Abstract: Data associated with a flight, including a flight plan, a vehicle, and/or a pilot is processed via a risk assessment platform to obtain one of more numerical risk values, for example a ground risk value and an air risk value. Based on the processed data, a matrix of risk assessment decisions is generated containing risk related information (such as risk remediation information). Accordingly, based on a consistent set of risk relation information, a predictable and repeatable flight decision (such as a decision whether to fly, or an adjustment to a flight route) can be made. In some instances, the data to be processed is quantitative data collected from one or more third party systems, such as sensor data or geospatial data. The risk assessment platform includes toolkits or services to be used in the processing and transformation of this data to reach a risk assessment decision.

Abstract: Systems and methods of generating responses associated with natural language input. A system includes a communication module, a processor, and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed, configure the processor to: transmit, to a conversation agent server, a natural language input and receive, from the conversation agent server, an intent and at least one parameter. The processor generates, based on the intent and the at least one parameter, a fulfillment query requesting access to personal data for generating a response to the natural language input, where the personal data is stored on a fulfillment server. The processor transmits the fulfillment query and receives a response indication from the fulfillment server. The processor generates a request for subsequent input, generates an updated conversation context based on the response indication and the intent, and transmits to the conversation agent server, the updated conversation context.

Abstract: Data associated with a flight, including a flight plan, a vehicle, and/or a pilot is processed via a risk assessment platform to obtain one of more numerical risk values, for example a ground risk value and an air risk value. Based on the processed data, a matrix of risk assessment decisions is generated containing risk related information (such as risk remediation information). Accordingly, based on a consistent set of risk relation information, a predictable and repeatable flight decision (such as a decision whether to fly, or an adjustment to a flight route) can be made. In some instances, the data to be processed is quantitative data collected from one or more third party systems, such as sensor data or geospatial data. The risk assessment platform includes toolkits or services to be used in the processing and transformation of this data to reach a risk assessment decision.

Abstract: Systems and methods of generating responses associated with natural language input. A system includes a communication module, a processor, and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed, configure the processor to: transmit, to a conversation agent server, a natural language input and receive, from the conversation agent server, an intent and at least one parameter. The processor generates, based on the intent and the at least one parameter, a fulfillment query requesting access to personal data for generating a response to the natural language input, where the personal data is stored on a fulfillment server. The processor transmits the fulfillment query and receives a response indication from the fulfillment server. The processor generates a request for subsequent input, generates an updated conversation context based on the response indication and the intent, and transmits to the conversation agent server, the updated conversation context.

Abstract: Systems and methods of generating responses associated with natural language input. A system includes a communication module, a processor, and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed, configure the processor to: transmit, to a conversation agent server, a natural language input and receive, from the conversation agent server, an intent and at least one parameter. The processor generates, based on the intent and the at least one parameter, a fulfillment query requesting access to personal data for generating a response to the natural language input, where the personal data is stored on a fulfillment server. The processor transmits the fulfillment query and receives a response indication from the fulfillment server. The processor generates a request for subsequent input, generates an updated conversation context based on the response indication and the intent, and transmits to the conversation agent server, the updated conversation context.

Abstract: Systems and methods of generating responses associated with natural language input. A system includes a communication module, a processor, and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed, configure the processor to: transmit, to a conversation agent server, a natural language input and receive, from the conversation agent server, an intent and at least one parameter. The processor generates, based on the intent and the at least one parameter, a fulfillment query requesting access to personal data for generating a response to the natural language input, where the personal data is stored on a fulfillment server. The processor transmits the fulfillment query and receives a response indication from the fulfillment server. The processor generates a request for subsequent input, generates an updated conversation context based on the response indication and the intent, and transmits to the conversation agent server, the updated conversation context.

Abstract: A method for implementation within a scheduler for a processor is described. The method includes receiving a plurality of jobs from an earliest deadline first (EDF) schedule, wherein the scheduler implements an EDF scheduling model. The method also includes receiving a separate job from a source other than the EDF schedule. The separate job has a fixed scheduling requirement with a specific execution time. The method also includes determining an amount of available utilization capacity of the processor and inserting the separate job into an execution plan of the processor with the plurality of jobs from the EDF schedule in response to a determination that the available utilization capacity of the processor is sufficient to execute the separate job according to the fixed scheduling requirement associated with the separate job.

Abstract: A method for implementation within a scheduler for a processor is described. The method includes receiving a plurality of jobs from an earliest deadline first (EDF) schedule, wherein the scheduler implements an EDF scheduling model. The method also includes receiving a separate job from a source other than the EDF schedule. The separate job has a fixed scheduling requirement with a specific execution time. The method also includes determining an amount of available utilization capacity of the processor and inserting the separate job into an execution plan of the processor with the plurality of jobs from the EDF schedule in response to a determination that the available utilization capacity of the processor is sufficient to execute the separate job according to the fixed scheduling requirement associated with the separate job.

Abstract: A system inputs predictions about plays in athletic competitions or other live or recorded events before the events are broadcast or viewed. A related system inputs information about the plays or events in real time. The system uses the predictions by the users to award points to correct predictions in a predetermined manner. The result is a game of skill that can be played using a computer or mobile computing device. Alternatively, the game can be played without computers, but rather by players manually signaling predictions on a board and one or more operators awarding the points, or a hybrid of the computer and non-computer modes of play.

Abstract: A system for inserting jobs into a scheduler of a processor includes the processor and the scheduler. The processor executes instructions related to a plurality of jobs. The scheduler implements an earliest deadline first (EDF) scheduling model. The scheduler also receives a plurality of jobs from an EDF schedule. The scheduler also receives a separate job from a source other than the EDF schedule. The separate job has a fixed scheduling requirement. The separate job also may be a short duration sporadic job. The scheduler also inserts the separate job into an execution plan of the processor in response to a determination that an available utilization capacity of the processor is sufficient to execute the separate job according to the fixed scheduling requirement associated with the separate job.

Abstract: A method and system for data redundancy, wherein method comprises storing an object in an object storage device, storing a duplicate of the object in a second object storage device, converting the object into any of a grouped object Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) layout and an individual RAID layout upon growth of the object, and discarding the duplicate object. The step of converting further comprises determining which of the grouped object RAID or individual RAID layout to convert the object into based on a size of the object being converted. Moreover, the step of converting into a grouped object RAID layout further comprises selecting a group based on whether the group comprises other objects similarly sized to the object, wherein the similarly sized objects comprise variably sized objects.

Abstract: A fault-tolerant and efficient way of deducing a set of inconsistent stripes for a network RAID protocol, wherein clients forward input/output (I/O) to a particular controller device called the coordinator, which executes RAID logic and which sends out device IOs to the relevant storage devices. If the coordinator fails then a new coordinator reconstructs its state from the storage devices.

Abstract: A method and system for data redundancy, wherein method comprises storing an object in an object storage device, storing a duplicate of the object in a second object storage device, converting the object into any of a grouped object Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) layout and an individual RAID layout upon growth of the object, and discarding the duplicate object. The step of converting further comprises determining which of the grouped object RAID or individual RAID layout to convert the object into based on a size of the object being converted. Moreover, the step of converting into a grouped object RAID layout further comprises selecting a group based on whether the group comprises other objects similarly sized to the object, wherein the similarly sized objects comprise variably sized objects.

Abstract: A method and system for data redundancy, wherein method comprises storing an object in an object storage device, storing a duplicate of the object in a second object storage device, converting the object into any of a grouped object Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) layout and an individual RAID layout upon growth of the object, and discarding the duplicate object. The step of converting further comprises determining which of the grouped object RAID or individual RAID layout to convert the object into based on a size of the object being converted. Moreover, the step of converting into a grouped object RAID layout further comprises selecting a group based on whether the group comprises other objects similarly sized to the object, wherein the similarly sized objects comprise variably sized objects.

Abstract: A scheduler selects an I/O from a session of a pool and updates token buckets associated with resource limits and reserves for the session and the pool and statistics used in determining fair sharing. To select an I/O, the scheduler identifies sessions with a non-empty queue, identifies head I/Os in the queues, computes for the head I/O a deadline using session and pool reserve buckets and a release time using session and pool limit buckets, and selects a head I/O with an earliest deadline that is past the release time. If the deadline of the selected candidate head I/O is in the past, the scheduler transfers the selected head I/O to the tail of the storage device queue. Otherwise, the scheduler selects the pool with the least amount of I/O traffic according to a session fair share estimator.

Abstract: A resource utilization enforcement system enforces resource quotas in a distributed system. A bank on a central server maintains an account for each principal; the account is equivalent to a resource quota for the principal. Quotas are tracked through the use of digital coins that represent resource consumption. The bank is allowed coin generation privileges. At initiation of a computing session, a purse manager on the client accesses the account of the principal and requests coins to exchange for consumed resources. The purse manager manages the coins withdrawn in a “purse” for the principal. The purse manager submits coins to a cashier on the storage device to “purchase” storage for the principal. Refunds are provided if the storage consumption event frees storage.

Abstract: A resource management system uses a virtual resource pool distributed across a set of storage devices to manage resources in a distributed storage system. The storage devices dedicate a resource in an allocation pool available to the virtual resource pool. The virtual resource pool is a virtual storage server in which an application receives at least a predetermined amount of storage capacity, a predetermined level of performance, or a predetermined reliability, represented by tokens. A virtual resource pool manager gives the tokens to an application. The application transmits the tokens along with the commands to the storage device. The token represents a right to consume up to some limit of resources on a specific storage device in a computing session. The storage device locally tracks resource consumption through the token.

Abstract: A fault-tolerant and efficient way of deducing a set of inconsistent stripes for a network RAID protocol, wherein clients forward input/output (I/O) to a particular controller device called the coordinator, which executes RAID logic and which sends out device IOs to the relevant storage devices. If the coordinator fails then a new coordinator reconstructs its state from the storage devices.

Abstract: A client node of a distributed storage system adaptive determines on an operation-by-operation basis whether to process a network-RAID IO operation (IO request) locally at the client node or to forward the IO request to a storage server of the system for processing. The client node determines to process the requested network-RAID operation at the client node when a local estimator for a type of the requested network-RAID operation is less than a central estimator for the type of the requested network-RAID operation. Otherwise, the client node determines to process the requested network-RAID operation at a storage server when the local estimator for the type of the requested network-RAID operation is greater than the central estimator for the type of the requested network-RAID operation.