Abstract: A population of service providers is filtered to identify candidate service providers. The filtering is based upon whether each server provider has a starting location within a geographic zone containing the service destination. Travel times to the destination for the candidate service providers are compared and used for selecting a service provider from the candidate service providers.

Abstract: A method is provided for enabling a support program to provide services using imported administrative rights on a client computer for a user without administrative rights. The method includes the operation of creating a global administrative account on a domain server for a computer network. In addition, the support program can be activated on the client computer. A further operation is creating a process with administrative rights from the support program using the global administrator account on the domain server. The support services enabled with administrative rights can then to be provided for the client computer using the process created with administrative rights.

Abstract: A categorizer is trained for plural categories according to a machine-learning algorithm. The categorizer classifies cases in a set of cases into the plural categories. One or more quantification measures regarding cases in the data set are computed based on output from the categorizer, and information is provided to enable ranking of the categories based on the one or more quantification measures. Action is effected to address an issue associated with at least one of the categories based on the provided information.

Abstract: An automated method, system, and computer program for troubleshooting the inability of programs installed upon two computers interconnected by wired or wireless linkages to share or manipulate sharable information includes the following steps: On a first computer, tests are performed to see if hardware or software elements on that computer and essential to sharing or manipulating sharable information is properly installed or configured and also to see if information can actually be sent between the two computers; then, if possible, testing is initiated or performed to see if hardware or software elements on the second computer essential to sharing or manipulating sharable information are also properly installed or configured; and then the results of this testing is reported.

Abstract: A method and system gather information to facilitate the remote support of devices installed on a computer. For example, an exemplary method comprises first installing an information harvester and a formatter onto the computer. These are then used to identify and test the devices and to collect information about the devices and the testing. Then at least some of the collected information is formatted for display to the user and presentation to a support specialist. The formatted information is then displayed as part of a user display also having provision whereby a user may enter additional comments about device problems into the user display. If a user so chooses, the user comments may be collected, then the combined formatted collected information and the collected user comments are sent to a support specialist by means of a network transport mechanism such as e-mail, TCP, or the like.

Abstract: An integrated hardware and software monitoring system for a remote computer includes an event monitoring module loaded on the remote computer. The event monitoring module includes a hardware event detector that detects hardware events on the remote computer that may need attention, and a software service detector that detects status of software running on the remote computer to determine if any of the software has failed or is not operating properly, and to output a software event as a result thereof. The monitoring system also includes a data transmission system for performing a data transmission so as to notify a support specialist over a network connection of a hardware event or software event detected by the event monitoring module. The monitoring system further includes a graphical user interface provided on a display of the remote computer for allowing a user of the remote computer to make selections as to which software services and hardware events are to be detected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for diagnosing and repairing hardware and software problems relating to computer peripheral devices and their software drivers. The method and apparatus enumerate the devices, identify devices having errors, detect replacement software drivers and then un-install possibly defective software drivers so that they may be replaced automatically by the operating system, run hardware tests and attempt repairs on hardware devices.

Abstract: An electronic device has a central processing unit (CPU), a display, and a memory device. The display and memory device are both coupled to the CPU. The memory device includes a data structure having a born-on-date (BOD) field and a counter field. The BOD field contains a warranty start date for the electronic device. The CPU is capable of displaying the BOD field on the display. The BOD field is updated by said CPU based on the contents of said counter field.

Abstract: An integrated hardware and software monitoring system for a remote computer includes an event monitoring module loaded on the remote computer. The event monitoring module includes a hardware event detector that detects hardware events on the remote computer that may need attention, and a software service detector that detects status of software running on the remote computer to determine if any of the software has failed or is not operating properly, and to output a software event as a result thereof. The monitoring system also includes a data transmission system for performing a data transmission so as to notify a support specialist over a network connection of a hardware event or software event detected by the event monitoring module. The monitoring system further includes a graphical user interface provided on a display of the remote computer for allowing a user of the remote computer to make selections as to which software services and hardware events are to be detected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for diagnosing and repairing hardware and software problems relating to computer peripheral devices and their software drivers. The method and apparatus enumerate the devices, identify devices having errors, detect replacement software drivers and then un-install possibly defective software drivers so that they may be replaced automatically by the operating system, run hardware tests and attempt repairs on hardware devices.

Abstract: The connectable drive belt of the present invention includes an elongated circular cord formed from an elastomeric material. The ends of the cord are flattened and formed into a portion having a rectangular cross-section. A hole is formed in the end of each flattened portion. Then a metal clip having two hooks lying in planes perpendicular to one another is used to connect the opposite ends of the belt together. Once connected, the flattened ends of the belt are twisted 90 degrees relative to one another and are held in this position by the clip.