Abstract: A method and system for storing data for retrieval by an application running on a computer system including providing a tiered caching system including at least one cache tier and a base tier, storing data in at least one of said at least one cache tier and said base tier based on a policy, and presenting an application view of said data to the application by a means to organize data. The invention optionally provides an additional overflow tier, and preferably includes multiple cache tiers.

Abstract: A software defined storage network comprising one or more storage nodes, each storage node including a computer processor and one or more data storage devices; the one or more storage devices including a computer readable medium storing data partitioned into one or more volumes; wherein the one or more volumes are visible to at least a subset of the storage nodes and to non-storage nodes on the network; and a computer system in communication with the network having a computer processor executing instructions stored on a computer readable medium to define a plurality of actors providing a storage service; wherein each actor defines a virtual representation of at least one of the volumes and acts as a controller for each of the at least one data storage devices; wherein each of the plurality of actors places data for each volume on the storage devices according to at least one policy.

Abstract: A data storage system including a central storage system, at least one endpoint computer system in network communication with the central storage system by a network infrastructure, and a storage accelerator in communication with a CPU of the computer system, wherein the storage accelerator provides endpoint caching of data on the central storage system that is accessible to the at least one endpoint computer. Preferably, the storage accelerator is positioned at a location where a throughput of data from the CPU to the storage accelerator is greater than the throughput of data through a connection from the CPU to the central storage system.

Abstract: A method and system for storing data for retrieval by an application running on a computer system including providing a tiered caching system including at least one cache tier and a base tier, storing data in at least one of said at least one cache tier and said base tier based on a policy, and presenting an application view of said data to the application by a means to organize data. The invention optionally provides an additional overflow tier, and preferably includes multiple cache tiers.

Abstract: The present invention includes a nutritional supplement composition that may be used for livestock and the like, as well as to a livestock feed mixture containing same. Also included are methods of preparing the nutritional supplement composition, the livestock feed mixture, as well as methods of providing nutrition to livestock and the like. The livestock feed composition comprises: (a) a solid particulate livestock feed material and (b) a solidified particulate mixture of (i) free fatty acid and (ii) a magnesium salt of a fatty acid, the magnesium salt of a fatty acid being present in an amount in the range of from about 25% to about 55% of the amount of the free fatty acid based upon the theoretical requirement to accomplish the total neutralization of all of fatty acid present.

Abstract: A data storage system including a central storage system, at least one endpoint computer system in network communication with the central storage system by a network infrastructure, and a storage accelerator in communication with a CPU of the computer system, wherein the storage accelerator provides endpoint caching of data on the central storage system that is accessible to the at least one endpoint computer. Preferably, the storage accelerator is positioned at a location where a throughput of data from the CPU to the storage accelerator is greater than the throughput of data through a connection from the CPU to the central storage system.

Abstract: A security service of computer networks having a policy builder, an LDAP-compliant database, a validator and an API. The policy builder component provides a graphical user interface to be used by a policy manager to define access policies for users seeking to access network services and resources. The graphical user interface has a grid of nodes representing access policies. The grid is arranged to correspond to a defined tree structure representing services and resources and a business relationship tree structure representing users. The graphical user interface permits the policy manager to define policy builder plug-ins for access policy customization. The LDAP-compliant database maintains the policy builder plug-ins. The validator component receives requests from users and queries the LDAP-compliant database to obtain relevant access policies as defined by the policy manager.

Abstract: A security service of computer networks having a policy builder, an LDAP-compliant database, a validator and an API. The policy builder component provides a graphical user interface to be used by a policy manager to define access policies for users seeking to access network services and resources. The graphical user interface has a grid of nodes representing access policies. The grid is arranged to correspond to a defined tree structure representing services and resources and a business relationship tree structure representing users. The graphical user interface permits the policy manager to define policy builder plug-ins for access policy customization. The LDAP-compliant database maintains the policy builder plug-ins. The validator component receives requests from users and queries the LDAP-compliant database to obtain relevant access policies as defined by the policy manager.

Abstract: A security service of computer networks having a policy builder, an LDAP-compliant database, a validator and an API. The policy builder component provides a graphical user interface to be used by a policy manager to define access policies for users seeking to access network services and resources. The graphical user interface has a grid of nodes representing access policies. The grid is arranged to correspond to a defined tree structure representing services and resources and a business relationship tree structure representing users. The graphical user interface permits the policy manager to define policy builder plug-ins for access policy customization. The LDAP-compliant database maintains the policy builder plug-ins. The validator component receives requests from users and queries the LDAP-compliant database to obtain relevant access policies as defined by the policy manager.

Abstract: A medical table provides the functionality needed for hip and knee arthroplasty at a cost that is acceptable for smaller patient care centers. Such a table can use a sliding mechanism to maintain traction during positioning of a patient's leg. The table also can utilize a knee arthroplasty attachment to provide for precise knee positioning, such as by using a sliding assembly attached to a spar of the table. The table can include a pair of actuators providing for both lateral tilt and trendelenburg motions, which reduces the complexity from previous tables. The table also can include a removable power/control module, which allows for quick and easy replacement of damaged components.

Abstract: A user profile for an online gaming service is created. The user profile contains user gaming information received from a first location. The user profile is stored in a database, and the user is permitted to access the user profile from a second location.

Abstract: Mechanisms are disclosed for visual identification of a user in a gaming environment. For example, a digital image is used to identify a user, whether the user is on-line or off-line. This digital image is easily verifiable as an appropriate and non-offensive image because it may come form a controlled digital image source (or set of sources). The digital image is also revocable in a variety of gaming environment contexts by a gaming authority. Lastly, the digital image is changeable depending on the context of the gaming environment, in one aspect, being configured to be visible to the entire gaming environment in one form, and being visible to a subset of the gaming environment in another form.

Abstract: A digital signature is generated in association with target data. The computer generating the digital data encrypts the digital signature using a public key encryption system. The private key is stored in dynamic memory in a secure manner. The public key associated with the private key is stored in an accessible database. The public key is accessed from the database and used by recipient computers to authenticate the target data by decrypting the encrypted digital signature. When the computer generating the digital signature is restarted, the private key stored in dynamic memory is lost. The computer obtains a new private and public key pair from the public key encryption system. The previously used public key is maintained in the database until a predefined time has elapsed, after which it is removed from the database.

Abstract: A gamercard associated with an integrated gamer profile to identify a gamer is provided to the gamer and other PC/console users who also participate in other online gaming community activities such as game-related web sites. The gamercard is also provided to the user in a modular fashion formatted in a way suitable for the user to display it directly within other applications of the user (such as their personal web sites and mobile device applications for display on their cell phone) without the user having to update the information within the other applications when the information changes in the central database.

Abstract: A service that receives feedback from players in a game playing service. The service provides an aggregation of the feedback so that a reputation score can be determined by various players in the system. The service takes into account direct feedback from other players about positive and negative experiences with a particular player and expectations about appropriate conduct and type of game being played before a player joins the game session.

Abstract: Systems and method for providing a single sign in a gaming console that associates online activity that is out-of-game/cross game, and/or online activity that is in-game, and/or activity that is offline and in-game with that account. While online, a service tracks activity of gamers and provides usage statistics in a profile. While offline, the game console tracks the player's activity via a mechanism to collect detailed information about a specific player's in-game statistics and accomplishments. The offline activity is cached and uploaded when the console connects to the online service. Players can accumulate achievements offline that are credited towards online activities.

Abstract: Information is shared among users in a system by the use of a service. The service receives information from at least two different game applications that each have a configuration file (defined with a common schema) that defines information from the game application to share with a service. An intermediary program executing on a computer that is also executing one of said game applications receives information from the application as defined by said configuration files and stores at least a portion of the information received from the application. At least a portion of the information is sent to the service when the intermediary is in communication with the service over a network wherein the service provides information about a user of said at least two game applications based on information received by said service.

Abstract: Systems and method for providing a game achievements system where players are rewarded with game achievements based on mastering certain in-game facets of the games they play. Each game achievement may be conveyed in a profile as a badge or trophy, title, description, date, etc. Players may also accumulate points based on game achievements. A display interface may be made available such that a player may see his achievements and total points, as well as those of others.

Abstract: A multilevel online tournament is provided. The first tournament round has a single bracket and each subsequent tournament round has a winners bracket and a losers bracket corresponding to a bracket in the previous tournament round. The tournament format allows players to match-up against any other player located within the same bracket. The online tournament format also allows participants to start playing match in a round of the tournament prior to the official start of that round. Thus, players are able to more quickly advance through the tournament and spend less time waiting for a suitable opponent. The tournament format also allows for players to request available tournament byes and to automatically progress when they are unable to connect with other players due to quality of service issues.

Abstract: A distributed task scheduling method and system that separates and performs task management and task execution on separate computing devices and distributes task execution over multiple computing devices. The distributed task scheduler includes two-tier architecture having at least one execution host and at least one data broker. The execution hosts handle the tasks and the data broker manages the task schedule. The data broker determines any scheduled tasks that need to be executed. Once an available task is found, the data broker dispenses the scheduled task to an execution host. A timeout period is selected for each assigned task. If the assigned execution host does not report back to the data broker within the timeout period the completion of the assigned task, the data broker is free to assign the task to another execution host to ensure reliable execution of the task.