Abstract: The invention is generally directed to an elevator display system which provides the illusion of observing a visual narrative of an elevator trip which is made to appear as if the actual elevator has glass walls and one is observing a fanciful elevator trip. The elevator can have a variety of different fanciful rides which are not restricted by the constraints of time, location or physics.

Abstract: The invention is generally directed to an elevator display system which provides the illusion of observing a visual narrative of an elevator trip which is made to appear as if the actual elevator has glass walls and one is observing a fanciful elevator trip. The elevator can have a variety of different fanciful rides which are not restricted by the constraints of time, location or physics.

Abstract: The invention is generally directed to an elevator display system which provides the illusion of observing a visual narrative of an elevator trip which is made to appear as if the actual elevator has glass walls and one is observing a fanciful elevator trip. The elevator can have a variety of different fanciful rides which are not restricted by the constraints of time, location or physics.

Abstract: The invention is generally directed to an elevator display system which provides the illusion of observing a visual narrative of an elevator trip which is made to appear as if the actual elevator has glass walls and one is observing a fanciful elevator trip. The elevator can have a variety of different fanciful rides which are not restricted by the constraints of time, location or physics.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems for snapshots in distributed storage systems. One method of software execution includes using a version tree to determine what data blocks are shared between various storage nodes in the version tree in order to create a clone or a snapshot of a storage volume in a distributed storage system that uses quorum-based replication.

Abstract: In a storage system, at least three storage sites are arranged in a full mirroring relationship using a virtual connection between instances of a storage group on two of the sites whereby no user data is transmitted.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for assignment and layout of redundant data in data storage system. In one aspect, the data storage system stores a number M of replicas of the data. Nodes that have sufficient resources available to accommodate a requirement of data to be assigned to the system are identified. When the number of nodes is greater than M, the data is assigned to M randomly selected nodes from among those identified. The data to be assigned may include a group of data segments and when the number of nodes is less than M, the group is divided to form a group of data segments having a reduced requirement. Nodes are then identified that have sufficient resources available to accommodate the reduced requirement. In other aspects, techniques are providing for adding a new storage device node to a data storage system having a plurality of existing storage device nodes and for removing data from a storage device node in such a data storage system.

Abstract: An information repository contains information regarding engagements, where the information regarding engagements specifies outcomes of the engagements and roles of individuals involved in the engagements. In response to a query seeking to locate personnel with particular experience, at least one of the individuals is identified based on the information regarding engagements, where the identifying considers the roles of the individuals in the outcomes of the engagements.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to selecting a project portfolio. A processor may select a project portfolio based on a list of projects and lists of objectives. In one embodiment, a project portfolio is selected from the list of projects based on the degree to which each project portfolio fulfills the lists of objectives. The lists of objectives may be stakeholder objectives.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method of writing data includes issuing write messages to a replica set of storage devices. Write confirmations are received from at least a majority of the storage devices. An embodiment of a method reading data includes issuing read messages to a replica set of storage devices. Read confirmations are received from at least a first majority of the storage devices. Read commit messages are issued to the storage devices. Commit confirmations are received from at least a second majority of the storage devices.

Abstract: Read, write and recovery operations for replicated data are provided. In one aspect, a system for redundant storage of data included a plurality of storage devices and a communication medium for interconnecting the storage devices. At least two of the storage devices are designated devices for storing a block of data. Each designated device has a version of the data and a first timestamp that is indicative of when the version of data was last updated and a second timestamp that is indicative of any pending update to the block of data. The read, write and recovery operations are performed to the data using the first and second timestamps to coordinate the operations among the designated devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods for asynchronous backup of virtual disks in a distributed storage array are disclosed. An exemplary method may comprise receiving an IO stream at the virtual disks in the distributed storage array, writing data to one or more storage cells of the virtual disks in the distributed storage array, and logging completed writes in a first batch for each of the one or more storage cells. The method also comprises establishing a consistency point in the IO stream, terminating logging to the first batch for each of the one or more storage cells at the consistency point and logging completed writes after the consistency point to a new batch for each of the one or more storage cells. The method also comprises transferring writes logged in the first batch to at least one remote storage so that the at least one remote storage is crash consistent.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems for snapshots in distributed storage systems. One method of software execution includes using a version tree to determine what data blocks are shared between various storage nodes in the version tree in order to create a clone or a snapshot of a storage volume in a distributed storage system that uses quorum-based replication.

Abstract: Systems and methods for asynchronous backup of virtual disks in a distributed storage array are disclosed. An exemplary method may comprise receiving an IO stream at the virtual disks in the distributed storage array, writing data to one or more storage cells of the virtual disks in the distributed storage array, and logging completed writes in a first batch for each of the one or more storage cells. The method also comprises establishing a consistency point in the IO stream, terminating logging to the first batch for each of the one or more storage cells at the consistency point and logging completed writes after the consistency point to a new batch for each of the one or more storage cells. The method also comprises transferring writes logged in the first batch to at least one remote storage so that the at least one remote storage is crash consistent.

Abstract: Systems and methods for asynchronous backup of virtual disks in a distributed storage array are disclosed. An exemplary method may comprise receiving an IO stream at the virtual disks in the distributed storage array, writing data to one or more storage cells of the virtual disks in the distributed storage array, and logging completed writes in a first batch for each of the one or more storage cells. The method also comprises establishing a consistency point in the IO stream, terminating logging to the first batch for each of the one or more storage cells at the consistency point and logging completed writes after the consistency point to a new batch for each of the one or more storage cells. The method also comprises transferring writes logged in the first batch to at least one remote storage so that the at least one remote storage is crash consistent.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for assignment and layout of redundant data in data storage system. In one aspect, the data storage system stores a number M of replicas of the data. Nodes that have sufficient resources available to accommodate a requirement of data to be assigned to the system are identified. When the number of nodes is greater than M, the data is assigned to M randomly selected nodes from among those identified. The data to be assigned may include a group of data segments and when the number of nodes is less than M, the group is divided to form a group of data segments having a reduced requirement. Nodes are then identified that have sufficient resources available to accommodate the reduced requirement. In other aspects, techniques are providing for adding a new storage device node to a data storage system having a plurality of existing storage device nodes and for removing data from a storage device node in such a data storage system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for bitmap based synchronization of a source volume and a target volume comprises obtaining, in a source controller, a synchronization timestamp, and for one or more bits in a bitmap representing the source volume, transmitting a synchronization request to the target volume, wherein the synchronization request comprises the synchronization timestamp, receiving a reply from the target volume, and clearing the bit in the bitmap in response to the reply from the target volume.

Abstract: A method of reading data comprises receiving a request for a stripe of erasure coded data, sending read messages to at least a quorum of storage devices, and receiving at least the quorum of reply messages from the devices. The quorum of the reply messages includes at least a minimum number of stripe blocks needed to decode the data. The quorum meets a quorum condition of a number such that any two selections of the number of the stripe blocks intersect in the minimum number of the stripe blocks. A method of writing data comprises generating a timestamp, encoding the data, sending query messages including the timestamp to the storage devices, receiving query reply messages from each of at least the quorum of the devices, sending write messages to the devices, and receiving a write reply message from each of at least the quorum of the devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods for asynchronous backup of virtual disks in a distributed storage array are disclosed. An exemplary method may comprise receiving an IO stream at the virtual disks in the distributed storage array, writing data to one or more storage cells of the virtual disks in the distributed storage array, and logging completed writes in a first batch for each of the one or more storage cells. The method also comprises establishing a consistency point in the IO stream, terminating logging to the first batch for each of the one or more storage cells at the consistency point and logging completed writes after the consistency point to a new batch for each of the one or more storage cells. The method also comprises transferring writes logged in the first batch to at least one remote storage so that the at least one remote storage is crash consistent.

Abstract: A method of reading data comprises sending read messages to storage devices holding the stripe and receiving at least a quorum of reply messages. The reply message from the storage device holding the data block includes the data block. The quorum meets a quorum condition of a number such that any two selections of the number of stripe blocks intersect in the minimum number of the stripe blocks needed to decode the stripe. A method of writing data comprises sending query messages to storage devices holding the stripe, receiving a query reply message from each of at least a first quorum of the storage devices, sending modify messages to the storage devices, and receiving a write reply message from each of at least a second quorum of the storage devices. The first and second quorums each meet the quorum condition.