Patent•
Method for facilitating access to multimedia content
21 Dec 2001-
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe a system in which a media browser, operating as a software application on a user terminal or preferably a server for a number of users, provides a user with a single user interface that facilitates browsing and searching different metadata collections over the Internet.
Abstract: A system is described in which a media browser ( 101 ), operating as a software application on a user terminal or preferably a server for a number of users, provides a user with a single user interface that facilitates browsing and searching different metadata collections over the Internet ( 102 ). A metadata server ( 212 ) is associated with each of the metadata collections. When the metadata server ( 212 ) receives a request from the media browser ( 101 ), the metadata server ( 212 ) interprets the request and replies with a description that satisfies the request and according to a predetermined scheme. The description contains at least one link which represents a return link which represents a return request to the metadata server ( 212 ). Specifically disclosed are methods ( 2000 ) for recording user location preferences at a service and using one or more lists of such preferences to focus searching responses to statistically desirable material. Monitoring the validity of a bookmarked location is also described.
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17 Sep 2008TL;DR: The type of information in metadata for one type of file differs from the type of metadata for another type of a file as discussed by the authors, and the metadata from files created by several different software applications are captured and the captured metadata is searched.
Abstract: Systems and methods for managing data, such as metadata. In one exemplary method, metadata from files created by several different software applications are captured, and the captured metadata is searched. The type of information in metadata for one type of file differs from the type of information in metadata for another type of file. Other methods are described and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.
947 citations
Patent•
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TL;DR: The file system shell as discussed by the authors provides virtual folders which expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk.
Abstract: A file system shell is provided. One aspect of the shell provides virtual folders which expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. Users are able to work with the virtual folders through direct manipulation (e.g., clicking and dragging, copying, pasting, etc.). Filters are provided for narrowing down sets of items. Quick links are provided which can be clicked on to generate useful views of the sets of items. Libraries are provided which consist of large groups of usable types of items that can be associated together, along with functions and tools related to the items. A virtual address bar is provided which comprises a plurality of segments, each segment corresponding to a filter for selecting content. A shell browser is provided with which users can readily identify an item based on the metadata associated with that item. An object previewer in a shell browser is provided which is configured to display a plurality of items representing multiple item types.
544 citations
Patent•
15 May 2003TL;DR: In this article, a system and method for filtering and organizing items from computer memories based on common elements is presented, which exposes regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical file system structure on the disk.
Abstract: A system and method for filtering and organizing items from computer memories based on common elements. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, filters are provided for manipulating the items. The filters are essentially tools for narrowing down a set of items. In one embodiment, the filters are dynamically generated based on the properties of the separate items. The system utilizes virtual folders. The virtual folders expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, quick links are provided. In one embodiment, quick links are a set of predefined links (e.g., located on the left side of the display) that can be clicked on to generate useful views of the sets of items. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, libraries are provided. Libraries consist of large groups of usable types of items that can be associated together.
535 citations
Patent•
24 Sep 2010
TL;DR: In this paper, improved search capabilities for mobile communications devices such as cell phones, as well as improved techniques for delivering sponsored content in a mobile communication environment are disclosed for mobile communication environments.
Abstract: Improved search capabilities are disclosed for mobile communications devices such as cell phones, as well as improved techniques for delivering sponsored content in a mobile communication environment.
411 citations
Patent•
21 Dec 2006
TL;DR: In this article, a method of associating a content object with metadata uses a combination of a content identifier and a bounding identifier to enable handling of disparate sets of content identifiers for content objects with potentially conflicting content identifiers.
Abstract: A method of associating a content object with metadata uses a combination of a content identifier and a bounding identifier to enable handling of disparate sets of content identifiers for content objects with potentially conflicting content identifiers. The method receives a content identifier for a content object from among a set of content identifiers. It provides a unique bounding identifier for the set of content identifiers. This unique bounding identifier is used in combination with the content identifier to form a globally unique identifier for the content object. This globally unique identifier is associated with a metadata source, which enables routing of a user to the metadata source.
317 citations
References
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Patent•
08 Apr 1998TL;DR: In this paper, a client request directed to a web site or other service hosted by a distributed pool of servers is processed by a client agent associated with the client, and the client agent intercepts the client request and routes it to a particular one of the servers in the pool.
Abstract: A client request directed to a web site or other service hosted by a distributed pool of servers is processed by a client agent associated with the client. The client agent intercepts the client request and routes it to a particular one of the servers in the pool. The client agent bases its routing decision on address information regarding the individual servers of the pool and performance data regarding processing of previous client requests directed to the service. The address information may be retrieved by the client agent from a response to an initial client request directed to the service. The performance data may include response times for servicing previous client requests directed to the service, and the client agent may route the client request such that an average response time of multiple requests to the service is minimized. It may also make use of a probabilistic routing strategy which ensures that each of the servers in the pool receives at least one client request, such that accurate performance data may be maintained for all of the servers. A pricing manager associated with the server pool may be used to establish discount factors or other pricing information for each of the servers in the pool. This pricing information is communicated to the client agents and used in their routing decisions, so as to ensure that otherwise non-cooperating client agents will route their requests in a manner consistent with a target operating point established by the service provider.
224 citations
Patent•
IBM1
TL;DR: In this article, the authors propose a technique for providing, accessing, and using bookmark data to supplement information in a search engine database, where the bookmark data indicates saved user selected network addresses that are capable of being selected to access observable data, e.g., a page of text, images, sound file, movie file etc.
Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for providing, accessing, and using bookmark data to supplement information in a search engine database. The bookmark data indicates saved user selected network addresses, e.g., URLs, that are capable of being selected to access observable data, e.g., a page of text, images, sound file, movie file, etc., at the selected network address. A user computer receives user modifications to bookmark data and transmits the modifications to the bookmark data to a server over a network. A server gathers bookmark data indicating saved user selected network addresses that the user is capable of selecting to access observable data at the selected network address. A search engine server receives bookmark data gathered from multiple Internet users and determines an importance rating for at least one network address from the received bookmark data. The determined importance rating is included in the search engine index. Further, when executing a search query against the index to determine at least one search result, the search engine server presents the search results ordered according to their importance rating.
206 citations
Patent•
31 Aug 1999
TL;DR: In this article, a system and method that enable Internet users to access selected records retrieved from result sets that are derived from earlier search queries is presented, where the authors track and rank selected records that users deemed valuable to a search query.
Abstract: A system and method that enable Internet users to access selected records retrieved from result sets that are derived from earlier search queries. The invention tracks and ranks selected records that users deemed valuable to a search query. When an Internet user submits a search query, the system creates three distinct but related queries for searching all accessible web sites, a collection database. and a rank database. The collection database includes a list of collections, i.e., records that other users deem relevant to a search topic and that are selected from result sets derived with earlier search queries; the collection is organized in a folder/file based hierarchical format. The rank database includes Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) for identifying, web sites that are bookmarked by other users. Each record in the collection and rank databases has an associated score that is used to organize records retrieved from those databases. Thus, when the user submits a search query to the system, it returns selected records from the collection and rank databases, in addition to other related web sites from the Internet.
206 citations
Patent•
19 Nov 2002
TL;DR: A search engine that utilizes both record-based data and user activity data to develop, update and refine ranking protocols and identify words and phrases that give rise to search ambiguity as discussed by the authors, so that the engine can interact with the user to better respond to user queries and enhance data acquisition from databases, intranets and internets.
Abstract: A search engine is disclosed that utilizes both record based data and user activity data to develop, update and refine ranking protocols and to identify words and phrases that give rise to search ambiguity so that the engine can interact with the user to better respond to user queries and enhance data acquisition from databases, intranets and internets.
172 citations
Patent•
27 Jan 2000TL;DR: In this paper, a method of searching or browsing multimedia data which can effectively search or browse an image is disclosed, which is performed in consideration of at least one of a reliability information on a weight of a feature of an input multimedia data and an authority code.
Abstract: A method of searching or browsing multimedia data which can effectively search or browse an image is disclosed. In the present method, the searching or browsing is performed in consideration of at least one of a reliability information on a weight of a feature of an input multimedia data and an authority code. According to the method, the system selects reference multimedia data, and searches the multimedia data using a weight of a feature and/or a feature element of the input multimedia data. A user gives feedback on the relevance of the searched or browsed multimedia data, and the system calculates a new weight using the relevance information. Thus, the system updates and maintains new weights of features and/or feature elements.
115 citations