Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a pre-5th-Generation (5G) or 5G communication system to be provided for supporting higher data rates beyond 4th-Generation (4G) communication system such as long-term evolution (LTE). Methods and devices are provided for detecting a synchronized primary synchronization signal (PSS) sequence in a wireless network is provided. A device receives a synchronization signal including a PSS sequence. The device determines a plurality of peak correlation values by correlating a plurality of predefined PSS sequences with time-shifted variants of the received synchronization signal. The device detects the synchronized PSS sequence from the plurality of predefined PSS sequences by analyzing the plurality of peak correlation values using at least one of probability detection values, a sliding window method, weight assignments, and a rewarding-based method.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems for improved storage strategies for use of collections of storage resources, such as solid state drives, including in connection with a converged networking and storage node that may be used for virtualization of a collection of physically attached and/or network-connected storage resources.

Abstract: A point-of-sale system with a mobile payment feature includes an electronic display, one or more processors, and storage media storing a payment plugin to the point-of-sale system. The payment plugin sends ticket data representing a guest ticket over one or more data networks to an online service provider computer system; receives instruction from the service provider computer system to mark the guest ticket as designated for mobile payment; and causes user interface feedback on the electronic display that the guest ticket is to be paid via mobile payment. By doing so, the merchant is informed through their point-of-sale system that payment of the guest ticket will be facilitated by the online service provider. This alleviates the merchant from collecting payment from the guest before the guest leaves the merchant's premises and allows the guest to leave the premises as soon as the guest ticket is ready for mobile payment.

Abstract: An apparatus with flexible debug observation-points (DOPs) includes a pipeline that includes multiple stages. A number of DOPs is embedded in the stages, and a DOP memory is provided at an end of the pipeline. The DOP memory is configured to store data associated with each DOP. Each DOP includes a flop-based storage and is identifiable by a unique DOP-identification (ID) associated with that DOP. The DOPs allow shifting data through the DOPs to the DOP memory.

Abstract: Efficient deduplication for storage systems is disclosed, including: using the current data structure to track a set of deduplication data entries associated with a collection group; determining a flush criterion has been met; and storing the set of deduplication data entries of the current data structure as one or more persistent objects associated with the collection group in a persistent storage, wherein the one or more persistent objects are usable to update a set of persistently stored metadata associated with the collection group that tracks deduplication data entries generated before a previous merge operation.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems for improved storage strategies for use of collections of storage resources, such as solid state drives, including in connection with a converged networking and storage node that may be used for virtualization of a collection of physically attached and/or network-connected storage resources.

Abstract: Efficient recovery of deduplication data for high capacity systems is disclosed, including: reading from the data storage device a data structure that tracks a plurality of segments to which a plurality of persistent objects have been recently written, wherein segments are written to in a monotonically increasing numerical order; selecting a checkpoint segment from among the plurality of segments based at least in part on a plurality of segment numbers corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of segments; using the checkpoint segment and a segment associated with a latest available segment number to determine a set of candidate segments; reading at least a portion of the set of candidate segments to identify a data storage block for which a corresponding deduplication data entry is not already stored in persistently stored deduplication data entries; and storing a new deduplication data entry to insert a fingerprint associated with the data storage block in a current data structure stored in a memory

Abstract: An interactive and responsive presentation of spatially-associated information related to a user's environment based on the user's context is provided. Aspects of a 3D audio cloud system extract information about entities in the user's environment, and generate and provide the user with a 3D audio cloud that presents a spatial audio representation of entities in the user's environment that gives the user cues as to where the entities are located with respect to the user. An entity can be represented in a descriptive manner that provides the user with various types of information about the entity (e.g., shape, size, color, others' opinions, actions, emotions). Further, aspects of the 3D audio cloud system dynamically update the 3D audio cloud based on the user's location, position, or orientation, receive selection input from the user associated with the 3D audio cloud, and retrieve and present additional information as requested by the user.

Abstract: A system and method for optimized control of an assembly for drilling a borehole comprises a self-tuning, multivariable controller and an optimization engine that manipulates the setpoints of the controller such that drilling performance may be continuously optimized. The method includes evaluation of a characteristic system time constant, using this constant to compute bit ROP, using computed ROP to compute process gains, which are used to tune the multivariable controller, automatically refining controller setpoints based on controller performance, and using an optimization engine to systematically adjust controller setpoints such that drilling parameters are optimized based on any of several performance indicators, or a weighted combination of performance indicators.

Abstract: A system and method that allows an electronic pen to interact with projected content in midair without the need for a tangible surface. The pen has a holographic projector that is extendible into a position where it forms a holographic surface and a content projector that is oriented to project content onto the holographic surface formed by the holographic projector. The electronic pen body includes a slot dimensioned to house said holographic projector. The holographic projector can be connected to the pen by a mechanical linkage that locks the holographic projector into position. The electronic pen has sensors for detecting and measuring movement of the pen as well as detecting and measuring user contact with the pen to detect and respond to dynamic movements used to interact with the displayed content.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing assistance in scheduling a plurality of tasks pertaining to a project are described. The method may include obtaining information pertaining to each of the plurality of tasks associated with the project for scheduling execution of the plurality of tasks. Further, the method may include computing a certainty index and a controllability index for each of the plurality of tasks. The certainty index and the controllability index is computed based on corresponding certainty scores and controllability scores determined for each of the plurality of tasks. The method also includes distributing the plurality of tasks into quadrants based on a threshold value determined for the certainty index and the controllability index. In addition, the method may include generating a sequence of execution of the plurality of tasks of the project based on the division of the tasks.

Abstract: Buyer profile management is described herein. In an example, a payment processing service can store, in a database, buyer profiles associated with buyers involved in point-of-sale (POS) transactions with one or more merchants of the payment processing service. The payment processing service can receive transaction data associated with a new POS transaction between a buyer and a merchant and can determine whether the transaction data corresponds to any of the buyer profiles. Based at least in part on determining whether the transaction data corresponds to any of the buyer profiles, the payment processing service can update the database storing the buyer profiles, wherein updating the database comprises (i) associating the transaction data with an existing buyer profile, (ii) merging two or more buyer profiles, or (iii) adding a new buyer profile.

Abstract: A service provider may receive item price information and/or point of sale (POS) transaction information from a plurality of merchant devices associated with a plurality of merchants. The service provider may categorize the plurality of merchants according to the types of items offered by the respective merchants, and may further categorize the merchants according to the locations at which they conduct business. The service provider may subsequently determine a price recommendation or other pricing information for a particular item offered by a particular merchant. A merchant device of the particular merchant may present the pricing information in a user interface that enables the merchant to view projected sales at various different price points. Further, the merchant may be able to specify one or more factors used for determining the recommend price, such as a desired business model, a desired clientele, a desired profit margin, or the like.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a prediction are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a plurality of time-based documents; receiving a user query including a time period of interest defining a subset of the time-based documents from which to generate a prediction; and a plurality of cloud-based software agents classifying the subset of the plurality of time-based documents into a plurality of classes for the plurality entities, wherein the plurality of cloud-based software agents intercommunicate using distributed processing, wherein each of the plurality of cloud-based software agents is dedicated to one of the entities in the plurality of entities; and generating, using at least one machine learning method, the prediction based on the subset of the plurality of time-based documents for at least one of a plurality of categories. However, other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for providing items recommendations based on a state of a merchant device are described. For example, a determination of whether or not a merchant device is in an online mode or an offline mode may be made. When it is determined that the merchant device is in the online mode, a recommendation that is received for the current transaction may be presented. When it is determined that the merchant device is in the offline mode, a recommendation that is previously received may be presented. In other examples, other types of recommendations may be presented.

Abstract: Modified or recombinant microorganisms are provided herein that can be used to produce one or more amino acids, including, for example, methionine or one or more methionine biosynthetic pathway-derived intermediates or one or more methionine-based products.

Abstract: Mobile payments integrated with a booking system. In one embodiment, for example, a method in a service provider computer system is performed. The service provider computer system is communicatively coupled to a computing device of a user and a merchant point-of-sale computer by one or more data networks. The method comprises: receiving a request from the computing device of the user to pay a ticket open at the merchant point-of-sale computer; obtaining a current total ticket amount for the ticket from the merchant point-of-sale computer; determining an estimated total ticket amount based at least in part on the current total ticket amount; authorizing but not capturing payment of the estimated total ticket amount with a payment network gateway computer; after the ticket is closed at the merchant point-of-sale computer, obtaining a final total ticket amount for the ticket from the merchant point-of-sale computer; and capturing payment of the final total ticket amount with the payment network gateway computer.

Abstract: Mobile payments integrated with a booking system. In one embodiment, for example, a method in a service provider computer system is performed. The service provider computer system is communicatively coupled to a computing device of a user and a merchant point-of-sale computer by one or more data networks. The method comprises: receiving a request from the computing device of the user to pay a ticket open at the merchant point-of-sale computer; obtaining a current total ticket amount for the ticket from the merchant point-of-sale computer; determining an estimated total ticket amount based at least in part on the current total ticket amount; authorizing but not capturing payment of the estimated total ticket amount with a payment network gateway computer; after the ticket is closed at the merchant point-of-sale computer, obtaining a final total ticket amount for the ticket from the merchant point-of-sale computer; and capturing payment of the final total ticket amount with the payment network gateway computer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for audibly identifying an object indicated by a hand includes an electronic imager and an audio device. A processing system coupled to the imager and the audio device is configured to cause the imager to capture an image including the hand and the object. The processing system is also configured to process the captured image to identify and track the hand to identify the object indicated by the hand, to contextual assistance data with respect to the indicated object, to generate audio data describing the contextual assistance data, and to provide the generated audio data to the audio device.

Abstract: Efficient recovery of deduplication data for high capacity systems is disclosed, including: reading from the data storage device a data structure that tracks a plurality of segments to which a plurality of persistent objects have been recently written, wherein segments are written to in a monotonically increasing numerical order; selecting a checkpoint segment from among the plurality of segments based at least in part on a plurality of segment numbers corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of segments; using the checkpoint segment and a segment associated with a latest available segment number to determine a set of candidate segments; reading at least a portion of the set of candidate segments to identify a data storage block for which a corresponding deduplication data entry is not already stored in persistently stored deduplication data entries; and storing a new deduplication data entry to insert a fingerprint associated with the data storage block in a current data structure stored in a memory