Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by one or more interfaces, an optimization application, a request for an optimization, one or more policies required to implement the optimization, and data required to implement the optimization. The method also includes converting, by one or more processors and the optimization application, the one or more policies into optimization constraints and objective functions. The method further includes determining, by one or more processors and the optimization application, a solution to the optimization based on the optimization constraints, the objective functions, and the data.

Abstract: The concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to a policy-driven homing service system that can receive, from a master service orchestrator, a demand specifying a service component to be used to provide, at least in part, a service. The system can receive, from a policy system, a homing constraint. The system can determine, for the demand, an initial set of all potential candidates. The system can apply the homing constraint to each potential candidate in the initial set of all potential candidates. The system can determine a resultant set of potential solutions that satisfy the homing constraint. The system can determine a best solution from the resultant set of potential solutions. The system can send the best solution to the master service orchestrator, which instantiates the demand based upon the best solution.

Abstract: A method includes, for components of an application, identifying a plurality of groups including a first group and a second group, The method also includes nesting the first group into the second group to create a nested group, based at least on a level of the first group not exceeding a level of the second group. The method includes deploying the application by placing the components of the nested group within a network in accordance with a restriction of the nested group. The components include at least one virtual machine.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for creating cross-service chains of virtual network functions in a wide area network. A controller can receive a chain request from a requestor. The chain request can specify functionality that is to be included in a service chain. The functionality can include a first function and a second function. The controller can compute a route associated with the service chain. The route can specify a first site that hosts a first service that provides the first function and a second site that hosts a second service that provides the second function. A first virtual network function can be located at the first site and a second virtual network function can be located at the second site. The controller can configure edge devices and forwarding devices to various entities at the two sites to enable the cross-service virtual network function chain.

Abstract: Cloud-based orchestration may be leveraged to create flexible storage solutions that use continuous adaptation to tailor themselves to their target application workloads that made provide efficiencies in performance, cost, or scalability over conventional designs.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for a topology aware load balancing engine. A processor that executes a load balancing engine can receive a request for a load balancing plan for an application. The processor can obtain network topology data that describes elements of a data center and links associated with the elements. The processor can obtain an application flow graph associated with the application and create a load balancing plan to use in balancing traffic associated with the application. The processor can create the load balancing plan to use in balancing traffic associated with the application and distribute commands to the data center to balance traffic over the links.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for creating cross-service chains of virtual network functions in a wide area network. A controller can receive a chain request from a requestor. The chain request can specify functionality that is to be included in a service chain. The functionality can include a first function and a second function. The controller can compute a route associated with the service chain. The route can specify a first site that hosts a first service that provides the first function and a second site that hosts a second service that provides the second function. A first virtual network function can be located at the first site and a second virtual network function can be located at the second site. The controller can configure edge devices and forwarding devices to various entities at the two sites to enable the cross-service virtual network function chain.

Abstract: Content is securely shared between communication devices in an ad-hoc manner by employing common sensing context to establish pairing between the communication devices. In one aspect, the communication devices are within a specified distance from each other and sense common signals from their environment over a specified time period. The common signals are analyzed to determine an initialization or session key, which is utilized to secure content transfer between the communication devices. Additionally or alternatively, the key is utilized to provide access to virtual (e.g., digital content) and/or physical (e.g., buildings) resources.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for a topology aware load balancing engine. A processor that executes a load balancing engine can receive a request for a load balancing plan for an application. The processor can obtain network topology data that describes elements of a data center and links associated with the elements. The processor can obtain an application flow graph associated with the application and create a load balancing plan to use in balancing traffic associated with the application. The processor can create the load balancing plan to use in balancing traffic associated with the application and distribute commands to the data center to balance traffic over the links.

Abstract: Content is securely shared between communication devices in an ad-hoc manner by employing common sensing context to establish pairing between the communication devices. In one aspect, the communication devices are within a specified distance from each other and sense common signals from their environment over a specified time period. The common signals are analyzed to determine an initialization or session key, which is utilized to secure content transfer between the communication devices. Additionally or alternatively, the key is utilized to provide access to virtual (e.g., digital content) and/or physical (e.g., buildings) resources.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for an application deployment engine. A processor that executes an application deployment engine can receive an application request. The processor can obtain network topology data that indicates availability of resources of a data center, an application template associated with the application, and a running time during which an application placement plan is to be identified out of a large number of placement scenarios within the running time. The application template can describe an application flow path associated with the application. The processor can identify the application placement plan, where the application placement plan can include an optimal placement of the application at the data center, before a given running time expires by pruning the large search space. The processor can generate a command to effect deployment of the application in accordance with the application placement plan.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for creating cross-service chains of virtual network functions in a wide area network. A controller can receive a chain request from a requestor. The chain request can specify functionality that is to be included in a service chain. The functionality can include a first function and a second function. The controller can compute a route associated with the service chain. The route can specify a first site that hosts a first service that provides the first function and a second site that hosts a second service that provides the second function. A first virtual network function can be located at the first site and a second virtual network function can be located at the second site. The controller can configure edge devices and forwarding devices to various entities at the two sites to enable the cross-service virtual network function chain.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for an application deployment engine. A processor that executes an application deployment engine can receive an application request. The processor can obtain network topology data that indicates availability of resources of a data center, an application template associated with the application, and a running time during which an application placement plan is to be identified out of a large number of placement scenarios within the running time. The application template can describe an application flow path associated with the application. The processor can identify the application placement plan, where the application placement plan can include an optimal placement of the application at the data center, before a given running time expires by pruning the large search space. The processor can generate a command to effect deployment of the application in accordance with the application placement plan.

Abstract: A method includes, for components of an application, identifying a plurality of groups including a first group and a second group, The method also includes nesting the first group into the second group to create a nested group, based at least on a level of the first group not exceeding a level of the second group. The method includes deploying the application by placing the components of the nested group within a network in accordance with a restriction of the nested group. The components include at least one virtual machine.

Abstract: A fluidized bed boiler with a support construction for a particle separator. The fluidized bed boiler includes a bottom-supported furnace in which at least one particle separator with a support construction is in gas flow connection with an upper portion of the furnace and includes a furnace side portion, an outer portion opposite to the furnace side portion, and a conical lower portion. At least two bottom-supported downcomer pipes are in fluid connection with a steam drum and adjacent to the outer portion of the particle separator. The support construction includes a frame-like supporting member surrounding at least a portion of the conical lower portion, and an outboard portion of the supporting member is attached to the at least two downcomer pipes to support the at last one particle separator.

Abstract: Content is securely shared between communication devices in an ad-hoc manner by employing common sensing context to establish pairing between the communication devices. In one aspect, the communication devices are within a specified distance from each other and sense common signals from their environment over a specified time period. The common signals are analyzed to determine an initialization or session key, which is utilized to secure content transfer between the communication devices. Additionally or alternatively, the key is utilized to provide access to virtual (e.g., digital content) and/or physical (e.g., buildings) resources.

Abstract: Content is securely shared between communication devices in an ad-hoc manner by employing common sensing context to establish pairing between the communication devices. In one aspect, the communication devices are within a specified distance from each other and sense common signals from their environment over a specified time period. The common signals are analyzed to determine an initialization or session key, which is utilized to secure content transfer between the communication devices. Additionally or alternatively, the key is utilized to provide access to virtual (e.g., digital content) and/or physical (e.g., buildings) resources.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for a topology aware load balancing engine. A processor that executes a load balancing engine can receive a request for a load balancing plan for an application. The processor can obtain network topology data that describes elements of a data center and links associated with the elements. The processor can obtain an application flow graph associated with the application and create a load balancing plan to use in balancing traffic associated with the application. The processor can create the load balancing plan to use in balancing traffic associated with the application and distribute commands to the data center to balance traffic over the links.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for an application deployment engine. A processor that executes an application deployment engine can receive an application request. The processor can obtain network topology data that indicates availability of resources of a data center, an application template associated with the application, and a running time during which an application placement plan is to be identified out of a large number of placement scenarios within the running time. The application template can describe an application flow path associated with the application. The processor can identify the application placement plan, where the application placement plan can include an optimal placement of the application at the data center, before a given running time expires by pruning the large search space. The processor can generate a command to effect deployment of the application in accordance with the application placement plan.

Abstract: A fluidized bed boiler with a support construction for a particle separator. The fluidized bed boiler includes a bottom-supported furnace in which at least one particle separator with a support construction is in gas flow connection with an upper portion of the furnace and includes a furnace side portion, an outer portion opposite to the furnace side portion, and a conical lower portion. At least two bottom-supported downcomer pipes are in fluid connection with a steam drum and adjacent to the outer portion of the particle separator. The support construction includes a frame-like supporting member surrounding at least a portion of the conical lower portion, and an outboard portion of the supporting member is attached to the at least two downcomer pipes to support the at last one particle separator.