Abstract: A method for locating a resource involves maintaining a capacity object configured to store server information for a plurality of servers, transmitting a resource request from a client to an indirection server comprising the capacity object, selecting one of the plurality of servers to service the resource request using server associated with the capacity object to obtain a selected server, and redirecting the resource request from the indirection server to the selected server.

Abstract: A method for locating a free resource involves maintaining an address space containing a plurality of regions, wherein each of the plurality of regions is mapped with a server to obtain a mapping, transmitting a request for the free resource from a client to a request address that belongs to one of the plurality of regions, determining a selected server using the mapping, and directing the request for the free resource to the selected server.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a target node in a distributed system, that includes determining a plurality of neighbor nodes of the target node, determining a plurality of neighbor watch nodes, wherein the plurality of neighbor watch nodes are selected from the plurality of neighbor nodes, monitoring at least one selected from the group consisting of data sent by the target node and data received by the target node, using at least one of the plurality of neighbor watch nodes to obtain tracking information, and determining, using at least one the plurality of neighbor watch nodes, an action to perform using the tracking information and a response policy, wherein the action is specified in the response policy, wherein the distributed system implements an overlay network for message delivery.

Abstract: A method for approving a response or a decision of an observed node in a distributed system that includes generating at least one selected from the group consisting of the response and the decision by the observed node, forwarding the at least one selected from the group consisting of the response and the decision to at least one of the plurality of chaperones associated with the observed node based on a chaperone scheme, and approving the least one selected from the group consisting of the response and the decision by the plurality of chaperones using a chaperone voting policy and a chaperone approval policy to obtain at least one selected from the group consisting of a approved response and a approved decision, wherein the distributed system implements an overlay network for message delivery, and wherein the observed node and the plurality of chaperones communicate using the overlay network.

Abstract: The invention involves a method for aggregating data in a distributed system. The method includes specifying an aggregation scope including a plurality of nodes, where the plurality of nodes includes a destination node and a plurality of non-destination nodes. The method also includes defining an aggregation tree for the plurality of nodes using at least one Distributed Hash Table, where the destination node is the root of the aggregation tree and where each of the plurality of non-destination nodes is one selected from a group of an interior node and a leaf node in the aggregation tree. The method also includes determining a final aggregation result for the aggregation tree using an aggregation function and aggregation data stored on the destination node and the plurality of non-destination nodes.

Abstract: A method for modifying an object involves determining a modification rate for the object, creating a first reservoir and a first wicking channel based on the modification rate, where the first reservoir and the first wicking channel are on the object and the first wicking channel is operatively connected to the first reservoir, and filling the first reservoir with a chemical for modifying the object, wherein an amount of chemical in the first reservoir is determined based on the modification rate.