Abstract: A method for the operation of network management systems, according to which values of attributes relating to an element are presented to a first manager and values of attributes relating to an element, which correspond to the values of the first manager, are presented to a second manager. The first and second manager determine the same identification information according to the same rule and using at least some of the values as well as store said identification information independently from a modification of the values of attributes relating to the respective element. The identification information is used during communication between the first manager and the second manager for identifying the element.

Abstract: A system for automated management of virtual resources in a cloud computing environment includes a host computing device communication component and a storage system communication component. The storage system communication component is executed by a storage delivery management service, communicates with a storage system adapter in a storage area network to identify a storage system in a storage area network, and directs the automated provisioning of a virtual storage resource on the identified storage system, the storage system providing resources for provisioning the virtual drive. The host computing device communication component receives a request for access by a host computing device to the virtual storage resource, and responds, to the host computing device, with an identification of a network port of the identified storage system and an identification of the provisioned virtual storage resource.

Abstract: A system with distributed proxy for reducing traffic to satisfy data requests made in a wireless network is provided. The system includes a mobile device having a local proxy for intercepting a data request made via the mobile device and a proxy server coupled to the mobile device and a content server to which the data request is directed. The proxy server is able to communicate with the local proxy and the local proxy forwards the data request to the proxy server for transmission to the content server for a response to the data request.

Abstract: A method for data transfer includes receiving in an input/output (I/O) operation a first segment of data to be written to a specified virtual address in a host memory. Upon receiving the first segment of the data, it is detected that a first page that contains the specified virtual address is swapped out of the host memory. At least one second page of the host memory is identified, to which a second segment of the data is expected to be written. Responsively to detecting that the first page is swapped out and to identifying the at least one second page, at least the first and second pages are swapped into the host memory. After swapping at least the first and second pages into the host memory, the data are written to the first and second pages.

Abstract: A replication count of a data element of a node of a cache cluster is defined. The data element has a key-value pair where the node is selected based on a hash of the key and a size of the cache cluster. The data element is replicated to at least one other node of the cache cluster based on the replication count.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a new data center architecture that provides for efficient processing in distributed analytics applications. In one embodiment, a distributed processing node is provided. The node comprises a plurality of subnodes. Each subnode includes at least one processor core operatively connected to a memory. A first interconnect operatively connects each of the plurality of subnodes within the node. A second interconnect operably connects each of the plurality of subnodes to a storage. A process runs on a first of the plurality of subnodes, the process being operative to retrieve data from the memory of the first subnode. The process interrogates the memory of the first subnode for requested data. If the requested data is not found in the memory of the first subnode, the process interrogates the memory of at least one other subnode of the plurality of subnodes via the first interconnect.

Abstract: A system and method maintains mappings from data containers to their parent directories within a file system of a storage system. Each inode is modified to include a primary name data structure comprising a parent directory inode and a parent directory cookie value. The parent directory cookie value identifies a particular directory entry within a specified block of a directory identified by parent directory inode. An alternate name file is utilized to store alternate names, such as those associated with hard links.

Abstract: A token or other storage device uses Internet identities to set file access attribute rights. Subsequently, requests to access a file can be controlled by confirming the Internet identity of the requestor by either validating the request with a known public key or retrieving the public key from an Internet identity provider. Files may be stored encrypted and may be re-encrypted with the public key associated with Internet identity making the request.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for monitoring data activity utilizing a shared data store. These mechanisms and methods for monitoring data activity utilizing a shared data store can enable enhanced data monitoring, more efficient data storage, improved system resource utilization, etc.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for providing resource authorization to users of a distributed memory store (e.g., a distributed web-based cloud service). A session ID that identifies a location of an authorization document in a distributed memory store is used to access the authorization document, which comprises a global section with a principal ID related to a user. The user can be authorized to utilize a resource (e.g., in a distributed cloud service) if a resource section is present for the principal ID in the authorization document, and has appropriate resource data for the resource. If the resource section is not present, it can be created in the authorization document, and identified by a resource identifier. Authorization data can be loaded into the newly created resource section, and the authorization document, with the global and resource sections, is saved to a local cache for the distributed memory store.

Abstract: The distributed switch may include a plurality of chips (i.e., sub-switches) on a switch module. These sub-switches may receive from a computing device connected to a Tx/Rx port a multicast data frame (e.g., an Ethernet frame) that designates a plurality of different destinations. Instead of simply using one egress connection interface to forward the copies of the data frame to each of the destinations sequentially, the sub-switch may use a plurality of a connection interfaces to transfer copies of the multicast data frame simultaneously. The port that receives the multicast data frame can borrow the connection interfaces (and associated hardware such as buffers) assigned to these other ports to transmit copies of the multicast data frame simultaneously.

Abstract: In aspect an application may be configured to issue a request to store an object, with the request including an object reference. A delegate may be configured to receive the request to store the object, determine a hosted storage service, from among multiple hosted storage services, and a corresponding access protocol based on the object reference, and store the object in the hosted storage service using the corresponding protocol.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include methods and systems for use in delivering resources to a client device over a local network. An exemplary system comprises a plurality of caching devices operable to cache resources on behalf of a plurality of content providers, and a local caching device communicatively situated between an access network and the client device, wherein the access network is communicably situated between the plurality of caching devices and the local caching device. The local caching device is operable to retrieve a requested resource from at least one of the plurality of caching devices, deliver the requested resource to the client device over the local network, and store the requested resource for future requests by other client devices.

Abstract: Methods and systems for provisioning a computing device are provided. An example method may include receiving, by a computing device, information indicating a uniform resource identifier (URI) and a wireless access point configured to allow the computing device to connect to a wireless network to enable the computing device to access the URI. The method may also include downloading, onto the computing device, a provisioning software application from the URI. The method may also include executing the provisioning software application on the computing device, wherein the provisioning software application is configured to provision the computing device such that the provisioned computing device is configured to operate in a limited function mode. The method may also include locking the provisioned computing device to prevent changes to the limited function mode.

Abstract: A method of provisioning in a cloud compute environment having a set of cloud hosts associated with one another. The method begins by forming a distributed, cooperative cache across the set of cloud hosts by declaring a portion of a data store associated with a cloud host as a cache, and storing template images and patches in the cache. Caching activity across the distributed, cooperated cache is coordinated by having the caches share information about their respective contents. A control routine at a cache receives requests for template images or patches, responds to the requests if the requested artifacts are available or, upon a cache miss, forwards the request to another one of the caches. Periodically, the composition of the distributed, cooperative cache is computed, and the template images and patches are populated into the caches using the computed cache composition.

Abstract: A method for downloading destination addresses associated with a given client device from a server to the client device is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining a resource limitation of the client device, sorting the addresses, and transmitting a subset of the sorted addresses from the server to the device, wherein the transmitted sorted address subset is determined by the resource limitation. There is also provided a system and server for supporting Instant Messaging (IM).

Abstract: The distributed switch may include a plurality of chips (i.e., sub-switches) on a switch module. These sub-switches may receive from a computing device connected to a Tx/Rx port a multicast data frame (e.g., an Ethernet frame) that designates a plurality of different destinations. Instead of simply using one egress connection interface to forward the copies of the data frame to each of the destinations sequentially, the sub-switch may use a plurality of a connection interfaces to transfer copies of the multicast data frame simultaneously. The port that receives the multicast data frame can borrow the connection interfaces (and associated hardware such as buffers) assigned to these other ports to transmit copies of the multicast data frame simultaneously.

Abstract: A computer system including a management computer for managing the entire system, an integral apparatus, and a high-level connecting device for connecting the management computer and the integral apparatus is designed so that the management computer retains integral apparatus internal configuration information, configuration information about an integral apparatus to be introduced, that indicates the configuration of the integral apparatus that may possibly be introduced to the system, and lifetime information indicating lifetime of the integral apparatus; obtains connectivity guarantee information indicating whether connectivity between the computer and the storage apparatus is guaranteed or not; selects an integral apparatus to be removed from the system by referring to the lifetime information; selects an integral apparatus to be introduced to the system by referring to the integral apparatus internal configuration information, the configuration information about the integral apparatus to be introduced, an

Abstract: Collaboration between discrete systems and a shared system to consolidate shared storage-related services. In one example, shared, consolidated storage-related services and high-availability are provided by pairing each of a plurality of discrete block storage virtualization modules residing on each discrete computer system to a shared block storage virtualization module residing on a shared computer system, and maintaining logical volume coherency locally by each of the plurality of discrete block storage virtualization modules, and globally by the shared block storage virtualization module. Additionally, allocation of a set of block storage virtualization functions to be performed by at least one of the plurality of discrete block storage virtualization modules or the shared block storage virtualization module can be made according to the pairing.

Abstract: Methods and systems for verifying server-storage device connectivity in a storage area network (SAN) environment are provided. One system includes determining which of a plurality of storage devices a server is physically connected and determining which of the plurality of storage devices a zoning configuration in the SAN environment enables the server to access. The method further includes returning to a user an indication of each storage device in the plurality of storage devices that the server is both physically connected and includes zoning access. One system includes a server, a plurality of storage devices, a switch fabric coupling the server to the plurality of storage devices, and a processor coupled to the server, the plurality of storage devices, and each device in the switch fabric. In this system, the processor is configured to perform the method discussed above.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide systems and methods for validating cached content based on changes in the content instead of an expiration interval. One method involves caching content and a first checksum in response to a first request for that content. The caching produces a cached instance of the content representative of a form of the content at the time of caching. The first checksum identifies the cached instance. In response to receiving a second request for the content, the method submits a request for a second checksum representing a current instance of the content and a request for the current instance. Upon receiving the second checksum, the method serves the cached instance of the content when the first checksum matches the second checksum and serves the current instance of the content upon completion of the transfer of the current instance when the first checksum does not match the second checksum.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, an apparatus may include a first virtual machine provided on a first local device of a plurality of local devices, wherein a portion of resources of the first local device are allocated to the first virtual machine. A virtualization software switch may be provided on the first local device, configured to forward or redirect at least some traffic from the first local device to a WAN (Wide Area Network) optimization virtual appliance, the WAN optimization virtual appliance including at least the first virtual machine, a second virtual machine on a second local device of the plurality of local devices, and a distributed WAN optimization application running at least on the first and second virtual machines.

Abstract: Approaches for a digital storage device that moves or transforms data between various storage locations based on anticipated use. A digital storage device comprises one or more processors and one or more storage mediums for storing digital data. The digital storage device comprises a software agent. The agent maintains a local index to a set of data sets stored on the storage mediums. The indexed files are associated with an identifier, which may identity any unique entity. The software agent sends the local index over a network to an index manager. The agent receives, from the index manager, a remote index that identifies storage locations for other data sets associated with the identifier. The agent may use the local and remote index to move data sets between storage locations and/or transform data sets based on which device they will be accessed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for distributed push-to-storage with redundancy. One method includes the steps of setting at least two storage groups according to a required storage redundancy; registering a plurality of peer-to-peer devices; associating the peer-to-peer devices with at least one of the storage groups; receiving a first content having a large size to be stored in the at least two storage groups; fragmenting the first content into a plurality of first content fragments having a small size; and distributing the first content fragments approximately homogenously between the peer-to-peer devices associated with each storage group according to a first distribution function associated with each storage group.

Abstract: A control unit for controlling a card reader. The control unit includes an authentication management unit for transmitting/receiving information to/from a host and each of a first encryption magnetic head device and a second encryption magnetic head device to mutually authenticate each other. The authentication management unit includes (1) a commanding means for commanding one of the first encryption magnetic head device and the second encryption magnetic head device to create lower-level information for authentication, according to a request on authentication from the host, (2) a sharing means for transmitting the lower-level information for authentication received from the above-mentioned one device to the other device for the purpose of sharing it and (3) a transmission means for transmitting the lower-level information for authentication, having been shared in all of the first encryption magnetic head device and the second encryption magnetic head device, to the host.

Abstract: A method begins by receiving a first sub-set of encoded data slices of a set of encoded data slices. The first sub-set of encoded data slices includes less than a decode threshold number of encoded data slices. The method continues by sending accessing information regarding access to the multi-media content subsequent to receiving the first sub-set of encoded data slices. The method continues by receiving, as a favorable response to the accessing information, at least one of the encoded data slices of the second sub-set of encoded data slices such that at least the decode threshold number of encoded data slices have been received from the set of encoded data slices. The method continues by decoding the at least the decode threshold number of encoded data slices to recover the data segment.

Abstract: A computer system in an embodiment of this invention comprises a plurality of host computers in which a plurality of host programs are executed, a plurality of storage systems including a plurality of volumes provided to the plurality of host programs, and a management system. Each of the plurality of host programs is located at a port of a host computer. Each of the plurality of volumes is located at a port of a storage system. The management system obtains information on bandwidths of a plurality of paths included in a data communication network among the plurality of storage systems and the plurality of host computers. The management system determines priority levels of individual candidate ports for new location of at least either one of a first host program and a first volume with reference to the information.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to dynamically adapting metadata for use with a native data encoding and to efficiently modifying object model type references. In one scenario, a computer system instantiates a metadata reader over an object model description to access various portions of metadata in the object model description. The metadata reader is configured to read native metadata, where native metadata is metadata represented in an encoding that is expected by the metadata reader. The metadata reader determines that the accessed metadata is encoded in a non-native encoding and then determines which metadata modifications are to be performed to transform the non-native encoding into a native encoding. The computer system then dynamically adapts the metadata of the object model from a non-native encoding to a native encoding according to the determined modifications. As such, the object model is readable by a native runtime.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for performing data storage operations, including content-indexing, containerized deduplication, and policy-driven storage, within a cloud environment. The systems support a variety of clients and cloud storage sites that may connect to the system in a cloud environment that requires data transfer over wide area networks, such as the Internet, which may have appreciable latency and/or packet loss, using various network protocols, including HTTP and FTP. Methods are disclosed for content indexing data stored within a cloud environment to facilitate later searching, including collaborative searching. Methods are also disclosed for performing containerized deduplication to reduce the strain on a system namespace, effectuate cost savings, etc. Methods are disclosed for identifying suitable storage locations, including suitable cloud storage sites, for data files subject to a storage policy.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a first computing device receives a write request and data from a second computing device; iteratively attempts to write the data until a copy of the data is successfully written to each and every storage node belonging to a storage volume; and transmits a volume identifier of the storage volume and a data identifier assigned to the data to the second computing device. In one embodiment, a first computing device receives a read request and a volume identifier and a data identifier from a second computing device; accesses a cache to select the storage volume identified by the volume identifier; iteratively attempts to read data identified by the data identifier until a copy of the data is successfully read from a storage node belonging to the selected storage volume; and transmits the copy of the data to the second computing device.

Abstract: Methods and systems associated with personal cloud computing (PCC) are disclosed herewith. In embodiments, a method may include receiving, by a PCC client device, a message from a PCC server. The message may include information for migrating a session of an application executing on another PCC client device off the other client device. In response, an application may be launched, by the client device, to migrate the session onto the client device, using the information included in the message. In embodiments, a PCC server may be configured to receive a request from a PCC client device to migrate a session of an application executing on the client device off the client device; and in response, to send a message to another PCC client device equipped to launch an application on the other client device to migrate the session onto the other client device. The message may include information for the migration. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A system comprising a unified interconnect network, a plurality of process memory modules, and a plurality of processor modules configured to share access to the memory modules via the unified interconnect network. Also disclosed is a method comprising communicating data between a plurality of processor modules and a plurality of shared resource pools via a unified interconnect network, wherein the communications comprise a protocol that is common to all resource pools, and wherein each resource pool comprises a plurality of resource modules each configured to perform a common function. Also disclosed is an apparatus comprising a network interface controller (NIC) module configured to receive data from a plurality of processor modules via a unified interconnect network, and provide core network connectivity to the processor modules.

Abstract: A caching system is provided. The computing infrastructure runs off of a centralized storage, and data stored on the centralized store can also be retrieved from nearby machines that are part of the local infrastructure and have recently accessed the centralized store. Address-to-digest mappings are used to find an index of the desired data block. That digest is then used to hold where the data block is being cached. In some embodiments, the digest is hashed and the hash of the digest is used to determine where the data block is being cached. The data block is accessed from the cache using its cache, therefore different addresses may result in the retrieval of the same data block. For example, in a virtual machine environment, two different nodes may retrieve the same data block using different addresses.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing data are disclosed. One method can comprise storing first data locally relative to a user device and storing second data remotely relative to the user device. The first data and the second data can relate to the same content. The method can also comprise generating a manifest comprising location information relating to the first data and the second data and receiving a request for transmission of one or more of the first data and the second data based upon the manifest.

Abstract: In a network protocol processing system in which variables of each of TCP transmission processing and TCP reception processing depend on each other, asynchronous parallel processing is realized between a transmission processing block and a reception processing block for updated protocol processing. Specifically, the system includes a high priority queue for transferring control data to be processed with high priority, a low priority queue for control data other than the above control data, and priority control means for distributing the control data to two kinds of queues. When a request for session establishment and the session disconnection of a new TCP session is issued from an application during transmission of TCP data, data related with the session establishment and the session disconnection is notified preferentially through the high priority queue, and other control data is transferred through the low priority queue.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system for maintaining referential integrity is described. A method may comprise migrating a migration document in a migration shard from a first location to a second location. The method may further comprise adding a first location identifier associated with the first location of the migration document to metadata associated with the migration shard. The method may also comprise adding a second location identifier associated with the second location of the migration document to the metadata associated with the migration shard. The method may additionally comprise adding one or more shard identifiers to the metadata associated with the migration shard, each of the one or more shard identifiers corresponding to a shard that includes a document that may be referenced by one or more documents in the migration shard.

Abstract: A fault-tolerant configuration to share computer accessible data storage devices contained in a computer system with other such computer systems. Embodiments of the present invention allow sharing data storage devices contained in a first computer storage system with a second computer system by providing two or more independent connections to the data storage devices, such connections to the second computer system being independent of a motherboard (or a component thereon) contained in the first computer system, and thus ensuring continued access to the storage devices in the presence of component failures of the first computer system, such components being redundant.

Abstract: A method is used in supplying data storage services. For a set of applications running on an electronic system, an application service is provided to each application in the set to support operation of that application. The application service is separate from operating system services and security protection services provided by the electronic system. A data storage service provider being separate from the electronic system is communicated with to use resources of the data storage service provider in providing the application service to each application in the set.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for assigning pre-existing processes to select sets of non-uniform memory access (NUMA) aligned resources. In one example, the method includes receiving, by a processing device, a report indicating a measure of resources available on each respective Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA) node of a plurality of NUMA nodes in a system, and a measure of resources consumed by a first process being executed on a first NUMA node of the plurality of NUMA nodes in the system, determining that the first process being executed requires an additional resource, determining whether the first NUMA node has capacity for the additional resource, when the first NUMA node does not have the capacity for the additional resource, identifying a second NUMA node for the first process in view of the report, and binding, by the processing device, the first process to the second NUMA node.

Abstract: In a distributed computing system that includes compute nodes that include computer memory, globally accessible memory space is administered by: for each compute node: mapping a memory region of a predefined size beginning at a predefined address; executing one or more memory management operations within the memory region, including, for each memory management operation executed within the memory region: executing the operation collectively by all compute nodes, where the operation includes a specification of one or more parameters and the parameters are the same across all compute nodes; receiving, by each compute node from a deterministic memory management module in response to the memory management operation, a return value, where the return value is the same across all compute nodes; entering, by each compute node after local completion of the memory management operation, a barrier; and when all compute nodes have entered the barrier, resuming execution.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for providing limited versions of applications. A limited version of an application is automatically generated from a full version of the application based at least in part on an expected use of the application by a client computing device during a testing period. The limited version has a smaller data size than the full version. The limited version of the application is sent to the client computing device. The limited version of the application is configured to be executed in a secured environment of the client computing device. The secured environment denies the limited version of the application access to secured resources of the client computing device.

Abstract: Network cache systems are used to improve network performance and reduce network traffic. An improved network cache system that uses a centralized shared cache system is disclosed. Each cache device that shares the centralized shared cache system maintains its own catalog, database or metadata index of the content stored on the centralized shared cache system. When one of the cache devices that shares the centralized shared cache system stores a new content resource to the centralized shared cache system, that cache device transmits a broadcast message to all of the peer cache devices. The other cache devices that receive the broadcast message will then update their own local catalog, database or metadata index of the centralized share cache system with the information about the new content resource.

Abstract: A remote system and a remote operation method are provided, being capable of starting promptly and completing remote operation immediately for a user. A support server 100 acquires configuration information of a user terminal 10 in response to support request from the user terminal 10, receives remote operation from a supporter, the operation corresponding to support request sent from a support terminal 150, and sends remote operation received from the supporter to the user terminal 10 as a configuration command for setting configuration corresponding to the support request from the user terminal 10. The user terminal 10 sets configuration corresponding to the support request based on sent configuration command. Where the user terminal 10 conducts configuration corresponding to the support request based on the sent configuration command, the user terminal 10 displays a user interface in a phased manner to set the configuration corresponding to remote request.

Abstract: Gathering tenant usage data of server resources. A method includes a server in a cluster providing server resources for one or more tenants of the server. Data is stored in a local usage cache at the server. The data characterizes the resources provided to the one or more tenants of the server. At the server, data stored in the local usage cache is aggregated on a tenant basis, such that data is aggregated for given tenants. The aggregated data is sent to a distributed cache. At the server, aggregated data from other servers in the cluster is received from the distributed cache. The aggregated data from other servers in the cluster is globally aggregated and stored at an aggregated usage cache at the server in the globally aggregated form.

Abstract: A virtual storage system and a method of sharing electronic documents within a virtual storage system that includes at least one processor that processes a plurality of electronic documents received from an external system, receives from the user computing device, a request for sharing an electronic document of the plurality of electronic documents, and input information including download information and expiration information corresponding to the electronic document, as input by a user, and creates at least one share link corresponding to the electronic document based on the input information, for sharing the electronic document with a recipient. The virtual storage system further includes a plurality of redundant physical storage devices in data communication with the at least one processor each storing the electronic documents and the at least one share link created.

Abstract: Techniques for directory data resolution are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for directory data resolution comprising receiving data identifying one or more groups of interest of a directory server, traversing, using a processor, one or more directory entries contained in hierarchical directory data, the traversal starting at a directory entry corresponding to a current group of interest, reading a first directory entry to identify a member contained in the first directory entry, adding, in the event a member is contained in the first directory entry, the current group of interest to a mapping for the member. The method may also include use of caching and recursion.

Abstract: A system for executing applications designed to run on a single SMP computer on an easily scalable network of computers, while providing each application with computing resources, including processing power, memory and others that exceed the resources available on any single computer. A server agent program, a grid switch apparatus and a grid controller apparatus are included. Methods for creating processes and resources, and for accessing resources transparently across multiple servers are also provided.

Abstract: A method for operating a server first assigns a plurality of storage volumes to one or more storage devices. A plurality of sub-volumes is established within a namespace of each of the plurality of storage volumes. An instance of a virtual server is created, the virtual server having a plurality of assigned sub-volumes, the assigned sub-volumes chosen from different storage volumes of the plurality of storage volumes. A file system function is shared between the server and the instance of the virtual server, the file system function using at least one of the plurality of assigned sub-volumes.

Abstract: A device may provision two or more servers, each of the servers including a first network interface. In addition, the device may enable a second network interface in each of the provisioned servers, create a shared volume, assign the shared volume to each of the provisioned servers, and enable a clustering application on each of the provisioned servers to form a cluster comprising the provisioned servers, the cluster having a heartbeat via the second network interfaces.

Abstract: A highly predicable quality shared distributed memory process is achieved using less than predicable public and private internet protocol networks as the means for communications within the processing interconnect. An adaptive private network (APN) service provides the ability for the distributed memory process to communicate data via an APN conduit service, to use high throughput paths by bandwidth allocation to higher quality paths avoiding lower quality paths, to deliver reliability via fast retransmissions on single packet loss detection, to deliver reliability and timely communication through redundancy transmissions via duplicate transmissions on high a best path and on a most independent path from the best path, to lower latency via high resolution clock synchronized path monitoring and high latency path avoidance, to monitor packet loss and provide loss prone path avoidance, and to avoid congestion by use of high resolution clock synchronized enabled congestion monitoring and avoidance.