Abstract: A method for regression and time series forecasting includes obtaining a set of hierarchical time series, each time series in the set of hierarchical time series including a plurality of time series data values. The method includes determining, using the set of hierarchical time series, a basis regularization of the set of hierarchical time series and an embedding regularization of the set of hierarchical time series. The method also includes training a model using the set of hierarchical time series and a loss function based on the basis regularization and the embedding regularization. The method includes forecasting, using the trained model and one of the time series in the set of hierarchical time series, an expected time series data value in the one of the time series.

Abstract: A desalination system, including a membrane distillation portion, a solar power concentration portion, and a thermal vapor compression portion operationally connected to the membrane distillation portion and to the solar power concentration portion. The membrane distillation portion includes a first vessel having a first portion and a second portion separated by a hydrophobic membrane operationally connected therebetween and oriented to pass water from the first portion to the second portion, wherein the hydrophobic membrane further comprises a hydrophilic membrane and an air blocking layer connected to the hydrophilic membrane and disposed in the first portion, a vacuum gap adjacent the hydrophobic membrane and disposed in the second portion, a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet operationally connected to the first portion, and a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet operationally connected to the second portion.

Abstract: Location history data can be used to identify attributes for a known geographic location of a business listing record for a business. As an example, location history data is received from each of a plurality of client computing devices. For each device, the location history data identifies an arrival and departure times for the known geographic location as well as prior and next visit information. The location history data is used as input into a classifier in order to identify a set of attributes for the geographic location and corresponding likelihood values for each of the attributes of the set of attributes. A subset of the set of attributes is determined such that the attributes describe aspects of the known geographic location based on the likelihood values. This subset is provided to a client computing device in response to a request for information about the geographic location.

Abstract: Messages are collected and processed to determine topic identifiers that correspond to discussion groups. Queries are received and multiple discussion groups that are relevant to the query are determined based on the messages that are associated with the discussion groups and the topic identifiers associated with the discussion groups. The relevant discussion groups are ranked using a group preference model that simulates the behavior of a hypothetical seeker that considers discussion groups by selecting a message author who is an authority in a particular group, and exploring the discussion groups that are preferred by the selected author. The behavior of the seeker is simulated using a stationary Markov process and is used to generate a probability distribution that is used to rank the relevant discussion groups. The ranked relevant discussion groups are provided in response to the query.

Abstract: Messages are collected and processed to determine topic identifiers that correspond to discussion groups. Queries are received and multiple discussion groups that are relevant to the query are determined based on the messages that are associated with the discussion groups and the topic identifiers associated with the discussion groups. The relevant discussion groups are ranked using a group preference model that simulates the behavior of a hypothetical seeker that considers discussion groups by selecting a message author who is an authority in a particular group, and exploring the discussion groups that are preferred by the selected author. The behavior of the seeker is simulated using a stationary Markov process and is used to generate a probability distribution that is used to rank the relevant discussion groups. The ranked relevant discussion groups are provided in response to the query.

Abstract: Messages are collected and processed to determine topic identifiers that correspond to discussion groups. Queries are received and multiple discussion groups that are relevant to the query are determined based on the messages that are associated with the discussion groups and the topic identifiers associated with the discussion groups. The relevant discussion groups are ranked using a group preference model that simulates the behavior of a hypothetical seeker that considers discussion groups by selecting a message author who is an authority in a particular group, and exploring the discussion groups that are preferred by the selected author. The behavior of the seeker is simulated using a stationary Markov process and is used to generate a probability distribution that is used to rank the relevant discussion groups. The ranked relevant discussion groups are provided in response to the query.

Abstract: One or more systems and/or techniques are provided for obtaining content based upon an aspect of an entity. An entity aspect evaluation model is trained based upon burstiness, diversity, and/or uniqueness indicator information for a phrase as relates to an entity, which indicates how likely the phrase is an aspect of the entity (e.g., how likely an “engine fire recall” phrase is as an aspect of a sports car entity). Phrases within social network data (e.g., microblog messages) are evaluated utilizing the trained entity aspect evaluation model to identify whether such phrases are aspects of the entity. Responsive to determining that a phrase is an aspect of the entity, content is obtained (e.g., search results are provided) based upon the aspect. Because the content is obtained based upon a phrase from social network data, the content may pertain to a fresh or trending topic (e.g., due to current social commentary).

Abstract: Messages are collected and processed to determine topic identifiers that correspond to discussion groups. Queries are received and multiple discussion groups that are relevant to the query are determined based on the messages that are associated with the discussion groups and the topic identifiers associated with the discussion groups. The relevant discussion groups are ranked using a group preference model that simulates the behavior of a hypothetical seeker that considers discussion groups by selecting a message author who is an authority in a particular group, and exploring the discussion groups that are preferred by the selected author. The behavior of the seeker is simulated using a stationary Markov process and is used to generate a probability distribution that is used to rank the relevant discussion groups. The ranked relevant discussion groups are provided in response to the query.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for providing a discussion summary corresponding to a search query and/or for providing discussion session search results. For example, discussion data (e.g., corresponding to real-time messaging, such as a microblog discussion) may be evaluated to identify a discussion topic for a discussion sessions (e.g., a kitchen renovation topic may be assigned to a 1 hour exchange of kitchen renovation messages by a discussion group). A discussion summary of a discussion session may be provided based upon the discussion session having a discussion topic corresponding to a search query topic of a search query. The discussion summary may be provided along with other results for the query and may describe the discussion group, identifiers such as hashtags used by the discussion group, meeting dates/times, average number(s) of participants, other discussion sessions hosted by the discussion group, future discussion sessions, and/or other information.

Abstract: There are disclosed systems and methods for detecting and controlling congestion in an Optical Line Terminal (OLT). The OLT has a plurality of ports. Each port of the plurality of ports communicates with at least one Optical Network Unit (ONU), and each port of the plurality of ports has a respective enforced maximum upstream bandwidth. For example, the maximum upstream bandwidth may be enforced by a Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation (DBA) algorithm. The OLT further includes an uplink port through which data received from each of the plurality of ports are transmitted. In one embodiment, if there is congestion of the data at the uplink port, then the enforced maximum upstream bandwidth for at least one port of the plurality of ports is modified.

Abstract: A method of operation of a network transport system includes: determining a congestion mode based on a total bandwidth request meeting or exceeding a bandwidth threshold, where the congestion mode indicates a level of network traffic and the total bandwidth request is a sum of all bandwidth requests for accessing the network; calculating a fixed information rate schedule grant based on a fixed information rate list to create a bandwidth grant for a fixed information rate request; calculating a low latency schedule grant based on a low latency list to create the bandwidth grant for a low latency request; calculating a main schedule grant for allocating an available bandwidth based on the congestion mode, where the main schedule grant is calculated using a weighted maximum-minimum fairness method when the congestion mode indicates congestion; and generating a grant packet for defining a transmission schedule of a first network unit.

Abstract: There are disclosed systems and methods for detecting and controlling congestion in an Optical Line Terminal (OLT). The OLT has a plurality of ports. Each port of the plurality of ports communicates with at least one Optical Network Unit (ONU), and each port of the plurality of ports has a respective enforced maximum upstream bandwidth. For example, the maximum upstream bandwidth may be enforced by a Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation (DBA) algorithm. The OLT further includes an uplink port through which data received from each of the plurality of ports are transmitted. In one embodiment, if there is congestion of the data at the uplink port, then the enforced maximum upstream bandwidth for at least one port of the plurality of ports is modified.

Abstract: A method of operation of a network transport system includes: determining a congestion mode based on a total bandwidth request meeting or exceeding a bandwidth threshold, where the congestion mode indicates a level of network traffic and the total bandwidth request is a sum of all bandwidth requests for accessing the network; calculating a fixed information rate schedule grant based on a fixed information rate list to create a bandwidth grant for a fixed information rate request; calculating a low latency schedule grant based on a low latency list to create the bandwidth grant for a low latency request; calculating a main schedule grant for allocating an available bandwidth based on the congestion mode, where the main schedule grant is calculated using a weighted maximum-minimum fairness method when the congestion mode indicates congestion; and generating a grant packet for defining a transmission schedule of a first network unit.

Abstract: For each packet for a subscriber, a policer or method: compares the number of bytes available to the subscriber to the size of the packet; if the size is less than or equal to the number of bytes, passes the packet; if the size is larger than the number of bytes available and a priority of the packet is a first priority, processes the packet as non-conforming; if the size is larger than the number of bytes available and the priority is a second priority, and if allowing the packet to be passed will result in a deficit not exceeding a predetermined deficit value, passes the packet; and if the size is larger than the number of bytes available and the priority is the second priority, and if allowing the packet to be passed will result in a deficit exceeding the predetermined deficit value, processes the packet as non-conforming.

Abstract: A method and integrated hardware system for dynamic bandwidth allocation in EPONs which—in sharp contrast to the prior art—provides superior upstream transmission characteristics including QoS considerations consistent with any Service Level Agreement that exists between a customer and a service provider. Advantageously, our inventive method and system for dynamic bandwidth allocation provides fair and efficient upstream bandwidth management in addition to enhanced traffic performance for customer traffic within the EPON. For a service provider, our invention permits the deployment of intelligent traffic management and QoS characteristics capable of supporting existing or novel voice, video, and data services over the EPON.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a system and method of implementing peer model architecture in integrated optical networks. In one embodiment, heterogeneous domains of nodes share a common control plane via routing and signaling adjacencies established through a network layer control channel. For example, in one embodiment, one or more Internet Protocol (IP) compliant routers, one or more Time Domain Multiplexing (TDM) switches, and one or more Wave Division Multiplexing (WDM) optical cross connects (OXC) run a common instance of an Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP).

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a system and method of implementing peer model architecture in integrated optical networks. In one embodiment, heterogeneous domains of nodes share a common control plane via routing and signaling adjacencies established through a network layer control channel. For example, in one embodiment, one or more Internet Protocol (IP) compliant routers, one or more Time Domain Multiplexing (TDM) switches, and one or more Wave Division Multiplexing (WDM) optical cross connects (OXC) run a common instance of an Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP).

Abstract: A method and integrated hardware system for dynamic bandwidth allocation in EPONs which—in sharp contrast to the prior art—provides superior upstream transmission characteristics including QoS considerations consistent with any Service Level Agreement that exists between a customer and a service provider. Advantageously, our inventive method and system for dynamic bandwidth allocation provides fair and efficient upstream bandwidth management in addition to enhanced traffic performance for customer traffic within the EPON. For a service provider, our invention permits the deployment of intelligent traffic management and QoS characteristics capable of supporting existing or novel voice, video, and data services over the EPON.