Abstract: A system for playback of messages. Context appropriate messages for an environment may be played back. Messages may be user behavior interactive and subject to user behavior initiated message playback conditions. User generated environment events may be automatically analyzed and user behavior interactive messages may be automatically coordinated. An automated themed message playback apparatus may have a self-contained housing within which a stored themed message, an in situ user generated environment event sensor, and an automated themed message playback device are housed. User generated environment events may be automatically sensed in situ.

Abstract: A computer implemented method is provided for determining a delay between a first database and an associated replicated database by replicating transactions of the first database in the replicated database, determining a delay between the two databases based on a commit timestamp from the first database and a timestamp associated with the commit transaction becoming visible in the replicated database. Then, after a predefined period of time has elapsed since replicating the commit transaction, determining a second delay based on a timestamp associated with a heartbeat log and a replicated database system time. And, selectively determining to execute or deny a statement received by the replicated database based on the second delay. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates the maintenance and execution of a software offering. During operation, the system obtains model data associated with a multidimensional model of the software offering. Next, the system stores the model data in a graph database. Finally, the system uses the graph database to facilitate management of the software offering.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing datasets comprising the steps of: (1) partitioning each dataset into a plurality of bins according to a first partitioning rule, wherein each bin contains a random subset of elements of symmetric difference taken from a universe of all possible elements, (2) performing a first round of polynomial interpolation (PI) at a first encoding threshold on each bin of the first-partitioned datasets, wherein if any bin contains a number of elements that is less than or equal to the first encoding threshold the elements contained therein are decoded during the first PI round, and wherein if any bin contains a number of elements that is greater than the first encoding threshold the elements contained therein are not decoded during the first PI round; and (3) synchronizing the datasets based on the decoded elements.

Abstract: A method for controlling compression based on compression ratio, the method includes monitoring access requests related to a storage entity of a storage system; wherein the access requests are associated with multiple data units; evaluating a compression ratio related to the storage entity; wherein the evaluating comprises applying a first compression process on at least a subset of the multiple data units to provide first compressed data units; serving the access requests without storing, in a permanent storage layer of the storage system, the first compressed data units; and reacting, by the storage system, to the compression ratio.

Abstract: Author identification based on functional summarization is disclosed. One example is a system including a plurality of summarization engines, each summarization engine to receive, via a processing system, a text content to provide a summary of the text content. At least one meta-algorithmic pattern is applied to at least two summaries to provide a meta-summary of the text content using the at least two summaries. A content processor identifies, from the meta-summary, authorship features associated with the text content. An evaluator determines, for a given category, a category value of the meta-summary, the category value indicative of a similarity of the authorship features to the category. A selector selects, for the given category, a combination of meta-algorithmic patterns and summarization engines that provides the meta-summary that optimizes the category value for the text content.

Abstract: Software updates that cause changes to a database accessible by software can be identified. A first database can be modified using first instructions associated with a first software update to generate a first modified database, and a second database can be modified using second instructions associated with a second software update to generate a second modified database. A difference between the first and second modified databases can be determined, and one or more instructions of the first or second instructions that caused the difference can be identified based on the difference. The first and second instructions can be converted into operations that, when performed against the first and second databases, result in first and second many-to-many tables being generated. The many-to-many tables can be queried to identify the operations associated with the difference between the first and second modified databases.

Abstract: A journaling system provides access to subsets of user information in a segregated fashion. This permits its users to define access settings for their user information thereby limiting which other users may access the user information. In one or more embodiments, the journaling system may include a server or other computing device and one or more storage devices used to store the user information, associated access settings, or both. The access settings may define particular criteria which must be met before a subset of user information may be accessed, and may identify particular users that may access the subset of user information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing data service requests are disclosed. The system may receive a data service request comprising a unique process code and a data input. The system may parse the data service request to determine the unique process code. The system may retrieve a data operation sequence based on the unique process code. The data operation sequence may comprise an ordered list of executable operations. The system may generate an operation service request based on a first executable operation and the data input. The system may execute the operation service request.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a searchable platform for online content. Online content may be obtained over a network. The online content may have existing metadata associated with the online content. The existing metadata may include platform information related to distribution of the online content through the online content distribution platform, file information related to an electronic file that defines the online content, and/or other information. The existing metadata associated with the online content may be processed such that the existing metadata is searchable. Supplemental metadata for the online content may be obtained. The supplemental metadata may be associated with the online content. The supplemental metadata may include one or more of platform information, file information, content information, contextual information, and/or other information. A search query may be received and a result may be generated based the existing metadata and/or the supplemental metadata.

Abstract: A Multi-Shot Scheduling System chooses from multiple candidate playlists of positions to select a broadcast playlist. Candidate playlists are generated based upon scoring and selecting content items for the positions through the use of index values. Various embodiments of the Multi-Shot Scheduling System can select broadcast playlists for multiple groups of content and can provide different methods of controlling scheduling performance by restricting the range of candidate playlists from which the best playlist can be selected. the number of candidate playlists to be considered can be determined based on the number of positions in each playlist and a restriction requirement that sets a maximum index value assignable to playlist positions.

Abstract: A container is obtained at a host device of a set of host devices in a container hosting environment. At the host device, one or more other host devices of the set of hosting devices are identified as one or more replica host devices. A commit operation is performed at the host device for a given layer of the obtained container. A synchronization operation is then initiated at the host device with each of the one or more replica host devices based on the committed layer of the obtained container to form a replica container at each of the one or more replica host devices. The replica container at each of the one or more replica host devices is state-synchronized with the obtained container.

Abstract: A method is provided for performing transaction processing in a system that includes a transaction distributor and a plurality of nodes. Each of the nodes include a processor, an application executing in the processor, and an instance of a database used by the application. Each node executes transactions. The transaction distributor selects at least two of the nodes to receive the same request to process a transaction, and the processor at each of the at least two nodes executes the same request to process a transaction. Each of the at least two nodes replicates to one or more other nodes in the system the steps and operations of the transactions up until a transaction END step.

Abstract: A method is provided for ensuring transactional integrity of a system that includes a first subsystem and a second subsystem. Each of the subsystems receive the same request to process a transaction. An indicia engine at each subsystem computes indicia of the outcome of the processing of the same request. The computed indicia from each of the subsystems is compared. An action is completed at one of the subsystems when the computed indicia does not match. The action completed at one of the subsystems is one or more of issuing a database rollback on one of the subsystems, executing self-diagnostics on one of the subsystems, shutting down one of the subsystems, taking one of the subsystems offline, aborting the transaction executing on one of the subsystems, and generating an error indication for one of the subsystems.

Abstract: A facility for using a mobile device to search video content takes advantage of computing capacity on the mobile device to capture input through a camera and/or a microphone, extract an audio-video signature of the input in real time, and to perform progressive search. By extracting a joint audio-video signature from the input in real time as the input is received and sending the signature to the cloud to search similar video content through the layered audio-video indexing, the facility can provide progressive results of candidate videos for progressive signature captures.

Abstract: Techniques described herein relate to generating new assessment items and updating existing assessment items. Input data may be received corresponding to the addition, removal, or modification of assessment components within assessment items, and may cause immediate generation and validation of corresponding markup language data blocks, thereby allowing for interactive construction and automated encoding of assessment items. Additional techniques described herein relate to determining compatible scoring types for assessment items and generating and embedding markup language data blocks corresponding to assessment item scoring data.

Abstract: Various embodiments identify candidate phrases users have used to reference a product in previous searches by analyzing query logs of a search engine. Upon identifying a candidate phrase within a volume of unstructured text, the candidate phrase is compared against a corpus of contemporary language. A frequency of each candidate phrase in contemporary language and the same in the query logs are determined and used as an indication to distinguish between genuine product references in the text or their normal use in common language in order to determine whether the volume of unstructured text is suitable, based on the number of references, for a hyperlink to a product page for the product of an electronic marketplace. Furthermore, behavioral data associated with user interaction with various aspects of the hyperlinks can be tracked over time to better identify suitable product references and tailor future hyperlink suggestions.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for reconstructing a cube in a multidimensional online analytical processing (MOLAP) system, where a cube is reconstructed based on a received reconstruction request and data stored in an old cube, and there is no need to acquire, from a database, data required for updating the cube, thereby ensuring data integrity when model reconstruction and data reconstruction are performed in the MOLAP system.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system and method for enabling use of a media content bot in a social messaging environment that supports group chat. A conversational agent, generally referred to as a “bot”, can leverage a user's interaction with the bot, to access a media server, which in turn can determine one or more items of media content appropriate for the user and/or their interaction. During a group chat, the bot can recognize music commands within the context of a particular discussion, and/or utilize music recommendation services provided by a digital media content environment, to determine items of media content appropriate for the group of users and/or their interaction. The system enables the use of media playback controls within the group chat, enabling the group of users to determine how and which media content is to be played.

Abstract: Smart mapping is provided. A smart mapping system (SMS) and method identify an information source (IS) as an intended recipient of an information request item by matching one or more data elements in a dataset associated with an information request (IR) item with an IS candidate stored in a mapping database. An IS candidate may be an exact match, or a partial match with a highest match agreement score. The SMS provides for notifying an information requestor in real time or near real time when a match is determined or when a plurality of matching IS candidates are identified, such that a user is enabled to select an intended IS, or provide additional input. When a trend associated with matching particular data items to a particular IS candidate is identified, the SMS may add mapping property values to the mapping database for refining and improving the system.