Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to biometric authentication, e.g., facial recognition. In some embodiments, a device is configured to verify that image data from a camera unit exhibits a pseudo-random sequence of image capture modes and/or a probing pattern of illumination points (e.g., from lasers in a depth capture mode) before authenticating a user based on recognizing a face in the image data. In some embodiments, a secure circuit may control verification of the sequence and/or the probing pattern. In some embodiments, the secure circuit may verify frame numbers, signatures, and/or nonce values for captured image information. In some embodiments, a device may implement one or more lockout procedures in response to biometric authentication failures. The disclosed techniques may reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of spoofing and/or replay attacks, in some embodiments.

Abstract: Service processors within a system are self-clustered. The system can also include an operating system or other software code, a management console, or both. The operating system communicates with the cluster of service processors, where the service processors are self-clustered or otherwise, such as through a memory shared by at least all the service processors. The operating system therefore need not be aware which of the service processors performs a given function. The console communicates with the cluster of service processors, where the service processors are self-clustered or otherwise, through any service processor of the cluster. The console therefore also need not be aware that the service processors have been clustered to perform functionality for the console.

Abstract: A method of virtualizing hardware resources in a multiprocessor computing environment is provided. Each resource is provided a resource address. A hardware resource map is provided to store virtual resource addresses and physical resource addresses. Remapping hardware is utilized to redirect virtual addresses to physical addresses. The method of virtualizing hardware resources may be applied to any resource mapped across the bus, including memory address space, and I/O address space. Accordingly, the method of virtualizing hardware resources through platform firmware enables dynamic routing of resource accesses during run-time.

Abstract: Service processors within a system are self-clustered. The system can also include an operating system or other software code, a management console, or both. The operating system communicates with the cluster of service processors, where the service processors are self-clustered or otherwise, such as through a memory shared by at least all the service processors. The operating system therefore need not be aware which of the service processors performs a given function. The console communicates with the cluster of service processors, where the service processors are self-clustered or otherwise, through any service processor of the cluster. The console therefore also need not be aware that the service processors have been clustered to perform functionality for the console.

Abstract: The self-clustering of service processors within a system is disclosed. The system can also include an operating system or other software code, a management console, or both. The operating system communicates with the cluster of service processors, where the service processors are self-clustered or otherwise, such as through a memory shared by at least all the service processors. The operating system therefore need not be aware which of the service processors performs a given function. The console communicates with the cluster of service processors, where the service processors are self-clustered or otherwise, through any service processor of the cluster. The console therefore also need not be aware that the service processors have been clustered to perform functionality for the console.

Abstract: The self-clustering of entities within a system is disclosed. The system can also include a host. Each entity self-discovers all the other entities, such that the entities are aggregated as a cluster. The host communicates with the cluster of entities, where the entities are self-clustered or otherwise, such as through a memory shared by all the entities. The host therefore need not be aware which of the entities performs a given function.

Abstract: A method of virtualizing hardware resources in a multiprocessor computing environment is provided. Each resource is provided a resource address. A hardware resource map is provided to store virtual resource addresses and physical resource addresses. Remapping hardware is utilized to redirect virtual addresses to physical addresses. The method of virtualizing hardware resources may be applied to any resource mapped across the bus, including memory address space, and I/O address space. Accordingly, the method of virtualizing hardware resources through platform firmware enables dynamic routing of resource accesses during run-time.

Abstract: The self-clustering of entities within a system is disclosed. The system can also include a host. Each entity self-discovers all the other entities, such that the entities are aggregated as a cluster. The host communicates with the cluster of entities, where the entities are self-clustered or otherwise, such as through a memory shared by all the entities. The host therefore need not be aware which of the entities performs a given function.

Abstract: The self-clustering of service processors within a system is disclosed. The system can also include an operating system or other software code, a management console, or both. The operating system communicates with the cluster of service processors, where the service processors are self-clustered or otherwise, such as through a memory shared by at least all the service processors. The operating system therefore need not be aware which of the service processors performs a given function. The console communicates with the cluster of service processors, where the service processors are self-clustered or otherwise, through any service processor of the cluster. The console therefore also need not be aware that the service processors have been clustered to perform functionality for the console.

Abstract: A method of virtualizing hardware resources in a multiprocessor computing environment is provided. Each resource is provided a resource address. A hardware resource map is provided to store virtual resource addresses and physical resource addresses. Remapping hardware is utilized to redirect virtual addresses to physical addresses. The method of virtualizing hardware resources may be applied to any resource mapped across the bus, including memory address space, and I/O address space. Accordingly, the method of virtualizing hardware resources through platform firmware enables dynamic routing of resource accesses during run-time.