Abstract: A boot block that contains a first public key is activated and a system Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) that contains a second public key and a first digital signature is verified, the verifying being performed by confirming that the first and second public keys match. In response to a determination that the first and second public keys match, the BIOS is activated and a system image is loaded to a real device. The system image is verified by confirming that the first digital signature that is stored in the system BIOS matches a second digital signature that is stored in a mass storage device. In response to the first and second digital signatures matching, a virtual mass storage device is created. Control of the virtual mass storage device is transferred to a boot strap code in an operating system image and the operating system image is booted from the virtual mass storage device.

Abstract: A method for managing shared passwords on a multi-user computer system is disclosed. A set of shared passwords and an administrator internal key are initially generated. After the receipt of an administrator external key, the administrator internal key is encrypted with the administrator external key. For each user level within the computer system, an internal key is generated by hashing the administrator internal key. For each user level within the computer system, each of the shared passwords encrypted with a respective one of the internal keys. The internal keys and the encrypted shared passwords are then stored in a non-volatile storage device.

Abstract: This invention intends to provide a data collecting apparatus and a gateway apparatus capable of reducing the labor for setting the threshold value or condition used for a real running point, reducing the number of cases where the threshold value or condition is erroneously set and setting the threshold value or condition within a narrow range.

Abstract: A call from a user operating system (UOS) to BIOS to configure a connected device into a reduced energy consumption mode is routed through a virtual machine monitor (VMM). The VMM determines whether a service O.S. (SOS) is in need of the device and if so the VMM informs the UOS that the device has been configured as ordered, while allowing the SOS to complete its task with the device. If the SOS is not in need of the device, or at the completion of the SOS task with the device, the VMM passes the call to ACPI/BIOS to configure the device in the demanded energy consumption mode.

Abstract: A computer system which includes a CPU for performing various processes by program control and storage elements which store at least one operating system and a BIOS, wherein upon starting a system, the CPU recognizes the system's own hardware configuration, and starts a selected one operating system stored in the storage elements in accordance with the recognized hardware configuration under the control of the BIOS.

Abstract: Protection of an authentication password stored in a database held by a SAM of Windows® is strengthened. A GINA, a part of the OS, receives an authentication password in ASCII codes. The authentication password is converted to first UNICODES, and the first UNICODES are salted with a random number and converted to second UNICODES. The random number used for salting is associated with a user account and a password and stored in a read/write protected non-volatile memory or a non-volatile memory which can be accessed only by a BIOS. An LSA of the OS can process UNICODES without being changed.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for suspend-resume scheduling in conjunction with an operation requiring a suspend-resume cycle of a computer 200, including updating, for purposes of system configuration management, a non-volatile memory 506, such as an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (“EEPROM”) 702. A control module 402 sends 806 a request to update the EEPROM 702. A suspend module 404 suspends 818 an operating system 204. A standby module 406 prepares 904 the computer 200 to enter a standby state, estimates 914 a sufficient amount of time to enter the standby state, places 916 the estimate into an alarm register 608, and then enters 918 the standby state. An update module 308 exits 1004 the standby state in response to an alarm signal 612, receives the request if present 1008, writes 1012 the EEPROM 702 with the updated information, and resumes 1018 the operating system 204.

Abstract: In the context of computer systems, the generation of preboot passwords at a server instead of at a client. Preferably, preboot passwords generated at the server are distributed to the client, and a process is offered whereby a user can establish his/her own proxy, not known to the server, that can be used to release the stored passwords to the client hardware. Since the passwords are generated at the server, management of the passwords is greatly facilitated since they are generated at the site where they are stored. This also makes it easy to implement management features such as a group policy, since the password generation software will be able to make logical connections between users and hardware.

Abstract: A computer system which includes a CPU for performing various processes by program control and storage elements which store at least one operating system and a BIOS, wherein upon starting a system, the CPU recognizes the system's own hardware configuration, and starts a selected one operating system stored in the storage elements in accordance with the recognized hardware configuration under the control of the BIOS.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing multi-language support in a pre-boot environment are supplied. User interface type information, such as keyboard type information and translation tables, are ascertained and provided to the pre-boot environment of the apparatus, allowing the apparatus to properly receive and/or translate multi-language inputs in an appropriate fashion.

Abstract: A computer system which includes a CPU for performing various processes by program control and storage elements which store at least one operating system and a BIOS, wherein upon starting a system, the CPU recognizes the system's own hardware configuration, and starts a selected one operating system stored in the storage elements in accordance with the recognized hardware configuration under the control of the BIOS.

Abstract: A method for updating an ISO file, e.g., to add a digital signature to the ISO file, includes adding a supplemental file composed of, e.g., all zeroes to the ISO file before recording, and then recording the ISO file with supplemental file to an optical disk using ISO format. A digital signature is computed after recording. The zeroes in the supplemental file are replaced by the values of the digital signature and the file is re-saved. Also, an ISO file that might have a common part and several unique parts, e.g., for respective languages, is deconstructed such that only a single copy of the common part is recorded to disk, avoiding multiple recordations of the same data.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for pre-boot policy modification. A key module exchanges a key with a server in a secure environment. A communication module receives a policy encoded with the key. A decode module decodes the encoded policy using the key and saves the policy setting prior to booting an operating system on the computer. An update module boots the computer using the policy.

Abstract: A computer system apparatus and method therefor are described which are appropriately power-controllable corresponding to each usage-situation. The computer system includes a PC main body and a digitizer wherein the usage-situation of the system is detected. If one of the predetermined usage-situations, such that the digitizer is mainly employed, is adopted, a target power saving mode is determined corresponding to installation or non-installation of an AC adapter, remaining amount of a DC battery, data upload frequency from the digitizer, and other conditions. In addition, in the case that the PC main body is in a power saving mode, the PC main body returns to the normal mode if data upload from the digitizer is requested. After completing the upload, the main body returns to an appropriate power saving mode.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and methods are disclosed for aligning a stored scancode sequence that corresponds to a hardware password, with a password input device type such as a current keyboard type. Aligning the stored scancode sequence with the password input device type enables successful validation of a hardware password despite a change in a password input device type or inadvertent corruption of a non-volatile memory used for storing the scancode sequence such as non-volatile memory that stores BIOS information for a computing device.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for a portable electronic device such as a computer to be capable of safely coping with the occurrence of a surprise removal from an external hard disk drive (HDD) connected by wireless. An HDD is connected to a portable computer by wireless via a wireless extension device. First, a wireless communication path between the HDD and the portable computer is configured. Subsequently, a file is read and edited by accessing the HDD from the portable computer. Next, removal information indicating that the portable computer is away from the HDD is produced. The removal information can be produced by detecting an acceleration generated in the portable computer, or by directly detecting the distance by the strength of the wireless signal. Data under editing is saved before occurrence of surprise removal by ejecting the HDD in response to the production of the removal information.

Abstract: A call from a user operating system (UOS) to BIOS to configure a connected device into a reduced energy consumption mode is routed through a virtual machine monitor (VMM). The VMM determines whether a service O.S. (SOS) is in need of the device and if so the VMM informs the UOS that the device has been configured as ordered, while allowing the SOS to complete its task with the device. If the SOS is not in need of the device, or at the completion of the SOS task with the device, the VMM passes the call to ACPI/BIOS to configure the device in the demanded energy consumption mode.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enabling screen brightness of a display unit to be adjusted automatically according to display brightness, thereby improving the visibility of the display screen to a viewing user. A brightness adjusting system including a gray scale gradation evaluator 20 for calculating the display brightness in a certain window displayed on the screen of a display unit and a display controller 30 for controlling the screen brightness of the display unit according to the display brightness in the certain window, calculated by the gray scale gradation evaluator 20, is provided for.

Abstract: To obtain a communication driver performing data conversion between a equipment and a management unit even when different data formats are used in a manufacturing system, in which the equipment that is equipped with a device for controlling a machine based on an instruction from the management unit and the management unit having a management application program that manages the equipment are connected to the machine, the communication driver includes device drivers (51a, 51b) provided for each type of devices (22a, 22b) in the manufacturing system and controlling communications with the devices (22a, 22b), and equipment drivers (52A, 52B) provided for each type of machines (21A, 21B) in the manufacturing system and accessing the machines (21A, 21B) to be accessed by using the device drivers (51a, 51b) in accordance with an instruction from the management application program (31). The device drivers (51a, 51b) and the equipment drivers (52A, 52B) are hierarchized.

Abstract: This invention intends to provide a data collecting apparatus and a gateway apparatus capable of reducing the labor for setting the threshold value or condition used for a real running point, reducing the number of cases where the threshold value or condition is erroneously set and setting the threshold value or condition within a narrow range.