Abstract: A Fiber Channel (FC) switch and related methods are provided for merging the FC switch with an existing FC network. During a merge process of a stand-alone switch with an FC network, a first Exchange Fabric Parameters (EFP) frame is sent from the stand-alone switch to an FC switch in the existing FC network. The first EFP frame has an empty domain identifier (ID) list. The stand-alone switch receives a second EFP frame from the FC switch. The second EFP frame contains a domain ID list of domain IDs already in use in the FC network. The stand-alone switch compares the domain ID list in the second EFP frame with a stored list of one or more domain IDs associated with the stand-alone switch to determine if there is a domain ID overlap or conflict. If no conflict is detected, the stand-alone switch merges with the existing network without initiating a Build Fabric phase or a Principal Switch Selection phase that could cause disruption of traffic in the network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for provider-arbitrated mandatory access control policies in cloud computing environments are disclosed. A system includes an access manager, and a plurality of resources configurable to provide a plurality of distributed, web-accessible services. Each service has a respective service manager. The access manager determines whether a mandatory access control policy document specified by a service manager of a particular service applies to an administration request, wherein the policy indicates that a permission setting for a resource being used to implement at least a portion of the particular service cannot be modified by a client with administrative rights on the resource. In response to determining that the policy document applies, and that an evaluation of the policy document indicates that an administrative operation specified in the administration request is prohibited by the policy, the access manager rejects the administration request.

Abstract: Various embodiments comprise apparatuses and methods including a three-dimensional memory apparatus having upper strings and lower strings. The upper strings can include a first string of memory cells and a second string of memory cells arranged substantially parallel and adjacent to one another. The lower strings can include a third string of memory cells and a fourth string of memory cells arranged substantially parallel and adjacent to one another. The strings can each have a separate sense amplifier coupled thereto. The first and third strings and the second and fourth strings can be configured to be respectively coupled in series with each other during a read operation. Additional apparatuses and methods are described.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming (e.g. die necking) open ends of open-ended metal container bodies. An exemplary embodiment provides a number of movable holders for container bodies that move the container bodies along a path extending through the apparatus. A motor advances the holders and container bodies along the path in steps with pauses between each step. Each step advances one or more container bodies (and preferably two or more). One or more groups of work stations positioned adjacent to the path provides tool sets for carrying out a forming operation on one (and preferably two or more) container bodies simultaneously. Individual container bodies, or more preferably groups of two or more, are subjected to one or more forming operations during passage along the path (preferably the periphery of one or more star wheels).

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment that includes identifying a foreground flow that has a higher priority than at least one background traffic flow in a network. The method also includes determining (e.g., periodically) a latency metric associated with the foreground flow, and activating a latency reduction response if the latency metric exceeds a threshold. In more particular embodiments, the latency reduction response may include diverting background flows in the network to a buffer for a delay period and/or delaying acknowledgements for background flows until the latency metric is below the threshold. In yet more particular embodiments, the latency metric may be a round-trip time.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media provide a requesting device with access to a service. In one implementation, a server receives a request to access a service, and the request includes a device type identifier of a device requesting access to the service. The server extracts the device type identifier from the request and determines a corresponding device type for the requesting device. An authentication module is selected from a plurality of authentication modules based on the device type identifier, and the selected authentication module implements an authentication scheme for the device type of the requesting device. The server authenticates the request using the selected authentication module to determine whether the requesting device is permitted to access the service, and provides access to the service based on at least a determination that the requesting device is authorized to access the service.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents a method and apparatus configured to provide for the trusted execution of virtual machines (VMs) on a virtualization server, e.g., for executing VMs on a virtualization server provided within Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) cloud environment. A physical multi-core CPU may be configured with a hardware trust anchor. The trust anchor itself may be configured to manage session keys used to encrypt/decrypt instructions and data when a VM (or hypervisor) is executed on one of the CPU cores. When a context switch occurs due to an exception, the trust anchor swaps the session key used to encrypt/decrypt the contents of memory and cache allocated to a VM (or hypervisor).

Abstract: Continuous monitoring and fault diagnosis of rotating machinery during variable speed operation is performed using only a position feedback signal. The position sensor generates a periodic waveform having multiple pulses per revolution of the machine. A circuit is included to detect, for example, a zero crossing or edge of the periodic waveform. At each detected zero crossing or edge, the time and position of the event is stored in memory. Other data, such as the current in the motor, may also be sampled and stored in memory. Because the sampled data is triggered by repeated feature of the position feedback signal, the sampled data is in a stationary reference frame in the position domain. Frequency analysis is performed on the sampled data, and the frequency components present in either the sampled signal are analyzed to identify the presence of a fault in the rotating machinery.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided and may include a control valve that moves a pressure-responsive unloader valve between a first position permitting flow through a valve plate and into a compression mechanism and a second position restricting flow through the valve plate and into the compression mechanism. The control valve may include at least one pressure-responsive valve member movable between a first state supplying discharge-pressure gas to the unloader valve to urge the unloader valve into one of the first position and the second position and a second state venting the discharge-pressure gas from the unloader valve to move the unloader valve into the other of the first position and the second position.

Abstract: In an embodiment method, a central controller of a wireless system selects a common reference signal (“CRS”) pattern for muting on a first type of control channel by the central controller, wherein the first type of control channel is formed with resource elements (“REs”). The central controller identifies, for a set of user equipments (“UEs”) in a serving area of the central controller, a set of subframes including the first type of control channel, wherein the set of subframes has REs that overlap the CRS pattern for muting. The central controller mutes the overlapping REs in the first type of control channel, and frequency-division multiplexes the first type of control channel with data channels. The central controller transmits, to the set of UEs, the first type of control channel with the muted REs on the identified set of subframes.

Abstract: A device includes a memory storing a persistence bit for each of a plurality of pixels of a display device, the persistence bit having a first value when a corresponding pixel should be illuminated for displaying a persistent image, and having a second value when the corresponding pixel should not be illuminated for the persistent image; a pseudorandom pixel value generator which during each video frame receives a seed value and generates pseudorandom pixel values for the plurality of pixels, each pseudorandom pixel value being not greater than a specified variable persistence value; a frame value generator outputting a frame value for each video frame; and a match detector which, during each video frame, compares the frame value to the pseudorandom pixel values for the plurality of pixels, and for each pixel where the comparison indicates a match, makes the persistence bit for the corresponding pixel have the second value.

Abstract: A method for selectively removing nano-crystals on an insulating layer. The method includes providing an insulating layer with nano-crystals thereon; exposing the nano-crystals to a high density plasma comprising a source of free radical chlorine, ionic chlorine, or both to modify the nano-crystals; and removing the modified nano-crystals with a wet etchant.

Abstract: A leak detector contains a pump that withdraws gas from a volume into which a tracer gas is leaking. The volume may also contain small amounts of air or other gas in addition to the tracer gas. Downstream from the pump, a flow restriction creates a back pressure between this restriction and the outlet of the pump, the back pressure being determined by the pressure in the test volume, the pumping speed, and the nature of the flow restriction. The flow restriction may be fixed, such as an orifice or a section of a capillary tube, or it may be variable, such as a needle valve. In many cases, the back pressure may be adjusted to approximately one atmosphere, allowing the use there of various conventional gas sensors that are designed to operate at one atmosphere. The invention may also be used for general gas analysis problems.

Abstract: An image sensor pixel includes a photosensitive element, a floating diffusion (“FD”) region, and a transfer device. The photosensitive element is disposed in a substrate layer for accumulating an image charge in response to light. The FD region is disposed in the substrate layer to receive the image charge from the photosensitive element. The transfer device is disposed between the photosensitive element and the FD region to selectively transfer the image charge from the photosensitive element to the FD region. The transfer device includes a gate, a buried channel dopant region and a surface channel region. The gate is disposed between the photosensitive element and the FD region. The buried channel dopant region is disposed adjacent to the FD region and underneath the gate. The surface channel region is disposed between the buried channel dopant region and the photosensitive element and disposed underneath the gate.

Abstract: An interactive, customizable, user interaction data analysis system is disclosed. The system may be configured to provide cohort-based analysis and/or graphical visualizations of user interaction data to a system operator. User interaction data may be obtained, for example, as users interact with one or more software applications. In various embodiments, interactive and customizable visualizations and analysis provided by the system may be based on user interaction data aggregated across groups of users (also referred to as cohorts of users), across particular time frames, and/or from particular software and/or computer-based applications. According to various embodiments, the system may enable insights into, for example, user interaction patterns, the frequency of software application features accessed, the performance of various aspects of software applications, and/or crashes of software applications, among others.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for priority-based adoption of access devices coupled to a wireless switch. A method comprises maintaining a respective adoption priority for each of a plurality of access devices adopted by the wireless switch. The method further comprises receiving, in response to a disconnection event, an adoption request from a first access device coupled to the wireless switch, wherein the first access device has an adoption priority. The method further comprises analyzing the adoption priority for the first access device, and responding to the adoption request in a manner that is influenced by the analysis.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a connector interface in a data pipeline are disclosed. A pipeline comprising two data source nodes and an activity node is configured. Each data source node represents data from a different data source, and the activity node represents a workflow activity that uses the data as input. Two connectors which implement the same connector interface are triggered. In response, data is acquired at each connector from the corresponding data source through the connector interface. The data is sent from the connectors to the activity node through the connector interface. The workflow activity is performed using the acquired data.

Abstract: An interior paneling part is provided. The interior paneling part includes a hinge area with a rib; an airbag door-flap, and the airbag door-flap is rotatably affixed to the interior paneling part in an open state in the hinge area via a flexible strap hinge, and the rib is disposed in the hinge area and is defined by an change in length of the strap hinge.

Abstract: A structure of stacking chips and a method for manufacturing the structure of stacking chips are provided. A wafer with optical chips and a glass substrate with signal processing chips are stacked with each other, and then subjected to ball mounting and die sawing to form the stacked packaging structure. The optical chips and the signal processing chips form the electrical connection on the surface of the glass substrate via the through holes thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and computer programs enable carrying service insertion architecture data plane packets in IPv4 or IPv6 networks by packaging destination addresses using IPv6 mechanisms. For example, a data processing apparatus is configured for receiving, from a service broker, a service label and an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) address of a first service node; receiving an IPv4 packet requesting a service associated with the first service node; creating an IPv6 packet comprising a service label in a Flow Label field of the IPv6 packet, the IPv6 address of the first service node in a destination address field of the IPv6 packet, and the IPv4 packet in a payload field of the IPv6 packet; forwarding the IPv6 packet to the first service node. Approaches allow service insertion architecture support for all-IPv6 traffic including tunneled and non-tunneled techniques for environments in which user applications place data in the flow label field.