Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Bradly A Brunell

Eric J Horvitz

Gary William Flake

Joshua T Goodman

Oliver Hurst-Hiller

Susan Theresa Dumais

Trenholme J Griffin

William Henry Gates, Iii

Anoop Gupta

Christopher A Meek

Raymond Edward Ozzie

Ramez Naam

Alexander G Gounares

John Carlton Platt

Eric David Brill

Kenneth Alan Moss

Kyle G Peltonen

Xuedong D Huang

Architecture that monitors interaction data (e.g., search queries, query results and click-through rates), and provides users with links to other users that fall into similar categories with respect to the foregoing monitored activities (e.g., providing links to individuals and groups that share common interests and/or profiles). A search engine can be interactively coupled with one or more social networks, and that maps individuals and/or groups within respective social networks to subsets of categories associated with searches. A database stores mapped information which can be continuously updated and reorganized as links within the system mapping become stronger or weaker. The architecture can comprise a social network system that includes a database for mapping search-related information to an entity of a social network, and a search component for processing a search query for search results and returning a link to an entity of a social network based on the search query.

Search engine that identifies and uses social networks in communications, retrieval, and electronic commerce

Data management in social networks

Provided is mechanism for guiding computer searches (e.g., web, Internet, intranet . . . ). Machine learning and reasoning mechanisms are employed together with a search engine to facilitate intelligent guidance of queries and results based on a query and responses to computer generated inquires. Also, disclosed is a mechanism that enables users to validate computer-based information. Users can receive a validity metric associated with computer generated or provided results. Validation systems and methods are disclosed to facilitate determining the results including those that employ humans (e.g., referrals, voting . . . ) and/or automated ways (e.g., source analysis, data mining . . . ).

Intelligently guiding search based on user dialog

Architecture for presenting advertisements in realtime in retail establishments. A sensor component includes sensors for collecting information about a customer or group of customers as they move through the store. The sensors can include capability for image processing, audio processing, light sensing, velocity sensing, direction sensing, proximity sensing, face recognition, pose recognition, transaction recognition, and biometric sensing, for example. A customer component analyzes the information and generates a profile about the customer. Advertisements are selected for presentation that target the customers as they walk in proximity of a presentation system of the store. An advertisement component facilitates dynamic presentation of a targeted advertisement to the individual as a function of the profile. The customer component can infer information during analysis using machine learning and reasoning.

Targeted advertising in brick-and-mortar establishments

The subject disclosure pertains to anonymous network interaction. More specifically, mechanisms are provided to ensure anonymity with respect network interaction such that third parties are unable to determine the source and/or intent of communications. Accordingly, entities may anonymize all outgoing and/or incoming data packets so as to mitigate outside entities from learning about information being sought and/or provided. For example, a user or corporation may employ an anonymizer with respect to web searching so that outside entities are not able to determine what information is attempted to be accessed and by whom.

Anonymous and secure network-based interaction

Architecture is provided that facilitates user-controlled access to user profile information related to spam filtering. A user is allowed to selectively expose (or mask) portions of his/her profile related to spam filtering to third parties. Additionally, advertisers and/or content providers can offer incentives or enticement in response to the acceptance of which a user exposes larger portions of their profiles related to spam filtering. The architecture comprises a system that facilitates profile management utilizing a profile component that facilitates creation and storage of an electronic profile including spam filtering information of a user, and a control component under control of the user for controlling access to the profile.

Content presentation based on user preferences

Architecture is provided that facilitates user-controlled access to user profile information. A user is allowed to selectively expose (or mask) portions of his/her profile to third parties. Additionally, advertisers and/or content providers can offer incentives or enticement in response to the acceptance of which a user exposes larger portions of their profile. The architecture comprises a system that facilitates profile management utilizing a profile component that facilitates creation and storage of an electronic profile of a user, and a control component under control of the user for controlling access to the profile. Machine learning and reasoning is provided to make inferences and automate aspects thereof.

The subject disclosure pertains to anonymous network interaction. More specifically, mechanisms are provided to ensure anonymity with respect network interaction such that third parties are unable to determine the source and/or intent of communications. Accordingly, entities can anonymize all outgoing and/or incoming data packets so as to mitigate outside entities from learning about information being sought and/or provided. For example, a user or corporation can employ an anonymizer with respect to web searching so that outside entities are not able to determine what information is attempted to be accessed and by whom.

Growing community of inventors

Medina, WA, United States of America

Bradly A Brunell