Abstract: Hypervisors are a new technology in the industry that enable multiple Operating Systems to co-exist on a single client. The use of a hypervisor provides a novel approach to thermal fan control. The hypervisor is able to fire up a maintenance Operating System on demand or have it running from the powering of the computer. The maintenance Operating System continuously monitors the status of the user Operating System and determines if the system is within the desired fan noise profile by measuring noise levels using means well known in the art. If the system seems to be drifting out of the desired profile, the maintenance Operating System will determine what type of action is required and choose the most appropriate course of action. These actions can be performed by either the maintenance Operating System or the hypervisor, as appropriate.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for computer system power management. A control module 602 is activated on a computer 200 in response to an event and enters 818 a standby state if the computer 200 is not already 814 in the standby state. A policy module 604 detects 904 a power source of a predetermined type connected to the computer 200 and dictates 908 one or more processors 302 of higher power consumption for a more abundant type of power source such as an AC adapter 314, or one or more processors 304 of lower power consumption for a less abundant type of power source such as a battery 318. A configuration module 606, activated by the control module 602, switches 1004 the computer 200 to one or more processors 302 and 304 of a predetermined power consumption as dictated and exits 1016 the standby state.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide for voice command devices that receive sound but do not transfer the voice data beyond the system unless certain voice-filtering criteria have been met are described herein. In addition, embodiments provide devices that support voice command operation while external voice data transmission is in mute operation mode. As such, devices according to embodiments may process voice data locally responsive to the voice data matching voice-filtering criteria. Furthermore, systems and methods are described herein involving voice command devices that capture sound and analyze it in real-time on a word-by-word basis and decide whether to handle the voice data locally, transmit it externally, or both.

Abstract: In a system with a main memory, a network adapter, and a display, a transaction security module in communication with the network adapter. The transaction security module acts to: establish a secure identification item with an entity which positively identifies the entity; accept an application OS of the entity; and initiate a guest OS with the entity; the network adapter acting to connect with the entity subsequent to initiation of a guest OS; and the display acting to display the secure identification item subsequent to connection with the entity.

Abstract: The instant invention broadly contemplates balancing of asymmetric RAID arrays based on application usage patterns. The instantly claimed invention broadly contemplates balancing the type of workload and delivery of the work load in asymmetric RAID arrays by intelligently implementing different types of applications on disks strategically positioned to deliver workload to the RAID channel that is most capable of handling the work load. The invention makes use of the fact that some applications are more large block, sequential transfer dependant while other applications are more small block, high random, high IOP dependent, and places these applications accordingly within the asymmetric RAID array.

Abstract: An approach is provided that determines whether keyboard power connection points included in a wireless keyboard are connected to system power connection points in a computer system. Power is sent from the computer system to the wireless keyboard. The power is transmitted through the system power connection points to the keyboard power connection points. Keyboard components included in the wireless keyboard are also powered using the power sent from the computer system. If the keyboard power connection points are not connected to the system power connection points, the keyboard components are powered included in the wireless keyboard by using a keyboard battery that is included in the wireless keyboard. One of the keyboard components that receives power is a wireless interface that connects the wireless keyboard to the computer system.

Abstract: An apparatus includes sensor circuitry configured to sense spatial phenomena; application circuitry configured to respond to sensation of a spatial phenomenon by the sensor circuitry where a pre-existing relationship exists between the spatial phenomenon and the response of the application circuitry; and regulation circuitry configured to regulate the response of the application circuitry to the spatial phenomenon based at least in part on sensation of a different spatial phenomenon by the sensor circuitry. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for facilitating and streamlining patch management in “road warrior” and analogous contexts. Particularly, there are broadly contemplated herein, in accordance with at least one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, methods and arrangements for facilitating determinations of suitable times for enabling system updates and/or downloads.

Abstract: The provision of a mode in silver zinc batteries where a user can access extra capacity as an emergency reserve for times when extra capacity is needed. While this temporarily increases capacity, it does not detrimentally affect cycle life over the longer term, and it permits a silver zinc battery to essentially mimic the long term capacity and cycle life characteristics of a lithium ion battery while still affording inherent advantages associated with silver zinc batteries. In a variant embodiment, this ability to temporarily increase capacity is optimally employed at the end of a battery life cycle in a controlled “roll-off” that accords additional cycles of battery service life. In another variant embodiment, the general capability to control capacity is employed to gradually decrease the available capacity of a battery over the life of the battery, to thereby extend the battery service life.

Abstract: In the context of a notebook computer, multiple battery safety measures in the computer, battery pack, and individual battery cells. These battery packs include industry standard safety mechanisms as well as additional safeguards designed to increase safety. The additional safeguards can be categorized in the following ways. The first safeguard deals with multiple, independent levels of battery monitoring. The second safeguard employs abnormal condition detection methods. The third safeguard deals with improvements to mechanical and thermal design.

Abstract: Hypervisors are a new technology in the industry that enable multiple Operating Systems to co-exist on a single client. The use of a hypervisor provides a novel approach to email virus protection. The hypervisor is able to fire up an Operating System on demand, for a specific purpose, or have it running from the powering of the computer. A second Operating System can be provided as a donor Operating System that acts as a scratch area or scratch pad. Emails sent to the recipient are opened under the donor Operating System, or the “Scratch OS”. Once the email activities are complete, the “Scratch OS” can be discarded. Thus, any damage that may be caused by an email virus would be nil, and further the User Operating System would be undamaged. This method would be effective in precluding any damage that a virus may have done.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for distributing writes asymmetrically. An asymmetric distribution module calculates an asymmetric distribution of writes for a plurality of drives. A write module writes data to each drive in accordance with the asymmetric distribution of writes.

Abstract: A mobile device, such as a laptop or notebook computer, capable of booting from at least two environments. If a remote environment is present, the mobile device may boot from the remote environment. The mobile device may also boot from the local environment.

Abstract: A method for preventing unauthorized modifications to a rental computer system is disclosed. During boot up of the rental computer system, a determination is made whether or not a time-day card is bound to the rental computer system. If the time-day card is bound to the rental computer system, another determination is made whether or not a time/date value on the time-day card is less than a secure time/date value stored in a secure storage location during the most recent power down. If the time/date value on the time-day card is not less than the secure time/date value, yet another determination is made whether or not the secure time/date value is less than an end time/date rental value. If the secure time/date value is less than the end time/date rental value, the rental computer system continues to boot.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for memory upgrade optimization. A requirements module 402 receives one or more of a capacity upgrade goal 1306 for an overall capacity of the array 706 and a performance upgrade goal 1308 for an overall performance of the array 706. An analysis module 404 identifies a first potential capacity change 1310 that can be achieved at a lower overall performance and a second potential capacity change 1314 that can be achieved at a higher overall performance. A reconfiguration module 406 generates one or more of a first reconfiguration recommendation 1312 calculated to yield an overall capacity improvement that takes into consideration the capacity upgrade goal 1306 and the first potential capacity change 1310 and a second reconfiguration recommendation 1316 calculated to yield an overall performance improvement that takes into consideration the performance upgrade goal 1308 and the second potential capacity change 1314.

Abstract: The instant invention broadly contemplates balancing of asymmetric RAID arrays based on application usage patterns. The instantly claimed invention broadly contemplates balancing the type of workload and delivery of the work load in asymmetric RAID arrays by intelligently implementing different types of applications on disks strategically positioned to deliver workload to the RAID channel that is most capable of handling the work load. The invention makes use of the fact that some applications are more large block, sequential transfer dependant while other applications are more small block, high random, high IOP dependent, and places these applications accordingly within the asymmetric RAID array.

Abstract: The invention broadly contemplates a safety arrangement that transitions a moving component, for example a cooling fan housed within a chassis of an electronic device, between a first operating mode or condition and a second operating mode or condition. The first operating mode is a normal operating mode, allowing the component (fan) to operate (rotate) at full speed. The second operating mode is a safety or service mode, allowing the component (fan) to operate (rotate) at a reduced speed such that it is compliant with applicable safety regulations.

Abstract: Arrangements which provide a degree of flexible power allocation among multiple power rails in computer systems, in a manner to permit the sharing and exchange of power across multiple rails. The rails involved in such sharing could be of similar or dissimilar voltage. By way of an advantageous refinement, a “shopping cart” approach for system configuration is permitted, based on subsystem or component power capability.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for memory configuration analysis. A classification module 402 determines 1000 an overall performance of an array 706 of memory devices 500 in a computer memory 104, wherein overall performance has a substantially inverse relationship with a highest quantity of members of a subset of the array and a substantially direct relationship with an individual performance capability of the members. A counting module 404 takes a count 1110 of members of the array 706 whose individual performance capability varies 1108 in a selected direction from the overall performance of the array 706. A comparison module 406 takes a selected action such as issuing a memory configuration warning 1114 if the count crosses a predetermined threshold 1112 comprising a predetermined percentage for comparison with the count, as qualified by the individual performance capability, divided by an unqualified count of members of the array 706.

Abstract: A system and method for using a client-side hypervisor in conjunction with a secure network-side monitoring mechanism to detect removable media insertions since a client's last network session with the secure network is presented. The hypervisor uses a “client-side insertion value” to track the number of times that a user inserts removable media into a socket located on the client. When the client is connected to the secure network, the client's hypervisor notifies the secure network of each insertion and the secure network increments a “secure network-side tracker value.” For each login request, the client includes the client-side insertion value, which the secure network compares against its secure network-side tracker value. When the two values are different, the secure network sends an action request to the client, such as a request to perform a full system scan.