Abstract: Systems and methods are described to enable and manage the use of origin-facing points of presence (“POPs”) within a content delivery network (“CDN”). Origin-facing POPs can provide a second-tier caching mechanisms in a CDN, such that cache misses occurring at first-tier POPs may be processed by using information maintained at the origin-facing POPs, rather than requiring interaction with an origin server. Associations between origin-facing POPs and origin servers may be automatically created based on a distance between the respective origin-facing POPs and origin servers, such that an operator of the origin server is not required to specify a location of an origin facing POP. First-tier POPs may selectively retrieve content from origin-facing POPs in instances where the origin-facing POP is expected to provide the content more rapidly than the origin server.

Abstract: A multiple hitch assembly and method of use thereof including a hitch platform having a channel member and multiple hitch member having a block base. A dampening member may be affixed such that coupling of the multiple hitch member by locked engagement of received through holes of the block base and paired side holes disposed in flanges of the channel member compresses the dampening member upon the recessed column of the hitch platform to absorb and thus attenuate the load and associated torque imparted by movement and rub between the hitch platform and multiple hitch member to thereby reduce associated rattle noise, and vibration.

Abstract: Embodiments include apparatuses, methods, and systems for segmenting a target region for a target user based on payment transactions within a payment processing system. The embodiments include identifying a target user from users based on payment transaction data, and determining target regions for the target user based on the payment transaction data of the target user and users. The target user may have a propensity for initiating transaction activity in the target regions within a predetermined time period. The embodiments include generating propensity scores for the target regions based on the payment transaction data, identifying a target region for the target user based on the propensity scores, and transmitting merchant offers to the target user based on the identified target region. The propensity scores may be ranked into a list of target region rankings, where the target region is a maximum score in the list of target region rankings.

Abstract: Articles and methods for preparing a surface for obtaining a patient sample, such as blood, are generally provided. In some embodiments, the methods involve wiping a surface of skin of a patient in preparation for obtaining a sample (e.g., a blood sample) from the patient. In some embodiments, the methods involve wiping the surface of the skin with two or more wipes. For instance, the surface of the skin may be wiped with a first wipe comprising a surfactant and a second wipe comprising an antiseptic solution. Advantageously, the use of a first wipe including a surfactant followed by a second wipe may remove a higher amount of certain contaminants (e.g., proteins, bacteria, viruses) from the surface of the skin as compared to the use of a single wipe or by hand-washing alone.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for measurement of spatial properties of a moving surface coating containing flake pigment are provided herein. An exemplary apparatus includes a movable surface adapted to receive the surface coating. A motion device is in mechanical communication with the movable surface. A light source provides a beam of light directed at a preselected interrogation zone through which the movable surface passes during movement thereof. A light detection device detects light reflected from the preselected interrogation zone and produces an output. A computing device is configured to determine one or more spatial properties of the surface coating based upon the output. One or more of the light source, the light detection device, or the computing device are configured to adjust for the movement of the surface coating through the preselected interrogation zone as a variable that affects measurement of reflected light by the light detection device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described to enable the load-balanced use of globalized network addresses, addressable throughout a network to access a network-accessible service. A set of global access points are provided, which advertise availability of the globalized network addresses. On receiving a request to access a network-accessible service, a global access point can select an endpoint for the service from among a number of data centers, based on a desired distribution of traffic among the data centers. The access point then forwards the traffic to the selected endpoint. In one embodiment, the access point applies network address translation to enable the traffic to be routed to the endpoint without terminating a connection at the endpoint. The access point may use a variety of techniques to ensure resiliency of the network and knowledge of available endpoints.

Abstract: Articles and methods for collecting and/or facilitating transfer of fluids are generally provided. In some embodiments, an article comprises a fluid collection region for introducing a fluid, such as a sample (e.g., blood sample) or a reagent, into a fluidic system. The articles and methods described herein may be useful for facilitating the filling of relatively small channels with a fluid, such as channels of a microfluidic device. The articles and methods may, for example, interface with a patient sample (e.g., a droplet of blood), or with a macroscopic fluid source such as a pipette or syringe. In certain embodiments, articles and methods described herein may increase the ease of collecting a fluidic sample from a patient, prevent or reduce spillage of the fluidic sample, reduce contamination of a fluidic sample, and/or prevent or reduce air from entering a fluidic sample or device compared to certain existing fluid collection devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described to enable the load-balanced use of globalized network addresses, addressable throughout a network to access a network-accessible service. A set of global access points are provided, which advertise availability of the globalized network addresses. Globalized network addresses can be divided among different pools, and each service can be associated with addresses of more than one pool. To increase resiliency, access points can advertise different pools of addresses to different neighboring devices, creating different pathways to reach the access point. If an error occurs on a neighboring network, a client can try to access the service via an address of a different pool, which can be expected to be routed through a different neighboring network, thus enabling the client to reach the access point.

Abstract: A source network device can inject a probe into any one of multiple pipelines by supplying control bits for controlling a demultiplexer through which the probe passes. The control bits of the probe are coupled to the demultiplexer select lines so as to couple an input port of the demultiplexer to one of multiple output ports. As a result, an agent operating on the source network device can test any desired pipeline. In a one-hop embodiment, the source network device redirects the probe back to the agent without transmission to a neighbor. A two-hop embodiment uses a neighbor device to reflect the probe back to the source device in order to test forwarding states of the source network device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described to enable management of redundant route announcements in an access point including multiple packet processors. Route controllers are described that can generate routing information distributing incoming packets to the access point among the packet processors. The route controllers can operate redundantly, such that a failure of a single controller does not cause a complete failure of the access point. To avoid different announcements by different route controllers (particularly under partial failure scenarios), the route controllers utilize a strongly consistent data store to store routing information. So long as a record within the data store contains valid information, it is considered authoritative and routing information from the record is announced by all route controllers. If the information is invalid, the route controllers attempt to overwrite the information with new, higher priority routing information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described to enable the load-balanced use of globalized network addresses, addressable throughout a network to access a network-accessible service. A set of global access points are provided, which advertise availability of the globalized network addresses. The access points enable rapid use of connection-oriented communication sessions by conducting an initialization phase of the sessions locally on the access point. Session context information is then handed off to an endpoint for the service, which can provide the service through the already-established sessions. To avoid breaking sessions due to changes in network routing, each access point can apply a uniform selection criteria for endpoints, such that if client traffic is routed to a different access point, that access point redirects the traffic to the same endpoint previously servicing the traffic via an established session.

Abstract: Articles and methods for collecting and/or facilitating transfer of fluids are generally provided. In some embodiments, an article comprises a fluid collection region for introducing a fluid, such as a sample (e.g., blood sample) or a reagent, into a fluidic system. The articles and methods described herein may be useful for facilitating the filling of relatively small channels with a fluid, such as channels of a microfluidic device. The articles and methods may, for example, interface with a patient sample (e.g., a droplet of blood), or with a macroscopic fluid source such as a pipette or syringe. In certain embodiments, articles and methods described herein may increase the ease of collecting a fluidic sample from a patient, prevent or reduce spillage of the fluidic sample, reduce contamination of a fluidic sample, and/or prevent or reduce air from entering a fluidic sample or device compared to certain existing fluid collection devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described to enable the load-balanced use of globalized network addresses, addressable throughout a network to access a network-accessible service. A set of global access points are provided, which advertise availability of the globalized network addresses. On receiving a request to access a network-accessible service, a global access point can select an endpoint for the service from among a number of data centers, based on a desired distribution of traffic among the data centers. The access point is responsive to scaling that might occur at endpoints by periodically retrieving updated configuration information for the endpoints, enabling the access point to nimbly respond to changes in endpoints for the service.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described to enable management of redundant route announcements in an access point including multiple packet processors. Route controllers are described that can generate routing information distributing incoming packets to the access point among the packet processors. The route controllers can operate redundantly, such that a failure of a single controller does not cause a complete failure of the access point. To avoid different announcements by different route controllers (particularly under partial failure scenarios), the route controllers utilize a strongly consistent data store to store routing information. So long as a record within the data store contains valid information, it is considered authoritative and routing information from the record is announced by all route controllers. If the information is invalid, the route controllers attempt to overwrite the information with new, higher priority routing information.

Abstract: Various methods and apparatus for load balancing traffic via dynamic DNS record time-to-live values (“TTLs”) are described. In at least some embodiments, a DNS layer of a DNS load-balanced system receives performance metrics corresponding to a plurality of server instances. If the DNS layer detects a performance metric imbalance for a server instance, it adjusts the TTL value for the DNS records associated with that instance. For example, the DNS layer can lower the TTL value in the DNS records associated with the server instance. This means that clients that have DNS record associated with this server instance will make more frequent DNS queries, thus resulting in at least some of those clients receiving IP addresses for other server instances. In some embodiments, the DNS layer can implement a load balancing scheme that determines which network address(es) to include in a DNS response based on the received performance metrics.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sloppy routing are provided. A client transmits a DNS query corresponding to a requested resource to a content delivery network (CDN) service provider. In some embodiments, the CDN service provider processes the DNS query to determine whether a threshold content delivery bandwidth has been exceeded by data links at cache servers. In other embodiments, additionally or alternatively, the CDN service provider determines whether a content provider has exceeded a threshold network usage that indicates a price at which the CDN service provider to provide content on behalf of the content provider. Using both or either of these thresholds, the CDN service provider can further process the DNS query by providing an alternative resource identifier or a cache IP address, both associated with an alternative POP. In some embodiments, the CDN service provider determines a routing mode for the response to the DNS query.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sloppy routing are provided. A client transmits a DNS query corresponding to a requested resource to a content delivery network (CDN) service provider. In some embodiments, the CDN service provider processes the DNS query to determine whether a threshold content delivery bandwidth has been exceeded by data links at cache servers. In other embodiments, additionally or alternatively, the CDN service provider determines whether a content provider has exceeded a threshold network usage that indicates a price at which the CDN service provider to provide content on behalf of the content provider. Using both or either of these thresholds, the CDN service provider can further process the DNS query by providing an alternative resource identifier or a cache IP address, both associated with an alternative POP. In some embodiments, the CDN service provider determines a routing mode for the response to the DNS query.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described to enable a DNS service to encode information into a network address to be advertised by the DNS service. Information encoded by a DNS service may include, for example, an identifier of a content set to which the network address corresponds (e.g., a domain name) and validity information, such as a digital signature, that verifies the validity of the network address. On receiving a request to communicate with the network address, a destination device associated with the network address may decode the encoded information within the network address to assist in processing the request. In some instances, the encoded information may be used to identify malicious network transmissions, such as transmissions forming part of a network attack, potentially without reliance on other data, such as separate mappings or contents of the data transmission.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described to enable the load-balanced use of globalized network addresses, addressable throughout a network to access a network-accessible service. A set of global access points are provided, which advertise availability of the globalized network addresses. Globalized network addresses can be divided among different pools, and each service can be associated with addresses of more than one pool. To increase resiliency, access points can advertise different pools of addresses to different neighboring devices, creating different pathways to reach the access point. If an error occurs on a neighboring network, a client can try to access the service via an address of a different pool, which can be expected to be routed through a different neighboring network, thus enabling the client to reach the access point.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described to enable the load-balanced use of globalized network addresses, addressable throughout a network to access a network-accessible service. A set of global access points are provided, which advertise availability of the globalized network addresses. On receiving a request to access a network-accessible service, a global access point can select an endpoint for the service from among a number of data centers, based on a desired distribution of traffic among the data centers. The access point then forwards the traffic to the selected endpoint. In one embodiment, the access point applies network address translation to enable the traffic to be routed to the endpoint without terminating a connection at the endpoint. The access point may use a variety of techniques to ensure resiliency of the network and knowledge of available endpoints.