Abstract: A display system comprises a screen having a concave spherical surface positioned so as to be visible to a user of the system. The screen comprises a plurality of kite-shaped screen elements supported adjacent one another so as to form that spherical surface. Each of the screen elements comprises a respective faceplate comprising optical fibers extending adjacent each other so as to transmit light therethrough between two opposing face surfaces. One of the face surfaces is a concave spherical display image output surface, and the other of the face surfaces is a substantially planar image input surface. The screen elements also each comprise a respective image panel having a field of pixels each transmitting light corresponding to serial images of said panel. The fibers of the faceplate receive the light of the pixels of the image panel and together transmit the light from the image panel coherently to its image output surface so that the images of the panel are displayed on the image output surface.

Abstract: A multi-stage exhaust turbocharger has parallel high pressure stages (30, 40) and a single low pressure stage in series. The high pressure stages (30, 40) have variable geometry turbines. The low pressure stage (60) has a divided scroll turbine wheel (62) with each scroll fed independently from the respective turbines of the high pressure stages. Valves V1, V2 determine flow paths to the respective turbines to ensure series, sequential operation.

Abstract: A multi-stage exhaust turbocharger has parallel high pressure stages (30, 40), and a single low pressure stage (60) in series. The low pressure stage (60) has a divided scroll turbine wheel 62 with each scroll fed independently from the respective turbines of the high pressure stage. Valves V1, V2, V3 determine flow paths to the respective turbines to ensure series sequential operation.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a GUI for a document reader application that displays an aggregated feed with sections for different groups of personalized documents. Some embodiments provide a method for arranging documents within the different sections and for ordering the different sections within the aggregated feed. In some embodiments, the groups are dynamically generated at a device based on content (e.g., tags) of the documents.

Abstract: A system and method for imaging gamma- and x-ray, and charged particles sources employing a three dimensional array of scintillation elements arranged surrounding an emission source. According to a preferred embodiment, each element of the array comprises a scintillator element, a solid-state photon detector, and processing electronics to output an electronic signal. The elements may be efficiently packed in both the X-Y plane and stacked in the Z-axis, to provide depth of interaction information. The elements of the array are preferably hierarchically arranged with control electronics provided together for subarray modules (e.g., an n×m×1 module), and synchronization electronics provided at a larger scale. The modules preferably communicate with a control system through a shared addressable packet switched digital communication network with a control and imaging system, and receive control information from that system through the network.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to the design of an append-only data storage system that stores sets of data blocks in extents that are located in storage devices in the system. During operation of the system, when an extent becomes full, the system changing the extent from an open state, wherein data can be appended to the extent, to a closed state, wherein data cannot be appended to the extent. Changing the extent from the open state to the closed state includes performing the following operations at one or more storage devices that contain copies of the extent: constructing an index to facilitate accessing data blocks in a copy of the extent contained in the storage device; and appending the index to the copy of the extent in non-volatile storage in the storage device.

Abstract: Reconstructing in-memory data block indices in a distributed data storage system where data blocks are stored in extents and the extents are replicated across storage devices. In one aspect, based on a reboot of a storage device and a copy of an extent stored in the storage device being in an open state, appends for data blocks in the copy of the extent stored in the storage device are replayed to reconstruct an in-memory data block index for the copy of the extent. In another aspect, based on a reboot of a storage device and a copy of an extent being in a closed state, a data block index for the copy of the extent is retrieved from non-volatile storage of the storage device and the retrieved data block index stored in memory at the storage device.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine (20) has two exhaust valves (24, 25) for each combustion chamber, to permit separation of blow-down and expulsion phases of an exhaust stroke. The separate exhaust streams are directed to different geometries of an exhaust turbocharger (30), so as to make best use thereof. Variable exhaust valve timing, and bypass passage for the exhaust streams are disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to the design of an append-only data storage system that stores sets of data blocks in extents that are located in storage devices in the system. During operation of the system, when an extent is in an open state, the system allows data blocks to be appended to the extent, and disallows operations to be performed on the extent that are incompatible with data being concurrently appended to the extent. When the extent becomes full, the system changes the extent from the open state to a closed state. Then, while the extent is in the closed state, the system disallows data blocks to be appended to the extent, and allows operations to be performed on the extent that are incompatible with data being concurrently appended to the extent.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a GUI for a document reader application for viewing videos in video document panes. In some embodiments, the GUI determines whether to play the video inline within a document pane based on the size of the video document pane. In some embodiments, when a video is being played within a video document pane, a user can select the body of the video document pane to show the full content of the video document. Some embodiments provide a GUI that, when a user scrolls a video off-screen while the videos are playing inline in the document panes, pauses or stops the playback of the video and provides an indication that the playback is being stopped. In some embodiments, the indication is a fading of the video or of audio associated with the video, as the video document is scrolled off-screen.

Abstract: A digital publication monitoring by geo-location is disclosed. A server system obtains publication information from one or more server devices of one or more publication data providers, for example, via respective APIs of the publication data providers. The publication information includes geo-location data. The server system stores the publication information in a database in association with the geo-location data. The server system authenticates a client and receives a query initiated by the client. The query indicates a geo-location or a geo-region of interest. The server system references the database to retrieve applicable publication information based on and responsive to the query for the geo-location or geo-region of interest. The server system responds to the query by initiating a response to the client containing response information that includes or is based on the retrieved publications for the geo-location or geo-region of interest.

Abstract: A append-only data storage system that stores sets of data blocks in extents that are located in storage devices. When an extent becomes full, the system changes the extent from an open state, wherein data can be appended to the extent, to a closed state, wherein data cannot be appended to the extent. This change involves performing a synchronization operation by: obtaining a list of data blocks in the extent from each storage device that has a copy of the extent; forming a union of the lists; looking up data blocks from the union in a database that maps data blocks to storage devices and extents to determine which data blocks belong in the extent; and if a copy of the extent is missing data blocks that belong in the extent, performing a remedial action before changing the extent from the open state to the closed state.

Abstract: A system and method for imaging gamma- and x-ray, and charged particles sources employing a three dimensional array of scintillation elements arranged surrounding an emission source. According to a preferred embodiment, each element of the array comprises a scintillator element, a solid-state photon detector, and processing electronics to output an electronic signal. The elements may be efficiently packed in both the X-Y plane and stacked in the Z-axis, to provide depth of interaction information. The elements of the array are preferably hierarchically arranged with control electronics provided together for subarray modules (e.g., an n×m×1 module), and synchronization electronics provided at a larger scale. The modules preferably communicate with a control system through a shared addressable packet switched digital communication network with a control and imaging system, and receive control information from that system through the network.

Abstract: A data processing system comprises a first clock domain having a first clock rate, a second clock domain having a second clock rate, and a data path operable to transfer data items from the first clock domain to the second clock domain. The data path comprises a buffer having an input for receiving data items from the first clock domain, and an output port for transmitting data items to the second clock domain in a first-in first-out manner. The buffer has a first pointer for indication of a current first location of the buffer, and a second pointer for indication of a current second location of the buffer. The system further includes a read controller operable to define a read pattern for the buffer, to control output from the buffer in dependence upon such a read pattern, and to adjust such a read pattern in dependence upon a value of such a first pointer for the buffer.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system and computer-readable storage device provide functionality for managing location information for planar regions in two-dimensional views of a three-dimensional environment. A request is received for a first two-dimensional view of a three-dimensional environment that identifies a first planar region associated with content within the three-dimensional environment. The first two-dimensional view is rendered and displayed. A request is received for a second two-dimensional view from a second location. A distance and direction between the location of the first planar region and the location for the second view are determined and used to establish a second location of the planar region in the second two-dimensional view, and then use this information to help render and display the second two-dimensional view.

Abstract: In an electrical machine which has unidirectional excitation applied to its windings, the mean values of voltage and current can be computed from the instantaneous phase voltage and current by the use of, for example, low-pass filters (in either the analogue or digital domain). The value of winding resistance can then be calculated by dividing the mean voltage by the mean current. This avoids the cost, fragility and potential inaccuracy of conventional temperature sensors, and provides the controller with an ongoing estimate of winding temperature.

Abstract: A distributed computing system that executes a set of long-lived jobs is described. During operation, each worker process performs the following operations. First, the worker process identifies a set of jobs to be executed and a set of worker processes that can execute the set of jobs. Next, the worker process sorts the set of worker processes based on unique identifiers for the worker processes. Then, the worker process assigns jobs to each worker process in the set of worker processes, wherein approximately the same number of jobs is assigned to each worker process, and jobs are assigned to the worker processes in sorted order. While assigning jobs, the worker process uses an identifier for each worker process to seed a pseudorandom number generator, and then uses the pseudorandom number generator to select jobs for each worker process to execute.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine (20) has two exhaust valves (24, 25) for each combustion chamber, to permit separation of blow-down and expulsion phases of an exhaust stroke. The separate exhaust streams are directed to different geometries of an exhaust turbocharger (30), so as to make best use thereof. Variable exhaust valve timing, and bypass passage for the exhaust streams are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that stores sets of data blocks in extents located in storage devices is described. During operation, a receiving device receives, through an RPC framework, a first call asking to transfer an extent from a sending device to the receiving device. In response, the receiving device opens a port for a data connection that operates outside the RPC framework. The receiving device makes a second call, to the sending device through the RPC framework, asking to stream the extent to the port. The receiving device subsequently receives the extent from the sending device through the port and computes a checksum for the extent. The receiving device also receives a return from the second call, including a checksum for the extent computed by the sending device. If the computed checksum matches the received checksum, the receiving device returns the first call to indicate the transfer operation completed successfully.

Abstract: An append-only data storage system is described that stores sets of data blocks in extents that are located in storage devices. During operation of the system, upon receiving a request to copy an extent from a source storage device to a destination storage device, the system creates a scratch extent on the destination storage device, and associates the scratch extent with a private identifier, whereby the scratch extent can only be accessed through the private identifier. The system uses the private identifier to perform a copying operation that copies the extent from the source storage device to the scratch extent on the destination storage device. After the copying operation is complete and the scratch extent is closed, the system associates the scratch extent with a public identifier, whereby the copy of the extent on the destination storage device becomes publically accessible to other entities in the data storage system.