Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods of transmitting a hidden message within a secured primary data transmission. In one embodiment, a method involves transmitting a primary data transmission over a computer network from a source host to a receiving host. Intentionally-corrupted packets are introduced within the primary data transmission in a manner providing a hidden message. For example, a pattern of intentionally-corrupted packets may be used to encode the hidden message. Alternatively, the hidden message may be embedded within the data area of the intentionally-corrupted packets. The intentionally-corrupted packets are received and interpreted at the receiving host to determine the hidden message.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a single memory device providing data storage, a controller for controlling data transfer to and from the data storage, and first and second bus connector plugs, wherein each plug has contacts for connecting with the power, ground, and data contacts of a port of a host system. The power and ground contacts of the first and second plugs are coupled together to provide power to the apparatus through either or both plugs. Data from either or both plugs is communicated with the controller depending upon which plugs are coupled to a port. The controller is responsible for controlling the read and write operations of the data storage. The apparatus may be any type of external memory device, such as a flash drive, or a peripheral device having a high data transfer rate, such as a digital video camera.

Abstract: A method for self-contained testing within a DRAM comprises the DRAM receiving an instruction from an external processor to test a memory core on the DRAM, and the DRAM self-testing the memory core with one or more BIST pattern stored in a multipurpose register on the DRAM. Optionally, the step of self-testing may include writing the BIST pattern into all locations of the memory core, reading each location of the memory core, and comparing the content read from each location of the memory core with the BIST pattern, wherein a negative comparison indicates a failure has occurred. In a further option, the method may further comprise, after testing the DRAM, initializing the DRAM with an INIT pattern stored in the multipurpose register on the DRAM.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method of locating a short circuit in a printed circuit board. Test signals may be injected at different test points on the circuit board. The distance between each test point and the short circuit may be determined according to how long it takes for a signal reflection at the short circuit to propagate back to each test point. The distances between the various test points and the short circuit can be used to narrow the possible locations of the short circuit or even to pinpoint the location of the short circuit.

Abstract: Commands are processed by hardware within a virtual client computing environment, such as graphics-related commands processed by graphics hardware. A server computing device includes graphics hardware, a virtual client computing environment, and a server computing environment. The graphics hardware processes graphics-related commands into responses. The virtual client computing environment includes an encoding application that issues the commands. The server computing environment includes a decoding application. The encoding application includes a first thread that receives the commands and places them onto a first queue. The encoding application includes a second thread that receives the responses from a second queue and communicates the responses to a remote display device.

Abstract: Encryption of interrupt vectors and authentication of device drivers prevents unauthorized modules from interfering with an interrupt handler. An operating system may encrypt an interrupt vector for a PCI device, initializing a Local Interrupt Controller of a CPU with the key to enable decryption of the interrupt vector, initializing a redirection table on an I/O Interrupt Controller of the CPU with the encrypted interrupt vector, and initializing the PCI device with an encrypted MSI vector for subsequent use in an interrupt request. The PCI device may raise an interrupt that can only be decrypted by the Local Interrupt Controller and used be used by the processor to handle the interrupt. The operating system may also authenticate a driver before executing a request to register, deregister or change an interrupt handler. An authentication code is sent from the OS to the device driver for use in any request.

Abstract: Method, computer program product, and apparatus are provided for identifying a graphic symbol within an image obtained by optical scanning. An image intensity is measured for each of a plurality of columns of the image, wherein each column has a length that extends across the graphic symbol in a first direction, and wherein the plurality of columns collectively extend across the graphic symbol in a second direction. The graphic symbol is then identified by matching a profile of the image intensity to a predetermined image intensity profile associated with a given graphic symbol. Optionally, the image is a digital image and the image intensity for each column is the sum of the image intensity for each pixel in that individual column. An image intensity differential between adjacent columns may be calculated for matching with a predetermined differential profile or comparison with an electronic profile generated by a magnetic scan.

Abstract: A thermal printhead includes a substrate, a nonconductive coating over the substrate, a number of heating elements disposed on the substrate, and one or more resistors at least partially disposed within the nonconductive coating. The heating elements cause thermochromic media to selectively darken in accordance with selective activation of the heating elements as the media moves in relation to the thermal printhead, to print a desired image on the media. The nonconductive coating protects the heating elements and wears away with usage of the printhead. The media comes into contact with the nonconductive coating during printing of the desired image on the media. The resistors indicate wear of the thermal printhead, and have electrical resistances that increase as the resistors are worn away in accordance with wearing away of the nonconductive coating.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing a checksum in a network transmission. In one aspect of the invention, a checksum for a packet to be transmitted on a network is determined by retrieving packet information from a storage device, the packet information to be included in the packet to be transmitted. A blind checksum value is determined based on the retrieved packet information, and the blind checksum value is adjusted to a protocol checksum based on descriptor information describing the structure of the packet. The protocol checksum is inserted in the packet before the packet is transmitted.

Abstract: Server discovery, spawning collector threads to collect information from servers, and reporting such information, is disclosed. A method of one embodiment determines a number of servers communicatively coupled to a network. For each server, a collector thread is spawned to collect information regarding the server by sending requests to the server and receiving responses from the server. The collector threads can be spawned by and run on a computing device other than the number of servers, such that no computer-executable code is installed on the servers for collecting the information. Upon completion of the collector thread for each server, the information regarding the server as collected is stored to a database by one or more writer threads.

Abstract: A histogram has ranges, a value for each range, and a time value. A pattern is generated, having a zero value for each range having a zero value, and a one value for each range having a non-zero value. Any non-zero values of the ranges are compressed into a compressed value. The pattern and the time value match or do not match any given entry of a pattern table having a number of entries, each of which has an index value, a time range, and a pattern. Where the pattern and the time value do not match any given entry of the pattern table, a new entry is added to the pattern table, and is considered the given entry. An entry is then added to a histogram table. This entry has the time value, the index value of the given entry of the pattern table, and the compressed value.

Abstract: The unattended installation of drivers for devices that are not automatically found and installed during operating system installation is disclosed. A method determines which drivers are needed for devices on client computing systems that are not automatically found and installed during operating system installation. Entries for the drivers are created within a master driver file. The method copies the master driver file to each client computing system, and drivers that are needed for the devices. For each client computing system, references are created within an unattended installation file to the entries for the drivers within the master driver file. Operating systems are remotely installed on the client computing systems in an unattended manner. The drivers are able to be installed in the unattended manner due to the references created within the unattended installation files to the entries for the drivers within the master driver file.

Abstract: A system includes a network, a number of server computing devices, and a management server computing device. Each server computing device has a virtual host computer program running thereon to support one or more virtual machine computer programs. Each virtual machine computer program is able to execute an instance of an operating system on which application computer programs are executable. The management server computing device monitors the server computing devices, and causes the virtual machine computer programs supported by the virtual host computer program of a first server computing device to dynamically migrate to the virtual host computer program of a second server computing device, upon one or more conditions being satisfied. The conditions may include the first server being predicted as failure prone, the first sever consuming power less than a threshold, and the first server having resource utilization less than a threshold.

Abstract: Airflow in a computer chassis may be enhanced or reduced to affect cooling of heat generating devices using an ionic air moving device. A plurality of ionic air moving devices enhance or reduce airflow through a plurality of fluidically parallel airflow zones of the computer chassis in an airflow direction established by a nonionic air moving device. Each ionic air moving device comprises an ion emitter electrode disposed a spaced distance from a collector electrode, wherein a controller independently controls an electrical potential between the emitter and collector electrodes of each ionic air moving device for affecting the rate of airflow through one or more of the plurality of airflow zones.

Abstract: An accelerometer module for use with a touch sensor on a device, a method of detecting acceleration using a touch sensor, and a computer program product for receiving the touch sensor data and producing output representative of acceleration. The accelerometer module provides a device with a touch sensor, such as a mobile phone, with the ability to sense acceleration, orientation, or both. The accelerometer module may sense acceleration along a single axis or multiple axis. Sensing acceleration along three axis may be useful for producing a handheld game controller or for providing input to many other applications. The accelerometer module applies a force against a deformable member to change the contact area between the deformable member and the touch sensor, wherein the contact area is a function of the amount of applied acceleration.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for improving or optimizing the configuration of expansion cards and expansion card slots in a computer system. The slot width of each slot is serially set to two or more link widths supported by the expansion card that is connect in each slot and each of the plurality of expansion cards is retrained at each of the set slot widths. The current link speed and a current link width for each of the plurality of expansion cards may be identified at each of the set slot widths to enable a determination of a configuration of the plurality of expansion cards within the plurality of expansion card slots that will improve collective throughput of the expansion cards. Optionally, the throughput of one expansion card may be prioritized over the throughput of another expansion card, such as those expansion cards or functionalities specified by user preferences or identified by system monitoring of loads placed on the expansion cards.

Abstract: Method, system and apparatus enabling a computing system to automatically identify the capabilities of a power supply coupled to the computing system. The power supply includes a controller that sends an identification code to a computing system prior to sending a power good signal to the computing system. The identification code and the power good signal are preferably sent over a single conductor, such as a power supply connector pin. The computing system receives the identification code for cross-referencing against a list of power supply identification codes and associated capabilities. Optionally, instructions from the computer system to an output device may be controlled as a function of the identified power supply capabilities.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide power redundancy to a computer system without increasing the number of independent power supplies used. A system having N computing modules may have power redundancy using N power supplies, where each of the N power supplies are able to supply more power than required by an associated computing module, and where all but one (N?1) of the power supplies collectively can immediately supply power to any one of the computing modules when the power supply associated with that computing module fails.

Abstract: Improving signal quality in a high-frequency chip package by resistively connecting an open-ended plating stub to ground. One embodiment provides a multi-layer substrate for interfacing a chip with a printed circuit board. A conductive first layer provides a chip mounting location. A signal interconnect is spaced from the chip mounting location, and a signal trace extends from near the chip mounting location to the signal interconnect. A chip mounted at the chip mounting location may be connected to the signal trace by wirebonding. A plating stub extends from the signal interconnect, such as to a periphery of the substrate. A resistor is used to resistively couple the plating stub to a ground layer.

Abstract: A target server is queried to build an inventory of components installed within the target server. The target server has a boot process by which it is employed within a production environment. Updated software is received for each component from an update server, based on the inventory built. The boot process is configured so that the target server installs the updated software for each component the next time it boots, instead of being employed within the production environment. The target server is caused to boot such that it installs the updated software for each component. Upon completion of the target server installing the update software for each component, the boot process is reconfigured so that the next time the target server boots it is again employed within the production environment. The target server is again caused to boot such that it is again employed within the production environment.