The subject disclosure generally relates to the automotive field, and more specifically, to dynamic curve speed control adaptive to road conditions.
Vehicles can be equipped with advanced driver assist system (ADAS) functionalities that can assist drivers with various aspects of vehicle operation. By way of example, some vehicles can be equipped with ADAS functionalities that can recommend a desired speed and/or dynamically adjust a current vehicle speed in accordance with the desired speed to enhance occupant safety and/or comfort. Some driving situations can involve additional factors for such ADAS functionalities to evaluate in order to determine an appropriate desired speed. A notable example of such driving situations can be when a vehicle traverses curves. Additional factors to be evaluated by ADAS functionalities in determining an appropriate desired speed for traversing a curve can include road curvature and/or vehicle acceleration. Some ADAS functionalities can fail to evaluate road surface conditions in determining an appropriate desired speed for traversing a curve. Other ADAS functionalities can utilize default values for road surface conditions in determining an appropriate desired speed for traversing a curve. Such ADAS functionalities can effectively function when road surface conditions are favorable for traversing a curve. However, such ADAS functionalities can improperly function when road surface conditions can be less than favorable for traversing a curve, such as under adverse weather conditions.
The following presents a summary to provide a basic understanding of one or more embodiments of the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key or critical elements or delineate any scope of the particular embodiments or any scope of the claims. Its sole purpose is to present concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. In one or more embodiments described herein, systems, devices, computer-implemented methods, and/or computer program products that facilitate dynamic curve speed control adaptive to road conditions are described.
According to an embodiment, a system can comprise a process that executes computer executable components stored in memory. The computer executable components can comprise a curvature component, a road condition component, and a safety component. The curvature component can generate composite curvature data for a curve of a road preceding a vehicle using digital map data and lane marker data. The road condition component can generate friction data for a surface of the road using sensor data obtained from an on-board sensor of the vehicle. The safety component can determine a safe operational profile for traversing the curve using the composite curvature data and the friction data.
According to another embodiment, a computer-implemented method can comprise generating, by a system operatively coupled to a processor, composite curvature data for a curve of a road preceding a vehicle using digital map data and lane marker data. The computer-implemented method can further comprise generating, by the system, friction data for a surface of the road using sensor data obtained from an on-board sensor of the vehicle. The computer-implemented method can further comprise determining, by the system, a safe operational profile for traversing the curve using the composite curvature data and the friction data.
According to an additional embodiment, a computer program product for modifying electronic control system behavior using distributed machine intelligence can comprise a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The program instructions are executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform operations. The operations can include generating, by the processor, composite curvature data for a curve of a road preceding a vehicle using digital map data and lane marker data. The operations can further include generating, by the processor, friction data for a surface of the road using sensor data obtained from an on-board sensor of the vehicle. The operations can further include determining, by the processor, a safe operational profile for traversing the curve using the composite curvature data and the friction data.
The following detailed description is merely illustrative and is not intended to limit embodiments and/or application or uses of embodiments. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied information presented in the preceding Background or Summary sections, or in the Detailed Description section.
One or more embodiments are now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like referenced numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the one or more embodiments. It is evident, however, in various cases, that the one or more embodiments can be practiced without these specific details.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “coupled” to another element, it can describe one or more different types of coupling including, but not limited to, chemical coupling, communicative coupling, capacitive coupling, electrical coupling, electromagnetic coupling, inductive coupling, operative coupling, optical coupling, physical coupling, thermal coupling, and/or another type of coupling. As referenced herein, an “entity” can comprise a human, a client, a user, a computing device, a software application, an agent, a machine learning model, an artificial intelligence, and/or another entity. It should be appreciated that such an entity can facilitate implementation of the subject disclosure in accordance with one or more embodiments the described herein.
Road condition component 150 can generate friction data for a surface of the road using sensor data obtained from an on-board sensor of the vehicle, as described in greater detail with reference to
In an embodiment, the computer-executable components stored in memory 110 further can include a driver style component 170, a vehicle controller 180, and/or a driver alert component 190. Driver style component 170 can generate a driving style parameter for a driver of the vehicle using a machine learning model, as described in greater detail with reference to
Curvature component 140 can generate the composite curvature data R using digital map data 310 and/or lane marker data generated by lane marker detector 320. Digital map data 310 can comprise geometrical information describing the geometry of roads (e.g., road 200) comprising a road network. Such geometrical information can include longitude coordinates, latitude coordinates, and/or other geometrical information describing the geometry of roads. In an embodiment, digital map data 310 can be obtained from an Electronic Horizon (EH) system. As shown by
By way of example, in
In addition to geometrical information that can describe a topography of a road network, digital map data 310 can further comprise attribute information describing attributes defined for roads comprising a road network. Such attribute information can include road signs, number of lanes, speed limits, curvature data (or road radius data), and/or other attribute information describing defined attributes of roads. By way of example and with reference to
A comparison between
As shown by
In an embodiment, lane marker detector 320 can comprise a machine learning model that can generate lane marker data at an output responsive to optical data received from the one or more optical sensors 330 of vehicle 210. In an embodiment, the machine learning model can comprise a neural network. In an embodiment, the neural network can be a deep neural network. Continuing with the example above discussed with respect to
As discussed above with reference to
In framework 300, road condition component 150 can provide another input modality that safety component 160 can leverage to determine a safety operational profile for traversing a curve of a road preceding vehicle 210. In particular, road condition component 150 can generate friction data for a surface of a road using sensor data obtained from one or more on-board sensors 340 of vehicle 210. With reference to
Predicted friction data μp 820 can be indicative of estimated friction associated with a surface of a road that precedes vehicle 210. In an embodiment, road condition component 150 can comprise a machine learning model trained to generate predicted friction data μp 820 at an output responsive to receiving optical data corresponding to the surface of the road that precedes vehicle 210 at an input. In an embodiment, the one or more on-board sensors 340 can include an optical sensor that generates the optical data received as input at the input of the machine learning model of road condition component 150. In an embodiment, the optical sensor can include a photodetector associated with a LiDAR scanner, an image sensor (e.g., a CMOS image sensor and/or a CCD image sensor), and/or other optical sensors that can generate optical data corresponding to a surface of a road that precedes vehicle 210.
In framework 300, driver style detector 170 can provide another input modality that safety component 160 can leverage to determine a safety operational profile for traversing a curve of a road preceding vehicle 210. In particular, driver style detector 170 can generate a driving style parameter dp for a driver of vehicle 210 using a machine learning model. Different drivers can operate vehicle 210 at different speeds while traversing the same curve under the same road conditions due to different driving styles. For example, a driver with an aggressive driving style can generally tolerate higher lateral acceleration than a driver with a cautious driving style. As such, the driver with the aggressive driving style can be more likely to operate vehicle 210 at a higher speed while traversing the same curve under the same road conditions than the driver with the cautious driving style. Safety component 160 can modify a safe operational profile based on a driving style parameter dp to account for such differences.
With reference to
Vehicle acceleration data can include sensor data indicative of lateral acceleration, longitudinal acceleration, and/or vertical acceleration. Vehicle speed data can include sensor data indicative of transmission output, transaxle output, and/or wheel speed. Vehicle inertial data can include sensor data indicative of roll motion, pitch motion, and/or yaw motion. Road geometry data can include curvature data (e.g., curvature data obtained from digital map data 310, curvature data obtained using lane marker data, and/or composite curvature data R), lane width data, road inclination or elevation gradient data, and/or other data indicative of road geometry. In-lane orientation data and in-lane position data can correspond to an angle of vehicle 210 and a position of vehicle 210 relative to a lane center, respectively. In an embodiment, in-lane orientation data and/or in-lane position data can be generated using lane marker data generated by lane marker detector 320.
Following distance data can correspond to a distance (e.g., distance D 840 of
With reference to
V
safe
≤k
dp×min(Vs, Vr) Equation 1.
In accordance with Equation 1 above, Vsafe can denote a safety speed, kdp can denote a driver profile coefficient, Vs can denote a critical sideslip speed, and Vr can denote a critical rollover speed. In an embodiment, safety component 160 can determine a critical sideslip speed Vs and a critical rollover speed Vr using the functions defined by Equations 2 and 3, respectively:
In accordance with Equation 2 above, μp can denote a predicted friction data coefficient, g can denote gravity, and R can denote composite curvature data generated by curvature component 140 for the curve. In accordance with Equation 3 above, B can denote a vehicle track width and h can denote a center of gravity height of vehicle 210, respectively.
In an embodiment, safety component 160 can determine a safe operational profile for traversing a curve that can vary at different points within the curve. By way of example and with reference to
In an embodiment, safety component 160 can compute a trigger distance for a safe operational profile using composite curvature data R generated by curvature component 140 and/or friction data generated by road condition component 150. A trigger distance can generally correspond to a distance preceding a curve at which vehicle 210 can initiate operating in accordance with a safe operational profile. By way of example and with reference to
With reference to
Driver alert component 190 can present one or more graphical elements regarding a curve preceding vehicle 210 to a driver of vehicle 210 via an on-board display. By way of example, driver alert component 190 present such graphical elements to the driver via a dashboard display (e.g., dashboard display 1100 of
Collaboration interface 350 can facilitate interactions between an external computing device and one or more components of framework 300. By way of example and with reference to
In network environment 1000, collaboration interface 350 can further facilitate interactions between an external computing device of infrastructure 240 and one or more components of framework 300 via V2I communication link 1020. For example, safety component 160 can wirelessly transmit a safety speed of a safe operational profile determined for traversing a curve to the external computing device of infrastructure 240 via the V2I communication link 1020 established by collaboration interface 350.
In network environment 1000, collaboration interface 350 can further facilitate interactions between an external computing device of cloud environment 1050 and one or more components of framework 300 via V2C communication link 1030. For example, safety component 160 can wirelessly transmit a safety speed of a safe operational profile determined for traversing a curve to the external computing device of cloud environment 1050 via the V2C communication link 1030 established by collaboration interface 350. In this example, the external computing device of cloud environment 1050 can push a safety speed received from one or more vehicles (e.g., vehicle 210) to the external computing device of infrastructure 240 via communication link 1060. The external computing device of infrastructure 240 can modify a recommended speed for the curve based on the safety speed to account for current road conditions.
At 1320, the computer-implemented method 1300 can comprise generating, by the system (e.g., using road condition component 150), friction data for a surface of the road using sensor data obtained from an on-board sensor of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the friction data can include detected friction data indicative of friction between the vehicle and the surface measured by the on-board sensor. In an embodiment, the on-board sensor can comprise an optical sensor. In an embodiment, the friction data can include predicted friction data that is estimated for a portion of the surface that precedes the vehicle using optical data received from the optical sensor. At 1330, the computer-implemented method 1000 can comprise determining, by the system (e.g., using safety component 160), a safe operational profile for traversing the curve using the composite curvature data and the friction data.
In an embodiment, the computer-implemented method 1300 can further comprise generating, by the system (e.g., using driver style component 170), a driving style parameter for a driver of the vehicle using a machine learning model. In an embodiment, the computer-implemented method 1300 can further comprise modifying, by the system (e.g., using safety component 160), the safe operational profile based on the driving style parameter. In an embodiment, the computer-implemented method 1300 can further comprise dynamically altering, by the system (e.g., using vehicle controller 180), automated operation of the vehicle based on the safe operational profile.
In order to provide a context for the various aspects of the disclosed subject matter,
Computer 1412 can also include removable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer storage media.
Computer 1412 can operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as remote computer(s) 1444. The remote computer(s) 1444 can be a computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a workstation, a microprocessor-based appliance, a peer device or other common network node and the like, and typically can also include many or the elements described relative to computer 1412. For purposes of brevity, only a memory storage device 1446 is illustrated with remote computer(s) 1444. Remote computer(s) 1444 is logically connected to computer 1412 through a network interface 1448 and then physically connected via communication connection 1450. Network interface 1448 encompasses wire and/or wireless communication networks such as local-area networks (LAN), wide-area networks (WAN), cellular networks, etc. LAN technologies include Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), Copper Distributed Data Interface (CDDI), Ethernet, Token Ring and the like. WAN technologies include, but are not limited to, point-to-point links, circuit switching networks like Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDN) and variations thereon, packet switching networks, and Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL). Communication connection(s) 1450 refers to the hardware/software employed to connect the network interface 1448 to the system bus 1418. While communication connection 1450 is shown for illustrative clarity inside computer 1412, it can also be external to computer 1412. The hardware/software for connection to the network interface 1448 can also include, for exemplary purposes only, internal and external technologies such as, modems including regular telephone grade modems, cable modems and DSL modems, ISDN adapters, and Ethernet cards.
In some cases, the various embodiments of system 100 described herein can be associated with a cloud computing environment. For example, the system 100 can be associated with cloud computing environment 1550 as is illustrated in
It is to be understood that although this disclosure includes a detailed description on cloud computing, implementation of the teachings recited herein are not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather, embodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented in conjunction with any other type of computing environment now known or later developed.
Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing, memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or interaction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may include at least five characteristics, at least three service models, and at least four deployment models.
Characteristics are as follows:
On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provision computing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, as needed automatically without requiring human interaction with the service's provider.
Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).
Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to demand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumer generally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of the provided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher level of abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter).
Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and elastically provisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out and rapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilities available for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can be purchased in any quantity at any time.
Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level of abstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage, processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can be monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both the provider and consumer of the utilized service.
Service Models are as follows:
Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer is to use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure. The applications are accessible from various client devices through a thin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based e-mail). The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage, or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exception of limited user-specific application configuration settings.
Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer is to deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquired applications created using programming languages and tools supported by the provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, or storage, but has control over the deployed applications and possibly application hosting environment configurations.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to the consumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and other fundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy and run arbitrary software, which can include operating systems and applications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage, deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networking components (e.g., host firewalls).
Deployment Models are as follows:
Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for an organization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party and may exist on-premises or off-premises.
Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by several organizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns (e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and compliance considerations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third party and may exist on-premises or off-premises.
Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the general public or a large industry group and is owned by an organization selling cloud services.
Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or more clouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities but are bound together by standardized or proprietary technology that enables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting for load-balancing between clouds).
A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a focus on statelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperability. At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure that includes a network of interconnected nodes.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Hardware and software layer 1660 include hardware and software components. Examples of hardware components include: mainframes 1661; RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture based servers 1662; servers 1663; blade servers 1664; storage devices 1665; and networks and networking components 1666. In some embodiments, software components include network application server software 1667, database software 1668, quantum platform routing software (not illustrated in
Virtualization layer 1670 provides an abstraction layer from which the following examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers 1671; virtual storage 1672; virtual networks 1673, including virtual private networks; virtual applications and operating systems 1674; and virtual clients 1675.
In one example, management layer 1680 may provide the functions described below. Resource provisioning 1681 provides dynamic procurement of computing resources and other resources that are utilized to perform tasks within the cloud computing environment. Metering and pricing 1682 provide cost tracking as resources are utilized within the cloud computing environment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of these resources. In one example, these resources may include application software licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloud consumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources. User portal 1683 provides access to the cloud computing environment for consumers and system administrators. Service level management 1684 provides cloud computing resource allocation and management such that required service levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planning and fulfillment 1685 provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of, cloud computing resources for which a future requirement is anticipated in accordance with an SLA.
Workloads layer 1690 provides examples of functionality for which the cloud computing environment may be utilized. Non-limiting examples of workloads and functions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping and navigation 1691; software development and lifecycle management 1692; virtual classroom education delivery 1693; data analytics processing 1694; transaction processing 1695; and vulnerability risk assessment software 1696.
The present invention may be a system, a method, an apparatus and/or a computer program product at any possible technical detail level of integration. The computer program product can include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention. The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium can be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium can also include the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire.
Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network can comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device. Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention can be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions can execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer can be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection can be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) can execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.
Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions. These computer readable program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions can also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. The computer readable program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational acts to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams can represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks can occur out of the order noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession can, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks can sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
While the subject matter has been described above in the general context of computer-executable instructions of a computer program product that runs on a computer and/or computers, those skilled in the art will recognize that this disclosure also can or can be implemented in combination with other program modules. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks and/or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the inventive computer-implemented methods can be practiced with other computer system configurations, including single-processor or multiprocessor computer systems, mini-computing devices, mainframe computers, as well as computers, hand-held computing devices (e.g., PDA, phone), microprocessor-based or programmable consumer or industrial electronics, and the like. The illustrated aspects can also be practiced in distributed computing environments in which tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. However, some, if not all aspects of this disclosure can be practiced on stand-alone computers. In a distributed computing environment, program modules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices. For example, in one or more embodiments, computer executable components can be executed from memory that can include or be comprised of one or more distributed memory units. As used herein, the term “memory” and “memory unit” are interchangeable. Further, one or more embodiments described herein can execute code of the computer executable components in a distributed manner, e.g., multiple processors combining or working cooperatively to execute code from one or more distributed memory units. As used herein, the term “memory” can encompass a single memory or memory unit at one location or multiple memories or memory units at one or more locations.
As used in this application, the terms “component,” “system,” “platform,” “interface,” and the like, can refer to and/or can include a computer-related entity or an entity related to an operational machine with one or more specific functionalities. The entities disclosed herein can be either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component can be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a server and the server can be a component. One or more components can reside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component can be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. In another example, respective components can execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon. The components can communicate via local and/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., data from one component interacting with another component in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a network such as the Internet with other systems via the signal). As another example, a component can be an apparatus with specific functionality provided by mechanical parts operated by electric or electronic circuitry, which is operated by a software or firmware application executed by a processor. In such a case, the processor can be internal or external to the apparatus and can execute at least a part of the software or firmware application. As yet another example, a component can be an apparatus that provides specific functionality through electronic components without mechanical parts, wherein the electronic components can include a processor or other means to execute software or firmware that confers at least in part the functionality of the electronic components. In an aspect, a component can emulate an electronic component via a virtual machine, e.g., within a cloud computing system.
In addition, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. Moreover, articles “a” and “an” as used in the subject specification and annexed drawings should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. As used herein, the terms “example” and/or “exemplary” are utilized to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. For the avoidance of doubt, the subject matter disclosed herein is not limited by such examples. In addition, any aspect or design described herein as an “example” and/or “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs, nor is it meant to preclude equivalent exemplary structures and techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
As it is employed in the subject specification, the term “processor” can refer to substantially any computing processing unit or device comprising, but not limited to, single-core processors; single-processors with software multithread execution capability; multi-core processors; multi-core processors with software multithread execution capability; multi-core processors with hardware multithread technology; parallel platforms; and parallel platforms with distributed shared memory. Additionally, a processor can refer to an integrated circuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Further, processors can exploit nano-scale architectures such as, but not limited to, molecular and quantum-dot based transistors, switches and gates, in order to optimize space usage or enhance performance of user equipment. A processor can also be implemented as a combination of computing processing units. In this disclosure, terms such as “store,” “storage,” “data store,” data storage,” “database,” and substantially any other information storage component relevant to operation and functionality of a component are utilized to refer to “memory components,” entities embodied in a “memory,” or components comprising a memory. It is to be appreciated that memory and/or memory components described herein can be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. By way of illustration, and not limitation, nonvolatile memory can include read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, or nonvolatile random access memory (RAM) (e.g., ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM). Volatile memory can include RAM, which can act as external cache memory, for example. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM), direct Rambus dynamic RAM (DRDRAM), and Rambus dynamic RAM (RDRAM). Additionally, the disclosed memory components of systems or computer-implemented methods herein are intended to include, without being limited to including, these and any other suitable types of memory.
What has been described above include mere examples of systems and computer-implemented methods. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or computer-implemented methods for purposes of describing this disclosure, but one of ordinary skill in the art can recognize that many further combinations and permutations of this disclosure are possible. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “has,” “possesses,” and the like are used in the detailed description, claims, appendices and drawings such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The descriptions of the various embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.