Abstract: A method and system are provided for thermal management of a portable computing apparatus. Accelerometers are provided to detect changes in attitude, and temperature sensors are provided to detect changes in temperature. A fan is used to cool the internal temperature of the electronic components of the computer. In response to lift of the computer from a stationary surface, the computer may transition to an alternative state of operation. The transition may include the change of the speed of the fan and/or adjustment of the processor clock.

Abstract: In the context of a notebook computer, multiple battery safety measures in the computer, battery pack, and individual battery cells. These battery packs include industry standard safety mechanisms as well as additional safeguards designed to increase safety. The additional safeguards can be categorized in the following ways. The first safeguard deals with multiple, independent levels of battery monitoring. The second safeguard employs abnormal condition detection methods. The third safeguard deals with improvements to mechanical and thermal design.

Abstract: A system for controlling an external storage device connected to a computer by accepting an operation by a user via an acceptance means and encryption means for encrypting a predetermined data file stored in the external storage device, upon a particular event, is provided, is provided.

Abstract: A computer system is provided with an antenna which disables inappropriate wireless communications when a communication controller is inconsistently connected with the antenna. The computer having a diversity antenna connected to a detachable wireless LAN card containing a controller for providing wireless communication is mounted in a mini PCI slot, comprising a switch device for recognizing the identification information (ID) of the wireless LAN card to be mounted by BIOS executed on a CPU, in which the connection between the diversity antenna and the wireless LAN card is maintained in an off state (default) as an initial state in which the wireless LAN card is mounted, and the connection is enabled based on the identification information recognized by the BIOS.

Abstract: Minutiae based fingerprint transactions are validated and authenticated over wireless based communications systems, such as over a Bluetooth wireless based communication system. Minutiae points are unique identification points on a fingerprint where a ridge in the fingerprint joins another ridge or a ridge ends. The combination of any three minutiae points forms a triangle, and the method/algorithm of the present invention uses triangles of minutiae points because triangles are proportional regardless of possible differences in scale of two fingerprints being compared. A first method/algorithm uses a minutiae exchange where triplets of minutiae points are exchanged and form triangles for comparison between an original template of minutiae points and a stored template of minutiae points. A second method/algorithm exchanges three linear equations for three pairs of minutiae points that form triangles for comparison between an original template and a stored template.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing security based on a device identifier prior to booting an operating system on the computing device. Upon power on of a computing device, pre-execution services (PES) are loaded. The PES includes services for retrieving a device identifier from a network interface device and sending the device identifier to a validation server that validates the device identifier based on a database of valid device identifiers. The validation server may perform a lookup of the device identifier in the database and, if the device identifier is present in the database, retrieve rules associated with that device identifier to determine if the device identifier is still valid under current conditions. The rules are applied to data representing current conditions to determine if all requirements for allowing access to the computing system are satisfied. Based on the application of the rules for the device identifier, a determination is made as to whether the device identifier is valid or not.

Abstract: A computer system which includes a CPU for performing various processes by program control and storage elements which store at least one operating system and a BIOS, wherein upon starting a system, the CPU recognizes the system's own hardware configuration, and starts a selected one operating system stored in the storage elements in accordance with the recognized hardware configuration under the control of the BIOS.

Abstract: The collaborative sharing of resources on demand based on proximity, within a group or network of computers. Broadly contemplated herein the “tiling” of a collection of logically adjacent individual graphical desktops in a virtual desktop. In such a setting, the action of dragging a window or icon off of one desktop and onto another would effectively transfer user interactability, and/or perceived ownership of the object, to the desktop where the window or icon graphically “lands”.

Abstract: Disclosed is a program product for directing the information processing apparatus to control an execution mode of a central processing unit(CPU) provided, the CPU having a plurality of execution modes, whose types and power consumptions of executable processing are different from one another, the program product comprising: an apparatus readable medium; recovery time acquisition means for acquiring a recovery time which is a time required for the CPU to recover from a low power mode to a high power mode of which power consumption is higher than that of the low power mode; allowed time acquisition means for acquiring the longest allowed time from a request for processing unprocessable in the low power mode and processable in the high power mode to a start of the processing after the CPU recovers to the high power mode, the request being made by an input/output device; and execution mode setting means for settingthe CPU in a state of being shiftable to the low power mode if it is determined that the CPU is able

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for securely inputting highly confidential information, exchanging the information via a network, and securely reflecting the information in a computer, without the information being stolen by malicious software. Upon a transfer of encrypted information from a server to a computer, the transferred information is stored in a memory of the computer and the computer is switched to a suspended state and immediately thereafter returns-to the previous state to be shifted to under the control of a BIOS. The information stored in the memory is decrypted and processed there. Processing information generated based on the processed information is then encrypted and it is transferred to the server after the computer is switched to under the control of the operating system.

Abstract: An interrupt control device for issuing interrupts to a central processing unit (CPU) includes an object acquiring unit for acquiring data or resource(s) for use by the CPU and an interrupt issuing unit for issuing interrupts to the CPU. The interrupt issuing unit issues each interrupt to the CPU before the object acquiring unit actually acquires the data or the resource, but the interrupt indicates that the data or the resource is available. The interrupt control device further includes a use delay unit for delaying the use of the data or resource by the CPU unit until the object acquiring unit acquires the data or the resource if the CPU which has received the interrupt requests the use of the data or the resource before the object acquiring unit acquires the data or the resource. By adjusting the exact timing of the issuance of the interrupt according to the actual delays experienced by the CPU, the overall delays associated with interrupt handling are minimized.

Abstract: A cooling fan, system and method for controlling cooling fans in a personal computer. A unique series of sensing points is placed on a rotating hub of a cooling fan in order to uniquely identify the particular type of cooling fan. A tachometer sensor mounted in the cooling fan detects the unique series of sensing points as the cooling fan rotates and generates a sequence of pulses corresponding to the detected sending points. This generated pulse signal may be transmitted by the sensor to the fan control code. The fan control code may determine a particular type of cooling fan that the cooling fan is based on the generated pulse signal. Once the fan control code determines the particular type of cooling fan that the cooling fan is, the fan control code uses particular control parameters set for that particular type of cooling fan to control the cooling fan so that it operates optimally.

Abstract: A client computer system is provided with two operating systems, one of which is a user operating system (UOS) and the other of which is a service operating system (SOS), and a hypervisor. In the event of a hang in the first operating system, the second operating system remains active, out of the awareness of the user of the system, and has reporting and command response capabilities beyond those of prior technology.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for preventing operational shock to a hard disk drive of a mobile computer. An exemplary method includes, responsive to activation by a user of an activation device associated with the mobile computer, changing a state of the activation device. The exemplary method also includes, responsive to the change of state of the activation device, issuing a priority standby command to the hard disk drive.

Abstract: An arrangement facilitating the connection of a client to a network through an access point, particularly in an area with overlapping 0.11n channels. Preferably, a client may communicate with two access points and “ask” one of them to stop transmitting long enough so as to facilitate communication with the other access point. Current specifications otherwise provide no workable arrangement for handling overlapping channels.

Abstract: A card formed with a cavity located within the card. The cavity is used to hold one or more liquid chemicals. Additional hollow regions abut the visual and magnetic versions of the sensitive data and are normally separated from the chemicals. When the card is sharply folded, the chemicals are released from the cavity and flow in the hollow regions abutting the stored data. The chemicals render the data unreadable, such as by obscuring the visual display with an opaque film. Additionally, in at least some embodiments, the magnetic strip on the credit card is implemented in such a way that there are two separate portions, with the encoded data divided in such a way that both portions are required in order to be decoded.

Abstract: A power supply circuit for a computer system includes an AC adapter designed to be connectable to the computer system and supplying power to the system, a main battery and a second battery that are designed to be connectable to the computer system and get charged with power from the AC adapter and then discharge it to supply power to the system, a charger that is a charging circuit for the main battery and/or the second battery while the main battery and/or the second battery is connected to the AC adapter with the computer system powered off, and a gate array circuit for turning off the power supply to an embedded controller.

Abstract: A method, system, and storage medium and system for managing computer system performance utilizing information acquired over the Internet is provided. The system comprises a user system having existing installed components that include software, hardware devices, system upgrades, and/or a peripheral device. The system also includes a consolidated monitoring tool executing on the workstation that monitors activities occurring on the workstation with respect to the existing installed components. The system further includes a communications link to a vendor system that supplies components and/or services to the user system. Upon encountering a minor error, the consolidated monitoring tool searches a database for the minor error, displays a corresponding explanation of the minor error for a user via translation tables stored in the workstation, and displays a corresponding set of action items for resolving the minor error or preventing a future occurrence of the minor error.

Abstract: Heat from the core of a semiconductor chip package mounted on a printed circuit board assembled into0 a computer system is dissipated to both sides of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: Optical device and color display unit to correct an angle of visibility, emphasize front brightness or diffusion degree, improve brightness and the performance of angle of visibility, and moreover improve the performance of chromaticity. An optical device is a film-like optical device for angle-correcting light toward a predetermined direction and of two materials whose refractive index difference is at least 0.1 or over, formed so that one material constitutes a plurality of light guide paths having total reflection at the boundary with the adjacent other material, in which the light guide paths are formed so that they are not arranged at equal intervals or they have different cross sections from each other and the ratio of the width or diameter of the light input portion of each of the light guide paths to the film thickness of an optical device is at least 1:10 or more.