Abstract: At a vendor-managed web site, purchasing information is received from a first terminal, including purchasing information that is customized for a customer. The customer includes first and second users having respective first and second levels of authorized access to the purchasing information. The first user is identified by a first identifier, and the second user is identified by a second identifier. To a second terminal, access at the vendor-managed web site is provided to: only a first portion of the purchasing information in response to receiving the first identifier from the second terminal which identifies the first user; and at least a second portion of the purchasing information in response to receiving the second identifier from the second terminal which identifies the second user. The second portion includes at least a part of the first portion and a third portion of the purchasing information. The part of the first portion includes at least a portion of the customized purchasing information.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically selecting one of two or more available power supply voltages for use as a main power supply of a PCI adapter is described. In one embodiment, a power supply selector is designed such that the presence of a positive voltage at a Vaux input thereof prevents power at a Vcc input thereof from driving a main power supply input to a PCI adapter. Conversely, the absence of a positive voltage at the Vaux results in the main power supply input to the PCI adapter being derived from the Vcc input. In an alternative embodiment, jumpers are provided for enabling a user to select which power supply will be used as the “default” power supply for the adapter.

Abstract: A system for dynamically implementing a plurality of virtual local area networks (“VLANs”) across multiple sites is described. In one embodiment, the system includes a first VLAN-capable switch at a first site; a first system under test (“SUT”) connected to the first VLAN-capable switch via a first burn rack switch; a second VLAN-capable switch located at a second site remote from the first site; a second SUT connected to the second VLAN-capable switch via a second burn rack switch; and means for connecting the first and second VLAN-capable switches such that the first and second SUTs are connected to a single virtual private network (“VPN”). The means for connecting may consist of either first and second routers respectively connected to the first and second VLAN-capable switches and interconnected via a T1 line or an ATM connection.

Abstract: A gating circuit for a computer system to prevent a power management signal provided by a computer card slot connector or a system board mounted device to change the power state of the computer system from a lower power state to a higher power state when the chassis of the computer system is open. The computer system includes a chassis intrusion detection switch to provide an indication of whether the chassis is open. In one example, the computer card connector is a card slot connector that conforms to the PCI or AGP computer bus standards, and the power management signal is a PME# signal. The gating circuit also prevents a wake on LAN (WOL) signal received via a jumper from a WOL circuit from changing the power state of the computer system from a lower power state to a higher power state.

Abstract: A method of preventing LCD damage in an information handling system is disclosed. The method includes mounting an LCD in a screen portion of an information handling system. The LCD has a top layer with a particular hardness. Another step in the method is rotatably mounting a base portion of the information handling system to the screen portion such that the portions can assume a proximate position and a separated position. A material is affixed to the base portion such that at least a portion of the material is between the base portion and the LCD in the proximate position. The material has a hardness no greater than the hardness of the top layer of the LCD.

Abstract: A computer system including at least one microprocessor mounted on a printed circuit board, and at least two electrical connectors proximate to the printed circuit board, with the at least two electrical connectors spaced to attenuate at least one prespecified frequency electromagnetic energy waveform.

Abstract: A portable system is provided with both an ISPCA processing section, a non-standard personal computer architecture (NSPCA) processing section and a common section including apparatus common to both processing sections. The NSPCA processing section operates under an operating system such as the WINDOWS® CE operating system, having reduced functionality, but being capable of “instant-on” operation. The data processing system includes controllable reduced power (and reduced functionality) mode wherein only the NSPCA processing is activated. The data processing system can controllably be transferred to a higher power (and full functionality) mode operating by activating the ISPCA processing section. In this manner, the processing section that is not an integral part of the data processing system can be detachably coupled thereto.

Abstract: A data processing system power supply selection device. The system power supply selector circuit can include a first make-without-break power supply selector module having a power supply input, at least one controlling power supply input, and a system power rail output substantially continuously coupled to said at least a first power supply input.

Abstract: A method and system for booting a computer system is provided in which the boot order of the computer system is displayed to the user in a manner such that the name of each bootable device and the location of each bootable device in the architecture of the computer system are displayed to the user upon entering a setup routine. The boot order displayed may also identify other information about the bootable devices of the computer system, including the operating and maximum speed of the devices and whether the devices are embedded devices. The boot order may be changed by the user by entering setup and manipulating the displayed list of bootable devices.

Abstract: A configurable hardware for coupling to one of a plurality of hardware. Each of the plurality of hardware has a type. The configurable hardware includes a memory for storing an ID. The ID identifies the type of the hardware coupled to the configurable hardware.

Abstract: In an information processing system, a failed bus operation is detected. In response to the detecting, a primary power plan is cycled in the information processing system.

Abstract: In a computing system, a computer-readable medium is for storing information. At least one computing device is for receiving at least one installation file and multiple installable files. The installation file includes at least one table for specifying an installation of a subset of the installable files. Also, the computing device is for identifying the subset in response to the table. Moreover, the computing device is for outputting the installation file and the identified subset of the installable files for storage by the computer-readable medium, such that less than all of the installable files are concurrently stored by the computer-readable medium.

Abstract: A computer system includes at least one processor, at least one memory, a device for communicating with a prescribed network server, and a mechanism for implementing a removal notification security measure during at least a low power mode of the computer system. The security measure includes the transmitting of a security packet to the prescribed network server at prescribed intervals subsequent to the computer system entering the low power mode.

Abstract: Method and system for performing very high speed software downloads concurrent with system testing in an automated production environment and for test-sequencing in multi-tasking environments with consolidated automation and interactive operations is described. In one embodiment, during diagnostics and software download, a multi-tasking OS is booted on a target computer system, thereby enabling diagnostics to be run at the same time the software download is performed. A visual step-sequencing engine provides the ability to sequentially execute steps, as well as to execute steps in parallel and to combine parallel and sequential steps into loops. The sequencing engine provides a visual representation of the current run status of the target system in a Main window.

Abstract: A Security Management Tool (SMT) is defined and created that solves the problem of efficiently and accurately configuring security attributes for multiple computer systems. SMT executes an automated operation that captures a definition of security attributes on a particular, selected computer system and sets the captured security attribute definition on one or more subsequently-configured systems. In various embodiments, SMT clones security attribute information according to selected security information groupings. Typical security information groupings include User/Group security information, file system security information, registry system security information groupings, and the like. SMT stores security information in a security attribute file that serves as a central security configuration database. SMT accesses the central security configuration database to recreate the setting of security attributes on other computer systems.

Abstract: A system for dynamically implementing a plurality of virtual local area networks (“VLANs”) across multiple sites is described. In one embodiment, the system includes a first VLAN-capable switch at a first site; a first system under test (“SUT”) connected to the first VLAN-capable switch via a first burn rack switch; a second VLAN-capable switch located at a second site remote from the first site; a second SUT connected to the second VLAN-capable switch via a second burn rack switch; and means for connecting the first and second VLAN-capable switches such that the first and second SUTs are connected to a single virtual private network (“VPN”). The means for connecting may consist of either first and second routers respectively connected to the first and second VLAN-capable switches and interconnected via a T1 line or an ATM connection.

Abstract: At a vendor-managed web site, purchasing information is received from a first terminal, including purchasing information that is customized for a customer. The customer includes first and second users having respective first and second levels of authorized access to the purchasing information. The first user is identified by a first identifier, and the second user is identified by a second identifier. To a second terminal, access at the vendor-managed web site is provided to: only a first portion of the purchasing information in response to receiving the first identifier from the second terminal which identifies the first user; and at least a second portion of the purchasing information in response to receiving the second identifier from the second terminal which identifies the second user. The second portion includes at least a part of the first portion and a third portion of the purchasing information. The part of the first portion includes at least a portion of the customized purchasing information.

Abstract: An Internet information device includes a web site coupled to a first user intranet point and a second user Internet point. The first user point is coupled for providing multi-level managed information to the web site. The second user point is coupled for providing multi-level user access to the managed information such that a selected password provides user access to all of the managed information and another selected password provides user access to a limited portion of the managed information.

Abstract: Method and system for performing very high speed software downloads concurrent with system testing in an automated production environment and for test-sequencing in multi-tasking environments with consolidated automation and interactive operations is described. In one embodiment, during diagnostics and software download, a multi-tasking OS is booted on a target computer system, thereby enabling diagnostics to be run at the same time the software download is performed. A visual step-sequencing engine provides the ability to sequentially execute steps, as well as to execute steps in parallel and to combine parallel and sequential steps into loops. The sequencing engine provides a visual representation of the current run status of the target system in a Main window.

Abstract: A method for customizing software configurations includes: providing a static pre-installation software package; identifying a late-bindable token of the static pre-installation package; assigning a unique late-bind identifier to the late-bindable token; assigning the late-bind identifier to a late-bind identifier default value; and assigning the late-bind identifier a corresponding token value. The token value is for binding to the token identified by the late-bind identifier when the customized software package is installed.