Abstract: A general purpose high-performance distributed execution engine can be used by developers to deploy large-scale distributed applications. To allow developers to easily make use of the distributed execution engine, a graph building language is proposed that enables developers to efficiently create graphs (e.g., direct acyclic graphs) that describe the subprograms to be executed and the flow of data between them. A job manager (or other appropriate entity) reads the description of the graph created with the graph building language, builds the graph based on that description, and intelligently distributes the subprograms according to the graph so that system resources are used efficiently. In one embodiment, the graph building language (and, thus, the description of the graph) includes syntax for replication, pointwise connect, cross connect and merge.

Abstract: A subscription-based computing device has hardware and a subscription enforcer implemented in the hardware. The enforcer has an accumulator that accumulates a usage value as the computing device is being used and an expiration value register that stores an expiration value. The enforcer allows the computing device to operate in a subscription mode without hindrance and with full use when the usage value is less than the stored expiration value, and allows the computing device to operate in an expiration mode with hindrance and without full use when the usage value reaches the stored expiration value to signal that the subscription for the computing device has expired.

Abstract: Caching is provided to speed up the recomputation of an application, function, or other computation that relies on a very large input dataset, when the input dataset is changed. Previous computation results are stored in storage, for example, in a system-wide, global, persistent cache server. The storage enables the reuse of previous results on the parts of the dataset that are old and unchanged, and to only run the computation on the parts of the dataset that are new or changed. The application then combines the results of the two parts to form the final result.

Abstract: The embodiments contemplate a system and method for obtaining related results for a portion of a query and for generating an updated set of queries for a cache of a server. Other queries beginning with the portion of the query may be identified and obtained from a data structure that includes a server cache and a set of common queries. Once the other queries are identified, results for the other queries are obtained from the server cache or from a back-end database. A set of common queries, which may include deleted and additional queries, may be utilized to generate the updated set of queries for the server. Both missing queries and deleted queries that may belong to the server based on an assignment function are inserted into a queue, which is later delivered to the cache of the server. The transfer may occur during a low-activity or idle state.

Abstract: Index entries representing ranges of values are queried with a query value to determine if the query value is in one of the ranges. Numeric ranges are represented in an index and queries are constructed to match index entries. Search terms are constructed from the query value, such that a search term matches an index entry if and only if the queried for valued is in the range represented by the index entry. To facilitate querying the indexes, queries are constructed to contain search terms having a data structure format similar to that of the index entries.

Abstract: Flash memory is managed utilizing memory management data structures residing in volatile memory of a flash memory device. The memory management data structures are created and updated each time power is supplied to the memory device. During write operations to the flash memory, specific locations in the flash memory are updated to reflect the current status of the flash memory. When power is interrupted, the memory management data structures are recreated upon reapplication of power. The flash memory is scanned and the information obtained from the specific locations in the flash memory is utilized to construct the memory management data structures. No bad block tables are required. Flash memory is managed to provide relatively good random write performance and to accommodate power interruptions. Applications include the use of flash memory for general purpose computing and devices in which power can fail at any time (due to being unplugged for example).

Abstract: A probabilistic detector is utilized to query a database. Utilization of a probabilistic detector provides assurance with 100 per cent probability that a search expression in the query is not in the database index. The probabilistic detector is implemented in the form of a Bloom filter. The probabilistic detector is created by hashing expressions in the database index and mapping the resulting hash values into the probabilistic detector. Upon receiving a query, expressions of the query are hashed. The probabilistic detector is queried using these hash values. If the results of querying the probabilistic detector indicate that searched for information may be in the database, the database is not queried. If the results of querying the probabilistic detector indicate that the information may be in the database, the database is queried for the information using the original query. This technique is advantageous in mitigating detrimental effects of denial of service attacks.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a rendering cluster that renders an image of a scene object. The rendering cluster may comprise an illumination node that produces illumination output based on lighting properties of the scene object and a material node that produces material output based on material properties of the scene object. The illumination output is combined with the material output to form the image.