Abstract: The present invention is a semiconductor device having a defect blocking region. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a defect source region, a semiconductor layer and a defect blocking region. The defect source region is on the substrate, wherein the defect source region is a metamorphic buffer layer or a buffer layer, the semiconductor layer over the defect source region, wherein a lattice constant of the semiconductor layer is different from a lattice constant of the substrate. The defect blocking region is disposed on the substrate and below the semiconductor layer, wherein the defect blocking region includes a superlattice structure, wherein at least one of two adjacent layers of the superlattice structure has strain relative to the semiconductor layer, or a lattice constant of the superlattice structure is close to or equal to the lattice constant of the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: Techniques for operating an autonomous retail system (ARS) are discussed herein. An ARS may include input devices, output devices, input-output (I/O) devices, and an inventory of items. The ARS may send or receive connection request with user equipment, such as a mobile device, and a connection may be established between the user equipment and the ARS. Techniques for identifying and authenticating the user equipment are discussed herein. The ARS may cause a display of the inventory of items on a display of the user equipment. The display of the ARS may be mirrored on the display of the user equipment. A user, via the user equipment, may provide indication(s) including a selection of an action such as a purchase action and selection of an item based on the action. Based on the indication(s), the ARS may dispense the item to the user. Scheduling techniques are discussed for the ARS to provide service to multiple customers.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a health engine that monitors and modifies customer-premises equipment (CPE) devices. The health engine can detect patterns in CPE device behavior, identify problems with CPE devices, and adjust CPE device configurations proactively or reactively to address problems or prevent problems. In some implementations, the health engine can instruct a CPE device or gateway to restart, update its software or firmware, notify a user of the CPE device of an unhealthy behavior pattern in a CPE device. The health engine can modify a CPE device prior to a user using the device or when the CPE device is inactive.

Abstract: An autonomous retail system (ARS) can provide a convenient way for a manufacturer or vendor to sell products or services, and an equally convenient way for a customer to find and purchase the same. Users of an ARS may make concurrent orders via a user device for concurrent transaction processing by the ARS. An ARS may determine whether another ARS may be better suited to transact an order if the other ARS has fewer users waiting to place orders. In some embodiments, a map to the better-suited ARS may be presented by the ARS or provided for the user device to present. The map may include an indication of the better-suited ARS(es) and paths to them.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a health engine that monitors and modifies customer-premises equipment (CPE) devices. The health engine can detect patterns in CPE device behavior, identify problems with CPE devices, and adjust CPE device configurations proactively or reactively to address problems or prevent problems. In some implementations, the health engine can instruct a CPE device or gateway to restart, update its software or firmware, notify a user of the CPE device of an unhealthy behavior pattern in a CPE device. The health engine can modify a CPE device prior to a user using the device or when the CPE device is inactive.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a health engine that monitors and modifies customer-premises equipment (CPE) devices. The health engine can detect patterns in CPE device behavior, identify problems with CPE devices, and adjust CPE device configurations proactively or reactively to address problems or prevent problems. In some implementations, the health engine can instruct a CPE device or gateway to restart, update its software or firmware, notify a user of the CPE device of an unhealthy behavior pattern in a CPE device. The health engine can modify a CPE device prior to a user using the device or when the CPE device is inactive.

Abstract: Techniques for operating an autonomous retail system (ARS) are discussed herein. An ARS may include input devices, output devices, input-output (I/O) devices, and an inventory of items. The ARS may send or receive connection request with user equipment, such as a mobile device, and a connection may be established between the user equipment and the ARS. Techniques for identifying and authenticating the user equipment are discussed herein. The ARS may cause a display of the inventory of items on a display of the user equipment. The display of the ARS may be mirrored on the display of the user equipment. A user, via the user equipment, may provide indication(s) including a selection of an action such as a purchase action and selection of an item based on the action. Based on the indication(s), the ARS may dispense the item to the user. Scheduling techniques are discussed for the ARS to provide service to multiple customers.

Abstract: Systems and method are described herein for self-serve retail locations (e.g., interactive vending machines or kiosks) that are capable of handling the distribution, collection, and diagnosis of mobile devices in an on-demand manner. The self-serve retail locations may operate continuously (e.g., 24 hours a day, seven days a week). The mobile devices that are rentable and/or purchasable from the self-serve retail location may be equipped and/or activated with service plans (e.g., call, messaging, and/or data plans) offered by a local telecommunications service provider. The service plans may be pre-configured or may be customized in real-time by a user. The self-service retail locations may operate without human intervention, and may be deployed with minimal overhead at several destinations with a much smaller footprint than typical retail locations. A user may access the self-serve retail location to rent and/or purchase mobile devices as well as return previously rented and/or purchased mobile devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically recognizing a user equipment (UE) associated with a person who enters a storefront are disclosed. A modified small cell (such as a femtocell or picocell) extracts, from a request to register or initiate a handover procedure, information identifying the user equipment (e.g., IMEI) and information indicating the identity of a user profile associated with the user equipment (e.g., IMSI). The IMEI and IMSI may be used to query a mobile carrier Home Subscriber Service (HSS) database to obtain customer information associated with the IMEI and IMSI data. The customer information may be used to query a database of the storefront to generate inventory information, such as promotional information or other marketing or sales information, which may be transmitted to the user equipment for display.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a health engine that monitors and modifies customer-premises equipment (CPE) devices. The health engine can detect patterns in CPE device behavior, identify problems with CPE devices, and adjust CPE device configurations proactively or reactively to address problems or prevent problems. In some implementations, the health engine can instruct a CPE device or gateway to restart, update its software or firmware, notify a user of the CPE device of an unhealthy behavior pattern in a CPE device. The health engine can modify a CPE device prior to a user using the device or when the CPE device is inactive.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically recognizing a user equipment (UE) associated with a person who enters a storefront are disclosed. A modified small cell (such as a femtocell or picocell) extracts, from a request to register or initiate a handover procedure, information identifying the user equipment (e.g., IMEI) and information indicating the identity of a user profile associated with the user equipment (e.g., IMSI). The IMEI and IMSI may be used to query a mobile carrier Home Subscriber Service (HSS) database to obtain customer information associated with the IMEI and IMSI data. The customer information may be used to query a database of the storefront to generate inventory information, such as promotional information or other marketing or sales information, which may be transmitted to the user equipment for display.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a health engine that monitors and modifies customer-premises equipment (CPE) devices. The health engine can detect patterns in CPE device behavior, identify problems with CPE devices, and adjust CPE device configurations proactively or reactively to address problems or prevent problems. In some implementations, the health engine can instruct a CPE device or gateway to restart, update its software or firmware, notify a user of the CPE device of an unhealthy behavior pattern in a CPE device. The health engine can modify a CPE device prior to a user using the device or when the CPE device is inactive.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a health engine that monitors and modifies customer-premises equipment (CPE) devices. The health engine can detect patterns in CPE device behavior, identify problems with CPE devices, and adjust CPE device configurations proactively or reactively to address problems or prevent problems. In some implementations, the health engine can instruct a CPE device or gateway to restart, update its software or firmware, notify a user of the CPE device of an unhealthy behavior pattern in a CPE device. The health engine can modify a CPE device prior to a user using the device or when the CPE device is inactive.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a health engine that monitors and modifies customer-premises equipment (CPE) devices. The health engine can detect patterns in CPE device behavior, identify problems with CPE devices, and adjust CPE device configurations proactively or reactively to address problems or prevent problems. In some implementations, the health engine can instruct a CPE device or gateway to restart, update its software or firmware, notify a user of the CPE device of an unhealthy behavior pattern in a CPE device. The health engine can modify a CPE device prior to a user using the device or when the CPE device is inactive.

Abstract: Systems and method are described herein for self-serve retail locations (e.g., interactive vending machines or kiosks) that are capable of handling the distribution, collection, and diagnosis of mobile devices in an on-demand manner. The self-serve retail locations may operate continuously (e.g., 24 hours a day, seven days a week). The mobile devices that are rentable and/or purchasable from the self-serve retail location may be equipped and/or activated with service plans (e.g., call, messaging, and/or data plans) offered by a local telecommunications service provider. The service plans may be pre-configured or may be customized in real-time by a user. The self-service retail locations may operate without human intervention, and may be deployed with minimal overhead at several destinations with a much smaller footprint than typical retail locations. A user may access the self-serve retail location to rent and/or purchase mobile devices as well as return previously rented and/or purchased mobile devices.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a health engine that monitors and modifies customer-premises equipment (CPE) devices. The health engine can detect patterns in CPE device behavior, identify problems with CPE devices, and adjust CPE device configurations proactively or reactively to address problems or prevent problems. In some implementations, the health engine can instruct a CPE device or gateway to restart, update its software or firmware, notify a user of the CPE device of an unhealthy behavior pattern in a CPE device. The health engine can modify a CPE device prior to a user using the device or when the CPE device is inactive.

Abstract: A fibre channel proxy proxies storage operations in a fibre channel storage network. A first set of fibre channel proxy ports are configured to receive storage operations from one or more initiators. A second set of fibre channel proxy ports are configured to forward the storage operations to one or more storage targets. Fibre channel port identifiers for the storage targets are used to communicate with the initiators during the storage operations over the first set of fibre channel proxy ports. Fibre channel port identifiers for the initiators are used to communicate with the storage targets during the storage operations over the second set of fibre channel proxy ports. This scheme allows the fibre channel to operate transparently in the fibre channel network.

Abstract: A fibre channel proxy proxies storage operations in a fibre channel storage network. A first set of fibre channel proxy ports are configured to receive storage operations from one or more initiators. A second set of fibre channel proxy ports are configured to forward the storage operations to one or more storage targets. Fibre channel port identifiers for the storage targets are used to communicate with the initiators during the storage operations over the first set of fibre channel proxy ports. Fibre channel port identifiers for the initiators are used to communicate with the storage targets during the storage operations over the second set of fibre channel proxy ports. This scheme allows the fibre channel to operate transparently in the fibre channel network.

Abstract: A user-mode device driver architecture is provided by the subject invention. The architecture includes a reflector, a driver manager and a host process which hosts and isolates one or more user-mode device driver(s). The user-mode device driver runs in the user-mode (UM) environment and has access to various UM services. The reflector resides in “kernel memory” (e.g., memory/resource(s) available to operating system) while the driver manager, host process and user mode device driver(s) are located in user space (e.g., memory/resource(s) available to user application(s)). The reflector provides a secure, stable communication path for application(s), the host process and/or user-mode device driver(s) to communicate with the operating system. The reflector can redirect input/output (I/O) request(s) from application(s) to the user-mode device driver(s) via the host process. The driver manager can create the host process (e.g.

Abstract: A host process for use in a user-mode device driver architecture is provided by the subject invention. The architecture includes a reflector, a driver manager and the host process which hosts and isolates one or more user-mode device driver(s). The user-mode device driver runs in the user-mode (UM) environment and has access to various UM services. The reflector resides in “kernel memory” (e.g., memory/resource(s) available to operating system) while the driver manager, host process and user mode device driver(s) are located in user space (e.g., memory/resource(s) available to user application(s)). The host process can include a host runtime component and a framework component. The host runtime component is responsible for building a driver stack object, and, locating/loading object(s) of a framework component. The host runtime component further includes a message handler that facilitates communication with the reflector and routes information to components of the host process.