Abstract: The disclosed embodiments disclose techniques for managing a global namespace for a distributed filesystem. Two or more cloud controllers collectively manage distributed filesystem data that is stored in a cloud storage system; the cloud controllers ensure data consistency for the stored data, and each cloud controller caches portions of the distributed filesystem. Furthermore, a global namespace for the distributed filesystem is also split across these cloud controllers, with each cloud controller “owning” (e.g., managing write accesses for) a distinct portion of the global namespace and maintaining a set of namespace mappings that indicate which portion of the namespace is assigned to each cloud controller. During operation, an initial cloud controller receives a request from a client system to access a target file in the distributed system. This initial cloud controller uses the namespace mappings for the global namespace to determine a preferred cloud controller that will handle the request.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments disclose techniques that facilitate the process of performing anti-virus checks for a distributed filesystem. Two or more cloud controllers collectively manage distributed filesystem data that is stored in one or more cloud storage systems; the cloud controllers ensure data consistency for the stored data, and each cloud controller caches portions of the distributed filesystem. During operation, a cloud controller receives a write request from a client system that seeks to store a target file in the distributed system. A scan is then performed for this target file. For instance, the scan may be an anti-virus scan that ensures that viruses are not spread to the distributed filesystem or the clients of the distributed filesystem.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments disclose techniques that facilitate of avoiding client timeouts in a distributed filesystem. Multiple cloud controllers collectively manage distributed filesystem data that is stored in one or more cloud storage systems; the cloud controllers ensure data consistency for the stored data, and each cloud controller caches portions of the distributed filesystem in a local storage pool. During operation, a cloud controller receives from a client system a request for a data block in a target file that is stored in the distributed filesystem. Although the cloud controller is already caching the requested data block, the cloud controller delays transmission of the cached data block; this additional delay gives the cloud controller more time to access uncached data blocks for the target file from a cloud storage system, thereby ensuring that subsequent requests of such data blocks do not exceed a timeout interval on the client system.

Abstract: A system for optical disc storage, writing and reading including a housing holding at least two optical disc racks and a plurality of read/write drives that may be positioned in line with the storage rack. A track spans the racks, (e.g., a parallel track is positioned between two racks). A shuttle mounted on the track allows transfer of discs from the racks to drives. The shuttle may allow for disc pass through, disc rotation, or have other structures for disc transport.

Abstract: A system for optical disc storage, writing and reading including a housing holding at least two optical disc racks and a plurality of read/write drives that may be positioned in line with the storage rack. A track spans the racks, (e.g., a parallel track is positioned between two racks). A shuttle mounted on the track allows transfer of discs from the racks to drives. The shuttle may allow for disc pass through, disc rotation, or have other structures for disc transport.

Abstract: A tea timer for determining a tea steeping time and optionally a tea steeping temperature is described. The tea timer includes a temperature measuring component, for example, a thermometer or thermistor enabled probe, for measuring temperature of a fluid and a control body having a display and circuitry. The display displays at least the determined tea steeping time. The circuitry determines the tea steeping time according to a measured fluid temperature, a user selected tea type and one or both of a tea strength and a brew type.

Abstract: 2-way pagers, methods and software products implement two-way paging between a first wireless device and a second wireless device. A key sequence is accepted at the first wireless device to compose information of a page. The page is sent from the first wireless device to the second wireless device, the page comprising information of a network ID, a pager ID, a pagee ID and a page code. The page is received at the second wireless device and the second wireless device is validated as being configured for the network ID of the page. A confirmation is sent from the second wireless device to the first wireless device to confirm that the page was received.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tank for storing flammable liquids underground includes fabricating a cylindrical tank core. Structurally, the core encloses a chamber and has an outer surface. Further, the core includes at least one opening for monitoring the integrity of the chamber positioned on the core's bottom centerline. Also, the tank includes a screen attached to the outer surface of the core along the bottom centerline to cover the opening. Moreover, a foil is affixed to the screen and to the outer surface of the tank core. Sprayed or applied on the foil is a seamless jacket formed from polyurea to encapsulate the tank core.

Abstract: A device and process monitors particulate accumulation proximate a surface of a filter. A radiation source generates a signal that optically couples to a detector that detects the signal. An optical window is disposed before the detector and accumulates particulate matter. A controller processes the detected signal to monitor changes in particulate accumulation on the optical window by comparing an initial measurement of the detected signal to a subsequent measurement of the detected signal. At least one output device indicates particulate accumulation. A housing assembly mounts the radiation source, the detector and the processor to an upstream surface of the filter.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for a combined use of a local positioning system, a local RTK system and a regional, wide-area, or global differential carrier-phase positioning system (WADGPS) in which disadvantages associated with the local positioning system, the RTK and the WADGPS navigation techniques when used separately are avoided. The method includes determining a first position of the object based on information from the WADGPS, and determining a second position of the object based on position information from a local positioning/RTK positioning system. Thereafter, position determined by the WADGPS and the position determined by the local positioning/RTK positioning system are compared.

Abstract: Systems for locating and identifying victims of manmade or natural disasters are disclosed. A system includes a transceiver having a transmitter for transmitting a first emergency location signal that contains a first digital identification and a receiver for receiving a second emergency location signal and decoding a second digital identification. In an embodiment, individual victims may be assigned to individual searchers according to their unique digital identification in order to expedite and organize rescue efforts. Additionally, or alternatively, digital identification may be used to differentiate between different types of signals, for example, an egress or a specific waypoint signal and a personal signal.

Abstract: A digital cooking pan provides temperature and/or food doneness information associated with food cooked within the pan. A thermal sensor coupled with the pan senses temperature and generates corresponding signals, and processing electronics coupled with the sensor convert the signals to data to provide indications to a user of food cooked within the pan. The cooking pan may be programmed to desired food types or personal temperatures or food doneness options. An electronic cooking system is also provided in which processing electronics generate a signal relating to cooking characteristics; the signal is transmitted to a cooking appliance controller connected to a cooking appliance to regulate energy output of one or more burners of the appliance. In this way, the heat generated by a cooking appliance for cooking in the digital cooking pan is automatically controlled while the pan is in use.

Abstract: A system for determining and monitoring wine temperature includes a housing, a first temperature sensor for sensing an ambient temperature and a second temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of a wine bottle, for example without opening the bottle. A processor processes the ambient temperature with the wine bottle temperature to determine the temperature of wine within the bottle. Measured temperatures may be displayed in Celsius or Fahrenheit units on a display, responsive to user inputs. A user may select a target wine temperature, which may further be displayed. The system may fit around the neck of the wine bottle or over the cork of the wine bottle, or the system may be configured as a coaster. Sensors may be contact or non-contact sensors such as infrared sensors. In one embodiment, an infrared system for determining and monitoring wine temperature is provided as a bottle stopper that replaces the cork of a wine bottle.

Abstract: A method and system are provided to determine a relative position vector between primary receiver associated with a reference station and secondary receiver associated with a user. The method and system determine a position of the reference station at the reference station according to signals received thereat from a plurality of satellites, determine a position of the user receiver at the user based on measurements obtained thereat and on error corrections computed at the reference station, and compute the relative position vector by differencing the position of the reference station and the position of the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for 2-way paging are disclosed. A 2-way pager ceiver for transmitting a sent page and for receiving a received page, and a or displaying information of the received page and for inputting information of The pager also includes memory configured to store a list of pagee IDs and a es; and a processor. The processor responds to the user interface and the associates a selected pagee ID with a selected page code to compose the sent page.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for a combined use of a local RTK system and a regional, wide-area, or global differential carrier-phase positioning system (WADGPS) in which disadvantages associated with the RTK and the WADGPS navigation techniques when used separately are avoided. The method includes using a known position of a user receiver that has been stationary or using an RTK system to initialize the floating ambiguity values in the WADGPS system when the user receiver is moving. Thereafter, the refraction-corrected carrier-phase measurements obtained at the user GPS receiver are adjusted by including the corresponding initial floating ambiguity values and the floating ambiguity values are treated as well known (small variance) in subsequent processes to position the user receiver in the WADGPS system.

Abstract: The present invention includes a process for navigating an object according to signals from satellites by propagating the position of the object forward in time using successive changes in the carrier-phase measurements. The process computes at a low rate matrices required for solving for the position of the objects, and repeatedly uses the most recently computed matrices to compute position updates at a high rate until the next low-rate computation is completed.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for performing backup dual-frequency navigation during a brief period when one of two frequencies relied upon by dual-frequency navigation is unavailable. The method includes synthesizing the code and carrier-phase measurements on the unavailable frequency using the carrier-phase measurements on the retained frequency and a model of ionospheric refraction effects, which is updated when measurements on both frequencies are available.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for a combined use of a local RTK system and a regional, wide-area, or global differential carrier-phase positioning system (WADGPS) in which disadvantages associated with the RTK and the WADGPS navigation techniques when used separately are avoided. The method includes using a known position of a user receiver that has been stationary or using an RTK system to initialize the floating ambiguity values in the WADGPS system when the user receiver is moving. Thereafter, the refraction-corrected carrier-phase measurements obtained at the user GPS receiver are adjusted by including the corresponding initial floating ambiguity values and the floating ambiguity values are treated as well known (small variance) in subsequent processes to position the user receiver in the WADGPS system.

Abstract: A method for detecting and identifying a faulty measurement among a plurality of GPS measurements, obtained by a GPS receiver with respect to a plurality of satellites in view of the GPS receiver, determines whether the plurality of GPS measurements include a faulty measurement. In response to a determination that the plurality of GPS measurements include a faulty measurement, the method identifies a satellite contributing the faulty measurement by computing a correlation value associated with each of the plurality of satellites, and selecting a satellite associated with a highest correlation value as the satellite contributing the faulty measurement.