Abstract: High-speed processing of packets to, and from, a virtualization environment can be provided while utilizing hardware-based segmentation offload and other such functionality. A hardware vendor such as a network interface card (NIC) manufacturer can enable the hardware to support open and proprietary stateless tunneling in conjunction with a protocol such as single root I/O virtualization (SR-IOV) in order to implement a virtualized overlay network. The hardware can utilize various rules, for example, that can be used by the NIC to perform certain actions, such as to encapsulate egress packets and decapsulate packets.

Abstract: A method and/or system is able to provide driver fingerprint via metadata extraction managed by a driver rating (“DR”) model trained by a machine learning center (“MLC”) coupled to a cloud based network (“CBN”). In one embodiment, a DR system includes a set of outward facing cameras, a set of inward facing cameras, and a vehicle onboard computer (“VOC”). The set of outward facing cameras mounted on a vehicle is used to collect external images representing a surrounding environment in which the vehicle operates. The set of inward facing cameras mounted in the vehicle is used to collect internal images including operator body expression representing at least operator's attention. The VOC is configured to determine the identity of operator and current operating style in response to the collected internal images, the collected external images, and historical stored data.

Abstract: A log-structured data store implementing data backup may implement variable data replication. Write requests may be received at different storage nodes maintaining respective replicas of a portion of a log for data maintained in the log-structured data store. Log records indicating the write requests may be stored in the respective replicas of the log portions at the different storage nodes. The log records may be sent to a backup data store to be durability persisted as part of an archived version of the log. At some of the storage nodes, in response to determining that the log records have been durably persisted in the backup data store, storage space for the log records may be reclaimed. In other remaining storage nodes, the log records may be retained and made accessible for servicing read requests.

Abstract: A method and/or system is able to improve vehicle safety via metadata extraction by an inferred attentional (“IA”) model trained by a virtuous cycle containing sensors, machine learning center (“MLC”), and cloud based network (“CBN”). In one aspect, the system includes a set of outward facing camera, inward facing cameras, and vehicle onboard computer (“VOC”). The outward facing cameras collect external images representing a surrounding environment in which the vehicle operates. The inward facing cameras collect internal images including operator facial expression representing at least operator's attention. The VOC is configured to identify operator's attention in response to the collected internal images and the collected external images.

Abstract: A method or system is able to refine Global Positioning System (“GPS”) information for guiding a vehicle via extracted metadata using a GPS refinement (“GR”) model managed by a virtuous cycle containing sensors, machine learning center (“MLC”), and a cloud based network (“CBN”). The GR system includes a set of outward facing cameras, a vehicle onboard computer (“VOC”), and GR model. The outward facing cameras mounted on a vehicle are capable of collecting external images representing a surrounding environment in which the vehicle operates. The VOC is configured to generate a positional vehicle location with respect to the surrounding environment in accordance with the external images and historical stored data obtained from CBN. The GR model is configured to generate a driving guidance based on combined information between the positional vehicle location and GPS data.

Abstract: A method or system is able to adjust an exterior mirror of a vehicle via an automatic mirror-setting (“AM”) model managed by a virtuous cycle containing a cloud based network (“CBN”). The system includes a set of mirrors, a set of inward facing cameras, a vehicle onboard computer (“VOC”), and AM module. In one embodiment, the mirrors, attached to a vehicle, are configured to capture at least a portion of external environment in which the vehicle operates. The inward facing cameras, mounted in the vehicle, are configured to collect internal images including operator facial features showing operator visual characteristics. VOC, which is coupled to CBN, is configured to determine operator vision metadata based on the internal images, operator visual characteristics, and historical stored data. The AM module is able to adaptively set a mirror to an optimal orientation so that area of external blind spot is minimized.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reliable distributed messaging are described. A computer system includes a system memory coupled to one or more processors. The system memory comprises at least a non-volatile portion. A particular location within the non-volatile portion is designated as a target location to which a sender module participating in a communication protocol is granted write permission. A receiver module participating in the communication protocol, subsequent to a failure event that results in a loss of data stored in a volatile portion of the system memory, reads a data item written by the sender program at the target location prior to the failure event. The receiver module performs an operation based on contents of the data item.

Abstract: A method or system is capable of detecting operator behavior (“OB”) utilizing a virtuous cycle containing sensors, machine learning center (“MLC”), and cloud based network (“CBN”). In one aspect, the process monitors operator body language captured by interior sensors and captures surrounding information observed by exterior sensors onboard a vehicle as the vehicle is in motion. After selectively recording the captured data in accordance with an OB model generated by MLC, an abnormal OB (“AOB”) is detected in accordance with vehicular status signals received by the OB model. Upon rewinding recorded operator body language and the surrounding information leading up to detection of AOB, labeled data associated with AOB is generated. The labeled data is subsequently uploaded to CBN for facilitating OB model training at MLC via a virtuous cycle.

Abstract: A method or system capable of managing automobile parking space (“APS”) using containerized sensors, machine learning center, and cloud based network is disclosed. A process, in one aspect, monitors the surrounding information observed by a set of onboard sensors of a vehicle as the vehicle is in motion. After selectively recording the surrounding information in accordance with instructions from a containerized APS model which is received from a machine learning center, an APS and APS surrounding information are detected when the vehicle is in a parked condition. Upon rewinding recorded surrounding information leading up to the detection of APS, labeled data associated with APS is generated based on APS and the recorded surrounding information. The process subsequently uploads the labeled data to the cloud based network for facilitating APS model training at the machine learning center via a virtuous cycle.

Abstract: Hybrid quorum policies may be implemented for access requests to state maintained in a distributed system. An update to state maintained in a distributed system may be sent to multiple nodes in the distributed system maintain the state in order to satisfy a hybrid quorum policy for updating the state in the distributed system. The hybrid quorum policy may include individual quorum policies for multiple quorum sets including nodes of the distributed system. Acknowledgments received from nodes in the distributed system indicating that the update is performed may be evaluated according to the individual quorum policies to determine whether the hybrid quorum policy is satisfied. If the hybrid quorum policy is satisfied, then the update to the state may be considered durable.

Abstract: Self-describing data blocks of a minimum atomic write size may be stored for a data store. Data may be received for storage in a data block at a persistent storage device. Metadata may be generated for the data that includes an error detection code which is generated for the data and the metadata together. An individual atomic write operation may write together the data and the metadata in the data block. When accessed, the error detection code is applicable to detect errors and the metadata may also be applicable to determine whether the data is stored for a currently assigned purpose or a previously assigned purpose of the data block.

Abstract: A log-structured data store implementing data backup may implement variable data replication. Write requests may be received at different storage nodes maintaining respective replicas of a portion of a log for data maintained in the log-structured data store. Log records indicating the write requests may be stored in the respective replicas of the log portions at the different storage nodes. The log records may be sent to a backup data store to be durability persisted as part of an archived version of the log. At some of the storage nodes, in response to determining that the log records have been durably persisted in the backup data store, storage space for the log records may be reclaimed. In other remaining storage nodes, the log records may be retained and made accessible for servicing read requests.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enhancing operating system integrity using non-volatile system memory are described. A computer system includes a system memory coupled to one or more processors. The system memory comprises at least a non-volatile portion. Memory is allocated from the non-volatile portion to store selected metadata associated with an operating system component that supports input-output (I/O) operations. In response to an operation that results in a metadata change at the component, a metadata entry is stored in the non-volatile portion. Subsequent to a failure event, contents of the metadata entry are read from the non-volatile portion to restore a state of the component.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enhancing logging using non-volatile system memory are described. A computer system includes a system memory coupled to one or more processors. The system memory comprises at least a non-volatile portion. A range of memory locations within the non-volatile portion is selected as a low-latency high-durability log staging area. A plurality of log records representing respective events detected by one or more executable programs are generated, and at least a subset of the records is stored in the log persistence area. For analysis subsequent to a failure that results in a loss of data stored in a volatile portion of the system memory, log records written to the staging area within a time window immediately prior to the failure event are provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reliable distributed messaging are described. A computer system includes a system memory coupled to one or more processors. The system memory comprises at least a non-volatile portion. A particular location within the non-volatile portion is designated as a target location to which a sender module participating in a communication protocol is granted write permission. A receiver module participating in the communication protocol, subsequent to a failure event that results in a loss of data stored in a volatile portion of the system memory, reads a data item written by the sender program at the target location prior to the failure event. The receiver module performs an operation based on contents of the data item.

Abstract: Data temporarily stored in volatile memory (e.g., RAM) on a host machine can be protected using a component such as an NV-DIMM, which includes components such as an ASIC, non-volatile memory, and a battery. If power is lost to the host, the battery provides the ASIC with the power needed to determine data in the volatile memory that is protected. This protected data then can be transferred to the non-volatile memory on the NV-DIMM. When power is restored, an application or other entity can contact the NV-DIMM to recover the data, which can be transferred over a sideband channel to be restored as appropriate for a prior operation. In at least some embodiments, the NV-DIMM can receive a key over the sideband channel that can be used to encrypt and decrypt the data for further security.

Abstract: Hybrid quorum policies may be implemented for access requests to state maintained in a distributed system. An update to state maintained in a distributed system may be sent to multiple nodes in the distributed system maintain the state in order to satisfy a hybrid quorum policy for updating the state in the distributed system. The hybrid quorum policy may include individual quorum policies for multiple quorum sets including nodes of the distributed system. Acknowledgments received from nodes in the distributed system indicating that the update is performed may be evaluated according to the individual quorum policies to determine whether the hybrid quorum policy is satisfied. If the hybrid quorum policy is satisfied, then the update to the state may be considered durable.

Abstract: A storage client and a quorum-based distributed storage system may implement dynamic utilization of bandwidth for a quorum-based distributed storage system. An update at a storage client may be received, and storage nodes of a protection group may be sent a write request indicating the update. In some embodiment, storage nodes that receive the write request may determine whether other storage nodes have not received the update and send the write request to be completed at those other storage nodes. In some embodiments, if a latency threshold is exceeded other storage nodes in the protection group not previously sent the write request may be identified and sent the write request. Based on acknowledgements received from storage nodes in the distributed storage system, it may be determined whether a write quorum requirement is met for a write request.

Abstract: A distributed database system may implement log-structured distributed storage using a single log sequence number space. A log for a data volume may be maintained in a log-structured distributed storage system. The log may be segmented across multiple protection groups according to a partitioning of user data for the data volume. Updates to the log may be assigned a log sequence number from a log sequence number space for the data volume. A protection group may be determined for an update according to which partition of user data space the update pertains. Metadata to be included with the log record may indicate a previous log sequence number of a log record maintained at the protection group. The log record may be sent to the protection group and identified as committed based on acknowledgments received from storage nodes implementing the protection group.

Abstract: A network-based services provider may reserve and provision primary resource instance capacity for a given service (e.g., enough compute instances, storage instances, or other virtual resource instances to implement the service) in one or more availability zones, and may designate contingency resource instance capacity for the service in another availability zone (without provisioning or reserving the contingency instances for the exclusive use of the service). For example, the service provider may provision resource instance(s) for a database engine head node in one availability zone and designate resource instance capacity for another database engine head node in another availability zone without instantiating the other database engine head node. While the service operates as expected using the primary resource instance capacity, the contingency resource capacity may be leased to other entities on a spot market. Leases for contingency instance capacity may be revoked when needed for the given service (e.g.