Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for generating a data processing pipeline. One of the methods includes receiving configuration data that identifies a) input data to be processed by a pipeline processing system that includes one or more subsystems and b) one or more data processing parameters; accessing two or more templates, wherein each template includes a set of data processing stages; selecting, from the two or more templates, one or more specific templates that have a plurality of data processing stages; generating the data processing pipeline that i) includes the plurality of data processing stages and ii) indicates one or more processing steps for the respective subsystem to perform on respective data; and causing the one or more subsystems to perform the processing steps to generate output data from the input data according to the one or more data processing parameters.

Abstract: A method for reserving access to a shared space through use of a blockchain and smart contracts includes: storing a blockchain including a plurality of blocks, each block including a block header and one or more blockchain data values, wherein one of the one or more blockchain data values included in one of the plurality of blocks includes a smart contract including at least an identifier and one or more terms; receiving a reservation request, wherein the reservation request includes at least the identifier, a reservation time, a public key of a cryptographic key pair, and a digital signature generated using the private key of the cryptographic key pair; validating the digital signature using the public key; executing the smart contract using the public key and the reservation time; and transmitting one or more data values to an internet-enabled device as part of the execution of the smart contract.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering a secure document with a text selection capability. The methods comprise, by a processor creating a graphic that includes at least one non-text object of a source document and a watermark, adding the graphic onto a base document, and creating a secure document by adding one or more text objects from the source document onto the base document, the secured document configured to enable text selection of the one or more of the added text objects. The secure document includes a file format that is different than that of the source document.

Abstract: A method of verifying the destination of a transaction between nodes in a network includes receiving transaction information corresponding to a transaction between the nodes, where the transaction information comprises a unique destination identifier and a destination name and where the unique destination identifier defines a destination account of the transaction; obtaining from a storage unit a set of names used in previous transactions to that destination account; determining at least one disparity value between the destination name and the set of names; and producing a destination verification value based on the at least one disparity value, wherein the destination verification value is used to verify whether the transaction between nodes should proceed.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide systems and methods for upgrading user space networking stacks without disruptions to network traffic. A first packet engine can read connection information of existing connections of a second packet engine written to a shared memory region by the second packet engine. The first packet engine can establish one or more virtual connections according to the connection information of existing connections of the second packet engine. Each of the first packet engine and the second packet engine can receive mirrored traffic data. The first packet engine can receive a first packet and determine that the first packet is associated with a virtual connection corresponding to an existing connection of the second packet engine. The first packet engine can drop the first packet responsive to the determination that the first packet is associated with the virtual connection.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for visibility filtering. One of the methods includes receiving a request for particular data on a social messaging platform; passing the request to one or more services, wherein each service is configured to call to data sources or to additional services to collect the particular data according to a request path defined for a type of request; performing visibility filtering at each service upon obtaining responses to calls made by that service, wherein performing visibility filtering at a service comprises calling a local visibility library that evaluates one or more rules with respect to the obtained response data, and wherein the results of the visibility filtering are passed upstream along the request path until a last service obtains all filtered response data; and assembling a final response to the request based on the filtered response data.

Abstract: A method for verified data storage via blockchain includes: storing a blockchain comprised of a plurality of blocks, each comprised of a block header and a plurality of transaction values, the block header including a timestamp; receiving a transaction notification including an entity identifier and data values; validating the data values based on a validation notification received from a verifying entity; generating a new block header comprised of a current timestamp, a block reference value, and a transaction reference value, the block reference value being generated via hashing of the block header included in a most recent block based on the timestamp, and the transaction reference value being generated via hashing of new transaction values including the data values; generating a new block comprised of the generated new block header and the new transaction values; and transmitting the new block to a node associated with the blockchain.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide systems and methods for upgrading user space networking stacks without disruptions to network traffic. A first packet engine can read connection information of existing connections of a second packet engine written to a shared memory region by the second packet engine. The first packet engine can establish one or more virtual connections according to the connection information of existing connections of the second packet engine. Each of the first packet engine and the second packet engine can receive mirrored traffic data. The first packet engine can receive a first packet and determine that the first packet is associated with a virtual connection corresponding to an existing connection of the second packet engine. The first packet engine can drop the first packet responsive to the determination that the first packet is associated with the virtual connection.

Abstract: A method for reserving access to a shared space through use of a blockchain and smart contracts includes: storing a blockchain including a plurality of blocks, each block including a block header and one or more blockchain data values, wherein one of the one or more blockchain data values included in one of the plurality of blocks includes a smart contract including at least an identifier and one or more terms; receiving a reservation request, wherein the reservation request includes at least the identifier, a reservation time, a public key of a cryptographic key pair, and a digital signature generated using the private key of the cryptographic key pair; validating the digital signature using the public key; executing the smart contract using the public key and the reservation time; and transmitting one or more data values to an internet-enabled device as part of the execution of the smart contract.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for visibility filtering. One of the methods includes receiving a request for particular data on a social messaging platform; passing the request to one or more services, wherein each service is configured to call to data sources or to additional services to collect the particular data according to a request path defined for a type of request; performing visibility filtering at each service upon obtaining responses to calls made by that service, wherein performing visibility filtering at a service comprises calling a local visibility library that evaluates one or more rules with respect to the obtained response data, and wherein the results of the visibility filtering are passed upstream along the request path until a last service obtains all filtered response data; and assembling a final response to the request based on the filtered response data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering a secure document with a text selection capability. The methods comprise, by a processor creating a graphic that includes at least one non-text object of a source document and a watermark, adding the graphic onto a base document, and creating a secure document by adding one or more text objects from the source document onto the base document, the secured document configured to enable text selection of the one or more of the added text objects. The secure document includes a file format that is different than that of the source document.

Abstract: A method of verifying the destination of a transaction between nodes in a network includes receiving transaction information corresponding to a transaction between the nodes, where the transaction information comprises a unique destination identifier and a destination name and where the unique destination identifier defines a destination account of the transaction; obtaining from a storage unit a set of names used in previous transactions to that destination account; determining at least one disparity value between the destination name and the set of names; and producing a destination verification value based on the at least one disparity value, wherein the destination verification value is used to verify whether the transaction between nodes should proceed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering a secure document with a text selection capability. The methods comprise: performing first operations, by a computing device, to determine which objects of a source document are non-text objects; creating, by the computing device, an image file representing a graphic consisting of the non-text objects of the source document and a watermark merged together as a single image; drawing the graphic represented by the image file to a base document having a first file format different than a second file format of the source document; and drawing text objects to the base document from the source document so as to create the secure document with the text selection capability.

Abstract: A method and server system for facilitating processing of payment transactions with encrypted images are disclosed. The server system receives an encrypted image from a device of a user. The encrypted image includes a device identifier (ID) associated with the device, and at least one payment transaction information associated with a payment account of the user. The device ID and the at least one payment transaction information are extracted from the encrypted image. The extracted device ID is matched with an available device ID at the server system. Subsequent to successful matching of the device ID with the available device ID, a payment transaction is processed using the payment account based on the at least one payment transaction information.

Abstract: A method for rewarding carbon sequestration includes: receiving a carbon sequestration notification, wherein the carbon sequestration notification includes at least an amount of sequestered carbon dioxide and an entity identifier associated with an entity that sequestered the amount of sequestered carbon dioxide; receiving a verification message, wherein the verification message includes at least the entity identifier and an indication of successful verification of the entity as sequestering the amount of sequestered carbon dioxide; generating a digital signature using a private key of a cryptographic key pair; identifying a destination address associated with the entity based on at least the entity identifier; and transmitting at least the digital signature, destination address, one or more source addresses, and a currency amount based on the amount of sequestered carbon dioxide to a node in a blockchain network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering a secure document with a text selection capability. The methods comprise: performing first operations, by a computing device, to determine which objects of a source document are non-text objects; creating, by the computing device, an image file representing a graphic consisting of the non-text objects of the source document and a watermark merged together as a single image; drawing the graphic represented by the image file to a base document having a first file format different than a second file format of the source document; and drawing text objects to the base document from the source document so as to create the secure document with the text selection capability.

Abstract: A method for verified data storage via blockchain includes: storing a blockchain comprised of a plurality of blocks, each comprised of a block header and a plurality of transaction values, the block header including a timestamp; receiving a transaction notification including an entity identifier and data values; validating the data values based on a validation notification received from a verifying entity; generating a new block header comprised of a current timestamp, a block reference value, and a transaction reference value, the block reference value being generated via hashing of the block header included in a most recent block based on the timestamp, and the transaction reference value being generated via hashing of new transaction values including the data values; generating a new block comprised of the generated new block header and the new transaction values; and transmitting the new block to a node associated with the blockchain.

Abstract: A method for estimation of parking rates based on location and transaction data includes: storing transaction data entries, each including a geographic location or merchant identifier and transaction amount; storing location data entries, each including a geographic location and a length of time; identifying a subset of transaction data entries where the included geographic location or merchant identifier are associated with a parking area; identifying a subset of location data entries where the included geographic location is included in a predefined geographic area associated with the parking area; identifying an average parking time based on the length of time in each location data entry of the subset; identifying an average cost amount based on the transaction amount included in each transaction data entry of the subset; and identifying an estimated parking rate for the parking area based on the average parking time and cost.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for computing a price-sensitivity score for a product for sale is provided. The method comprises (a) receiving, by a transaction analysis component, transaction data comprising a purchase of the target product by a consumer; (b) receiving, by a product analysis component, a reference price-sensitivity score for a reference product for sale; (c) calculating, by the transaction analysis component, a correlation index using the transaction data; said correlation index being indicative a correlation between purchases of the target product and the reference product; and (d) calculating, by the product analysis component, the price-sensitivity score for the target product using the correlation index and the reference price-sensitivity score. Methods for computing a price-sensitivity rating of a consumer and a price-efficiency rating for a merchant are also provided. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.