Patent Application
20230089721
Advances in computer technologies have led to increasing integration of computer technologies in various industries. For example, many entities across various industries rely on computer networks for the storage, communication, and delivery of various products or services. These entities generally have a wide variety of needs and serve a wide variety of demands. As such, computer networks can take on a wide range of topologies and involve various types of devices to accommodate the wide variety of needs and demands. Furthermore, as computer technologies used across various industries advance, computer networks likewise grow increasingly complicated and involve increasingly greater numbers of devices with increasingly varied capabilities. Accordingly, as the wide variety of needs and demands involved in various industries promote advances in computer technologies, these needs and demands likewise promote advances in computer networking technologies. In this way, improvements in computer networking technologies can also provide improvements in other computer technologies.
The present disclosure, in accordance with one or more various embodiments, is described in detail with reference to the following figures. The figures are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict typical or example embodiments.
The figures are not exhaustive and do not limit the present disclosure to the precise form disclosed.
As computer networks grow increasingly complex and involve increasingly greater numbers of devices with increasingly varied capabilities, computer networking technologies continue to face technological challenges. In general, computer networks include a wide variety of network devices with varying capabilities, and these network devices are configured for a variety of different purposes. For example, a network configuration for a business, or other organization, may include hundreds of network devices within a network. These hundreds of network devices may include various client devices of varying capabilities. Additionally, these hundreds of network devices may include, for example, various switches, routers, bridges, and other network devices to facilitate network traffic between the client devices. Like the client devices, these switches, routers, bridges, and other network devices may be of varying capabilities. In order for the network configuration to operate effectively, the network devices should be appropriately configured to communicate with the network. As the network devices have different capabilities, the network devices also have different configurations in order to effectively communicate with the network. Thus, as illustrated in this example, a network configuration may include numerous network devices with varying capabilities, and these network devices are configured differently in order to effectively communicate with the network.
Managing complex network configurations, such as those like the above described example network configuration, poses technological challenges. For example, a network administrator may wish to implement a new rule for a group of network devices. In order to implement the new rule, the network administrator changes the configurations of the network devices for which the new rule is to be implemented. As the network devices may have different capabilities and have different configurations, the changes to implement the new rule for the network devices may vary from one network device to another. Thus, in complex network configurations, implementing changes, such as implementing a new rule, poses technological challenges in that implementing the changes varies depending on the network device. These technological challenges are exacerbated as network configurations grow increasingly larger and complex. Furthermore, in some cases, a network administrator may wish to undo a new rule, or redo an undone rule. In these cases, the network administrator may undo an implemented rule by reloading old configurations for network devices for which the rule was implemented. However, reloading old configurations is computationally inefficient and requires substantial data storage to store old configurations, and these technological challenges are exacerbated in cases involving large numbers of devices. Thus, there is a need for technological solutions to address these and other technological challenges.
Accordingly, disclosed are systems and methods for difference (“diff”) based configuration editing and rendering. In various embodiments, a multi-editor can facilitate the implementation of a change to multiple configurations for multiple devices. The multi-editor can provide a user interface through which a user, such as a network administrator, can provide the change to be implemented. The multi-editor can determine sets of operations based on the change. A set of operations can make line by line changes to a configuration to implement the change on the configuration. The sets of operations can be applied to the multiple configurations for the multiple devices to implement the change on the multiple configurations. Comparisons can be made based on the multiple configurations before the change is implemented and after the change is implemented. Based on the comparisons, differences can be determined for the multiple configurations. The multi-editor can render the multiple configurations in the user interface based on the differences. By rendering the multiple configurations based on the differences instead of, for example, rendering new configurations in whole, the multi-editor can improve processing efficiency and rendering performance. In various embodiments, the multi-editor can determine sets of counter operations based on sets of operations to implement a change to multiple configurations for multiple devices. A set of counter operations can make line by line changes to a configuration to undo a change implemented by a set of operations corresponding to the set of counter operations. In response to an undo request from a user, the multi-editor can cause the sets of counter operations to be applied to the multiple configurations for the multiple devices. This can cause the change to be undone. In response to a redo request from the user, the multi-editor can cause the sets of operations corresponding to the sets of counter operations to be applied to the multiple configurations for the multiple devices. This can cause the change to be redone or reapplied. By implementing changes to configurations for devices based on operations and counter operations, redo and undo functions can be achieved without storing and reloading old configurations, providing improvements in processing efficiency and storage efficiency.
As an example of the above described systems and methods, a multi-editor can provide a user interface through which a network administrator can provide changes to be implemented in a network. For example, the network administrator can provide changes to implement a new virtual local area network (VLAN) in the network. Based on the changes, the multi-editor can determine sets of operations to implement the new VLAN. For example, the sets of operations can include instructions to route traffic from certain network devices through certain routers in accordance with the new VLAN. The sets of operations can vary from network device to network device depending on, for example, the capabilities or current configurations of the network devices. The multi-editor can cause the sets of operations to be applied to the network devices in the network. A comparison can be made between the configurations of the network devices before the sets of operations were applied and after the sets of operations were applied. Based on the comparison, differences of the configurations of the network devices can be determined. The multi-editor can render the configurations of the network devices, with the changes applied, on the user interface based on the differences. For example, the multi-editor can render the portions of the configurations that were changed by the sets of operations while maintaining the unchanged portions of the configurations instead of rendering the entire configurations. In this example, the network administrator can decide to undo the changes to implement the new VLAN. The multi-editor can determine sets of counter operations to undo the changes to implement the new VLAN. The sets of counter operations can include, for example, instructions to delete lines corresponding to the instructions to route traffic from certain network devices through certain routers in accordance with the new VLAN. The sets of counter operations can vary from network device to network device depending on, for example, the capabilities or current configurations of the network devices. The multi-editor can cause the sets of counter operations to be applied to the network devices in the network instead of, for example, causing old configurations for the network devices in the network to be reloaded. In this example, the network administrator can decide to redo the changes to implement the new VLAN. The multi-editor can cause the sets of operations previously determined to implement the new VLAN to be applied to the network devices in the network. As illustrated in this example, the multi-editor provides difference based rendering and editing that provides improved processing efficiency and storage efficiency. Further details of the disclosed systems and methods for difference based rendering and editing are described herein.
Before describing embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods in detail, it may be useful to describe an example network configuration with which these systems and methods might be implemented in various applications.
The primary site 102 may include a primary network, which can be, for example, an office network, home network or other network installation. The primary site 102 network may be a private network, such as a network that may include security and access controls to restrict access to authorized users of the private network. Authorized users may include, for example, employees of a company at primary site 102, residents of a house, customers at a business, and so on. In some cases, devices associated with the private network may have different configurations to implement the security and access controls associated with the private network in accordance with the different capabilities that the devices may have.
In the illustrated example, the primary site 102 includes a controller 104 in communication with the network 120. The controller 104 may provide communication with the network 120 for the primary site 102. The controller 104 may be in communication with one or more switches 108 and/or wireless Access Points (APs) 106a-c. Switches 108 and wireless APs 106a-c provide network connectivity to various client devices 110a-j. Using a connection to a switch 108 or AP 106a-c, a client device 110a-j may access network resources, including other devices on the (primary site 102) network and the network 120. Within the primary site 102, a switch 108 is included as one example of a point of access to the network established in primary site 102 for wired client devices 110i-j. Client devices 110i-j may connect to the switch 108 and through the switch 108, may be able to access other devices within the network configuration 100. The client devices 110i-j may also be able to access the network 120, through the switch 108. The client devices 110i-j may communicate with the switch 108 over a wired 112 connection. In the illustrated example, the switch 108 communicates with the controller 104 over a wired 112 connection, though this connection may also be wireless. Wireless APs 106a-c are included as another example of a point of access to the network established in primary site 102 for client devices 110a-h. In the illustrated example, APs 106a-c can be managed and configured by the controller 104. APs 106a-c communicate with the controller 104 and the network over connections 112, which may be either wired or wireless interfaces. In some cases, APs 106a-c may, for example, have different hardware and have different capabilities. While APs 106a-c may provide the same functionalities in the primary site 102, APs 106a-c may provide those functionalities in different ways or based on different sets of instructions. Similarly, client devices 110a-j may also have different capabilities and access the network 120 based on different sets of instructions.
The network configuration 100 may include one or more remote sites 132. A remote site 132 may be in a different physical or geographical location from the primary site 102. In some cases, the remote site 132 may be in the same geographical location, or possibly the same building, as the primary site 102, but lacks a direct connection to the network located within the primary site 102. Instead, remote site 132 may utilize a connection over a different network, e.g., network 120. A remote site 132 such as the one illustrated in
In some cases, the remote site 132 may be in direct communication with primary site 102, such that client devices 140a-d at the remote site 132 access the network resources at the primary site 102 as if these clients' devices 140a-d were located at the primary site 102. In such embodiments, the remote site 132 is managed by the controller 104 at the primary site 102, and the controller 104 provides the necessary connectivity, security, and accessibility that enable the remote site 132's communication with the primary site 102. Once connected to the primary site 102, the remote site 132 may function as a part of a private network provided by the primary site 102. As a logically separate site, the remote site 132 may be subject to different rules than the primary site 102. Accordingly, the gateway device 134, the switch 138, the AP 136 and the client devices 140a-d may have different configurations than, for example, the APs 106a-c and the client devices 110a-j of the primary site 102. Furthermore, within the remote site 132, the gateway device 134, the switch 138, the AP 136 and the client devices 140a-d may have different configurations in accordance with their different capabilities.
The network configuration 100 may include one or more smaller remote sites 142, comprising a gateway device 144 for communicating with the network 120 and a wireless AP 146, by which various client devices 150a-b access the network 120. Such a remote site 142 may represent, for example, an individual employee's home or a temporary remote office. The remote site 142 may also be in communication with the primary site 102, such that the client devices 150a-b at remote site 142 access network resources at the primary site 102 as if these client devices 150a-b were located at the primary site 102. The remote site 142 may be managed by the controller 104 at the primary site 102 to make this transparency possible. Once connected to the primary site 102, the remote site 142 may function as a part of a private network provided by the primary site 102. As a logically separate site, the remote site 142 may be subject to different rules than the remote site 132 and the primary site 102. Accordingly, the gateway device 144, the wireless AP 146 and the client devices 150a-b may have different configurations than, for example, the APs 106a-c and the client devices 110a-j of the primary site 102 and, for example, the gateway device 134, the switch 138, the AP 136 and the client devices 140a-d of the remote site 132. Furthermore, within the remote site 142, gateway device 144, the wireless AP 146 and the client devices 150a-b may have different configurations in accordance with their different capabilities.
The network configuration 100 may include various content servers 160a-b. Content servers 160a-b may include various providers of multimedia downloadable and/or streaming content, including audio, video, graphical, and/or text content, or any combination thereof. Examples of content servers 160a-b include, for example, web servers, streaming radio and video providers, and cable and satellite television providers. The client devices 110a j, 140a-d, 150a-b may request and access the multimedia content provided by the content servers 160a-b.
Although ten client devices 110a-j are illustrated at primary site 102 in the example of
Hardware processor 202 may be one or more central processing units (CPUs), semiconductor-based microprocessors, and/or other hardware devices suitable for retrieval and execution of instructions stored in machine-readable storage medium 204. Hardware processor 202 may fetch, decode, and execute instructions, such as instructions 206-214, to control processes or operations for difference based rendering and editing. As an alternative or in addition to retrieving and executing instructions, hardware processor 202 may include one or more electronic circuits that include electronic components for performing the functionality of one or more instructions, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other electronic circuits.
A machine-readable storage medium, such as machine-readable storage medium 204, may be any electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical storage device that contains or stores executable instructions. Thus, machine-readable storage medium 204 may be, for example, Random Access Memory (RAM), non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), a storage device, an optical disc, and the like. In some embodiments, machine-readable storage medium 204 may be a non-transitory storage medium, where the term “non-transitory” does not encompass transitory propagating signals. As described in detail below, machine-readable storage medium 204 may be encoded with executable instructions, for example, instructions 206-214 for difference based rendering and editing.
In various embodiments, configurations for devices can be sorted in accordance with a common scheme. Based on the common scheme, a range where a configuration property can be located can be determined. For example, a configuration property, in accordance with a common scheme, may be generally sorted near the top of a configuration. Based on the common scheme, a range, such as a range of lines in the configuration, can be determined for locating the configuration property. In traversing the configuration, if the range of lines is traversed without locating the configuration property, it can be determined that the configuration property has not been set. Sorted configurations can provide improvements in processing efficiency in calculating differences and rendering configurations based on differences, as further described herein.
Hardware processor 202 may execute instruction 206 to determine a change to be applied to configurations for devices. In various embodiments, a change to be applied to configurations for devices can be provided through a user interface of a multi-editor. The multi-editor can render configurations for devices and provide the configurations in the user interfaces. For example, a configuration can be rendered and provided as lines of configuration properties. In cases where the configurations are sorted, the configurations can be provided as sorted lines of configuration properties. Providing a sorted configuration may facilitate navigation of the configuration as the user can determine, based on the sorting, where a configuration property can be located. In various embodiments, a change to be applied to configurations for devices can be provided by adding lines or removing lines from the rendered configuration. The entered lines can correspond with new properties to be implemented or other commands to be applied to the configurations. Removing lines can correspond with properties to be removed from the configuration or removal of previously applied commands from the configurations. In some cases, changes to be applied to configurations can be provided through other inputs. For example, an undo command can be provided through a keyboard shortcut or a button on the user interface. In some cases, a redo command can be provided through a different keyboard shortcut or a different button on the user interface. Many variations are possible.
Hardware processor 202 may execute instruction 208 to determine sets of operations for the configurations for the devices based on the change. A set of operations for a configuration for a device can include instructions for implementing a change to the configuration. For example, a set of operations to add a configuration property can include a first instruction to add a new line to a configuration for a device, a second instruction to enter the configuration property on the new line, and a third instruction to change a value for the configuration property on the new line. In some cases, implementing a change to a configuration for a device can involve additional changes resulting from the change to the configuration. A set of operations for a configuration for a device can include instructions to implement the change and the additional changes resulting from the change. For example, a change to a configuration of a device to add the device to a VLAN may involve additional changes in how the device identifies itself, what services the device enables, or additional changes that may be inherited from the VLAN. In this example, a set of operations to implement the change to the configuration for the device can include operations to implement the additional changes related to the change. In some cases, a change to be implemented for multiple configurations for multiple devices may involve no changes to one or more of the multiple configurations. For example, some of the multiple configurations may inherit the change to be implemented from their device grouping or may have the configuration property associated with the change set to the desired value by default. In these cases, sets of operations for the multiple configurations for the multiple devices can include sets of operations to implement the change for the configurations where changes are to be implemented and sets of operations that make no changes for the configurations where no changes are to be implemented. Many variations are possible.
Hardware processor 202 may execute instruction 210 to cause the change to be applied on the configurations for the devices based on the sets of operations. In various embodiments, the sets of operations are provided to the devices to which a change is to be implemented. In some cases, the sets of operations are used to implement the change through a backend system in communication with the devices to which the changes are to be implemented. With the changes implemented, a difference for a device can be determined based on a comparison of the configuration of the device before the change was implemented with the configuration of the device after the change was implemented. In some cases, the difference can be determined by iterating through the configuration of the device before the change was implemented and iterating through the configuration of the device after the change was implemented. In these cases, the configuration of the device before the change was implemented and the configuration of the device after the change was implemented can be compared line by line to determine what lines were added, removed, or modified as a result of the change to the configuration. In some cases where the configuration is sorted, the difference may be determined without full iterating through the configuration of the device. Based on the change implemented, a range where lines were added, removed, or modified as a result of the change can be determined. By iterating through the range, the difference can be determined for the change. For example, a change can be implemented to a configuration for a device. To determine a difference for the device, a first configuration of the device before the change was implemented can be compared with a second configuration of the device after the change was implemented. A two-pointer approach can be used to compare the first configuration with the second configuration line by line. For each line where the first configuration matches the second configuration, the pointers for both configurations are incremented. When a difference is identified the pointer associated with the difference is incremented. In this way, the lines where the difference between the first configuration and the second configuration are located can be determined. The difference for the device can be based on the content of the lines determined in this way.
In various embodiments, differences based on changes to configurations for devices can serve as the basis for rendering the changed configurations. For example, a change can be implemented to a configuration, and a changed configuration can be provided to a multi-editor. The multi-editor can determine a difference based on the configuration before the change was implemented and the changed configuration. The multi-editor can render the difference and apply the difference to a previously rendered configuration, which may be rendered based on the configuration before the change was implemented or based on a previously rendered difference. In some cases, a difference determined for devices to which a change was implemented can be provided to a multi-editor. Based on the difference, the multi-editor can render the difference and apply the difference to a previously rendered configuration for the devices. In these ways, the multi-editor can improve processing efficiency compared to, for example, receiving full configurations of devices and rendering the full configurations.
Hardware processor 202 may execute instruction 212 to determine sets of counter operations for the configurations for the devices based on the sets of operations. In various embodiments, sets of counter operations can be determined to reverse corresponding sets of operations that were determined to implement a change for configurations for devices. For example, a set of operations to add a configuration property can include a first instruction to add a new line to a configuration for a device, a second instruction to enter the configuration property on the new line, and a third instruction to change a value for the configuration property on the new line. A set of counter operations corresponding to the set of operations can include an instruction to delete the new line. As another example, a set of operations to change a configuration property can include an instruction to change an original value for the configuration property to a new value. A set of counter operations corresponding to the set of operations can include an instruction to change the value of the configuration property to the original value. In some cases, the set of counter operations can be determined based on a difference. For example, a change implemented on a configuration of a device can result in the addition of three new lines to the configuration of the device. A difference based on a comparison of the configuration of the device before the change is implemented with the configuration of the device after the change is implemented can determine that the three new lines were added. Based on the difference, a set of counter operations can include instructions to delete the three new lines. Many variations are possible.
Hardware processor 202 may execute instruction 214 to cause the change to be undone for the configurations for the devices based on the sets of counter operations. In various embodiments, the sets of counter operations are provided to the devices for which a change is to be undone. In some cases, the sets of counter operations are used to undo the change through a backend system in communication with the devices for which the change is to be undone. In some cases, a difference for the devices can be determined based on a comparison of the configurations of the devices before the change was undone with the configurations of the devices after the change was undone. In some cases, the previous configuration of the devices can be rendered again to provide the current configuration of the devices. For example, a multi-editor can provide the render of a previous configuration in response to an undo command or the multi-editor can render a portion of the configuration based on a difference determined from changes made to the configuration based on the undo command. In order to facilitate a redo command, a multi-editor can provide sets of operations that were previously provided prior to an undo command. Thus, the multi-editor can facilitate the undo and redo of changes to configurations in devices without relying on reloading of old configurations by the devices, which provides improvements in processing efficiency and storage efficiency.
As illustrated in
The computer system 500 also includes a main memory 506, such as a random access memory (RAM), cache and/or other dynamic storage devices, coupled to bus 502 for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor 504. Main memory 506 also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions to be executed by processor 504. Such instructions, when stored in storage media accessible to processor 504, render computer system 500 into a special-purpose machine that is customized to perform the operations specified in the instructions.
The computer system 500 further includes a read only memory (ROM) 508 or other static storage device coupled to bus 502 for storing static information and instructions for processor 504. A storage device 510, such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, or USB thumb drive (Flash drive), etc., is provided and coupled to bus 502 for storing information and instructions.
The computer system 500 may be coupled via bus 502 to a display 512, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) (or touch screen), for displaying information to a computer user. An input device 514, including alphanumeric and other keys, is coupled to bus 502 for communicating information and command selections to processor 504. Another type of user input device is cursor control 516, such as a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys for communicating direction information and command selections to processor 504 and for controlling cursor movement on display 512. In some embodiments, the same direction information and command selections as cursor control may be implemented via receiving touches on a touch screen without a cursor.
The computing system 500 may include a user interface module to implement a GUI that may be stored in a mass storage device as executable software codes that are executed by the computing device(s). This and other modules may include, by way of example, components, such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components and task components, processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuitry, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables.
In general, the word “component,” “engine,” “system,” “database,” data store,” and the like, as used herein, can refer to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, possibly having entry and exit points, written in a programming language, such as, for example, Java, C or C++. A software component may be compiled and linked into an executable program, installed in a dynamic link library, or may be written in an interpreted programming language such as, for example, BASIC, Perl, or Python. It will be appreciated that software components may be callable from other components or from themselves, and/or may be invoked in response to detected events or interrupts. Software components configured for execution on computing devices may be provided on a computer readable medium, such as a compact disc, digital video disc, flash drive, magnetic disc, or any other tangible medium, or as a digital download (and may be originally stored in a compressed or installable format that requires installation, decompression or decryption prior to execution). Such software code may be stored, partially or fully, on a memory device of the executing computing device, for execution by the computing device. Software instructions may be embedded in firmware, such as an EPROM. It will be further appreciated that hardware components may be comprised of connected logic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and/or may be comprised of programmable units, such as programmable gate arrays or processors.
The computer system 500 may implement the techniques described herein using customized hard-wired logic, one or more ASICs or FPGAs, firmware and/or program logic which in combination with the computer system causes or programs computer system 500 to be a special-purpose machine. According to one embodiment, the techniques herein are performed by computer system 500 in response to processor(s) 504 executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions contained in main memory 506. Such instructions may be read into main memory 506 from another storage medium, such as storage device 510. Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in main memory 506 causes processor(s) 504 to perform the process steps described herein. In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions.
The term “non-transitory media,” and similar terms, as used herein refers to any media that store data and/or instructions that cause a machine to operate in a specific fashion. Such non-transitory media may comprise non-volatile media and/or volatile media. Non-volatile media includes, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as storage device 510. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory 506. Common forms of non-transitory media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, solid state drive, magnetic tape, or any other magnetic data storage medium, a CD-ROM, any other optical data storage medium, any physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, NVRAM, any other memory chip or cartridge, and networked versions of the same.
Non-transitory media is distinct from but may be used in conjunction with transmission media. Transmission media participates in transferring information between non-transitory media. For example, transmission media includes coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise bus 502. Transmission media can also take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio-wave and infra-red data communications.
The computer system 500 also includes a communication interface 518 coupled to bus 502. Network interface 518 provides a two-way data communication coupling to one or more network links that are connected to one or more local networks. For example, communication interface 518 may be an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card, cable modem, satellite modem, or a modem to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. As another example, network interface 518 may be a local area network (LAN) card to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN (or WAN component to communicated with a WAN). Wireless links may also be implemented. In any such implementation, network interface 518 sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams representing various types of information.
A network link typically provides data communication through one or more networks to other data devices. For example, a network link may provide a connection through local network to a host computer or to data equipment operated by an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The ISP in turn provides data communication services through the world wide packet data communication network now commonly referred to as the “Internet.” Local network and Internet both use electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams. The signals through the various networks and the signals on network link and through communication interface 518, which carry the digital data to and from computer system 500, are example forms of transmission media.
The computer system 500 can send messages and receive data, including program code, through the network(s), network link and communication interface 518. In the Internet example, a server might transmit a requested code for an application program through the Internet, the ISP, the local network and the communication interface 518.
The received code may be executed by processor 504 as it is received, and/or stored in storage device 510, or other non-volatile storage for later execution.
Each of the processes, methods, and algorithms described in the preceding sections may be embodied in, and fully or partially automated by, code components executed by one or more computer systems or computer processors comprising computer hardware. The one or more computer systems or computer processors may also operate to support performance of the relevant operations in a “cloud computing” environment or as a “software as a service” (SaaS). The processes and algorithms may be implemented partially or wholly in application-specific circuitry. The various features and processes described above may be used independently of one another, or may be combined in various ways. Different combinations and sub-combinations are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure, and certain method or process blocks may be omitted in some implementations. The methods and processes described herein are also not limited to any particular sequence, and the blocks or states relating thereto can be performed in other sequences that are appropriate, or may be performed in parallel, or in some other manner. Blocks or states may be added to or removed from the disclosed example embodiments. The performance of certain of the operations or processes may be distributed among computer systems or computers processors, not only residing within a single machine, but deployed across a number of machines.
As used herein, a circuit might be implemented utilizing any form of hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, one or more processors, controllers, ASICs, PLAs, PALs, CPLDs, FPGAs, logical components, software routines or other mechanisms might be implemented to make up a circuit. In implementation, the various circuits described herein might be implemented as discrete circuits or the functions and features described can be shared in part or in total among one or more circuits. Even though various features or elements of functionality may be individually described or claimed as separate circuits, these features and functionality can be shared among one or more common circuits, and such description shall not require or imply that separate circuits are required to implement such features or functionality. Where a circuit is implemented in whole or in part using software, such software can be implemented to operate with a computing or processing system capable of carrying out the functionality described with respect thereto, such as computer system 500.
As used herein, the term “or” may be construed in either an inclusive or exclusive sense. Moreover, the description of resources, operations, or structures in the singular shall not be read to exclude the plural. Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps.
Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. Adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known,” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent.
