Abstract: A method of making a homogeneous mixture of polyolefin solids and liquid additive without melting the polyolefin solids during the making. The method comprises applying acoustic energy at a frequency of from 20 to 100 hertz to a heterogeneous mixture comprising the polyolefin solids and the liquid additive for a period of time sufficient to substantially intermix the polyolefin solids and the liquid additive together and while maintaining temperature of the heterogeneous mixture above the freezing point of the at least one liquid additive and below the melting temperature of the polyolefin solids, thereby making the homogeneous mixture without melting the polyolefin solids.

Abstract: A method of making a homogeneous mixture of polyolefin solids and a particulate solid additive without melting the polyolefin solids or the particulate solid additive during the making. The method comprises applying acoustic energy at a frequency of from 20 to 100 hertz to a heterogeneous mixture comprising the polyolefin solids and the particulate solid additive for a period of time sufficient to substantially intermix the polyolefin solids and the particulate solid additive together and while maintaining temperature of the heterogeneous mixture below the melting point of the at least one particulate solid additive and below the melting temperature of the polyolefin solids, thereby making the homogeneous mixture without melting the polyolefin solids or the at least one particulate solid additive.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for slewing a light beam axis directly between points on the ground. One method involves determining a first position associated with a beam axis of a lighting arrangement in a Cartesian reference frame based on an initial orientation of the lighting arrangement in a spherical reference frame, determining an adjustment for the lighting arrangement in the Cartesian reference frame in response to a user input, determining an updated position for the beam axis in the Cartesian reference frame based on the first position and the adjustment in the Cartesian reference frame, transforming the updated position for the beam axis in the Cartesian reference frame to an updated orientation of the lighting arrangement in the spherical reference frame, and concurrently commanding actuators associated with the lighting arrangement to slew the lighting arrangement from the initial orientation to the updated orientation in the spherical reference frame.

Abstract: A storage system and method for improving utilization of a communication channel between a host and the storage system are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided that is performed in a storage system in communication with a host via a communication channel. The method comprises determining utilization of the communication channel; and selecting a command for execution from a queue based at least in part on the determined utilization of the communication channel. The command can be selected also based on at least one other factor and based on a weighted priority-based function. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A storage system and method for improving utilization of a communication channel between a host and the storage system are provided. In one embodiment, a host sends a request for workload pattern information to the data storage device, and the data storage device provides the requested workload pattern information to the host. Based on that workload pattern information, the host queues commands to be sent to the data storage device to improve utilization of the communication channel between the host and the data storage device. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A storage system and method for improving utilization of a communication channel between a host and the storage system are provided. In one embodiment, a host sends a request for workload pattern information to the data storage device, and the data storage device provides the requested workload pattern information to the host. Based on that workload pattern information, the host queues commands to be sent to the data storage device to improve utilization of the communication channel between the host and the data storage device. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: Aspects of a storage device are provided which use flow control to prevent stalling during processing of read requests for a large read command. A controller of the storage device receives a read command for data from a host device, stores in a queue read requests for a portion of the data, and reads the portion of the data from a memory based on the read requests. The controller may store other read requests in the queue for other portions of the data when a number of read requests in the queue does not meet a threshold. Otherwise, the controller refrains from storing other read requests in the queue for other portions of the data when the number of read requests in the queue meets the threshold. The controller may operate similarly with subsequent sequential commands, but may continue to store read requests in the queue for subsequent random commands.

Abstract: This disclosure presents a technique to include a packet sequence number and an integrity check value (ICV) into a data frame while maintaining a total number of transmitted bytes. A transmitting device includes circuitry that generates the ICV, inserts a transmitter packet sequence number into the data frame that includes a data packet including a payload, the data packet following a preamble and an interpacket gap (IPG) following the data packet. The circuitry also inserts the ICV into the data frame, and transmits the data frame, wherein inserting the ICV into the data frame reduces a size of the IPG while maintaining a total number of bytes in the data frame. A receiving device includes circuitry that receives the data frame, compares a receiver packet sequence number to the transmitter packet sequence number, and determines whether the transmitter packet sequence number is valid based on the receiver packet sequence number.

Abstract: Aspects of a storage device are provided which use flow control to prevent stalling during processing of read requests for a large read command. A controller of the storage device receives a read command for data from a host device, stores in a queue read requests for a portion of the data, and reads the portion of the data from a memory based on the read requests. The controller may store other read requests in the queue for other portions of the data when a number of read requests in the queue does not meet a threshold. Otherwise, the controller refrains from storing other read requests in the queue for other portions of the data when the number of read requests in the queue meets the threshold. The controller may operate similarly with subsequent sequential commands, but may continue to store read requests in the queue for subsequent random commands.

Abstract: A storage system and method for improving utilization of a communication channel between a host and the storage system are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided that is performed in a storage system in communication with a host via a communication channel. The method comprises determining utilization of the communication channel; and selecting a command for execution from a queue based at least in part on the determined utilization of the communication channel. The command can be selected also based on at least one other factor and based on a weighted priority-based function. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a data storage apparatus that includes a non-volatile memory (NVM) and a controller. The NVM includes a first NVM portion and a second NVM portion. The first NVM portion includes a plurality of first cell types. The first NVM portion includes a first sub-portion that is allocated to store file management data. The second NVM portion includes a plurality of second cell types. The controller is coupled to the NVM. The controller is configured to receive a plurality of payload data and a plurality of file management data; store the plurality of file management data at the first sub-portion of the first NVM portion; and store the plurality of payload data at the NVM.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling garbage collection in solid state devices (SSDs) are provided. Once such apparatus includes a non-volatile memory (NVM), and a controller communicatively coupled to a host device and the NVM, and configured to calculate an invalidation factor for each of a plurality of blocks in the NVM, wherein the invalidation factor is determined based on a percentage of invalid pages in a respective block of the plurality of blocks and a most recent time of invalidation of one or more pages in the respective block; classify each block of the plurality of blocks into one of three categories based on the calculated invalidation factor; and perform a garbage collection operation for the NVM, wherein the garbage collection operation includes selecting a source block for the garbage collection operation based on the classifications of the plurality of blocks.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a data storage apparatus that includes a non-volatile memory (NVM) and a controller. The NVM includes a first NVM portion and a second NVM portion. The first NVM portion includes a plurality of first cell types. The first NVM portion includes a first sub-portion that is allocated to store file management data. The second NVM portion includes a plurality of second cell types. The controller is coupled to the NVM. The controller is configured to receive a plurality of payload data and a plurality of file management data; store the plurality of file management data at the first sub-portion of the first NVM portion; and store the plurality of payload data at the NVM.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling garbage collection in solid state devices (SSDs) are provided. Once such apparatus includes a non-volatile memory (NVM), and a controller communicatively coupled to a host device and the NVM, and configured to calculate an invalidation factor for each of a plurality of blocks in the NVM, wherein the invalidation factor is determined based on a percentage of invalid pages in a respective block of the plurality of blocks and a most recent time of invalidation of one or more pages in the respective block; classify each block of the plurality of blocks into one of three categories based on the calculated invalidation factor; and perform a garbage collection operation for the NVM, wherein the garbage collection operation includes selecting a source block for the garbage collection operation based on the classifications of the plurality of blocks.

Abstract: This disclosure presents a technique to include a packet sequence number and an integrity check value (ICV) into a data frame while maintaining a total number of transmitted bytes. A transmitting device includes circuitry that generates the ICV, inserts a transmitter packet sequence number into the data frame that includes a data packet including a payload, the data packet following a preamble and an interpacket gap (IPG) following the data packet. The circuitry also inserts the ICV into the data frame, and transmits the data frame, wherein inserting the ICV into the data frame reduces a size of the IPG while maintaining a total number of bytes in the data frame. A receiving device includes circuitry that receives the data frame, compares a receiver packet sequence number to the transmitter packet sequence number, and determines whether the transmitter packet sequence number is valid based on the receiver packet sequence number.

Abstract: Subscriber management and network service integration for an access network is described in which a centralized controller provides seamless end-to-end service from a network to access nodes. For example, a method includes dynamically establishing a control channel between the centralized controller and an access node, and establishing a transport label switched path (LSP) transport network packets between the access node and the network node. The access node sends, via the control channel, an endpoint indication message that indicates that an endpoint that has joined the network at the access node. The access node receives a pseudo wire request message via the control channel to install forwarding state for creating a pseudo wire for providing one or more network services to the endpoint. The access node receives a direct switch message via the control channel to configure the access node to map traffic received from the endpoint to the pseudo wire.

Abstract: Dynamic control channel establishment for an access network is described in which a centralized controller provides seamless end-to-end service from a core-facing edge of a network to access nodes. For example, a method includes receiving, by the centralized controller, a discover message originating from a network node, which includes an intermediate node list that specifies a plurality of network nodes the discover message traversed from the network node to an edge node, determining, based on the plurality of nodes specified by the discover message, a path from the edge node to the network node, allocating each of a plurality of Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) labels to a respective outgoing interface of each of the plurality of network nodes, and outputting one or more control messages for configuring the network node, wherein the control messages are encapsulated within a label stack comprising the allocated plurality of labels.

Abstract: An access network is described in which a centralized controller provides seamless end-to-end service from a core-facing edge of a service provider network through aggregation and access infrastructure out to access nodes located proximate the subscriber devices. The controller operates to provide a central configuration point for configuring aggregation nodes (AGs) of a network of the service provider so as to provide transport services to transport traffic between access nodes (AXs) and edge routers on opposite borders of the network.

Abstract: Dynamic control channel establishment for an access network is described in which a centralized controller provides seamless end-to-end service from a core-facing edge of a network to access nodes. For example, a method includes receiving, by the centralized controller, a discover message originating from a network node, which includes an intermediate node list that specifies a plurality of network nodes the discover message traversed from the network node to an edge node, determining, based on the plurality of nodes specified by the discover message, a path from the edge node to the network node, allocating each of a plurality of Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) labels to a respective outgoing interface of each of the plurality of network nodes, and outputting one or more control messages for configuring the network node, wherein the control messages are encapsulated within a label stack comprising the allocated plurality of labels.

Abstract: Dynamic control channel establishment for an access network is described in which a centralized controller provides seamless end-to-end service from a core-facing edge of a network to access nodes. For example, a method includes receiving, by the centralized controller, a discover message originating from a network node, which includes an intermediate node list that specifies a plurality of network nodes the discover message traversed from the network node to an edge node, determining, based on the plurality of nodes specified by the discover message, a path from the edge node to the network node, allocating each of a plurality of Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) labels to a respective outgoing interface of each of the plurality of network nodes, and outputting one or more control messages for configuring the network node, wherein the control messages are encapsulated within a label stack comprising the allocated plurality of labels.