Abstract: In a decoupled messaging system, a producer device sends produced messages to a message fabric. The message fabric either stores the received message in designated queues, from which consumer devices may retrieve the messages, or broadcasts the messages to consumer devices that subscribe to topics assigned to the messages. A message consumption orchestrator service gathers capabilities information for the message producer, the message fabric, and the message consumer, and configures resources allocated for the message consumer to more fully optimize message throughput. Further, the message consumption orchestrator identifies patterns in changes of the rate of produced messages, i.e., through analysis of historical data and/or received information. The message consumption orchestrator configures resources for the message consumer to account for predicted need based on the identified patterns.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for controlling a process on a computing node. In one implementation, a determination is made as to whether the participation status of a computing node has changed. The participation status may, for example, be active, in which case the computing node is participating in the processing of requests from a request handler, or it may be passive, in which case the computing node is not participating in the processing of requests from the request handler. In response to a determination that the participation status of the computing node has changed from a current status to a new status, one or more processes on the computing node may be caused to begin or halt processing, in accordance with the new status. For example, if the current status is passive and the new status is active, a process on the computing node may be caused to begin processing.

Abstract: Techniques are described for identifying unhealthy nodes in a multi-node system. One or more parameters of each node is monitored, then compared with the values for the same parameter running on other nodes in the multi-node system. Based on the comparison, a determination is made whether a node is healthy. If the multi-node system comprises one or more nodes with differing capabilities, an adjustment is performed to account for the differing capabilities of each respective node. Further provided are methods of taking remedial action upon a determination that a node is unhealthy. A tuner is used to modify values of health parameters until the node is performing similarly to its peers.

Abstract: In a decoupled messaging system, a producer device sends produced messages to a message fabric. The message fabric either stores the received message in designated queues, from which consumer devices may retrieve the messages, or broadcasts the messages to consumer devices that subscribe to topics assigned to the messages. A message consumption orchestrator service gathers capabilities information for the message producer, the message fabric, and the message consumer, and configures resources allocated for the message consumer to more fully optimize message throughput. Further, the message consumption orchestrator identifies patterns in changes of the rate of produced messages, i.e., through analysis of historical data and/or received information. The message consumption orchestrator configures resources for the message consumer to account for predicted need based on the identified patterns.

Abstract: In a decoupled messaging system, a producer device sends produced messages to a message fabric. The message fabric either stores the received message in designated queues, from which consumer devices may retrieve the messages, or broadcasts the messages to consumer devices that subscribe to topics assigned to the messages. A message consumption orchestrator service gathers capabilities information for the message producer, the message fabric, and the message consumer, and configures resources allocated for the message consumer to more fully optimize message throughput. Further, the message consumption orchestrator identifies patterns in changes of the rate of produced messages, i.e., through analysis of historical data and/or received information. The message consumption orchestrator configures resources for the message consumer to account for predicted need based on the identified patterns.

Abstract: Techniques are described for identifying unhealthy nodes in a multi-node system. One or more parameters of each node is monitored, then compared with the values for the same parameter running on other nodes in the multi-node system. Based on the comparison, a determination is made whether a node is healthy. If the multi-node system comprises one or more nodes with differing capabilities, an adjustment is performed to account for the differing capabilities of each respective node. Further provided are methods of taking remedial action upon a determination that a node is unhealthy. A tuner is used to modify values of health parameters until the node is performing similarly to its peers.

Abstract: A method of operating an online teaching system provides an activity tool that enables participation in an activity related to a learning object. The method provides a note tool for taking notes. The method determines that notes taken by users using the note tool were taken in conjunction with the users participating in an activity using the activity tool. Metadata is generated for notes based on any of: semantic analysis of content of each note, content of the learning object, performance information that indicates how the user that created the note performed on tasks, performance information that indicates how users that read the note performed on tasks, or professional performance information of the user that created the note. The method stores data that associates the notes with the metadata generated for each note. The method performs further action on notes based on the metadata generated for each note.

Abstract: Resources available to a service node in a system are dynamically modified. The modification is based on current performance levels of other service nodes, application level transactions, resource utilization patterns, and/or in response to detecting a pre-failure conditions.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for controlling a process on a computing node. In one implementation, a determination is made as to whether the participation status of a computing node has changed. The participation status may, for example, be active, in which case the computing node is participating in the processing of requests from a request handler, or it may be passive, in which case the computing node is not participating in the processing of requests from the request handler. In response to a determination that the participation status of the computing node has changed from a current status to a new status, one or more processes on the computing node may be caused to begin or halt processing, in accordance with the new status. For example, if the current status is passive and the new status is active, a process on the computing node may be caused to begin processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically publishing course offerings for different types of courses according to a plurality of policies and templates is presented herein. Instructors and/or administrators for a course create course records for each course that will be offered at a particular educational institution. The course record includes, and/or is associated with, data that indicates when the course will start, what assets should be published in the course offering, what template should be used, when a course is eligible to be automatically published, and/or when a course should be published by. When courses are eligible to be published, a controller determines what priority to assign each course. The controller manages a pool of course publishing processes to publish each course according to the policies and templates defined by each course's educational institution. The controller also notifies administrators when a course publishing process fails to publish a course.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling multi-service transactions. When a request to initiate a multi-service transaction is received, the transaction is not immediately initiated. Rather, a determination is first made as to which services need to be invoked in order to complete the transaction. A further determination is then made as to whether at least one of the services is likely to be unable to complete processing needed to further the transaction to completion. If at least one of the services is likely to be unable to complete processing needed to further the transaction to completion (thereby meaning that the overall transaction is likely to fail), then the transaction is not initiated at all. By doing so, the method/apparatus prevents transactions that are likely to fail from being started, which prevents waste of resources and other problems associated with partial processing of failed transactions from arising.

Abstract: In a decoupled messaging system, a producer device sends produced messages to a message fabric. The message fabric either stores the received message in designated queues, from which consumer devices may retrieve the messages, or broadcasts the messages to consumer devices that subscribe to topics assigned to the messages. A message consumption orchestrator service gathers capabilities information for the message producer, the message fabric, and the message consumer, and configures resources allocated for the message consumer to more fully optimize message throughput. Further, the message consumption orchestrator identifies patterns in changes of the rate of produced messages, i.e., through analysis of historical data and/or received information. The message consumption orchestrator configures resources for the message consumer to account for predicted need based on the identified patterns.