Abstract: System and method for distributed computing. Each of multiple server computer systems may include one or more microservers, a network interface, and a network switch, coupled to the one or more microservers and the network interface, the network switch configured to switchably connect any of the microservers to a network via the network interface. Each microserver may be configurable to implement a respective server based on a computer image file, including a pre-execution environment (PXE) boot image. A management server computer may manage the server computer systems, including: providing or designating provision of computer image files to the server computer systems. Each server computer system may receive a computer image file from the management server computer or a designated computer image file store, implement a PXE boot image on a microserver accordingly, connect to one or more client computers over the network, and provide computer services to the client computers.

Abstract: System and method for zero client communications. A zero client device includes a housing, and in the housing, a transcoding processing unit (transcoder) and a communications processing unit coupled to the transcoder. The transcoder is configured to receive input data from human interface device(s), encode the input data, and provide the encoded input data to the communications processing unit for transmission over a network to a server. The communications processing unit is configured to receive the encoded input data from the transcoder, transmit the encoded input data over the network to the server, receive output data from the server, and send the output data to the transcoder. The transcoder is further configured to receive the output data from the communications processing unit, decode the output data, and send the decoded output data to at least one of the human interface devices.

Abstract: System and method for zero client communications. A zero client device includes a housing, and in the housing, a transcoding processing unit (transcoder) and a communications processing unit coupled to the transcoder. The transcoder is configured to receive input data from human interface device(s), encode the input data, and provide the encoded input data to the communications processing unit for transmission over a network to a server. The communications processing unit is configured to receive the encoded input data from the transcoder, transmit the encoded input data over the network to the server, receive output data from the server, and send the output data to the transcoder. The transcoder is further configured to receive the output data from the communications processing unit, decode the output data, and send the decoded output data to at least one of the human interface devices.

Abstract: System and method for zero client communications. A zero client device includes a housing, and in the housing, a transcoding processing unit (transcoder) and a communications processing unit coupled to the transcoder. The transcoder is configured to receive input data from human interface device(s), encode the input data, and provide the encoded input data to the communications processing unit for transmission over a network to a server. The communications processing unit is configured to receive the encoded input data from the transcoder, transmit the encoded input data over the network to the server, receive output data from the server, and send the output data to the transcoder. The transcoder is further configured to receive the output data from the communications processing unit, decode the output data, and send the decoded output data to at least one of the human interface devices.

Abstract: System and method for zero client communications. A zero client device includes a housing, and in the housing, a transcoding processing unit (transcoder) and a communications processing unit coupled to the transcoder. The transcoder is configured to receive input data from human interface device(s), encode the input data, and provide the encoded input data to the communications processing unit for transmission over a network to a server. The communications processing unit is configured to receive the encoded input data from the transcoder, transmit the encoded input data over the network to the server, receive output data from the server, and send the output data to the transcoder. The transcoder is further configured to receive the output data from the communications processing unit, decode the output data, and send the decoded output data to at least one of the human interface devices.

Abstract: System and method for zero client communications. A zero client device includes a housing, and in the housing, a transcoding processing unit (transcoder) and a communications processing unit coupled to the transcoder. The transcoder is configured to receive input data from human interface device(s), encode the input data, and provide the encoded input data to the communications processing unit for transmission over a network to a server. The communications processing unit is configured to receive the encoded input data from the transcoder, transmit the encoded input data over the network to the server, receive output data from the server, and send the output data to the transcoder. The transcoder is further configured to receive the output data from the communications processing unit, decode the output data, and send the decoded output data to at least one of the human interface devices.

Abstract: System and method for distributed computing. Each of multiple server computer systems may include one or more microservers, a network interface, and a network switch, coupled to the one or more microservers and the network interface, the network switch configured to switchably connect any of the microservers to a network via the network interface. Each microserver may be configurable to implement a respective server based on a computer image file, including a pre-execution environment (PXE) boot image. A management server computer may manage the server computer systems, including: providing or designating provision of computer image files to the server computer systems. Each server computer system may receive a computer image file from the management server computer or a designated computer image file store, implement a PXE boot image on a microserver accordingly, connect to one or more client computers over the network, and provide computer services to the client computers.

Abstract: System and method for zero client communications. A zero client device includes a housing, and in the housing, a transcoding processing unit (transcoder) and a communications processing unit coupled to the transcoder. The transcoder is configured to receive input data from human interface device(s), encode the input data, and provide the encoded input data to the communications processing unit for transmission over a network to a server. The communications processing unit is configured to receive the encoded input data from the transcoder, transmit the encoded input data over the network to the server, receive output data from the server, and send the output data to the transcoder. The transcoder is further configured to receive the output data from the communications processing unit, decode the output data, and send the decoded output data to at least one of the human interface devices.

Abstract: A method and system, used with an extended USB computer system, for locking out USB mass storage devices at the desktop. For lockout activation, a switch at each host computer is set, and causes a host-side lockout process to deliver a downstream lockout signal to the host's associated portal. This signal causes a portal-side lockout process to disallow USB data from a mass storage device from entering the network.

Abstract: System and method for zero client communications. A zero client device includes a housing, and in the housing, a transcoding processing unit (transcoder) and a communications processing unit coupled to the transcoder. The transcoder is configured to receive input data from human interface device(s), encode the input data, and provide the encoded input data to the communications processing unit for transmission over a network to a server. The communications processing unit is configured to receive the encoded input data from the transcoder, transmit the encoded input data over the network to the server, receive output data from the server, and send the output data to the transcoder. The transcoder is further configured to receive the output data from the communications processing unit, decode the output data, and send the decoded output data to at least one of the human interface devices.

Abstract: System and method for providing computer resources to users. The system includes a plurality of co-located computing systems, e.g., blade computers, comprising a hierarchy of computer resources based on performance, and located at a first location, each computing system including a processor, a memory medium coupled to the processor, and a plurality of human interface systems, each located at a second location remote from the first location, and each including an interface device, and one or more human interface devices coupled to the interface device, where each human interface system is coupled to the co-located computing systems over a network, such as a LAN or a WAN, via the interface device. Computer resources are provided to users of the plurality of remote human interface systems over the network in accordance with the computer resource performance needs of the users. Charges may be assessed for usage of the computer resources.

Abstract: System and method for capturing and/or restoring session state of a machine without using image files. Session state information for a first computer system may be captured in a structured state capture file (SSCF) using metadata to represent the session state and steps or actions which produced the session state, and does not include a memory image or memory dump of the first computer system. The SSCF may be stored, and subsequently provided for restoration of the session state on the first computer system or a different computer system. A server computer system may store the SSCF (with other SSCFs) and may provide the SSCF to the first computer system or a different computer system over a network for session state restoration, e.g., in response to a request over the network. The first computer system may implement a virtual machine (VM). The session state may be that of the VM.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for managing virtual machines on a server computer are described. According to one embodiment of the method, a pool of free virtual machines may be maintained on the server computer, e.g., where the number of virtual machines in the pool is specified by an administrator. In response to receiving a request to assign a virtual machine to a first user, the server computer may assign a first virtual machine from the pool to the first user and add a new virtual machine to the pool to replace the first virtual machine. In some embodiments the server computer may be one of a plurality of server computers in a server computer system. An administrator may be able to configure different pool sizes for different server computers in the system through a central user interface.

Abstract: A video transmitting system may be configured to transmit, over extended length twisted-pair cables, video signals encoded in the Y/C video space. The system may comprise a source of RGB computer video signals. A video transmitter may be operable to convert the RGB video signals into a balanced luminance signal and a respective pair of balanced color difference signals. The video transmitting system may be further configured to transmit the balanced luminance signal and the pair of balanced color difference signals over respective extended length twisted-pair cables. The luminance signal may be transmitted over a non time-corrected cable in order to retain bandwidth, while the color difference signals may be transmitted over time-corrected cables, thereby reducing the visual degradation of the signals.

Abstract: A method and system, used with an extended USB computer system, for locking out USB mass storage devices at the desktop. For lockout activation, a switch at each host computer is set, and causes a host-side lockout process to deliver a downstream lockout signal to the host's associated portal. This signal causes a portal-side lockout process to disallow USB data from a mass storage device from entering the network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a distributed computing infrastructure on a computer network comprising a plurality of computers. The distributed computing infrastructure (DCI) provides a software platform for creating, running, and managing distributed applications. DCI may include XML-capable software applications on a peer-to-peer network. DCI may include small, network-unaware applications called peerlets. DCI may include a system and method for creating complex distributed applications using pre-complied binaries. DCI may include a capability for multiple, independent collaborative sessions for distributed collaborative applications (e.g., chat, instant messaging, shared whiteboard, etc.). DCI may include systems and methods for reducing interactions between users and applications to archivable form and then playing back the interactions. DCI may include a system and method for automatic software retrieval on a peer-to-peer network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a distributed computing infrastructure on a computer network comprising a plurality of computers. The distributed computing infrastructure (DCI) provides a software platform for creating, running, and managing distributed applications. DCI may include XML-capable software applications on a peer-to-peer network. DCI may include small, network-unaware applications called peerlets. DCI may include a system and method for creating complex distributed applications using pre-complied binaries. DCI may include a capability for multiple, independent collaborative sessions for distributed collaborative applications (e.g., chat, instant messaging, shared whiteboard, etc.). DCI may include systems and methods for reducing interactions between users and applications to archivable form and then playing back the interactions. DCI may include a system and method for automatic software retrieval on a peer-to-peer network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a distributed computing infrastructure on a computer network comprising a plurality of computers. The distributed computing infrastructure (DCI) provides a software platform for creating, running, and managing distributed applications. DCI may include XML-capable software applications on a peer-to-peer network. DCI may include small, network-unaware applications called peerlets. DCI may include a system and method for creating complex distributed applications using pre-complied binaries. DCI may include a capability for multiple, independent collaborative sessions for distributed collaborative applications (e.g., chat, instant messaging, shared whiteboard, etc.). DCI may include systems and methods for reducing interactions between users and applications to archivable form and then playing back the interactions. DCI may include a system and method for automatic software retrieval on a peer-to-peer network.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for using free storage capacity on a plurality of storage media as a virtual storage device on a computer network comprising a plurality of computers. A first portion of each storage medium stores data. To implement Virtual Network Attached Storage (VNAS), the respective “free” second portions of each storage medium are aggregated into a shared storage volume. Computers on the network may mount the shared storage volume at one of a plurality of mount points and may store data on the shared storage volume. VNAS may be implemented in a peer-to-peer manner whereby each computer acts as a server for the data stored on its part of the shared storage volume (i.e., the second portion of its storage media). VNAS may be used to implement a system and method for managing data fail-over.

Abstract: A distributed resource manager for managing resources among a plurality of networked computers, e.g., computer blades. The resource manager executes on two or more of the computers, e.g., substantially concurrently, collecting data related to usage, performance, status, and/or load, for a component, process, and/or attribute of one or more computers, and evaluating operation rules based on the collected data to determine one or more resource management operations, e.g., re-configuring, activating/deactivating, and/or switching and/or swapping computers, for more efficient allocation of resources.