Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates collision warning. During operation, the system receives information on one or more predicted collisions and determines a utility of issuing a warning for a predicted collision based on the received information. The system further schedules one or more warnings for the predicted collisions based on the utilities of issuing the warnings.

Abstract: A power control system in a data center has a plurality of physical servers, each server having a local controller, at least one virtual server coupled to at least some of the physical servers, and a central controller to control task loading on the physical servers through the virtual servers. A method of controlling power consumption in a data center includes receiving inputs from local controllers residing on loads, the inputs including data about power consumption on the loads, receiving as an input at least one quality of service requirement, and allocating tasks to at least one server based upon the quality of service and the power consumption on the loads.

Abstract: In a distributed sensor network, one or more devices, for example, forming a collaborative group, are associated with a physical phenomenon based on geographical proximity. The sensor network is capable of detecting new phenomena and changing the membership of the collaborative group as the phenomenon changes. Sensors not associated with a detected phenomenon are available to detect new phenomenon, and one group may exist per phenomenon. Upon detection of a phenomenon, a group of nodes is formed and a leader node is elected. As the phenomenon changes over time, new devices come into proximity of the phenomenon and are prevented from forming independent groups associated with the phenomenon. This accomplished in a decentralized way with communication restricted to local neighbors. In a tracking sensor network using a relatively small number of sensors, the sensors are active and maintain a coherent belief associating their measurements with a single common vehicle.

Abstract: A sensing system includes a set of sensors and a data-fusing mechanism coupled to at least one of these sensors. In the set of sensors, at least one sensor is configured to store one or more measurement models for one or more phenomenon states. Furthermore, at least one sensor in the set of sensors is configured to sample a measurement value and generate a likelihood function based on the sampled measurement and the measurement models. The data-fusing mechanism coupled to a respective sensor in the set of sensors is configured to collect one or more likelihood functions generated by the one or more sensors and use the collected likelihood functions to compute an aggregate probability of a phenomenon state.

Abstract: This disclosure introduces a system which generates a visual, audio, and/or tactile warning to a driver of a lead vehicle when a possible rear-end collision is detected, based on the approach of a second vehicle from a rear direction. The system may also generate a warning signal (such as quick blinking red brake light, or an array of multi-color lights) directed to the approaching vehicle when it is determined to be approaching at an unsafe speed. The system may include one or more of: approaching-vehicle-sensors mounted on the back end of the lead vehicle, a computer processing system, a set of warning lights, a set of speakers within the lead vehicle, and an antenna and transmitter/receiver for communicating with systems of other vehicles. This system may include a connection to the existing taillight system and other existing systems in the lead vehicle.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that for facilitating assessment of collision between a primary principal and a non-primary principal for early warning. During operation, the system periodically performs the following operations: The system obtains a current observation of the primary principal and non-primary principal. The system then assesses one or more future states for the primary and non-primary principals, respectively, based on: the current observation of the primary and non-primary principals, a dynamics model of the primary principal, and a mental-state model of a person associated with the primary principal. The system further produces one or more results which indicate an assessment of collision between the primary and non-primary principals.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates warning of collision between a primary principal and one or more non-primary principals. The system includes a triggering mechanism and a preliminary assessment mechanism. During operation, the triggering mechanism determines whether a trigger condition is met based on the state of the primary principal. When the trigger condition is met, the preliminary assessment mechanism generates one or more collision scenarios associated with the trigger condition, assesses a preliminary probability of collision in a collision scenario, and, based on the preliminary probability of collision in the collision scenario, activates a specialized assessment mechanism to assess a refined probability of collision in the collision scenario.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates assessment of collision between a primary principal and a non-primary principal for early warning. During operation, the system receives information which indicates a state of the primary principal and a state of the non-primary principal. The system divides future time into a number of time intervals, and estimates a number of possible future states of the primary and non-primary principals, wherein each future state corresponds to a time interval. The system further represents the possible future states of the primary or non-primary principal as one or more geometric objects in a space of which at least one dimension indicates the time. In addition, the system determines a probability of collision between the primary and non-primary principals based on the geometric objects.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates collision warning. During operation, the system receives information on one or more predicted collisions and determines a utility of issuing a warning for a predicted collision based on the received information. The system further schedules one or more warnings for the predicted collisions based on the utilities of issuing the warnings.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that hierarchically groups principals to facilitate collision warning. During operation, the system obtains information on a number of principals and constructs one or more first-level groups of principals. Within a first-level group, the system constructs one or more second-level groups, thereby facilitating an assessment of probability of collision between a second-level group and a primary principal.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that locates a set of target transmitting mechanism using a mobile sensing infrastructure. During operation, the system determines a reference frame of a sensing mechanism by detecting signals from at least two transmitting mechanisms. The system further determines locations of the target transmitting mechanism relative to the reference frame using the sensing mechanism. In addition, the system produces a result to indicate the locations of the target transmitting mechanisms.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for creating and sharing information about arbitrary documents. A primary document is selected and a document content identifier generated based on the content of the primary document. Additional information such as comments, additional documents, reviews and the like are created and/or selected from an information repository. The additional information is associated with the primary document based on the document content identifier of the primary document. A search for information associated with the primary document compares the document content identifier of the primary document to document content identifiers associated with the additional information. Additional information associated with the document content identifiers matching the primary document content identifier is retrieved and displayed to the user.

Abstract: A process for producing a low-visibility retroreflective visual tag, which can be used to identify and/or determine the position of an object. This process involves placing an infra-red-blocking material over a retroreflective substrate to form the low-visibility retroreflective visual tag. This infra-red-blocking material is placed so as to form a pattern, which becomes visible to an infrared sensor when the low-visibility retroreflective visual tag is illuminated by an infra-red light source.

Abstract: Techniques are presented for determining threshold probability or confidence levels for associating various types of health information with a set of users. Spatio-temporal information associated with one or more of the subjects is determined. Health information associated with spatial-temporal information is also determined. Candidate health-subject associations are associated with probabilities based on the spatio-temporally tagged identity and spatio-temporally tagged health information. Candidate health-subject associations with probabilities exceeding a threshold probability level are assigned as actual health-subject associations. Treatment plans, reports, remedial procedures and or other health related tests, procedures or the like are determined based on the associated health information.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data includes determining how much data is desired to be transmitted from a data source. A utility function is used to determine a pattern of microutilities to be associated with data samples from the data source. The pattern of microutilities specifies a pattern of data delivery to at least one predetermined location relative to the data source. The data samples are propagated according to the pattern of microutilities.

Abstract: An information dissemination system has at least one node acting as a data source, at least one node acting as a data recipient, and an information layer residing on all of the nodes in a system. The information layer receives a generic utility function from an application on the node acting as a data source wanting to propagate information, uses the generic utility function at the node acting as data source to produce a microutility and uses the microutility on non-data source nodes of the system to propagate the information through the system to any recipients based upon the microutility.

Abstract: A method of transmitting information in a network includes receiving, at a node, a data sample having a microutility associated with the data sample, the microutility including information as to how the data sample is to be handled in transit. The receiving node evaluates the microutility using information available at a receiving time on the receiving node and information encoded in the microutility to determine propagation characteristics of the data sample and propagates the data sample to other nodes in the network in accordance with the propagation characteristics.

Abstract: A method of managing traffic in an ad-hoc network includes receiving, at a local node, a received synopsis of data sample updates in a neighbor storage of a neighboring node, the synopsis being based at least in part on dynamic priorities associated with the data samples. The received synopsis is then compared with data sample updates in a local storage of the local node and the local node determines which data samples will be transmitted.

Abstract: A method for specifying utility in an information delivery system having data sources and receiving nodes includes specifying utility for a set of possible information delivery patterns of data samples, where the specification of the utility depends on characteristics of delivery patterns observed by a receiving node, if any, located at a specified location.

Abstract: A method of disseminating information in system having data sources and data recipients includes receiving a generic utility function at a data source for information to be delivered to a data recipient based upon an application for which the information is to be used. Data related to an environment in which the information is to be propagated is used to modify the generic utility function.