Abstract: Techniques for adaptive query targeting in a dynamic distributed computing environment are provided. In one aspect, a method for adaptive query targeting in a distributed computing system having two or more cooperating nodes is provided. The method includes the steps of: using a peer selection criteria to select one or more of the nodes as target peers for a query from a querying node; leasing the query to the target peers for a given length of time via a lease having a given lifetime; periodically refreshing the query during the lifetime of the lease by re-evaluating the peer selection criteria such that the query persists on one or more of the target peers for the lifetime of the lease; and having the query removed from the target peers when the lease expires.

Abstract: Techniques for making shopping recommendations based on a user's social ties to friends and family are provided. In one aspect, a method for making shopping recommendations is provided. The method includes the steps of: collecting shopping data from users, wherein the users comprise a first user and one or more second users with social ties to the first user; and making recommendations to the first user based on the shopping data while the first user is shopping at a store, wherein the recommendations include preferences of the second users with social ties to the first user. A system for making shopping recommendations is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for targeted advertisement include transmitting a pre-filter to a user device, responsive to contextual information supplied by the user device to determine one or more inferences based on physical browsing information, collected at the user device, in compliance with one or more privacy policies of the user. One or more targeted advertisements are determined, using a processor, based on the one or more inferences. The one or more targeted advertisements are transmitted to the user device.

Abstract: A method begins where a processing module receives, from a seller computing device, a request to sell an exchange item and verifies information regarding the seller computing device. The method continues where the processing module verifies information regarding the exchange item and adds the exchange item to a digital exchange item marketplace. The method continues where the processing module receives, from a buyer computing device, a request to buy a selected exchange item from the digital exchange item marketplace and verifies information regarding the buyer computing device. The method continues where the processing module verifies payment information, processes payment, removes the selected exchange item from the digital exchange item marketplace, and adds the selected exchange item to a digital wallet associated with the buyer computing device.

Abstract: A method and system are provided. The method includes identifying a set of applications compatible with a set of data. The applications and the data are untagged by corresponding metadata. The identifying step includes executing, by an execution platform, at least some of the applications in the set against at least some of the data in the set. The identifying step further includes analyzing, by a log analyzer, execution logs for executions of the at least some of the applications against the at least some of the data. The identifying step also includes indicating, by the log analyzer, a compatibility of the at least some of the applications to the at least some of the data by detecting compatibility relevant errors using the execution logs.

Abstract: A method and system are provided. The method includes identifying a set of applications compatible with a set of data. The applications and the data are untagged by corresponding metadata. The identifying step includes executing, by an execution platform, at least some of the applications in the set against at least some of the data in the set. The identifying step further includes analyzing, by a log analyzer, execution logs for executions of the at least some of the applications against the at least some of the data. The identifying step also includes indicating, by the log analyzer, a compatibility of the at least some of the applications to the at least some of the data by detecting compatibility relevant errors using the execution logs.

Abstract: A renewable energy-based hybrid bi-directionally interactive DC traction power supply system includes two traction substations. Each substation includes transformers, rectifiers, bidirectional AC-DC converters, a DC bus, a catenary, a steel rail and a section post. A DC bus between two adjacent traction substations is provided with a DC renewable energy system constructed by an electric vehicle charging-discharging system, a distributed generation and more than one low voltage DC microgrid. The DC renewable energy system is connected to the DC bus between two adjacent traction substations through a high voltage DC bus, thus a DC circular microgrid being formed in a power supply section post. The electric vehicle charging-discharging system is formed by more than one bidirectional DC-DC charging-discharging equipments which are intended for in connection with the power batteries of the electric vehicle.

Abstract: A method and system are provided. The method includes defining an application manifest that describes a computing solution for transfer from a cloud site to an on-premises computing appliance at a given premises. The computing solution is executable for a dataset resident at the given premises. The method further includes defining a characterization of a local premises environment in which the computing solution will be executed. The method also includes modifying the application manifest using the characterization of the local premises environment by at least one of adding, removing and modifying at least one component of the application manifest to provide a modified application manifest. The method additionally includes installing the computing solution in a computing appliance at the local premises environment according to the modified application manifest. The computing appliance is for executing the computing solution.

Abstract: A method and system are provided. The method includes defining an application manifest that describes a computing solution for transfer from a cloud site to an on-premises computing appliance at a given premises. The computing solution is executable for a dataset resident at the given premises. The method further includes defining a characterization of a local premises environment in which the computing solution will be executed. The method also includes modifying the application manifest using the characterization of the local premises environment by at least one of adding, removing and modifying at least one component of the application manifest to provide a modified application manifest. The method additionally includes installing the computing solution in a computing appliance at the local premises environment according to the modified application manifest. The computing appliance is for executing the computing solution.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses and program products configured to provide a topology-service tool are described. A presence-federation solution asset is leveraged to address topology-federation problems. A network topology tool takes as input network endpoints, for example caller and callee telephone numbers, determines a network service flow used to connect the network endpoints, and develops a network topology view of the service flow along with associated network device related information.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods for providing scalable presence subscriptions in federated presence environments are described. Embodiments provide for intelligent addition of subscriptions to a presence system. Embodiments identify if a virtualized presentity (corresponding to a new query) can be composed from existing virtualized presentities, and if so, corresponding query processing cells (QPCs) (servicing existing queries) are reused to retrieve the presence information (partially or fully) for the new incoming query. Embodiments organize the existing QPCs into a hierarchy such that a QPC/virtual presentity at a higher layer fetches presence information of all or some presentities from QPCs/virtual presentities at lower layer(s) to service the new query.

Abstract: A heat potential value for each of a set of available server locations is calculated via a data center controller based upon at least one active server in a data center. A minimal calculated heat potential value for the set of available server locations is identified. An available server location associated with the identified minimal calculated heat potential value is selected from the set of available server locations. A maximal calculated heat potential value is identified for the set of available server locations. An available server location associated with the identified maximal calculated heat potential value is selected from the set of available server locations. A server located at the selected available server location associated with the identified maximal calculated heat potential value is automatically de-energized.

Abstract: A technique provides policy management within a policy-managed environment. A policy management agent retrieves a policy enforcement point (PEP) description from a PEP registry. The policy management agent utilizes the PEP description of the PEP to search a policy library to locate and determine matching (candidate) policies, and the matching policies match the policy description of the PEP. The managed environment, which incorporates policy evaluation, uses the equivalent policy matching criteria as the policy management agent.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing role-based access control of a resource by a subject in an access control system are provided. The system comprises one or more roles capable of association with one or more subjects, and a plurality of permission sets. One or more of the plurality of permission sets are associated with each of the one or more roles. The system further comprises a plurality of resources. One or more of the plurality of resources are associated with each of the one or more permission sets, and each of the plurality of resources is associated with a set of one or more subjects. A given subject in a set of one or more subjects for a given resource and having a role-permission association with the given resource is provided access control of the given resource.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for generating and managing presentities in accordance with a virtual presence server. By way of example, a method for requesting information from at least one server comprises the following steps. A client request, which expresses a request that can not be satisfied by a single existing presentity, is obtained at an intermediate server, wherein the intermediate server operates as a virtual presence server. The virtual presence server (i.e., intermediate server) creates a set of software objects for a virtual presentity, the set of objects embodying logic to combine presence information from one or more of existing presentities and external information sources, in accordance with at least one existing presence server. The virtual presence server creates an association between the request of the client and the created virtual presentity that allows the presence information to be propagated back to the client.

Abstract: A heat potential value for each of a set of available server locations is calculated via a data center controller based upon at least one active server in a data center. A minimal calculated heat potential value for the set of available server locations is identified. An available server location associated with the identified minimal calculated heat potential value is selected from the set of available server locations. A maximal calculated heat potential value is identified for the set of available server locations. An available server location associated with the identified maximal calculated heat potential value is selected from the set of available server locations. A server located at the selected available server location associated with the identified maximal calculated heat potential value is automatically de-energized.

Abstract: Techniques for supporting a presence virtualization query are provided. The techniques include receiving a virtual query from a client, the virtual query specified in terms of a membership set of members, wherein the membership set comprises a list of presentity uniform resource identifiers (URIs) and a separate transformation function, defined over a set of presence documents of the members in the membership set, redirecting the query to a destination virtual presentity URI whose presence state comprises an aggregation of the presence documents of the list of URIs in the membership set and a corresponding query element (QE) object that manages subscriptions for the URI, adding the client as a watcher for the destination virtual presentity URI, and applying transformation logic specified by the watcher client and notifying a corresponding client of a resulting output.

Abstract: A heat potential value for each of a set of available server locations is calculated via a data center controller based upon at least one active server in a data center. A minimal calculated heat potential value for the set of available server locations is identified. An available server location associated with the identified minimal calculated heat potential value is selected from the set of available server locations.

Abstract: A technique for use in a client, wherein the client supports a state-based signaling protocol (e.g., Session Initiation Protocol or SIP), includes initiating a given session state between the client and a server that also supports the state-based signaling protocol, and refreshing the given session state in a randomized manner. Further, a technique for use in a server, wherein the server supports a state-based signaling protocol (again, e.g., SIP), includes randomly assigning an expiration time duration for a given session state between the server and a client that also supports the state-based signaling protocol, and reporting the randomly assigned expiration time for the given session state to the client. By randomizing various behaviors of the client, the server, or both, bursty traffic in the communication network is reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods for providing scalable presence subscriptions in federated presence environments are described. Embodiments provide for intelligent addition of subscriptions to a presence system. Embodiments identify if a virtualized presentity (corresponding to a new query) can be composed from existing virtualized presentities, and if so, corresponding query processing cells (QPCs) (servicing existing queries) are reused to retrieve the presence information (partially or fully) for the new incoming query. Embodiments organize the existing QPCs into a hierarchy such that a QPC/virtual presentity at a higher layer fetches presence information of all or some presentities from QPCs/virtual presentities at lower layer(s) to service the new query.