Abstract: An element template system allowing users to define a named set of element symbology properties to be associated with a graphic element is provided. When the element template is active, it sets the active drawing settings to match the template and associates newly created elements with the active template. Once elements are associated with an element template, the template can be used for checking for compliance with a graphics standards for that project. The element templates technology can be used to update elements and existing files to match a specific set of template properties. The element templates defining a particular graphic element are stored in the same design file as that graphic element so that when the graphic element design file is transported the element templates are also transported with the file, thereby eliminating a need to be coupled to a database or other form of external data.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing device in the form of a safety device against shock loads for a track-borne vehicle includes an energy-absorbing member and a mating member. The mating member co-operates with the energy-absorbing member in such a way that, if a critical shock force applied to the energy-absorbing device is exceeded, the mating member and the energy-absorbing member move relative to one another, towards one another, while at the same time absorbing at least some of the shock energy which is applied to the energy-absorbing device. To enable the overall energy which can be dissipated by the energy-absorbing device to be increased in a way which is easy to implement, provision is made for the energy-absorbing member to have at least one energy-absorbing region made of fibrous composite material which, in the course of the movement of the mating member relative to the energy-absorbing member, is at least partly reduced to fibers non-ductilely.

Abstract: A spring loaded direct oxidation fuel cell assembly reduces the effects of precompression relaxation. A near flat spring and a distribution plate form a spring assembly that is disposed between a membrane electrode assembly and one of the current collectors in the fuel cell. The components are assembled into a fuel cell assembly and are precompressed, and a spring yielding process is performed. While precompression is being applied, a set of pins and a plastic frame are insert molded around the fuel cell assembly to hold the components in place. Subsequently, as the precompression relaxes, the spring assembly forces act to maintain an evenly distributed compression on the MEA, thereby compensating for the loss of precompression. A related method of manufacturing a fuel cell assembly is provided.

Abstract: A technique efficiently transmits credentials between network elements and disk elements in a clustered storage system. According to the novel technique, in response to a user request to access data served by a data element, a network element inserts (adds) a credential associated with the user to a network element credential cache and creates a corresponding credential handle that indexes the credential in that cache. The network element relays the credential and credential handle to the disk element, which adds the credential to a corresponding disk element credential cache at a location indexed by the corresponding credential handle. Requests may then be sent between the elements using the credential handle. In addition, the network element may further send a series of chained requests to the disk element for the same credential/credential handle with an indication that the requests are for the same credential without sending the credential or credential handle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital linear heat detector with thermocouple heat confirmation. A digital linear heat detector with thermocouple heat confirmation comprises a first conductor and a second conductor, the first conductor composed of a different conductive material than the second conductor. The first and second conductors are then are twisted together to form substantially continuous spring pressure between the first conductor and the second conductor, thereby causing the layers of the non-conductive heat sensitive thermoplastic material to be in contact. The present invention also includes a monitoring circuit that is configured to monitor resistance along the first and second conductors. When the resistance changes along the first and second conductors, the monitor is configured to detect a short and enter a thermocouple mode.

Abstract: A system and method enhances performance of a log adapted for use with a storage system. The log is illustratively organized into a plurality of regions, wherein each region comprises one or more entries and wherein each region is allocated to a consistency collection. As used herein, a consistency collection is defined as a set of one or more data containers among which it is desired to maintain transaction consistency, i.e., atomicity of updates of a transaction to those containers. Each entry of the region is adapted to store an update of data from a source, e.g., an application executing on the storage system. Thus, the consistency collection may comprise multiple data containers associated with one or more applications configured to maintain the atomicity of transaction updates to the collection of containers.

Abstract: A software upgrade tool and procedure provide uninterrupted operation of a replication system during an upgrade of software components of the system. The replication system includes one or more user systems coupled to one or more target storage systems over a communications network, such as a computer network. Illustratively, each user system is embodied as a replication client, while each target storage system is embodied as a replication server. In addition, the replication system includes a management system embodied as a management server that manages configuration of the system, including during upgrade of the software components of the replication system. To that end, the software upgrade tool cooperates with the management server to query the configuration of “old” versions of the software components and to manage upgrades of those components to “new” versions of software.

Abstract: An underlying physical volume of a storage system is an aggregate having a plurality of storage devices. The aggregate has its own physical volume block number (pvbn) space. A file system layout apportions the underlying physical volume into a plurality of virtual volumes of the storage system each having a virtual volume identification (vvid). Each virtual volume has its own virtual volume block number (vvbn) space. The block allocation structures of a virtual volume are sized to the virtual volume, and not to the underlying aggregate, to thereby allow operations that manage data served by the storage system (e.g., snapshot operations) to efficiently work over the virtual volumes. Each storage block in a virtual volume is identified by the triplet: pvbn, vvid, and vvbn.

Abstract: A technique dynamically increases the granularity of prefix control in a computer network. According to the novel technique, a routing table is populated with one or more reachable prefixes, e.g., learned or configured prefixes, and performance characteristics (e.g., bandwidth, cost, delay, etc.) of the prefixes are monitored. Upon determining that a need exists for more granular prefix control (i.e., smaller prefixes), one or more boundaries may be determined upon which to divide one or more of the prefixes based on the monitored characteristics and/or need. Once the one or more boundaries are determined, the one or more prefixes may be “split” accordingly, e.g., by injecting more specific prefixes into the routing table, thus providing more granular prefix control (i.e., by controlling the split prefixes).

Abstract: A system dynamically integrates into an application program that implements rules for controlling business operations changes in the parameters and parameter groupings that are used by or in conjunction with the rules. The system includes a dynamic business logic rule integrator that provides business logic rules to the application software as executable routines, and a dynamic parameter manager that organizes and manages the parameters. The manager integrates changes to the parameters, groups and/or links the parameters, and makes the parameters available to the rules through a dynamically configurable system database—using a set of static database tables and related dynamically configurable database tables, in which certain database fields or sub-fields correspond to parameters that are used in the rules. The respective database tables and the various fields and sub-fields are established and linked together in accordance with user-defined categories and sub-categories, or “instances.

Abstract: A computer data storage system is described. A processor maintains a striped volume set by striping a data container over a plurality of storage nodes. A storage node determines whether space available on that node is below a predetermined threshold, the predetermined threshold indicating a low-in-space state. The storage node sends a message indicating that the storage node is in a low-in-space state. The processor accepts no further write messages to the data container as long as the storage node is in a low-in-space state.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a node identifies a plurality of equal cost best paths to a destination, the best paths having one or more associated links. The node receives dynamic link utilization information for the associated links, and determines an amount of traffic to the destination to forward over each of the equal cost best paths, the amount being dynamically dependent upon the dynamic link utilization of the associated links for each equal cost best path.

Abstract: A system and method provides a single system image for a clustered storage network including techniques for processing data access commands between storage appliances over the cluster interconnect. The system is configured such that the cluster is assigned a single world wide nodename. Requests coming to the cluster from client initiators are directed to one or the storage appliances in the cluster, i.e. the “receiving” storage appliance. Commands received by the receiving storage appliance are examined to determine LUN value(s) in the request. If the LUN value is associated with a local storage device, the request is processed by the receiving storage appliance. If the LUN value is not associated with the receiving storage appliance, the request is conveyed over the cluster interconnect to the partner storage appliance to be processed and the appropriate data written or retrieved.

Abstract: A system and method for offloading network processes from main processors of a storage system and performing them on parallel processing modules. Embodiments of the present invention allocate resources such as memory and/or buffers to particular connections between various storage operating system processes or between storage operating system processes and a network interface. Connections are identified by a connection identifier (CID) and are assigned particular buffers according to parameters such as buffer availability, connection priority, and/or maximum allocation thresholds. A connection associated with a CID is guaranteed access to a certain number of dedicated buffers. Deadlock is avoided even when an operating system process associated with a different CID attempts to exhaust available memory and/or buffers because such processes will only have access to their own allocated resources.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an inter-domain routing protocol stores an inter-domain routing protocol route having an associated next-hop address. A routing table is searched for an for an intra-domain routing protocol route that may be used to reach the next-hop address of the inter-domain routing protocol route. Such route is marked as an important route for convergence. Later, in response to a change in the network requiring a routing table update, the intra-domain routing protocol route marked as an important route for convergence is processed by an intra domain routing protocol before any other intra-domain routing protocol routes are processed that are not marked as important routes for convergence.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system model models characteristics of a real-world system. The system model includes a plurality of sub-portions that each correspond to a component of the real-world system. A plurality of test vectors are applied to the system model and coverage achieved by the test vectors on the sub-portions of the system model is measured. In response to a failure of the real world system, a suspected failed component of the real-world system is matched to a particular sub-portion of the system model. A test vector to be applied to the real-world system to test the suspected failed component is selected in response to coverage achieved on the particular sub-portion of the system model.

Abstract: A multiple agency transaction accounting system includes a plurality of point of service stations that conduct, for multiple agencies, respective agency transactions that are associated with various reporting requirements, fees and commissions. A universal transaction encoding subsystem encodes the agency transaction data received from the plurality of stations into universal transaction data and supplies the encoded data to a universal transaction settlement subsystem that parses and aggregates the universal transaction data into encoded agency-specific transaction data and provides the encoded agency-specific transaction data to the respective agencies to complete the transaction accounting. The accounting system may also include a money management subsystem that processes fees and commissions associated with the agency transactions in bulk for the respective agencies. The money management subsystem may process the agency transactions as either credit card transactions or bank account transactions.

Abstract: A system for detecting and correcting an error in session between a client and a host over a network. When the system receives an indication of an error in a session, the system determines an error correction modification to the configuration of the session to correct the error. The system then implements the error correction modification to the configuration of the session and continues the session.

Abstract: A system and method reclaims unused storage space from a data container, such as a logical unit number (LUN) of a storage system. In particular, a novel technique is provided that allows a storage system to reclaim storage space not used by a client file system for which the storage system maintains storage, without requiring assistance from the client file system to determine storage usage. In other words, storage system may independently reclaim storage space not used by the client file system, without that file system's intervention.

Abstract: A system to determine position, frequency and clock offsets over a network utilizing signals of opportunity transmitted by one or more transmitters with known locations, the system includes a base receiver with a clock and a known position that determines ranges to the transmitters, takes a series of samples of the signals of opportunity and time tags the series with times of receipt, calculated times of transmission based on the calculated ranges, or both. The base receiver transmits the time tagged series and, as appropriate, computed ranges to the remote receivers. A given remote receiver saves and time tags samples of the signals of opportunity, correlates the time-tagged series with the saved samples, and calculates a time offset as a time difference of the times of receipt at the remote receiver and either the time of receipt at the base receiver or the time of transmission calculated at the base receiver.