Abstract: A first frame deadline is calculated and attached to an I/O request for prioritizing and retrieving video data frames from a shared disk cluster. Disk adapters queue video data frame requests according to the deadline incorporated in the frame requests. Data frames are transmitted to a requesting end user utilizing the attached deadline time to schedule the frames according to a time priority. Alternatively, a “slack” time is computed and utilized to determine when the first frame and subsequent frames of the requested video data may be retrieved from disk and present in the video server's memory in order to avoid a visible delay in sending that frame to the end user.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products are provided for selecting an advertising object to be displayed within a Web page requested by a user based on the geographic location of the user and/or on the time of day. Systems, methods and computer program products are provided for validating an offer within an advertising object of a Web page displayed within a Web client in communication with a Web server. Systems, methods and computer program products are also provided for changing content within an object displayed within a Web page based on changes in geographic location of a user. In addition, systems, methods and computer program products are provided for redeeming an electronic coupon stored within a first computing device, wherein the electronic coupon is valid within a designated geographic region and for a designated period of time.

Abstract: A hot spare drive within a disk array mirrors writes to a selected drive within the disk array. The mirror is light weight in that little effect on system performance is seen, since both writes need not be complete before the write is returned as successful. Upon subsequent failure of a drive within the array, the need for data regeneration is reduced or eliminated if the failed drive is the mirrored drive. The hot spare remains available for failure recovery when a different drive (other than the mirrored drive) fails, in which case conventional data regeneration techniques may be employed. When the mirrored drive fails, however, the period during which the disk array operates with diminished performance is reduced since data from the failed drive is available on the hot spare and regeneration is only required for data not completely mirrored.