Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090033633 | USER INTERFACE FOR A CONTEXT-AWARE LEISURE-ACTIVITY RECOMMENDATION SYSTEM - One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that provides a user interface for a context-aware recommendation system which can be operated with one hand. The user interface includes a touch-screen display and a list of recommendations presented on the touch-screen display. The user interface further includes a plurality of graphic elements presented on the touch-screen display which allow a user to configure preferences associated with the activities. A layout of the leisure activities and the graphic elements allows the user to hold the touch-screen display and perform operations on the leisure activities and/or the graphic elements with one hand. | 02-05-2009 |
20090076997 | RECOMMENDER SYSTEM WITH AD-HOC, DYNAMIC MODEL COMPOSITION - One embodiment of the present invention provides recommender system for generating a recommendation of an item by combining a set of utility models adaptively to facilitate a decision-making process. The system includes a utility model database containing the set of utility models and a query module for receiving at least one query about the item from a querying entity. The system also includes a rule engine to specify a subset of utility models to be applied to the item and to specify a weight function of the specified utility models. Further included in the system is a set generator coupled to the utility model database, the query module, and the rule engine. The set generator computes a set of ratings by applying each of the utility model in the subset to the item and generates an overall rating for the item based on the weight function. The system further a communication module to return the overall rating. | 03-19-2009 |
20090077000 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO PREDICT AND RECOMMEND FUTURE GOAL-ORIENTED ACTIVITY - One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for recommending activities to a user. During operation, the system determines an activity-type distribution based on the user's personal profile and/or population prior information, thereby facilitating prediction of future activities for the user. The system further searches for and receives one or more activities based on the activity-type distribution. The system then scores each received activity and recommends a number of activities to be performed by the user in the future and a number of corresponding venues, based on the activity-type distribution and the weight distribution. | 03-19-2009 |
20090116698 | Intelligent fashion exploration based on clothes recognition - One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for recognizing and classifying clothes. During operation, the system captures at least one image of a clothing item. The system further determines a region on the captured image which corresponds to a torso and/or limbs. The system also determines at least one color composition, texture composition, collar configuration, and sleeve configuration of the clothing item. Additionally, the system classifies the clothing item into at least one category based on the determined color composition, texture composition, collar configuration, and sleeve configuration. The system then produces a result which indicates the classification. | 05-07-2009 |
20090116766 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUGMENTING A MIRROR WITH INFORMATION RELATED TO THE MIRRORED CONTENTS AND MOTION - One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that enables a user to visually compare the effects of one or more clothing sets in front of a mirror. During operation, the system detects and stores images of a user wearing a piece of clothing in front of mirror. Similar stored poses from either the user or from members of the user's social network can be retrieved later to compare the effects of the current piece of clothing to the retrieved clothing. The poses are then displayed in close proximity to the mirror so that the user can visually compare the effects. Displaying multiple such poses in sequence and in fast response to changes in the user's orientation creates the effect that the system is tracking the user's movements and presenting poses that are substantially synchronized to the user's movements. | 05-07-2009 |
20090128505 | Link target accuracy in touch-screen mobile devices by layout adjustment - One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for improving link target accuracy for a mobile browser with a touch-screen display. The system receives a page with a plurality of selectable text objects and adjusts the page layout. The method further includes placing a number of targets within the web page. Each target is associated with one selectable text object, and the selectable text object can only be activated by the target. The targets are sufficiently separated from each other, thus allowing a user to hold the touch-screen display and select the selectable text object by tapping on the target with substantial accuracy. Another embodiment of the present invention allows a user to select a selectable text object by performing a gesture. | 05-21-2009 |
20090157352 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING MOBILE CODE FOR DISTRIBUTED DATA FUSION IN NETWORKED SENSING SYSTEMS - A sensing system includes a set of sensors and a data-fusing mechanism coupled to at least one of these sensors. In the set of sensors, at least one sensor is configured to store one or more measurement models for one or more phenomenon states. Furthermore, at least one sensor in the set of sensors is configured to sample a measurement value and generate a likelihood function based on the sampled measurement and the measurement models. The data-fusing mechanism coupled to a respective sensor in the set of sensors is configured to collect one or more likelihood functions generated by the one or more sensors and use the collected likelihood functions to compute an aggregate probability of a phenomenon state. | 06-18-2009 |
20090222343 | INCENTIVE MECHANISM FOR DEVELOPING ACTIVITY-BASED TRIGGERS OF ADVERTISEMENT PRESENTATION - One embodiment of the present invention provides an activity-based advertisement system. During operation, the system identifies at an advertising service provider a set of features that characterize a customer's activity. The system then receives at least one trigger from the trigger author, wherein the trigger is based on the features and specifies conditions for an advertising opportunity. The system then identifies an advertising opportunity for a customer when the conditions specified by the trigger are met. The system further presents one or more advertisements to the customer during the opportunity period. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222344 | RECEPTIVE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTATION OF ACTIVITY-BASED ADVERTISING - One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates presentation of activity-based advertising based on receptive opportunities. During operation, the system identifies a number of topics. The system then receives a number of advertisements from advertisers, wherein a respective advertisement is associated with a topic. For a respective topic, the system determines a number of candidate advertisements associated with that topic to be pending presentations. The system further analyzes an activity in which a customer is engaged. Next, the system identifies a receptive opportunity to present one or more advertisements to the customer based on the activity analysis. The system then determines among the pending presentations one or more advertisements to present to the customer during the identified receptive opportunity. Subsequently, the system presents the determined advertisements to the customer during the opportunity period. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222346 | ADVERTISING PAYMENT BASED ON CONFIRMED ACTIVITY PREDICTION - One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating presentation of activity-based advertising. During operation, the system receives a set of contextual data of a customer and makes a prediction of the customer's future activity. The system then receives a number of advertisements from the advertisers. Based on the prediction, the system chooses a received advertisement to present to the customer. The system further determines the customer's subsequent activity and confirms the prediction of the customer's activity. The system then receives payments from the advertisers whose advertisement is presented based on whether the prediction is confirmed. | 09-03-2009 |
20100005105 | METHOD FOR FACILITATING SOCIAL NETWORKING BASED ON FASHION-RELATED INFORMATION - One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating social networking based on fashion-related information. During operation, the system receives fashion-related information from a user. Next, the system extracts the user's fashion preferences from the received information and compares the user's fashion preference with other users' fashion preferences. Finally, the system groups users based on similarity of their fashion preferences. | 01-07-2010 |
20100309503 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRINTING DOCUMENTS FROM A PORTABLE DEVICE - One embodiment provides a system for printing a document from a portable device. During operation, the system obtains the document to be printed. Next, the system obtains a document optical code that identifies the document. Subsequently, the system displays the document optical code on the portable device in such a way that the document optical code can be scanned and recognized by a scanner associated with the printer. Next, the system allows the printer to retrieve and print the document based at least on the document optical code. | 12-09-2010 |
20100309504 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRINTING DOCUMENTS FROM A PORTABLE DEVICE - One embodiment provides a system for facilitating document printing from a portable device. During operation, the system receives a document at a server. Next, the system generates a document optical code corresponding to the document. Subsequently, the system communicates the document optical code to the portable device, thereby allowing the portable device to display the document optical code to a scanning mechanism associated with a printer, Next, the system receives a request, indicating the optical code, from the printer. Subsequently, the system retrieves the document in response to the request, and sends the document to the printer. | 12-09-2010 |
20100309505 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRINTING DOCUMENTS FROM A PORTABLE DEVICE - One embodiment provides a system for facilitating document printing from a portable device. During operation, the system receives at an email server an email which includes an attached document. Next, the system generates at the email server a document optical code associated with the document, wherein the document optical code can be scanned and recognized by a scanning mechanism associated with a printer. Subsequently, the system attaches the optical code as an additional attachment to the email, thereby allowing a portable device to print the attached document by displaying the optical code to the scanning mechanism associated with the printer. | 12-09-2010 |