Abstract: A computer-implemented method for selectively enabling and disabling at least one of a plurality of functions of a host operating system and for selectively enabling and disabling at least one of a plurality of host components includes the following steps: activating a locking mechanism in the host system for disabling system access, wherein the locking mechanism includes switches and component control storage; activating component settings for selectively enabling and disabling components of the system, wherein the component settings are controlled by manipulating the switches; activating system settings for selectively enabling and disabling functions of the system, wherein the system settings are controlled by manipulating the switches; activating system passwords, component passwords and encryption keys; and locking the system according to the selected settings.

Abstract: A method of creating a password scheme for a mobile device includes partitioning a storage space on the mobile device into a public portion and a secure portion and encrypting access to the secure portion of the storage space by creating a long password, where the long password being composed of a series of bits of data previously stored on the mobile device in an non-encrypted form. Creating a long password includes assigning portions of the long password to a plurality of media files already stored on the mobile device and concatenating each of the portions of the long password to form the long password. The long password is used to decrypt data stored in the secure area of the mobile device.

Abstract: A method of creating a password scheme for a mobile device includes partitioning a storage space on the mobile device into a public portion and a secure portion and encrypting access to the secure portion of the storage space by creating a long password, where the long password being composed of a series of bits of data previously stored on the mobile device in an non-encrypted form. Creating a long password includes assigning portions of the long password to a plurality of media files already stored on the mobile device and concatenating each of the portions of the long password to form the long password. The long password is used to decrypt data stored in the secure area of the mobile device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for selectively enabling and disabling at least one of a plurality of functions of a host operating system and for selectively enabling and disabling at least one of a plurality of host components includes the following steps: activating a locking mechanism in the host system for disabling system access, wherein the locking mechanism includes switches and component control storage; activating component settings for selectively enabling and disabling components of the system, wherein the component settings are controlled by manipulating the switches; activating system settings for selectively enabling and disabling functions of the system, wherein the system settings are controlled by manipulating the switches; activating system passwords, component passwords and encryption keys; and locking the system according to the selected settings.

Abstract: A method for establishing symbiotic relationships between at least one mobile computing device and at least one stationary computing device, includes steps of: interacting with a computing entity assigned to an area where the at least one mobile and stationary computing devices are located using at least one networking protocol; receiving software modules from the computing entity, each one customized for the at least one mobile computing device for establishing the symbiotic relationships between the at least one mobile computing device and the at least one stationary computing device; running the software modules to interact with the at least one stationary computing device and the computing entity to establish symbiotic relationships that enable the performing of tasks selected by the at least one mobile computing device.

Abstract: A method for selling items by a vendor in a shopping venue includes steps of: receiving a first signal from a mobile information processing device, the signal including a list of items of interest; and transmitting a second to the mobile information processing device, the second signal indicating that at least one of the items of interest from the list is available in the shopping venue.

Abstract: A mobile information processing device includes a display driver for displaying a bar code, the bar code including a representation of a user's acceptance of a price requested by a store for a selected item for purchase. The bar code may be one-dimensional or two-dimensional.

Abstract: A method for purchasing a selected item from a store includes: receiving a request for payment authorization from a sales terminal of the store, the request for payment authorization including an identifier of at least one selected item and a price for each selected item; presenting the price to a shopper; presenting a prompt to the shopper for acceptance of the price; receiving an indication from the shopper of the acceptance of the price; and encrypting a payment authorization signal using a public key of the store, the payment authorization signal confirming a purchase and including an encrypted version of a certificate of the shopper; and sending the payment authorization signal to the sales terminal to confirm the purchase.

Abstract: A method (and system) of providing preferred access to a service includes linking an authorization server of a service provider with a certification scheme provided by a business enterprise.

Abstract: A system and method comprise steps of a) creating a first virtual image comprising one or more files; b) determining whether there exists a second virtual image that is identical to the first virtual image; c) comparing the one or more files of the first virtual image with the one or more files of the second virtual image to determine a set of common files; d) creating a common file collection comprising the set of common files; f) creating a second version of the first virtual image comprising only files in the first virtual image that are not in the common file collection; and g) creating a second version of the second virtual image comprising only files in the second virtual image that are not in the common file collection.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for communicating Web-Services (WS) messages. First there is allocated an identical amount of a cache history storage at each sender and receiver device for storing a history of communicated WS message strings. At the sender, there is generated an intermediate data representations of each message being built, the corresponding message string stored in the cache history storage. The message is communicated as a serialized data string according to the built data representation. For each subsequent message to be communicated, the method comprises identifying identical portions in intermediate data representations of a current message being built and replacing each identified portion in message strings with a reference indicator to a location in the cache history storage corresponding to an identical character string portion associated with a prior message that has been communicated.

Abstract: A portable device is connected to a host system that operates according to a first industry standard architecture (e.g., a personal computer built according to the IBM Personal Computer standard). The user initiates a session in the host system using the software and data in the portable device. The user suspends the state of the session, the state is stored in the portable device, and the user disconnects the portable device from the host. The user later connects the portable device to a second host that operates according to a second industry standard architecture (e.g., Apple Macintosh™ computer). The second host boots an autoconfiguring host operating system stored in the portable device and starts a virtual machine layer also stored in the portable device. The user then resumes operation of the suspended virtual machine layer session.

Abstract: A native device includes a memory storing a personal computing environment; an interface configured for coupling with a host information processing system; a native function system for performing a native function; and a native function emulator for emulating the native function in the host information processing system. According to another embodiment, a host information processing system includes: an interface for coupling with a native device comprising its user's personal computing environment; a processor configured for operating with the native device when the native device is coupled; and logic for emulating functions of the native device when the native device is coupled.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes steps of: coupling a portable device comprising a personal computing environment to a host computer system; booting the host computer system from the portable device; determining that the portable device does not have a driver for one or more hardware elements found in the host computer system; transmitting a request to a local zone provisioning server, for the one or more device drivers.

Abstract: The invention broadly and generally provides a key for a vehicle comprising: (a) a biometric sensor operable to create a measurement of at least one biometric property; (b) a data storage device operable to store data; (c) an authenticator operable to detect existence of a specified relationship between the aforesaid measurement and data stored within the aforesaid data storage device; and (d) a communication device operable to communicate in response to the aforesaid existence of the aforesaid specified relationship.

Abstract: A method of tracking a wireless device comprising a wireless interface, the method comprises locating a first access point providing a threshold signal strength; sending an association request to the first access point; recording a network address for the first access point; suspending normal operation of the wireless device for a length of time; resuming operation of the wireless device periodically to determine whether the access point still provides the threshold signal strength; and if it is determined that the first access point no longer provides the threshold signal strength and a second access point provides the threshold signal strength, sending a subsequent association signal to the second access point; receiving the network address of the second access point, recording a network address of the second access point, and suspending normal operation.

Abstract: A method for recording information on a device worn on a person includes capturing video information, capturing audio information and receiving a signal from a remote unit. The method further includes determining from the signal that the remote unit is a minimum distance from the device and in response commencing recording of the video information and the audio information in storage. In one alternative, the video information is captured via a video camera and audio information is captured via a microphone. In another alternative, the remote unit is installed in the person's vehicle.

Abstract: A machine comprises an enclosure; a plurality of parts within the enclosure; and a visual conduit for providing a view inside of the enclosure for detection of visible signs of failure of the machine. The concept of a visual conduit encompasses a broad variety of devices including cameras inside the enclosure that provide images of the interior of the enclosure and alternatively selective transparency or translucence of the enclosure relative to at least some of the parts of the machine housed within the enclosure.

Abstract: A web service development tool and method that allows a functional web service developer to associate a developed functional web service with a Web service Description Language (WSDL) document that contains a reference to a separate monitoring web service. The separate monitoring web service is specified as a Universal Resource Identifier (URI) in the Web Service Description Language (WSDL) document for a functional web service being. The web service developer includes instrumentation functions in the functional web service to collect data related to the performance of the web service. This collected data is then made available to the monitoring web service to support analysis of performance data for the executing functional web service.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product that in a mobile data communications system having at least one base station, at least one beacon and at least one mobile device, enables the mobile devices to conserve power. A wireless communication subsystem in each mobile device communicates with the base station. A beacon either signals the presence of a main base station or the need for the mobile device to attempt to associate or communicate with the base station. A beacon detection circuit in a mobile device activates the wireless communication subsystem in the mobile device when the beacon is received by the beacon detection circuit, which may be a passive circuit using no power, or a very low power receiver.