Abstract: A system and method for monitoring and managing a computing service are disclosed. In one embodiment, an agent is installed at each of a plurality of clients. These agents periodically test performance of services of one or more application servers over a network. The agents then transmit the results of the tests to a management server. The management server also receives information regarding actual services delivered to users from the one or more application servers. Customers may then access the management server to obtain system information.

Abstract: A VCM power protection circuit that limits the maximum voltage that can occur across any of the VCM's output FETs, while at the same time providing some bias on a VCM output to direct a head toward a landing zone during power-up or any time there is a higher than normal voltage on the power supply.

Abstract: This method is a direct development method for achieving a solid state image pickup device with a high speed electronic shutter on itself. A field integrating time is divided into a useless integrating time and a useful integrating time. The shorter one is the useful integrating time, the faster one is the electronic shutter speed. The useless integrated charges are cleared by the "photographic plate" clearing method. This image pickup camera apparatus is a high speed image pickup camera apparatus having low or slight high frame frequency, short explosure. A clear, relatively still or very slowly spinning images can be obtained by adjusting the field frequency of the high speed pickup camera apparatus.