Abstract: A distributed database receives an instruction to read or write data. The instruction includes a key. The database includes a key space defined by attoshards. An attoshard is a segment of key space having a size, in keys, proportional to a total number of nodes in the database. The attoshard includes keys for cluster segments at predefined positions in the attoshard. Each cluster segment corresponds to one cluster. A node of the database hashes the key to generate a token. The node performs a modulo operation on the token using the total number of nodes in the database to compute a remainder value. The node determines a cluster segment of an attoshard based on a position in the attoshard defined by the remainder value. The node determines a cluster for the instruction based on the cluster segment and executes the instruction at the determined cluster.

Abstract: A distributed database receives an instruction to read or write data. The instruction includes a key. The database includes a key space defined by attoshards. An attoshard is a segment of key space having a size, in keys, proportional to a total number of nodes in the database. The attoshard includes keys for cluster segments at predefined positions in the attoshard. Each cluster segment corresponds to one cluster. A node of the database hashes the key to generate a token. The node performs a modulo operation on the token using the total number of nodes in the database to compute a remainder value. The node determines a cluster segment of an attoshard based on a position in the attoshard defined by the remainder value. The node determines a cluster for the instruction based on the cluster segment and executes the instruction at the determined cluster.

Abstract: To address the need for a dispatch mobile (303, 305, 307) to more quickly make a call, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention those remote units operating in a dispatch mode (303, 305, 307) will receive a first slot cycle, while those remote units not operating in a dispatch mode (302, 304, 306, 308) will receive a second slot cycle. The second slot cycle is greater than the first slot cycle, so that those remote units operating in dispatch mode (303, 305, 307) will “wake up” during the slot cycle normally utilized for interconnect calls. Because shorter slot cycles are utilized for remote units operating in dispatch mode (303, 305, 307), the time it takes to make a dispatch call is greatly reduced. Additionally the minimum slot cycle duration typically used for standard calls remains unchanged, greatly conserving battery life.

Abstract: To address the need for a dispatch mobile (303, 305, 307) to more quickly make a call, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention those remote units operating in a dispatch mode (303, 305, 307) will receive a first slot cycle, while those remote units not operating in a dispatch mode (302, 304, 306, 308) will receive a second slot cycle. The second slot cycle is greater than the first slot cycle, so that those remote units operating in dispatch mode (303, 305, 307) will “wake up” during the slot cycle normally utilized for interconnect calls. Because shorter slot cycles are utilized for remote units operating in dispatch mode (303, 305, 307), the time it takes to make a dispatch call is greatly reduced. Additionally the minimum slot cycle duration typically used for standard calls remains unchanged, greatly conserving battery life.

Abstract: A method is provided of establishing a direct communication session by a central service agent between a calling unit and an anonymous unit without revealing the permanent direct access information of the anonymous unit to a calling member. The central service agent is configured to be able to identify a request by a calling member, associated with the calling unit, for future access to a called member associated with the anonymous unit, where the permanent direct access information of the anonymous unit is unknown to the calling member. Once the request is received, the agent assigns a temporary alias ID corresponding, on a temporary basis, to the permanent direct access information of the anonymous unit to facilitate establishing a direct communication session between the calling and anonymous units using at least the temporary alias ID. Upon the occurrence of a predetermined timeout condition, the agent deassigns the temporary alias to prevent further access to the anonymous unit thereafter.