Abstract: An automated arrangement for deploying software updates to a distributed system based on state differences is provided in which a manifest defines a target snapshot of the desired state of the system after it is updated. A snapshot of the current distributed system state is taken and a state difference between the current state and the target state is calculated. A rule-based engine applies pre-defined rules to generate a sequence of actions that when performed will bring the distributed system to the target state. Accordingly, rather than have to focus on how to change the distributed system, software developers and system administrators may instead specify the target distributed system state in the manifest and the present automated deployment arrangement will perform the required actions to deploy the updates and achieve the desired state.

Abstract: An automated arrangement for deploying software updates to a distributed system based on state differences is provided in which a manifest defines a target snapshot of the desired state of the system after it is updated. A snapshot of the current distributed system state is taken and a state difference between the current state and the target state is calculated. A rule-based engine applies pre-defined rules to generate a sequence of actions that when performed will bring the distributed system to the target state. Accordingly, rather than have to focus on how to change the distributed system, software developers and system administrators may instead specify the target distributed system state in the manifest and the present automated deployment arrangement will perform the required actions to deploy the updates and achieve the desired state.

Abstract: A payment gateway is implemented as a web service that utilizes a payment adapter plug-in model to support both synchronous payments (e.g., credit/debit card payments) and asynchronous payments (e.g., bank transfers) in which an interface to the payment gateway is provided to facilitate the development by a payment service provider or third party of a payment adapter that can plug into the gateway. The payment adapter enables the details of the payment service provider, credit card network, bank, etc. to be abstracted by mapping payment status from the provider to a standardized payment status that is utilized by the payment gateway. A payment gateway can then switch payment service providers by switching payment adapters.

Abstract: Architecture that leverages enabling technologies for tracking offline activity of a user, and rating performance of offline/online publishers of content and/or advertisements. Knowledge about user offline interests can be accumulated and used to target the user with smart advertisements when offline or online. Moreover, the performance of publishers of the offline content computed by merchants who contract with publishers to provide the best exposure. In support thereof, rate information in the form of response rate and conversion rate can be computed and analyzed for each offline publisher. A publisher referral ID for a publisher is inserted into detectable indicia associated with offline media such as print media, audio media, video media, etc. When a user interacts with the offline content using a cell phone, the captured information is forwarded to an online advertisement component framework for responding to the user interaction (e.g., a purchase transaction or request for further information).