Abstract: A parking enforcement system includes an autonomous vehicle that is equipped with an image capture device that is configured to capture images of license plates of parked vehicles while the autonomous vehicle moves through a parking zone. The system will process the images to extract license plate numbers from the images. The system will correlate the license plate numbers with data in a parking enforcement database to determine whether the license plate numbers are associated with an unexpired parking transaction. For any license plate number that is not subject to an unexpired parking transaction, the system may initiate an enforcement action. For any license plate number that is subject to an unexpired parking transaction, the system may not initiate an enforcement action.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle parking system includes a parking system server that is in electronic communication with an autonomous vehicle. The server executes programming instructions that cause it to receive a parking location request from the autonomous vehicle, identify one or more parking zones that are proximate to the autonomous vehicle, determine an estimated density and a distance from a present location of the autonomous vehicle for each the parking zones, use the estimated densities and the distances to select one of the parking zones as a destination zone, and provide the autonomous vehicle with a geographic identifier for the destination zone. After the vehicle identifies an available parking space in the destination zone, the system will initiate a transaction with a parking service provider to authorize the autonomous vehicle to park in the destination zone for a period of time.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle parking system includes a parking system server that is in electronic communication with an autonomous vehicle. The server executes programming instructions that cause it to receive a parking location request from the autonomous vehicle, identify one or more parking zones that are proximate to the autonomous vehicle, determine an estimated density and a distance from a present location of the autonomous vehicle for each the parking zones, use the estimated densities and the distances to select one of the parking zones as a destination zone, and provide the autonomous vehicle with a geographic identifier for the destination zone. After the vehicle identifies an available parking space in the destination zone, the system will initiate a transaction with a parking service provider to authorize the autonomous vehicle to park in the destination zone for a period of time.

Abstract: In a distributed storage of data objects in a cluster system, a data object is distributed across a group of node apparatuses in units of data blocks. For each child object, the metadata structure of the respective child object is stored to one of the node apparatuses of the group of node apparatuses for managing locations of data blocks of the data object and includes a root metadata node and one or more direct metadata nodes, optionally further including one or more indirect metadata nodes; and the metadata structure of the parent object is distributed across the plural node apparatuses of the group of node apparatuses for managing locations of child objects of the data object and includes, on each node apparatus of the group of node apparatuses, a root metadata node and one or more direct metadata nodes, optionally further including one or more indirect metadata nodes.

Abstract: A parking enforcement system includes an autonomous vehicle that is equipped with an image capture device that is configured to capture images of license plates of parked vehicles while the autonomous vehicle moves through a parking zone. The system will process the images to extract license plate numbers from the images. The system will correlate the license plate numbers with data in a parking enforcement database to determine whether the license plate numbers are associated with an unexpired parking transaction. For any license plate number that is not subject to an unexpired parking transaction, the system may initiate an enforcement action. For any license plate number that is subject to an unexpired parking transaction, the system may not initiate an enforcement action.

Abstract: A data de-duplication in a distributed storage of data objects in a cluster system, in which plural data objects are distributed across a group of node apparatuses and stored in units of data blocks. Each metadata structure including a root metadata node and one or more direct metadata nodes, and optionally including one or more indirect metadata nodes; and a metadata object is stored for managing de-duplicated data blocks based on a metadata structure of the metadata object wherein at least one direct metadata node of the metadata structure of the metadata object includes a block reference pointing to a de-duplicated data block being associated with two or more data objects. Preferably, each of the metadata structures of the two or more data objects being associated with the de-duplicated data block includes a respective direct metadata node including an object reference to the metadata structure of the metadata object.

Abstract: A parking enforcement system includes an autonomous vehicle that is equipped with an image capture device that is configured to capture images of license plates of parked vehicles while the autonomous vehicle moves through a parking zone. The system will process the images to extract license plate numbers from the images. The system will correlate the license plate numbers with data in a parking enforcement database to determine whether the license plate numbers are associated with an unexpired parking transaction. For any license plate number that is not subject to an unexpired parking transaction, the system may initiate an enforcement action. For any license plate number that is subject to an unexpired parking transaction, the system may not initiate an enforcement action.

Abstract: A wind turbine gear box arrangement having one or more bearings located in a single region along the longitudinal axis and arranged to provide support between an input shaft and a non-rotating support component. The one or more bearings are arranged to at least partially restrict non-rotational movement between the input shaft and the non-rotating support component. A portion along the longitudinal axis between said input shaft and the non-rotating support component is bearingless outside the single region.

Abstract: A data de-duplication in a distributed storage of data objects in a cluster system, in which plural data objects are distributed across a group of node apparatuses and stored in units of data blocks. Each metadata structure including a root metadata node and one or more direct metadata nodes, and optionally including one or more indirect metadata nodes; and a metadata object is stored for managing de-duplicated data blocks based on a metadata structure of the metadata object wherein at least one direct metadata node of the metadata structure of the metadata object includes a block reference pointing to a de-duplicated data block being associated with two or more data objects. Preferably, each of the metadata structures of the two or more data objects being associated with the de-duplicated data block includes a respective direct metadata node including an object reference to the metadata structure of the metadata object.

Abstract: In a distributed storage of data objects in a cluster system, a data object is distributed across a group of node apparatuses in units of data blocks. For each child object, the metadata structure of the respective child object is stored to one of the node apparatuses of the group of node apparatuses for managing locations of data blocks of the data object and includes a root metadata node and one or more direct metadata nodes, optionally further including one or more indirect metadata nodes; and the metadata structure of the parent object is distributed across the plural node apparatuses of the group of node apparatuses for managing locations of child objects of the data object and includes, on each node apparatus of the group of node apparatuses, a root metadata node and one or more direct metadata nodes, optionally further including one or more indirect metadata nodes.

Abstract: Object-level replication of cloned objects from a source file system to a target file system in a data storage system maintains relationships between related objects including shared data blocks so that storage requirements in the target file system match storage requirements of the source file system. Specialized processing may be used to scan an indirection object that refers to other file system objects such that objects requiring replication can be identified on an incremental basis based on checkpoint numbers. Checkpoints in the target file system are managed so that checkpoint number requirements for replicated clone objects are enforced in the target file system.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle parking system includes a parking system server that is in electronic communication with an autonomous vehicle. The server executes programming instructions that cause it to receive a parking location request from the autonomous vehicle, identify one or more parking zones that are proximate to the autonomous vehicle, determine an estimated density and a distance from a present location of the autonomous vehicle for each the parking zones, use the estimated densities and the distances to select one of the parking zones as a destination zone, and provide the autonomous vehicle with a geographic identifier for the destination zone. After the vehicle identifies an available parking space in the destination zone, the system will initiate a transaction with a parking service provider to authorize the autonomous vehicle to park in the destination zone for a period of time.

Abstract: A parking enforcement system includes an autonomous vehicle that is equipped with an image capture device that is configured to capture images of license plates of parked vehicles while the autonomous vehicle moves through a parking zone. The system will process the images to extract license plate numbers from the images. The system will correlate the license plate numbers with data in a parking enforcement database to determine whether the license plate numbers are associated with an unexpired parking transaction. For any license plate number that is not subject to an unexpired parking transaction, the system may initiate an enforcement action. For any license plate number that is subject to an unexpired parking transaction, the system may not initiate an enforcement action.

Abstract: A parking transaction system uses a vehicle on-board diagnostics system and sensors to determine when a vehicle has parked in a designated parking zone. The determination may occur by monitoring engine or motor status sensors, geolocation sensors, and/or other in-vehicle sensors to determine whether the vehicle in an energy-efficient state while in a known parking zone. When the vehicle is parked in a designated parking zone and in an energy-efficient state, the vehicle's system will initiate a parking transaction for a minimum period of time. If the vehicle sensors indicate that the vehicle has not moved out of the energy efficient state and away from the parking zone before the time period ends, the system will automatically extend the parking transaction for one or more additional time periods.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in part, a Paenibacillus sp. isolate, designated Paenibacillus polymyxa JB05-01-1, as well as an anti-microbial agent obtained from the bacterium or cell culture supernatant thereof. Compositions, methods and uses are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in part, a Paenibacillus sp. isolate, designated Paenibacillus polymyxa JB05-01-1, as well as an anti-microbial agent obtained from the bacterium or cell culture supernatant thereof. Compositions, methods and uses are also provided.

Abstract: The method performed by the apparatus includes interconnecting a first file system managing unit 310 between the plurality of client computers 100 and the second file system managing unit 410, creating a first directory /root in a first file system managed by the first file system managing unit 310, associating a first directory /root of the second file system with the first directory /root of the first file system, enabling on-demand virtualization of the second file system by the first file system managing unit 310 based on client requests received from the client computers 100 at the first file system managing unit 310 and based on the association between the first directory of the first file system and the first directory of the second file system, and enabling indirect client access to the second file system through the first file system.

Abstract: The method and an apparatus provides a virtualized file system enabling indirect access to a second file system in a data storage system comprising a plurality of client computers 100 and a second file system managing unit 410 for managing the second file system and enabling client access to the second file system, the method comprising interconnecting a first file system managing unit 310 between the plurality of client computers 100 and the second file system managing unit 410, creating a directory /root in a first file system managed by the first file system managing unit 310, a directory /root of the second file system with the directory /root of the first file system, enabling on-demand virtualization of the second file system by the first file system managing unit 310 based on client requests received from the client computers 100 at the first file system managing unit 310.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for data migration of a first file system in a data storage system comprising a plurality of client computers 100, a first file system managing unit 310 for managing the first file system and being connected to the plurality of client computers 100, and a second file system managing unit 410 for managing a second file system and being connected to the first file system managing unit 310, the second file system comprising a plurality of data files and the first file system comprising a plurality of external link objects, each external link object of the first file system being associated with a respective data file of the second file system for enabling client access to the respective data file of the second file system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for data migration of a first file system in a data storage system comprising a plurality of client computers 100, a first file system managing unit 310 for managing the first file system and being connected to the plurality of client computers 100, and a second file system managing unit 410 for managing a second file system and being connected to the first file system managing unit 310, the second file system comprising a plurality of data files and the first file system comprising a plurality of external link objects, each external link object of the first file system being associated with a respective data file of the second file system for enabling client access to the respective data file of the second file system.