Abstract: A server-embedded distributed storage system and methods are disclosed. An exemplary method may include presenting at least one virtual disk to a client computing device. The at least one virtual disk includes storage cells from direct attached storage (DAS) devices of a plurality of separate servers for high availability access to data stored on the at least one virtual disk. The method may also include continuing to provide access to the data stored on the at least one virtual disk even in the event an internal storage controller for at least one of the plurality of servers is unavailable for managing its DAS device.

Abstract: A stream application may use small chunks of executable code configured to process data tuples flowing into a processing element. A scheduler allocates the processing elements to individual compute nodes or hosts for execution. However, the stream application may assign various constraints that stipulate which hosts are suitable for a particular processing element. To assign hosts to processing elements such that the constraints are satisfied, the scheduler may use hostpools associated with the processing elements. Once a host is identified that satisfies the constraints, it may be pinned at a particular index within the hostpool.

Abstract: A method for automatic creator identification of content to be shared in a network service. An exemplary method includes receiving a resource identifier that identifies a resource including content that is to be shared with a set of one or more users of the network service. A request for the resource identified by the resource identifier is transmitted by a network interface and the resource is received from a server end station. The method includes automatically identifying a creator of the content based upon the received resource and transmitting a preview to be displayed to the set of users that identifies the creator and includes a user interface element allowing the respective other user to view additional content from the creator or become associated with the creator within the network service.

Abstract: A virtual reality network provides access to a number of virtual reality representations, each virtual reality representation representing a location in a virtual universe and defined by VR data stored on the network. The VR data can be in a simplified data format. A database stores the network address and the location in the universe of each virtual reality representation. A database server provides access to the database. The database server generates a list of locations in response to a location query from a visitor, and provides the network address of the virtual reality representation of a selected location. A visitor connects to the database server with a client host to visit the locations in the virtual universe.

Abstract: A stream application may use small chunks of executable code configured to process data tuples flowing into a processing element. A scheduler allocates the processing elements to individual compute nodes or hosts for execution. However, the stream application may assign various constraints that stipulate which hosts are suitable for a particular processing element. To assign hosts to processing elements such that the constraints are satisfied, the scheduler may use hostpools associated with the processing elements. Once a host is identified that satisfies the constraints, it may be pinned at a particular index within the hostpool.

Abstract: A social networking system detects spam in comments posted by users of the social networking system. A spam prevention module of the social networking system retrieves content signals associated with a posted comment and analyzes the content signals to determine whether the posted comment contains spam content. The spam prevention module augments the content signal analysis by analyzing social signals of the posted comment. Based on the content signal analysis and the social signal analysis, the spam prevention module determines whether the posted comment is spam and takes remedial actions on detected spam, including blocking the comment and educating the user who posted the comment.

Abstract: A server application that includes a receiving module for receiving a plurality of user information from a first mobile computing device, including a user name, user contact information, a plan having an end time and plan location, an emergency contact name, emergency contact information and a list of estimated emergency services required by the user in case of an emergency. The application includes an initiation module for reading the user information, creating a user record, and storing it in an attached database. A transmitting module detects the end time of the plan, then generates and sends a first message to the user. If the user does not respond, a transmitting module generates and sends a second message to the emergency contact. If the emergency contact does not respond, a transmitting module sends a third message to an emergency response organization requesting estimated emergency response services.

Abstract: A method to reconcile multiple instances of a single computer resource identified by resource discovery operations includes: (1) accessing information describing one or more resources; (2) identifying, via the accessed information, at least one resource that has been detected or discovered by at least two of the discovery operations; and (3) merging attributes associated with the identified resource from each of the at least two discovery operations into a single, reconciled resource object. Illustrative “resources” include, but are not limited to, computer systems, components of computer systems, data storage systems, switches, routers, memory, software applications (e.g., accounting and database applications), operating systems and business services (e.g., order entry or change management and tracking services).

Abstract: A system, method and non-transitory computer readable medium for labeling a plurality of messages from a customer-agent interaction on a social media service to identify an issue and a response are disclosed. For example, the system includes a conversation interface, a conversation database coupled to the conversation interface, a conversation analysis server coupled to the conversation database and a conversation knowledge repository coupled to the conversation analysis server. The conversation analysis server includes a preprocessing module, a dialogue act analysis module, an issue status analysis module and an issue/response identification module.

Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of apparatus and methods for monitoring and controlling distributed machines. In an exemplary embodiment, a network includes machines each having sensor(s) and/or actuator(s). Each machine has a node resident on the machine and/or in communication with the machine and that provides raw data from the sensor(s) and/or actuator(s). Each node has a network interface, and a processor and memory configured as a node agent to embed the raw data in message(s) without reformatting the raw data. An engine receives and reformats messages from the node agents without reformatting raw data embedded in the messages. The engine directs the reformatted messages including the raw data to user device(s) for use in managing machine activity and/or status. The engine also sends a message from a user device to a node of a given machine, for use in controlling activity and/or status of the given machine.

Abstract: Techniques for configuring and operating a network connected election voting system are provided. Voting devices are network connected to a voting system controller. Alerts are provided when a ballot becomes stranded on a voting device. The stranded ballots may be untransferrable ballots or interrupted ballots. A recovery mechanism is provided to obtain the data for untransferrable ballots. The alerts may be provided at a display on the voting device, controller or both.

Abstract: Persistent profile identifiers can be produced to identify clusters of devices accessing a network in different time periods. In one embodiment, an apparatus uses a first identifier from a first group of identifiers to identify a first cluster of devices and uses a second identifier from a second group of identifiers to identify a second cluster of devices. Further, the apparatus determines that the first cluster of devices identified by the first identifier and the second cluster of devices identified by the second identifier form an edge in a maximum cluster matching. The apparatus provides the first identifier as a persistent identifier for the first cluster of devices and the second cluster of devices.

Abstract: Techniques for distributing processing loads in a multi-node computing environment are described. Ownership of objects of a simulation scenario is assigned to a plurality of computing nodes based on a processing load distribution associated with the simulation scenario. The simulation scenario is executed on the plurality of computing nodes, and processing loads on the computing nodes are monitored. When a processing load of one of the computing nodes has reached a threshold, objects allocated to the one node are reassigned based on properties of a subset of the objects of the simulation scenario. The properties are based on a measure of interaction between the objects in the subset.

Abstract: A virtual reality network provides access to a number of virtual reality representations, each virtual reality representation representing a location in a virtual universe and defined by VR data stored on the network. The VR data can be in a simplified data format. A database stores the network address and the location in the universe of each virtual reality representation. A database server provides access to the database. The database server generates a list of locations in response to a location query from a visitor, and provides the network address of the virtual reality representation of a selected location. A visitor connects to the database server with a client host to visit the locations in the virtual universe.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for autonomically assisting in the creation of an administrative policy. The method can include detecting a stimuli in a system under study and monitoring a response by a systems administrator to the stimuli. The stimuli and the response can be forwarded to a policy maker suited to analyze the stimuli and the response. Also, the policy maker can be queried for a preferred response to the stimuli. Based upon the preferred response to the stimuli, a policy for responding to the stimuli can be formulated. As such, the policy can be enforced in managing the system under study. Moreover, the policy can be forwarded for future consideration to the systems administrator.

Abstract: A network interface device includes a host interface for connection to a host processor and a network interface, which is configured to transmit and receive data packets over a network, and which comprises multiple distinct physical ports configured for connection to the network. Processing circuitry is configured to receive, via one of the physical ports, a data packet from the network and to decide, responsively to a destination identifier in the packet, whether to deliver a payload of the data packet to the host processor via the host interface or to forward the data packet to the network via another one of the physical ports.

Abstract: A relay apparatus, which communicates with an operation device, operates in cooperation with a first server and a second server to send data identification information that identifies electronic data to be output from an output apparatus to the first server in response to a first request transmitted from the first server, and to send the electronic data obtained by the first server using the data identification information and output apparatus identification information that identifies the output apparatus to the second server in response to a second request transmitted from the second server to control output of the electronic data from the output apparatus.

Abstract: A network attached storage device and method for performing network attached storage operations with cloud storage services are provided. The device includes at least one network controller for communicating with a plurality of clients over a local area network (LAN) and with the cloud storage service (CSS) over a wide area network (WAN); a cache memory for locally caching data of the CSS in the device; and a virtual cloud drive (VCD) for enabling the plurality of clients to perform file-based operations on data stored in the CSS using at least one file sharing protocol.

Abstract: Matching conversions from within applications on a client device to interactions with content items presented with resources may include receiving first data associated with an interaction with a content item displayed with a resource. The first data includes an application identifier for an application associated with the content item and an account identifier. The matching may also include receiving second data from the client device associated with a conversion using the application. The second data includes the application identifier and a device identifier for the client device. The matching may further include receiving third data from the client device that includes the account identifier and the device identifier. The conversion can be determined as associated with the interaction with the content item displayed with the resource based on matching the second data with the first data based on the third data.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for providing a composite Quality of Experience (QoE) metrics associated with a multimedia transmitted via a network. The method includes obtaining multimedia data corresponding to the multimedia transmitted via the network and acquiring metrics associated with the multimedia data. The metrics includes at least one multimedia transmitting metrics and at least one multimedia quality metrics. The method also includes normalizing the metrics and determining, based on the one or more normalized metrics, the composite multimedia QoE metrics.