Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100212327 | MAGNETIC ASSEMBLY SYSTEM AND METHOD - A magnetic assembly having a magnetic field mechanism is proposed. The magnetic assembly includes a central limb and a top and bottom yoke. At least a first coil is disposed on a first side of one of the top and bottom yoke and at least a second coil is disposed on a second side. The magnetic assembly further includes a first magnetocaloric unit disposed on the first side between the top and bottom yoke and a second magnetocaloric unit disposed on the second side wherein the first magnetocaloric unit and the second magnetocaloric unit are alternately magnetized and demagnetized to generate thermal units. | 08-26-2010 |
20110048031 | MAGNETO-CALORIC REGENERATOR SYSTEM AND METHOD - A regenerator having a thermal diffusivity matrix is presented. The thermal diffusivity matrix includes magneto-caloric material having multiple miniature protrusions intimately packed to form a gap between the protrusions. A fluid path is provided within the gap to facilitate flow of a heat exchange fluid and further provide efficient thermal exchange between the heat exchange fluid and magneto-caloric material. A first layer is disposed on each of the miniature protrusion to physically isolate the heat exchange fluid and magneto-caloric material, wherein the first layer further includes a soft magnetic material configured to simultaneously enhance a permeability and a thermal efficiency of the thermal diffusivity matrix. | 03-03-2011 |
20110139404 | HEAT EXCHANGER AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME - A method is provided, the method including providing a first tubular structure that defines a first passage. A sacrificial material can be disposed in the first passage. A second tubular structure can be provided so as to be adjacent to the first tubular structure, with the second tubular structure defining a second passage within which can be disposed a granular material. The first and second tubular structures can be deformed together so as to reduce an external dimension of each of the first and second tubular structures. The sacrificial material can then be removed from the first passage. | 06-16-2011 |
20110154832 | COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME - Provided is a method that includes providing a granular first material (e.g., a magnetocaloric material) and a sinterable second material. The granular first material and the sinterable second material can be combined to form an aggregate. Once the aggregate has been formed, localized sintering of the aggregate can be performed, for example, such that, subsequent to localized sintering, the second material is substantially contiguous and binds the granular first material. Associated compositions and systems are also provided. | 06-30-2011 |
20110162388 | MAGNETOCALORIC DEVICE - A magneto-caloric (MC) device is disclosed. The MC device comprise a rotor, a housing disposed about and concentric with the rotor and mechanically coupled to the rotor, wherein the housing comprises at least one axial slot, at least one set of MC elements, wherein each set of MC elements comprises at least one MC element, and at least one MC element of each set of MC elements is disposed within each of the at least one axial slots, and at least one working-segment corresponding to each set of MC elements, wherein each working-segment is disposed axially around the rotor and external to the housing, and wherein each working-segment comprises, a yoke substantially defining an inner volume comprising a first inner volume and a second inner volume, and a magnetic field production (MFP) unit magnetically coupled to the yoke and configured to provide a magnetic field within the first inner volume. | 07-07-2011 |
20110297532 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING PLASMA DURING MILLING FOR PROCESSING OF MATERIAL COMPOSITIONS - An apparatus, such as a plasma generation system, is provided. The apparatus can include a chamber that may be formed, for example, substantially of insulating material. The chamber can be configured to establish therein a stable glow discharge plasma having a pressure of at least about atmospheric pressure while vibrating a sample so as to be milled by bodies contained by the chamber. For example, the chamber may vibrate and/or rotate, and the chamber can include at least one body that includes insulating material and is free within the chamber. Associated methods are also provided. | 12-08-2011 |
20120023969 | COOLING SYSTEM OF AN ELECTROMAGNET ASSEMBLY - An assembly for a magnetocaloric refrigeration unit includes a magnetocaloric core. Electromagnetic coils may be wound around the magnetocaloric core. The assembly further includes one or more cooling structures to extract the waste heat generated from the electromagnet coils. In some embodiments, the assembly may include one or more magnetic yokes disposed at the longitudinal ends of the magnetocaloric core. At least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the magnetic yoke is provided with a micro-channel structure. In other embodiments, the assembly may include a coil housing disposed around the electromagnet coil. The coil housing includes cooling structures such as, but not limited to, a micro-channel structure, a fin structure, and a heat pipe structure. | 02-02-2012 |
20130134348 | Magnetic Materials and Systems - A material is disclosed. The material includes a magnetic material. The magnetic material exhibits a metamagnetic transition to a magnetic saturation at an applied magnetic field of strength less than or equal to 1 T, in which a transition temperature of the magnetic material is within a temperature region from about 160 K to about 350K. | 05-30-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080313174 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UNIFIED SEARCHING ACROSS AND WITHIN MULTIPLE DOCUMENTS - A user-interface system and method for searching among multiple documents and searching for subsections within individual documents using a single search interface on an input-constrained user device having a screen and a keypad. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313564 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TEXT DISAMBIGUATION AND CONTEXT DESIGNATION IN INCREMENTAL SEARCH - Methods and systems for text disambiguation and context designation in incremental search are provided. A method for selecting items in response to ambiguous keystrokes entered by a user and unambiguous metadata associated with a previously selected search result includes receiving ambiguous keystrokes, selecting and presenting a first subset of items and metadata associated with the items presented based on the ambiguous keystrokes. The method also includes receiving a selection of one of the items from the user, and, in response to a locking operation received from the user, locking in fixed relation at least one of the ambiguous keystrokes to at least one metadata term associated with the selected item. The method further includes, subsequent to receiving the locking operation, selecting and presenting a second subset of items based at least in part on the locked metadata term, and presenting the second subset of items. | 12-18-2008 |
20090077496 | USER INTERFACE METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SELECTING AND PRESENTING CONTENT BASED ON USER NAVIGATION AND SELECTION ACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTENT - A user-interface method of selecting and presenting a collection of content items based on user navigation and selection actions associated with the content is provided. The method includes associating a relevance weight on a per user basis with content items to indicate a relative measure of likelihood that the user desires the content item. The method includes receiving a user's navigation and selections actions for identifying desired content items, and in response, adjusting the associated relevance weight of the selected content item and group of content items containing the selected item. The method includes, in response to subsequent user input, selecting and presenting a subset of content items and content groups to the user ordered by the adjusted associated relevance weights assigned to the content items and content groups. | 03-19-2009 |
20100299358 | Method and System for Dynamically Processing Ambiguous, Reduced Text Search Queries and Highlighting Results Thereof - A method and system are provided of processing a search query entered by a user of a device having a text input interface with overloaded keys. The search query is directed at identifying an item from a set of items. Each of the items has a name including one or more words. The system receives from the user an ambiguous search query directed at identifying a desired item. The search query comprises a prefix substring of at least one word in the name of the desired item. The system dynamically identifies a group of one or more items from the set of items having one or more words in the names thereof matching the search query as the user enters each character of the search query. The system also orders the one or more items of the group in accordance with given criteria. The names of the one or more items of the identified group are output to be displayed on the device operated by the user as ordered with the characters of the one or more words in the names corresponding to the prefix substring of the search query being highlighted. | 11-25-2010 |
20100325106 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING AMBIGUOUS, MULTITERM SEARCH QUERIES - In accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention, a method and system are provided of processing a search query entered by a user of a device having a text input interface with overloaded keys. The search query is directed at identifying an item from a set of items. Each of the items has one or more associated descriptors. The system receives from the user an ambiguous search query directed at identifying a desired item. The search query is a prefix substring of each of at least two words relating to the desired item. The system dynamically identifies a group of one or more items from the set of items having one or more descriptors matching the search query as the user enters each character of the search query. The system outputs identification of the one or more items of the identified group to be displayed on the device operated by the user. | 12-23-2010 |
20110113039 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING SEARCHES FOR TELEVISION CONTENT USING REDUCED TEXT INPUT - A method and system are provided for identifying a television content item desired by a television viewer from a set of television content items. Each of the television content items has one or more associated descriptors. The system receives from the television viewer a reduced text search entry directed at identifying the desired television content item. The search entry is a prefix substring of one or more words relating to the desired television content item. The system dynamically identifies a group of one or more television content items from the set of television content items having one or more descriptors matching the search entry as the television viewer enters each character of the search entry. The system then transmits the names of the one or more television content items of the identified group to be displayed on a device operated by the television viewer. | 05-12-2011 |
20110145233 | User Interface Methods And Systems For Selecting And Presenting Content Based On User Navigation And Selection Actions Associated With The Content - A user-interface method of selecting and presenting a collection of content items based on user navigation and selection actions associated with the content is provided. The method includes associating a relevance weight on a per user basis with content items to indicate a relative measure of likelihood that the user desires the content item. The method includes receiving a user's navigation and selections actions for identifying desired content items, and in response, adjusting the associated relevance weight of the selected content item and group of content items containing the selected item. The method includes, in response to subsequent user input, selecting and presenting a subset of content items and content groups to the user ordered by the adjusted associated relevance weights assigned to the content items and content groups. | 06-16-2011 |
20110145847 | METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR PRESENTING ENRICHED VIDEO VIEWING ANALYTICS - A method of and system for presenting enriched video viewing analytics is presented. A method of presenting enriched statistical and analytical information includes receiving a catalog of a plurality of content items. Each content item has associated metacontent characterizing the content item. The method also includes receiving and storing operations of a user for interacting with one or more of the content items. The method further includes determining use and/or viewing statistics for, for example, the content items, metacontent associated with the content items, the numbers and types of devices viewing the content items, subscriber information, household information, and/or viewer demographic information for past and present time periods. The method also, optionally, includes estimating the likelihood of future user interaction operations. | 06-16-2011 |
20110173205 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DYNAMICALLY PROCESSING AMBIGUOUS, REDUCED TEXT SEARCH QUERIES AND HIGHLIGHTING RESULTS THEREOF - A method and system are provided of processing a search query entered by a user of a device having a text input interface with overloaded keys. The search query is directed at identifying an item from a set of items. Each of the items has a name including one or more words. The system receives from the user an ambiguous search query directed at identifying a desired item. The search query comprises a prefix substring of at least one word in the name of the desired item. The system dynamically identifies a group of one or more items from the set of items having one or more words in the names thereof matching the search query as the user enters each character of the search query. The system also orders the one or more items of the group in accordance with given criteria. The names of the one or more items of the identified group are output to be displayed on the device operated by the user as ordered with the characters of the one or more words in the names corresponding to the prefix substring of the search query being highlighted. | 07-14-2011 |
20110191330 | Method of and System for Enhanced Content Discovery Based on Network and Device Access Behavior - A method of and system for enhanced content discovery based on network and device access behavior is disclosed. A method includes providing a remote catalog of global attributes values associated with content items that are based on interactions of a plurality of users with the content items. User interactions with a local device are monitored to determine user preferences and determine local attribute values associated with the content items that are based on interactions of the user with the content items. A subset of content items on the local device is selected based on matching user input with metacontent associate with the content items. The content items of the subset are presented in a ranked order based the user preferences, local attribute values, and the global attribute values. | 08-04-2011 |
20110191331 | Method of and System for Enhanced Local-Device Content Discovery - A method of and system for enhanced local-device content discovery is disclosed. A method includes providing a local collection of content items and associated metacontent on a device. The metacontent describes the informational content of the corresponding content items. A remote catalog of metacontent items and information describing relationships between the metacontent items is provided. Input is received from the user for finding at least one desired content item and a search query is formed including at least one metacontent item of the remote catalog based on matching the input from the user with metacontent items of the catalog and further based on the information describing relationships between the metacontent items. A subset of content items of the local collection associated with metacontent that at least partially matches the search query is selected and presented on a display device based on at least one ranking criterion. | 08-04-2011 |
20110191332 | Method of and System for Updating Locally Cached Content Descriptor Information - A method of and system for updating locally cached content descriptor information is disclosed. A method includes providing a remote catalog of metacontent associated with content items that describes their informational content. The method also includes providing a local collection of content items and associated metacontent. The method further includes, updating the metacontent associated with the content items of the local collection with metacontent of the remote catalog based on matching the content items of the local collection and remote catalog. The method includes receiving query input from the user for finding desired content items and determining a subset of content items of the local collection associated with metacontent that at least partially matches the query input in which at least one of the matching metacontents is from the remote catalog. The method also includes presenting the subset of content items based on at least one ranking criterion. | 08-04-2011 |
20120084277 | METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR CONDUCTING PERSONALIZED FEDERATED SEARCH AND PRESENTATION OF RESULTS THEREFROM - The present disclosure provides user-interface methods and systems for submitting search requests to search engines and presenting search results therefrom customized using content preferences learned about a user, comprising sending query information to at least two search engines, including a query identifying desired content, and user information, including context information describing the environment in which the query information is being sent, and a user signature representing content preferences learned about the user; receiving at least one set of a search result and auxiliary information from the at least one search engine in response to sending the query information, including information describing attributes of the search result that led to the search result being chosen by the at least one search engine; ordering the at least one search result based at least in part on the auxiliary information; and presenting the ordered search results to the user. | 04-05-2012 |
20120095995 | User Interface Methods and Systems for Selecting and Presenting Content Based on User Navigation and Selection Actions Associated with the Content - A user-interface method of selecting and presenting a collection of content items based on user navigation and selection actions associated with the content is provided. The method includes associating a relevance weight on a per user basis with content items to indicate a relative measure of likelihood that the user desires the content item. The method includes receiving a user's navigation and selections actions for identifying desired content items, and in response, adjusting the associated relevance weight of the selected content item and group of content items containing the selected item. The method includes, in response to subsequent user input, selecting and presenting a subset of content items and content groups to the user ordered by the adjusted associated relevance weights assigned to the content items and content groups. | 04-19-2012 |
20120136847 | Method and System for Incrementally Selecting and Providing Relevant Search Engines in Response to a User Query - 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. | 05-31-2012 |
20120215533 | Method of and System for Error Correction in Multiple Input Modality Search Engines - A method of and system for error correction in multiple input modality search engines is presented. A method of processing input information based on an information type of the input information includes receiving input information for performing a search for identifying at least one item desired by a user and determining an information type associated with the input information. The method also includes forming a query input for identifying the at least one item desired by the user based on the input information and on the information type. The method further includes submitting the query input to at least one search engine system. | 08-23-2012 |
20120233184 | User Interface Methods and Systems for Selecting and Presenting Content Based on User Relationships - A user-interface method of selecting and presenting a collection of content items based on user navigation and selection actions associated with the content is provided. The method includes associating a relevance weight on a per user basis with content items to indicate a relative measure of likelihood that the user desires the content item. The method includes receiving a user's navigation and selections actions for identifying desired content items, and in response, adjusting the associated relevance weight of the selected content item and group of content items containing the selected item. The method includes, in response to subsequent user input, selecting and presenting a subset of content items and content groups to the user ordered by the adjusted associated relevance weights assigned to the content items and content groups. | 09-13-2012 |
20120271676 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN INTELLIGENT PERSONAL TIMELINE ASSISTANT - The present disclosure provides methods and systems for assisting a user in managing a timeline of appointments in which at least one appointment is associated with an event, and the appointment has associated appointment information that describes aspects of the appointment and/or event, including receiving free-form scheduling information from an electronic notification, inferring that at least a portion of the free-form scheduling information relates to an existing appointment and/or associated event, the existing appointment having presently associated appointment information that describes aspects of the appointment and/or associated event, selecting an appointment for modification, and modifying the selected appointment based on (a) the portion of the free-form scheduling information inferred to relate to the existing appointment and/or associated event, and at least one of the appointment information presently associated with the existing appointment, and a user preference signature representing prior actions performed by and/or content preferences learned about the user. | 10-25-2012 |
20120303650 | Method and System for Incremental Search with Reduced Text Entry Where the Relevance of Results is a Dynamically Computed Function of User Input Search String Character Count - A method and system are provided for processing a search request received from a user operating a text input device. The search request is directed at identifying a desired item from a set of items, each of which has one or more associated terms. The method includes receiving a query input from a user that comprises one or more characters input by the user on the text input device. As each character of the query input is received from the user, a group of items having one or more terms matching the received characters is dynamically identified. The items in the group are ordered based on relevance values of the terms matching the characters and on the number of characters of the query input used in identifying the group of items. Identification of the group of items as ordered is transmitted to the user to be displayed. | 11-29-2012 |
20130018880 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DYNAMICALLY PROCESSING AMBIGUOUS, REDUCED TEXT SEARCH QUERIES AND HIGHLIGHTING RESULTS THEREOF - A method and system are provided of processing a search query entered by a user of a device having a text input interface with overloaded keys. The search query is directed at identifying an item from a set of items. Each of the items has a name including one or more words. The system receives from the user an ambiguous search query directed at identifying a desired item. The search query comprises a prefix substring of at least one word in the name of the desired item. The system dynamically identifies a group of one or more items from the set of items having one or more words in the names thereof matching the search query as the user enters each character of the search query. | 01-17-2013 |
20130046745 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UNIFIED SEARCHING AND INCREMENTAL SEARCHING ACROSS AND WITHIN MULTIPLE DOCUMENTS - A user-interface system and method for searching among multiple documents and searching for subsections within individual documents using a single search interface on an input-constrained user device having a screen and a keypad. | 02-21-2013 |
20130159299 | USER INTERFACE METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SELECTING AND PRESENTING CONTENT BASED ON USER RELATIONSHIPS - A user-interface method of selecting and presenting a collection of content items based on user navigation and selection actions associated with the content is provided. The method includes associating a relevance weight on a per user basis with content items to indicate a relative measure of likelihood that the user desires the content item. The method includes receiving a user's navigation and selections actions for identifying desired content items, and in response, adjusting the associated relevance weight of the selected content item and group of content items containing the selected item. The method includes, in response to subsequent user input, selecting and presenting a subset of content items and content groups to the user ordered by the adjusted associated relevance weights assigned to the content items and content groups. | 06-20-2013 |
20130226894 | Method and System for Incrementally Selecting and Providing Relevant Search Engines in Response to a User Query - 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. | 08-29-2013 |
20130238602 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UNIFIED SEARCHING AND INCREMENTAL SEARCHING ACROSS AND WITHIN MULTIPLE DOCUMENTS - A user-interface system and method for searching among multiple documents and searching for subsections within individual documents using a single search interface on an input-constrained user device having a screen and a keypad. | 09-12-2013 |
20130254188 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING AMBIGUOUS, MULTI-TERM SEARCH QUERIES - In accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention, a method and system are provided of processing a search query entered by a user of a device having a text input interface with overloaded keys. The search query is directed at identifying an item from a set of items. Each of the items has one or more associated descriptors. The system receives from the user an ambiguous search query directed at identifying a desired item. The search query is a prefix substring of each of at least two words relating to the desired item. The system dynamically identifies a group of one or more items from the set of items having one or more descriptors matching the search query as the user enters each character of the search query. The system outputs identification of the one or more items of the identified group to be displayed on the device operated by the user. | 09-26-2013 |
20140025705 | Method of and System for Inferring User Intent in Search Input in a Conversational Interaction System - A method of inferring user intent in search input in a conversational interaction system is disclosed. A method of inferring user intent in a search input includes providing a user preference signature that describes preferences of the user, receiving search input from the user intended by the user to identify at least one desired item, and determining that a portion of the search input contains an ambiguous identifier. The ambiguous identifier is intended by the user to identify, at least in part, a desired item. The method further includes inferring a meaning for the ambiguous identifier based on matching portions of the search input to the preferences of the user described by the user preference signature and selecting items from a set of content items based on comparing the search input and the inferred meaning of the ambiguous identifier with metadata associated with the content items. | 01-23-2014 |
20140025706 | METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR INFERRING USER INTENT IN SEARCH INPUT IN A CONVERSATIONAL INTERACTION SYSTEM - A method of inferring user intent in search input in a conversational interaction system is disclosed. A method of inferring user intent in a search input includes providing a user preference signature that describes preferences of the user, receiving search input from the user intended by the user to identify at least one desired item, and determining that a portion of the search input contains an ambiguous identifier. The ambiguous identifier is intended by the user to identify, at least in part, a desired item. The method further includes inferring a meaning for the ambiguous identifier based on matching portions of the search input to the preferences of the user described by the user preference signature and selecting items from a set of content items based on comparing the search input and the inferred meaning of the ambiguous identifier with metadata associated with the content items. | 01-23-2014 |
20140032534 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TEXT DISAMBIGUATION AND CONTEXT DESIGNATION IN INCREMENTAL SEARCH - Methods and systems for text disambiguation and context designation in incremental search are provided. A method for selecting items in response to ambiguous keystrokes entered by a user and unambiguous metadata associated with a previously selected search result includes receiving ambiguous keystrokes, selecting and presenting a first subset of items and metadata associated with the items presented based on the ambiguous keystrokes. The method also includes receiving a selection of one of the items from the user, and, in response to a locking operation received from the user, locking in fixed relation at least one of the ambiguous keystrokes to at least one metadata term associated with the selected item. The method further includes, subsequent to receiving the locking operation, selecting and presenting a second subset of items based at least in part on the locked metadata term, and presenting the second subset of items. | 01-30-2014 |
20140040274 | DISAMBIGUATING USER INTENT IN CONVERSATIONAL INTERACTION SYSTEM FOR LARGE CORPUS INFORMATION RETRIEVAL - A method of disambiguating user intent in conversational interactions for information retrieval is disclosed. The method includes providing access to a set of content items with metadata describing the content items and providing access to structural knowledge showing semantic relationships and links among the content items. The method further includes providing a user preference signature, receiving a first input from the user that is intended by the user to identify at least one desired content item, and determining an ambiguity index of the first input. If the ambiguity index is high, the method determines a query input based on the first input and at least one of the structural knowledge, the user preference signature, a location of the user, and the time of the first input and selects a content item based on comparing the query input and the metadata associated with the content item. | 02-06-2014 |
20140058724 | Method of and System for Using Conversation State Information in a Conversational Interaction System - A method of using conversation state information in a conversational interaction system is disclosed. A method of inferring a change of a conversation session during continuous user interaction with an interactive content providing system includes receiving input from the user including linguistic elements intended by the user to identify an item, associating a linguistic element of the input with a first conversation session, and providing a response based on the input. The method also includes receiving additional input from the user and inferring whether or not the additional input from the user is related to the linguistic element associated with the conversation session. If related, the method provides a response based on the additional input and the linguistic element associated with the first conversation session. Otherwise, the method provides a response based on the second input without regard for the linguistic element associated with the first conversation session. | 02-27-2014 |
20140108453 | METHOD FOR ADAPTIVE CONVERSATION STATE MANAGEMENT WITH FILTERING OPERATORS APPLIED DYNAMICALLY AS PART OF A CONVERSATIONAL INTERFACE - A system and method of processing a search request is provided. Identification of a desired content item is based on comparing a topic of the search request to previous user input. The method includes providing access to a set of content items with metadata that describes the corresponding content items and providing information about previous searches. The method further includes receiving a present input from the user and determining a relatedness measure between the information about the previous searches and an element of the present input. If the relatedness measure is high, the method also includes selecting a subset of content items based on comparing the present input and information about the previous searches with the metadata that describes the subset of content items. Otherwise, the method includes selecting a subset of content items based on comparing the present input with the metadata that describes the subset of content items. | 04-17-2014 |
20140156621 | METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR CONDUCTING PERSONALIZED FEDERATED SEARCH AND PRESENTATION OF RESULTS THEREFROM - The present disclosure provides user-interface methods and systems for submitting search requests to search engines and presenting search results therefrom customized using content preferences learned about a user, comprising sending query information to at least two search engines, including a query identifying desired content, and user information, including context information describing the environment in which the query information is being sent, and a user signature representing content preferences learned about the user; receiving at least one set of a search result and auxiliary information from the at least one search engine in response to sending the query information, including information describing attributes of the search result that led to the search result being chosen by the at least one search engine; ordering the at least one search result based at least in part on the auxiliary information; and presenting the ordered search results to the user. | 06-05-2014 |
20140156680 | USER INTERFACE METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SELECTING AND PRESENTING CONTENT BASED ON USER RELATIONSHIPS - A user-interface method of selecting and presenting a collection of content items based on user navigation and selection actions associated with the content is provided. The method includes associating a relevance weight on a per user basis with content items to indicate a relative measure of likelihood that the user desires the content item. The method includes receiving a user's navigation and selections actions for identifying desired content items, and in response, adjusting the associated relevance weight of the selected content item and group of content items containing the selected item. The method includes, in response to subsequent user input, selecting and presenting a subset of content items and content groups to the user ordered by the adjusted associated relevance weights assigned to the content items and content groups. | 06-05-2014 |
20140163965 | Method of and System for Using Conversation State Information in a Conversational Interaction System - A method of using conversation state information in a conversational interaction system is disclosed. A method of inferring a change of a conversation session during continuous user interaction with an interactive content providing system includes receiving input from the user including linguistic elements intended by the user to identify an item, associating a linguistic element of the input with a first conversation session, and providing a response based on the input. The method also includes receiving additional input from the user and inferring whether or not the additional input from the user is related to the linguistic element associated with the conversation session. If related, the method provides a response based on the additional input and the linguistic element associated with the first conversation session. Otherwise, the method provides a response based on the second input without regard for the linguistic element associated with the first conversation session. | 06-12-2014 |
20140207749 | Method and System for Incrementally Selecting and Providing Relevant Search Engines in Response to a User Query - 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. | 07-24-2014 |
20140337370 | METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR REAL TIME FEEDBACK IN AN INCREMENTAL SPEECH INPUT INTERFACE - The present disclosure provides systems and methods for selecting and presenting content items based on user input. The method includes receiving first input intended to identify a desired content item among content items associated with metadata, determining that an input portion has an importance measure exceeding a threshold, and providing feedback identifying the input portion. The method further includes receiving second input, and inferring user intent to alter or supplement the first input with the second input. The method further includes, upon inferring intent to alter the first input, determining an alternative query by modifying the first input based on the second input, and, upon inferring intent to supplement the first input, determining an alternative query by combining the first input and the second input. The method further includes selecting and presenting a subset of content items based on comparing the alternative query and metadata associated with the subset. | 11-13-2014 |
20140337381 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CAPTURING AND EXPLOITING USER INTENT IN A CONVERSATIONAL INTERACTION BASED INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEM - Systems and methods are disclosed for processing a search request received from a user. A method includes providing access to content items associated with metadata. The method includes providing information about at least one search previously performed for a user, and providing access to information describing relationships between at least one of the content items and the metadata. The method includes receiving a present input from the user intended to identify a desired content item. Upon determining that results from the previous search did not satisfy the search request from the user, the method includes determining an intent shared by the previous search and the present input based on comparing (i) the relationship information, (ii) the previous search, and (iii) the present input. The method also includes selecting and presenting a subset of content items based on comparing the shared intent and the metadata. | 11-13-2014 |