Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to hosting, on a computer system, a plurality of application instances, each application instance corresponding to a remote client application; maintaining a network connection to each of the remote client applications for which an application instance is hosted; allocating resources of a graphics processing unit of the computer system between at least two of the remote client applications; concurrently rendering, utilizing the resources of the graphics processing unit of the computer system, the graphical output of the application instances corresponding to the at least two of the remote client applications; and transmitting the rendered graphical output to the at least two of the remote client applications over the respective network connections.

Abstract: A wearable computing device comprises one or more eye pieces each of which further comprises a flexible frame surrounding a display screen and tactile elements arranged on the perimeter of the display screen. The tactile elements provide tactile feedback to the user that is synchronous with the display on the display screen. A detection system is also included in the flexible frame to monitor the movements of a wearer's eyes and the eye sockets and to execute various tasks in response to the detected movements. A visual cortex thought detector also coupled to the wearable computing device obtains information regarding the wearer's thoughts and manipulates a display on the display screen based on the obtained information.

Abstract: A wearable computing device comprises one or more one eye pieces each of which further comprises a flexible frame surrounding a display screen and tactile elements arranged on the perimeter of the display screen. The tactile elements provide tactile feedback to the user that is synchronous with the display on the display screen. A detection system is also included in the flexible frame to monitor the movements of a wearer's eyes and the eye sockets and to execute various tasks in response to the detected movements. A visual cortex thought detector also coupled to the wearable computing device obtains information regarding the wearer's thoughts and manipulates a display on the display screen based on the obtained information.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to efficiently circumventing the limitations of client side rendering of virtual worlds. In a particular implementation, a proposed system renders each client viewport remotely, removing the burden of rendering a 3D scene from the local client device. 3D viewports, rather than being rasterized on the local client, are instead generated on a remote render device which then transmits a visual representation of the viewport to the client device in a format (including, but not limited to a video stream) which the client can use to display the scene without requiring complex 3D rasterization. This process eliminates the need for the client to have any specialized 3D rendering software or hardware, or to install or download any persistent render assets on the local system. The hardware requirements for the client are therefore roughly equivalent to those needed to play a continuous video stream.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to hosting, on a computer system, a plurality of application instances, each application instance corresponding to a remote client application; maintaining a network connection to each of the remote client applications for which an application instance is hosted; allocating resources of a graphics processing unit of the computer system between at least two of the remote client applications; concurrently rendering, utilizing the resources of the graphics processing unit of the computer system, the graphical output of the application instances corresponding to the at least two of the remote client applications; and transmitting the rendered graphical output to the at least two of the remote client applications over the respective network connections.

Abstract: A data storage system that stores data has a logical address space divided into ordered areas and unordered areas. Retrieval of storage system metadata for a logical address is based on whether the address is located in an ordered area or an unordered area. Retrieval of metadata regarding addresses in ordered areas is performed using an arithmetic calculation, without accessing a block storage device. Retrieval of metadata regarding addresses in unordered areas is performed using lookup tables. In some embodiments, a mixture of ordered and unordered areas is determined to permit the data storage system to store its lookup tables entirely in volatile memory.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a first computer system, a data stream transmitted from a second computer system over a network connection between the first computer system and the second computer system, wherein the data stream comprises executable code of a software program; extracting, by the first computer system, the executable code of the software program from the data stream; allocating, by the first computer system, an amount of dynamic memory for the executable code of the software program; loading, by the first computer system, the executable code of the software program directly into the allocated dynamic memory; and executing, by the first computer system, the software program by launching the executable code of the software program loaded in the allocated dynamic memory.

Abstract: A subject is imaged using imaging equipment arranged on portable, wireless vehicles. The vehicles are positioned in a pattern in proximity to the subject and illuminate the subject in order to collect image data. The image data can be collected by cameras carried by the vehicles in addition to or instead of external high speed cameras.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a first computer system, a data stream transmitted from a second computer system over a network connection between the first computer system and the second computer system, wherein the data stream comprises executable code of a software program; extracting, by the first computer system, the executable code of the software program from the data stream; allocating, by the first computer system, an amount of dynamic memory for the executable code of the software program; loading, by the first computer system, the executable code of the software program directly into the allocated dynamic memory; and executing, by the first computer system, the software program by launching the executable code of the software program loaded in the allocated dynamic memory.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to efficiently circumventing the limitations of client side rendering of virtual worlds. In a particular implementation, a proposed system renders each client viewport remotely, removing the burden of rendering a 3D scene from the local client device. 3D viewports, rather than being rasterized on the local client, are instead generated on a remote render device which then transmits a visual representation of the viewport to the client device in a format (including, but not limited to a video stream) which the client can use to display the scene without requiring complex 3D rasterization. This process eliminates the need for the client to have any specialized 3D rendering software or hardware, or to install or download any persistent render assets on the local system. The hardware requirements for the client are therefore roughly equivalent to those needed to play a continuous video stream.

Abstract: A method for operating a computer network for example a school to preload the content of web addresses on the local memory, i.e. the web cache memory for use in for example a subsequent lesson. The network comprises at least one device, a web cache memory, and internet access apparatus to connect a device on the network to internet using a web browser, relevant devices on the network being accessible to a network administrator and defined network users (teachers and pupils), a method whereby one of said defined network users (teachers) uses a modified web browser to define a set of web addresses (web pages) to be accessed, said set of web addresses being stored in the network, and operates the network to cause the content of the set of web addresses to be stored on said web cache memory, whereby the content may be accessed by the pupils during said lesson via the network without further access to internet.

Abstract: A virtual execution environment for software applications and other code objects. In one implementation, the present invention allows for virtual execution of applications by transparently capturing the rendered output of natively executed applications, and delivering the output to other processes on the same platform or to remote devices in a platform agnostic manner.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to capturing an object rendered on the first window of a display by a first program, extracting the object, permitting a user to drag the object across the display into a second window of the display containing a second program, and importing the object into the second program in substantially real-time. The drag and drop process occurs seamlessly to the user and permits a user to select one or more of a plurality of objects in one application, drag the object into a second application for modification, and drag the modified object back into the first application for real-time preview.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes distributing rendering tasks to connected client nodes having capable graphics processing units by transmitting viewport state data objects and a unique spatial location to each of the clients, performing path tracing at each of the clients from the starting point of their unique spatial locations, and transmitting their rendered output back to the server. The server generates a composite rendered output from the individual rendered outputs received by the participating clients, and then transmits the composite to all connected clients for display. Thus, as the number of client nodes increases, the scene is rendered more rapidly and at higher quality. In particular embodiments, the rendered output is a lightmap representing the diffuse lighting for the scene, and each client may render the scene's specular highlights from its own viewport.

Abstract: A system for preparing data and video sequences to enable a viewer to scroll content in a plurality of directions including a first and second direction, the content including at least one element in motion, the system including a video sequence preparation module to prepare the video sequences including a first and second video sequence, each video sequence including still images, each still image including at least part of the content, at least some of the still images including the at least one element, the video sequences being prepared such that playing the first and second video sequence effects scrolling the content in the first and second direction, respectively, and a switchover determination module to prepare the data including corresponding switchover points in the video sequences for switching between the video sequences and therefore for switching the direction of scrolling by the viewer. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A system for preparing data and video sequences to enable a viewer to scroll content in a plurality of directions including a first and second direction, the content including at least one element in motion, the system including a video sequence preparation module to prepare the video sequences including a first and second video sequence, each video sequence including still images, each still image including at least part of the content, at least some of the still images including the at least one element, the video sequences being prepared such that playing the first and second video sequence effects scrolling the content in the first and second direction, respectively, and a switchover determination module to prepare the data including corresponding switchover points in the video sequences for switching between the video sequences and therefore for switching the direction of scrolling by the viewer. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: One embodiment allocates a first virtual memory; receives executable code of a first piece of software; writes the executable code of the first piece of software directly into the first virtual memory; marks the first virtual memory as executable; executes the executable code of the first piece of software directly from the first virtual memory; and downloads and executes executable code of a second piece of software as facilitated by the executable code of the first piece of software.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of magnetic resonance imaging and, more particularly, to devices and methods used in the observation of the diffusion of molecules across a permeable membrane using magnetic resonance techniques. A typical embodiment of the invention is a method of observing the diffusion of a molecule in a container having a permeable membrane that is disposed between a first solution and a second solution in the container, by using magnetic resonance imaging to obtain an image of the diffusion of the molecule in the first solution across the membrane in to the second solution.

Abstract: A block-level storage system and method support asymmetrical block-level redundant storage by automatically determining performance characteristics associated with at least one region of each of a number of block storage devices and creating a plurality of redundancy zones from regions of the block storage devices, where at least one of the redundancy zones is a hybrid zone including at least two regions having different but complementary performance characteristics selected from different block storage devices based on a predetermined performance level selected for the zone. Such “hybrid” zones can be used in the context of block-level tiered redundant storage, in which zones may be intentionally created for a predetermined tiered storage policy from regions on different types of block storage devices or regions on similar types of block storage devices but having different but complementary performance characteristics.

Abstract: The invention provides genetic constructs which comprise a senescence-specific promoter operably linked to at least one coding sequence, which encodes at least one polypeptide having phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK) activity and/or pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK) activity. The constructs have the ability to cause, in transgenic plants, remobilisation of nitrogen during leaf senescence, such that nitrogen can be transported from the leaves to other regions of the plants. The invention provides plant cells and plants transformed with such constructs, methods of producing transgenic plants, and methods of increasing the rate of nitrogen remobilisation and growth rate in senescent plants. The invention also provides harvested plant leaves, such as tobacco leaves, that have been transformed with the genetic constructs, and to smoking articles comprising such harvested plant leaves.