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: 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: 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: In some embodiments, a switch module is configured to receive from a first edge device a multicast data unit having a VLAN identifier. The switch module is configured to select a set of port modules based on the VLAN identifier. The switch module is configured to define an unmodified instance of the multicast data unit for each port module from the set of port modules. The switch module is configured to send the unmodified instance of the multicast data unit to each port module from the set of port modules, such that each port module applies a filter to the received instance of the multicast data unit to restrict that received instance of the multicast data unit from being sent to a second edge device via that port module if the second edge device is associated with a VLAN domain different than a VLAN domain of the first edge device.

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: A modular search object framework provides modular search results including entity and non-entity search results. The framework includes circuitry that outputs an interactive entity section based on an online search. The interactive section includes a plurality of moveable visual objects, such as cards that can be shuffled, flipped, or swiped around.

Abstract: Provided herein are microorganisms that include one or more heterologous nucleic acid selected from the group of a sequence encoding a 7-methylxanthosine synthase, a sequence encoding a theobromine synthase; and a sequence encoding a caffeine synthase, where the microorganism is capable of producing one or more purine alkaloid in a culture medium, when the microorganism is cultured under conditions sufficient to produce the one or more purine alkaloid. Also provided compositions and kits that include at least one of these microorganisms, and methods of producing one or more purine alkaloid that include culturing one of these microorganisms under conditions sufficient to produce the one or more purine alkaloid.

Abstract: A service provider may receive transaction information from a plurality of merchant devices for a plurality of point of sale transactions conducted between buyers and merchants. The service provider can associate the transaction information with respective buyer profiles of a plurality of buyer profiles. In some examples, the service provider may determine a subset of the buyer profiles based on at least a portion of the buyer profiles in the subset including transaction information that is related to a particular one of the merchants. The service provider may further determine at least one characteristic associated with at least some of the buyer profiles in the subset, and may send a recommendation to the particular merchant related to the at least one characteristic. As an example, the recommendation may be for improving or optimizing the business of the particular merchant.

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: A modular search object framework provides modular search results including entity and non-entity search results. The framework includes circuitry that outputs an interactive entity section based on an online search. The interactive section includes a plurality of moveable visual objects, such as cards that can be shuffled, flipped, or swiped around.

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 method of managing a cardless payment transaction between a customer and a merchant includes receiving, from a device of a customer, an indication of consent to join the customer to a cardless payment transaction, where the cardless payment transaction is between one or more other customers and the merchant; receiving from the customer device, location data indicating that the customer device is in proximity with the merchant; joining the customer with the cardless payment transaction between the one or more other customers and the merchant; receiving transaction data between the merchant and each customer; and submitting, for each customer associated with the cardless payment transaction, a transaction between the merchant and the customer to a financial service for authorization.

Abstract: A service provider may receive transaction information from a plurality of merchant devices for a plurality of point of sale (POS) transactions conducted between buyers and merchants. The service provider associates the transaction information with respective buyer profiles. The service provider may subsequently receive an indication of a first item selected by a particular buyer for a current POS transaction being conducted with a particular merchant. The service provider may determine a particular buyer profile to associate with the current transaction. Based at least in part on the particular buyer profile or the other buyer profiles, the service provider may determine a second item that has been purchased frequently together with the first item. The service provider sends a communication to the particular merchant to indicate that the particular merchant may wish to offer the second item to the particular buyer for inclusion in the current transaction.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for processing payment events. One of the systems includes one or more processing engines configured to periodically retrieve information from a payment event feed that comprises a list of payment events in an order, and a server configured to perform a sequence of steps for a payment transaction, the sequence of steps including receiving a request for authorization of the payment transaction from a merchant, receiving an indication that the payment transaction has been authorized, and sending authorization to the merchant for the payment transaction without receiving acknowledgment that the one or more transaction processing engines have received the request for authorization, wherein the server is configured to record completion of each step in the sequence of steps as a payment event in the list of payment events to generate the payment event feed.

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: 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: In some embodiments, a switch module is configured to receive from a first edge device a multicast data unit having a VLAN identifier. The switch module is configured to select a set of port modules based on the VLAN identifier. The switch module is configured to define an unmodified instance of the multicast data unit for each port module from the set of port modules. The switch module is configured to send the unmodified instance of the multicast data unit to each port module from the set of port modules, such that each port module applies a filter to the received instance of the multicast data unit to restrict that received instance of the multicast data unit from being sent to a second edge device via that port module if the second edge device is associated with a VLAN domain different than a VLAN domain of the first edge device.

Abstract: A real time video stream production system includes: (a) an advertising insertion server receiving over a wide area network a real time video stream; and (b) an advertising controller, which receives the real time video stream from the advertising insertion server. The advertising controller has a user interface which allows an operator to cause advertising impression data available from an advertising server to be included in a modified video data stream presented to a media player client for display.