Abstract: A learning method is used to generate ranking models. The learning method can create a ranking function that assigns scores to documents and then ranks the documents using the scores. In this learning method, a training set along with performance measures are used to generate weak rankers which a used in the ranking model. During information retrieval, for a given query, the system may return a ranked list of documents in descending order of the relevance scores.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to embodiments leverage click data to predict a relevance judgment for a given query-content item pair. An initial training phase utilize a training set of query-content item pairs coupled with click data and relevance data (e.g., relevance judgments or labels) to train a model of the relationship between relevance and clicks. Accordingly, given an unlabeled query-content item pair as input to the model, a relevance judgment or label is provided. Theses relevance labels, in turn, may be used in conjunction with query-content item pairs with which they are associated to train a model to determine a content item relevance function. When a user provides a query to a given search engine, the search engine applies the content item relevance function to the query and content items in a responsive result set to provide a relevance ordered result set to the user.

Abstract: Respective models of visual weight in images are determined. An image query is generated from a determined visual weight distribution. At least one of the images is retrieved from a database based on comparisons of the image query with respective ones of the visual weight models.

Abstract: Described is a new framework that combines the best of both exploratory search and social search: Collaborative exploratory search. This system allows a small group of focused information seekers to search through a collection of information in concert. The system provides exploratory feedback not only based on the individual's search behavior, but on the current, active search behavior of one's fellow search allies. The assumption is that the users who have gotten together to search collaboratively have the same information need, but differing perspectives and insights as to how to best express the queries to meet that need. The collaborative exploratory search system will therefore provide tools and algorithmic support to focus, enhance, and augment searcher activities. Searchers can, by interacting with each other through system-mediated information displays, help each other find all relevant information more efficiently and effectively.

Abstract: A computer modifies data inside a database large object (LOB) of unknown structure without modifying other data in the remainder of the LOB. Insertion of new data at a specified location in the LOB does not require movement of existing data in the LOB. Instead, the computer is programmed to insert new data at a physical end of the LOB, and modify metadata based on the specified location. Similarly, deletion of existing data from a specified location in the LOB is performed without movement of other data in the LOB, by updating the metadata. The computer uses the metadata when reading from the LOB, so that the new data is automatically read whenever the specified location is accessed. The computer may optionally output a handle that is static, relative to other insertions and deletions, to identify specific data within the LOB, for use in building indexes on the LOB.

Abstract: For each image in a collection of images, a respective model of visual weight in the image and a respective model of color in the image are determined. An image query is generated from a target visual weight distribution and a target color template. For each of the images a respective score is calculated from the image query, the respective visual weight model, and the respective color model. At least one of the images is retrieved from a database based on the respective scores.

Abstract: A method allows a query, which contains an inline view, to be rewritten to use a materialized view. The materialized view has an inline view that is equivalent to the inline view of the query. However, the inline view of the materialized view varies textually from the inline view of the query.

Abstract: A method for generating and prioritizing multiple search results is disclosed. A database stores search results in an information storage and retrieval system. A search program executes on a computer system coupled to the database. The search program receives a search request from a user input. The search program parses the search request into at least one search term. The search program performs a loop comprising steps associating a priority adjustment value with each search term, generating a search result, calculating a priority adjustment sum of the generated search result, inserting the at least one search term, the generated search result, and the calculated priority adjustment sum in the search result list, and modifying the at least one search term and the priority adjustment value associated with each search term to perform a next iteration of the loop.

Abstract: Searching for assets, such as media assets, that are available according to desired usage criteria. Assets are associated with usage rights specified by rights holders. The usage rights are represented by rights codes, identifying domains of uses and categories of uses within each domain. Domains may comprise advertising rights, editorial rights, internal organization rights, personal use rights, and the like. An interface enables a user to enter key words and to specify desired usage criteria such as geographic location of use, duration of use, a purpose of use, and an industry for use, and exclusive use. The key words are mapped to vocabulary terms that are associated with the cataloged assets. The vocabulary terms are used to search for assets. The assets are also filtered based on the usage criteria relative to the rights codes associated with the assets. Assets matching the vocabulary terms and rights codes are displayed.

Abstract: Described is a collection of search-related references authored from a set of search results, in which the collection may be persisted. Search results may be obtained via a federated search of multiple data sources (e.g., local files, the Internet, a corporate network/database). Search results may be presented as individual reference items or grouped into dynamic collection query reference sets, which may be added to the collection. A collection may also embed one or more other collections. Upon opening a collection, search results may be automatically updated by re-running any dynamic collection queries. The user authors the collection by selecting items from a search results interface and dropping or pasting the item reference into a collection interface, and/or by activating an item collection affordance associated with the item. Manual or automatic layout of collection item references is provided, such as to provide a tabular layout or a two-dimensional layout.

Abstract: A system for dynamic headline switching. The system includes a database, a display module, an Interface module, and a search engine. The database contains entry data for accessing content such as stories, pictures, or videos. The display engine generates a display including a current headline. The Interface module indexes through each headline, for example, at a predetermined time interval, to provide new and updated information to the user. The search engine queries the database and generates a list of entries allowing the user to access content related to the current headline.

Abstract: A method includes selecting a plurality of entities to be merged and aggregated, merging the selected entities and identifying at least one common feature between the selected entities, and providing a view of objects linked to the commonalities identified, wherein the objects can be selected and activated to provide more details on the selected commonality.

Abstract: The present invention provides a federated search tool and search methods that consolidate searches to external online accounts of a user and other people that are part of the user's social network. In some embodiments, the search tool is presented as a single search box that may appear persistently on the user's desktop display or as a toolbar embedded within another application. The search tool may be embedded as part of web page. Embodiments of the present invention may provide the results in a simple real-time display stack or a static result list, such as a web page. Blocks in the stack may indicate a result and the context of the result, such as which online account originated the result, whether the result is from a linked external accounts of people associated with the user, pointers to people and groups the user has linked to, an age of the result, and the like.

Abstract: A web-based system scans content for specific terms, and transforms occurrences of the terms into hypertext links. Each hypertext link provides access to a dynamically generated web page which contains aggregated content related to the respective term. The aggregated content may be gathered through a distributed keyword search of various content sources, including web sites and other sources on a wide area network. The results of the keyword search are aggregated into a single page or document, preferably with filtering to remove page elements not well suited for display on a mobile device. Occurrences of specific terms on this dynamically generated page may similarly be transformed into links, such that the user can browse content from various sources within a confined environment.

Abstract: Architecture for finding related entities for web search queries. An extraction component takes a document as input and outputs all the mentions (or occurrences) of named entities such as names of people, organizations, locations, and products in the document, as well as entity metadata. An indexing component takes a document identifier (docID) and the set of mentions of named entities and, stores and indexes the information for retrieval. A document-based search component takes a keyword query and returns the docIDs of the top documents matching with the query. A retrieval component takes a docID as input, accesses the information stored by the indexing component and returns the set of mentions of named entities in the document. This information is then passed to an entity scoring and thresholding component that computes an aggregate score of each entity and selects the entities to return to the user.

Abstract: A system for parallel processing of a database query in a multi-core processor is disclosed. The system includes a core database instance and a main database instance. The core database instance includes a local storage manager, a local page manager, and a core stream processing component. The local storage manager is configured to convert a record request into a page request. The local page manager is communicatively connected to the local storage manager and is configured to receive and route the page request. The core stream processing component is communicatively connected to the local storage manager and is configured to send a record request to the local storage manager, process a record stream received from the local storage manager and output a processed record stream.

Abstract: An “Automatic Communicator” provides automated communications services between portable electronic devices (such as, for example, cell phones, PDA's, media players, portable computers, etc.) to facilitate information transfer and matching services while minimizing or eliminating the need for human involvement in responding to queries from one electronic device to another. Such communications are enabled by allowing portable electronic devices (“requesting devices”) to send a query to other portable electronic devices (“answering devices”), and have one or more of those answering devices automatically respond to the query without requiring users of the answering devices to become involved in providing that response. In effect, this allows the portable electronic devices of users to act as digital “butlers” or “personal assistants” that respond to queries on behalf of the users of those devices.

Abstract: Iterate-aggregate shape queries are executable in an efficient parallel manner. Techniques are utilized that leverage properties of aggregations to implement such a query in a highly parallelized manner utilizing one or both of vertical and horizontal parallelism. More specifically, queries can be recursively evaluated in parallel utilizing partitioning and repartitioning mechanisms. Distributed query execution results over a subset of input data are repartitioned and aggregated to produce a final result.

Abstract: A system and a method of segmenting information, is provided. An at least one topic list is displayed. A user selects an at least one topic from said at least one topic list, including an at least one question indicative of said topic. The user is also provided with a pre-generated compounded statement, upon selecting, a correlated content is displayed. The least one question includes a plurality of response forms. The user selects a response form and a correlated content to the response form is displayed. The correlated content may be modified by the user by selecting an at least one filter of a plurality of filters. An option to remove the at least one question, and/or switch the at least one question is provided. A priority is provided, allowing the user to display the correlated content in a specific sequence. An opposite correlated content is provided, that is opposite to the correlated content. An public content is provided that is indicative of what is popular among the public.

Abstract: A method and system utilizing one or more search terms corresponding to a search criteria is operable to search one or more data repositories of one or more modules. According to one implementation, one or more search strings may be inputted in a search screen. Each search string may correspond to a separate search criteria and may include one or more search terms. The search terms may be utilized to form a search table. A multiple value screen may be selectable from the search screen. The search terms are used to populate the one or more fields provided on the multiple value screen. The search terms may be added to, modified, or deleted in the multiple value screen. The search screen may be selectable from the multiple value screen, and any modification, deletion, or addition of the search terms may be updated in the search table and the search string.

Abstract: An electrical distribution system includes a database manager using a query stack, comprising a panel with a plurality of remote operated devices mounted in the panel. Each remote operated device is for connection in a branch circuit to a load device. A panel controller is operatively connected to each of the remote operated devices. The panel controller comprises a programmed controller for controlling operation of the remote operated devices. A database is operatively associated with the programmed controller storing configuration data relating to operation of the remote operated devices. The panel controller is programmed to implement a database manager for accessing data in the database responsive to requests of the programmed controller, comprising storing a cache of data queries and responsive to a received request for data determining if a query relating to the received request is stored in the cache and returning the stored query, and operating the returned query to access data in the database.

Abstract: A database system extrapolates from date statistics maintained on a table in the system. In doing so, the system receives at a current date a date value in relation to which statistics are required, calculates a highest date for the date statistics, and compares the date value with the highest date. If the date value is greater than the highest date, then the system repeatedly reduces the date value by a fixed time period until the date value is less than or equal to the highest date. The system then calculates cardinality and number of unique values based on the reduced data value.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a geographical information system has an information database and a client computing system that is coupled to a web server. A web based application is operable to display a map that includes a particular geographical location, retrieve at least one of a plurality of data records from the metadata database, and display the at least one data record at the particular geographical location of the map for a user. The web based application is executable on the client computing system or on the web server using a web browser.