Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods, including program instructions, are provided for firmware filters and patches. One method embodiment includes executing extended firmware interface (EFI) program instructions during runtime to modify a firmware implementation underlying an interface and invoking the modified firmware implementation, while the original firmware code in non-volatile memory remains unmodified. A further embodiment includes adding a runtime service in an system abstraction layer (SAL) interface and adding a subordinate runtime service that describes a device not known to a firmware image on a system but useable by a particular operating system (OS).

Abstract: A computing device having partitions, and a method of communicating between partitions, are disclosed wherein at least one partition comprises: at least one register substantially always accessible to other partitions and capable of defining an address area; at least one address area that may be accessible to other partitions and is capable of being defined by the at least one register; and address areas other than the at least one accessible address area that are not accessible to other partitions. A method of processing interrupts comprising receiving an interrupt, assessing the origin of the interrupt, accepting, rejecting, or further assessing the interrupt, depending on its origin, when further assessing the interrupt, accepting or rejecting the interrupt depending on its contents, and forwarding accepted interrupts but not rejected interrupts to a target processor, and a device carrying out that method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting friend or potential friend candidates as being suspicious in an OSN. A processor is used to obtain at least one candidate as being a suspicious friend in the OSN. One or more risk factors are used in the analysis. Heuristics are applied to the risk factors with the processor. In response, a determination is made as to whether the candidate is a suspicious individual. The processor can be software, hardware, or one or more individuals can use manual methods, to do the analysis and make the determination.

Abstract: Block data access is provided for an operating system by allocating a portion of solid-state memory of a data processing arrangement for use as a block storage device. A block device interface is created that provides access to the portion of solid-state memory via firmware of the data processing arrangement. The block device interface emulates an electromechanical data-storage device. The block device interface is presented to the operating system at a boot-time of the operating system and the block device interface is accessed using a block device driver of the operating system during the boot-time of the operating system. The block device driver emulates the electromechanical data-storage device to the operating system.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods, including program instructions, are provided for migrating operating system images. One method embodiment includes performing a process on a first device. The operation of the process is paused as a persistent image which is then migrated to a second device.

Abstract: A method is provided of monitoring activity relative to a user's account of an on-line social network website (OSN). At least one activity of the user's account on an OSN is monitored, resulting in user's account activity data. Analysis of the user's account activity data is performed. Information is reported that is indicative of the processed user's account activity based on a selected criteria. A system is provided for authenticating a parent or legal guardian of a child on a social network.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting friend or potential friend candidates as being suspicious in an OSN. A processor is used to obtain at least one candidate as being a suspicious friend in the OSN. One or more risk factors are used in the analysis. Heuristics are applied to the risk factors with the processor. In response, a determination is made as to whether the candidate is a suspicious individual. The processor can be software, hardware, or one or more individuals can use manual methods, to do the analysis and make the determination.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to automatically selecting firmware instructions for an operating system. According to one embodiment, at least a part of a first subset of firmware instructions on a computer system is executed. An automatic determination of whether the first subset of firmware instructions supports an operating system the computer system will execute is made. If the first subset of firmware instructions does not support the operating system, a second subset of firmware instructions that does support the operating system is automatically caused to execute without requiring human intervention. A single firmware includes the first subset and the second subset of firmware instructions for different operating systems.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for embodiments of the present invention to describe a technique that provides an operation region and associated operation region handler to define a virtual device for extending the functionality of an existing operating system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to automatically selecting firmware instructions for an operating system. According to one embodiment, at least a part of a first subset of firmware instructions on a computer system is executed. An automatic determination of whether the first subset of firmware instructions supports an operating system the computer system will execute is made. If the first subset of firmware instructions does not support the operating system, a second subset of firmware instructions that does support the operating system is automatically caused to execute without requiring human intervention. A single firmware includes the first subset and the second subset of firmware instructions for different operating systems.

Abstract: Hardware access is provided for an operating system by allocating a portion of firmware address space of a data processing arrangement for use as a virtualized data interface that emulates a first hardware device. The virtualized data interface is presented to the operating system. The operating system accesses the virtualized data interface using a standardized kernel component of the operating system adapted to interface with the first hardware device. Data is exchanged between the virtualized interface and a second hardware device based on accesses of the virtualized data interface by the operating system via the standardized kernel component.

Abstract: Information objects and system firmware for a processor in a partitionable computing system are disclosed. One object comprises information corresponding to components of the computer system. The information comprises entries defining an address and a size for registers normally accessible to other partitions. The registers are capable of defining an address area such that in use the processor is arranged to permit other partitions to access at least one address area defined by the at least one register and to deny other partitions access to address areas other than the at least one accessible address area.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed for use in a computer system. The method includes: (A) receiving an indication of a first hotplug event for a first operating system executing in the computer system; (B) identifying, among a plurality of hotplug handling methods, a first hotplug handling method associated with the first operating system; and (C) handling the first hotplug event using the first hotplug handling method.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods, including program instructions, are provided for firmware filters and patches. One method embodiment includes executing extended firmware interface (EFI) program instructions to modify a firmware implementation underlying an interface and invoking the modified firmware implementation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed for use in a computer system. In one embodiment, the method includes: (A) receiving from a user an instruction to perform a hotplug operation on a device in the computer system; and (B) in response to the instruction, using a manageability processor in the computer system to transmit to an operating system executing in the computer system an event indicating the hotplug operation to perform on the device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed for use in a computer system. The method includes: (A) receiving an indication of a first hotplug event for a first operating system executing in the computer system; (B) identifying, among a plurality of hotplug handling methods, a first hotplug handling method associated with the first operating system; and (C) handling the first hotplug event using the first hotplug handling method.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods, including program instructions, are provided for migrating operating system images. One method embodiment includes performing a process on a first device. The operation of the process is paused as a persistent image which is then migrated to a second device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for embodiments of the present invention to describe a technique that provides an operation region and associated operation region handler to define a virtual device for extending the functionality of an existing operating system.

Abstract: Hardware access is provided for an operating system by allocating a portion of firmware address space of a data processing arrangement for use as a virtualized data interface that emulates a first hardware device. The virtualized data interface is presented to the operating system. The operating system accesses the virtualized data interface using a standardized kernel component of the operating system adapted to interface with the first hardware device. Data is exchanged between the virtualized interface and a second hardware device based on accesses of the virtualized data interface by the operating system via the standardized kernel component.

Abstract: Communicating external data with one or more operating systems of a data processing arrangement involves virtualizing one or more Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter (UART) interfaces via a component of the data processing arrangement that operates outside the control of the operating systems. Each of the UART interfaces is associated with at least one operating system of the one or more operating systems. The data is communicated between the UART interfaces and the associated operating systems via calls to standardized software of the associated operating systems. The data is then communicated between the UART interfaces and a non-UART device of the data processing arrangement.