Abstract: A multifunction device includes a multifunction controller, a first interface for receiving input data from at least one scanner and a second interface for outputting processed input data to at least one printer, wherein the first interface and the second interface are each a standard interface. In a presently preferred embodiment the first interface is comprised of a SCSI interface. The multifunction device further includes a graphical user interface for controlling the operation of the multifunction device, including setting operational parameters for the at least one scanner and the at least one printer. Other interfaces are also provided, including one for coupling to a facsimile device for outputting processed input data to the facsimile device, and another interface for coupling to an e-mail port for outputting processed input data to the e-mail port.

Abstract: A switching system receives a data cell from a set of n input ports for routing to one or more output ports in accordance with the contents of a bitmap value retrieved from the cell upon its receipt. The system has a module comprising a shared buffer for storing the cells which are to be routed and a mask mechanism with a mask register for altering the value of the bitmap before it is used for controlling the routing process. As a result of operation of the mask mechanism, a cell is either transported to an output port or discarded. Two switching systems are combined in first and second switch fabrics, each having a switch core and a set of switch core access layer (SCAL) elements. Each SCAL element respectively comprises a SCAL Receive element and a SCAL Xmit element for permitting access to input and output ports of one of the switching systems.

Abstract: A data processing system and method are disclosed for authenticating a client computer system to a secure network prior to permitting the client computer system to attempt to log-on to the network. The secure network is controlled by a server computer system. A unique identifier is established which identifies the client computer system. The unique identifier is encrypted. Prior to permitting the client computer system to attempt to log-on to the secure network, the client computer system transmits the encrypted identifier to the server computer system. Also prior to permitting the client computer system to attempt to log-on to the network, the server computer system utilizes the unique identifier to determine whether to permit the client computer system to attempt to log-on to the network. The client computer system is authenticated prior to permitting the client computer system to attempt to log-on to the network.

Abstract: In a portable computer, an LED holder is provided in the upper portion of an LCD and an LED is attached inside the LED holder. Light emitted from the LED passes through an aperture provided in the bottom portion of the LED holder and illuminates a keyboard. Furthermore, switching on or off the LED is manually performed by a switch installed in the portable computer and is also controlled from a utility program, etc., by a switching controller circuit installed inside a main body.

Abstract: A method and system of changing a current operating system to a new operating system in a workstation connected to a data transmission network interconnecting a plurality of workstations each having a storage device and a plurality of servers providing services to the workstations through the network, at least one of the plurality of servers being a software distribution server providing one of the plurality of workstations with updated application code.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for providing a tamper alarm for a computer system. The method includes detecting tampering of the computer system, and transmitting electromagnetic field signals from a device concerning the tampering. In the preferred embodiment, the electromagnetic field signals are transmitted through patterns on a monitor or a video card which transmits a computer system identity information. The electromagnetic field signal of the present invention functions as a tamper alarm. When a receiver hears the alarm, the administrator of the computer system may act accordingly. The tamper evidence alarm may be transmitted in a manner which does not require the disabling of the computer system, thus increasing the ease of its use over conventional methods. Because the computer system is not disabled, a password is not required in order to regain access to the computer system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for securing a computer. The method includes providing a zone of authorized operation for the computer; determining if a possessor of the computer is authorized to have possession when the computer and the possessor leaves the zone of authorized operation and pass through a portal; and allowing continued access to the computer without requiring a password if the possessor is authorized. The method and system is transparent to the possessor and provides no advantage in hiding the computer from the portal. This method and system may be easily applied in a corporate environment and is particularly apt for securing mobile computer systems.

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 power supply unit includes a rechargeable battery for supplying power to a body circuit of an electrical apparatus, a current measurement circuit for measuring a currently-discharged current value, a voltage measurement circuit for measuring a currently-discharged voltage value, and a controller for detecting whether a memory effect occurs by determining whether a currently-discharged voltage value measured at a currently-discharged current value is lower than a predetermined voltage value when a detected battery capacity is equal to or less than a predetermined capacity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for hardware logic verification data transfer checking are implemented. Data for transfer is generated in response to a decoded bus transaction instruction using a pseudorandom number generator. The seed for the generator includes a predetermined portion provided to each bus device. The predetermined portion is combined with the address of the target device, obtained from the decoded instruction, to form the seed input to the random number generator. For write transactions, the bus master generates the data to be transferred using the seed, and sends the data to the target. The target independently generates the data by a call to the random number generator and compares the value received via the data transfer with the independently generated value. Similarly, for read transactions, the slave device generates the data to be transferred in response to the read request.

Abstract: A system for mapping a location of an electronic equipment in a defined area. The system comprises of a server which is typically a data processing system. An activation signal is sent to the electronic equipment. In response to the activation signal, the electronic equipment emits a pre-defined signal containing a unique signature of the electronic equipment. The signal is captured by a device connected to the server with a known location in the defined area. The server utilizes the known location of the device along with the unique signature of the electronic equipment to identify/determine the location of the electronic equipment.

Abstract: An electronic component unit such as a speaker unit which is to be installed in the main body of a notebook-sized PC, includes an integral connector with compression type terminals that are connected with lead wires to a speaker. When the speaker unit is disposed on a speaker-unit mounting portion, the compression type terminals are disposed at a position where they contact with the lands of a system board. The speaker unit is fixed by inserting screws into the support portions of a housing, and at the same time, the compression type terminals are elastically contacted with the lands and electrically connected thereto.

Abstract: A radiation structure is employed in electronic apparatus such as a laptop computer having a body containing a heat generating element (e.g. CPU) and a display, rotatably connected to the body. The radiation structure transfers heat from the CPU to the outside of the apparatus and includes a first heatpipe; a hinge member connected to the host heatpipe for receiving heat therefrom; a second heatpipe for transferring heat from the hinge member to a radiation member placed in the display, one end of the second heatpipe being arranged substantially coaxially with the center of rotation of the display; and a sleeve member arranged in the hinge member coaxially with respect to the center of rotation of the display, the sleeve member being inserted from the outside into the inside of the display together with a portion of the second heatpipe which projects from the hinge member.

Abstract: Described is an improved method for undocking a structure having an optional number of tiers from a multilayer-dock structure constituted by docking a plurality of expansion units respectively having an intrinsic resource to a portable PC. To undock only a portable PC from a triple-layer-dock structure constituted by docking a first expansion unit and a second expansion unit to the portable PC, the first expansion unit is made to generate an undock event. The IDE device of the first expansion unit and the PCI device of the second expansion unit are separated from the control by an operating system by taking the undock event as an opportunity and the interfaces of the devices and are electrically separated. The operability is improved because it is possible to unitedly obtain an object to be undocked through both vision and operation.

Abstract: A data processing system and method are described for permitting a portable computer to automatically detect the presence of a printer within a remote area, and responsive to the detection, automatically establishing a communications link with the printer. The portable computer is physically disconnected from the printer. The portable computer transmits a wireless query signal to the remote area. In response to a printer physically located within the remote area receiving the wireless query signal, the printer transmits a wireless reply signal to the remote area. In response to the portable computer receiving the wireless reply signal, the computer automatically establishes a communications link with the printer so that the computer may utilize the printer to print information. The communications link may be established with a printer for which the computer does not include a printer driver necessary for communicating with the printer.

Abstract: Modems, methods, and computer program products for recovering from errors during a tone reversal sequence between a modem pair detect a false tone reversal during a tone reversal sequence at a first modem. If a false tone reversal is detected, then the first modem requests that a second modem restart the tone reversal sequence. Tone reversal sequences are used, for example, in the startup protocols of both the V.34 and V.90 standards to calculate the round trip delay between two modems. Neither standard provides for any recovery procedure, however, should the tone reversal sequence fail. The modems, methods, and computer program products can allow errors in a tone reversal sequence to be addressed immediately rather than proceeding to later phases in the communication protocol where the errors may ultimately cause the communication session to breakdown.

Abstract: A data processing system and method are described for permitting a server computer system to perform remote diagnostics on a malfunctioning client computer system coupled to the server computer system utilizing a network. The server computer system transmits a diagnostic command to the malfunctioning client computer system utilizing the network. A network adapter operating as a bus controller for an internal bus within the malfunctioning client computer system executes the diagnostic command. The network adapter transmits a result of the execution of the diagnostic command to the server computer system. In this manner, the diagnostic command is executed within a malfunctioning client computer system by a remote, server computer system.

Abstract: A system and method of monitoring and analyzing the performance of a computer system and its components in a data processing network and for proposing changes to the network to improve the performance. The system involves identifying undesirable conditions (sometimes called bottlenecks) in the system, determining which bottlenecks are the most severe in affecting the performance of the system and in proposing changes to the components of the system to improve performance of the network. The present invention uses historical data and forecasting techniques to predict bottlenecks which have not occurred yet but which can be expected, so that further bottlenecks can be projected, along with a prediction interval to indicate the confidence of the prediction. The further projections and the prediction interval are provided in a graph which is available to the user over the Internet, if desired, using HTML and hot links.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for facilitating the generation and use of computer system configuration passwords which can be utilized in an enterprise or organization to allow authorized users having knowledge of the password associated with a particular data processing system to make and change configuration decisions, but which prevents unauthorized users from making and changing such configuration decisions. In the preferred embodiment, a unique identifier (such as a serial number) and an enterprise secret key are supplied to a one-way cryptographic hash function in order to generate the configuration passwords which are unique to each data processing system of the plurality of data processing system of the enterprise or organization.

Abstract: A computer system includes a communication means for connection to a remote computer and a position determination system for determining the physical position of the computer system. The communications means receives a request from the remote computer for the computer system to provide the physical position of the computer to the remote computer system via the communications means. The request from the remote computer may originate because the computer system has been stolen or mislaid by a user or it may originate because the computer system has inadvertently been allocated the same network identifier as another computer and the physical location of the computer system needs to be known so that the network identifier can be changed.