Abstract: In a database system having a plurality of concurrently executing session processes, the method commences by establishing a master list of sequences, the master list comprising a plurality of sequence objects which in turn define a sequence of values used for numbering and other identification within the database system. To reduce sequence cache latch access contention, multiple tiers of latches are provided. Methods of the system provide a first tier having a first tier “global” latch to serialize access to the master list such that at any point in time, only one of the concurrently executing session processes is granted access to the master list, from which master list are allocated sequences on demand. A second tier of latches is provided, the second tier having multiple second tier latches to serialize access to corresponding allocated sequences of values such that at any point in time, only one of the concurrently executing session processes is granted access to the allocated sequence.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for instituting a viral marketing strategy. Participants in a social network are ascertained. Mutual influence of the participants in purchasing decisions is determined, and purchasing influence of products on one another is assessed. At least one seed is selected from the participants for maximizing purchasing influence of one product on another product, based on mutual influence of the participants on one another.

Abstract: A system and method that enables the collaborative creation and editing of content on a VoiceSite over a telephone. The system and method enables the collaborative creation and editing of content on the VoiceSite by allowing one or multiple users (authors) to generate and edit the content of the VoiceSite at the same or different times. A Collaboration Manager is utilized to manage calls to/from one or more users. A VoiGen component utilizes voice-activated prompts to allow the one or more users to perform at least one of specify user preferences, load templates, store user preferences and service options, parse through obtained data, and generate/edit the VoiceSite based on the inputs provided by the one or multiple users. A Session Manager stores user specific information and ensures that the content provided by multiple users, including edits/changes, is integrated without conflicts.

Abstract: A compression system configured to compress logical data objects into one or more accommodation blocks with a predefined size, and a method of operating thereof are provided. The compression system includes a compression engine capable of compressing input data with the help of sequential encoding one or more input strings and a counter operatively coupled to the compression engine. The counter is configured to keep its ongoing value indicative of a number of input bytes in one or more strings successfully encoded into a given accommodation block; and, responsive to unsuccessful compression of a string into the given accommodation block, to provide the compression engine with information indicative of starting point in the input stream for encoding into the next accommodation block, thus giving rise to a “start indication.

Abstract: A computing cluster may include servers that connect database servers. In one implementation, a server may receive a resource request from a client and extract a session identifier from the resource request. The server may determine, based on the session identifier, one of the database servers to use in fulfilling the resource request.

Abstract: A circuit includes an input node configured to receive a test address input signal and circuitry configured to generate, from a first part of the test address input signal, a first address signal that selects a first address of a first part of a circuit to be tested and further generate, from a second part of the test address input signal, a second signal configured to select a second part of the circuit to be tested. Test circuitry is then configured to use the first address and the second part in a test mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to sustained release compositions of alfuzosin or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof that include one or more functional layers. The functional layer includes alfuzosin or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic rate-controlling polymers.

Abstract: A wafer-scale nano-metrology system (10) for sensing position of a nanofabrication element (16) when illuminated by a patterned optical projection defining a grid or position measuring gauge includes a frequency stabilized laser emitter (12) configured to generate a laser emission at a selected frequency, where the laser emission forms a diverging beam configured to illuminate a selected area occupied by a target fabrication object (18) having a proximal surface. An optical pattern generator (14) is illuminated by laser (12) and generates a patterned optical projection grid or gauge for projection upon the target fabrication object (18). A movable tool or nanofabrication element (16) carries an optical sensor array (50), and the sensor array detect at least a portion of the optical projection grid, and, in response to that detection, generates grid position data for use in controlling the position of the tool (16).

Abstract: A method of pre-processing a defocused image of an object includes applying an object-based sharpening filter on the defocused image to produce a sharper image; and quantizing the sharper image using block-wise quantization. A system for generating decoded text data from alphanumeric information printed upon an object includes a camera that obtains image data of the alphanumeric information. The system also includes a pre-processor that (a) performs block-wise quantization of the image data to form conditioned image data, and (b) performs optical character recognition on the conditioned image data to generate the decoded text data.

Abstract: A device including a ready only memory to include component drivers for at least one component of the device, a controller to determine whether a bootable storage device includes at least one operating system, and an embedded application to select and load component drivers onto the device for at least one of the components before installing an operating system from the bootable storage device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing document compression. In some embodiments, the method includes converting a document into a grayscale image, for each gradient component of the grayscale image, creating a monochrome image region, determining pixel variation information for the monochrome image region, and selecting the monochrome image region for a binary mask if the pixel variation information satisfies dynamic threshold data and creating a compressed document using the binary mask.

Abstract: An originating transceiver node provides wireless service to a wireless communication device that is transmitting uplink signals within originating uplink time periods assigned to the originating transceiver node. A target transceiver node is assigned target uplink time periods for uplink communication from wireless communication devices receiving wireless service from the target transceiver node where the target uplink time periods are different from the originating uplink time periods. The target transceiver node monitors the originating uplink time periods and transmits a message if an uplink signal is received within an originating uplink time slot. In some circumstances, the target transceiver node sends the message only if a determination is made that the wireless communication device transmitting the uplink signal has a proximity to the target transceiver node that is less than a threshold.

Abstract: A mechanism for content download based on hashes is disclosed. A method of the invention includes receiving a request from a client computing device for a file stored at a server computing device and dividing the file into a plurality of chunks. In addition, the method includes, for each chunk of the plurality of chunks of the file, obtaining, by the server computing device, a hash for the chunk, sending, by the server computing device, the hash for the chunk to the client computing device, and after sending the hash, sending, by the server computing device, the chunk to the client computing device if such sending is enabled.

Abstract: A system and method of selecting a predefined Huffman dictionary from a bank of dictionaries. The dictionary selection mechanism of the present invention effectively breaks the built-in tradeoff between compression ratio and compression rate for both hardware and software compression implementations. A mechanism is provided for automatically creating a predefined Huffman dictionary for a set of input files. The dictionary selection mechanism achieves high compression rate and ratio leveraging predefined Huffman dictionaries and provides a mechanism for dynamically speculating which predefined dictionary to select per input data block, thereby achieving close to a dynamic Huffman ratio at a static Huffman rate. In addition, a feedback loop is used to monitor the ongoing performance of the preset currently selected for use by the hardware accelerator. If the current preset is not optimal it is replaced with an optimal preset.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system for detecting vulnerabilities in web applications is described. A method may comprise determining one or more values associated with a web application that flow to response data associated with the web application. The one or more values may be modifiable by unreliable input. The method may further comprise generating a representation of the response data associated with the web application. The method may additionally comprise determining one or more potentially vulnerable portions of the response data based upon, at least in part, the one or more values modifiable by the unreliable input that flow to the response data associated with the web application, and the representation of the response data associated with the web application.

Abstract: A host controller system monitors virtual machine hosts for a tuning event. Upon detecting a tuning event, the host controller system identifies at least one virtual machine potentially affected by the tuning event, and determines whether a corresponding guest operating system should be tuned (e.g., whether configuration parameters should be adjusted). If so, the host controller system obtains configuration data for the corresponding guest operating system and provides the configuration data to the corresponding guest operating system.

Abstract: A system and method to optimize mass transport vehicle routing based on additional ton-mile cost information are disclosed. In one embodiment, a starting location and a plurality of customer locations associated with a warehouse and a plurality of customers, respectively, are identified. Furthermore, a plurality of pairs of locations is identified using the starting location and plurality of customer locations. Mileage cost information and ton-mile cost information are then dynamically computed for each of the plurality of pairs of locations. In addition, sets of mass transport vehicle routes between the starting location and plurality of customer locations are dynamically determined using the pairs of locations and a number of vehicles to be used. Moreover, trip cost information is computed, in real-time, for each set of mass transport vehicle routes. Also, an optimized set of mass transport vehicle routes is determined, in real-time, using the trip cost information.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a command to store content at a persistent memory location is receive at a first computer system from a second computer system. The storage command was sent by the second system responsive to a directive from a user, and the location was identified to the user as a location for storage of printable content. The content is obtained, and stored in a raster processed format at the location. A command to print the processed content is received. The processed content is sent to a network-connected printer for printing in response to receipt of the print command.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system for detecting vulnerabilities in web applications is described. A method may comprise determining one or more values associated with a web application that flow to response data associated with the web application. The one or more values may be modifiable by unreliable input. The method may further comprise generating a representation of the response data associated with the web application. The method may additionally comprise determining one or more potentially vulnerable portions of the response data based upon, at least in part, the one or more values modifiable by the unreliable input that flow to the response data associated with the web application, and the representation of the response data associated with the web application.

Abstract: A system and method of selecting a predefined Huffman dictionary from a bank of dictionaries. The dictionary selection mechanism of the present invention effectively breaks the built-in tradeoff between compression ratio and compression rate for both hardware and software compression implementations. A mechanism is provided for automatically creating a predefined Huffman dictionary for a set of input files. The dictionary selection mechanism achieves high compression rate and ratio leveraging predefined Huffman dictionaries and provides a mechanism for dynamically speculating which predefined dictionary to select per input data block, thereby achieving close to a dynamic Huffman ratio at a static Huffman rate. In addition, a feedback loop is used to monitor the ongoing performance of the preset currently selected for use by the hardware accelerator. If the current preset is not optimal it is replaced with an optimal preset.