Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes accessing first information identifying a sensor-data set that includes sensor-data from multiple sensor-data streams from multiple sensors over a period of time, with the sensor data from the sensor-data streams having been combined with each other based on a relationship of the sensor data to a sensor subject; accessing second information identifying one or more offers to purchase the sensor-data set; and matching one of the offers with the sensor-data set to facilitate a purchase of the sensor-data set based at least on the one of the offers matched to the sensor-data set.

Abstract: Techniques are described for reporting and monitoring network devices using microblog messaging. Embodiments monitor network traffic traversing a network device and performance metrics of the network device to detect occurrences of network and performance events. In response to detecting an occurrence of an event, a microblog message is generated. The microblog message contains at least a description of the occurrence. The microblog message is transmitted to a microblog service, which in turn forwards the message to subscribers. The microblog message may then be analyzed by the subscribers to determine operational attributes of the network device.

Abstract: A method for summarizing capabilities in a hierarchically arranged data center includes receiving capabilities information, wherein the capabilities information is representative of capabilities of respective nodes at a first hierarchical level in the hierarchically arranged data center, clustering nodes based on groups of capabilities information, generating a histogram that represents individual node clusters, and sending the histogram to a next higher level in the hierarchically arranged data center. Relative rankings of capabilities may be used to order a sequence of clustering operations.

Abstract: Graph-based virtual data center requests are described. In some implementations, a method includes displaying a graph having graphical elements representing network resources. A user can select one of the graphical elements and provide input specifying requirements for a network resource corresponding to the selected graphical element. A virtual data center request can be generated based on the graph and the specified requirements. The virtual data center request can be transmitted to a data center device for processing. In some implementations, the virtual data center request can be an extensible markup language (XML) representation of the graph that includes the specified service requirements. In some implementations, a data center server can receive a graph-based virtual data center request and allocate data center resources based on the virtual data center request.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and other embodiments associated with packet identification are described. One example apparatus includes a packet selection logic to identify packets associated with a data stream. The example apparatus may also include a set of packet classification logics. A packet classification logic may generate a signal as a function of whether an attribute associated with the packet matches an attribute associated with packets generated by a tested application.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for monitoring the state or status of virtual data centers. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving state information representing the state of hardware devices supporting instantiations of virtual data centers operating within a physical data center. The state information is mapped to hardware devices supporting a selected instantiation of a virtual data center to identify state information for the selected instantiation of a virtual data center. An assessment is then made, based on the state information for the selected instantiation of a virtual data center, regarding a degree to which the selected instantiation of a virtual data center is operating in accordance with predetermined policy. A user is then notified of the assessment via, e.g., a color-coded dashboard representation of the selected instantiation of a virtual data center or a color-coded aspect of the selected instantiation of a virtual data center.

Abstract: Techniques are provided herein for defragmenting resources within a cloud computing system. The cloud computing system includes a plurality of servers deployed in a plurality of respective racks, wherein the respective racks are deployed in a pod of a data center. An element of the cloud computing system determines for each server in a given rack of servers a number of free resource slots available thereon and a number of resource slots in an idle state, and then further determines whether the number of free resource slots on a first server in the plurality of servers is greater than a predetermined threshold. When the number of free resource slots in the first server is greater than the predetermined threshold, a second server in the plurality of servers is identified with sufficient resource slots thereon to accommodate the number of resource slots in the idle state on the first server, and the resource slots in the idle state on the first server are caused to be migrated to the second server.

Abstract: Data representing capabilities of devices in a data is aggregated on a cluster-basis. Information representing capability attributes of devices in the data center is received. The information representing the capability attributes is analyzed to generate data that groups devices based on similarity of at least one capability attribute. Aggregation data is stored that represents the grouping of the devices based on similarity of the at least one capability attribute and identifies the devices in corresponding groups.

Abstract: Techniques are described for selecting an optimal data center for instantiating a first cloud service. Embodiments of the invention receive a request specifying a topology of a first cloud service to be hosted by one of a plurality of data centers which provide computing resources to host a plurality of cloud services. A suitability value is then determined for each of the data centers which measures a fitness of the data center for instantiating the first cloud service. In one embodiment, the suitability value is determined by calculating a plurality of metric values for the data center, normalizing the metric values and calculating a weighted average of the normalized values. One of the data centers is then selected for instantiating the first cloud service, based at least in part on the determined suitability values.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, a method includes, from an indexer in a sensor network, accessing a set of sensor data that includes sensor data aggregated together from sensors in the sensor network, one or more time stamps for the sensor data, and metadata for the sensor data identifying one or more pre-determined attributes of the sensor data. The method includes, at the indexer, generating an index of the set of sensor data according to a multi-dimensional array configured for querying of the set of sensor data along with a plurality of other sets of sensor data. One or more first ones of the dimensions of the multi-dimensional array include time, and one or more second ones of the dimensions of the multi-dimensional array include one or more of the pre-determined sensor-data attributes. The method includes, from the indexer, communicating the index of the set of sensor data for use in responding to one or more queries of the set of sensor data along with a plurality of other sets of sensor data.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, a method includes receiving a query for particular sensor data among multiple sensor data from multiple sensors. The plurality of sensor data has been indexed according to a multi-dimensional array. One or more first ones of the dimensions include time, and one or more second ones of the dimensions include one or more pre-determined sensor-data attributes. The method includes translating the query to correspond to the indexing of the plurality of sensor data. The translated query includes one or more values for one or more of the dimensions of the multi-dimensional array. The method includes communicating the translated query to search among the plurality of sensor data according to its indexing to identify the particular sensor data.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, a method includes accessing sensor data from sensor nodes in a sensor network and aggregating the sensor data for communication to an indexer in the sensor network. The aggregation of the sensor data includes deduplicating the sensor data; validating the sensor data; formatting the sensor; generating metadata for the sensor data; and time-stamping the sensor data. The metadata identifies one or more pre-determined attributes of the sensor data. The method also includes communicating the aggregated sensor data to the indexer in the sensor network. The indexer is configured to index the aggregated sensor data according to a multi-dimensional array for querying of the aggregated sensor data along with other aggregated sensor data. One or more first ones of the dimensions of the multi-dimensional array include time and one or more second ones of the dimensions of the multi-dimensional include one or more of the pre-determined sensor-data attributes.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, a system includes a sensor-data-collection network layer including multiple sensors. The sensor-data-collection network layer is a first logical layer of a sensor network. The system includes an aggregation network layer including one or more aggregators configured to access sensor data from the sensors and aggregate the sensor data. The aggregation network layer is a second logical layer residing logically above the first logical layer. The system includes an indexing network layer including one or more indexers that are configured to access the aggregated sensor data and generate an index of the aggregated sensor data according to a multi-dimensional array. The indexing network layer is a third logical layer residing logically above the second logical layer. The system includes a search network layer including one or more search engines. The search network layer is a fourth logical layer residing logically above the third logical layer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes accessing first information identifying a sensor-data set that includes sensor-data from multiple sensor-data streams from multiple sensors over a period of time, with the sensor data from the sensor-data streams having been combined with each other based on a relationship of the sensor data to a sensor subject; accessing second information identifying one or more offers to purchase the sensor-data set; and matching one of the offers with the sensor-data set to facilitate a purchase of the sensor-data set based at least on the one of the offers matched to the sensor-data set.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises accessing a statistic concerning a sensor node in a sensor network, the statistic being based on one or more of sensor data from a sensor at the sensor node, communication to the sensor node from one or more other sensor nodes in the sensor network, or communication from the sensor node; generating a message that includes a type-length-value (TLV) element based on the statistic, the TLV element including a first portion that indicates a class of the statistic, a second portion that indicates a numerical value for the statistic, and a third portion that indicates a length of the second portion; and communicating the message to a police node in the sensor network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a summary of statistics concerning a sensor node in a sensor network that comprises a plurality of sensor nodes, the statistics having been generated based on one or more of sensor data from a sensor at the sensor node, communication to the sensor node from one or more other sensor nodes in the sensor network, or communication from the sensor node; analyzing the summary; and applying based on the analysis one or more predetermined polices to one or more of the sensor nodes or the sensor network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes generating a set of statistics concerning a sensor node in a sensor network based on one or more of sensor data from a sensor at the sensor node, communication to the sensor node from one or more other sensor nodes in the sensor network, or communication from the sensor node; determining based on a subset of the set of statistics whether a predetermined anomalous event correlated with the subset has occurred; and, if the predetermined anomalous event has occurred, generating a summary of the subset and communicating it to a police node in the sensor network.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and other embodiments associated with packet identification are described. One example apparatus includes a packet selection logic to identify packets associated with a data stream. The example apparatus may also include a set of packet classification logics. A packet classification logic may generate a signal as a function of whether an attribute associated with the packet matches an attribute associated with packets generated by a tested application.

Abstract: Mining information from network data traffic to determine interests of online network users is provided herein. A data packet received at a network interface device can be accessed and inspected at line rate speeds. Source or addressing information in the data packet can be extracted to identify an initiating and/or receiving device. The packet can be inspected to identify occurrences of keywords or data features related with one or more subject matters. A vector can be defined for a network device that indicates a relative rank of interest in various subject matters. Furthermore, statistical analysis can be implemented on data stored in one or more interest vectors to determine information pertinent to network user interests. The information can facilitate providing value-added products or services to network users.