Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of methods and systems of incentivized advertising are presented. A content identifier identifying a digital content item, such as a song, is displayed on a user computing device. The digital content item is typically of the type available for a purchase price by the general public. A selection icon is provided in visual association with the content identifier. If the icon is selected by the user, an advertisement media item, such as a video advertisement, is presented on the user computing device. If the advertisement media item is presented for at least a requisite ad impression period, the digital content item is imparted to the user for free. Follow-up ad engagement views are typically presented to the user with a button to redeem the earned digital content item. Administrator and server elements are configured to facilitate performance of the method, and to optimize efficient use of advertiser's budget.

Abstract: A system for decoding video data includes a processing unit. The processing unit includes a plurality of processing pipelines and a driver. The driver includes a decoder configured to generate a plurality of intermediate control maps containing control information including an indication of which macro blocks or portions of macro blocks may be processed in parallel in the plurality of processing pipelines.

Abstract: A method includes dividing a dataset into partitions by hashing a specified key, selecting a set of distributed file system nodes as a primary node group for storage of the partitions, and causing a primary copy of the partitions to be stored on the primary node group by a distributed storage system file server such that the location of each partition is known by hashing of the specified key.

Abstract: A connector for receiving a plurality of plugs is provided. The connector includes a cage, a plurality of partition plates, a plurality of partition sections, and a heat conduction apparatus. The cage includes a plurality of plug receiving passageways arranged along two rows stacked on top of each other. Each of the plurality of partition plates is positioned between two laterally adjacent plug receiving passageways of the plurality of plug receiving passageways, while each of the plurality of partition sections is positioned between two adjacent plug receiving passageways of the plurality of plug receiving passageways. The heat conduction apparatus penetrates through the plurality of partition sections along a width thereof.

Abstract: A system and method for parallelizing hash-based operators in symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) databases is provided. In an embodiment, a method in a device for performing hash based database operations includes receiving at the device an database query; creating a plurality of execution workers to process the query; and building by the execution workers a hash table from a database table, the database table comprising one of a plurality of partitions and a plurality of scan units, the hash table shared by the execution workers, each execution worker scanning a corresponding partition and adding entries to the hash table if the database table is partitioned, each execution worker scanning an unprocessed scan unit and adding entries to the hash table according to the scan unit if the database table comprises scan units, and the workers performing the scanning and the adding in a parallel manner.

Abstract: System and method for storing statistical data of records stored in a distributed file system. In one aspect a statistical data block is allocated in a memory of a data node for storing statistical data of records stored in a storage disk of the data node. Each data block of the plurality of data blocks in the data node has a respective entry in the statistical data block, which is collocated with data blocks on the data node. Statistical data of records stored in the distributed file system are collected, and written to statistical data block in the memory of the data node.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for preparing 5-[2-[7-(trifluoromethyl)-5-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-3-yl]ethynyl]-2-pyridinamine (compound A), which is useful for the treatment of depression and other CNS disorders. The present methods are useful for preparing compound A on large scale in manufacturing facilities.

Abstract: System and method for hybrid distribution mode in massively parallel processing (MPP) database preventing storage imbalance issues caused by data skew. Key values of the database are identified as outliers if records of those keys cause database skew. In hybrid mode, records having the outlier key values are distributed using a random distribution scheme. Other records are distributed using a hash distribution scheme. A threshold skew amount is configurable for the system. Record lookups, insertions, deletions, and updates are processed according to a query plan optimized for the distribution mode of the records referenced in a database query.

Abstract: Queries may be processed more efficiently in an massively parallel processing (MPP) database by locally optimizing the global execution plan. The global execution plan and a semantic tree may be provided to MPP data nodes by an MPP coordinator. The MPP data nodes may then use the global execution plan and the semantic tree to generate a local execution plan. Thereafter, the MPP data nodes may select either the global execution plan or the local execution plan is accordance with a cost evaluation.

Abstract: Presented systems and methods can facilitate efficient and effective information storage management. A system may include a plurality of nodes, shared storage and a centralized lock manager. A storage management method can include: receiving an access request to information, performing a lock resolution process; and performing an access operation (e.g., read, information update, etc.). The information can be associated with a shared storage component. The lock resolution process can include participating in a lock management process that manages a physical lock (P-lock), wherein the lock management process utilizes transaction information associated with an implicit lock process and proceeds without communication overhead associated with explicit requests for a logical lock.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for a method for using anti-aliasing hardware to generate a higher resolution image at the processing of a lower resolution image with anti-aliasing. A graphics image comprising allocating a buffer used in a multisample anti-aliasing process, wherein the allocated buffer has a dimension comprising a reduction in at least one of the width or height of an original dimension of an original buffer provided by the anti-aliasing hardware; rendering sampled image data to the allocated buffer at a sampling rate proportional to the reduction; and expanding the allocated buffer back to the dimension of the original buffer.

Abstract: A data and phase locking buffer design in a two-way handshake system is provided and may comprise sequentially locking pipelining of data in a synchronized pipeline and draining the synchronized pipeline of the data. The data may be synchronously accepted at a substantially similar time by contiguous pipeline stages that have data to be accepted. A ready signal, which may be processed after being generated by a present pipeline stage of the synchronized pipeline, may be communicated to a subsequent pipeline stage of the synchronized pipeline. An accept signal may be communicated from a present pipeline stage to a previous pipeline stage. A drain signal may be generated for draining the data from the synchronized pipeline. The drain signal may be asserted and deasserted based on end of line information in the data.

Abstract: A structurally compact connector that dissipates heat quickly and efficiently is disclosed. The connector includes a housing having a plug receiving space. An elastic member is positioned on the housing, and is displaceable outward from the housing. A protrusion is positioned on an inner surface of the elastic member and extends into the plug receiving space. A thermally conductive element is disposed on an outer surface of the elastic member and is contactable with a heat sink positioned outside of the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process of making a compound of formula I The compound of formula I is an inhibitor of MEK and thus can be used to treat cancer.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and system for decoding video data are described herein. In various embodiments, a high-compression-ratio codec (such as H.264) is part of the encoding scheme for the video data. Embodiments pre-process control maps that were generated from encoded video data, and generating intermediate control maps comprising information regarding decoding the video data. The control maps include information regarding rearranging the video data to be processed in parallel on multiple pipelines of a graphics processing unit (GPU) so as to optimize the use of the multiple pipelines. In an embodiment, decoding is performed on a frame basis such that each of multiple, distinct decoding operations is performed on an entire frame at one time. In other embodiments, processing of different frames is interleaved.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and system for inter-prediction in decoding video data are described herein. In various embodiments, a high-compression-ratio codec (such as H.264) is part of the encoding scheme for the video data. Embodiments pre-process control maps that were generated from encoded video data, and generating intermediate control maps comprising information regarding decoding the video data. The control maps indicate which units of video data in a frame are to be processed using an inter-prediction operation. In an embodiment, inter-prediction is performed on a frame basis such that inter-prediction is performed on an entire frame at one time. In other embodiments, processing of different frames is interleaved. Embodiments increase the efficiency of the inter-prediction such as to allow decoding of high-compression-ratio encoded video data on personal computers or comparable equipment without special, additional decoding hardware.

Abstract: A filtering method and apparatus for anti-aliasing takes advantage of improved existing hardware by using as input the data stored in the multisampling anti-aliasing (MSAA) buffers after rendering. The standard hardware box-filter is then replaced with a more intelligent resolve implemented using shader programs. Embodiments find scene edges using existing samples generated by Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) hardware. Using samples from a footprint larger than a single pixel, a gradient is calculated matching the direction of an edge. A non-linear filter over contributing samples in the direction of the gradient gives the final result.

Abstract: A connector for receiving a plurality of plugs is provided. The connector includes a cage, a plurality of partition plates, a plurality of partition sections, and a heat conduction apparatus. The cage includes a plurality of plug receiving passageways arranged along two rows stacked on top of each other. Each of the plurality of partition plates is positioned between two laterally adjacent plug receiving passageways of the plurality of plug receiving passageways, while each of the plurality of partition sections is positioned between two adjacent plug receiving passageways of the plurality of plug receiving passageways. The heat conduction apparatus penetrates through the plurality of partition sections along a width thereof.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for a method for using anti-aliasing hardware to generate a higher resolution image at the processing of a lower resolution image with anti-aliasing. A graphics image comprising allocating a buffer used in a multisample anti-aliasing process, wherein the allocated buffer has a dimension comprising a reduction in at least one of the width or height of an original dimension of an original buffer provided by the anti-aliasing hardware; rendering sampled image data to the allocated buffer at a sampling rate proportional to the reduction; and expanding the allocated buffer back to the dimension of the original buffer.

Abstract: A method and system for distributing data among a multi-tenant system with shared and non-shared users. Shared users may be global across the system or per tenant or developer. Non-shared users would be per app. While some data would be shared across users, other data stored within the multi-tenant system would be related specifically to the app, including gameplay data and non-gameplay data, such as leaderboards, inventory, virtual currency. Userbases may be upgraded and downgraded per app or per developer.