Abstract: A method of providing an electronic business card (EBC) access and organization service on the Web. The cardholder database is accessible and searchable from any browser connected to the Internet or the EBC service may be installed behind a conventional firewall and thus accessible only to internet users. The service thus provides easy access to cardholder contact information with privacy assured by use of integrated access restrictions. Access to and delivery of contact information by the service is not limited to a Web browser interface as commonly known today. The service provides multi-mode access and/or data delivery interfaces. The service also provides an export feature that formats search results into a pre-defined file structure readable by conventional contact management programs. Custom export file formats may also be defined to provide even wider connectivity and cross-platform utility.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 18, 2000
Date of Patent:
October 14, 2003
Assignee:
Hewlett-Packard Company, L.P.
Inventors:
James G. Douvikas, Terry R. Sheehy, Christopher W. T. McKay
Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting a computer system. Specifically, a method and system for validating portions of memory at each power-on cycle is described. A Boot Block is used to validate the BIOS, CMOS and NVRAM of a system. The BIOS may also be used to validate the Boot Block, CMOS and NVRAM.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 31, 2000
Date of Patent:
September 23, 2003
Assignee:
Hewlett-Packard Company, L.P.
Inventors:
Michael F. Angelo, George David Wisecup, David L. Collins
Abstract: A positive stop capping system is provided for sealing an inkjet printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism during periods of printing inactivity. A positive stop or brace is provided in a cavity defined under a cap cover skin, with the skin also forming a sealing lip which surrounds ink-ejecting nozzles of the printhead when sealed. The flexible skin supporting the lip deflects into the cavity toward the brace when the cap is moved into a sealing position, in some cases contacting the brace, and in other cases, compressing the brace. An inkjet printing mechanism having the positive stop capping system and method of capping using this system are also provided.
Abstract: A paper tray automatically adjusts to accommodate a variety of media sizes. An array of photodetectors on the support surface of the tray are masked from light by placing media in the tray. A controller determines the size of the media by monitoring which photodetectors have been masked. The controller can then direct tray guides to move to predetermined positions corresponding to the size of the media.
Abstract: A technique is provided for coupling and uncoupling device boards for a computer system during any operational state of the computer system. A tool-free latch assembly is provided for coupling a device switchboard and the device boards to a mounting structure of the computer system. The tool-free latch also may have a transparent portion for transmitting light from a device status light to interior and exterior areas of the computer system. A non-mechanical switch also may be utilized in conjunction with the tool-free latch assembly to control power to the device boards.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 28, 2001
Date of Patent:
September 9, 2003
Assignee:
Hewlett-Packard-Company, L.P.
Inventors:
George D. Megason, Joseph R. Allen, Henry C. Coles, Dit Charoen
Abstract: A processing system receives instructions from a computer program. Each instruction is included within an issue group such that each issue group only includes instructions that may be simultaneously processed. The issue groups are then sequentially transmitted to a plurality of pipelines that simultaneously processes and executes the instructions within the issue groups in program order. During execution, the instructions within an issue group are analyzed to determine whether any of the instructions in the issue group is dependent on unavailable data. Any of the instructions in the issue group determined to be dependent on unavailable data are independently stalled, while execution of other instructions in the issue group is allowed to continue.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 7, 1999
Date of Patent:
September 9, 2003
Assignee:
Hewlett-Packard Company, L.P.
Inventors:
Ronny Lee Arnold, Donald Charles Soltis, Jr.
Abstract: Disclosed is a system in an inkjet printer for determining the amount of a fixer to be applied to a medium. The system comprises a fixer generation circuit where the fixer generation circuit determines an amount of a fixer to be applied to a dot location on a medium based on an amount of ink to be applied to the dot location. A bloom encoder circuit is also disclosed for identifying amounts of fixer to be deposited adjacent to dot locations containing ink.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 30, 1999
Date of Patent:
July 29, 2003
Assignee:
Hewlett-Packard Company, L.P.
Inventors:
Mark D. Lund, Ngoc-Diep T. Nguyen, Charles S. Woodruff
Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array having a substrate, an array of memory cells disposed over the substrate, row conductors coupled to the memory cells, and column conductors coupled to the memory cells. The memory device also includes current sources that generate variable write currents in response to temperature changes in the memory array. The variable write currents are generated to accommodate the change in coercivities of the memory cells as the temperature of the array changes. A current source can include a temperature sensor that provides a continuous, immediate output to the current sensor to ensure accurate adjustment of a write current generated by the current source. There is no need to halt operation of the memory device to calibrate the current source. In addition, the current source provides an accurate adjustment to the write current because the temperature used by the temperature sensor to generate the output may be taken contemporaneously with generation of the write current.