Abstract: Techniques for consistent writes in a split message store are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a client front-end component of a messaging system operative to receive a message, the message comprising message metadata and a message body; and store the message in a message queue; and the message queue operative to initiate a storing of the message metadata in a metadata store; delay a storing of the message body in a message store until a metadata storage success indication is received from the metadata store; receive the metadata storage success indication from the metadata store; and store the message body in the message store in response to receiving the metadata storage success indication from the metadata store. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for message indexing are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a client front-end component operative to receive an incoming message from a client device at a client front-end component for a messaging system; and extract a message identifier for the incoming message from the incoming message, wherein the message identifier uniquely identifies the incoming message; and a message queue operative to store the incoming message in a message storage system based on indexing the incoming message based on the message identifier. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for message deduplication are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a client front-end component operative to receive an incoming message at a messaging system from a messaging client on a client device; extract a deduplication token from the incoming message; store the incoming message in a message queue where examining the deduplication token determines that the incoming message does not duplicate any existing message of the messaging system; and discard the incoming message where examining the deduplication token determines that the incoming message does duplicate an existing message; and a message deduplication component operative to examine the deduplication token to determine whether the incoming message duplicates any existing message of the messaging system. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The present application discloses an apparatus capable of walking and flight. This apparatus includes a central section supported by a plurality of limbs, wherein a distal end of each of the plurality of limbs defines a contact surface. These limbs are configured to generate a walking-type motion in which the contact surfaces of the limbs cooperate with an environmental surface in a manner sufficient to propel the central section relative the environmental surface. The apparatus further includes a motor operably coupled to at least one limb of the plurality of limbs, wherein the motor is drivingly coupled to a propeller, and wherein the motor and propeller are configured to propel the central section in flight.

Abstract: The present application discloses an apparatus capable of walking and flight. This apparatus includes a central section supported by a plurality of limbs, wherein a distal end of each of the plurality of limbs defines a contact surface. These limbs are configured to generate a walking-type motion in which the contact surfaces of the limbs cooperate with an environmental surface in a manner sufficient to propel the central section relative the environmental surface. The apparatus further includes a motor operably coupled to at least one limb of the plurality of limbs, wherein the motor is drivingly coupled to a propeller, and wherein the motor and propeller are configured to propel the central section in flight.

Abstract: The present application discloses an apparatus capable of walking and flight. This apparatus includes a central section supported by a plurality of limbs, wherein a distal end of each of the plurality of limbs defines a contact surface. These limbs are configured to generate a walking-type motion in which the contact surfaces of the limbs cooperate with an environmental surface in a manner sufficient to propel the central section relative the environmental surface. The apparatus further includes a motor operably coupled to at least one limb of the plurality of limbs, wherein the motor is drivingly coupled to a propeller, and wherein the motor and propeller are configured to propel the central section in flight.

Abstract: The present application discloses an apparatus capable of walking and flight. This apparatus includes a central section supported by a plurality of limbs, wherein a distal end of each of the plurality of limbs defines a contact surface. These limbs are configured to generate a walking-type motion in which the contact surfaces of the limbs cooperate with an environmental surface in a manner sufficient to propel the central section relative the environmental surface. The apparatus further includes a motor operably coupled to at least one limb of the plurality of limbs, wherein the motor is drivingly coupled to a propeller, and wherein the motor and propeller are configured to propel the central section in flight.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the disclosure provide a promotional messaging system for efficiently providing promotional messages to customers via an electronic messaging system. For example, in one or more embodiments, the promotional messaging system identifies users of the electronic messaging system that have previously communicated with a merchant as part of a customized audience. Additionally, in some embodiments, the promotional messaging system analyzes activity patterns of the users to provide improved delivery of promotional messages in a non-intrusive, private, and timely manner. Overall, the promotional messaging system described herein improves communications via an electronic messaging system between users and a merchant.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the disclosure provide a promotional messaging system for efficiently providing promotional messages to customers via an electronic messaging system. For example, in one or more embodiments, the promotional messaging system identifies users of the electronic messaging system that have previously communicated with a merchant as part of a customized audience. Additionally, in some embodiments, the promotional messaging system analyzes activity patterns of the users to provide improved delivery of promotional messages in a non-intrusive, private, and timely manner. Overall, the promotional messaging system described herein improves communications via an electronic messaging system between users and a merchant.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a failover mechanism for failing over an application service, e.g., a messaging service, from servers in a first region to servers in a second region. Data is stored as shards in which each shard contains data associated with a subset of the users. Data access requests are served by a primary region of the shard. A global shard manager manages failing over the application service from a current primary region to a secondary region of the shard. A leader service in the application service replicates data associated with the application service from the primary to the secondary region, and ensures that the state of various other services of the application service in the secondary region is consistent. The leader service confirms that there is no replication lag between the primary and secondary regions and fails over the application service to the secondary region.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to moving an application, e.g., a messenger service in a social networking application, to various locations in a distributed computing system, e.g., to improve an efficiency of the application. For example, the application can be moved to a data center that is closer to a location of a user to decrease a latency associated with accessing the application. In another example, the application can be moved to a data center that is closer to a location of a storage system that stores data associated with the application to improve a throughput of the application, e.g., a rate at which data is read and/or written.

Abstract: An image sensor module includes a circuit board, image sensor, electronic component assembly, and cable assembly. The circuit board includes a center section located between two end sections. The end sections each extend away from the center section and define an interior area there between. The image sensor is secured to an outer face of the circuit board in the center section with sensor contact fingers being connected at the circuit board outer face in one or both end sections. The electronic component arrangement is mounted on an inner face of the circuit board in the center section. A number of wires of the cable assembly extend through an end gap between the circuit board end sections and are connected to the inner face of the circuit board so as to overlap with the sensor contact fingers along a module longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a failover mechanism for failing over an application service, e.g., a messaging service, from servers in a first region to servers in a second region. Data is stored as shards in which each shard contains data associated with a subset of the users. Data access requests are served by a primary region of the shard. A global shard manager manages failing over the application service from a current primary region of a shard to a secondary region of the shard. The current primary determines whether a criterion for failing over, e.g., a replication lag between the primary and the secondary regions is within a threshold, and if it is within the threshold, the failover process waits until the lag is zero. After the replication lag is zero, the application service is failed over to the second region, which then becomes the primary for the shard.

Abstract: An actuator assembly including a mounting device, a manual actuator rotatably mounted on the mounting device, and a cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism is disposed in a gap that is formed between the manual actuator and the mounting device. The cutting mechanism is structured to cut a ligature inserted into the gap.

Abstract: An exemplary locking cartridge includes a generally cylindrical housing, first and second plates, and a sliding member. The plates are rotatable with respect to the housing, and at least one of the plates is movable in the axial direction of the housing. The housing and the movable plate include cam surfaces that interact to cause the movable plate to move toward the other plate when the movable plate is rotated. The sliding member is slidingly coupled to one of the plates and operable in a blocked state in which the sliding member resists axial motion of the movable plate, and an unblocked state in which the sliding member does not resist axial motion of the movable plate.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a plug assembly includes a plug body, a sidebar, a cover plate, and a plurality of rack pins positioned in the plug assembly. A first portion of the sidebar is positioned in the plug and a second portion protrudes beyond the outer surface of the plug body. The rack pins are configured to selectably resist and permit radially inward motion of the sidebar. The cover plate is operable to selectably retain the rack pins within the plug body.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for increasing distributed database capacity by adding new nodes while minimizing downtime. A database is partitioned among multiple nodes in a cluster. Each node stores a respective portion of the database. The portions of the database are replicated to corresponding physical standbys. For each portion, a first portion is mapped to an existing node, while a remaining portion is mapped to a physical standby. The cluster is updated to include the physical standbys as additional nodes among which the database is partitioned.

Abstract: A lock cylinder generally including a shell, a plug positioned within the shell, a locking member, and a leaf spring. The plug includes an opening which is aligned with a recess formed in the shell. The locking member is configured to selectively prevent rotation of the plug with respect to the shell. The leaf spring is positioned in the opening and includes a first portion extending radially inward toward the keyway, and a second portion extending radially outward toward the recess. When a key is inserted, a tip of the second portion extends into the recess. When the plug is subsequently rotated, a tapered surface of the recess urges the tip radially inward and into contact with an inner surface of the shell.

Abstract: A plug assembly for a lock includes a generally cylindrical plug body that defines a keyway and a generally cylindrical plug housing that rotatably receives the plug body. A plurality of blocking members are housed in the plug body and are movable into the keyway upon rotation of the plug body relative to the plug housing to obstruct the keyway. A key can be provided that is positionable into the keyway, and the blade of the key defines receptacles for receiving the blocking members when the plug body is rotated so that the lock can be unlocked. However, the blocking members prevent rotation of the plug body when a picking tool or unauthorized key is inserted in the keyway since either the blocking members cannot move into the keyway and remain engaged to the plug housing due to the object in the keyway, or obstruct the keyway and prevent insertion of the picking tool.

Abstract: A locking cartridge including a housing, first and second plates rotatably mounted in the housing, a blocking member, and a movable member. The cartridge also includes a cam interface which urges the first plate toward the second plate when the plates are rotated. The blocking member is configured to move among a blocking position and an unblocking position in response to engagement with a first cut on a key. When in the blocking position, the blocking member blocks the first plate from moving toward the second plate. With the second plate blocked from moving toward the first plate, the cam interface prevents rotation of the first plate. The movable member is configured to move among a first position and a second position in response to engagement with a second cut on the key. In certain embodiments, the movable member may be a control pin or a second blocking member.