Abstract: In one embodiment, a data reconciliation engine works with data store nodes included in a distributed data store system to ensure consistency between the data store nodes. In operation, the data reconciliation receives a different data snapshot from each of the data store nodes. In response, the data reconciliation engine generates one or more recommendations designed to resolve inconsistencies between the data snapshots. The data reconciliation engine then transmits each recommendation to a different data store node. Because the data reconciliation engine performs many of the resource-intensive operations included in the data reconciliation process, the resources of the data store nodes may focus primarily on processing client requests instead of performing data reconciliation operations.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a node manager configures a “new” node as a replacement for an “unavailable” node that was previously included in a distributed data store. First, the node manager identifies a source node that stores client data that was also stored in the unavailable node. Subsequently, the node manager configures the new node to operate as a slave of the source node and streams the client data from the source node to the new node. Finally, the node manager configures the new node to operate as one of multiple masters nodes in the distributed data store. Advantageously, by configuring the node to implement a hybrid of a master-slave replication scheme and a master-master replication scheme, the node manager enables the distributed data store to process client requests without interruption while automatically restoring the previous level of redundancy provided by the distributed data store.

Abstract: Embodiments disclose systems and methods for transmitting user-extracted video and content more efficiently by recognizing that user-extracted video provides the potential to treat parts of a single frame of a user-extracted video differently. An alpha mask of the image part of the user-extracted video is used when encoding the image part so that it retains a higher quality upon transmission than the remainder of the user-extracted video.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for classifying pixels as foreground using both short-range depth data and long-range depth data. One embodiment takes the form of a process that includes obtaining video data depicting at least a portion of a user. The process also includes obtaining short-range depth data associated with the video data. The process also includes obtaining long-range depth data associated with the video data. The video data, short-range depth data, and long-range depth data may be obtained via a single 3-D video camera. The process also includes classifying pixels of the video data as foreground based at least in part on both the short-range depth data and the long-range depth data. In some embodiments, classifying pixels of the video data as foreground comprises employing an alpha mask. The alpha mask may comprise binary foreground (hard) indicators. The alpha mask may comprise foreground-likelihood (soft) indicators.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a node manager configures a “new” node as a replacement for an “unavailable” node that was previously included in a distributed data store. First, the node manager identifies a source node that stores client data that was also stored in the unavailable node. Subsequently, the node manager configures the new node to operate as a slave of the source node and streams the client data from the source node to the new node. Finally, the node manager configures the new node to operate as one of multiple masters nodes in the distributed data store. Advantageously, by configuring the node to implement a hybrid of a master-slave replication scheme and a master-master replication scheme, the node manager enables the distributed data store to process client requests without interruption while automatically restoring the previous level of redundancy provided by the distributed data store.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a data reconciliation engine works with data store nodes included in a distributed data store system to ensure consistency between the data store nodes. In operation, the data reconciliation receives a different data snapshot from each of the data store nodes. In response, the data reconciliation engine generates one or more recommendations designed to resolve inconsistencies between the data snapshots. The data reconciliation engine then transmits each recommendation to a different data store node. Because the data reconciliation engine performs many of the resource-intensive operations included in the data reconciliation process, the resources of the data store nodes may focus primarily on processing client requests instead of performing data reconciliation operations.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for classifying pixels as foreground using both short-range depth data and long-range depth data. One embodiment takes the form of a process that includes obtaining video data depicting at least a portion of a user. The process also includes obtaining short-range depth data associated with the video data. The process also includes obtaining long-range depth data associated with the video data. The video data, short-range depth data, and long-range depth data may be obtained via a single 3-D video camera. The process also includes classifying pixels of the video data as foreground based at least in part on both the short-range depth data and the long-range depth data. In some embodiments, classifying pixels of the video data as foreground comprises employing an alpha mask. The alpha mask may comprise binary foreground (hard) indicators. The alpha mask may comprise foreground-likelihood (soft) indicators.

Abstract: Embodiments disclose systems and methods for transmitting user-extracted video and content more efficiently by recognizing that user-extracted video provides the potential to treat parts of a single frame of a user-extracted video differently. An alpha mask of the image part of the user-extracted video is used when encoding the image part so that it retains a higher quality upon transmission than the remainder of the user-extracted video.

Abstract: Embodiments disclose systems and methods for transmitting user-extracted video and content more efficiently by recognizing that user-extracted video provides the potential to treat parts of a single frame of a user-extracted video differently. An alpha mask of the image part of the user-extracted video is used when encoding the image part so that it retains a higher quality upon transmission than the remainder of the user-extracted video.

Abstract: Embodiments disclose systems and methods for transmitting user-extracted video and content more efficiently by recognizing that user-extracted video provides the potential to treat parts of a single frame of a user-extracted video differently. An alpha mask of the image part of the user-extracted video is used when encoding the image part so that it retains a higher quality upon transmission than the remainder of the user-extracted video.

Abstract: An adaptive loop filter utilizing separable filters within a quadtree-based adaptive loop filter (QALF). The filters for at least the P and B pictures are replaced with a separable filter to provide Separable QALF (SQALF). In a preferred embodiment the filter comprises a Wiener filter as a best fit approximation of the non-separable filter. In response to decoding with the SQALF approach, computational complexity in the decoder is reduced without lowering perceived visual quality. Estimation of the separable filter is obtained in the encoder by iteratively minimizing the sum of squares error with the separable filter. The SQALF filtering is described within a video decoder.

Abstract: An educational recommender system and a method are provided. The method includes receiving a request to recommend a course of action related to a plurality of current students; accessing a computer database storing student data that corresponds to the plurality of current students; clustering in a computer process the plurality of current students into at least two clusters based at least on granular assessment data associated with student data corresponding to respective current students; and outputting the results of the clustering to a user. The granular assessment data includes a result of an assessment administered to respective students of the plurality of current students, and each assessment includes a plurality of questions for assessing one of the current students. The associated result includes an independent evaluation of each respective question of the plurality of questions.

Abstract: Intelligent product feed systems and product transport methods are presented in which an array of variable speed transport modules is positioned between an input transport mechanism and an output mechanism, with the individual module speeds being controlled by a model-based planner to transport products delivered in an uncertain fashion by the input transport mechanism to the output mechanism synchronized and oriented according to a specified product configuration.

Abstract: A recommender system and method including receiving a request identifying at least one current student for which a recommendation is sought and accessing stored student data including attributes associated with respective students of the current students and a plurality of predecessor students. For the predecessor students the attributes include educational resources. The method includes clustering one of predecessor students and the current students into clusters based on sameness of first selected attributes of their respective associated attributes. The method includes generating a mapping between respective students of the other of the predecessor and current students and one of the clusters based on sameness of second selected attributes associated with the students being mapped. The method then includes recommending for each of the current students the educational resource associated with the predecessor student or cluster of predecessor students that the current student is mapped with.

Abstract: An adaptive loop filter utilizing separable filters within a quadtree-based adaptive loop filter (QALF). The filters for at least the P and B pictures are replaced with a separable filter to provide Separable QALF (SQALF). In a preferred embodiment the filter comprises a Wiener filter as a best fit approximation of the non-separable filter. In response to decoding with the SQALF approach, computational complexity in the decoder is reduced without lowering perceived visual quality. Estimation of the separable filter is obtained in the encoder by iteratively minimizing the sum of squares error with the separable filter. The SQALF filtering is described within a video decoder.

Abstract: Model-based production control systems and methods are presented for constructing plans for controlling operation of a production system with a plant having a plurality of resources to achieve one or more production goals, in which a planner constructs plans for execution in the plant based on production goals while balancing both production objectives (e.g., production cost, production time) and diagnostic objectives (e.g., diagnostic cost, information gained, repair cost), and a diagnosis engine determines a current plant condition based on a previously executed plan and corresponding observations from the plant, and provides expected information gain data to the planner, with the planner generating a plan that will achieve a given production goal and is improved for one or more diagnostic objectives and the expected information gain data.

Abstract: An educational recommender system and a method are provided. The method includes receiving a request to recommend a course of action related to a plurality of current students; accessing a computer database storing student data that corresponds to the plurality of current students; clustering in a computer process the plurality of current students into at least two clusters based at least on granular assessment data associated with student data corresponding to respective current students; and outputting the results of the clustering to a user. The granular assessment data includes a result of an assessment administered to respective students of the plurality of current students, and each assessment includes a plurality of questions for assessing one of the current students. The associated result includes an independent evaluation of each respective question of the plurality of questions.

Abstract: A recommender system and method is provided, including receiving a request to recommend a course of action related to a plurality of current students in accordance with a plurality of constraints and accessing a computer database storing student data that corresponds to the plurality of current students. The student data includes attribute data corresponding to respective students of the plurality of current students for describing at least one attribute related to the respective students. The method further includes clustering in a computer process the plurality of current students into a selected number of clusters based at least on sameness of attribute data corresponding to the respective current students of the plurality of current students and the plurality of constraints, and outputting the results of the clustering to a user.

Abstract: A recommender system and method including receiving a request identifying at least one current student for which a recommendation is sought and accessing stored student data including attributes associated with respective students of the current students and a plurality of predecessor students. For the predecessor students the attributes include educational resources. The method includes clustering one of predecessor students and the current students into clusters based on sameness of first selected attributes of their respective associated attributes. The method includes generating a mapping between respective students of the other of the predecessor and current students and one of the clusters based on sameness of second selected attributes associated with the students being mapped. The method then includes recommending for each of the current students the educational resource associated with the predecessor student or cluster of predecessor students that the current student is mapped with.

Abstract: Intelligent product feed systems and product transport methods are presented in which an array of variable speed transport modules is positioned between an input transport mechanism and an output mechanism, with the individual module speeds being controlled by a model-based planner to transport products delivered in an uncertain fashion by the input transport mechanism to the output mechanism synchronized and oriented according to a specified product configuration.