Abstract: The range of a threshold detection laser range finder is increased by adding a low cost Analog-to-Digital converter and sampling a portion of a reflected laser pulse. The slope of the sampled reflected laser pulse is calculated and the shape of the reflected laser pulse is inferred from known shapes. The center point of the inferred shape is approximated using a lookup table, and a correction value is calculated based on the center point of the inferred shape and the sampled portion. The correction value is applied to an uncorrected range estimate to arrive at an accurate estimate of the range of the object of interest.

Abstract: A service request system for a subsystem of a computer including a processor, a driver, and inhibit logic. The inhibit logic detects requests for service by the subsystem and asserts an interrupt unless the driver is executing and servicing the subsystem. The driver is executed by the processor in response to the interrupt to service the subsystem, where the driver controls the inhibit logic to prevent interrupts associated with the subsystem from being asserted while the driver is being executed by the processor. In this manner, redundant interrupts or service requests initiated by the subsystem are eliminated. The service request system may include an activity indicator that indicates whether the driver is being executed. Th inhibit logic asserts an interrupt in response to a service request from the subsystem unless the activity indicator indicates that the driver is in control of the processor.

Abstract: The range of a threshold detection laser range finder is increased by adding a low cost Analog-to-Digital converter and sampling a portion of a reflected laser pulse. The slope of the sampled reflected laser pulse is calculated and the shape of the reflected laser pulse is inferred from known shapes. The center point of the inferred shape is approximated using a lookup table, and a correction value is calculated based on the center point of the inferred shape and the sampled portion. The correction value is applied to an uncorrected range estimate to arrive at an accurate estimate of the range of the object of interest.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for network connected computing systems that employ functional multi-processing to optimize bandwidth utilization and accelerate system performance. In one embodiment, the network connected computing system may include a switch based computing system. The system may further include an asymmetric multi-processor system configured in a staged pipeline manner. The components of the system may communicate as peers in a peer to peer environment. The network connected computing system may be utilized in one embodiment as a network endpoint system that provides content delivery.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for network connected content delivery systems that employ functional multi-processing to optimize bandwidth utilization and accelerate system performance. In one embodiment, the content delivery system may include a switch based computing system. The system may further include an asymmetric multi-processor system configured in a staged pipeline manner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a content router for delivering content throughout networks. The content router preferably includes a packet switching component, at least a first network component coupled to the packet switching component and a storage component coupled to the packet switching component. The packet switching component, the first network component and the storage component preferably cooperate to create an accelerated data path operable to deliver static content from one or more storage devices coupled to the content router to one or more clients coupled to a network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for network connected computing systems that employ functional multi-processing to optimize bandwidth utilization and accelerate system performance. In one embodiment, the network connected computing system may include a switch based computing system. The system may further include an asymmetric multi-processor system configured in a staged pipeline manner. The network connected computing system may be utilized in one embodiment as a network endpoint system that provides content delivery.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing differentiated service that may be employed, for example, to deliver content or services in a network environment. Differentiated services that may be so delivered include both differentiated information service that may be implemented, for example, at the system and/or processing level, as well as differentiated business service that may be implemented, for example, to differentiate information exchange between different network entities such as different network provider entities, different network user entities, etc. The methods and systems may include or facilitate provisioning of system service parameters such as service level agreement (“SLA”) policies and may be employed in network computing system environments to enable differentiated service provisioning, for example, in accordance with business objectives.

Abstract: Memory managements systems and methods that may be employed, for example, to provide efficient management of memory for network systems. The disclosed systems and methods may consider cost-benefit trade-off between the cache value of a particular memory unit versus the cost of caching the memory unit and may utilize a multi-layer queue management structure to manage buffer/cache memory in an integrated fashion. The disclosed systems and methods may be implemented as part of an information management system, such as a network proceessing system that is operable to process over-size data objects communicated via a network environment, and that may include a network processor operable to process network-communicated information and a memory management-system operable to manage disposition of individual memory units of over-size data objects based upon one or more parameters, such as one or more parameters reflecting the cost and value associated with maintaining the information in integrated buffer/cache memory.

Abstract: A dynamic early indication system for a computer includes a processor subsystem logic that performs a subsystem function, an early indicator, indication logic, and a driver that is executed by the processor in response to an indication to perform processing. The indication logic may be coupled to the subsystem logic and early indicator to provide an indication that informs the processor when processing associated with the subsystem function is needed at a completion time of the subsystem function. The indication may be provided before the completion time of the subsystem function if the early indicator represents early indication. The driver controls the early indicator to improve efficiency of subsystem processing.

Abstract: A system provides a router node to bridge a LAN and a System Area Network (SAN). The router node distributes LAN traffic across the SAN using a router management agent (RMA) and a filter agent (FA); the RMA includes a session management agent (SMA), a policy management agent (PMA) and a routing agent (RA); the SMA manages connections between remote clients and SAN nodes; the PMA maintains system operation policies; the RA with the FA direct LAN packets to SAN nodes; the FA handles conversion between a SAN protocol and a LAN protocol for packets within the SAN/LAN architecture. The cluster nodes include a node management agent (NMA); the NMA includes an SMA and PMA; these two agents perform the same functions as those in the router node; and a management node sets policies on the router node and includes a monitoring agent to query router node statistics.

Abstract: Methods and systems for I/O resource management that may be employed to manage information management system I/O resources based on modeled and/or monitored I/O resource information, and that may be implemented to optimize information management system I/O resources for the delivery of a variety of data object types, including continuous streaming media data files. The methods and systems may be implemented in an adaptive manner that is capable of optimizing information management system I/O performance by dynamically adjusting information management system I/O operational parameters to meet changing requirements or demands of a dynamic application or information management system I/O environment using a resource management architecture. The resource management architecture may include, for example, a resource manager, a resource model, a storage device workload monitor and/or a storage device capacity monitor.

Abstract: Resource usage accounting may be implemented in information management environments using resource utilization values. Resource usage accounting may be employed, for example, to make possible run-time enforcement of system operations on one or more subsystems or processing engines of an information management system, such as a content delivery system, for example, to advantageously provide intelligent admission control in a distributed environment. In one embodiment, resource usage accounting may be implemented to make possible the management of system resources on a per subsystem or processing engine basis, for example, based on at least two types of resource utilization indicative information: 1) resource usage that has been tracked internally throughout the life span of the overload and policy finite state machine module; and 2) resource status messages received directly or indirectly from one or more subsystems or processing engines.

Abstract: Resource usage accounting may be implemented in information management environments using resource utilization values. Resource usage accounting may be employed, for example, to make possible run-time enforcement of system operations on one or more subsystems or processing engines of an information management system, such as a content delivery system, for example, to advantageously provide intelligent admission control in a distributed environment. In one embodiment, resource usage accounting may be implemented to make possible the management of system resources on a per subsystem or processing engine basis, for example, based on at least two types of resource utilization indicative information: 1) resource usage that has been tracked internally throughout the life span of the overload and policy finite state machine module; and 2) resource status messages received directly or indirectly from one or more subsystems or processing engines.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing differentiated service that may be employed, for example, to deliver content or services in a network environment. Differentiated services that may be so delivered include both differentiated information service that may be implemented, for example, at the system and/or processing level, as well as differentiated business service that may be implemented, for example, to differentiate information exchange between different network entities such as different network provider entities, different network user entities, etc. The methods and systems may include or facilitate provisioning of system service parameters such as service level agreement (“SLA”) policies and may be employed in network computing system environments to enable differentiated service provisioning, for example, in accordance with business objectives.

Abstract: A method and system for the deterministic management of information that may be employed, for example, to deliver content or services in a network environment. The method may include identifying and verifying the availability of system resources required to process a request for content or services before accepting the request. The available required resources may be reserved in conjunction with accepting a request to ensure that the request is efficiently processed. The system may be divided into a plurality of monitored and distributively interconnected subsystems, each interacting with the others in a deterministic manner so as to allow a system monitor to oversee and manage resource availability and increase efficiency of processing the request.

Abstract: Methods and systems for intelligent information retrieval and delivery in information delivery environments that may be employed in a variety of information management system environments, including those employing high-end streaming servers. The disclosed methods and systems may be implemented to achieve a variety of information delivery goals, including delivery of continuous content in a manner that is free or substantially free of interruptions and hiccups, to enhance the efficient use of information retrieval resources such as buffer/cache memory, and/or to allocate information retrieval resources among simultaneous users, such as during periods of system congestion or overuse.

Abstract: Methods and systems for I/O resource management that may be employed to manage information management system I/O resources based on modeled and/or monitored I/O resource information, and that may be implemented to optimize information management system I/O resources for the delivery of a variety of data object types, including continuous streaming media data files. The methods and systems may be implemented in an adaptive manner that is capable of optimizing information management system I/O performance by dynamically adjusting information management system I/O operational parameters to meet changing requirements or demands of a dynamic application or information management system I/O environment using a resource management architecture. The resource management architecture may include, for example, a resource manager, a resource model, a storage device workload monitor and/or a storage device capacity monitor.

Abstract: A distributed interconnect may be employed in information management environments to distribute functionality, for example, among processing engines of an information management system and/or processing modules thereof. Distributive interconnects such as switch fabrics and virtual distributed interconnect backplanes, may be employed to establish independent paths from node to node and thus may be used to facilitate parallel and independent operation of each processing engine of a multi-processing engine information management system, e.g. to provide peer-to-peer communication between the engines on an as-needed basis. These and other features of distributed interconnects may be advantageously employed to optimize information management systems operations in a variety of system configurations.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for network connected computing systems that employ functional multi-processing to optimize bandwidth utilization and accelerate system performance. In one embodiment, the network connected computing system may include a switch based computing system. The system may further include an asymmetric multi-processor system configured in a staged pipeline manner. The network connected computing system may be utilized in one embodiment as a network endpoint system that provides content delivery.