Abstract: A system includes a goal state repository, a goal state repository instance and management tools. The goal state repository stores goals for a managed system. The goal state repository instance stores a subset of the goals applicable to a current state of the managed system. The goal state repository instance is created by comparing the current state of the managed system to the goals stored in the goal state repository. The management tools modify the managed system to be in compliance with the subset of goals stored in the goal state repository instance.

Abstract: Service level objectives for a multi-tier system are translated to low-level system metrics by determining component profiles. The component profiles include performance parameters calculated as a function of applied resources for each of a plurality of components of the multi-tier system. Performance models including service level parameters are also determined. The performance models are determined as a function of the performance parameters and workload characteristics. The service level objectives are translated to the low-level system metrics using the performance models.

Abstract: A telescopic spatial radio system is provided for sending a signal representative of a sound at a speaker location to a listener location, the signal providing positioning information of the speaker location relative to the listener location and processing the signal using the positioning information to provide a telescopic zoomable binaural sound at the listener location having a simulated spatial relationship based on the position information of the speaker location relative to the listener location.

Abstract: A chat room system is provided that includes sending a signal representative of a sound at a first user location to a second user location and establishing, in a chat room, a virtual first user location and a virtual second user location. It further includes establishing the orientation of a listening system at the second user location and processing the signal, using the orientation of the listening system, at a plurality of levels of realism to provide a binaural sound at the second user location having an analogous spatial relationship between the second user location and the first user location as the virtual spatial relationship between the virtual second user location and the virtual first user location.

Abstract: A subtree within a global tree of nodes is created by determining a predicate condition. The predicate condition is disseminated to the nodes in the global tree. For each node in the global tree, a determination of whether the node belongs to the subtree is performed, and an indication of whether the node belongs to the subtree is stored. After the subtree is created, a query corresponding to the subtree is put to the subtree for resolution.

Abstract: Resources are provisioned in an automated manner for shared services in a resource-on-demand system. A model representing an observed state of resources in the resource-on-demand system allocated to the shared services and a model representing a desired state of the shared services are stored. At least one policy applicable to provisioning the resources for the shared services is determined. The policy and information from the models are applied to automatically provision the resources for satisfying the desired state of the shared services.

Abstract: A technique for evaluating service level agreement (SLA) violations occurring in a computing system with agreed-upon model for exemptions is provided. The technique includes storing in a memory a model of the SLA and identifying occurrence of an SLA violation in a computing system that is providing services under the SLA. Based on the stored model, the technique further determines if the SLA violation is exempted from a penalty.

Abstract: An automated provisioning system provisions computing resources for shared services in a resource-on-demand system. A number of virtual machines needed for a virtual machine production pool for a period of time to satisfy the computing demand for the shared services is determined from a policy. Also, a number of unassigned virtual machines needed for a virtual machine buffer pool is determined from the policy. Servers and virtual machines are automatically provisioned for the virtual machine production pool and the virtual machine buffer pool based on the determined number of virtual machines needed for the virtual machine production pool, the determined number of unassigned virtual machines needed for the virtual machine buffer pool, and a changing computing demand of the shared services during the period of time.

Abstract: A method for providing change management in a distributed system is provided.

Abstract: Resources are provisioned for shared services in a resource-on-demand system. A model representing an observed state of resources in the resource-on-demand system allocated to the shared services and a model representing a desired state of the shared services are stored. At least one policy applicable to provisioning the resources for the shared services is determined. The policy and information from the models are applied to automatically provision the resources for satisfying the desired state of the shared services.

Abstract: An audio conferencing system includes sending a signal of a sound at a sound location to a listening location. The system further includes establishing a relationship between a virtual listening location and a virtual sound location. The system processes the signal to provide a sound at the listening location seeming to have an analogous relationship between the listening location and the sound location as the relationship between the virtual listening location and the virtual sound location.

Abstract: A technique for evaluating service level agreement (SLA) violations occurring in a computing system with agreed-upon model for exemptions is provided. The technique includes storing in a memory a model of the SLA and identifying occurrence of an SLA violation in a computing system that is providing services under the SLA. Based on the stored model, the technique further determines if the SLA violation is exempted from a penalty.

Abstract: A method for providing data assurance includes receiving selected input data to perform data assurance thereon, and receiving selected parameters for the data assurance. Data assurance modules are provided that translate the input data and the parameters and that derive a workflow for the data assurance based on the translated input data and the parameters. The workflow is executed to provide the data assurance on the input data.

Abstract: The present invention, in one embodiment, is comprised of a method of performing region-of-interest editing of a video stream in the compressed domain. In accordance with this method, a video stream frame comprising an unwanted portion and a region-of-interest portion is received. The video stream frame is compressed to obtain a compressed video stream frame. The compressed video stream frame is edited to modify the unwanted portion and obtain a compressed video stream frame comprising the region-of-interest portion. Other embodiments of the invention include a computer-readable storage media embodying this method, and a system for region-of-interest editing a compressed video stream to modify unwanted portions of data therein in accordance with this method.