Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for passive optical network (PON) communication includes broadcasting, by an optical line terminal (OLT), a first message including a first start time of a first quiet window and a first allocation identification number (Alloc-ID), where the first Alloc-ID indicates a first supported upstream line rate associated with the first quiet window. The method also includes receiving, by the OLT from a first optical network unit (ONU) during the first quiet window, a first serial number response, wherein a first transmitting upstream line rate of the first ONU is equal to the first supported upstream line rate.

Abstract: Techniques for consolidation of items based on sensor data is provided. For example, an amount of an item may be identified using an electronic sensor associated with an automatic replenishment device. When the amount of the item is greater than a first reorder threshold, the item may not be ordered on behalf of the user until the amount of the item reaches the first reorder threshold. However, when an order for a different item is placed, either by accessing a network document to proactively order the different item or through a reorder schedule based on a consumption rate of the different item, the amount of the first item may be compared with a second reorder threshold. When the amount of the first item is less than the second reorder threshold, a notification may be provided to the user for additionally ordering the second item with the first item.

Abstract: The present invention provides modified fibronectin type III (Fn3) molecules, and nucleic acid molecules encoding the modified Fn3 molecules. Also provided are methods of preparing these molecules, and kits to perform the methods.

Abstract: One or more control circuits of a storage system are configured to consolidate the sensing of pre-pad and/or post-pad data for one unaligned write command with the transferring of previously sensed pre-pad and/or post-pad data for another unaligned write command. By consolidating the sensing and transferring, considerable time is saved when programming data for a set of two or more unaligned write commands. Also, in one aspect, a single programming operation is performed for multiple unaligned write commands. Some conventional solutions may need to perform a programming operation for each unaligned write command. Hence, considerable programming time is saved by the storage system. Moreover, write amplification may be reduced by the storage system.

Abstract: A sample management device which comprises a source flow path in which a fluidic sample can flow, a volume flow adjustment unit configured to adjust a volume flow of the fluidic sample to be branched off from the source flow path at a fluidic coupling point, and a fluidic valve fluidically coupled with the source flow path and with the volume flow adjustment unit, wherein the fluidic valve is switchable into a branch off state in which the fluidic coupling point is established within the source flow path to branch off an adjustable volume of the fluidic sample from the source flow path via the fluidic coupling point while a flow of the fluidic sample in the source flow path continues.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device in a network receives telemetry data regarding a traffic flow in the network. One or more features in the telemetry data are individually compressed. The device extracts the one or more individually compressed features from the received telemetry data. The device performs a lookup of one or more classifier inputs from an index of classifier inputs using the one or more individually compressed features from the received telemetry data. The device classifies the traffic flow by inputting the one or more classifier inputs to a machine learning-based classifier.

Abstract: An individual latency indicator is determined for each Data Storage Device (DSD) or memory portion of a DSD storing one or more erasure coded shards generated from an erasure coding on initial data. Each individual latency indicator is associated with a latency in retrieving an erasure coded shard stored in a respective DSD or memory portion. At least one collective latency indicator is determined using determined individual latency indicators, with the at least one collective latency indicator being associated with a latency in retrieving multiple erasure coded shards. The at least one collective latency indicator is compared to a latency limit, and a subset of erasure coded shards is selected to retrieve based on the comparison of the at least one collective latency indicator to the latency limit.

Abstract: In some cases, a method may include receiving electricity usage data from a re-ordering device and determining usage information for an appliance that is electrically connected to the re-ordering device based on the electricity usage data. The method may also include determining, based on the usage information and order history information for a customer, an estimated remaining quantity of an item that is associated with an appliance type of the appliance. The method further includes comparing the estimated remaining quantity of the item to a threshold associated with the item. In response to determining that the threshold associated with the item is satisfied, the method includes decrementing the estimated remaining quantity of the item. In response to determining that the threshold associated with the item is not satisfied, the method includes generating order data for automated re-ordering of the item for delivery to the customer.

Abstract: A non-resonance photo-neutralizer for negative ion-based neutral beam injectors. The non-resonance photo-neutralizer utilizes a nonresonant photon accumulation, wherein the path of a photon becomes tangled and trapped in a certain space region, i.e., the photon trap. The trap is preferably formed by two smooth mirror surfaces facing each other with at least one of the mirrors being concave. In its simplest form, the trap is elliptical. A confinement region is a region near a family of normals, which are common to both mirror surfaces. The photons with a sufficiently small angle of deviation from the nearest common normal are confined. Depending on specific conditions, the shape of the mirror surface may be one of spherical, elliptical, cylindrical, or toroidal geometry, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method of forming a nanopore in a lipid bilayer is disclosed. A nanopore forming solution is deposited over a lipid bilayer. The nanopore forming solution has a concentration level and a corresponding activity level of pore molecules such that nanopores are substantially not formed un-stimulated in the lipid bilayer. Formation of a nanopore in the lipid bilayer is initiated by applying an agitation stimulus level to the lipid bilayer. In some embodiments, the concentration level and the corresponding activity level of pore molecules are at levels such that less than 30 percent of a plurality of available lipid bilayers have nanopores formed un-stimulated therein.

Abstract: A black box recorder for an autonomous vehicle includes an interface configured to receive data from an engine control unit (ECU) device. The data includes first data and second data. The black box recorder further includes an error correction code (ECC) engine configured to determine a first parity size associated with the first data based on a characteristic of the first data and a second parity size associated with the second data based on a characteristic of the second data. The first parity size is different than the second parity size. The ECC engine is further configured to generate a convolutional low-density parity-check (CLDPC) codeword that includes the first data, the second data, first redundancy data associated with the first data, and second redundancy data associated with the second data. The first redundancy data has the first parity size, and the second redundancy data has the second parity size.

Abstract: Techniques to facilitate protection of control system content used in an industrial automation environment are disclosed herein. In at least one implementation, the control system content for use in the industrial automation environment is received, wherein the control system content comprises controller program code that directs an industrial controller to drive a machine system. Content protection instructions for the control system content are also received, wherein the content protection instructions comprise restrictions on execution of the control system content. An execution license that includes process-related constraints for the control system content is generated based on the content protection instructions. The execution license is applied to the control system content to generate protected content, wherein use of the control system content is granted subject to the process-related constraints of the execution license.

Abstract: This patent document describes systems and methods for tracking the usage of a service provided by a distributed computing platform and for the enforcement of a global quota against such usage. In one embodiment, Servers in the platform are organized in a hierarchical manner. At the lowest tier resides a set of globally distributed servers, any one of which may receive and respond to client device requests. Multiple tiers of aggregation servers sit above the above the delivery tier. The first tier of aggregation servers receive usage measurements from the delivery tier. The second and higher tiers aggregate the usage measurements from lower tiers until a world level tier combines all usage measurements for a given service. Preferably, usage information is passed between servers in synchronization events. The systems and methods described herein are scalable, low latency, fault-tolerant, and incur relatively low computing overhead.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for adding partitions to a massively parallel processing (MPP) cluster includes determining whether a first number of available nodes of a first leaf sub-cluster (LSC) of a meta sub-cluster (MSC) of the MPP cluster is greater than or equal to a second number of partitions of a table and assigning a first node of the first LSC to a first partition when the first number of available nodes is greater than or equal to the second number of partitions. The method also includes searching for a second LSC in the MSC when the first number of available nodes is less than the second number of partitions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for enhancing target positioning. A broadcast signal from a device is received by at one or more access points, where a first position area of the device is determined from an analysis of the broadcast signal. A second position area of the target, which is within the first position area, is determined by scanning pixels within the first position area in an image captured by the camera and, based on the scanned pixels, at least one target comprising a portion of the pixels is detected. The target within the image is classified, and based on the classification and portion of the pixels comprising the target, the second position area of the target within the first position of the image is triangulated.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure will be described with regard to the processing of a client computing device DNS queries by a DNS processing service to determine an identifier associated with a previously instantiated hosted virtual machine instance. In one aspect, if the previously instantiated hosted virtual machine instance is instantiated, the DNS service can resolve the DNS query by transmitting network address information associated with the previously instantiated hosted virtual machine instance. In another aspect, if the previously instantiated hosted virtual machine instance is not instantiated, the DNS service can initiate a process to cause an instantiation of a hosted virtual machine instance based on the previously instantiated hosted virtual machine instance. The DNS service can then resolve the DNS query by transmitting network address information, or an alternative identifier, associated with the newly instantiated hosted virtual machine instance.

Abstract: Vertical memory blocks for semiconductor devices include a memory cell region including an array of memory cell pillars and at least one via region including a dielectric stack of alternating dielectric materials and at least one conductive via extending through the dielectric stack. Semiconductor devices including a vertical memory block include at least one vertical memory block, which includes slots extending between adjacent memory cells of a three-dimensional array. The slots are separated by a first distance in a first portion of the block, and by a second, greater distance in a second portion of the block. Methods of forming vertical memory blocks include forming slots separated by a first distance in a memory array region and by a second, greater distance in a via region. At least one conductive via is formed through a stack of alternating first and second dielectric materials in the via region.

Abstract: An off-shore port system includes a land-based port infrastructure area, an off-shore cargo ship docking area located in a body of water, and a transportation system having at least one tube connecting the land-based port infrastructure area and the off-shore cargo ship docking area.

Abstract: The exercise machine with a variable resistance system includes a frame, an exercise implement movably connected to the frame, a main shaft rotatably connected to the frame, a main connector attached between the main shaft and the exercise implement, a plurality of resistance assemblies and a plurality of actuation assemblies adapted for selectively engaging or disengaging at least one of the plurality of resistance assemblies with respect to the main shaft. The plurality of resistance assemblies apply a total level of rotational resistance against the main shaft based on which of the plurality of resistance assemblies are engaged with the main shaft by the plurality of actuation assemblies.