Abstract: In various aspects, code-based indicia contain secured network access credentials. In some aspects, a computer processor receives user input that specifies secured network access credentials, and the computer processor creates or modifies credentials for establishing a secured network connection. In these aspects, the computer processor generates code-based indicia that contain at least part of the secured network access credentials. In other aspects, a computer processor scans the code-based indicia and extracts the network access credentials. In these aspects, the computer processor employs the network access credentials to establish the secured network connection. In additional aspects, a network router apparatus renders the code-based indicia to an active display. In further aspects, a network router apparatus conditions grant of network access to a device on receipt from the device of an answer to a security question included in the secured network access credentials.

Abstract: A protection case includes a receiving portion for receiving an electronic device and a cover portion connected to one side of the receiving portion for supporting or covering the receiving portion. The cover portion includes a first reinforcing member, a second reinforcing member adjacent to the first reinforcing member, two third reinforcing members symmetrically located at two opposite sides of the first reinforcing member, and two fourth reinforcing members symmetrically located at two opposite ends of the cover portion. The first, second, third and fourth reinforcing members are connected flexibly to each other. The first reinforcing member is folded toward and absorbed on the second reinforcing member. Each of the two third reinforcing members together with the adjacent fourth reinforcing member forms a supporting portion to abut against the back of the receiving portion.

Abstract: A method performed by a network appliance having a plurality of application processing units, includes: receiving a first packet at the network appliance; calculating a first value using a mathematical algorithm based on one or more information regarding the first packet; and using the calculated first value to identify a first application processing unit of the plurality of application processing units in the network appliance. A network appliance includes: a plurality of processing units that are communicatively connected to each other; wherein a first processing unit of the plurality of processing units is configured for: calculating a first value using a mathematical algorithm based on one or more information regarding a first packet; and using the calculated first value to identify a second processing unit of the plurality of processing units.

Abstract: A data storage system includes storage devices and a processing subsystem executing software forming a lower-deck file system and an upper-deck file system. The lower-deck file system presents a volume file from which storage is provided to the upper-deck file system, and units of storage of the storage devices are allocable to the upper-deck file system but are not reserved to it. The volume file is thinly provisioned, and additional units of storage are added dynamically to increase its allocated size in response to demand from the upper-deck file system. The lower-deck file system operates in a mapped mode in which a block address in the lower-deck file system is obtained by a generally arbitrary mapping (e.g., an Inode/IB tree) of a block address in the volume file.

Abstract: A tool bag for storing and organizing tools is provided. In general, the described tool bag includes a flat bottom surface connected to at least one side components, wherein the flat bottom surface includes a hard flat surface. The tool bag also includes a mid-section including a hard surfaced compartment with two surfaces, where the hard surfaced compartment is positioned perpendicular to the flat bottom surface and divides the tool bag's internal bag space into two substantially equal portions. Furthermore, a plurality of tool organizing apparatuses is affixed to the two surfaces of the hard surfaced compartment configured to secure and organize tools.

Abstract: A method performed by a network system having a plurality of processing units implemented using a plurality of respective virtual machines, includes: receiving a first packet at a first virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines, wherein the first virtual machine is configured to receive the first packet from a network through an interface and has session processing capability; calculating a first value using a mathematical algorithm based on one or more information regarding the first packet; and using the calculated first value to identify a second virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines in the network system.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for instantiating, by a computing device, a slice-object associated with a slice when the slice-object is accessed. The slice-object is released to a slice object cache when accessing is complete. It is determined whether the slice is accessed within a threshold period of time. If the slice is accessed within the threshold period of time, the slice-object is retrieved from the slice-object cache. If the slice is not accessed within the threshold period of time, memory used for the slice-object is released.

Abstract: In various aspects, code-based indicia contain secured network access credentials. In some aspects, a computer processor receives user input that specifies secured network access credentials, and the computer processor creates or modifies credentials for establishing a secured network connection. In these aspects, the computer processor generates code-based indicia that contain at least part of the secured network access credentials. In other aspects, a computer processor scans the code-based indicia and extracts the network access credentials. In these aspects, the computer processor employs the network access credentials to establish the secured network connection. In additional aspects, a network router apparatus renders the code-based indicia to an active display. In further aspects, a network router apparatus conditions grant of network access to a device on receipt from the device of an answer to a security question included in the secured network access credentials.

Abstract: A technique manages data within a data storage apparatus having a cache of volatile memory and non-volatile storage. The technique involves receiving a set of write commands to write data to the non-volatile storage. The technique further involves acknowledging, in a write-back caching manner, completion of the set of write commands after the data reaches the cache of volatile memory and prior to the data reaching the non-volatile storage. The data includes host data as well as critical metadata. The technique further involves saving, after acknowledging completion of the set of write commands, the data from the cache of volatile memory to the non-volatile storage, the critical metadata being saved from the cache of volatile memory to the non-volatile storage at a quicker rate than that of the host data (i.e., accelerated synchronization of the critical metadata).

Abstract: A slice consistency check method is presented including, for each slice of a plurality of slices (a) obtaining a first vote for ownership of that slice according to a filesystem manager configured to manage a set of filesystems stored on a set of sparse metavolumes, (b) obtaining a second vote for the ownership of that slice according to a first driver, the first driver being independent of the filesystem manager, (c) obtaining a third vote for the ownership of that slice according to a second driver, the second driver being independent of the filesystem manager and the first driver, and (d) assigning ownership of that slice based on a majority vote of the first vote for the ownership of that slice, the second vote for the ownership of that slice, and the third vote for the ownership of that slice.

Abstract: A data storage system employs a multi-level stack including a lower-deck file system and an upper-deck file system providing a file system interface to a file system consumer. The lower-deck file system presents a volume file to provide storage to the upper-deck file system. Storage is reserved to the upper-deck file system, and the volume file is fully provisioned so an out-of-space condition is not presented to the upper-deck file system. In an initial direct operating mode a block address in the lower-deck file system is obtained by a calculation from a corresponding block address in the volume file. Snapshots of a primary volume file are created and stored in respective snapshot volume files. The lower-deck file system transitions into a mapped mode using generally arbitrary mappings of block addresses of the primary volume file and snapshot volume files to obtain corresponding block addresses in the lower-deck file system.

Abstract: A data storage system includes storage devices and a processing subsystem executing software forming a lower-deck file system and an upper-deck file system. The lower-deck file system presents a volume file from which storage is provided to the upper-deck file system, and units of storage of the storage devices are allocable to the upper-deck file system but not reserved to it. The volume file is thinly provisioned, and additional units of storage are added dynamically to increase its allocated size in response to demand from the upper-deck file system. The lower-deck file system operates in a mapped mode in which a block address in the lower-deck file system is obtained by a generally arbitrary mapping (e.g., an Inode/IB tree) of a block address in the volume file.

Abstract: A data storage system includes storage devices and a processing subsystem executing software forming a lower-deck file system and an upper-deck file system. The lower-deck file system presents a volume file from which storage is provided to the upper-deck file system, and units of storage of the storage devices are reserved to the upper-deck file system. The volume file is fully provisioned based on the reserved units of storage so that an out-of-space condition is not presented to the upper-deck file system. Reserved units of storage are dynamically added to the volume file to increase its allocated size in response to demand from the upper-deck file system, and a direct operating mode is used in which a block address in the lower-deck file system is obtained by a predetermined calculation from a corresponding block address in the volume file.

Abstract: An electronic device receives power through an earphone interface, and includes the earphone interface, a processing unit, an audio codec chip, a first switch and a second switch. The earphone interface includes a left channel pin, a right channel pin, a ground pin and a microphone pin. The first switch includes a first normally closed terminal, a first normally open terminal, a first common terminal and a first controlled terminal The second switch includes a second normally closed terminal, a second normally open terminal, a second common terminal and a second controlled terminal. The processing unit includes a detect pin and a switch control pin. An earphone power line to power the electronic device is also provided.

Abstract: A technique for verifying the consistency of slice allocation metadata includes accessing, from user space of an operating system running on the data storage apparatus, a set of drivers running in kernel space of the operating system to obtain slice allocation metadata from the set of drivers, and identifying discrepancies in slice allocation metadata returned from the set of drivers on a per-file-system basis.

Abstract: Techniques are described for copying data using a throttling mechanism to achieve a desired time delay. A request is received to copy a data portion from a source location of a first physical device to a target location of a second physical device. A desired average delay time is determined in accordance with a plurality of values including a throttle value affecting a rate at which data is copied from the source location to the target location. The request is partitioned into subrequests. The data portion is partitioned into a subportions. Each of the subrequests copies one of the subportions. The subrequests are performed whereby a time delay is introduced between at least two of the plurality of subrequests and whereby an average time delay with respect to each pair of consecutively issued subrequests is the desired average time delay.

Abstract: A protection case includes a receiving portion for receiving an electronic device and a cover portion connected to one side of the receiving portion for supporting or covering the receiving portion. The cover portion includes a first reinforcing member, a second reinforcing member adjacent to the first reinforcing member, two third reinforcing members symmetrically located at two opposite sides of the first reinforcing member, and two fourth reinforcing members symmetrically located at two opposite ends of the cover portion. The first, second, third and fourth reinforcing members are connected flexibly to each other. The first reinforcing member is folded toward and absorbed on the second reinforcing member. Each of the two third reinforcing members together with the adjacent fourth reinforcing member forms a supporting portion to abut against the back of the receiving portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preparing a sample for further analysis are provided. The system can include an enclosure. A membrane can be disposed within the enclosure. First and second reservoirs can be disposed within the enclosure, and at least one of the first and second reservoirs can be adapted to have a reagent disposed therein. A valve can be disposed within the enclosure and in fluid communication with the first or second reservoirs or both. The valve can also be in fluid communication with the membrane. The valve can be adapted to selectively regulate the flow of the reagent from the first reservoir, through the membrane, and into the second reservoir.

Abstract: A pusher-occlusive coil delivery assembly 10 that is advanced through a microcatheter 40 to the desired vascular site within a patient. The delivery assembly 10 includes a pushwire 12 which interlocks with the occlusive coil 11 which can be manipulated to detach the occlusive coil 11. When the assembly 10 is positioned at the site, the pushwire 12 is advanced to allow the interlock joint 14, 15 to move out of the delivery sleeve 13 to uncouple the pushwire 12 and the occlusive coil 11.

Abstract: A method performed by a network system having a plurality of processing units implemented using a plurality of respective virtual machines, includes: receiving a first packet at a first virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines, wherein the first virtual machine is configured to receive the first packet from a network through an interface and has session processing capability; calculating a first value using a mathematical algorithm based on one or more information regarding the first packet; and using the calculated first value to identify a second virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines in the network system.