Abstract: A method of operating a laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The laboratory sample distribution system comprises a number of sample container carriers. The sample container carriers are adapted to carry one or more sample containers. The sample containers comprise samples to be analyzed by a number of laboratory stations. The laboratory sample distribution system also comprises a transport plane. The transport plane is adapted to support the sample container carriers. The method comprises allocating an area of the transport plane as a buffer area. The buffer area is adapted to store a variable number of sample container carriers. The method also comprises controlling the buffer area using a puzzle-based control scheme or using an aisle-based control scheme as a function of a storage density of the buffer area.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for correlating delivery receipt (DLR) messages with short message service (SMS) messages sent in an application-to-person (A2P) manner through a messaging network comprising multiple data centers. SMS and DLR messages are received and stored into a correlator comprising a local and a global storage area. It is then determined whether a received DLR message corresponds to a received SMS message within a local timeout period associated with the received SMS message. When corresponding DLR and SMS messages have been received they are correlated and the DLR message is sent to the sending SMS client. When corresponding DLR and SMS messages have not been received the location of a global storage area of a correlator in a data center where the DLR and SMS messages are intended to be stored is derived.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for passing short message service (SMS) messages between sending and receiving SMS service providers over a network comprising a default data center and one or more alternative data centers. The default data center may receive message segments of an SMS message from the sending SMS provider into a local storage area of a concatenator comprising a local and a global storage area. The message segments may include segmentation information indicative of a number of message segments associated with the SMS message, routing information, the sending SMS provider, and the receiving SMS provider. When all the message segments have been received within a local timeout period, the default data center concatenates the message segments into a single SMS message and sends it to the receiving SMS service provider.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing message encode/decode as a service are disclosed. According to one method for providing message encoding or decoding as a service, the method occurs at an encode/decode function (EDF) node. The method includes receiving a message encode or decode operation request containing a message identifier and an operation identifier. The method also includes performing, using the operation identifier, a message encode or decode operation involving accessing or modifying at least one TLV element decoded from a message indicated by the message identifier. The method further includes sending a response indicating whether the message encode or decode operation was successfully performed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for processing messages containing type-length-value (TLV) elements are disclosed. According to one exemplary method for processing a message containing TLV elements, the method includes receiving an ingress message containing a plurality of TLV elements. The method also includes decoding a TLV element from the plurality of TLV elements. The method further includes storing an entry containing information about the TLV element in a multi-view data structure implemented using a memory, wherein the multi-view data structure includes an associative container and at least one linked list data structure for ordering the entry with regard to other entries in the multi-view data structure.

Abstract: According to one method for processing a message containing TLV elements, the method includes receiving an ingress message containing a plurality of TLV elements. The method also includes determining, using at least one message related attribute, whether the ingress message is to be processed using a stateless decode algorithm. The method further includes in response to determining that the ingress message is to be processed using the stateless decode algorithm, processing the ingress message using the stateless decode algorithm. The method also includes determining, using the stateless decode algorithm, whether the ingress message includes at least one TLV element indicating that the ingress message is to be further processed using a stateful decode algorithm. The method further includes indicating that the ingress message is to be further processed using the stateful decode algorithm, processing the ingress message using the stateful decode algorithm.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing message encode/decode as a service are disclosed. According to one method for providing message encoding or decoding as a service, the method occurs at an encode/decode function (EDF) node. The method includes receiving a message encode or decode operation request containing a message identifier and an operation identifier. The method also includes performing, using the operation identifier, a message encode or decode operation involving accessing or modifying at least one TLV element decoded from a message indicated by the message identifier. The method further includes sending a response indicating whether the message encode or decode operation was successfully performed.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the disclosed subject matter describes herein a method for conducting adaptive event rate monitoring, the method including detecting an occurrence of network events during a span of time defined by a convergence time period and incrementing a counter value for each of a plurality of monitoring segments included in the convergence time period based on when each of the network events are detected within the convergence time period. The method further includes determining a convergence time rate based on counter values associated with each of the monitoring segments included in the convergence time period and calculating an adaptive per-second event rate using the determined convergence time rate.

Abstract: A laboratory sample distribution system comprising a number of optically recognizable geometric shapes placed on a transport plane or a flat template for drawing such geometric shapes is presented. A laboratory automation system comprising such a laboratory sample distribution system is also presented.

Abstract: According to one method for processing a message containing TLV elements, the method includes receiving an ingress message containing a plurality of TLV elements. The method also includes determining, using at least one message related attribute, whether the ingress message is to be processed using a stateless decode algorithm. The method further includes in response to determining that the ingress message is to be processed using the stateless decode algorithm, processing the ingress message using the stateless decode algorithm. The method also includes determining, using the stateless decode algorithm, whether the ingress message includes at least one TLV element indicating that the ingress message is to be further processed using a stateful decode algorithm. The method further includes indicating that the ingress message is to be further processed using the stateful decode algorithm, processing the ingress message using the stateful decode algorithm.

Abstract: A method of operating a laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The laboratory sample distribution system comprises a number of sample container carriers. The sample container carriers are adapted to carry one or more sample containers. The sample containers comprise samples to be analyzed by a number of laboratory stations. The laboratory sample distribution system also comprises a transport plane. The transport plane is adapted to support the sample container carriers. The method comprises allocating an area of the transport plane as a buffer area. The buffer area is adapted to store a variable number of sample container carriers. The method also comprises controlling the buffer area using a puzzle-based control scheme or using an aisle-based control scheme as a function of a storage density of the buffer area.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing a workload balancer for balancing message traffic received over long-lived Diameter connections are disclosed. One exemplary workload balancer includes at least one connection front end processor for terminating Diameter connections with external nodes. The workload balancer further includes a plurality of Diameter back end processors for performing application or routing processing for the Diameter messages received over the Diameter connections. The at least one connection front end processor load shares Diameter messages received over existing Diameter connections among the back end processors.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the disclosed subject matter describes herein a method for conducting adaptive event rate monitoring, the method including detecting an occurrence of network events during a span of time defined by a convergence time period and incrementing a counter value for each of a plurality of monitoring segments included in the convergence time period based on when each of the network events are detected within the convergence time period. The method further includes determining a convergence time rate based on counter values associated with each of the monitoring segments included in the convergence time period and calculating an adaptive per-second event rate using the determined convergence time rate.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the disclosed subject matter describes herein a method that includes aggregating, by an egress function, message traffic directed to a target server entity from each of a plurality of ingress functions and procuring, by the egress function, dynamic update data that includes a message processing capacity threshold value associated with the target server entity and an aggregated message traffic rate corresponding to the message traffic received from the plurality of ingress functions. The method further includes sending the dynamic update data to each of the plurality of ingress functions and adjusting, by each of the ingress functions, an outgoing message traffic rate directed to the target server entity in accordance with the dynamic update data.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for a multi-view data construct that supports lock-free operations and direct access are disclosed. According to one aspect, a system includes a multi-view data construct including a persistent collection of elements, each element being associated with a unique identifier. Each element includes at least one pointer for configuring the element as a member of a linked list that contains as members elements of the multi-view data construct, data that indicates access status, and a data area within the collection itself or a pointer to a statically or dynamically allocated data area outside of the collection. A control module can identify elements in the collection by each element's respective identifier and can traverse elements in the collection using the pointers contained in each element. Concurrent access to an element by multiple entities is mediated using that element's access status and without using locks or locking operations.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the disclosed subject matter describes herein a method that includes aggregating, by an egress function, message traffic directed to a target server entity from each of a plurality of ingress functions and procuring, by the egress function, dynamic update data that includes a message processing capacity threshold value associated with the target server entity and an aggregated message traffic rate corresponding to the message traffic received from the plurality of ingress functions. The method further includes sending the dynamic update data to each of the plurality of ingress functions and adjusting, by each of the ingress functions, an outgoing message traffic rate directed to the target server entity in accordance with the dynamic update data.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing a workload balancer for balancing message traffic received over long-lived Diameter connections are disclosed. One exemplary workload balancer includes at least one connection front end processor for terminating Diameter connections with external nodes. The workload balancer further includes a plurality of Diameter back end processors for performing application or routing processing for the Diameter messages received over the Diameter connections. The at least one connection front end processor load shares Diameter messages received over existing Diameter connections among the back end processors.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for network traffic regulation of multi-priority traffic in a telecommunications network are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for regulation of multi-priority traffic in a telecommunications network includes, at a node for processing messages in a telecommunications network, receiving a message having an intended destination, determining a priority of the message, and obtaining, from a plurality of threshold values, each threshold value being associated with one of a plurality of message priorities, a threshold value that is associated with the determined priority. The number of messages that have been allowed during a current measurement period is determined, an action to perform on the message is selected based a relationship between the threshold value and the message count, and the selected action is performed. The method includes detecting a refresh condition, and, in response to detecting the refresh condition, starting a new measurement period.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for processing messages containing type-length-value (TLV) elements are disclosed. According to one exemplary method for processing a message containing TLV elements, the method includes receiving an ingress message containing a plurality of TLV elements. The method also includes decoding a TLV element from the plurality of TLV elements. The method further includes storing an entry containing information about the TLV element in a multi-view data structure implemented using a memory, wherein the multi-view data structure includes an associative container and at least one linked list data structure for ordering the entry with regard to other entries in the multi-view data structure.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for a multi-view data construct that supports lock-free operations and direct access are disclosed. According to one aspect, a system includes a multi-view data construct including a persistent collection of elements, each element being associated with a unique identifier. Each element includes at least one pointer for configuring the element as a member of a linked list that contains as members elements of the multi-view data construct, data that indicates access status, and a data area within the collection itself or a pointer to a statically or dynamically allocated data area outside of the collection. A control module can identify elements in the collection by each element's respective identifier and can traverse elements in the collection using the pointers contained in each element. Concurrent access to an element by multiple entities is mediated using that element's access status and without using locks or locking operations.