Abstract: Methods and systems for implementing multi-tiered processing in a distributed strict queue are disclosed. Original messages are dequeued from a first set of queues using a first layer of queue clients, each of which transforms a subset of the original messages into a transformed message and enqueues the transformed message into a second set of queues. The transformed messages are dequeued from the second set of queues using a second layer of queue clients, each of which summarizes a subset of the transformed messages into a summarized message and enqueues the summarized message into a third set of queues. The summarized messages are dequeued from the third set of queues using a third layer of queue clients, each of which aggregates a subset of the transformed messages into an aggregated message. A final result is generated based on the aggregated messages.

Abstract: A secret distribution system may disclose a secret once to a client computing resource while maintaining the privacy of the message and allowing for recovery from dropped network messages. A claim code may be given to a client which may be sent to the secret distribution system, causing the secret distribution system to send a pending secret to the client. Until a client successfully confirms receipt of the pending secret or the claim code expires, the client may request new pending secrets to replace the prior unconfirmed secrets from the secret distribution system. Once a last-sent pending secret is confirmed by the client to the secret distribution system, the last-sent pending secret may be activated for use and the claim code invalidated.

Abstract: Techniques to generate a distributed data structure using monotonic clock times are described herein. A set of data events are received at a plurality of replica locations and, based on delivery times, creation times, and timeout times, the data events are stored within a convergent replicated data structure. The data events are then ordered within the convergent replicated data structure based on the corresponding timeout times being less than a time value obtained from a locally accessible clock associated with each replica locations. The distributed data structure is then generated from the ordered data events by recursively selecting data events from the replica locations.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to reduction of effective voltage drops within pixels in active matrix displays such as electrowetting display devices. The electrowetting display device comprises a plurality of pixel areas, wherein each pixel area comprises a hydrophobic surface, a first fluid and a second fluid on the hydrophobic surface, wherein the first fluid is immiscible with the second fluid, and a pixel electrode under the hydrophobic surface, wherein the pixel electrode has a substantially U-shape. A thin film transistor is coupled to the pixel electrode and a voltage source. Voltage via the thin film transistor and the voltage source applied to the hydrophobic surface via the pixel electrode causes the hydrophobic surface to become more hydrophobilic to thereby move the second fluid onto the hydrophobic surface to thereby substantially displace the first fluid on the hydrophobic surface.

Abstract: A node of a distributed storage service receives a read request from a client, directed to a particular physical page storing at least a portion of a file store object. The node transmits, to the client, a particular operation sequence number (OSN), obtained from a replicated state machine, indicative of an order in which the read request was processed at the node relative to other requests directed to the file store object. The node receives a write request from the client directed to the page. The write request includes the particular OSN. The node determines whether the page has been modified after the particular OSN was obtained. If the page has not been modified since the OSN was obtained, a modification indicated in the write request is performed; otherwise, the write request is rejected.

Abstract: A structured data store service, such as a database service, may implement fine-grained access to data maintained at the database service using federated identity. Fine grained access requests may be received at a database service for specified data maintained for an application provider from a client of the application provider. An access credential may be also be received. Verification of the access credential may be obtained, and the database service may evaluate the fine-grained access request according to a delegation policy corresponding to the access credential to determine whether the fine-grained request is authorized. If authorized, the fine-grained access request may be service. If not authorized, the fine-grained access request may be denied. In some embodiments, multiple application clients may have the same authorization for data, such as read authorization, while another one or more application clients may have different authorization for the data, such as write authorization.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for taking measurements associated with the execution of an application on one or more client devices. A measurement policy and/or a transmission policy may be defined by a developer with associated with an application. The measurement policy and/or transmission policy may be used by the one or more client devices in taking measurements, aggregating measurements into measurement collections, and/or transmitting measurements. The measurements may be used in the derivation of statistical information.

Abstract: A package delivery system can be implemented to forcefully propel a package from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), while the UAV is in motion. The UAV can apply a force onto the package that alters its descent trajectory from a parabolic path to a vertical descent path. The package delivery system can apply the force onto the package in a number of different ways. For example, pneumatic actuators, electromagnets, spring coils, and parachutes can generate the force that establishes the vertical descent path of the package. Further, the package delivery system can also monitor the package during its vertical descent. The package can be equipped with one or more control surfaces. Instructions can be transmitted from the UAV via an RF module that cause the one or more controls surfaces to alter the vertical descent path of the package to avoid obstructions or to regain a stable orientation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for conditional master election in a distributed database are described. A plurality of replicas of a database object are stored by a distributed database service. Some types of operations corresponding to client requests directed at the database object are to be coordinated by a master replica. Client access to the database object is enabled prior to election of a master replica. In response to a triggering condition, a particular replica is elected master. The master coordinates implementation of operations with one or more other replicas in response to client requests.

Abstract: A thin border display for an electronic device may comprise an optical assembly that includes a support frame and an electrophoretic display (EPD) structure attached to the support frame in a manner that allows for the display of the electronic device to exhibit a “thin border” or “borderless” look at a periphery of the electronic device. A portion of the EPD structure may at least partly curve around a curved portion of the support frame, the curved portion of the support frame being near the periphery of the support frame. In some embodiments, an electrode may be disposed at a periphery of the display to drive the margin of the display for achieving a thin border/borderless appearance. The EPD structure may include a backplane substrate that is either rigid or flexible.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for receiving, via a network, a request from a client to establish a logical network tunnel over the network. A credential is received from the client in order to establish the logical network tunnel. The client is authenticated based upon the credential. The client negotiates, via the network, to establish the logical network tunnel.

Abstract: Data security is enhanced by injecting insecurity into communications between two computer systems to test one of the computer systems. The insecurity is injected by modifying the communications between the two computer systems by modifying or adding messages. A response from one of the computer systems is monitored to determine whether the computer system reacts to the modification in a secure manner or if mitigating actions need to be performed.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing access of executing programs to non-local block data storage. In some situations, a block data storage service uses multiple server storage systems to reliably store copies of network-accessible block data storage volumes that may be used by programs executing on other physical computing systems, and snapshot copies of some volumes may also be stored (e.g., on remote archival storage systems). A group of multiple server block data storage systems that store block data volumes may in some situations be co-located at a data center, and programs that use volumes stored there may execute on other computing systems at that data center, while the archival storage systems may be located outside the data center. The snapshot copies of volumes may be used in various ways, including to allow users to obtain their own copies of other users' volumes (e.g., for a fee).

Abstract: Session-specific information stored to a cookie or other secure token can be selected and/or caused to vary over time, such that older copies will become less useful over time. Such an approach reduces the ability of entities obtaining a copy of the cookie from performing unauthorized tasks on a session. A cookie received with a request can contain a timestamp and an operation count for a session that may need to fall within an acceptable range of the current values in order for the request to be processed. A cookie returned with a response can be set to the correct value or incremented from the previous value based on various factors. The allowable bands can decrease with age of the session, and various parameter values such as a badness factor for a session can be updated continually based on the events for the session.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a mobile crossdock system comprising one or more containers aligned in a configuration to form a mobile crossdock for mobile crossdock operations. The one or more containers are detachably attached to a platform such as a vehicle trailer. Further, the one or more containers may comprise a first side having a first plurality of openings and a second side having a second plurality of openings. A plurality of doors are aligned with the first plurality of openings and the second plurality of openings and are configured to move between a closed position and an open position. A plurality of ramps are configured to lift or raise a rear end of a vehicle to a position where a cargo area of the vehicle is substantially aligned with a floor of the mobile crossdock.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for applying a pruning to data sets, files, logs, and/or any other information. A binning methodology may be employed to determine which data to retain or discard to determine a resulting set of data resembling an exponential decay where more recent items of data are more likely to be retained and more archaic items of data are more likely to be discarded. The resulting set of data may be associated with an average age.

Abstract: Content items, such as e-books, audio files, video files, and the like, may be tagged as associated with a location based on observing the locations at which users access the content items. A rich set of tag data may be gathered by additionally observing such things as the date and time when users access the content items as well as allowing the users to tag the content items with comments or ratings. A fine granularity of tagging may be achieved by associating the tags with specific portions of the content items. Content recommendations based on the tags may be provided to other users when those users are in approximately the same location.

Abstract: A computing platform supports stream processing pipelines, each of which comprises a sequence of stream processing tools. Upon specification of a stream processing pipeline, multiple available hardware processors are evaluated to determine which of the processor is capable of executing each tool of the pipeline while satisfying specified performance goals. Among these processors, a hardware processor is selected for each pipeline tool that will minimize power consumption.

Abstract: The systems and/or processes described herein may establish a controlled and limited vocabulary that may serve as explicit associative relationships. The explicit associative relationships may define the nature of relationships between items and/or categories of items. In response to determining that a user has interacted with or selected an item via a website, an application, etc., associated with a service provider, explicit associative relationships associated with the selected item may be parsed in order to identify additional items related to the selected item. The additional related items may then be dynamically recommended to the user via the website, the application, etc., associated with the service provider.