184results about How to "Improve the usefulness" patented technology

The usefulness, and consequently the performance, of advertisements are improved by allowing businesses to better target their ads to a responsive audience. Location information is determined (or simply accepted) and used. For example, location information may be used in a relevancy determination of an ad. As another example, location information may be used in an attribute (e.g., position) arbitration. Such location information may be associated with price information, such as a maximum price bid. Such location information may be associated with ad performance information. Ad performance information may be tracked on the basis of location information. The content of an ad creative, and / or of a landing page may be selected and / or modified using location information. Finally, tools, such as user interfaces, may be provided to allow a business to enter and / or modify location information, such as location information used for targeting and location-dependent price information. The location information used to target and / or score ads may be, include, or define an area. The area may be defined by at least one geographic reference point (e.g., defined by latitude and longitude coordinates) and perhaps additional information. Thus, the area may be a circle defined by a geographic reference point and a radius, an ellipse defined by two geographic reference points and a distance sum, or a polygon defined by three or more geographic reference points, for example.

Image data, such as from a mobile phone camera, is analyzed to determine a colorfulness metric (e.g., saturation) or a contrast metric (e.g., Weber contrast). This metric is then used in deciding which of, or in which order, plural different image recognition processes should be invoked in order to present responsive information to a user. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

The invention comprises a set of complementary techniques that dramatically improve enterprise search and navigation results. The core of the invention is an expertise or knowledge index, called UseRank that tracks the behavior of website visitors. The expertise-index is designed to focus on the four key discoveries of enterprise attributes: Subject Authority, Work Patterns, Content Freshness, and Group Know-how. The invention produces useful, timely, cross-application, expertise-based search and navigation results. In contrast, traditional Information Retrieval technologies such as inverted index, NLP, or taxonomy tackle the same problem with an opposite set of attributes than what the enterprise needs: Content Population, Word Patterns, Content Existence, and Statistical Trends. Overall, the invention emcompasses Baynote Search—a enhancement over existing IR searches, Baynote Guide—a set of community-driven navigations, and Baynote Insights—aggregated views of visitor interests and trends and content gaps.

The usefulness, and consequently the performance, of advertisements are improved by allowing businesses to better target their ads to a responsive audience. Location information is determined (or simply accepted) and used. For example, location information may be used in a relevancy determination of an ad. As another example, location information may be used in an attribute (e.g., position) arbitration. Such location information may be associated with price information, such as a maximum price bid. Such location information may be associated with ad performance information. Ad performance information may be tracked on the basis of location information. The content of an ad creative, and / or of a landing page may be selected and / or modified using location information. Finally, tools, such as user interfaces, may be provided to allow a business to enter and / or modify location information, such as location information used for targeting and location-dependent price information. The location information used to target and / or score ads may be, include, or define an area. The area may be defined by at least one geographic reference point (e.g., defined by latitude and longitude coordinates) and perhaps additional information. Thus, the area may be a circle defined by a geographic reference point and a radius, an ellipse defined by two geographic reference points and a distance sum, or a polygon defined by three or more geographic reference points, for example.

The invention provides a session-based bi-directional multi-tier client-server asynchronous information database search and retrieval system for sending a character-by-character string of data to an intelligent server that can be configured to immediately analyze the lengthening string character-by-character and return to the client increasingly appropriate database information as the client sends the string.

The usefulness, and consequently the performance, of advertisements are improved by allowing businesses to better target their ads to a responsive audience. Location information, such as country, region, metro area, city or town, postal zip code, telephone area code, etc. is determined (or simply accepted) and used. For example, location information may be used in a relevancy determination of an ad. As another example, location information may be used in an attribute (e.g., position) arbitration. Such location information may be associated with price information, such as a maximum price bid. Such location information may be associated with ad performance information. Ad performance information may be tracked on the basis of location information. The content of an ad creative, and / or of a landing page may be selected and / or modified using location information. Finally, tools, such as user interfaces, may be provided to allow a business to enter and / or modify location information, such as location information used for targeting and location-dependent price information.

The usefulness, and consequently the performance, of advertisements are improved by allowing advertisers to better target their ads to a responsive audience. End user local time information, such as at least one of (a) a local time-of-day, (b) a local time-of-day range, (c) a local date, (d) a local day-of-week, (e) a local date range, (f) a local day-of-week range, and (g) a local season, is determined (or simply accepted) and used. For example, end user local time information may be used in a relevancy determination of an ad. As another example, end user local time information may be used in an attribute (e.g., position) arbitration. Such end user local time information may be associated with price information, such as a maximum price bid. Such end user local time information may be associated with ad performance information. Ad performance information may be tracked on the basis of end user local time information. The content of an ad creative, and / or of a landing page may be selected and / or modified using end user local time information. Finally, tools, such as user interfaces, may be provided to allow a business to enter and / or modify end user local time information, such as end user local time information used for targeting and end user local time-dependent price information.

The invention provides a session-based bi-directional multi-tier client-server asynchronous information database search and retrieval system for sending a character-by-character string of data to an intelligent server that can be configured to immediately analyze the lengthening string character-by-character and return to the client increasingly appropriate database information as the client sends the string.

The invention comprises a set of complementary techniques that dramatically improve enterprise search and navigation results. The core of the invention is an expertise or knowledge index, called UseRank that tracks the behavior of website visitors. The expertise-index is designed to focus on the four key discoveries of enterprise attributes: Subject Authority, Work Patterns, Content Freshness, and Group Know-how. The invention produces useful, timely, cross-application, expertise-based search and navigation results. In contrast, traditional Information Retrieval technologies such as inverted index, NLP, or taxonomy tackle the same problem with an opposite set of attributes than what the enterprise needs: Content Population, Word Patterns, Content Existence, and Statistical Trends. Overall, the invention emcompasses Baynote Search—a enhancement over existing IR searches, Baynote Guide—a set of community-driven navigations, and Baynote Insights—aggregated views of visitor interests and trends and content gaps.

The invention comprises a set of complementary techniques that dramatically improve enterprise search and navigation results. The core of the invention is an expertise or knowledge index, called UseRank that tracks the behavior of website visitors. The expertise-index is designed to focus on the four key discoveries of enterprise attributes: Subject Authority, Work Patterns, Content Freshness, and Group Know-how. The invention produces useful, timely, cross-application, expertise-based search and navigation results. In contrast, traditional Information Retrieval technologies such as inverted index, NLP, or taxonomy tackle the same problem with an opposite set of attributes than what the enterprise needs: Content Population, Word Patterns, Content Existence, and Statistical Trends. Overall, the invention emcompasses Baynote Search—a enhancement over existing IR searches, Baynote Guide —a set of community-driven navigations, and Baynote Insights—aggregated views of visitor interests and trends and content gaps.

An object process graph (OPG) application development system. The system includes an OPG application program interface (API), an OPG application editor, an OPG application window editor, and an OPG application notation. The OPG API provides access to functions of an OPG system. The OPG application editor facilitates the creating and editing of the OPG applications via the OPG API. The OPG application window editor facilitates the editing of OPG application user interface windows while an OPG application is running. The OPG application notation includes a plurality of key words and associated definitions for describing and defining OPG applications.

An insulating beverage or food container or sleeve is produced with a foam layer disposed on an inner surface of a paper stock. A polymer shrink film layer is arranged in a position along an inside surface of the beverage container. The foam layer is sandwiched between the polymer shrink film layer and the paper stock and decreases the energy transfer between the beverage and the user's hands allowing the user to hold onto the container for an extended period of time without causing user discomfort or pain. The polymer shrink film layer is produced from a shrink film polymer having a percent shrink in the range of 30% or less, and more particularly a percent shrink range of 5 to 10%.

A module with an embedded universal integrated circuit card (eUICC) can include a profile for the eUICC. The profile can include a first and second shared secret key K for authenticating with a wireless network. The first shared secret key K can be encrypted with a first key, and the second shared secret key K can be encrypted with a second key. The module can (i) receive the first key, (ii) decrypt the first shared secret key K with the first key, and (iii) subsequently authenticate with the wireless network using the plaintext first shared secret key K. The wireless network can authenticate the user of the module using a second factor. The module can then (i) receive the second key, (ii) decrypt the second shared secret key K, and (iii) authenticate with the wireless network using the second shared secret key K. The module can comprise a mobile phone.

Disclosed herein is a device for measuring horizontal and vertical eye movement utilizing infrared technology. The device rests on the user's nose and, in alternate versions, can be secured to the user's head via a head strap or temple arms which will provide greater alignment and applications. It is comprised of a nose bridge piece and mounting means which house the calculation and measurement technology. The nose bridge is similar to that of ordinary eye glasses with the mounting means, or head strap, or temple arms attached thereto. The mounting means consist of a lightweight horizontal component which extends from the nose bridge and underneath the eyes. This component is located below the horizontal center of the eye and rests above the cheek area of the user's face. Illuminators, which are oriented approximately linear to the horizontal axis of the eye on the component, radiate light into the lower portion of the eye. Sensors, which are above and below the illuminators on the component, detect and measure the amount of reflected light. The device is capable of measuring both axes independently and jointly, as well as both eyes independently and jointly. Utilizing a robust algorithm, accurate adjustment and alignment are not required. The device itself does not require adjustment or alignment, only adjustments for the user's facial features are needed. Therefore, this device only obstructs the bottom portion of the user's lower field of view, leaving the forward, side-to-side, and upward fields completely unobstructed, as well as requires only minimal adjustment and alignment. Thus, it has advantages, applications, and usefulness not contemplated by the prior art.

The invention comprises a set of complementary techniques that dramatically improve enterprise search and navigation results. The core of the invention is an expertise or knowledge index, called UseRank that tracks the behavior of website visitors. The expertise-index is designed to focus on the four key discoveries of enterprise attributes: Subject Authority, Work Patterns, Content Freshness, and Group Know-how. The invention produces useful, timely, cross-application, expertise-based search and navigation results. In contrast, traditional Information Retrieval technologies such as inverted index, NLP, or taxonomy tackle the same problem with an opposite set of attributes than what the enterprise needs: Content Population, Word Patterns, Content Existence, and Statistical Trends. Overall, the invention emcompasses Baynote Search—a enhancement over existing IR searches, Baynote Guide—a set of community-driven navigations, and Baynote Insights—aggregated views of visitor interests and trends and content gaps.

A system and method for inferring informational goals and preferred level of details in answers in response to questions posed to computer-based information retrieval or question-answering systems is provided. The system includes a query subsystem that can receive an input query and extrinsic data associated with the query and which can output an answer to the query, and / or rephrased queries or sample queries. The query subsystem accesses an inference model to retrieve conditional probabilities that certain informational goals are present. One application of the system includes determining a user's likely informational goals and then accessing a knowledge data store to retrieve responsive information. The system includes a natural language processor that parses queries into observable linguistic features and embedded semantic components that can be employed to retrieve the conditional probabilities from the inference model. The inference model is built by employing supervised learning and statistical analysis on a set of queries suitable to be presented to a question-answering system. Such a set of queries can be manipulated to produce different inference models based on demographic and / or localized linguistic data.

The invention comprises a set of complementary techniques that dramatically improve enterprise search and navigation results. The core of the invention is an expertise or knowledge index, called UseRank that tracks the behavior of website visitors. The expertise-index is designed to focus on the four key discoveries of enterprise attributes: Subject Authority, Work Patterns, Content Freshness, and Group Know-how. The invention produces useful, timely, cross-application, expertise-based search and navigation results. In contrast, traditional Information Retrieval technologies such as inverted index, NLP, or taxonomy tackle the same problem with an opposite set of attributes than what the enterprise needs: Content Population, Word Patterns, Content Existence, and Statistical Trends. Overall, the invention emcompasses Baynote Search—a enhancement over existing IR searches, Baynote Guide—a set of community-driven navigations, and Baynote Insights—aggregated views of visitor interests and trends and content gaps.

PCT No. PCT / EP97 / 03818 Sec. 371 Date Mar. 3, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Mar. 3, 1998 PCT Filed Jul. 17, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO98 / 03440 PCT Pub. Date Jan. 29, 1998In a known process for the production of quartz glass bodies, SiO2 particles are deposited of the mantle surface of a cylindrical carrier rotating about its longitudinal axis, forming an elongated, porous preform, where the SiO2 particles are formed in a plurality of flame hydrolysis burners which are arranged in at least one burner row parallel to the longitudinal axis of the carrier and are moved at a preset translational speed forward and back between turnaround points at which points their direction of movement is reversed, and in which process the preform is sintered. In order to make available on this basis an easily accomplished process that makes it possible to manufacture a preform which is largely free of localized density variations, the invention proposes on the one hand that the base value of the surface temperature of the preform being formed be kept in a range between 1,050 DEG C. and 1,350 DEG C., that the average peripheral velocity of the preform be kept in the range between 8 m / min and 15 m / min and the average translational velocity of the burner row be kept in a range between 300 mm / min and 800 mm / min. On the other hand, the object is also accomplished according to the invention and on the basis of the known process in that in the area of the turnaround points (A, B) the peripheral velocity of the preform being formed is increased and / or the flame temperature is lowered and / or the distance of the burners from the preform surface is changed.

The invention comprises a set of complementary techniques that dramatically improve enterprise search and navigation results. The core of the invention is an expertise or knowledge index, called UseRank that tracks the behavior of website visitors. The expertise-index is designed to focus on the four key discoveries of enterprise attributes: Subject Authority, Work Patterns, Content Freshness, and Group Know-how. The invention produces useful, timely, cross-application, expertise-based search and navigation results. In contrast, traditional Information Retrieval technologies such as inverted index, NLP, or taxonomy tackle the same problem with an opposite set of attributes than what the enterprise needs: Content Population, Word Patterns, Content Existence, and Statistical Trends. Overall, the invention emcompasses Baynote Search—a enhancement over existing IR searches, Baynote Guide—a set of community-driven navigations, and Baynote Insights—aggregated views of visitor interests and trends and content gaps.

An insulating beverage cup or sleeve is produced with a foam layer disposed on an inner surface of a food or beverage paper stock. A polyethylene film layer is arranged in a position between a paper stock layer and an inside surface of the beverage container. The foam layer decreases the energy transfer between the beverage and the user's hands allowing the user to hold onto the cup for an extended period of time without causing user discomfort or pain, e.g. greatly extends the hold time of the paper cup. The exterior surface of the beverage cup remains highly printable and predisposed to high quality graphics both before and after cup manufacture.

A software system is provided including an Object Process Graph for defining applications and a Dynamic Graph Interpreter that interprets Object Process Graphs. An Object Process Graph defines all of an application's manipulations and processing steps and all of the application's data. An Object Process Graph is dynamic, making it possible to change any aspect of an application's data entry, processing or information display at any time. When an Object Process Graph is interpreted, it functions to accept data, process the data and produce information output. Modifications made to an Object Process Graph while it is being interpreted take affect immediately and can be saved. Object Process Graphs and Dynamic Graph Interpreters can be deployed on single user workstation computers or on distributed processing environments where central servers store Object Process Graphs and run Dynamic Graph Interpreters, and workstation computers access the servers via the intranet or local intranets.

A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data, wherein a narrow band data signal is transmitted at an unknown frequency within a known range of frequencies and received, and, at the receiver, the range of frequencies is divided into plural frequency bands each of width less than the uncertainty in the transmission frequency of the data signal, with the presence of said data signal detected in at least one of said frequency bands and thereupon demodulated.

An analyzer useful in determining the presence of an analyte using a diffraction based sensing device and methods and systems using this device. The present invention may be used with a variety of different diffraction-based diagnostic methods and systems. The analyzer enhances the accuracy and / or usefulness of these devices in detecting analytes, while providing more ease-of-use and convenience to the user. The analyzer may include a light source, a photodiode, a microprocessor and a display system for informing the user of the result. Other features include mirrors, lenses, a sample holder, and a mask for blocking out some light. The analyzer and related method and system may be used in a large number of environments, including commercial, professional, and individual.

A solar energy collection and storage system and a method of collecting and storing solar energy. The system includes a device for focusing solar energy onto a reaction chamber for the conversion of metal hydride to liquid metal and hydrogen, a metal / metal hydride chamber containing a metal / metal hydride mixture, a hydrogen storage system using hydrides and a thermo-cline for recovering the thermal energy from the hydrogen when it is cooled from 2000 F to ambient conditions for storage.

An object process graph (OPG) application development system. The system includes an OPG application program interface (API), an OPG application editor, an OPG application window editor, and an OPG application notation. The OPG API provides access to functions of an OPG system. The OPG application editor facilitates the creating and editing of the OPG applications via the OPG API. The OPG application window editor facilitates the editing of OPG application user interface windows while an OPG application is running. The OPG application notation includes a plurality of key words and associated definitions for describing and defining OPG applications.

The invention comprises a set of complementary techniques that dramatically improve enterprise search and navigation results. The core of the invention is an expertise or knowledge index, called UseRank that tracks the behavior of website visitors. The expertise-index is designed to focus on the four key discoveries of enterprise attributes: Subject Authority, Work Patterns, Content Freshness, and Group Know-how. The invention produces useful, timely, cross-application, expertise-based search and navigation results. In contrast, traditional Information Retrieval technologies such as inverted index, NLP, or taxonomy tackle the same problem with an opposite set of attributes than what the enterprise needs: Content Population, Word Patterns, Content Existence, and Statistical Trends. Overall, the invention emcompasses Baynote Search—a enhancement over existing IR searches, Baynote Guide—a set of community-driven navigations, and Baynote Insights—aggregated views of visitor interests and trends and content gaps.

A method of rating employee performance includes: a) receiving a list of nominated raters from the employee, including at least one manager of the employee, a plurality of the employee's peers, and a plurality of the employee's direct reports; b) electronically soliciting and receiving manager approval of the list of nominated raters; c) electronically notifying the approved raters with instructions for rating the employee; and d) receiving employee ratings data from the approved raters, wherein the steps of electronically soliciting and electronically notifying are automated. The process also includes training all users of the system in a manner in which the ratings are calibrated by comparing case studies to specific behavioral examples to provide immediate feedback to the user in a training process which is fully automated.

A carpet cleaning apparatus and method of retrofitting a vacuum cleaner provides a vacuum cleaner with a sweeper housing carrying a rotating brush assembly for contacting a surface of a carpet. A collection device is carried in the sweeper housing along with a fan assembly. A suction hose is connected in circuit with the fan assembly and the collection device. A pump driven vessel is carried externally to the sweeper housing for fluid communication with a spray nozzle. The spray nozzle is arranged externally to the housing to dispense fluid under pressure a spaced distance from the housing.