Abstract: A method is described that includes applying a job ticket to a series of pages to produce a next sheet of document to be printed. The method further includes comparing substantive content of the sheet to respective substantive sheet content for a group of one or more previously generated sheets of the document that each contain the respective sheet content. The method further includes referencing the sheet to the group because the substantive content matched the respective substantive sheet content.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques performed in a network comprising a plurality of network nodes each configured to apply one or more service functions to traffic that passes the respective network nodes in a service path. At a network node, an indication is received of a failure or degradation of one or more service functions or applications applied to traffic at the network node. Data descriptive of the failure or degradation is generated. A previous service hop network node at which a service function or application was applied to traffic in the service path is determined. The data descriptive of the failure or degradation is communicated to the previous service hop network node.

Abstract: A sliding sleeve opens with a deployed ball. The sleeve has a seat disposed in the housing, and the seat has segments biased outward from one another with a C-ring or other biasing element. Initially, the seat has an expanded state in the sliding sleeve so that the seats segments expand outward against the housing's bore. When an appropriately sized ball is deployed downhole, the ball engages the expanded seat. Fluid pressure applied against the seated ball moves the seat into the inner sleeve's bore. As this occurs, the seat contracts, which increases the engagement area of the seat with the ball. Eventually, the seat reaches the shoulder in the inner sleeve so that pressure applied against the seated ball now moves the inner sleeve in the housing to open the sliding sleeve's flow port.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at a network device, route convergence measurements and traffic demand measurements from a plurality of routers, and computing network availability based on the measurements at the network device. The route convergence measurements are associated with route computations at the routers and the traffic demand measurements include portions of a demand matrix associated with the routers. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring turbine component deformation are provided. The turbine component has an exterior surface. A method includes directly measuring a strain sensor configured on the exterior surface of the turbine component along an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis to obtain X-axis data points, Y-axis data points, and Z-axis data points. The X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis are mutually orthogonal. The method further includes assembling a three-dimensional profile of the strain sensor based on the X-axis data points, Y-axis data points and Z-axis data points.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a network service packet header security method includes receiving a network service packet, analyzing the network service packet in order to identify a plurality of service functions and an associated service function path for the service functions, identifying which security function or functions may be performed by each of the service functions on a network service packet header to be generated for the network service packet, requesting at least one key for securing at least part of the network service packet header, receiving the at least one key, securing the network service packet header based on the at least one key, and sending the network service packet with the network service packet header to one of the service functions. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A sputtering system having a processing chamber with an inlet port and an outlet port, and a sputtering target positioned on a wall of the processing chamber. A movable magnet arrangement is positioned behind the sputtering target and reciprocally slides behinds the target. A conveyor continuously transports substrates at a constant speed past the sputtering target, such that at any given time, several substrates face the target between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The movable magnet arrangement slides at a speed that is at least several times faster than the constant speed of the conveyor. A rotating zone is defined behind the leading edge and trailing edge of the target, wherein the magnet arrangement decelerates when it enters the rotating zone and accelerates as it reverses direction of sliding within the rotating zone.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques performed in a network comprising a plurality of network nodes each configured to apply one or more service functions to traffic that passes the respective network nodes in a service path. At a network node, an indication is received of a failure or degradation of one or more service functions or applications applied to traffic at the network node. Data descriptive of the failure or degradation is generated. A previous service hop network node at which a service function or application was applied to traffic in the service path is determined. The data descriptive of the failure or degradation is communicated to the previous service hop network node.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques useful in a network comprising a plurality of network nodes each configured to apply one or more service functions to traffic that passes through the respective network nodes. A network node receives packets encapsulated in a service header that includes information defining a first set of context headers stacked into an association of metadata that is relevant to one or more service functions within a service path comprised of one or more network nodes. The network node performs at least one of the service functions in the service path and rewrites the service header with a second set of context headers. The second set of context headers include metadata derived from performing the service function(s) at the network node.

Abstract: In general, techniques are described for dynamically scheduling and establishing paths in a multi-layer, multi-topology network to provide dynamic network resource allocation and support packet flow steering along paths prescribed at any layer or combination of layers of the network. In one example, a multi-topology path computation element (PCE) accepts requests from client applications for dedicated paths. The PCE receives topology information from network devices and attempts to identify paths through a layer or combination of layers of the network that can be established at the requested time in view of the specifications requested for the dedicated paths and the anticipated bandwidth/capacity available in the network. The PCE schedules the identified paths through the one or more layers of the network to carry traffic for the requested paths. At the scheduled times, the PCE programs path forwarding information into network nodes to establish the scheduled paths.

Abstract: Methods for determining strain on turbine components include providing a turbine component comprising a plurality of strain sensor reference features disposed along the turbine component separated from one another by a plurality of first distances at a first time, reading the plurality of strain sensor reference features at a second time to determine a plurality of second distances between the plurality of strain sensor reference features, and comparing the plurality of second distances to the plurality of first distances to determine a plurality of non-linear strain measurements between the plurality of strain sensor reference features.

Abstract: Traversable strain sensor readers for reading a plurality strain sensor reference features on a turbine component include a traversing system configured to traverse the traversable strain sensor reader along at least a portion of the turbine component, and a reader configured to read at least a portion of the plurality of strain sensor reference features while the traversing system traverses the traversable strain sensor reader along at least the portion of the turbine component.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request for paper properties needed to perform page raster image processing (RIP) of a page and prompting an operator to load a virtual paper without inserting a physical medium.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes receiving print job data at a printing system, performing a first preflight of the print job data to collect job attribute data, detecting that one or more changes have been made to the print job data and performing a second preflight of the print job data using the job attribute data collected during the first preflight based on the one or more changes.

Abstract: In general, techniques are described for using routing information obtained by operation of network routing protocols to dynamically generate network and cost maps for an application-layer traffic optimization (ALTO) service. For example, an ALTO server of an autonomous system (AS) receives routing information from routers of the AS by listening for routing protocol updates outputted by the routers and uses the received topology information to dynamically generate a network map of PIDs that reflects a current topology of the AS and/or of the broader network that includes the AS. Additionally, the ALTO server dynamically calculates inter-PID costs using received routing information that reflects current link metrics. The ALTO server then assembles the inter-PID costs into a cost map that the ALTO server may provide, along with the network map, to clients of the ALTO service.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing strain sensors on turbine components include providing a turbine component comprising an exterior surface, depositing a ceramic material onto a portion of the exterior surface, and ablating at least a portion of the ceramic material to form a strain sensor comprising at least two reference points.

Abstract: System and methods for storage and access of job ticket values. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a job ticket controller that receives a print job and an associated job ticket, and processes the job ticket to identify a group of logical pages that share common attribute values. The job ticket controller caches a shared copy of the attribute values in memory for the group, and identifies static attribute values and dynamic attribute values in the shared copy. Responsive to a request to update a dynamic attribute value of a logical page that belongs to the group, the job ticket controller copies the dynamic attribute values to a separate copy, performs the update, and then provides the separate copy and the static attribute values of the shared copy in response to a request of attribute information of the logical page.

Abstract: System and methods for processing and printing print jobs in reverse order. In one embodiment, an apparatus for abnormal order printing includes a preprocess system of a print controller configured to receive a print job. The apparatus also includes a print order processor configured to determine a modified print order of logical pages for the print job. The apparatus further includes a RIP system configured to receive media information for the print job, to receive the logical pages of the print job in the modified order, and to assemble sheet sides using the media information as the logical pages are received in the modified order. The apparatus further includes a print engine configured to receive the sheet sides, and to mark physical media based on the sheet sides.

Abstract: A network node may contain a virtual software-defined networking (SDN) switch and a local a management engine (e.g., a software application) for generating performance metrics based on received management plane traffic. Specifically, the virtual SDN switch may identify and forward received management plane traffic to the local management engine. In turn, the management engine evaluates the management plane traffic to generate performance metrics without forwarding the management plane packets to the remote SDN controller. The management engine may compare the metrics to one or more thresholds to determine the current state or health of the data paths in a network. If a threshold is exceeded, the management engine may transmit an alert to the virtual SDN switch to perform a corrective action—e.g., using a backup data path after the primary data path fails.

Abstract: A method routes data to an appliance in a high-availability active/active appliance cluster. Messages received by appliances are assigned by a self-balancing module to balance a load of appliances in the appliance cluster, which includes a persistent storing standby group and a transaction processing standby group. Persistent storing data, which is generated by processing the messages, are stored in a virtual persistent storage, which provides an interface between a persistent storage of a primary database appliance and an application for processing the messages. The virtual persistent storage is linked to the persistent storage of the primary database appliance in response to an appliance that receives the messages not being the primary database appliance, thereby sending persistent storing data to the persistent storage of the primary database appliance.