Abstract: A system includes: a distributed computing subsystem to execute an adjustable number of instances of a request handling process; and a scaling control subsystem connected with the distributed computing subsystem to: allocate received requests among the instances of the request handling process; receive respective self-perceived load indicators from each of the instances of the request handling process; generate, based on the self-perceived load indicators, a total load indicator of the distributed computing subsystem; and compare the total load indicator to a threshold to select an adjustment action; and instruct the distributed computing subsystem to adjust the number of instances of the request handling process, according to the selected adjustment action.

Abstract: In one example, an electromechanical device includes a removable component comprising an electronic identification tag. The apparatus also includes a plurality of tag readers disposed at a plurality of sectors in the apparatus to detect the electronic identification tag and signal strengths associated with the detected electronic identification tag, and send the signal strengths to a tracking system.

Abstract: Movement of a mobile computing device can be guided so that a current focal distance of a camera of the mobile computing device is within a focal distance range within which other mobile computing devices of a same model type captured images at a same location and in which the visual code was successfully detected. Movement of the mobile computing device can be guided so that a distance between prominent points within an image captured by the camera is within prominent points distance range calculated from a distance between the prominent points within each image captured by the other mobile computing devices. An exposure of the camera can be adjusted to be within a range of exposures at which the other mobile computing devices captured the images.

Abstract: Movement of a mobile computing device can be guided so that a current focal distance of a camera of the mobile computing device is within a focal distance range within which other mobile computing devices of a same model type captured images at a same location and in which the visual code was successfully detected. Movement of the mobile computing device can be guided so that a distance between prominent points within an image captured by the camera is within prominent points distance range calculated from a distance between the prominent points within each image captured by the other mobile computing devices. An exposure of the camera can be adjusted to be within a range of exposures at which the other mobile computing devices captured the images.

Abstract: In one example, an electromechanical device includes a removable component comprising an electronic identification tag. The apparatus also includes a plurality of tag readers disposed at a plurality of sectors in the apparatus to detect the electronic identification tag and signal strengths associated with the detected electronic identification tag, and send the signal strengths to a tracking system.