Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating a financial transaction. During operation, the system receives a request for a financial transaction from a merchant, wherein the financial transaction involves a payment to the merchant. Next, the system obtains a unique transaction identifier for the financial transaction. The system then associates the unique transaction identifier with the request to facilitate reconciliation of the financial transaction. Finally, the system forwards the request along with the unique transaction identifier to one or more financial institutions for subsequent processing of the financial transaction, which can involve reconciliation and/or settlement of the financial transaction.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and computer program products are disclosed that maintain an association graph made up of association tuples. Each of the association tuples belongs to an access-control-policy scope that imposes an access control policy. On receipt of a client reference and a supplier reference a scope-defining entity is identified from the client reference. The scope-defining entity has an explicit access control policy. An effective supplier reference is retrieved from a set of the association tuples matching the scope-defining entity and is presented.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a system for forwarding packets with hierarchically structured variable-length identifiers (HSVLIs), wherein the computer includes a processor. During operation, the system converts an HSVLI into a number of fixed-length addresses, wherein the HSVLI indicates a piece of content and is hierarchically structured, and comprises contiguous components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level. In addition, the length of a respective HSVLI is not fixed. The system further performs an effective longest-prefix-match lookup by performing multiple exact-match lookups based at least on the fixed-length addresses.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide techniques and systems for high-bandwidth on-chip communication. During operation, the system receives an input voltage signal which is to be transmitted over a wire in a chip. The system then generates one or more modified voltage signals from the input voltage signal. Next, the system drives each of the voltage signals (i.e., the input voltage signal and the one or more modified voltage signals) through a respective capacitor. The system then combines the output signals from the capacitors to obtain a combined voltage signal. Next, the system transmits the combined voltage signal over the wire. The transmitted signals can then be received by a hysteresis receiver which is coupled to the wire through a coupling capacitor.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating network service virtualization. During operation, the system receives a service request from a client, and initializes a communication session with the client. The system constructs an interest using session state information that can identify the client and/or a previous communication session. The interest comprises a hierarchically structured variable-length name. The system then broadcasts the interest to a number of servers. The system subsequently forwards to the client data received from a server which responds first to the interest.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a system that analyzes a target electromagnetic signal radiating from a monitored system. During operation, the system monitors the target electromagnetic signal using a set of antennas to obtain a set of received target electromagnetic signals from the monitored system. Next, the system calculates a weighted mean of the received target electromagnetic signals using a first pattern-recognition model. The system then subtracts the received target electromagnetic signals from the weighted mean of the received target electromagnetic signals to obtain a set of noise-reduced signals for the monitored system. Finally, the system assesses the integrity of the monitored system by analyzing the noise-reduced signals using a second pattern-recognition model.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system that facilitates the creation of a schematic in an electronic design automation (EDA) application. During operation, the system obtains a source point and a destination point in the schematic from a user of the EDA application. Next, the system uses a line-probe-search technique to generate a set of route variants between the source point and the destination point. The system then provides the route variants to the user through a graphical user interface (GUI) in the EDA application and obtains, from the user, a selection of a route variant from the route variants through the GUI. Finally, the system uses the selected route variant as a route in the schematic.

Abstract: An intelligent client agent and a method for using the client agent to operate a hybrid online/offline client application. A mobile client device is configured with a client agent comprising a dispatcher for receiving and responding to page requests from a client browser, a cache for storing the presentation formats of pages, a database for storing data for the pages, a voice engine for interaction with the application user in audio, and a script engine for assembling a page to be presented graphically or aurally. Instead of storing each page (e.g., of an application) as a static composition, the presentation format of the page is stored separate from content (e.g., data). At the time of assembly, the desired content is retrieved and bound to the presentation format and provided to the user.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system which allows a document owner to redact content from a document and allows a recipient of the redacted document to challenge the appropriateness of the redaction. During operation, the system allows the document owner to redact a string Mi from location i in the document. In doing so, the system produces a commitment Ci=C(Mi, Ri) based on string Mi and a string Ri used as randomness and communicates Ci to the recipient. When the recipient challenges the redaction, the system receives a topic string T from the recipient, and produces a string RT. The system then communicates RT to the recipient, thereby allowing the recipient to produce a commitment CT=C(T, RT) based on strings T and RT, and compare CT with Ci. Comparing commitment CT with Ci allows the recipient to test redactions for string equality.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that enters purchase information into a software application. The system starts by accessing a file containing a receipt for a purchase. The system then extracts information relating to the purchase. Next, the system creates an entry for the purchase in a database for the software application. While creating the entry in the database, the system fills in a set of fields in the entry using the extracted information.

Abstract: An optical receiver is described. This optical receiver includes a digital feedback circuit that biases a front-end circuit, which receives an optical signal, so that an analog electrical signal output by the front-end circuit is calibrated relative to a reference voltage corresponding to a decision threshold of a digital slicer in the optical receiver. In particular, during a calibration mode the feedback circuit may determine and store a calibration value that calibrates the analog electrical signal relative to the reference voltage. Then, during a normal operating mode, the feedback circuit may output a current corresponding to the stored calibration value that specifies a bias point of the front-end circuit.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating a text message conversation using tele-links. During operation, the system receives a text message from a service at a mobile device, wherein the text message includes a tele-link, wherein the tele-link is comprised of a phone number. Next, the system receives a selection of the tele-link from a user at the mobile device. In response to the selection, the system then automatically initiates a call from the mobile device to a number indicated by the tele-link, wherein the act of calling the number results in the service sending a second text message to the mobile device. Finally, the system receives the second text message from the service at the mobile device.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that schedules read operations for disk drives in a set of disk drives. During operation, the system monitors a write rate for write operations to a given disk drive in the set of disk drives, wherein vibrations generated by the read operations directed to disk drives in the set of disk drives are transmitted to the given disk drive. Then, the read operations for disk drives in the set of disk drives are scheduled based on the write rate for the given disk drive, thereby limiting interference between the write operations and the vibrations generated by the read operations.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) is configured to minimize skew between two parallel signal trace portions. The PCB comprises a laminate layer, which includes a fiberglass weave and includes a plastic resin deposited on each face of the fiberglass weave to form a first face and second face of the laminate layer. The fiberglass weave comprises a first set of fiberglass bundles in a first orientation interwoven with a second set of fiberglass bundles in a second orientation. Moreover, the PCB comprises trace a layer that is coupled to the first face of the laminate layer, and includes two or more signal traces. Two parallel trace portions of the two or more signal traces are configured to have a matching orientation and separation distance to a neighboring fiberglass bundle of the fiberglass weave, thereby ensuring that the two parallel trace portions encounter matching dielectric constants from the laminate layer.

Abstract: A system and method for automated management of a multi-component software installation. The software product comprises multiple components that can operate independently, but which may operate better (e.g., with more or different functionality) if able to call another component (a “supplying” component). A persistent data store records the installation status of the components (e.g., as static Boolean values). Each installed component that depends on another component (i.e., can benefit from calling an element of the other component) is coded to compile conditionally, based on whether the supplying component is installed. If installed, the supplying component can be linked at compile time; if the supplying component is not installed, the installed component compiles and runs without the benefit of the supplying component.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide techniques and systems for determining a change indicator for an endpoint, a pathgroup, a design, and/or a flow. The system can determine base critical path delays and base slacks for the endpoints in a base implementation of the circuit design. The system can then determine the new critical path delays and new slacks for the endpoints in a new implementation of the circuit design. Next, the system determines slack differences for the endpoints using the new slacks and the base slacks. Finally, for each endpoint, the system can determine an endpoint change indicator using the associated slack difference, the base critical path delay, and the new critical path delay. A pathgroup change indicator can be determined using endpoint change indicators. A design change indicator can be determined using pathgroup change indicators or scenario change indicators. A design flow change indicator can be determined using design change indicators.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that re-establishes communication between a client and a server after an unexpected termination of communication. During operation, the system receives a request from the client at the server to re-establish communication between the client and the server, wherein the request includes a temporary credential. If the temporary credential is valid, the system temporarily re-establishes communication between the client and the server, until the client can be re-authenticated with a permanent credential.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates location-aware, mixed-reality gaming platform. During operation, the system determines a layout of a user's surrounding. The system further detects the user's location and/or nearby objects. Next, the system associates virtual content to the determined layout and associates a set of game rules with the virtual content. Subsequently, the system produces a visual and/or audio representation of a game based on the game rules and virtual content to the user, thereby allowing the user to play a game that corresponds to his surrounding and location.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates dividing financial data to facilitate simultaneous modifications by multiple users. During operation, the system receives division-criteria, which facilitates dividing financial-data into a first subset and a second subset. Next, the system creates a copy of the financial-data which includes the division-criteria. The system then allows a first user to modify the first subset of the financial-data. The system also sends the copy of the financial-data to a second user, thereby enabling the second user to modify the second subset of the financial-data in the copy of the financial-data to create a change file. Subsequently, the system receives the change file from the second user, wherein the change file comprises modifications to the financial-data. Finally, the system merges the change file into the financial-data.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for fabricating light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The method includes fabricating an InGaAlN-based multilayer LED structure on a conductive substrate. The method further includes etching grooves of a predetermined pattern through the active region of the multilayer LED structure. The grooves separate a light-emitting region from non-light-emitting regions. In addition, the method includes depositing electrode material on the light-emitting and non-light-emitting regions, thereby creating an electrode. Furthermore, the method includes depositing a passivation layer covering the light-emitting and non-light-emitting regions. Moreover, the method includes removing the passivation layer on the electrode to allow the non-light-emitting regions which are covered with the electrode material and the passivation layer to be higher than the light-emitting region and the electrode, thereby protecting the light-emitting region from contact with test equipment.