Abstract: Certain embodiments described herein relate to an improved virtual machine restoration system. In one embodiment, an information management system receives a request to perform a restore of a virtual machine using virtual machine data stored on a secondary storage device. In response, the information management system boots up the virtual machine after restoring only a portion of the virtual machine data that is needed to boot up the virtual machine, thereby reducing latencies associated with virtual machine boot-up. The information management system continues to retrieve additional portions of the virtual machine data from the secondary storage device as such portions are requested by the virtual machine, thereby reducing or minimizing unnecessary data transfer from the secondary storage device.

Abstract: An apparatus for implementing a game having a deterministic component and a non-deterministic component wherein a player uses the game through at least one player interface unit. Each player interface unit generates a player record indicating player-initiated events. A random number generator provides a series of pseudo-random numbers and a rules library stores indexed rules for one or more games. An interface registry stores mapping records where the mapping records are used to associate the player-initiated events to pre-selected rules in the rules library. A control means is coupled to the player interface to receive the output of the player interface unit, coupled to the interface registry, the rules library, and the random number generator.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy brake disc body for a disc brake device is provided with a metal layer of a high wear-resistance. The high wear-resistance metal layer is configured to reduce thermal stresses within the aluminum alloy brake disc body so as to inhibit warping, bending or flexing of the brake disc when heated during braking. The high wear-resistant metal layer also is applied to the aluminum alloy brake disc body in a manner reducing manufacturing costs. In one mode, a plating layer made of a metal having a high wear-resistance is formed on a frictional surface of an aluminum alloy brake disc body. Cracks in the form of a fine network are formed in the whole area of the plating layer. The cracks can be formed by a plating process, by nitrosulphurization, by heating, by burnishing or by use of the plated component. The cracks advantageously provide for expansion between the individual metal fragments and, thus, create an expandable plated wear surface.

Abstract: Various configurations of a continuously variable transmission include a drive pulley, a driven pulley and a belt extending therebetween. The drive pulley is generally comprised of a moveable sheave half and a fixed sheave half. The moveable sheave half is freely rotatable relative to the drive shaft and the fixed sheave half. Torque is transferred between the moveable sheave half and the stationary sheave half through the use of a roller bearing and channel race arrangement; however, the roller bearings are freely translatable within the channel races. The continuously variable transmission also features a differential positioned between the two output pulleys and an articulating member positioned between the two input pulleys. These two members operate together to eliminate bucking of the belts caused by differences in driven speeds of the two driven pulleys in a parallel configuration of the variable speed transmission. Additionally, a method of assembling the transmission is also described.

Abstract: A pump assembly 1, 33, 200 adapted for continuous flow pumping of blood. In a particular form the pump 1, 200 is a centrifugal pump wherein the impeller 100, 204 is entirely sealed within the pump housing 2, 201 and is exclusively hydrodynamically suspended therein as the impeller rotates within the fluid 105 urged by electromagnetic means external to the pump cavity 106, 203.