Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for executing, securing, and non-repudiation of pooled conditional smart contracts over a distributed blockchain network. In particular, the system may receive an instrument request from a beneficiary entity, where the instrument request includes an instrument amount. The system can then identify a lead contribution amount that a lead entity is willing to provide to meet a portion of the instrument amount. A set of supporting entities can be identified as willing to provide supporting contribution amounts to meet the remainder of the instrument amount. A conditional contract can be sent to each supporting entity that, when signed, authorizes the system to transfer contribution amounts, which may be in the form of cryptocurrency, from blockchain addresses of the lead and supporting entities to a blockchain address of the beneficiary entity. Once the instrument amount has been secured, the system executes the transactions.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method may be implemented to respond to receiving data A to be stored in a storage system that includes a plurality of N spans, each including a plurality of M drives. The method may include performing data storing operations. The data storing operations may include storing the data A in N portions across the plurality of spans, generating a Za parity based on an XOR operation applied to the N portions of the data A, storing the Za parity in N?1 portions across a subset of the plurality of spans, determining a Zap parity based on an XOR operation applied to the N?1 portions of the Za parity, and storing the Zap parity.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for a storage system that implements a hierarchical namespace service. A storage system includes a plurality of physical nodes and a plurality of sets of virtual nodes. Each set of virtual nodes is managed by a corresponding physical node. Each virtual node is configured to manage a respective set of directory blocks. Each directory block is a respective partition of a storage namespace and is managed by a corresponding single virtual node. Each virtual node maintains a directory block map. The directory block map maps file system object names in a hierarchical namespace to entity block identifiers in the flat namespace for entity blocks (files and folders) stored in directories corresponding to the managed set of directory blocks. Load balancing may be performed by moving virtual nodes between physical nodes, and by splitting directory blocks.

Abstract: A service enables a command that refers to a file system object using a hierarchical namespace identifier to be executed against the file system object in a flat namespace. The service selectively distributes the command to one of a plurality of name resolution nodes based on a directory name included in the hierarchical namespace identifier. The identified node resolves the directory name to a flat namespace identifier that is used to execute the command against the flat namespace. After communicating with at least one storage node to resolve a directory name, each name resolution node stores a mapping of the directory name to the corresponding flat namespace identifier in a cache, so that subsequent resolutions of that directory name may be performed more efficiently. Cache entries may be invalidated when an operation occurs that impacts the relevant mapping and/or based on system considerations such as cache expiry.

Abstract: The use of a nucleobase or a nucleoside in a consumable to provide taste specific enhancing effect is provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for providing file system functions on a cloud storage system based on blob storage. A cloud storage system comprises storage clusters, and each storage cluster comprises a plurality of storage nodes (each including a partition layer that stores data in blobs organized within containers, and a stream layer for streaming blob data), a hierarchical namespace service for implementing file system functions on the data stored in the blobs and, a front end layer for processing user requests to access and manage data stored on the blobs. The file system functions include flat namespace functions and hierarchical namespace functions. Further, the front end layer accesses the partition layer to access the blobs based on addresses of blobs and accesses the hierarchical namespace service to identify the blobs.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for providing multi-protocol access to a cloud storage system. One method includes an operation for providing a first application programming interface (API), by a cloud storage system that stores data in blobs organized within containers, and a second API, where the APIs provide operations for a flat namespace (FN) and a hierarchical namespace (HN) for accessing data. FN is for accessing data based on account, container, and blob and the HN is for accessing data based on account, directory, and file. When a command is received for FN, the command is performed utilizing containers and blob identifiers. When the command is received for HN, the hierarchical namespace service is accessed to translate directories and files included to one or more blob identifiers. Further, a response is sent to the user device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and programs provide for executing distributed transactions in a cloud storage system with a hierarchical namespace. One method includes receiving a request with operations to be executed atomically. Further, nodes are identified for executing the operations, each node having a respective clock and having at least part of a transactions table for controlling updates to entities. Each clock is one of a loosely-synchronized, a strictly-synchronized clock, a logical, or a physical clock. Additionally, the nodes process the operations, which includes setting a commit timestamp (CS) to a value of the clock in the node if the node is a first node in the processing. One node coordinates the transactions, and may be one of the nodes executing transactions. If the clock in the node is less than a current value of the CS, the node waits for the clock to reach the current value of the CS and the CS is updated.

Abstract: A method for managing a software-defined data center is disclosed. The method involves implementing redundant cloud management stacks, processing duplicate application program interface (API) calls in parallel with the redundant cloud management stacks, and performing a data center operation corresponding to the processed duplicate API calls.

Abstract: A method for processing an electronic payment transaction includes: storing an account profile including a plurality of account numbers; receiving a first authorization request for a payment transaction that includes a first account number of the plurality of account numbers, a first time, and a first location; processing the first payment transaction; receiving a second authorization request for a different transaction including a second primary account number of the plurality of account numbers, a second time, and a second location, where the second account number is associated with a different issuer than the first account number; determining a likelihood of fraud based on the first time and location and the second time and location; and forwarding the second authorization request to the different issuer if the likelihood of fraud is below a threshold, or transmitting an authorization response indicating decline if the likelihood of fraud is above the threshold.

Abstract: A storage tier manager creates different representations of a dataset backup for different retention periods. Each of the representations of the dataset backup is distinctly identifiable despite initially representing a same dataset backup. The representations are structured metadata corresponding to the dataset backup. One representation is a cached backup version of the dataset backup (“cached backup” or “cached representation”) provided for low latency access while residing at a storage tier of the backup appliance for a relatively short retention period according to a lifecycle management policy. The other representation is a cloud backup version of the dataset backup (“cloud backup” or “cloud representation”) provided for persisting into cloud storage for a longer retention period according to the lifecycle management policy.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile pavement surface scanning system for detecting pavement distress. In an embodiment the system comprises one or more light sources mounted on the mobile vehicle for illuminating a pavement, one or more stereoscopic image capturing devices mounted on the vehicle for capturing sequential images of an illuminated pavement surface, and a plurality of positioning sensors mounted on the mobile vehicle, the positioning sensors adapted to encode movement of the mobile vehicle and provide a synchronization signal for the sequential images captured by the one or more stereoscopic image capture devices.

Abstract: An authoritative candidate is selected for determining a location of a point of interest (POI). Source data including name, address, and location for POIs is received from multiple data sources. The received data is normalized for ease of comparison, and coordinates for each candidate are compared to coordinates of other candidates to determine which candidate if any is an authoritative location for the POI. The candidate locations are compared using two models a metric-based scoring system and a machine learning model that may utilize a gradient boosted decision tree. The authoritative candidate can be used to render digital maps that include the POI. In addition, the authoritative candidate's location can be used to provide vehicle route guidance to the POI.

Abstract: In some examples, a server may receive, from a computing device, an error message generated by an executable file that is being executed by the computing device. The server may create, based at least in part on the error message, a search query and perform a search of one or more resources, such as, for example, knowledgebase(s), coding-related forum(s), and the like. The server may receive search results associated with the search query and rank the search results based on one or more criteria to create ranked results. For example, a particular result of the ranked results may include (1) a link to a page that includes a potential solution to an error that caused the error message to be generated and (2) a rank identifying a relevancy of the potential solution to the error. The server may send the ranked results to the computing device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for converting ubiquitous language instructions to robotic process automation executable action steps and executing the action steps. A managing system receives an encrypted user input from a computing device of the user, where the user input comprises instructions entered in ubiquitous language (e.g., common vernacular, or other non-complex programming language). The user input is decrypted and an action keyword is identified from the ubiquitous language instructions. The action keyword for each instruction is compared to a conversion database to determine a set of execution steps associated with each action keyword. These execution steps are in a format that enables a robotic process automation system to perform the execution steps. The set of execution steps is then transmitted to the robotic process automation system that automatically performs the set of execution steps through a workstation or other operating station of the user.

Abstract: An authoritative candidate is selected for determining a location of a point of interest (POI). Source data including name and location for POIs is received from multiple data sources. The received data is normalized for ease of comparison, and coordinates for each candidate are compared to coordinates of other candidates to determine which candidates lie outside of a consensus set of candidates. A consensus set of candidates are those that are each located on a same side of a road segment. Candidates that are not part of the consensus set are eliminated from consideration. Further criteria are then applied to the consensus set of candidates. The authoritative candidate can be used to render digital maps that include the POI. In addition, the authoritative candidate's location can be used to provide vehicle route guidance to the POI.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to correct misattributions of media impressions are disclosed. An example method includes obtaining first demographic-based impressions via a beacon transmitted in response to access to content by a first set of panelists, obtaining, from a database proprietor, second demographic-based impressions of the content on a second set of persons, forming a pseudo-inverse matrix determined based in part on the first impressions, and having a truncated value and a damped value to form third demographic-based impressions of the content on the second set of persons based on the second impressions, and computing at least partially corrected demographic-based impressions values by multiplying a vector of database proprietor impression data by the pseudo-inverse matrix.

Abstract: Systems for dynamically detecting unauthorized activity are provided. A system may receive data from one or more computing devices associated with one or more different channels of communication (e.g., email, telephone, instant messaging, internet browsing, and the like). The received data may be formatted or transformed from an unstructured format to a structured format for further analysis and evaluation. In some arrangements, machine learning may be used to determine whether triggering content was identified in data received from the one or more systems and to evaluate the identified triggering content to determine whether the content, alone or in combination with triggering content from other channels of communication, may indicate an occurrence of unauthorized activity. If so, the identified occurrence may be evaluated to determine whether a false positive has occurred.

Abstract: Methods that expand the properties of laser-induced graphene (LIG) and the resulting LIG having the expanded properties. Methods of fabricating laser-induced graphene from materials, which range from natural, renewable precursors (such as cloth or paper) to high performance polymers (like Kevlar). With multiple lasing, however, highly conductive PEI-based LIG could be obtained using both multiple pass and defocus methods. The resulting laser-induced graphene can be used, inter alia, in electronic devices, as antifouling surfaces, in water treatment technology, in membranes, and in electronics on paper and food Such methods include fabrication of LIG in controlled atmospheres, such that, for example, superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic LIG surfaces can be obtained. Such methods further include fabricating laser-induced graphene by multiple lasing of carbon precursors. Such methods further include direct 3D printing of graphene materials from carbon precurors.

Abstract: A machine learning tool for resolving a compiler error in an application is provided. The application and an associated application metadata file may be stored on a server. The machine learning tool may identify one or more referenced external dependencies causing the compiler error. The machine learning tool may comprise a web crawler configured to locate one or more comparable external dependencies. The web crawler may retrieve an external dependent metadata file for each of the located comparable external dependencies and download the comparable external dependent metadata files. The machine learning tool may be configured to compare the metadata of each comparable external dependent metadata file to the metadata of the application metadata file, assign a confidence level relative to a pre-determined confidence level, for each located comparable external dependency, and download the located comparable external dependencies having a confidence level greater than the pre-determined confidence level.