Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for utilizing a wavefront path tracer. In use, a set of light transport paths associated with a scene is identified. Additionally, parallel path tracing is performed, utilizing a wavefront path tracer.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for performing path space filtering. In use, a set of light transport paths associated with a scene is sampled. Additionally, a plurality of vertices associated with the sampled set of light transport paths is selected, where each selected vertex has an associated throughput and light contribution. Further, an averaged light contribution of each of the selected plurality of vertices is determined, utilizing one or more weights. Further still, the averaged light contribution of each of the selected plurality of vertices is combined after multiplying the averaged light contribution of each of the selected vertices by the associated throughput of the vertex.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for deterministically simulating light transport. In use, all pairs of non-negative integers are enumerated (e.g. in a predetermined order). Additionally, for each of the enumerated pairs of non-negative integers, an associated pair of a query point and a photon is identified by: identifying a query point associated with a first non-negative integer of the pair of non-negative integers using a deterministic point sequence of query points and identifying a photon associated with a second non-negative integer of the pair of non-negative integers using a deterministic point sequence of photons. Further, for each of the query points in the deterministic point sequence of query points, photons in the deterministic point sequence of photons associated with the query point are identified.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automated provisioning of managed resources in a distributed computing environment. Automated provisioning of managed resources is realized by systems and methods that support automated execution of provisioning workflows through programmatic invocation of provisioning tasks (sequentially and/or parallel invocation) supported by a provisioning system, as well as automated control and coordination of task execution and exception handling through automated message exchange. Systems and methods support automated provisioning through seamless integration of provisioning and change management systems, whereby provisioning systems can automatically interpret and execute reusable change plans that are generated (on-the-fly) by change management systems. The change plans comprise provisioning workflow processes that are described using a standard, platform-independent workflow language.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for hierarchical photon mapping. In use, photons and query locations are generated. Additionally, a bounding volume of the query locations is determined. Further, a set of the photons inside of the bounding volume is determined. It is then determined whether the set of photons and query locations meet predetermined criteria. If it is determined that the set of photons and query locations do not meet the predetermined criteria, the query locations are partitioned, and for each set of the query locations resulting from the partitioning, the above described steps for the hierarchical photon mapping are repeated. Once it is determined that the set of photons and query locations meet the predetermined criteria, a contribution of the set of photons to the query locations is computed.

Abstract: The packaging comprising an essentially dimensionally stable, elastically deformable external container, an easily deformable inner bag arranged therein, which receives the filling material, and a valve, is characterized in that the valve comprises a base body which extends over the opening of the external container and comprises at least one through opening for the filling material and a pin oriented away from the external container, and a cap which is fastened to the neck of the external container and covers the base body and the upper end wall of which is formed by a membrane which delimits a receiving chamber for the filling material between the cap and the base body and comprises an outlet opening for the filling material which in the unpressurized state of the packaging is closed by the pin in that the membrane with the area containing the outlet opening rests under preload on the pin, the membrane being lifted from the pin upon exertion of pressure on the external container by the pressurized filling m

Abstract: Techniques for expressing temporal relationships between lifecycle representations are provided. For example, one computer-implemented technique includes obtaining two or more lifecycle representations of at least two components of at least one computing system, annotating the two or more lifecycle representations with at least one temporal relationship, and storing the two or more annotated lifecycle representations as at least one deployment descriptor, wherein the at least one deployment descriptor is useable for managing the at least one computing system. In another computer-implemented technique, at least two internal lifecycle models of at least two components of at least one computing system are analyzed, at least one temporal relationship that exists between the at least two components are analyzed, and the at least one temporal relationship is transformed into at least one sequence of change management operations for use in managing the at least one computing system.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for computing values for pixels in an image plane. In use, a low discrepancy sequence associated with an image plane is identified. Additionally, a function with the set of pixels of the image plane as a domain is determined. Further, a value is computed for each pixel in the image plane, utilizing the low discrepancy sequence and the function with the set of pixels of the image plane as a domain.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for evaluating an integral utilizing a low discrepancy sequence. In use, a low discrepancy sequence that includes at least one component that is a (0,1)-sequence in base b is determined. Additionally, an integral is evaluated, utilizing the low discrepancy sequence.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for performing ray tracing. In use, ray tracing is performed utilizing a divide and conquer method, where the divide and conquer method is associated with a cache.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for generating a subset of a low discrepancy sequence. In use, a low discrepancy sequence is identified. Additionally, a threshold value is determined. Further, a single dimension of the low discrepancy sequence is selected. Further still, for each element included within the low discrepancy sequence, the selected single dimension is compared to the determined threshold value. Also, a subset of the low discrepancy sequence is generated, based on the comparing.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for efficiently ray tracing micropolygon or other highly complex geometry. In operation, a first hierarchy of a plurality of objects is established. Additionally, rays are traced using the first hierarchy to efficiently identify which of the plurality of objects are potentially intersected. Furthermore, at least one of the potentially intersected objects are decomposed, on-demand, into a set of subobjects, each set of subobjects corresponding to one of the at least one of the potentially intersected objects. Still yet, a second hierarchy is established for at least one of the set of subobjects, the second hierarchy being determined by a connectivity of subobjects in an associated set of subobjects in order to accelerate ray tracing.

Abstract: Techniques for expressing temporal relationships between lifecycle representations are provided. For example, one computer-implemented technique includes obtaining two or more lifecycle representations of at least two components of at least one computing system, annotating the two or more lifecycle representations with at least one temporal relationship, and storing the two or more annotated lifecycle representations as at least one deployment descriptor, wherein the at least one deployment descriptor is useable for managing the at least one computing system. In another computer-implemented technique, at least two internal lifecycle models of at least two components of at least one computing system are analyzed, at least one temporal relationship that exists between the at least two components are analyzed, and the at least one temporal relationship is transformed into at least one sequence of change management operations for use in managing the at least one computing system.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for focusing computing power to a region of interest that can be changed interactively and arbitrarily during the process of image synthesis. In operation, a problem domain is partitioned utilizing a first selected technique. Additionally, a number of samples to be drawn per partition are assigned utilizing a second selected technique. Furthermore, the assigned number of samples are drawn for each partition, where the samples are generated by only one deterministic sample sequence. Still yet, the partitioning, assigning, and drawing are capable of being repeated such that existing partitions and assignments are capable of remaining unchanged during sampling and a convergence speed is adapted without compromising convergence in at least one of a sequential computing environment or a parallel computing environment. In this way, the convergence of image synthesis is not compromised.

Abstract: Techniques for expressing temporal relationships between lifecycle representations are provided. For example, one computer-implemented technique includes obtaining two or more lifecycle representations of at least two components of at least one computing system, annotating the two or more lifecycle representations with at least one temporal relationship, and storing the two or more annotated lifecycle representations as at least one deployment descriptor, wherein the at least one deployment descriptor is useable for managing the at least one computing system. In another computer-implemented technique, at least two internal lifecycle models of at least two components of at least one computing system are analyzed, at least one temporal relationship that exists between the at least two components are analyzed, and the at least one temporal relationship is transformed into at least one sequence of change management operations for use in managing the at least one computing system.

Abstract: Techniques for constructing change plans from one or more component interactions are provided. For example, a computer-implemented technique includes observing at least one interaction between two or more components of at least one distributed computing system, consolidating the at least one interaction into at least one interaction pattern, and using the at least one interaction pattern to construct at least one change plan useable for managing the at least one distributed computing system. In another computer-implemented technique, a partial order of two or more changes is determined from at least one component interaction and is automatically transformed into at least one ordered task, wherein the at least one ordered task is linked by at least one temporal ordering constraint, and is used to generate at least one change plan useable for managing the distributed computing system, wherein the change plan is based on at least one requested change.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for evaluating an integral utilizing a low discrepancy sequence and a block size. In use, a low discrepancy sequence and a block size are determined. Additionally, an integral is evaluated, utilizing the low discrepancy sequence and the block size.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and a system that allow for deterministic parallel low discrepancy sampling, which can be efficient processed, and are effective in removing transitionary artifacts that occur in low-dimensional projections generated in low discrepancy sequences. Embodiments of the claimed subject matter further provide improvements upon the low-dimensional projections and thus the visual quality when using the Sobol' sequence for image synthesis.

Abstract: Techniques for constructing change plans from one or more component interactions are provided. For example, a computer-implemented technique includes observing at least one interaction between two or more components of at least one distributed computing system, consolidating the at least one interaction into at least one interaction pattern, and using the at least one interaction pattern to construct at least one change plan useable for managing the at least one distributed computing system. In another computer-implemented technique, a partial order of two or more changes is determined from at least one component interaction, and is automatically transformed into at least one ordered task, wherein the at least one ordered task is linked by at least one temporal ordering constraint, and is used to generate at least one change plan useable for managing the distributed computing system is generated, wherein the change plan is based on at least one requested change.