Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program code (software) products executable in a computer processor element include computing, in the processor element, a minimal axis-aligned bounding box of the intersection of a given axis-aligned bounding box and a triangle under linear motion, and/or traversing, in the processor element, a ray tracing acceleration hierarchy for a given set of rays, wherein the traversing includes computing decisions for a representative form of the rays, without requiring a traversing of all rays in turn.

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 valve holder which has fastened therein a valve body which comprises an elastically deformable partition wall tightly sealing the valve holder, and a valve pin pointing away from the external container, said partition wall together with the valve holder delimiting an air chamber under the valve pin, and comprising a cap which is fastened to the neck of the external container and covers the base body and the valve body and 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 clo

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: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for a secure payment. More, specifically the present disclosure relates to an automated method for enhanced security at point-of-sale (POS) terminals, cash machines (ATMs), or other similar electronic transfer devices during financial electronic transactions. The method includes receiving a request for an xPIN by a mobile device via a mobile gateway, sending the xPIN via the mobile gateway to the mobile device, receiving a transaction request at a transaction means for authorization and an xPIN verification request an interface, verifying the xPIN via the mobile gateway; and authorizing the transaction via the interface.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for decomposing a sampling task into a plurality of jobs. In operation, a sampling task is identified. Additionally, the sampling task is decomposed into a plurality of jobs. Further, each of the plurality of jobs are processed in parallel. Still yet, each of the plurality of jobs are allowed to terminate independently of the other plurality of jobs.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program code (software) products executable in a digital processor operable to generate a synthetic image include (1) selecting a rank-1 lattice in accordance with a maximized minimum distance function (max-min-dist lattice) corresponding to points in the synthetic image to be generated; (2) generating a data structure for efficient access of data stored in points of the rank-1 lattice, the data structure including the number n of lattice points, generator vector g, s basis vectors, and indices of the basis vectors, wherein the basis vectors are lattice points, and (3) generating, using the rank-1 lattice, digital output representative of a synthetic image, wherein the generating includes using the layout of rank-1 lattice points to represent textures of arbitrary dimension.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program code (software) products executable in a digital processor operable to simulate light transport in a scene by ray tracing (wherein the digital processor is operable to maintain an object list representing a list of objects associated with a boundary of the scene) include executing a ray tracing method that traces r rays through n objects by (1) partitioning the object list in a recursive manner to generate partitions and (2) culling away the partitions of objects from rays, without using an explicit auxiliary acceleration data structure.

Abstract: Techniques for constructing change plans from one or more component interactions are provided. For example, one 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, wherein the at least one change plan is useable for managing the at least one distributed computing system.

Abstract: Techniques for constructing and using models in accordance with service level management are disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, a technique for constructing a model (e.g., a system model) representative of a resource for use in managing a service associated with the resource, comprises the following steps/operations. A set of resource metrics is obtained in accordance with a resource abstract model (RAM) associated with the resource. Then, a model representative of the resource is constructed based on at least a portion of the set of resource metrics obtained from the resource abstract model.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices, and computer program code (software) products enable acceleration of ray tracing by using acceleration data structures with high arity to enable processing of nodes using streaming SIMD (Single Instruction, Multiple Data) instructions with reduced memory requirements.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices, and computer program code (software) products enable acceleration of ray tracing by using acceleration data structures with high arity to enable processing of nodes using streaming SIMD (Single Instruction, Multiple Data) instructions with reduced memory requirements.

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: Techniques for automatically creating at least one relationship specification are provided. For example, one 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 create at least one relationship specification, wherein the at least one relationship specification is useable for managing the at least one distributed computing system.

Abstract: The invention broadly and generally provides a method for calibrating the relationship between management-inherent complexity metrics deriving from the management structure and human perceived complexity of information technology management comprising: (a) obtaining a set of management-inherent complexity metrics; (b) obtaining a set of human-perceived complexity metrics; (c) constructing a control model identifying a set of dominant indicators selected from the aforesaid set of management-inherent complexity metrics; (d) establishing a value model mapping from the aforesaid set of dominant indicators to the aforesaid set of human-perceived complexity metrics.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and computer program code (software) products operable within a computer graphics system or other computer system enable quasi-Monte Carlo (QMC) light transport simulation by ray tracing: and include constructing a bounding interval hierarchy (BIH), within a computer, using quantized planes to reduce memory requirements while maintaining a selected degree of precision.

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: Electronic contracts or “eContracts” for representing service level agreements are provided. In one illustrative embodiment, the eContract may comprise information pertaining to: (a) descriptions of business transactions in IT terms; (b) financial implications of business transaction service levels; and (c) reporting to be done in business terms. Of course, the eContract may comprise other terms and conditions. In an illustrative aspect of the invention, a system for managing IT resources in terms of business financials comprises an electronic contract authoring system or “ecAuthoring system,” an electronic contract manager module or “ecManager,” and one or more electronic contract agent modules or “ecAgents” that may run on IT elements (e.g., components of the network) that are being managed. Analysts interact with the ecAuthoring system to construct eContracts. An eContract is input to an ecManager that interprets the contract to report on and optimize IT resources based on business financials.

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: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for decomposing a sampling task into a plurality of jobs. In operation, a sampling task is identified. Additionally, the sampling task is decomposed into a plurality of jobs. Further, each of the plurality of jobs are processed in parallel. Still yet, each of the plurality of jobs are allowed to terminate independently of the other plurality of jobs.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus and computer software/computer code products operable to enable computer graphics systems to simulate Markov chains (and thus trajectories of photons and the like) comprise simulating, and/or means for simulating, Markov chains using a quasi-Monte Carlo methodology, wherein the simulating of Markov chains comprises sorting states, and wherein the sorting comprises proximity sorting.