time-varying training data.

Abstract: A search engine provides personalized rankings of search results. A user interest profile identifies topics of interest to a user. Each topic is associated with one or more sites, and a boost value, which can be used to augment an information retrieval score of any document from the site. Search results from any search are provided to the user, with a variable control of the ranking of the results. The results can be ranked by their unboosted information retrieval score, thus reflecting no personalization, or by their fully or partially boosted information retrieval scores. This allows the user to selectively control how their interests affect the ranking of the documents.

Abstract: System and method for collecting information from a plurality of related sites, analyzing the information and storing the relevant information in a data base for future use. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the system uses the provided list of sites, whether obtained automatically or separately, queries them and analyzes the result retrieved from each site. The information may also optionally and preferably be ranked.

Abstract: Computer based systems, methods, software and databases are presented in which correlations between web items and pangenetic (genetic and epigenetic) attributes of individuals are used for pangenetic based web search in which a user can request and receive personalized web search results that are based on the user's pangenetic makeup. Data masking can be used to maintain privacy of sensitive portions of the pangenetic data.

Abstract: A system and method for conducting a computerized search, including: receiving a user query, a perspective, and a term associated with the perspective; conducting a first search based on the user query; expanding the term to a list; analyzing the first search results based on the list; modifying the user query based on the analysis of the first search results; and conducting a second search based on the modified user query. Alternatively, a system and method for conducting a computerized search, including: receiving a user query; conducting a computerized search based on the user query to obtain first results; analyzing a knowledge base; generating a weighted context term vector based on the knowledge base, wherein the weighted context term vector includes context words; matching the first results with the weighted context term vector; and listing second results based on the match.

Abstract: A system for generation of personalized Web feed views in accordance with pre-defined profile parameters, is presented. The system including a user definition interface for receiving at least one user parameter and sending the parameter to a content provider and a feed view personalization unit operable to receive the user parameter and customize feed content in accordance with the at least one user parameter for displaying to the user.

Abstract: A method of providing targeted advertisements, includes: generating an advertisement search result using a search query based on a user query or a recommended query; generating an advertisement search result on the basis of a user profile; integrating the advertisement search result generated on the basis of the user profile with the advertisement search result generated by using the search query; and presenting a recommended advertisement list on the basis of the integrated advertisement search result and advertisement information exposed to a user.

Abstract: The integration of news about members of a group into symmetrical group communications is described. Group members are delivered news items and information regarding members of the group, and are able to communicate with other members of the group in response to the news items. One embodiment dynamically generates aggregated RSS news feeds for a group of people or entities and correlates that aggregated data with biographical information, audio, and video media to provide rich information about the relevant parties to the news story. The embodiment also provides the capability of transmitting email or other electronic messages to the parties in the news story to facilitate two-way communication while maintaining the group members' privacy and anonymity.

Abstract: A model based on a generalization of the Examination Hypothesis is disclosed that states that for a given query, the user click probability on a document in a given position is proportional to the relevance of the document and a query specific position bias. Based on this model the relevance and position bias parameters are learned for different queries and documents. This is done by translating the model into a system of linear equations that can be solved to obtain the best fit relevance and position bias values. A cumulative analysis of the position bias curves may be performed for different queries to understand the nature of these curves for navigational and informational queries. In particular, the position bias parameter values may be computed for a large number of queries. Such an exercise reveals whether the query is informational or navigational.