Abstract: A method for providing a proof-of-work challenge based on hash mining for reducing spam attacks comprising: receiving an email message from a client device; determining a level of trustworthiness of the client device; generating a challenge message based on the determined trustworthiness of the client device; transmitting the challenge message to the client device; receiving a response to the challenge message from the client device; and forwarding the email to one or more recipients when the response to the challenge message is correct.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and software for modifying a communication path based on content delivery performance data. In one example, a method of operating a content server that hosts content to be provided to a plurality of end user devices includes identifying latency data for a plurality of end user devices communicating with the content server, and identifying that the one or more end user devices in the plurality of end user devices exceed a latency threshold based on the latency data. The method further includes, in response to identifying that the one or more end user devices in the plurality of end user devices exceed the latency threshold, modifying the communication path between the content server and the one or more end user devices by modifying a domain name system (DNS) configuration for the content server.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for routing requests for information based on predictive data. The systems and methods may receive measurement data indicative of states of each of a plurality of destination servers, and generate predicted measurement data values for each of the plurality of destination servers based on the retrieved measurement data. The predicted measurement data values may represent predicted states of each of the destination servers at a time later than a time corresponding to the received measurement data. The systems and methods may also receive requests for information from a client computer, and route the received requests for information to one of the plurality of destination servers based on the predicted measurement data value.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is described, having a processor to receive a request for download of a high priority adaptive bitrate (ABR) content item which is available for download at a higher bit rate and a lower bit rate, and a request for a download of a low priority ABR content item, which is also available for download at a higher bit rate and a lower bit rate. A byte acquisition scheduler determines a required bandwidth to download the high priority ABR content item without adapting to the lower bit rate, and determines a remaining bandwidth to download the low priority ABR content item. A download interface interfaces with an ABR server, downloads the high priority ABR content item and the low priority ABR content item, and allocates at least the required bandwidth and up to the remaining bandwidth. Related systems, apparatuses and methods are also described.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can receive a request to send a message from a sender to a recipient. It can be determined that the sender and the recipient have at least a specified number of degrees of separation within a social network. The systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media can acquire social data about at least one of a set of groups joined by the sender and the recipient, a set of events attended by the sender and the recipient, a set of locations visited by the sender and the recipient, or a set of common interests shared by the sender and the recipient. It can be determined whether to deliver the message to a primary inbox of the recipient based on the social data.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for configuration of a Remote PHY or Communications Device, and redirection one or more core device(s) within a content and data delivery network. In one embodiment, the architecture comprises a Remote PHY distributed CCAP architecture within a cable network, and the methods and apparatus provide a network operator with the ability to associate multiple remote devices (and their associated service groups, and hence subscribers) to one or more specific CCAP core(s), to facilitate the operator's operational and support models, including defining and instantiating an overall network topology. In one exemplary variant, information from multiple sources are used by an analytics engine to calculate remote device-to-core assignments, so as to achieve the desired overall operational topology and goals. Improved mechanisms for remote device installation are described. In one implementation, mobile devices are used by installers to interact with the assignment process logic.

Abstract: Provided is an Internet protocol (IP) generation method. The method is performed by an IP generation apparatus comprising one or more processors and memory and includes: forming a plurality of initialized partial numbers by dividing a decimal number indicating a count of IP addresses that can be generated; changing the partial numbers according to a predetermined rule; generating an IP decimal number by linking the changed partial numbers; generating a random IP address from the IP decimal number; and generating a plurality of different random IP addresses with improved time efficiency, by sequentially repeating the changing of the partial numbers, the generating of the IP decimal number and the generating of the random IP address.

Abstract: A high-performance distributed ledger and transaction computing network fabric over which large numbers of transactions (involving the transformation, conversion or transfer of information or value) are processed concurrently in a scalable, reliable, secure and efficient manner. In one embodiment, the computing network fabric or “core” is configured to support a distributed blockchain network that organizes data in a manner that allows communication, processing and storage of blocks of the chain to be performed concurrently, with little synchronization, at very high performance and low latency, even when the transactions themselves originate from distant sources. This data organization relies on segmenting a transaction space within autonomous but cooperating computing nodes that are configured as a processing mesh. According to an aspect of this disclosure, the CDN edge network is then used to deliver receipts associated with transactions that are processed into the blockchain.

Abstract: In some examples, a method includes accessing an orthogonal network policy set that represents a first intent-based network policy and a second intent-based network policy. The method may also include determining multiple reduced orthogonal network policy sets from the orthogonal network policy set. The multiple reduced orthogonal network policy sets may differ from one another, and each represent the first and second intent-based network policies. The method may further include selecting a particular reduced orthogonal network policy set among the multiple reduced orthogonal network policy sets to implement on a target switching device.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the disclosure are directed to customized communication monitoring and alerts using a high-level programming interface. According to a specific example, a data communication server is configured and arranged to provide a database with virtual office features available to remotely-situated client entities. The data communication server is configured to provide to the client entities, a set of instructions written in a first programming language that defines a message exchange protocol. The data communication server is further configured to receive from each client entity, client-specific sets of control data written in a second programming language that is compatible with the first programming language. The data communication server may monitor an operating state of each of the virtual office features provided to the client entity based on received event data, and generate alerts to end-users of the client entity according to the event data satisfying a set of criteria.

Abstract: A method of operating a messaging platform, including: obtaining, for a first profile of the messaging platform, a trending entity within a first topic of interest to the first profile; accessing a first plurality of messages classified as the first topic of interest; retrieving a subset of the first plurality of messages corresponding to the trending entity; and sending content associated with the subset for display to a user of the first profile.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media can determine a time at which to prefetch one or more content items to be included in a feed associated with a user. The feed can be provided by a social networking system. A number of content items to prefetch at the determined time can be determined. One or more content items to be included in the feed associated with the user can be prefetched based at least in part on the determined time and the determined number of content items. The determined time can be prior to a time at which the user is expected to access an application associated with the social networking system.

Abstract: An electronic device according to various embodiments includes a housing; a user interface; a wireless communication circuit disposed in the housing; a wired communication interface exposed through the housing; a processor disposed in the housing and electrically connected to the user interface, the wireless communication circuit, and the wired communication interface; and a memory disposed in the housing and electrically connected to the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to establish a first communication channel with an external electronic device including a storage using the wireless communication circuit and/or the wired communication interface so that the electronic device operates as a device and the external electronic device operates as a host, to exchange information with the external electronic device through the first communication channel, and to establish a second communication channel with the external electronic d

Abstract: An apparatus includes a computer server having a chipset and a baseboard management controller, wherein the chipset includes a first serial bus controller, and wherein the baseboard management controller includes a second serial bus controller. The apparatus further includes a serial bus port disposed along an external panel of a server enclosure that houses the computer server, wherein the serial bus port is accessible for connection with a connector of a serial communication cable. Still further, the apparatus includes a switch that selectively connects the serial bus port to either the first serial bus controller or the second serial bus controller, wherein the switch is controlled by an output signal from the baseboard management controller.

Abstract: A content distribution facilitation system is described comprising configured servers and a network interface configured to interface with a plurality of terminals in a client server relationship and optionally with a cloud-based storage system. A request from a first source for content comprising content criteria is received, the content criteria comprising content subject matter. At least a portion of the content request content criteria is transmitted to a selected content contributor. If recorded content is received from the first content contributor, the first source is provided with access to the received recorded content. The recorded content may be transmitted via one or more networks to one or more destination devices. Optionally, a voice analysis and/or facial recognition engine are utilized to determine if the recorded content is from the first content contributor.

Abstract: An energy management server includes a controller configured to process first data collected from a power system into a second data; a memory database unit configured to classify the second data into dynamic data and static data according to an established data classification to store the dynamic and static data; and a duplex controller configured to selectively receive the first data and the dynamic data or the static data to synchronize with another energy management server.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for monitoring the health of a computing application, system or service. A health monitoring service performs event driven health status checks for applications that use non-HTTP workloads. To do so, heath status messages (e.g., HTTP status requests) are directed to an API gateway at a specified frequency. In response to each health status message, the API gateway triggers at least a first event driven function to perform a health check of an application. Results of the health-status check performed by the first event driven function may be written to a status database. Further, results of the first event driven function can result in additional event driven functions being triggered (e.g., to remove an unhealthy application from production use).

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and apparatus for load-balancing image-processing jobs based on the number of pixels in the images and/or the nature of the processing that is requested on those pixels. For example, a set of machines may run software to provide various types of image processing services, such as format conversion, recompression, resizing, cropping, among others. These are referred to as image servers. In accordance with the teachings hereof, the load on each image server can be calculated based on the number of pixels in the images that are waiting to be processed in the image server's processing queue, adjusted by the type of processing that is requested on each image. The adjustment typically reflects and adjusts for the relative time needed to perform various types of processing. Load scores can be further adjusted based on the processing capabilities of each image server, in some embodiments.

Abstract: A scalable virtual conferencing system which implements a hub and spoke architecture. For example, one embodiment of a scalable virtual conferencing system comprises: a participant management module to logically group each participant in the virtual conferencing system into a hub or one of a plurality of spokes; and a data flow management module to control communication of information between participants in the spokes and participants in the hub, the data flow management module to limit intercommunication from the spokes to the hub in accordance with the manual user input and/or participant management policy; wherein at least one participant in a first spoke is designated as a spoke leader for the first spoke, the spoke leader logically grouped into both the hub and the first spoke, the data flow management module to allow information generated within the first spoke to be propagated into the hub based on input from the spoke leader.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and software for modifying a communication path based on latency. In one example, a method of operating a content node to alter a communication path includes identifying latency data for a plurality of end user devices communicating with the content node, and identifying that the one or more end user devices in the plurality of end user devices exceed a latency threshold based on the latency data. The method further includes, in response to identifying that the one or more end user devices in the plurality of end user devices exceed the latency threshold, modifying the communication path between the content node and the one or more end user devices by modifying a domain name system (DNS) configuration for the content node.