Abstract: Capacitor structures with pitch-matched capacitor unit cells are described. In an embodiment, the capacitor unit cells are formed by interdigitated finger electrodes. The finger electrodes may be pitch-matched in multiple metal layers within a capacitor unit cell, and the finger electrodes may be pitch-matched among an array of capacitor unit cells. Additionally, border unit cells may be pitch-matched with the capacitor unit cells.

Abstract: An on-demand learning system provides an enhanced leaning environment capable of delivering relevant content on virtually any topic to specific learners. The learning system implements technical features that facilitate curation and subject matter validation of many different types of content. The technical architecture of the learning system also supports intelligent matching of learners to subject matter areas, creation of specific subject matter boards, and resilient maintenance of the boards.

Abstract: Capacitor structures with pitch-matched capacitor unit cells are described. In an embodiment, the capacitor unit cells are formed by interdigitated finger electrodes. The finger electrodes may be pitch-matched in multiple metal layers within a capacitor unit cell, and the finger electrodes may be pitch-matched among an array of capacitor unit cells. Additionally, border unit cells may be pitch-matched with the capacitor unit cells.

Abstract: An on-demand learning system provides an enhanced leaning environment capable of delivering relevant content on virtually any topic to specific learners. The learning system implements technical features that facilitate curation and subject matter validation of many different types of content. The technical architecture of the learning system also supports intelligent matching of learners to subject matter areas, creation of specific subject matter boards, and resilient maintenance of the boards.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a series of analog-to-digital converter (ADC) stages and a comparison circuit coupled to a first ADC stage. The first ADC stage may be configured to compare an input signal to one or more conversion thresholds to generate a result. The first ADC stage may also be configured to generate an output signal based on a value of the result. In response to an assertion of a reset signal, the first ADC stage may be configured to set a level of the output signal voltage to a particular voltage. The comparison circuit may be configured to assert the reset signal in response to a determination that the input signal voltage exceeds an operating range defined by an upper overload threshold voltage and a lower overload threshold voltage.

Abstract: This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for implementing memory overcommit of virtual machines. The method includes establishing a plurality of virtual machines on a physical machine, broadcasting, from each of the plurality of virtual machines to a central scheduler, resource usage requirements, and then based at least in part on the resource usage requirements broadcasted from each of the plurality of virtual machines, determining a resource requirements schedule for each of the plurality of virtual machines. The method further includes receiving at least one resource request from at least one of the plurality of virtual machines, based on the resource requirements schedule, un-assigning resources from at least one of the plurality of virtual machines, and assigning the un-assigned resources to the at least one of the plurality of virtual machines which initiated the resource request.

Abstract: This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for implementing memory overcommit of virtual machines. The method includes establishing a plurality of virtual machines on a physical machine, broadcasting, from each of the plurality of virtual machines to a central scheduler, resource usage requirements, and then based at least in part on the resource usage requirements broadcasted from each of the plurality of virtual machines, determining a resource requirements schedule for each of the plurality of virtual machines. The method further includes receiving at least one resource request from at least one of the plurality of virtual machines, based on the resource requirements schedule, un-assigning resources from at least one of the plurality of virtual machines, and assigning the un-assigned resources to the at least one of the plurality of virtual machines which initiated the resource request.

Abstract: A capacitive device is disclosed, including a first conductor formed on a lower metal layer and coupled to a first terminal. A second conductor is formed on an upper metal layer and a plurality of wires is partitioned into groups, each group including one wire from a respective metal layer. First and second wires of each group are coupled to a second terminal. A third wire of each group, adjacent to the first wire, is coupled to the first conductor. A fourth wire of each group, adjacent to the second wire, is coupled to the second conductor. Fifth wires of a first subset of the groups are coupled to the second conductor and fifth wires of a second subset of the groups are coupled to the first conductor. The fifth wire of each group is adjacent to the first wire and the second wire.

Abstract: An on-demand learning system provides an enhanced leaning environment capable of delivering relevant content on virtually any topic to specific learners. The learning system implements technical features that facilitate curation and subject matter validation of many different types of content. The technical architecture of the learning system also supports intelligent matching of learners to subject matter areas, creation of specific subject matter boards, and resilient maintenance of the boards.

Abstract: A capacitive device is disclosed, including a first conductor formed on a lower metal layer and coupled to a first terminal. A second conductor is formed on an upper metal layer and a plurality of wires is partitioned into groups, each group including one wire from a respective metal layer. First and second wires of each group are coupled to a second terminal. A third wire of each group, adjacent to the first wire, is coupled to the first conductor. A fourth wire of each group, adjacent to the second wire, is coupled to the second conductor. Fifth wires of a first subset of the groups are coupled to the second conductor and fifth wires of a second subset of the groups are coupled to the first conductor. The fifth wire of each group is adjacent to the first wire and the second wire.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, nodes for hosting of new virtual machines (VM) are selected according to approaches designed to reduce power consumption in a grid. In an embodiment, the approaches are designed to facilitate the possibility of freeing one or more nodes from hosting VMs to power down the nodes, thereby reducing power consumption. Thus, an example approach is based on provisioning a new VM on a node which currently (immediately prior to provisioning) has the maximum resource consumption. Another example approach is based on provisioning a new VM on a node which currently has small-sized VMs in terms of resource requirements. In yet another embodiment, the approach is based on provisioning a new VM on a node located in a geographical area having low power tariffs.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention facilitates selecting suitable nodes to host virtual machines (VMs) in an environment containing a large number of nodes (such as a grid). In one embodiment, information indicating corresponding resources available in each machine node (a node capable of hosting VMs) in the grid is maintained distributed over a set of management nodes contained in the grid. On receiving an indication that a VM requiring a set of resources is sought to be hosted, a machine node having available the set of resources is identified based on the distributed information. The VM is then provisioned/hosted on the identified machine node. The maintenance of the resource availability information distributed across multiple management nodes enables the solution to be scaled for use in environments having a large number of nodes.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention mitigates reduction in availability level during maintenance of nodes in a cluster. In one embodiment, on receiving an indication that a maintenance activity is to be performed on the cluster, a scaling out of the cluster is first performed to add some nodes having the maintenance activity already performed, followed by a scaling in of the cluster to remove some of the nodes in the cluster which do not yet have the maintenance activity performed. The scaling out is performed before any scaling in of the cluster such that the number of nodes available in the cluster after the scaling in is not less than the number of nodes in the cluster at the time of receiving the indication. Accordingly, the reduction in availability level (which is based on the number of nodes available) is mitigated.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention reduces the recovery time for business organizations in case of disasters. In one embodiment, a disaster recovery system containing a primary site and a backup site (implemented as a cluster) is maintained. Application instances are executed in both the primary site and the backup site, with the number of instances executed on the backup site being fewer than that executed on the primary site. During normal operation, user requests received are processed using only the instances executing in the primary site, while the instances executing in the backup site are used in a standby state. On identifying that a disaster has occurred, the user requests received immediately after identification of the disaster are processed using only the instances executing in the backup site. The cluster at the backup site is then scaled out to add application instances until a desired level/percentage is achieved.

Abstract: This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for implementing memory overcommit of virtual machines. The method includes establishing a plurality of virtual machines on a physical machine, broadcasting, from each of the plurality of virtual machines to a central scheduler, resource usage requirements, and then based at least in part on the resource usage requirements broadcasted from each of the plurality of virtual machines, determining a resource requirements schedule for each of the plurality of virtual machines. The method further includes receiving at least one resource request from at least one of the plurality of virtual machines, based on the resource requirements schedule, un-assigning resources from at least one of the plurality of virtual machines, and assigning the un-assigned resources to the at least one of the plurality of virtual machines which initiated the resource request.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention facilitates selecting suitable nodes to host virtual machines (VMs) in an environment containing a large number of nodes (such as a grid). In one embodiment, information indicating corresponding resources available in each machine node (a node capable of hosting VMs) in the grid is maintained distributed over a set of management nodes contained in the grid. On receiving an indication that a VM requiring a set of resources is sought to be hosted, a machine node having available the set of resources is identified based on the distributed information. The VM is then provisioned/hosted on the identified machine node. The maintenance of the resource availability information distributed across multiple management nodes enables the solution to be scaled for use in environments having a large number of nodes.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, nodes for hosting of new virtual machines (VM) are selected according to approaches designed to reduce power consumption in a grid. In an embodiment, the approaches are designed to facilitate the possibility of freeing one or more nodes from hosting VMs to power down the nodes, thereby reducing power consumption. Thus, an example approach is based on provisioning a new VM on a node which currently (immediately prior to provisioning) has the maximum resource consumption. Another example approach is based on provisioning a new VM on a node which currently has small-sized VMs in terms of resource requirements. In yet another embodiment, the approach is based on provisioning a new VM on a node located in a geographical area having low power tariffs.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention reduces the recovery time for business organizations in case of disasters. In one embodiment, a disaster recovery system containing a primary site and a backup site (implemented as a cluster) is maintained. Application instances are executed in both the primary site and the backup site, with the number of instances executed on the backup site being fewer than that executed on the primary site. During normal operation, user requests received are processed using only the instances executing in the primary site, while the instances executing in the backup site are used in a standby state. On identifying that a disaster has occurred, the user requests received immediately after identification of the disaster are processed using only the instances executing in the backup site. The cluster at the backup site is then scaled out to add application instances until a desired level/percentage is achieved.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention mitigates reduction in availability level during maintenance of nodes in a cluster. In one embodiment, on receiving an indication that a maintenance activity is to be performed on the cluster, a scaling out of the cluster is first performed to add some nodes having the maintenance activity already performed, followed by a scaling in of the cluster to remove some of the nodes in the cluster which do not yet have the maintenance activity performed. The scaling out is performed before any scaling in of the cluster such that the number of nodes available in the cluster after the scaling in is not less than the number of nodes in the cluster at the time of receiving the indication. Accordingly, the reduction in availability level (which is based on the number of nodes available) is mitigated.