Abstract: Aircraft with battery thermal regulation systems, including: an aircraft air inlet and an aircraft air outlet; a battery pack including battery cells; and a battery thermal regulation system including a first air channel, a surface of which is in thermal communication with the battery cells so that air flowing through the first air channel exchanges heat with the cells through the surface; and an airflow device for driving an airflow. The battery thermal regulation system has a first and a second mode operation. In the first mode, the first air channel is fluidly connected with the aircraft air inlet and the aircraft air outlet whereby, during flight of the aircraft, air can enter the aircraft through the air inlet, flow through the first air channel and exit the aircraft through the air outlet. In the second mode, the airflow device drives an airflow through the first air channel.

Abstract: Methods for thermally regulating batteries of aircraft are provided. The aircraft comprises: an air inlet; an air outlet; a battery pack comprising battery cells; and an air channel in fluid communication with the air inlet and the air outlet, a surface of the air channel being in thermal communication with the battery cells whereby air flowing through the air channel exchanges heat with the battery cells through the surface of the air channel. The methods comprise: connecting an external supply of air to the air inlet of the aircraft; and delivering a flow of air through the air channel using the external supply of air. A kit comprising the aircraft and the external supply of air is also provided.

Abstract: A callback window for initiating an electronic communication session with a customer communication endpoint is received. A request from an agent communication endpoint is received to not handle any electronic communication sessions during a time period. For example, a contact center agent may want to take a lunch break. A determination is made that the callback window (or a portion of the callback window) is within the time period. In response to determining the callback window is within the time period, the system may take various steps, such as, automatically denying the request, automatically adjusting the time period, and sending various messages to the agent communication endpoint to identify ways to handle the communication session.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for segregating traffic are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a traffic splitter identifies a set of links coupled to the traffic splitter, where the set of links includes two or more uplinks, wherein each of the two or more uplinks are implemented in a common physical media. The two or more uplinks include a LAN uplink coupled to a LAN and a SAN uplink coupled to a SAN. The traffic splitter prevents SAN traffic from reaching the LAN via the LAN uplink. In addition, the traffic splitter prevents LAN traffic from reaching the SAN via the SAN uplink.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture for n-tier transaction execution and processing are shown. The first layer comprises a presentation layer in the form of a user interface for entering instrument orders, modifying orders, and monitoring orders, instruments and markets. The second layer comprises an intermediate component layer for information transfer, and the third layer comprises an information source layer for feeding information to and accepting information from the first two layers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for segregating traffic are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a traffic splitter identifies a set of links coupled to the traffic splitter, where the set of links includes two or more uplinks, wherein each of the two or more uplinks are implemented in a common physical media. The two or more uplinks include a LAN uplink coupled to a LAN and a SAN uplink coupled to a SAN. The traffic splitter prevents SAN traffic from reaching the LAN via the LAN uplink. In addition, the traffic splitter prevents LAN traffic from reaching the SAN via the SAN uplink.

Abstract: A technique is provided for implementing online mirroring of a volume in a storage area network. A first instance of the volume is instantiated at a first port of the fiber channel fabric for enabling I/O operations to be performed at the volume. One or more mirroring procedures may be performed at the volume. In at least one implementation, the first port is able to perform first I/O operations at the volume concurrently while the mirroring procedures are being performed at the first volume. In one implementation, the mirroring procedures may be implemented at a fabric switch of the storage area network. Additionally, in at least one implementation, multiple hosts may be provided with concurrent access to the volume during the mirroring operations without serializing the access to the volume.

Abstract: Techniques and a network appliance apparatus are provided herein to extend local area networks (LANs) and storage area networks (SANs) beyond a data center while converging the associated local area network and storage area network host layers. A service flow is received at a device in a network. It is determined if the service flow is associated with storage area network or with local area network traffic. In response to determining that the service flow is storage area network traffic, storage area network extension services are performed with respect to the service flow in order to extend the storage area network on behalf of a remote location. In response to determining that the service flow is local area network traffic, local area network extension services are performed with respect to the service flow in order to extend the local area network on behalf of the remote location.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an indication of a fault condition is received relating to a first service running on a physical device in a computer network. The first service is associated with a first virtual device context defined on the physical device. Then, the first service is disabled without affecting operation of a second service on the physical device. The second service is associated with a second virtual device context defined on the physical device. In another embodiment, a first virtual device context is created on a physical device in a computer network. Then, a second virtual device context is created on the physical device. The first virtual device context may then be managed independently of the second virtual device context such that resources assigned to a virtual device context are managed without affecting management of another virtual device context.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for segregating traffic are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a traffic splitter identifies a set of links coupled to the traffic splitter, where the set of links includes two or more uplinks, wherein each of the two or more uplinks are implemented in a common physical media. The two or more uplinks include a LAN uplink coupled to a LAN and a SAN uplink coupled to a SAN. The traffic splitter prevents SAN traffic from reaching the LAN via the LAN uplink. In addition, the traffic splitter prevents LAN traffic from reaching the SAN via the SAN uplink.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an indication of a fault condition is received relating to a first service running on a physical device in a computer network. The first service is associated with a first virtual device context defined on the physical device. Then, the first service is disabled without affecting operation of a second service on the physical device. The second service is associated with a second virtual device context defined on the physical device. In another embodiment, a first virtual device context is created on a physical device in a computer network. Then, a second virtual device context is created on the physical device. The first virtual device context may then be managed independently of the second virtual device context such that resources assigned to a virtual device context are managed without affecting management of another virtual device context.

Abstract: Techniques and a network appliance apparatus are provided herein to extend local area networks (LANs) and storage area networks (SANs) beyond a data center while converging the associated local area network and storage area network host layers. A service flow is received at a device in a network. It is determined if the service flow is associated with storage area network or with local area network traffic. In response to determining that the service flow is storage area network traffic, storage area network extension services are performed with respect to the service flow in order to extend the storage area network on behalf of a remote location. In response to determining that the service flow is local area network traffic, local area network extension services are performed with respect to the service flow in order to extend the local area network on behalf of the remote location.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an indication of a fault condition is received relating to a first service running on a physical device in a computer network. The first service is associated with a first virtual device context defined on the physical device. Then, the first service is disabled without affecting operation of a second service on the physical device. The second service is associated with a second virtual device context defined on the physical device. In another embodiment, a first virtual device context is created on a physical device in a computer network. Then, a second virtual device context is created on the physical device. The first virtual device context may then be managed independently of the second virtual device context such that resources assigned to a virtual device context are managed without affecting management of another virtual device context.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes one or more ports for connection to one or more links in communication with a network device, a multi-chassis trunk (MCT) port for connection to an MCT in communication with a switch, and an MCEC manager for creating an MCEC comprising the one or more links in communication with the network device and one or more links connecting the switch to the network device, and transmitting messages to the switch to synchronize state for the MCEC. The apparatus further includes a control plane and a data plane configured for operation independent from a control plane and a data plane at the switch. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A multiple instance spanning tree protocol (MI-STP) creates a plurality of active topologies (i.e., loop-free paths) within a computer network. These active topologies may be established through the exchange and processing of multiple instance spanning tree bridge protocol data unit messages (MI-STP BPDUs) by the intermediate network devices within the network. The active topologies are preferably created independently of any virtual local area network (VLAN) designations defined within the network. Once the active topologies are defined, each VLAN designation is then mapped to a single active topology, although multiple VLAN designations are preferably mapped to the same active topology to provide load balancing.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture for n-tier transaction execution and processing are shown. The first layer comprises a presentation layer in the form of a user interface for entering instrument orders, modifying orders, and monitoring orders, instruments and markets. The second layer comprises an intermediate component layer for information transfer, and the third layer comprises an information source layer for feeding information to and accepting information from the first two layers.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture for n-tier transaction execution and processing are shown. The first layer comprises a presentation layer in the form of a user interface for entering instrument orders, modifying orders, and monitoring orders, instruments and markets. The second layer comprises an intermediate component layer for information transfer, and the third layer comprises an information source layer for feeding information to and accepting information from the first two layers.

Abstract: A technique is provided for implementing online restriping of a volume in a storage area network. A first instance of the volume is instantiated at a first port of the fibre channel fabric for enabling I/O operations to be performed at the volume. While restriping operations are being performed at the volume, the first port is able to concurrently perform I/O operations at the volume.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for restarting a first network device having a plurality of ports for receiving and transmitting layer 2 data. The first network device belongs to a network of network devices. When a restart of at least a portion of the first network device is imminent whereby the restarting network device portion can no longer alter a spanning tree protocol (STP) state of one or more of the ports and such ports that remain in a fixed state during the restart are referred to as restarting ports, a current state (such as forwarding) of each restarting port is maintained during the restart under predefined conditions. During the restart, each of the restarting ports of the restarting network device portion cooperate with its peer port of a second non-restarting network device that is a neighbor of the first network device so as to prevent layer 2 loops in the network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for detecting and maintaining version compatibility in network devices. Interfaces associated with network devices and components are controlled in order to generate compatibility information at compile time. Version compatibility information embedded in image headers is checked during installation. Version compatibility information is also used to generate access control lists. Access control lists prevent incompatible device communication during run time.