Abstract: An LL server (LLS) may process metadata requests for a file system in LL mode in a distributed file storage services (DFSS). For requests that require allocating blocks to file system objects in the backing store, instead of relying on distributed transactions used for file systems in high throughput (HT) mode, a pool of blocks may be pre-allocated for the LL file system in the backing store, and a free block list may be maintained in local memory of the LLS. When a metadata operation requires blocks to be allocated, the blocks are assigned to the respective object from the blocks in the pool. A background process may allocate new blocks in the pool upon the number of blocks dropping below a threshold, or upon block allocation rate for the file system increasing.

Abstract: A data storage system includes multiple head nodes and multiple data storage sleds mounted in a rack. For a particular volume or volume partition one of the head nodes is designated as a primary head node for the volume or volume partition. The primary head node is configured to store data for the volume in a data storage of the primary head node and cause the data to be replicated to a secondary head node. The primary head node is also configured to cause the data for the volume to be stored in a plurality of respective mass storage devices each in different ones of the plurality of data storage sleds of the data storage system.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for resource configuration based on dynamic group membership are disclosed. An association between a group of computing resources and an intended state is stored. The intended state represents a computing resource configuration. During operation of a computing resource, whether the computing resource belongs to the group of computing resources is determined based at least in part on analysis of one or more attributes associated with the computing resource. Based at least in part on determining that the computing resource belongs to the group of computing resources, one or more actions are caused be performed to bring the computing resource into the intended state. The computing resource is executed while having the computing resource configuration represented by the intended state.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting a chat session with multiple chat members. The chat system receives chat comments from the chat members. The chat system attempts to identify a topic or subject of the chat comment. The chat system may then retrieve product or product category advertisements relevant to the identified topic. The chat system then effects the display of the chat comment along with the retrieved advertisements to each chat member. The chat system thus dynamically recognizes the topic of chat comments and displays relevant additional information along with the chat comments.

Abstract: A wireless speaker device configured for use with a wireless A/V recording and communication device, such as a doorbell. The wireless speaker device, which includes a speaker, may connect to the user's local area network (LAN), such as a Wi-Fi network. The LAN is connected to a wide area network (WAN), such as the Internet and/or a public switched telephone network (PSTN). When the wireless A/V recording and communication device detects a visitor, it sends a first signal, via the LAN, to device backend server in the WAN. In response, the backend server in the WAN transmits a second signal, via the LAN, to the wireless speaker device. The second signal to the wireless speaker device includes a command for the wireless speaker device to emit a tone through its speaker. The wireless speaker device then emits a tone through its speaker to alert the user that a visitor is at the wireless A/V recording and communication device.

Abstract: Requests of a computing system may be monitored. A request associated with the application of a policy may be identified and a policy verification routine may be invoked. The policy verification routine may detect whether the policy of the request is more permissive than a reference policy and perform a mitigation routine in response to determining that the policy of the request is more permissive than the reference policy. Propositional logics may be utilized in the evaluation of policies.

Abstract: Implementations of an end effector and an associated method of grasping an item are disclosed. The end effector comprises an interface system comprising a mounting plate having at least a first portion movable relative to at least a second portion. For example, the first portion and/or second portion are configured to pivot about at least a first pivot axis. The interface system further comprises a pliable body member attached to the mounting plate and at least partially defining an inner recess. The end effector further comprises a pair of actuators operably connected to the plate and each configured to apply a force to the plate so as to pivot a portion of the mounting plate and deform the pliable body member. The end effector further comprises a vacuum port in fluid communication with the inner recess.

Abstract: A computing resource service provider implements a verification engine for hierarchical data structures. The verification engine uses a work item queue, a node allocation counter list, and a memory deallocation list to increase parallelism and thread utilization during verification operations involving ordered, nominally sorted data structures.

Abstract: A first user associated with a structure (e.g., a home, a building, etc.) may authorize a second user to access the structure when the first user is not present. The second user may request to access the structure via a text message that includes an access code that was previously provided. The second user may be verified/authenticated based on the telephone number in which the text message was received, the access code, and/or an access schedule that indicates when the second user is authorized to access the structure. The second user may send a second text message indicating a desire to lock/unlock a structure entrance (e.g., a door) to the structure that contains a smart lock. Upon receiving the second text message, a service provider sends an instruction to the smart lock, causing the structure entrance to become locked/unlocked, and allowing the second user to access or secure the structure.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for image assisted delivery. A computing device may identify a delivery location based at least in part on an image file received from a first client device. The computing device may then generate a series of directions from a current location of a second client device to the delivery location. The computing device may subsequently send the series of directions to the second client device. Finally, the computing device may send the image file received from the first client device to the second client device.

Abstract: Intermodal vehicles may be loaded with items and an aerial vehicle, and directed to travel to areas where demand for the items is known or anticipated. The intermodal vehicles may be coupled to locomotives, container ships, road tractors or other vehicles, and equipped with systems for loading one or more items onto the aerial vehicle, and for launching or retrieving the aerial vehicle while the intermodal vehicles are in motion. The areas where the demand is known or anticipated may be identified on any basis, including but not limited to past histories of purchases or deliveries to such areas, or events that are scheduled to occur in such areas. Additionally, intermodal vehicles may be loaded with replacement parts and/or inspection equipment, and configured to conduct repairs, servicing operations or inspections on aerial vehicles within the intermodal vehicles, while the intermodal vehicles are in motion.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed at least in part to dynamically determining triggering events and/or an amount of time to encumber inventory of an item. By encumbering inventory, the inventory of the item is made unavailable, at least temporarily, to other customers. Encumbrance may be based on one or more factors, which may include current on-hand inventory and/or a rate of sales for the item. However, many other factors may also be used in various combinations. Inventory of items may be encumbered for a dynamically determined amount of time. At the end of this time, the item may be released and made available to other customers assuming the item was not purchased in a completed transaction. The dynamic determination of the triggering event and the dynamic determination of an amount of time to encumber items may be deployed individually or in combination with each other.

Abstract: Techniques for managing a flow of an unmanned vehicle within a space may be described. In particular, the unmanned vehicle may be determined as being location within the space. The space may be associated with metric that may be based on a plurality of other unmanned vehicles also located within the space. Pairs of location and time data may be computed for the unmanned vehicle. The pairs may represent a path for the unmanned vehicle to use within the space. The pairs of location data and time data computed based on data associated with the unmanned vehicle, data associated with at least one of the other unmanned vehicles, and the metric associated with the space. Once computed, the pairs may be provided to the unmanned vehicle.

Abstract: A material set, such as an asymmetric keypair, is processed using an associated workflow to prepare the material set for activation and/or use. In one embodiment, a material set is generated and information about the material set is communicated to a workflow manager. Based at least on the information, the workflow manager generates a workflow that when accomplished will allow the material set to be activated and/or used. In another embodiment, a service provider provides a key manager, workflow manager and destination for the key, such as a load balancer that terminates SSL connections. A key can be generated by the key manager, sent through the workflow manager for processing (potentially communicated to third parties such as a certificate authority, if needed) and installed at a destination.

Abstract: Fault-tolerant request routing routes request to service hosts without using a central routing authority to processes each request and without applying a consensus protocol to each request. In order to route requests, a routing authority distributes updated routing tables to request routers or clients while the request routers or clients continue to route requests according to a previous version of the routing table. Each request router or client includes a logical clock and refrains from using the next version of the routing table until receiving an indication to transition its logical clock. The routing authority indicates to a first request router to transition its logical clock to the next moment in logical time and an epidemic algorithm transitions other ones of the request router to the next moment in logical time without direct involvement by the routing authority.

Abstract: The playback of a media file can be adjusted for portions where the content may be of less interest to a viewer. The audio content can be analyzed to locate portions of the media file that might be appropriate for compression, such as during periods of relative silence. Information for the beginning or end of such a period can be stored as compression cues associated with the media file. During an encoding of the file, the compression cues and associated time code data can be used to incorporate playback adjustment information in the media file. A player playing the media file can determine whether to adjust the playback based on this information, such as to increase a frame rate of the playback during periods of silence and return the frame rate to a standard rate for the media file at the end of those periods.

Abstract: In a computing resource service provider environment, Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) routers may connect various networked environments. In addition, the implementation of the BGP router may be distributed between computing resources within the computing resource service provider environment. A subset of hosts may be selected from a set of hosts within the computing resource service provider environment. The subset of hosts may be selected to implement the BGP router, the adjacency-in routing information, and the adjacency-out routing information.

Abstract: Methods and related systems employ an unmanned fiducial marker application unit to deploy new fiducial markers to a floor of a material handling facility, such as an inventory facility. A system for managing inventory items includes an unmanned fiducial marker application unit, initial fiducial markers distributed in a pattern on a floor of an inventory facility, at least one tangible memory device, and at least one processor configured to receive new fiducial marker data indicative of a location for each of one or more new fiducial markers to be applied to the floor and instruct the unmanned fiducial marker application unit to apply at least one of the one or more new fiducial markers to the floor in accordance with the new fiducial marker data.

Abstract: Delivery area guidance may be provided to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) delivering a package to a customer. For example, a UAV may be programmed to fly to a delivery area. When the UAV approaches the delivery area, the UAV may send a signal that it has a package for the customer. A delivery area guidance (DAG) device associated with the customer may receive the signal and project a visible landing marker to guide the UAV to a designated delivery location. The DAG device may monitor motion near the designated delivery location, indicate existence of obstacles, and/or notify inhabitance of the approach of the UAV and/or receipt of the package.