Abstract: A metering tool can monitor the software resources of the cloud to meter the software utilization of the cloud. The metering tool can cooperate and communicate with a cloud management system to determine the software resources utilized by processes instantiated in the cloud and to track the duration of the utilization. The metering tool can store the tracked utilization in a record.

Abstract: A prosthetic finger, comprising: a first axis of movement comprising a moving magnet; a second axis of movement comprising a moving coil, wherein the second axis is generally orthogonal to the first axis; and a third axis of movement comprising a moving magnet, wherein the third axis of movement is generally oriented in the same direction as the first axis of movement.

Abstract: A robotic finger, comprising: a first axis of movement comprising a moving magnet; a second axis of movement comprising a moving coil, wherein the second axis is generally orthogonal to the first axis; and a third axis of movement comprising a moving magnet, wherein the third axis of movement is generally oriented in the same direction as the first axis of movement.

Abstract: A processor receives a request to access secure data. The processor translates the request in order to locate the secure data in a secure data store. The processor retrieves the secure data from the secure data store. The processor encodes the secure data to generate protected secure data. The processor transmits the protected secure data from the secure data store to at least one instantiated virtual machine in a cloud-based network.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for identifying usage histories and end users that may benefit from being redeployed to a new cloud-based network. In particular, a new cloud can receive usage histories corresponding to end user usage in a respective set of other pre-existing clouds. In embodiments, the new cloud can determine whether the new cloud provides sufficient resources to properly host each end user recorded in the usage histories. Further, the new cloud can determine whether there is a cost benefit or other advantage for a user to move to the new cloud. In embodiments, a deployment recommendation may be sent to an administrator of the cloud associated with the desirable usage history.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to instantiating and operating a virtual appliance monitor in a network cloud environment. A method includes receiving, by a virtual appliance monitor executing in a network cloud system, appliance state information representing an execution state of a virtual appliance of a set of virtual appliances instantiated in the network cloud system that the virtual appliance monitor is to monitor, wherein the virtual appliance monitor is instantiated by a cloud management server device managing the network cloud system, managing, by the virtual appliance monitor, the set of virtual appliances in view of the receiving appliance state information, and terminating, by the cloud management server device, the virtual appliance monitor and the set of virtual appliances monitored by the virtual appliance monitor when a subscription period for the virtual appliance monitor and the set of virtual appliances expires.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for de-populating a cloud data store. In one method, an identification of a set of cloud-populated data to be transported from a set of host storage clouds to at least one target data store is received. The method identifies a data transport pathway from the set of host storage clouds to the at least one target data store, the data transport pathway including a dedicated reverse staging connection between the set of host storage clouds and the at least one target data store. The method initiates the transport of the set of cloud-populated data to the at least one target data store in view of a set of de-population commands.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for the management of secure data in a cloud-based network. A secure data store can store sensitive or confidential data, such as account numbers, social security numbers, medical or other information in an on-premise data facility. Regulatory and/or operational requirements may prohibit the migration or unprotected transmission of the secure data to the cloud. An operator can instantiate a set of virtual machines to access and process the secure data, for example to process online purchase transactions. To prevent unauthorized disclosure of the secure data, the secure data store can receive data access requests via a translation module that translates the secure data. The secure data store can retrieve and transmit the secure data using a protection mechanism such as a masking and/or encryption mechanism, avoiding the unprotected transport or exposure of that data to the cloud.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for instantiating and operating a virtual appliance monitor in a network cloud environment. A method includes receiving, by a virtual appliance monitor, appliance state information representing an execution state of a virtual appliance of a set of virtual appliances instantiated in the network cloud, wherein the virtual appliance monitor is instantiated separately from the set of virtual appliances and configured to monitor the set of virtual appliances. The method further includes performing a control action to alter the execution state of the virtual appliance in response to conditions detected in the appliance state information.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for identifying usage histories for producing optimized utilization in a cloud-based network. In particular, a target cloud can receive usage histories corresponding to end user usage in a respective set of other clouds. In embodiments, the target cloud can simulate an execution of the usage histories on resources in the target cloud to generate a set of utilization ratios. Further, the target cloud can determine a desirable usage history from the set of utilization ratios based on highly optimized resource usage within the target cloud. In embodiments, an administrator of the target cloud can provide a deployment recommendation to an administrator of the cloud associated with the desirable usage history.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for migrating software modules into one or more target clouds. The systems and methods can analyze system data to determine software modules supported by the system, and target cloud data to determine which target clouds have a capacity to support a migration of the software modules. In embodiments, benefits of migrating any or all of the software modules to the target clouds can be determined. Based on the benefits, the software modules of the system can be segmented and migrated into systems associated with the multiple target clouds.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for exporting usage history data as input to a management platform of a target cloud-based network. A usage export service can be abstracted and provided external to a host cloud-based network, which can capture the usage history of software or resources by one or more users in the host cloud-based network. Those user(s) or others may wish to export some or all of the usage history to a target cloud or clouds, to perform management or configuration actions in the target cloud(s). The selective subset of the usage history can be transmitted to the cloud management system of the target cloud-based network. The selective subset can be used for management actions in the target cloud(s), such as for instance, to instantiate or configure a set of virtual machines for failover or re-clouding purposes, or to aggregate usage history from the host and target cloud(s).

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for managing a software subscription between an independent software vendor (ISV) and a cloud network provider. In embodiments, the software subscription can be a Software as a Service (SaaS) agreement whereby an amount of resources of the cloud network to be operated by end users can be specified. In embodiments, a resource tracking module associated with the cloud network can track the actual amount of resources operated by the end users in executing applications associated with the ISV. The resource tracking module can compare the actual amount to the amount specified in the SaaS, and adjust the resources of the cloud network accordingly. In embodiments, the SaaS can be updated based on the adjustment.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for de-populating a cloud data store. In aspects, data from premise or other sources can be stored in a set of host storage clouds. A network administrator, owner, or other user can initiate the extraction of the set of cloud-populated data, and migrate that data to a set of step-down data stores, such as on-premise databases, servers, and/or other stores. A staging engine hosted in a cloud data distribution service can manage the discovery, reading-out, and delivery of the set of cloud-populated data to the set of step-down data stores. The staging engine can configure high-bandwidth data connections to the distribution service from the host storage clouds, and/or to the target step-down data stores from the data distribution service. A set of de-population commands can specify the connections, target data locations, file or directory formats, and/or other parameters to be used to re-locate the cloud-populated data.

Abstract: Cloud resource provisioning is described. A cloud resource provisioning method may include obtaining cloud resource usage data by a process, wherein the cloud resource usage data identifies a cloud resource consumed by the process and a usage level associated with the cloud resource. The method may also include assigning an importance indicator to the cloud resource, and identifying a recommended cloud resource having available capacity with respect to the usage level in view of the importance indicator.

Abstract: A user interface presents views of entities and their attributes relative to any subset of associated parameters. A view may present views of entities as a function of one or more parameters. A selection of a subset of entities in one view with respect to parameters may be presented in another view with respect to different parameters. Entities may be manipulated in any supplemental view to change their values or their parameter associations. A view may present components and parameters associated with layers or any subset of layers and/or after layer compositing. A view can include resolved values of components and their attributes. A supplemental view may include visual indicators to indicate the layer or other parameter defining its resolved value. Hierarchical relationships may be presented in views, with ancestor entities expanded within a view to show its descendent entities or collapsed to hide its descendent entities.

Abstract: A software provider system can provide and price software infrastructure for a cloud to a cloud provider based on expected utilization and actual utilization of the cloud. The software provider system can provide the software infrastructure of the cloud and technical support for the software infrastructure under a varying price structure which is dependent on the expected utilization and the actual utilization of the software infrastructure. The software provider system can determine the initial price of the software infrastructure based on the expected utilization of the cloud and a purpose of the cloud. The software provider system can monitor the actual utilization of the software infrastructure, over time, in order to modify the initial price based on the actual utilization of the software infrastructure.

Abstract: A decision system and methods for providing customized deployment architectures that take into account the importance of various cloud resources. The decision system can monitor the applications and processes executed in the cloud, and collect utilization information identifying the cloud resources used, the amount of usage, and trends in usage. Resource importance data can then be obtained from the utilization information and/or from other sources, such as a system user. The decision system can then generate customized deployment architectures based on the collected utilization information and the resource importance data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for integrating applets running on a client with the application logic for applications running on a server. Instead of using the FORM element available in HTML, individual active applets are available and may be created that obtain user input (e.g. a checkbox, textbox, button, etc.). A hidden applet called the Applet Group Controller is created which handles communication between the applets on the browser and the application logic on the server.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for integrating applets running on a client with the application logic for applications running on a server. Instead of using the FORM element available in HTML, individual active applets are available and may be created that obtain user input (e.g. a checkbox, textbox, button, etc.). A hidden applet called the Applet Group Controller is created which handles communication between the applets on the browser and the application logic on the server.