Abstract: A communication system including a first address notification apparatus provided in a first communication network, and a second address notification apparatus provided in a second communication network, wherein the first address notification apparatus includes means that receives an address request from a terminal that can communicate with the first address notification apparatus and with the second address notification apparatus, obtains a source address from the address request, and transmits a response including the source address to the terminal, and the second address notification apparatus includes means that receives an address request from the terminal, obtains a source address from the address request, and transmits a response including the source address to the terminal.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a system that provides enhanced security of information transmitted by connected devices. The system may be used to request resources from members of a donee's virtual group. Donated funds or line of credit may be loaded to the donee's digital wallet with no link to any of the donee's personal accounts. The request for resources may utilize secure correspondence between the donee and the prospective donors. The secure correspondence may be locked and prevented from being forwarded or captured via a screenshot to ensure confidentiality. If an attempt is made to forward or copy the secure correspondence, the secure correspondence may be deleted. Donated funds/line of credit may be allocated for specific use, and may not be owned by the donee until used.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a data transmission apparatus. The data transmission apparatus includes a plurality of first ports, a plurality of second ports, and a plurality of data channels. The plurality of first ports are coupled to a processing unit. The plurality of second ports are coupled to a plurality of memories. The plurality of data channels are disposed among the first ports and the second ports to form an interleaving network having a plurality of layers, and configured to transmit data among the processing unit and the plurality of memories, such that each layer in the interleaving network includes at least one interleaving sub-network.

Abstract: A vehicle external communication method and apparatus and a terminal, where the method includes sending, by a vehicle, an association registration request message to a management device, where the association registration request message indicating that the vehicle requests to establish a control association with the management device, and receiving, by the vehicle, a first association registration response message from the management device including a success identifier, or receiving, by the vehicle, a second association registration response message from the management device including a failure identifier.

Abstract: An industrial controller executes a control program held in non-transitory medium to: (a) open connections for the communication of data on the industrial control network, the connection subject to a timeout; (b) operate in a synchronized state with the second industrial controller to execute a same control program to communicate same control data; (c) operate in an unsynchronized state providing no-operation data to the industrial control network, the no-operation data preventing timeout of the open connections on which it is communicated.

Abstract: A communication system and method for the utilization of messaging protocols to provide computing devices executable code. An administrative component can include executable code or instructions within the publication of content. Computing devices registered to receive this content can receive and execute the code (or instructions) and utilize the same messaging protocol to publish a result of the processing to be delivered to the admin device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for performing search queries. The method comprises transmitting a list of active indexers in an indexer cluster from a cluster master for receipt by a first search head, wherein the cluster master is communicatively coupled with an indexer cluster comprising a plurality of indexers and the first search head. The method further comprises receiving a first slot request at the cluster master in response to a query from the first search head, wherein the first search head is operable to transmit the query to the active indexers for execution if granted the slot request. Further, the method comprises evaluating a plurality of policies to determine if the first slot request can be granted and responsive to a positive determination, transmitting an authorization token for a slot to the first search head.

Abstract: A processing device includes a low-speed storage unit that stores an image extending in a column direction and a row direction, a high-speed storage unit on which reading is executed at a higher speed than the low-speed storage unit and which stores a region corresponding to the entire image in the column direction and a predetermined storage row that is a portion in the row direction of the image, a reading unit that continuously reads the image in the column direction from the high-speed storage unit, and a determining unit that reads the image from the low-speed storage unit and writes the image to the high-speed storage unit. The determining unit determines a row number to be read next in the image based on the minimum or maximum row number in the row direction of the image, stored in the high-speed storage unit for each of targets that are to be processed and are obtained by dividing the column direction into predetermined pixels.

Abstract: Using a method of operating a system that includes remote servers, multiple electronic devices, and a wireless portable, the portable wireless device receives notification of an incoming call. The system uses the remote servers and other parts of the system to determine that one of the electronic devices can wirelessly communicate with the portable wireless device, and establishes a wireless connection between the portable wireless device and that device. The system determines whether the user is also located with the portable wireless device and wirelessly connected device and if so, routes incoming call audio to that device. If the system determines that the user is located with a different device, incoming call audio is routed from the portable wireless device to the device near the portable wireless device, and then the call audio is bridged to the device near the user.

Abstract: A multiple-attributes, classifiers-based, broadcast scheme for use in vehicular ad-hoc networks may be employed to assess numerous attributes in order to accurately and effectively determine an appropriate rebroadcast decision for a message received by a vehicle. Various schemes may be employed, comprising one classifier module, or a plurality of classifier modules used in parallel and in accordance with a combination rule function, to effectively examine the attributes contained within a received message and select an appropriate rebroadcast decision, thereby increasing the performance of the vehicular ad-hoc network as a whole. The performance of the broadcast scheme may further be analyzed in a simulation, whereby certain values, such as probability values to be used in the broadcast scheme, may be determined.

Abstract: A communications network and method for operating the communications network that includes ring devices that are networked to one another in a ring topology, where the ring devices participate in a ring redundancy process in which an administrating ring device regularly sends test packets over the communications network, which received in sequence by other ring devices and successively forwarded by these devices back to the administrating ring device so as to detect faults in the communications network, where a transmission delay of a test packet along the ring topology because of interfering packets within the ring topology is prevented by synchronizing the ring devices and processing at least parts of a data traffic schedule in accordance with the 802.1Qbv standard in the ring redundancy process applied, and where transmission of the test packets is scheduled and controlled such that the packets are forwarded to the ring devices substantially without delay.

Abstract: A communications network having a master subscriber M and at least one slave subscriber. At least one distribution node CU1, CU2, CU3, CU4 is provided which has a plurality of input/output interfaces, each of which is connected to a network segment, the master subscriber M arranged in a first network segment M1 and the slave subscriber arranged in a second network segment S1, S2, S3, S4, S5. Data is exchanged between the master subscriber M and the slave subscriber in the form of telegrams initiated by the master subscriber. The telegrams to be sent from the slave subscriber to the master subscriber are each assigned control data containing a forwarding time information when the corresponding telegram is to be output from the distribution node via the input/output interface in the direction of the first network segment comprising the master subscriber, the forwarding time information determined by the master subscriber M.

Abstract: A method of transmitting a packet, a controller and a cloud management platform are provided. According to an example of the method, the controller may receive a packet from a virtual switch; obtain a forwarding priority corresponding to the packet; and generate a flow entry corresponding to the packet, wherein the flow entry is used to perform encapsulation of a specified type on a packet matching the flow entry and add the forwarding priority into the encapsulated packet; and distribute the flow entry to the virtual switch so that the virtual switch is capable of sending the packet using the flow entry.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for implementing a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) protocol in a wireless local area network (WLAN). A station (STA) may send a HARQ transmission to another STA. The HARQ protocol may support the use of different types of feedback from the receiving STA to control the HARQ retransmission process. This disclosure provides example message formats to support HARQ transmission and HARQ feedback in a WLAN.

Abstract: Media streaming is more efficient in terms of transmission bitrate consumption, transmission latency and/or fair trade of transmission capacity among several by pushing media content rather than the client pulling media content from the server. Pushing media content to the client at a varying bitrate enables to shift, at least partially, the control over the streaming from the client towards the server. The server may continue to push segments of the media content to the client even without receiving explicit queries or directives for these segments thereby reducing upstream bandwidth consumption. As far as the bitrate adaption is concerned, the server may act as a slave remotely controlled by the client in that media content is pushed at a bitrate depending on the client's most recently sent information such as reception situation information explicitly indicating the bitrate to be used.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a Secure Time Communication System (10) are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention provides secure and non-interactive communication of clock information over an unsecured communications channel. This communication provides perfect forward secrecy, while detecting and blocking message spoofing, message replay, denial of service and cryptographic performance attacks. This mechanism also bounds the effect of message delay manipulation. The mechanism consists of two components, a filtered time encryptor (16) and a filtered time decryptor (28). The filtered time encryptor (16) produces a message in two parts; a time token followed by an encrypted message body. The time token is used as a filter to detect most attacks and to determine the message key.

Abstract: Methods, non-transitory computer readable media, and computing devices that assists with selectively compressing data includes identifying data stream characteristics in a received data stream from a client. A data processing operation to perform on the received data stream is determined based on stored compression instructions data obtained using the identified one or more characteristics. The determined data processing operation is performed on the received data stream. The received data stream is performed upon performing the determined data processing operation.

Abstract: A communications system is described in which user devices are allocated sub-carriers on which to transmit uplink data to a base station. ACK/NACK messages for the data transmitted on the uplink are then transmitted by the base station on sub-carriers that depend on the sub-carriers used to carry the uplink data. A direct mapping function is preferably used to determine the sub-carriers to be used for the ACK/NACK messages from the uplink sub-carriers. In another embodiment, the ACK/NACK messages are transmitted to the user devices on sub-carriers that are previously identified to the user devices, preferably by transmitting one or more index values to the user device in a control channel thereof.

Abstract: A distribution node for an automation network comprises at least two input/output interfaces for transmitting and receiving real-time-relevant and non-real-time-relevant data packets, and a switching device connected to the input/output interfaces. The switching device forwards data packets received via an input/output interface via a further input/output interface using a switching table, where the switching table contains at least a data packet identifier and a transmission time in a data transfer cycle for each real-time-relevant data packet. Inter alia, the switching device can detect a data packet identifier on reception of a real-time-relevant data packet, and output the real-time-relevant data packet at the transmission time allocated to the detected data packet identifier in the switching table via an input/output interface as a transmission interface.

Abstract: Provided is a text message playing method. When a text message is received, an incoming call interface is displayed, where the incoming call interface includes a control function region which is used for controlling whether to play the text message. A first operation instruction to the control function region is received, and the text message is played in a preset playing mode, where the first operation instruction is used for instructing to play the text message. In this way, a humanized and diversified text message playing style is gained, and user experience is improved through a simple and convenient operation. Further provided are a terminal and a computer-readable storage medium.

Abstract: A method including: receiving a flow; for each interface in the plurality of interfaces, determining the preference of the interface for the flow; when only a single interface has a preference for the flow, assigning the flow to that single interface; when multiple interfaces having a preference for the flow have comparable headroom, assigning the flow to the interface of the multiple interfaces with the fewest flows currently assigned to it; and when multiple interfaces having a preference for the flow do not have comparable headroom, assigning the flow to the interface within the multiple interfaces having a preference for the interface that has the greatest headroom.

Abstract: A device and method for facilitating orthogonal data transposition during data transfers to/from a processing array and a storage memory since the data words processed by the processing array (using computational memory cells) are stored orthogonally to how the data words are stored in storage memory. Thus, when data words are transferred between storage memory and the processing array, a mechanism orthogonally transposes the data words.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are method, system, and computer program product embodiments for utilizing multiple traffic identifiers (TIDs) in a single user (SU) transmission. Some embodiments may operate by forming a SU multiple TID data unit that includes first data associated with a first access category and a first TID and second data associated with a second access category and a second TID. Some embodiments may further operate by transmitting the SU multiple TID data unit during a transmission opportunity based on configuration parameters associated with the transmission opportunity.

Abstract: A method, performed on a server, of translating between languages includes receiving first audio data for a first language from a mobile device, translating the first audio data to second audio data for a second language, receiving an indication that the mobile device has moved between two locations, and sending the second audio data to the mobile device in response to the indication.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing message playback using a shared electronic device is described herein. In response to receiving a request to output messages, a speech-processing system may determine a group account associated with a requesting device, and may determine messages stored by a message data store for the group account. Speaker identification processing may also be performed to determine a speaker of the request. A user account associated with the speaker, and messages stored for the user account, may be determined. A summary response indicating the user account's messages and the group account's message may then be generated such that the user account messages are identified prior to the group account's messages. The messages may then be analyzed to determine an appropriate voice user interface for the requester such that the playback of the messages using a shared electronic device is more natural and conversational.

Abstract: Secure control of network appliances uses a 5G compatible central hub connected to a plurality of network appliances or multiple hubs in a local area network (LAN) or wireless LAN. A master hub controls communication with the appliances and also includes a 5G cellular link for communication with a cellular network. Only the master hub can communicate with the Internet via the cellular link. User equipment (UE) contains an application program that works in conjunction with the central hub to control the appliances. Upon receipt of an authenticated command, the central hub propagates commands to the intended network appliance. The central hub includes a voice command module to permit a user to control operation of the network appliances using voice commands.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for providing a host memory controller write credits for write commands. A host memory controller coupled to a memory module over a bus determines whether a read data packet returned from the memory module indicates at least one write credit and increments a write credit counter in response to determining that the read data packet indicates at least one write credit.

Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, techniques for establishing network-based data communications (e.g., voice calls, video calls, etc.) between a user device of a user and a remote device of another user, and transitioning the data communications to a different user device of the user based on various types of information. In some examples, the user devices may be located in one or more environments of the user, and the data communications may be transitioned between the user devices based, at least in part, on a location of the user in the environment(s) relative to the multiple devices. For instance, if a user device is performing data communications with the remote device, but it is determined that the user has moved into a closer proximity to another user device, the performance of the data communications may be transitioned to the other user device to which the user is in closer proximity.

Abstract: Techniques are described for dynamically synchronizing applications executed on a client device with backend systems. An example method includes identifying a triggering event associated with a request to perform a synchronization of a client application, where the request is associated with a request for a partial synchronization of the client application. A set of information defining a request context associated with the request is obtained. A set of potential partial synchronization scenarios are identified, where each of the potential partial synchronization scenarios associated with a predefined synchronization context. The request context is compared to the predefined synchronization contexts of the set of potential partial synchronization scenarios to identify a particular partial synchronization scenario corresponding to the request context.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a matrix multiply unit implemented as a systolic array of cells are disclosed. Each cell of the matrix multiply includes: a weight matrix register configured to receive a weight input from either a transposed or a non-transposed weight shift register; a transposed weight shift register configured to receive a weight input from a horizontal direction to be stored in the weight matrix register; a non-transposed weight shift register configured to receive a weight input from a vertical direction to be stored in the weight matrix register; and a multiply unit that is coupled to the weight matrix register and configured to multiply the weight input of the weight matrix register with a vector data input in order to obtain a multiplication result.

Abstract: A communications system is described in which user devices are allocated sub-carriers on which to transmit uplink data to a base station. ACK/NACK messages for the data transmitted on the uplink are then transmitted by the base station on sub-carriers that depend on the sub-carriers used to carry the uplink data. A direct mapping function is preferably used to determine the sub-carriers to be used for the ACK/NACK messages from the uplink sub-carriers. In another embodiment, the ACK/NACK messages are transmitted to the user devices on sub-carriers that are previously identified to the user devices, preferably by transmitting one or more index values to the user device in a control channel thereof.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a matrix multiply unit implemented as a systolic array of cells are disclosed. Each cell of the matrix multiply includes: a weight matrix register configured to receive a weight input from either a transposed or a non-transposed weight shift register; a transposed weight shift register configured to receive a weight input from a horizontal direction to be stored in the weight matrix register; a non-transposed weight shift register configured to receive a weight input from a vertical direction to be stored in the weight matrix register; and a multiply unit that is coupled to the weight matrix register and configured to multiply the weight input of the weight matrix register with a vector data input in order to obtain a multiplication result.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device in a network identifies a node in the network that is not synchronized to a network time synchronization mechanism. The device determines a scheduled reception time for a particular deterministic traffic flow at which the device is to receive the traffic flow from the node. The device sends, prior to the scheduled reception time, a request to the node for the particular deterministic traffic flow. The request identifies the particular deterministic traffic flow and causes the node to send the traffic flow to the device. The device receives the particular deterministic traffic flow from the node at the scheduled reception time.

Abstract: A network management system and method for automatic registration of network device thereof are disclosed. The system has an electronic device, a network device and a control host. The electronic device generates and sends configuration data to the network device according to a user operation. The network device automatically generates registration data having device identity data and location identity data, connects to a communication network according to the configuration data, and sends the registration data to the control host via the communication network. The control host determines classification information according to the registration data and configures the device identity data to correspond to the classification information and location identity data for completing registration of the network device. The present disclosed example can effectively omit a registration operation inputted by the user manually via configuring the network device to register at the control host automatically.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a matrix multiply unit implemented as a systolic array of cells are disclosed. The matrix multiply unit may include cells arranged in columns of the systolic array. Two chains of weight shift registers per column of the systolic array are in the matrix multiply unit. Each weight shift register is connected to only one chain and each cell is connected to only one weight shift register. A weight matrix register per cell is configured to store a weight input received from a weight shift register. A multiply unit is coupled to the weight matrix register and configured to multiply the weight input of the weight matrix register with a vector data input in order to obtain a multiplication result.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a memory and one processor configured to allocate a virtual Internet Protocol address to an application, transmit information including a first metric value and the virtual Internet Protocol address to a network apparatus on a first route through which a first packet destined for the virtual Internet Protocol address is transferred; and transmit information including a second metric value and the virtual Internet Protocol address to another network apparatus on a second route through which a second packet destined for the virtual Internet Protocol address is transferred wherein a certain value is to be added to the first metric value in the network apparatus and another certain value is to be added to the second metric value in the other network apparatus.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for the automatic real-time recording and processing of media in a communications network based on the context of the media. In one embodiment, a media stream is received in an analysis module in a service platform in the communications network. The media stream may represent a communication session between a calling party and a call center in the network. The incoming media steam is analyzed to identify words comprising a context of the communication session. A determination is then made as to whether the context of the communication session is related to a set of business rules associated with the service platform which may automatically trigger the retention of a recording of the communication session. If the context of the communication session is related to the set of business rules, the retention of the communication session is automatically triggered in real-time at a recording module.

Abstract: Techniques for batched bulk processing are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a client front-end component operative to receive a plurality of messaging deltas at a messaging system; and queue the plurality of messaging deltas through a message queue of the messaging system; a message queue monitoring component operative to monitor the message queue to identify a plurality of batch-operation messaging deltas of the plurality of messaging deltas; and store a plurality of batch-operation instructions in a batch-operation instruction system; and a batch-operation component of the batch-operation instruction system operative to perform the plurality of batch-operation instructions.

Abstract: Methods and systems for unifying an EPON network and a coax-based access network may include, in a network with an Ethernet passive optical network (EPON) optical line terminal (OLT), coaxial network units (CNUs), and an optical coax bridge (OCB) with a plurality of virtual optical network units (vONUs) each comprising a plurality of logical link identifiers (LLIDs) and having its own MAC address, each vONU corresponding to one CNU: forming, in the OCB, each of the plurality of vONUs when a respective CNU is admitted to a coax network coupled to the OCB; communicating data transmissions from an optical fiber network to the coax network, and data transmissions from the coax network to the optical fiber network, via said OCB; and transmitting and receiving data packets between the OLT and the at least one CNU. The OCB may emulate an optical network unit (ONU) relative to the OLT.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates generally to optimization of distribution of data packets in a High Performance Computing (HPC) switch. The HPC switch receives data packets from controllers communicatively connected to HPC switch, through interconnected Queue Pair (QP) lanes and assigns a destination virtual lane (VL) for each data packet based on service level information. Further, the HPC switch generates plurality of clusters of ports that are coupled with each interconnected VL based on latency determined dynamically for each port. Finally, the HPC switch transmits a first group of data packets through ports belonging to a primary cluster of plurality of clusters and transmits acknowledgement key-packet associated with second group of data packets through the ports belonging to secondary clusters of plurality of clusters, based on destination VL assigned for each data packet to other controllers for optimizing the distribution of the plurality of data packets in the HPC switch.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, receiving an electrical signal, and generating on an outer surface of a transmission medium, according to the electrical signal, electromagnetic waves having a target wave mode. At least a portion of electric fields of the electromagnetic waves has a spatial alignment that reduces a propagation loss of the electromagnetic waves when the electric fields of the electromagnetic waves propagate through a substance disposed on the outer surface of the transmission medium in a direction of propagation of the electromagnetic waves. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptively providing multiple bit rate streaming media in a server. The method for adaptively providing multiple bit rate streaming media comprises: acquiring network quality information; in the case that it is determined based on the network quality information that bit rate switching is needed, selecting one queue from all queues as the transmitting queue, wherein multimedia data frames with different bit rates for the same media content are stored in different queues; reading the multimedia data frame from the transmitting queue and sending it, and deleting all multimedia data frames in other queues having the same media content as the already-sent multimedia data frame. The technical solutions provided by the present disclosure reduces bit rate switching delay while implementing adaptive bit rate switching, and implements quick and seamless adaptive bit rate switching.

Abstract: Systems and methods of coordinating and scheduling intervals in a network element in a network include configuring one or more attributes of a plurality of timer-based events at the network element, wherein the plurality of timer-based events include protocol-based actions which are performed responsive to expiry of an associated timer, and wherein the one or more attributes define when the protocol-based actions occur; operating one or more services at one or more protocols; and performing associated protocol-based actions based on the one or more attributes and based on expiry of the associated timer.

Abstract: A method of communicating messages between threads. For each thread there are defined M buckets. When a transmitting thread has a message to send, it assigns the message to the bucket numbered m=Tid_r mod M to await transmission, where Tid_r is the ID of the receiving thread. The bucket m=Tid_t mod M is the home bucket, where Tid_t is the ID of the transmitting thread. After accumulating multiple messages, a batch transmission is performed, comprising a plurality of successive phases p. Each phase comprises: i) from each bucket other than the home bucket, transmitting some or all of the messages in the bucket as a batch to one of the receiving threads of the bucket, and ii) except in the last phase, incrementing the phase p by 1, and redistributing the messages remaining in the home bucket according to m=(Tid_r/M{circumflex over (?)}p) mod M.

Abstract: A routing device capable of performing application layer data caching is described. Application data caching at a routing device can alleviate the bottleneck that an application data host may experience during high demands for application data. Requests for the application data can also be fulfilled faster by eliminating the network delays for communicating with the application data host. The techniques described can also be used to perform analysis of the underlying application data in the network traffic transiting though a routing device.

Abstract: A method for addressing message recipients is disclosed, including enabling a user to select a project, displaying recipients related to the selected project, wherein each recipient has at least one address, and enabling the user to select individual recipients to add their addresses to a recipients field of the message. The method may further include selecting a group related to the message, wherein the group includes at least one member arranged in an order based on their respective roles within the selected group and wherein the members have at least one address, displaying the at least one of members according to the arrangement, and enabling a user to select a member of the group to add the member's address to the recipients field of the message.

Abstract: A fault tolerant communication protocol transmits information across a communication channel from a transmitting device to a receiving device. The receiving device echoes back a copy of the transmitted information to the transmitting device. The transmitting device sends a first valid signal across the communication channel if the echoed information matches the transmitted information. The receiving device sends a second valid signal across the communication channel responsive to the first valid signal. The transmitting device stops sending of the first valid signal responsive to the second valid signal and the receiving device stops sending the second valid signal responsive to determining the first device has stopped sending the first valid signal. The receiving device can then update its state based on a successful transfer.

Abstract: As may be implemented in a manner consistent with one or more embodiment, aspects of the disclosure are directed to latency control with signals, such as audio signals. For instance, a quality characteristic of an audio signal having time-sequenced frames exhibiting a signal quality can assessed, and an output indicative of the signal quality is provided based on the assessment. An amount of latency in the audio signal is dynamically adjusted based on the output, and the latency can be used in processing the time-sequenced frames, such as to use future frames in assessing or correcting a current frame during a time period facilitated via the latency.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for selecting a path or link from a plurality of links between intermediary devices, based on characteristics of links between the intermediary devices and end nodes of the communication flow. The link choice may be determined from latency, packet drop rates, jitter, congestion, or other characteristics of the links to the end nodes. Link selection may further be based on traffic priority or transport layer quality of service (QoS) requirements of the connection, load balancing requirements, or other such features.

Abstract: Offloading data storage to a decentralized storage network, including: identifying a plurality of decentralized storage networks that the storage system can utilize for storing data; selecting, in dependence upon characteristics of each decentralized storage network and requirements associated with storing the data, one or more decentralized storage networks for storing the data; and initiating storage of the data on the selected one of more decentralized storage networks.