Abstract: A computing cluster operated according to a resource allocation policy based on a predictive model of completion time. The predictive model may be applied in a resource control loop that iteratively updates resources assigned to an executing job. At each iteration, the amount of resources allocated to the job may be updated based on of the predictive model so that the job will be scheduled to complete execution at a target completion time. The target completion time may be derived from a utility function determined for the job. The utility function, in turn, may be derived from a service level agreement with service guarantees and penalties for late completion of a job. Allocating resources in this way may maximize utility for an operator of the computing cluster while minimizing disruption to other jobs that may be concurrently executing.

Abstract: A social media mechanism processes messages for content that may require filtering of recipients of the message, and informs a user who drafted the message when the message might need to be filtered so it is not sent to all potential recipients of the message. The user may then select to send the message to all potential recipients, or to filter the recipients so the message is sent to less than all of the potential recipients. User profiles are created and maintained, and may include information that helps to determine when filtering of messages is desirable. Feedback buttons are also provided to provide feedback when a user does not like a message.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for converting electronic messages to message posts. An electronic message client may be integrated with a social network. An electronic message composed using the electronic message service may be designated for one or more recipients who are also members of a social network associated with a sender of the electronic message. On determining that the one or more recipients are members of the social network; at least a portion of the electronic message may be provided as a message post to a message stream associated with the one or more recipients.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for causing a playback device to be automatically added to a secure network for rendering media in synchrony with other devices in the secure network. The playback device may, without any input from a user, transmit a first message indicating that the playback device is available to join the network. Upon receiving the first message, a device already in the secure network may transmit to the playback device a second message indicating security parameters for joining the network. The playback device may then join the secure network accordingly. Embodiments are also provided for causing a playback device to be automatically configured, without any input from a user. Another device in the secure network may receive a configuration table indicating setup information for the playback device, and may subsequently transmit the setup information to the playback device and cause the playback device to be configured accordingly.

Abstract: A system is provided that identifies a device associated with a person who does not satisfy a threshold age. The system scans the digital media content of a content data store associated with the device and estimates an age threshold value of the files of the digital media content. Based on the estimated age threshold value of the files, the system determines that the device is used by a person who does not satisfy a threshold age and applies one or more content rules to a presentation of the digital media content. The content rules cause an alteration of the presentation of the digital media content.

Abstract: Technologies and implementations for providing a data center access and management settings transfer service are generally disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, apparatus, and methods for integrating a service console application by providing communication between a first and second network domain. In various implementations, first data is received at a second network domain, where the first data includes one or more functions. A first message may be received at the second network domain, the first message being provided at the second network domain in response to the one or more functions being invoked, and the message identifying the one or more functions. Responsive to receiving the message, the one or more functions may be executed at a computing device associated with the second network domain. Responsive to executing the one or more functions, a second message may be sent to the first domain indicating that the one or more functions have been executed, where the second message is operable to invoke and execute one or more call back functions.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for determining an effect of characteristics of a first message on interaction with the first message over an electronically meditated forum. The first message may be posted to the electronically mediated forum to provide a first posted message. The first posted message includes characteristics. The electronically mediated forum may be monitored to detect at least one instance of interaction with the first posted message. Interaction data may be extracted. Interaction data may include data describing at least one interaction the first posted message. The interaction data may be analyzed to determine the effect of the characteristics of the first posted message on the interaction(s) with the first posted message to provide determined effect data.

Abstract: A social media mechanism processes messages for content that may require filtering of recipients of the message, and informs a user who drafted the message when the message might need to be filtered so it is not sent to all potential recipients of the message. The user may then select to send the message to all potential recipients, or to filter the recipients so the message is sent to less than all of the potential recipients. User profiles are created and maintained, and may include information that helps to determine when filtering of messages is desirable. Feedback buttons are also provided to provide feedback when a user does not like a message.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for managing multimedia messages being transmitted to recipient devices of foreign networks. The method includes sending a multimedia message having a message size that exceeds a maximum allowable size supported or accepted by a foreign network of a recipient device. The method also includes receiving an indication that the sent multimedia message exceeded the maximum allowable size supported or accepted by the foreign network of the recipient device.

Abstract: In a client-server environment, adaptively streaming programs from a program listing includes using an interaction between a client-side GUI and a server-side storefront to select a primary program for presentation, streaming the primary program at a primary streaming rate, and presenting the streamed primary program at a quality consistent with the primary streaming rate. The adaptive streaming further includes determining a number of secondary programs and a corresponding secondary streaming rate for each, which is less than the primary streaming rate. The adaptive streaming includes negotiating authorization rights for the secondary programs, then streaming the number of secondary programs at their secondary streaming rates, while streaming and presenting the primary program.

Abstract: Techniques are providing for managing and optimizing the configuration of network devices. At a management device in a network, a message is received from a first network device via a wireless link or a power line communication link between the management device and the first network device. The new network device is classified as belonging to one of a plurality of network device zones based on evaluating the message. A response message is then sent to the new network device via the wireless link or the power line communication link to ensure secure access to a virtual console-port is provided for the management device and the network devices in the network device zones.

Abstract: A method of controlling adaptive HTTP streaming of media content between a HTTP server and a HTTP client in a communication system, in which system media content is arranged as a plurality of periods, and each such period comprises a plurality of representations of media segments, which method includes the steps of providing (S10) temporal alignment information for the media segments of the plurality of representations, which temporal alignment information provides indications about a temporal relation between the segments of the plurality of representations of the media content. Further, the method includes providing (S20) key frame location information for the media segments, which key frame location information provides indications about locations of key frames in the media segments of the plurality of representations.

Abstract: A method includes establishing a connectivity fault management (CFM) management domain that includes a host processing system and a network element, determining that a media access control (MAC) address of the host processing system is associated with a network service level agreement (SLA), issuing a CFM frame to the management domain, receiving the CFM frame, and configuring the network element according to the network SLA.

Abstract: A system and method for processing multicast streams is disclosed. A router receives the multicast streams and communicates the streams via communication tunnels to a set of ingestion pipelines. Each communication tunnel can be terminated upon the ingestion pipeline receiving a multicast stream. The set of ingestion pipelines process and deliver the multicast streams across existing IP infrastructure for real time distribution.

Abstract: A technique performs policy-based intelligent data placement in an electronic environment. The technique involves selecting, from a pool of candidate local area networks (LANs) of the electronic environment, a plurality of LANs within which to store the data based on a set of policy priority levels assigned to the data. The technique further involves generating a set of information elements (e.g., data fragments, erasure codes, etc.) from the data, and placing the set of information elements on storage nodes of the plurality of LANs. Such a method enables the data to be stored in a distributed manner and alleviates the need for a central storage facility. Since the data is distributed among the storage nodes of the plurality of LANs, system capacity and infrastructure is able to grow (i.e., scale) in a manner which does not create a problematic bottleneck.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and techniques for providing a pseudo permanent communications connection using temporary connection protocols are described. Example embodiments provide a Enhanced Communications Layer that provides such connections by means of a layer incorporated in the client side and server side communications stacks. The ECL maintains a pool of connections that are opened and used in a staggered fashion to reduce the amount of connection setup and teardown.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for controlling a distributed memory cluster. A distributed computing system may include a computing node cluster, a distributed memory cluster, and a controlling node. The computing node cluster may include a plurality of computing nodes including first computing nodes that each generates associated data. The distributed memory cluster may be configured to store the associated data of the first computing nodes. The controlling node may be configured to select memory blocks of the associated data for distribution on the distributed memory cluster based on a node selection rule and memory cluster structure information, and to select second computing nodes from the computing node cluster based on a location selection rule and the memory cluster structure information.

Abstract: A method of conducting a real-time private group chat conversation using a social networking service to connect users to the conversation. A stream of text strings published by a public social networking service is monitored. The text strings are scanned to determine whether any of the strings include an action tag. If an action tag is found, a creator user account name that is attempting to initiate a private conversation is determined and a user account name and a title for the private conversation are read from the text string. A request is sent to the user account in the social networking service. The request includes the creator user account name and a URL for joining the private conversation. If the user account accepts the request by accessing the URL provided in the request from the social networking service, the user account is connected with the creator user account in a private conversation.