Abstract: Computer implemented methods, systems, and computer program products are provided including obtaining one or more prior pathways through a physical structure environment (PSE) followed by a collection of electronic devices (EDs) over time in connection with the EDs navigating through the PSE; determining a recommended pathway through the PSE to a PSE destination based on the one or more prior pathways; and presenting the recommended pathway.

Abstract: Particular embodiments comprise providing a surface mesh for an object, generating a voxel grid comprising volumetric masks for the mesh, and generating a lit mesh, wherein the lit mesh comprises a shaded version of the mesh as positioned in a scene. The voxel grid may be positioned over the lit mesh in the scene, and a first ray may be traced to a position of the voxel grid. If the traced ray passed through the voxel grid and hit a location on the lit mesh, then one or more second rays may be traced to the hit location on the lit mesh. If the traced ray hit a location in the voxel grid but did not hit a location on the lit mesh, then one or more second rays may be traced from the hit location in the voxel grid to the closest locations on the lit mesh. Finally, color sampled at one or more locations proximate to the position of the voxel grid may be blurred outward through the voxel grid to create a volumetric projection.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a cloth weave structure is built from curves over the surface of a subdivision mesh at rendertime. A coherent woven or knitted surface is generated from interwoven curve geometry and a subdivision (or polygon) mesh. In one aspect, this is done at render-time. Accordingly, in one embodiment, a geometry generation process takes an ST map as input to control the direction of flow of curves (yarns) over the surface. Since each face is calculated independently, general global coordinates in ST space are predefined (at the beginning of the render) to make sure that each face transitions smoothly to the next.

Abstract: Particular embodiments comprise providing a surface mesh for an object, generating a voxel grid comprising volumetric masks for the mesh, and generating a lit mesh, wherein the lit mesh comprises a shaded version of the mesh as positioned in a scene. The voxel grid may be positioned over the lit mesh in the scene, and a first ray may be traced to a position of the voxel grid. If the traced ray passed through the voxel grid and hit a location on the lit mesh, then one or more second rays may be traced to the hit location on the lit mesh. If the traced ray hit a location in the voxel grid but did not hit a location on the lit mesh, then one or more second rays may be traced from the hit location in the voxel grid to the closest locations on the lit mesh. Finally, color sampled at one or more locations proximate to the position of the voxel grid may be blurred outward through the voxel grid to create a volumetric projection.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an ray-marched-tangent space shader is provided which uses adaptive, curved ray marching of an implicit weave/thread procedural texture to create the appearance of individual cloth yarns complete with sub-fibers which separate rather than stretch over the surface. The volumetric surface shader shades cloth by performing adaptive curved ray marching of an implicit tangent space distance field.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating a circular scratch highlight. The method includes generating a plurality of texture planes, where each texture plane includes a plurality of copies of a scratch texture oriented in the same direction; generating a combined texture by combining the plurality of texture planes at different angles; applying the combined texture to a surface of an object; calculating a specular gradient vector based on a light vector and a reflectance vector, wherein the specular gradient vector points in a gradient direction of a specular highlight; and generating the circular scratch highlight by assigning, for each of a plurality of points on the surface of the object, a separate weight value corresponding to each texture plane in the combined texture based on how closely an orientation of the texture plane at the point corresponds to a scratch vector that is perpendicular to the specular gradient vector.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and systems for generating deformers that allow nondynamic objects, such as representations of skin, to appear to slide on a target surface. Computer simulations can be inflexible when it comes to creative input and also introduces extra time into the production process. One or more controls (e.g., a slider or a dial) can be generated based on a weight map and a direction field of an irregular surface that allow the user to slide nondynamic objects, such as representations of skin, on the surface facilitating computer-generated animation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating a circular scratch highlight. The method includes generating a plurality of texture planes, where each texture plane includes a plurality of copies of a scratch texture oriented in the same direction; generating a combined texture by combining the plurality of texture planes at different angles; applying the combined texture to a surface of an object; calculating a specular gradient vector based on a light vector and a reflectance vector, wherein the specular gradient vector points in a gradient direction of a specular highlight; and generating the circular scratch highlight by assigning, for each of a plurality of points on the surface of the object, a separate weight value corresponding to each texture plane in the combined texture based on how closely an orientation of the texture plane at the point corresponds to a scratch vector that is perpendicular to the specular gradient vector.

Abstract: In a system providing for user access of secure resources upon user authentication by a remote authentication server, a successful user authentication is saved locally for use when the authentication server is not available. The successful user authentication returns an authenticated credential which is stored on the local client utilizing a security method such as Public Key Infrastructure which prevents tampering with the credential. If a gateway machine provides connectivity between the client and the authentication server, the credential is also stored on the gateway.

Abstract: In the event of a virally infected MBR on a hard disk drive that might prevent booting, a service MBR in a hidden protected area (HPA) can be used to boot a service O.S., and then the service MBR can be replaced with a previously backed-up MBR, also in the HPA, to mount any missing partitions.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable code are provided for reclaiming backup data storage space in memory. The process receives a selection to reclaim a set of memory locations associated with a set of backup copies of a selected file. The process searches a plurality of memory locations for the set of memory locations associated with the set of backup copies. The process then removes the data associated with the set of backup copies from the set of memory locations to form a set of reclaimed memory locations. The set of reclaimed memory locations are unoccupied by data associated with the set of backup copies of the selected file.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying and recovering a file damaged by a hard drive failure. The method includes monitoring event logs, mapping at least one failing sector to at least one corresponding corrupted file if a hard drive failure is detected, and performing a selected remedial procedure based on the at least one corrupted file. According to the method and system disclosed herein, the user is quickly informed of the corrupted file and is given choices for remedial procedures.

Abstract: A client computer is connected via a network to an anti-virus server and polls the server for indication that an anti-virus needs to be immediately downloaded from the anti-virus server. The client computer disengages from the network, and re-establishes a link with only the trusted anti-virus server. The anti-virus fix is installed, the client computer re-booted, and the client computer is then allowed to reconnect to the full network. If the client's primary operating system (OS) is infected, a secondary OS in the client computer performs the anti-virus download and execution. The disengagement from the network is performed by applying a filter in a network interface card (NIC) driver by the primary OS, the secondary OS, a service processor (SP), or by a virtual machine manager (VMM), depending on which is available at the client computer.

Abstract: A method and system for encrypting non-volatile storage regions, such as volumes, accessible by multiple users. A plurality of non-volatile storage regions is encrypted each with a different encryption key. A subset of the encryption keys is made available to each user thereby granting the user access to a corresponding subset of non-volatile storage regions. To protect a user's encryption keys, a private-public encryption key pair is generated, the private key being made available only to that user. The subset of the user's encryption keys is encrypted using the user's public encryption key. The users' private keys can be stored in a secure encryption module and can be protected with a password. Upon authenticating a user, the corresponding encryption keys may be provided to the user after decrypting the encryption keys using the user's private key. The contents of the non-volatile storage regions are then decrypted using the encryption keys.

Abstract: A method, computer program product and system for restoring previously un-backed up data during a system restore. A computing system may include a locked partition in its storage medium to store an alternate operating system and backed-up files. The alternate operating system may determine which files have been modified since the most recent backup and run a virus scan on those modified files. The alternate operating system may copy the modified files with no detected viruses as well as those modified files with a detected virus but cleaned by the virus scan. The backup files in the locked partition that have been modified since the most recent backup operation may be replaced with these uncorrupted modified files. In this manner, the system may be able to recover files since the most recent backup while ensuring at least in part that the restored files do not contain any viruses.

Abstract: A system and method for backup data storage and retrieval which does not require a program to be installed on the host computer system. The system and method may operate over a network. A system and method for automatic execution of the backup and restoration, including installation of a recovery operating system, if desired or required, is also provided. A data structure for the optimization of the storage of backup data is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for the migration and distribution of computer software using an appliance which non-invasively creates copies of computer files from a data set and installs them on destination computers. The system and method features several ways of configuring the software installed for its reliable operation in the new hardware environment. Also disclosed is a system and method for the manipulation of data set files in order to optimize and pre-configure them for the new hardware environment.