Abstract: Methods and systems to compute cost efficiency of virtual machines (“VMs”) running in a private cloud are described. Methods and systems compute a cost efficiency value for each VM in the private cloud based on cost of the VM in the private cloud, cost of similar VMs in the private cloud, price of similar VM running in the public cloud, and the cost of similar VMs running in one or more private clouds in the same geographical area. When the cost efficiency of a VM is greater than a cost efficiency threshold, the methods generate an alert and recommendations for moving the VM to a lower cost public cloud.

Abstract: The current document is directed to methods and systems for efficiently executing OSL-virtualization containers within the execution environments provided by virtual machines that execute above traditional virtualization layers within large, virtualized, distributed computing systems. The currently disclosed methods and systems anticipate the need for additional virtual machines in order to meet anticipated demands for one or more computational resources by the containers. In addition, the methods and systems provision and launch virtual machines with computational-resource allocations that minimize overhead and computational-resource wastage. In one implementation, computational-resource utilization of ATMs and containers within the virtualized, distributed computer system are periodically monitored in order to estimate future demand for the computational resource and, when necessary, to launch additional virtual machines to meet the estimated future demand for the computational resource.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing sparsely updated counters in memory include, for a given interval of time and N counters associated with the given interval, managing a first set of the N counters in a first level of storage in the memory, wherein the first level of storage utilizes a hash table to store a counter identifier and a value for each of the first set; and responsive to filling up the first level of storage for a given user in the given interval, managing the first set and a second set of the N counters in a second level of storage in the memory, wherein the set utilizes memory buckets to incrementally store the first set and the second set.

Abstract: Techniques for GNSS positioning using three-dimensional (3D) building models are described. A processor can determine a probable path for a signal from a GNSS space vehicle (e.g., a satellite) to reach the GNSS receiver. The probable path can include one or more specular reflections. The processor can determine a Doppler correction based on the probable path, including inverting a sense of a vector of the Doppler correction for each reflection. The processor can then incorporate the Doppler correction in an estimated velocity of the mobile device, an estimated position of the mobile device, or both.

Abstract: Techniques for GNSS positioning using three-dimensional (3D) building models are described. A processor of a mobile device can determine a lower bound of uncertainty for an estimated position of the mobile device. The processor can receive an estimated position from a GNSS receiver of the mobile device. The processor can acquire geographic feature data including 3D building models of buildings and other geographic features that are located near the estimated position and may reflect GNSS signals. The processor can then determine a lower bound of uncertainty of the estimated position, regardless of an estimated uncertainty provided by a GNSS estimator. The lower bound can be higher (e.g., have a greater error margin) than the uncertainty value provided by the GNSS estimator. The processor can then present the estimated position, in association with an error margin corresponding to the lower bound of uncertainty, on a map user interface of the mobile device.

Abstract: A method for scheduling computing resources with container migration includes determining a resource availability for one or more hosts, a resource allocation for one or more virtual machines (VMs), and a resource usage for one or more containers. The method includes identifying the hosts on which VMs and containers can be consolidated based on resource availability. The method also includes calculating a target resource configuration for one or more VMs. The method further includes removing or adding resources to the VMs for which a target resource configuration was calculated to achieve the target resource configuration. The method further includes allocating the one or more VMs on the one or more hosts based on the resource availability of the one or more hosts, and allocating the one or more containers on the one or more VMs based on the resource configuration of each VM and the resource usage of each container.

Abstract: System and method for deploying an application in a computer system automatically extend an application topology of virtual computing resources of the computer system and application components of the application to be executed on the virtual computing resources to include an affinity-type rule for the virtual computing resources of the computer system based on at least one predefined policy of the application topology and deploy the application in the computer system by provisioning the virtual computing resources to the physical devices in the computer system based on the extended application topology.

Abstract: The current document is directed to methods and systems for efficiently executing OSL-virtualization containers within the execution environments provided by virtual machines that execute above traditional virtualization layers within large, virtualized, distributed computing systems. The currently disclosed methods and systems anticipate the need for additional virtual machines in order to meet anticipated demands for one or more computational resources by the containers. In addition, the methods and systems provision and launch virtual machines with computational-resource allocations that minimize overhead and computational-resource wastage. In one implementation, computational-resource utilization of ATMs and containers within the virtualized, distributed computer system are periodically monitored in order to estimate future demand for the computational resource and, when necessary, to launch additional virtual machines to meet the estimated future demand for the computational resource.

Abstract: A method for scheduling computing resources without container migration includes determining a resource availability for one or more hosts, a resource allocation for one or more virtual machines (VMs), and a resource usage for one or more containers. The method further includes calculating a target resource configuration for one or more VMs, wherein calculating a target resource configuration comprises determining an upper limit of resource demand on a VM from one or more containers allocated on the VM, based at least in part on the resource usage. The method also includes removing or adding resources to each of the one or more VMs for which a target resource configuration was calculated to achieve the target resource configuration for each VM. The method further includes allocating the one or more VMs on the one or more hosts based on the resource availability of the one or more hosts.

Abstract: Methods and systems to compute application license costs of a number of applications run on virtual machines of a virtualized data center are described. In one aspect, one or more of the virtual machines (“VMs”) that form the virtual data center are determined. Each VM is created from hardware components specifications of one or more application blueprints stored in a data-storage devices. The one or more blueprints are searched to determine the one more applications that run in each VM. For each VM, a total VM application licensing cost of the one or more applications is computed based on one or more of an application instance license cost, application socket license cost, and application core license of each of the one or more applications associated with each application.

Abstract: Techniques for performing dynamic cost per unit resource usage in a virtual data center are described. In one example embodiment, an initial unit resource usage price is received for the virtual data center for a first cycle. Further, capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operating expenditure (OPEX) information of the virtual data center of the first cycle is obtained. Furthermore, a target return on investment (ROI) for the virtual data center for a second cycle is received. A unit resource usage price is then computed for the second cycle using the received initial unit resource usage price for the first cycle and the CAPEX and OPEX information of the first cycle. The unit resource usage price is then dynamically calibrated for the second cycle using the computed unit resource usage price and the target ROI.

Abstract: A power distribution unit having a power supply inputs including mains, secondary, generator, and renewable can be configured to measure how much power is drawn from each of the power supply inputs over a time period and to provide data to a unit rate of power engine indicating the same. A cost information engine can be configured to provide cost information, applicable over the time period, for each of the power supply inputs to the unit rate of power engine. The unit rate of power engine can be configured to compute the unit rate of power consumed in the data center over the time period based on the power drawn from each of the power supply inputs and the cost information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to select virtualization environments are disclosed. An example method includes determining, via a processor, characteristics of a virtualized application that is awaiting deployment, analyzing, via the processor, the characteristics of the virtualized application to select a subset of virtualization environments that are capable of executing the virtualized application, the subset of virtualization environments selected from a set of virtualization environments of different virtualization environment types used in the datacenter, comparing, via the processor, the characteristics of the virtualized application to the virtualization environments of the subset of virtualization environments to determine scores for the virtualization environments, and deploying the virtualized application in the virtualization environment based on the scores.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to select virtualization environments are disclosed. An example method includes determining, via a processor, characteristics of a virtualized application that is deployed in an existing virtualization environment, analyzing, via the processor, the characteristics of the virtualized application to select a subset of virtualization environments that are capable of executing the virtualized application, the subset of virtualization environments selected from a set of virtualization environments of different virtualization environment types used in the datacenter, comparing, via the processor, the characteristics of the virtualized application to the virtualization environments of the subset of virtualization environments to determine scores for the virtualization environments, and migrate the virtualized application from the existing virtualization environment to a new virtualization environment based on the scores.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for estimating a location of a wireless device in communication with a wireless network, such as an LTE/LTE-A network, based at least in part on WLAN/WPAN AP measurements and/or barometric measurements are disclosed. The wireless device responds to a location capability inquiry from the wireless network by providing a response that indicates the wireless device is configurable to estimate its location based on WLAN/WPAN AP and/or barometric measurements. The wireless network sends WLAN/WPAN AP and/or barometric reference information to the wireless device to assist in estimating its location. The wireless device measures one or more WLAN/WPAN APs, and the wireless device uses the WLAN/WPAN AP and/or barometric measurements to estimate its location. In some embodiments, GPS/GNSS information is used in conjunction with WLAN/WPAN AP and/or barometric measurements to estimate the location of the wireless device.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for estimating a location of a wireless device in communication with a wireless network, such as a UMTS network, based at least in part on WLAN/WPAN AP measurements and/or barometric measurements are disclosed. The wireless device responds to a location capability inquiry from the wireless network by providing a response that indicates the wireless device is configurable to estimate its location based on WLAN/WPAN AP and/or barometric measurements. The wireless network sends WLAN/WPAN AP and/or barometric reference information to the wireless device to assist in estimating its location. The wireless device measures one or more WLAN/WPAN APs, and the wireless device uses the WLAN/WPAN AP and/or barometric measurements to estimate its location. In some embodiments, GPS/GNSS information is used in conjunction with WLAN/WPAN AP and/or barometric measurements to estimate the location of the wireless device.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems that allocate costs of deploying and operating a virtual network to tenants that use the virtual network. In one implementation, costs are allocated to tenant virtual machines (“VMs”) by determining a network bandwidth of a virtual network, determining a common cost of operating the virtual network, determining a service capacity for each network service provided by the virtual network, and determining a service cost for each network service. A portion of the common cost is allocated to each VM based on the proportion of network bandwidth used by each VM, and a portion of the service cost is allocated to each VM based on the proportion of the service capacity used by each VM.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to methods, systems, and machine-readable media for information technology (IT) cost calculation in a software defined data center. A cost of infrastructure IT objects in a software defined data center can be calculated. The infrastructure IT objects can be mapped to an IT service construct over time, during runtime of the infrastructure IT objects. A portion of the cost of the infrastructure IT objects can be allocated to the IT service construct according to the map. A non-infrastructure IT cost can be allocated to the IT service construct. A total cost of the IT service construct can be calculated based on the allocations.

Abstract: The current document is directed to a machine-learning-based subsystem, included within a virtualization layer, that learns, over time, how to accurately predict operational characteristics for the virtual machines executing within the virtual execution environment provided by the virtualization layer that result from changes to the states of the virtual machines. When the virtualization layer receives requests that, if satisfied, would result in a change of the state of one or more virtual machines, the virtualization layer uses operational characteristics predicted by the machine-learning-based subsystem from virtual-machine resource-allocation states that would obtain by satisfying the requests. When the predicted operational characteristics are indicative of potential non-optimality, instability, or unpredictability of virtualized-computer-system operation, the virtualization layer anticipates a deleterious state change and undertakes preventative measures.

Abstract: This disclosure presents computational systems and methods that allocate cost of resources of a cluster of server computers used by virtual machines in a virtual data center. In one aspect, a fair unit rate is computed based on the larger of a measured average utilization or an expected utilization of a cluster resource of server computers within a physical data center by virtual machines. The fair unit rate is a cost per unit of resource used over a period of time and is used to compute an allocated cost of the virtual machine usage of the cluster resource.