In an embodiment a method is provided. The method includes receiving forecast information in a computer from a first group of users. The method also includes integrating the forecast information into a database and corresponding OLAP cube accessible by the computer. The method further includes receiving comments on specific entries of the forecast information in the computer from a second group of users. The method also includes receiving changes of the forecast information in the computer from a second group of users The method further includes integrating comments and changes into the database and OLAP cube. Moreover, the method includes providing a display of the comments and the changes to the first group of users in an interface to the computer.

In some embodiments, a method of allowing navigation of a plurality of data elements residing within a category-tree database includes providing, on a single primary “web” page, a distinct data element symbol for each data element and a distinct parent category symbol for each parent category in the category paths of the data elements. For each illustrated parent category, a distinct first level web page is provided that includes (i) a first level subcategory symbol for each first level subcategory in the category paths of the data element(s) associated with that parent category and (ii) the data element symbol for each such data element shown associated with its respective first level subcategory symbol.

A network storage system comprises data storage, one or more file system APIs, and a metadata handler. The data storage can comprise file data and associated metadata. The file system APIs can be configured to read and write file data and metadata to and from the data storage. The metadata handler can have a library of functions for handling the metadata. The library can include a metadata blob creation function and a metadata blob extraction function. The metadata blob creation function cooperates with the file system APIs to read source metadata associated with specified file data and creates and populates a metadata blob from which a substantial copy of the source metadata can be generated. The metadata blob extraction function receives at least a metadata blob, extracts information from the metadata blob, and cooperates with the file system APIs to generate destination metadata, a substantial copy of the source metadata.

Information on a click stream associated with a user and meta tags commonly used by search engines can be used to profile a user. The click stream may comprise network addresses and timestamps and may be the only source of user information used for the profile. The meta tags may contain metadata that correspond to the network addresses in the click stream, including network address categorization for these network addresses. The profile obtained for the user may be an existing profile that represents a person or a theoretical individual having attributes similar to or most closely match the user. Based at least in part on the profile, information regarding an item may be provided to the user or the item may be offered to the user. Information may be filtered before being displayed to the user.

A searching system for searching contents that were broadcast, the searching system having an inputting unit, a searching unit, and a terminal unit is disclosed, wherein the inputting unit comprises a first storing means for storing information representing at least time at which contents were broadcast corresponding to a predetermined operation, and a first communicating means for transmitting the information representing time stored in the storing means to an external unit, wherein the searching unit comprises a second storing means for correlatively storing information representing contents and broadcast time thereof, and a searching means for searching information representing the contents stored in the second storing means corresponding to the info nation representing time, and wherein the terminal unit comprises a second communicating means for receiving the information representing time transmitted from the inputting unit through the first communicating means, a third communicating means for transmitting the information representing time received by the second communicating means and receiving search results transmitted from the searching unit, and a first displaying means for displaying the information representing time received by the second communicating means and the search results by the searching unit.

A method processes data records. The method partitions the data records into groups and assigns each group to a respective process of a first plurality of processes, which execute in parallel. For each group, the assigned process extracts information from the data records, applies a script with information processing commands applied sequentially to produce intermediate values, stores the intermediate values in a respective intermediate data structure, and updates the status of the group to indicate completion. When the predefined threshold percentage of the data records are completed, the process assigns each group to a respective second process as a backup. When each of the groups has been completed by at least one process (either the original or the backup), the method executes a second plurality of processes to aggregate intermediate values from the intermediate data structures to produce output data. The aggregation includes intermediate values only once for each group.

Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can identify a predefined geographical region out of a set of predefined geographical regions. One or more social engagement signals associated with the predefined geographical region can be acquired. One or more usage patterns for the predefined geographical region can be determined based on the one or more social engagement signals. Data analytics associated with the predefined geographical region can be provided based on the one or more usage patterns for the predefined geographical region.

The present invention provides a system and method for processing a database query between one or more clients and one or more databases. The database query, which is formatted using a first protocol, is received from one of the clients. One of the databases is selected to process the database query and the database query is translated from the first protocol to a second protocol. The translated database query is then sent to the selected database for processing. A response to the database query, which is formatted using the second protocol, is received from the selected database and the response is translated from the second protocol to the first protocol. The present invention determines which of the clients sent the database query and sends the translated response to the client that sent the database query. This method can be implemented as a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium.

In an interactive network-based personal video recording system, a user interface is provided that allows viewers to search a database of program guide information according to program title, indexed program attributes such as actor and director, and key word. Viewer interaction is by way of a remote control unit.

A method and system for placement of graphical objects on a page to optimize the occurrence of an event associated with such objects. The graphical objects might include, for instance, advertisements on a webpage, and the event would include a user clicking on that ad. The page includes positions for receipt of the object material. Data regarding the past performance of the objects is stored and updated as new data is received. A user requests a page from a server associated with system. The server uses the performance data to derive a prioritized arrangement of the objects on the page. The objects are arranged according to a calculation and returned to the user on the requested page.