Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for game play in three dimensions at a golf driving range. For the disclosed embodiments, virtual targets are used in combination with real-world physical reference points associated with the golf driving range to allow three dimensional (3D) virtual targeting and game play. The physical playing field includes not just the horizontal field, but also the 3D space above and beyond the field, as well as vertical surfaces such as walls, nets, ceiling and also dynamic vertical surfaces such as a projectable steam wall and/or other dynamic vertical surfaces. By combining virtual targets and real-world reference points, the disclosed embodiments provide a wide range of entertainment and games at a golf driving range that are based on the flight of the ball while in the air and that allow players to use real-world reference points to orient their shots.

Abstract: A system and method for deployment of a plurality of seismic recorder assemblies from a survey vessel on the ocean bottom is disclosed. The seismic recorder assemblies are self contained, autonomous nodal devices which are capable of receiving and recording reflected seismic energy and storing the data locally while operating for an extended period of time. The assemblies each have two or more attachment points for the connection of separate connecting cable segments.

Abstract: A method of deploying a seismic recorder array on a seafloor is disclosed. The seismic recorder array comprises a plurality of removable seismic data recorders. The method comprises the step of forming the seismic recorder array by connecting a plurality of recorder housings in series, wherein adjacent recorder housings are connected by a connector cable. The recorder housings are configured to retain the removable seismic data recorders. The method comprises the step of loading the plurality of removable seismic data recorders in the recorder housings, and lowering the seismic recorder array into water until the seismic recorder array is positioned on the seafloor underlying the water. The method comprises the step of operating the seismic data recorders to detect seismic signal reflections and to record seismic data representing the reflections.

Abstract: Network data switching includes receiving a cell; associating the cell with a destination port; selecting, based at least in part on a mapping of a plurality of output ports and a plurality of egress links, a selected egress link that has been soft configured to be associated with the destination port, wherein each of the plurality of egress links is configured to send data from a switch fabric to a corresponding access node; and switching the cell to the selected egress link.

Abstract: A method of deploying a seismic recorder array on a seafloor is disclosed. The seismic recorder array comprises a plurality of removable seismic data recorders. The method comprises the step of forming the seismic recorder array by connecting a plurality of recorder housings in series, wherein adjacent recorder housings are connected by a connector cable. The recorder housings are configured to retain the removable seismic data recorders. The method comprises the step of loading the plurality of removable seismic data recorders in the recorder housings, and lowering the seismic recorder array into water until the seismic recorder array is positioned on the seafloor underlying the water. The method comprises the step of operating the seismic data recorders to detect seismic signal reflections and to record seismic data representing the reflections.

Abstract: A system and method for deployment of a plurality of seismic recorder assemblies from a survey vessel on the ocean bottom is disclosed. The seismic recorder assemblies are self contained, autonomous nodal devices which are capable of receiving and recording reflected seismic energy and storing the data locally while operating for an extended period of time. The assemblies each have two or more attachment points for the connection of separate connecting cable segments.

Abstract: Transferring data via a switch fabric comprises: for each unit of data to be transferred, selecting one of a plurality of links from a fabric access node to the switch fabric to transfer the unit of data, and in the event that one or more of the plurality of links become unavailable, such that one or more remaining links remain available for transferring data, transferring a subsequently received unit of data via one of the remaining links.

Abstract: Bounding cell reorder depth is disclosed. It is determined whether a reorder buffer that is associated with a switch fabric exceeds a depth limit. In the event that the reorder buffer exceeds the depth limit, backpressure with respect to a source associated with the reorder buffer is sent. In such cases source based back pressure information is included in a reserved field in a cell that is being sent into the switch fabric. In the event that the reorder buffer does not exceed the depth limit, the cell is sent to the switch fabric. In such cases the reserved field is present in the cell but is unused.

Abstract: Network data switching includes receiving a cell; associating the cell with a destination port; selecting, based at least in part on a mapping of a plurality of output ports and a plurality of egress links, a selected egress link that has been soft configured to be associated with the destination port, wherein each of the plurality of egress links is configured to send data from a switch fabric to a corresponding access node; and switching the cell to the selected egress link.

Abstract: A switch fabric access scheduler is disclosed. An indication is received that a link included in a plurality of links to the switch fabric is next in order to be serviced by a queue scheduling process common to the plurality of links. The queue scheduling process common to the plurality of links is used to determine, in a manner at least partly independent of each other link in the plurality, a queue to be serviced by the link.

Abstract: Network data switching comprises receiving a cell, associating the cell with a destination port, selecting an egress link that has been soft configured to be associated with the destination port, and switching the cell to the selected egress link. A network switch comprises an ingress link configured to receive a cell and a switch circuit coupled to the ingress link, configured to associate the cell with a destination port, to select an egress link that has been soft configured to be associated with the destination port, and to switch the cell to the egress link.

Abstract: A technique for providing access to a switch fabric is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method comprises determining scheduling information specific to a link to the switch fabric and using the scheduling information to determine a queue to be serviced by the link. In some embodiments, the system comprises a buffer configured to store a plurality of queues, and a queue scheduler associated with the buffer and configured to determine scheduling information specific to a link to the switch fabric and use the scheduling information to select one of the plurality of queues as the next queue to be serviced by the link.

Abstract: A fabric access device comprising a plurality of system interfaces is disclosed. The fabric access device includes a fabric interface configured to receive data from and send data to a switch fabric and a routing circuit configured to send data received on one of the plurality of system interfaces to the switch fabric via the fabric interface. The inclusion of a plurality of system interfaces facilitates a variety of configurations that provide different levels of redundancy and optimize use of available bandwidth.

Abstract: A fabric access device having a plurality of system interfaces is disclosed. The fabric access device includes a fabric interface configured to receive data from and send data to a switch fabric and a routing circuit configured to send data received on one of the plurality of system interfaces to the switch fabric via the fabric interface. The inclusion of a plurality of system interfaces facilitates a variety of configurations that provide different levels of redundancy and optimize use of available bandwidth.

Abstract: A fabric access device comprising a plurality of system interfaces is disclosed. The fabric access device includes a fabric interface configured to receive data from and send data to a switch fabric and a routing circuit configured to send data received on one of the plurality of system interfaces to the switch fabric via the fabric interface. The inclusion of a plurality of system interfaces facilitates a variety of configurations that provide different levels of redundancy and optimize use of available bandwidth.

Abstract: Network traffic switching comprises: for each of a plurality of classes, specifying a next queue to be serviced within that class, selecting from among the classes a next class to be serviced, and sending data from the next queue of the next class to be serviced via an egress link.

Abstract: Transferring data via a switch fabric comprises: for each unit of data to be transferred, selecting one of a plurality of links from a fabric access node to the switch fabric to transfer the unit of data, and in the event that one or more of the plurality of links become unavailable, such that one or more remaining links remain available for transferring data, transferring a subsequently received unit of data via one of the remaining links.

Abstract: Network data switching comprises receiving a cell, associating the cell with a destination port, selecting an egress link that has been soft configured to be associated with the destination port, and switching the cell to the selected egress link. A network switch comprises an ingress link configured to receive a cell and a switch circuit coupled to the ingress link, configured to associate the cell with a destination port, to select an egress link that has been soft configured to be associated with the destination port, and to switch the cell to the egress link.

Abstract: A technique for providing access to a switch fabric is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method comprises determining scheduling information specific to a link to the switch fabric and using the scheduling information to determine a queue to be serviced by the link. In some embodiments, the system comprises a buffer configured to store a plurality of queues, and a queue scheduler associated with the buffer and configured to determine scheduling information specific to a link to the switch fabric and use the scheduling information to select one of the plurality of queues as the next queue to be serviced by the link.

Abstract: Bounding cell reorder depth is disclosed. It is determined whether a reorder buffer exceeds a depth limit. If the reorder buffer exceeds the depth limit, backpressure is sent with respect to a source associated with the reorder buffer by including in a cell being sent into a switch fabric with which the reorder buffer is associated source based backpressure information stored in a location in the cell that is normally used by the switch fabric to send information to ports associated with the switch fabric and normally is not used by the ports when sending cells into the switch fabric.