Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130222795 | Optical Metrology Using Targets With Field Enhancement Elements - Methods and systems for enhancing metrology sensitivity to particular parameters of interest are presented. Field enhancement elements (FEEs) are constructed as part of a specimen to enhance the measurement sensitivity of structures of interest present on the specimen. The design of the FEEs takes into account measurement goals and manufacturing design rules to make target fabrication compatible with the overall device fabrication process. Measurement of opaque materials, high-aspect ratio structures, structures with low-sensitivity, or mutually correlated parameters is enhanced by the addition of FEEs. Exemplary measurements include critical dimension, film thickness, film composition, and optical scatterometry overlay. In some examples, a target element includes different FEEs to improve the measurement of different structures of interest. In other examples, different target elements include different FEEs. In some other examples, field enhancement elements are shaped to concentrate an electric field in a thin film deposited over the FEE. | 08-29-2013 |
20140172394 | INTEGRATED USE OF MODEL-BASED METROLOGY AND A PROCESS MODEL - Methods and systems for performing measurements based on a measurement model integrating a metrology-based target model with a process-based target model. Systems employing integrated measurement models may be used to measure structural and material characteristics of one or more targets and may also be used to measure process parameter values. A process-based target model may be integrated with a metrology-based target model in a number of different ways. In some examples, constraints on ranges of values of metrology model parameters are determined based on the process-based target model. In some other examples, the integrated measurement model includes the metrology-based target model constrained by the process-based target model. In some other examples, one or more metrology model parameters are expressed in terms of other metrology model parameters based on the process model. In some other examples, process parameters are substituted into the metrology model. | 06-19-2014 |
20140222380 | METHOD OF ELECTROMAGNETIC MODELING OF FINITE STRUCTURES AND FINITE ILLUMINATION FOR METROLOGY AND INSPECTION - Electromagnetic modeling of finite structures and finite illumination for metrology and inspection are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for evaluating a diffracting structure involves providing a model of the diffracting structure. The method involves computing background electric or magnetic fields of an environment of the diffracting structure. The method involves computing scattered electric or magnetic fields from the diffracting structure using a scattered field formulation based on the computed background fields. The method further involves computing spectral information for the model of the diffracting structure based on the computed scattered fields, and comparing the computed spectral information for the model with measured spectral information for the diffracting structure. In response to a good model fit, the method involves determining a physical characteristic of the diffracting structure based on the model of the diffracting structure. | 08-07-2014 |
20140347666 | METROLOGY SYSTEM OPTIMIZATION FOR PARAMETER TRACKING - Methods and systems for evaluating the capability of a measurement system to track measurement parameters through a given process window are presented herein. Performance evaluations include random perturbations, systematic perturbations, or both to effectively characterize the impact of model errors, metrology system imperfections, and calibration errors, among others. In some examples, metrology target parameters are predetermined as part of a Design of Experiments (DOE). Estimated values of the metrology target parameters are compared to the known DOE parameter values to determine the tracking capability of the particular measurement. In some examples, the measurement model is parameterized by principal components to reduce the number of degrees of freedom of the measurement model. In addition, exemplary methods and systems for optimizing the measurement capability of semiconductor metrology systems for metrology applications subject to process variations are presented. | 11-27-2014 |
20150046121 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PATTERNED WAFER CHARACTERIZATION - Disclosed are apparatus and methods for characterizing a plurality of structures of interest on a semiconductor wafer. A plurality of spectra signals are measured from a particular structure of interest at a plurality of azimuth angles from one or more sensors of a metrology system. A difference spectrum is determined based on the spectra signals obtained for the azimuth angles. A quality indication of the particular structure of interest is determined and reported based on analyzing the difference spectrum. | 02-12-2015 |
20150323316 | Signal Response Metrology For Scatterometry Based Overlay Measurements - Methods and systems for creating a measurement model based only on measured training data are presented. The trained measurement model is then used to calculate overlay values directly from measured scatterometry data. The measurement models receive scatterometry signals directly as input and provide overlay values as output. In some embodiments, overlay error is determined from measurements of design rule structures. In some other embodiments, overlay error is determined from measurements of specialized target structures. In a further aspect, the measurement model is trained and employed to measure additional parameters of interest, in addition to overlay, based on the same or different metrology targets. In some embodiments, measurement data from multiple targets, measurement data collected by multiple metrologies, or both, is used for model building, training, and measurement. In some embodiments, an optimization algorithm automates the measurement model building and training process. | 11-12-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100082737 | DYNAMIC SERVICE ROUTING - In an example embodiment, a first message is received on a service bus which supports a plurality of disparate client applications and a plurality of disparate services. The message may be parsed to determine a requesting client application from the plurality of disparate client applications where the requesting client application is associated with one or more of the plurality of disparate services. Metadata associated with the first message may be retrieved that indicates a program identification associated with the client application and the first message may be routed to a first service from the plurality of services based on the program identification. A response may be also be received from the first service and the response may be transmitted to the requesting client application. | 04-01-2010 |
20140244414 | MONEY TRANSFER SYSTEM HAVING LOCATION BASED LANGUAGE AND DYNAMIC RECEIPT CAPABILITIES - A method for operating a transaction processing system to provide location based language capabilities and dynamic receipts in connection with money transfer services. One embodiment includes storing, in a database, information representative of transaction location based attributes and associated one or more languages, and storing information representative of receipt field attributes and associated receipt fields. Send and/or receive transaction requests from points of sale are received at a transaction processor. The received transaction requests are processed using the stored information in the database to identify transaction location attributes of the requests and the associated one or more languages, and processed using the information stored in the database to identify receipt field attributes of the requests and to determine the associated receipt fields. Receipt information representative of receipts provided in the identified one or more languages and having the determined fields is sent from the processor to the points of sale. | 08-28-2014 |
20150348038 | Method and Apparatus for Money Transfer to an Account - A method includes receiving, by a processor, a request to initiate a money transfer transaction between a sending party and a receiving party. The request may include information identifying an account associated with the receiving party. The method includes initiating, by the processor, validation of the account associated with the receiving party. The method includes initiating, by the processor, the money transfer transaction between the sending party and the receiving party in response to a determination that the account associated with the receiving party is valid. Initiation of the money transfer transaction causes funds to be deposited into the account associated with the receiving party. | 12-03-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100317820 | Polyol Functionalized Water Soluble Carbon Nanostructures - A method of making a water soluble carbon nanostructure includes treating a fluorinated carbon nanostructure material with a polyol in the presence of a base. A water soluble carbon nanostructure comprises a fluorinated carbon nanostructure covalently bound to a polyol. Exemplary uses of water soluble carbon nanostructures include use in polymer composites, biosensors and drug delivery vehicles. | 12-16-2010 |
20120324799 | COATED PARTICLES AND RELATED METHODS - Coated particles comprise a core particle comprising a superhard material and having an average diameter of between 1 μm and 500 μm. A coating material is adhered to and covers at least a portion of an outer surface of the core particle, the coating material comprising an amine terminated group. A plurality of nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of carbon nanotubes, nanographite, nanographene, non-diamond carbon allotropes, surface modified nanodiamond, nanoscale particles of BeO, and nanoscale particles comprising a Group VIIIA element is adhered to the coating material. | 12-27-2012 |
20130149447 | METHOD OF FORMING CARBONACEOUS PARTICLES AND ARTICLES THEREFROM - A method of growing carbonaceous particles comprises depositing carbon from a carbon source, onto a particle nucleus, the particle nucleus being a carbon-containing material, an inorganic material, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing, and the carbon source comprising a saturated or unsaturated compound of C | 06-13-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20150218435 | METHODS OF USING NANO-SURFACTANTS FOR ENHANCED HYDROCARBON RECOVERY - Suspensions comprising amphiphilic nanoparticles and at least one carrier fluid. The amphiphilic nanoparticles include at least a hydrophilic portion and a hydrophobic portion. The hydrophilic portion comprises at least one hydrophilic functional group and the hydrophobic portion includes at least one hydrophobic functional group. Methods of forming the flooding suspension and methods of removing a hydrocarbon material using the flooding suspensions are disclosed. | 08-06-2015 |
20150218921 | SUSPENSIONS FOR ENHANCED HYDROCARBON RECOVERY, AND METHODS OF RECOVERING HYDROCARBONS USING THE SUSPENSIONS - Suspensions comprising amphiphilic nanoparticles and at least one carrier fluid. The amphiphilic nanoparticles may be formed from a carbon-containing material and include at least a hydrophilic portion and a hydrophobic portion. The hydrophilic portion comprises at least one hydrophilic functional group and the hydrophobic portion includes at least one hydrophobic functional group. Methods of forming the flooding suspension and methods of removing a hydrocarbon material using the flooding suspensions are disclosed. | 08-06-2015 |
20150344769 | SUSPENSIONS INCLUDING ORGANIC BASES FOR ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY AND METHODS OF OBTAINING HYDROCARBONS USING SUCH SUSPENSIONS - Suspensions comprising an organic base and at least one carrier fluid. The organic base comprises an amine group and at least one hydrophobic group attached to the amine group. The at least one hydrophobic group may be functionalized with one or more functional groups. Methods of extracting and obtaining a hydrocarbon material from a subterranean formation or bitumen using the suspension are disclosed. | 12-03-2015 |
20150344786 | METHODS OF OBTAINING A HYDROCARBON MATERIAL FROM A MINED MATERIAL, AND RELATED STABILIZED EMULSIONS - A method of obtaining a hydrocarbon material from a mined material comprises forming a colloidal dispersion comprising solid particles and a carrier fluid. The colloidal dispersion is mixed with a mined, hydrocarbon-containing material to form an emulsion stabilized by the solid particles. At least one property of the emulsion is modified to destabilize the emulsion. Additional methods of obtaining a hydrocarbon material from a mined material, and a stabilized emulsion are also described. | 12-03-2015 |
20150353836 | FLOCCULANTS AND METHODS FOR RECOVERING BITUMEN FROM OIL SANDS - A flocculant, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, includes a core nanoparticle and at least one positively charged functional group on a surface of the core nanoparticle. The nanoparticle may comprise a silica, alumina, titania, iron oxide, iron nitride, iron carbide, or a carbon-based nanoparticle. The flocculant may be used, in a method of bitumen recovery, to neutralize and agglomerate bitumen droplets and/or mineral particles derived from oil sands ore. The bitumen droplets agglomerate about the core nanoparticle of the flocculant to form bitumen flocs, while the mineral particles agglomerate about the core nanoparticle of the flocculant to form mineral flocs. The buoyant bitumen flocs may then separate from the dense mineral flocs to enable high-yield recovery of bitumen from oil sands. | 12-10-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080300778 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERSONALIZING TRIP ASSISTANCE ON A DIGITAL MAP - A navigation system and method for personalizing trip assistance on a digital map for a user, including data, software (application) and hardware (H/W) components that track a trip of the user, log the trip data in a data base, classify the logged trip data by time of day, day of week and date, process and analyze the trip data, and store and retrieve the results of the analyzed trip data to assist the user. | 12-04-2008 |
20110113155 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DYNAMICALLY ADAPTIVE ROAD NETWORK HIERARCHY AND ROUTING - A system and method for computing routing on a road network are described. One embodiment includes pre-processing routing data for one or more environmental profiles integrated into a hierarchy, dynamically adding links to the hierarchy in response to real-time data on traffic conditions, and cluster-routing to approximate routing travel costs based on realtime traffic data A further embodiment includes a) identifying one or more portions of a road network as being more preferable than normal based on real-time data, b) expressing the one or more portions of the road network as a sequence of locations comprising a uniquely identifiable path, c) using the sequence of locations comprising a uniquely identifiable path to add one or more links to an already constructed hierarchical network of roads, and d) enabling a pathfinding algorithm to adjust to the real-time data. | 05-12-2011 |
20110257883 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING AND/OR RECEIVING AT LEAST ONE LOCATION REFERENCE, ENHANCED BY AT LEAST ONE FOCUSING FACTOR - A method and end user mapping device ( | 10-20-2011 |
20110288762 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING AND/OR RECEIVING AT LEAST ONE LOCATION REFERENCE, ENHANCED BY AT LEAST ONE FOCUSING FACTOR - A method and system are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes at least one of obtaining and receiving information regarding at least one location reference at a server ( | 11-24-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120245978 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINIMG CONTEXTUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MEDIA EXPOSURE DATA - Systems and methods are disclosed for providing contextual information to research data relating to media exposure. Ambient fingerprints are formed on a device, where the fingerprints are used to establish a logical location where media exposure took place. The ambient signatures are alternately combined with monitored data to provide more robust data sets for contextual processing. | 09-27-2012 |
20130135218 | TACTILE AND GESTATIONAL IDENTIFICATION AND LINKING TO MEDIA CONSUMPTION - Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying users of touch screens according to a touch/gesture profile. The profile includes stored electrical characteristics of contact with the touch screen. The profile is correlated with applications opened and/or accessed, along with any associated metadata, as well as media exposure data derived from audio received at the device. The correlated information may be used to confirm identification of one or more individuals using a device for audience measurement purposes. | 05-30-2013 |
20130138386 | MOVEMENT/POSITION MONITORING AND LINKING TO MEDIA CONSUMPTION - Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying users of portable user devices according to one or more accelerometer profiles created for a respective user. During a media session, the portable computing device collects media exposure data, while at the same time, collects data from the accelerometer and compares it to the user profile. The comparison authenticates the user and determines the physical activity the user is engaged in. Additional data may be collected from the portable computing device to determine one or more operational conditions of the device itself. Accelerometer data may also be used to determine probabilities that one or more users were actually exposed to a media event. | 05-30-2013 |
20130138388 | MULTIPLE METER DETECTION AND PROCESSING USING MOTION DATA - Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying users of portable user devices according to one or more accelerometer profiles created for a respective user. During a media session, the portable computing device collects media exposure data, while at the same time, collects data from the accelerometer and compares it to the user profile. The comparison authenticates the user and determines the physical activity the user is engaged in. Additional data may be collected from the portable computing device to determine one or more operational conditions of the device itself, including the detection of multiple devices being physically carried by one user. Gross motion strings may also be generated by devices and compared to see if strings match, thus suggesting multiple devices are being carried by one user. | 05-30-2013 |
20130157563 | MEDIA EXPOSURE AND VERIFICATION UTILIZING INDUCTIVE COUPLING - A computer-implemented system and method for establishing media data exposure, where a media device, such as a computer, radio, television and the like, receive media data and produces research data from it. The research data may be based on computer-based or computer network-based characteristics, ancillary codes or audio signatures. As the research data is being produced, an inductive coupling is sought for nearby portable computer devices. Once a portable computing device inductively couples to the media device, information is transferred, allowing a system to determine and/or verify that specific users were exposed to particular media data. | 06-20-2013 |
20130174231 | MEDIA EXPOSURE DATA COLLECTION AND SECURITY - Systems and methods are disclosed for securely transferring research data relating to media exposure data, such as radio, television, streaming media and the Internet. A plurality of portable computing devices seek and bond to a collector via Bluetooth in a specific area, such as a household. The collector authenticates itself with each of the portable computing devices and vice versa where the collector arranges a secure research data transfer session with each respective device using exchanged authentication files. As each secure session is made, each portable computing device transmits stored research data during the session. | 07-04-2013 |
20130202128 | System and Method for Determining Meter Presence Utilizing Ambient Fingerprints - Systems and methods are disclosed for providing portable device presence utilizing environmental ambient audio fingerprints. Portable devices provide media exposure data and environmental ambient fingerprints to a processing device, where the environmental ambient signatures provide at least one characteristic of the ambient audio surrounding each portable device. The environmental ambient signatures are then processed to determine if they match. Portable devices associated with matching signatures are identified. Ambient fingerprints may also be used to establish a logical location where media exposure took place. The ambient signatures are alternately combined with monitored data to provide more robust data sets for contextual processing. | 08-08-2013 |
20130262184 | Systems and Methods for Presence Detection and Linking to Media Exposure Data - A computer-implemented system, apparatus and method for monitoring media exposure data and correlating media exposure data to locations. Location data may be generated utilizing measurements of radio waves from WiFi and/or Bluetooth. Identification may also be transmitted when WiFi and/or Bluetooth transmission are received. As media is reproduced or received on/near a portable device, media exposure data is generated. Subsequent location data is monitored and processed to determine specific locations that may include commercial establishments. The locations are then correlated to the media exposure data to determine user actions related to media exposure. | 10-03-2013 |
20140111698 | Systems and Methods for Configuring Media Devices Utilizing Audio Codes or Signatures - A computer-implemented method for modifying operation of a media terminal device using characteristics of audio, wherein the characteristics may include ancillary code embedded in audio and/or audio signatures. When audio codes are read and/or signatures are extracted, they are processed to determine if they correspond to a predetermined characteristic that has a linked command. If correspondence is found, the command is executed to affect one or more operational layers of the media terminal device to modify at least one operational parameter. | 04-24-2014 |
20140113557 | Systems and Methods for Wirelessly Modifying Detection Characteristics of Portable Devices - A computer-implemented method for modifying operation of a portable processing device configured to scan for wireless signals under a first scan rate. As wireless signals are received in the portable processing device, characteristics of the wireless signals are analyzed, and if the characteristics match one or more characteristics, the operation of the portable processing device is modified. Under one exemplary embodiment, the first scan rate is modified to a second scan rate, where the second scan rate being different from the first. Under another exemplary embodiment, monitoring capabilities in the portable processing device are activated or modified to collect research data on media data. The characteristics may include identification information or messages/commands that are transmitted wirelessly. | 04-24-2014 |
20140114456 | Methods and Systems for Clock Correction and/or Synchronization for Audio Media Measurement Systems - Systems and methods are disclosed for synchronizing devices that produce identifiable characteristics from audio media. A device receives audio and produces initial time data. Subsequent time data is received at a coupling interface from a portable device that has access to accurate time sources. The subsequent time data is processed to determine if it is more accurate than the initial time data. If so, the clock of the device is updated to reflect the second time data. The device then processes the audio media to generate at least one identifiable characteristic relating to the audio, which may include ancillary codes and/or audio signatures. The identifiable characteristics are then transmitted together with the subsequent time data for detection. | 04-24-2014 |
20140295764 | MEDIA EXPOSURE LINKING UTILIZING BLUETOOTH SIGNAL CHARACTERISTICS - A computer-implemented method for establishing media data exposure for a computer processing device, where media data received in the computer processing device. The computer processing device pairs itself with a plurality of portable computing devices using a Bluetooth connection when media data is received. A signal strength characteristic of the Bluetooth connection is established in the computer processing device for each of the paired plurality of portable computing devices. Each signal strength characteristic with the received media data is then established to determine which signal strength characteristic is the strongest when the media data was received in the computer processing device. | 10-02-2014 |
20140365689 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONFIGURING MEDIA DEVICES UTILIZING AUDIO CODES OR SIGNATURES - Example systems and methods for configuring media devices utilizing audio codes and/or signatures are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include, responsive to determining that an audio code is not present in audio data received by a device, generating a signature from the audio data. Such example methods also include determining whether the signature is associated with a first command to be executed by the device to modify operation of the device. Such example methods further include, when the signature is determined to be associated with the first command, executing the first command to modify the operation of the device. | 12-11-2014 |
20150100692 | MONITORING MEDIA EXPOSURE USING WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS - Disclosed examples involve collecting a cookie at a client device based on media accessed via a web page at the client device, and selecting a portable device identifier at the client device. The portable device identifier corresponds to a closest one of a plurality of portable devices in wireless communication with the client device. The portable device identifier is associated with a particular person. In response to instructions embedded in the media, a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request is sent to a server. The HTTP request includes the cookie, the portable device identifier, and information identifying exposure to the media. | 04-09-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120155266 | SYNCHRONIZING STATE AMONG LOAD BALANCER COMPONENTS - The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for synchronizing state among load balancer components. Embodiments of the invention include load balancers using a consistent hashing algorithm to decide how new connections should be load balanced. Use of consistent hashing algorithm permits load balancers to work in a stateless manner in steady state. Load balancers start keeping flow state information (destination address for a given flow) about incoming packets when it is needed, i.e. such as, for example, when a change in destination host configuration is detected. State information is shared across load balancers in a deterministic way, which allows knowing which load balancer is authoritative (e.g., is the owner) for a given flow. Each load balancer can reach the authoritative load balancer to learn about a flow that cannot be determined locally. | 06-21-2012 |
20120311003 | Clustered File Service - A cluster based file service may operate on a cluster of two or more independent devices that have access to a common data storage. The file service may have a namespace definition with each device in the cluster, but may be modified by any device operating the file service. Each instance of the file service may identify and capture a command that changes the namespace structure and cause the change to be propagated to the other members of cluster. If one of the devices in the cluster does not successfully perform an update to the namespace structure, that device may be brought offline. The cluster based file service may permit adding or removing devices from the cluster while the file service is operating, and may provide a high throughput and high availability file service. | 12-06-2012 |
20130067188 | STORAGE DEVICE DRIVERS AND CLUSTER PARTICIPATION - The representation of storage devices on computers (e.g., as logical volumes) may be complicated by the pooling of multiple storage devices in order to apply redundancy plans such as mirroring and checksumming. Presented herein is a storage device driver configured to operate as a storage device interface generating representations of the storage regions of the storage devices; to claim those regions as a storage controller; and to expose pooled storage regions as logical disks. Additionally, the storage device driver may support the inclusion of storage devices in a cluster, comprising nodes that may be appointed as managers of the storage pool configuration; as managers of the storage devices; as owners having exclusive read/write access to the storage pool or cluster resources; and as cluster resource writers having excusive write access to a cluster resource. The nodes of the cluster may interoperate to share the storage devices while avoiding write conflicts. | 03-14-2013 |
20130227009 | ARBITRATION OF DISK OWNERSHIP IN A STORAGE POOL - The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing persistent reservation techniques for establishing ownership of one or more physical disks. These persistent reservation techniques can be employed to determine ownership of physical disks in a storage pool as well as in any other storage configuration. Using the persistent reservation techniques of the present invention, when a network partition occurs, a defender of a physical disk does not remove a challenger's registration key until the defender receives notification that the challenger is no longer in the defender's partition. In this way, pending I/O from applications executing on the challenger will not fail due to the challenger's key being removed until the proper ownership of the physical disk can be resolved. | 08-29-2013 |
20140185446 | SYNCHRONIZING STATE AMONG LOAD BALANCER COMPONENTS - The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for synchronizing state among load balancer components. Embodiments of the invention include load balancers using a consistent hashing algorithm to decide how new connections should be load balanced. Use of consistent hashing algorithm permits load balancers to work in a stateless manner in steady state. Load balancers start keeping flow state information (destination address for a given flow) about incoming packets when it is needed, i.e. such as, for example, when a change in destination host configuration is detected. State information is shared across load balancers in a deterministic way, which allows knowing which load balancer is authoritative (e.g., is the owner) for a given flow. Each load balancer can reach the authoritative load balancer to learn about a flow that cannot be determined locally. | 07-03-2014 |
20140310278 | CREATING GLOBAL AGGREGATED NAMESPACES FOR STORAGE MANAGEMENT - Embodiments are directed to creating global, aggregated namespaces for storage management and to providing consistent namespaces in a distributed storage system. In one scenario, a computer system defines data storage objects for each data storage node. The data storage objects uniquely identify storage elements of the data storage nodes, where each data storage object includes various associated attributes. The computer system replicates the defined data storage objects and any associated attributes from a first data storage node to a second, different data storage node among the data storage nodes. As such, the defined data storage objects are visible from any node in the data storage nodes. The computer system also aggregates the defined data storage objects for each of the data storage nodes and creates a global, aggregated namespace that includes the aggregated data storage objects for each of the data storage nodes. | 10-16-2014 |
20140359054 | Distributed Storage Defense in a Cluster - Embodiments provide a method and system for enabling access to a storage device. Specifically, a node may request admittance to a cluster that has read and write access to a storage device. The node seeking access to the storage device must be first be approved by other nodes in the cluster. As part of the request, the node seeking access to the storage device sends a registration key to a storage device. Upon expiration of a registration timer, the node seeking access to the storage device receives a registration table from the storage device and determines whether its registration key is stored in the registration table. If the registration key is stored in the registration table the node has been accepted in the cluster and as a result, has been granted read and write access to the storage device. | 12-04-2014 |
20150063115 | SYNCHRONIZING STATE AMONG LOAD BALANCER COMPONENTS - The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for synchronizing state among load balancer components. Embodiments of the invention include load balancers using a consistent hashing algorithm to decide how new connections should be load balanced. Use of consistent hashing algorithm permits load balancers to work in a stateless manner in steady state. Load balancers start keeping flow state information (destination address for a given flow) about incoming packets when it is needed, i.e. such as, for example, when a change in destination host configuration is detected. State information is shared across load balancers in a deterministic way, which allows knowing which load balancer is authoritative (e.g., is the owner) for a given flow. Each load balancer can reach the authoritative load balancer to learn about a flow that cannot be determined locally. | 03-05-2015 |
20160070624 | APPLICATION TRANSPARENT CONTINUOUS AVAILABILITY USING SYNCHRONOUS REPLICATION ACROSS DATA STORES IN A FAILOVER CLUSTER - Disclosed herein is a system and method for automatically moving an application from one site to another site in the event of a disaster. Prior to coming back online the application is configured with information to allow it to run on the new site without having to perform the configuration actions after the application has come online. This enables a seamless experience to the user of the application while also reducing the associated downtime for the application. | 03-10-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110319157 | GAMING POINT EXCHANGE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A gaming system, a gaming market, and a method, is disclosed. The gaming system may include two or more games to be played by one or more players. Each game may be configured to enumerate a number of points earned through play of the respective two or more games. The system may also include two or more exchangeable gaming currencies. Each gaming currency may be convertible to, and convertible from, universal points using respective two or more conversion factors. The two or more exchangeable gaming currencies may be at least two of: the points earned through play of a first of the two or more games, the points earned through play of a second of the two or more games, and commonly recognized monetary units. | 12-29-2011 |
20150038220 | ON-LINE PICTURE/VIDEO VOTING - A system providing posting of visual content, voting to determine popularity, and an associated self-funding rewards aspect of the system. The system uses a host website on which members of the public post visual content, and for which the members of the public are assessed fees for participating. Posted content is judged by a voting system in which the participants vote to indicate their preference based on posted visual content. At least some of the pool of funds collected from assessed fees is returned to those participants who win in the voting. | 02-05-2015 |
20150126270 | GAMING POINT EXCHANGE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A gaming system, a gaming market, and a method, is disclosed. The gaming system may include two or more games to be played by one or more players. Each game may be configured to enumerate a number of points earned through play of the respective two or more games. The system may also include two or more exchangeable gaming currencies. Each gaming currency may be convertible to, and convertible from, universal points using respective two or more conversion factors. The two or more exchangeable gaming currencies may be at least two of: the points earned through play of a first of the two or more games, the points earned through play of a second of the two or more games, and commonly recognized monetary units. | 05-07-2015 |