Abstract: A method and apparatus for activating a computer system in response to a stimulus from a universal serial bus (USB) peripheral provides a mechanism for powering up a computer system or restoring it from a suspended mode of operation. The apparatus includes a controllable power supply and a non-standard protocol using the USB wire connections, to provide a method for polling the peripheral to determine if activity has occurred which a host computer system should use to trigger activation.

Abstract: An intelligent network interface monitors activity states of a client and reports them to a network manager using a single network connection. The network interface monitors interrupts occurring on the client, derives activity states from the interrupts, and logs the activity states on the network interface. An activity state specifies whether the client is in a hung state, but may also specify whether the client is off, sleeping, inactive, or active. The network interface may periodically report the activity states to the network manager or report upon receiving a command. The network interface is preferably powered full time using a trickle power supply and therefore operates even when the remainder of the client is off. By including a processor or specialized logic on the network interface, the interface operates independently of the client operating system and therefore monitors and reports even when the client malfunctions.

Abstract: A data processing system and method are described for determining a physical location of a client computer system. The client and server computer systems are coupled together to form a local area network. Identifying information is associated with a tag. The client computer system transmits a wireless query signal to a physical region. In response to the tag being located within the physical region, the tag receives the wireless query signal. In response to a receipt of the query signal by the tag, the tag transmits a reply signal. The reply signal includes the identifying information. In response to a receipt of the reply signal by the client computer system, the physical location of the client computer system is determined utilizing the identifying information.

Abstract: A data processing system and method are described for remotely controlling execution of a processor utilizing the processor's built-in test access port for debugging the execution of the processor. The client computer system is coupled to a server computer system utilizing a network. The server computer system transmits a signal to said client computer system to control execution of the processor utilizing the test access port. The signal identifies one of a plurality of processor actions. In response to a receipt of the signal, the processor executes the one of the plurality of processor actions such that the server computer system remotely debugs the execution of the processor utilizing the built-in test access port, wherein additional debug hardware is not utilized.