Abstract: A Unified Extensible Firmware Interface protocol installer utilizes and modifies a list of global unique identifiers corresponding to Unified Extensible Firmware Interface protocols to determine whether to install a UEFI protocol.

Abstract: A Unified Extensible Firmware Interface protocol installer utilizes and modifies a list of global unique identifiers corresponding to Unified Extensible Firmware Interface protocols to determine whether to install a UEFI protocol.

Abstract: A Unified Extensible Firmware Interface protocol installer utilizes and modifies a list of global unique identifiers corresponding to Unified Extensible Firmware Interface protocols to determine whether to install a UEFI protocol.

Abstract: A computer system incorporating capabilities for displaying the audio disk track number when the computer system is playing an audio disk. The computer system determines if a disk is present in the disk drive. If a disk is present, the computer system determines if an audio disk is present in the disk drive. If so, the computer system then monitors the disk drive. When the audio disk is played by the disk drive, the computer system displays the audio disk track number. The computer system then periodically polls the disk drive to update the audio disk track number. The computer system displays a battery gauge status when the audio disk track number is not being displayed. The status display is visible when the portable computer is in either an open or closed state.

Abstract: Either a backup BIOS or a main BIOS in a non-volatile memory is used to fully boot a computer system, depending on the validity of the main BIOS, successful prior booting using the main BIOS, or the validity of the CMOS settings. Unlike the boot block procedure, in either case, the computer system becomes fully operational. A count is made indicating the number of times booting is retried with the main BIOS. If a predetermined count value is reached, the main BIOS is invalid, or CMOS is invalid, then booting is completed using the backup BIOS. If the predetermined count value is not reached, a jump is made from the end of the BIOS validation code to an entry point in the main BIOS of the non-volatile memory to continue booting using the main BIOS. The backup BIOS is stored in a permanent protected portion of the non-volatile memory and the main BIOS is stored in a flashable portion of the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: A system and method for making sure that before the ROM BIOS of a personal computer is reprogrammed, the BIOS image is compatible with the computer whose BIOS are being reprogrammed. This is done by requiring the utility that performs the reprogramming of the ROM BIOS to have a secure portion of code that is stored in a portion of the computer's memory that is inaccessible to a user. The secure portion of code is used to make sure that the BIOS image to be programmed into the computer is compatible with the computer.

Abstract: An operating system hang condition is detected by exploiting the fact that when an operating system hang condition occurs, the operating system kernel generally fails to respond to operating system interrupts. Consequently, an operating system hang condition may be detected by setting a status flag to a first value, generating an operating system interrupt intended for an operating system interrupt handler within an operating system kernel that resets the status flag to a second value, executing the operating system interrupt handler if the operating system kernel is responding to the operating system interrupt and executing a system BIOS interrupt handler that measures a time interval in which the status flag is set to the first value without being reset to the second value.

Abstract: A computer system incorporating capabilities for displaying the audio disk track number when the computer system is playing an audio disk. The computer system determines if a disk is present in the disk drive. If a disk is present, the computer system determines if an audio disk is present in the disk drive. If so, the computer system then monitors the disk drive. When the audio disk is played by the disk drive, the computer system displays the audio disk track number. The computer system then periodically polls the disk drive to update the audio disk track number. The computer system displays a battery gauge status when the audio disk track number is not being displayed. The status display is visible when the portable computer is in either an open or closed state.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the invention is a method for interfacing a generic program with the ASL code in an ACPI system. The method comprises storing information from a generic program in a shared memory; accessing the ASL code; and retrieving the stored information with the ASL code. In a second aspect, the invention is a method for testing ASL PnP code in an ACPI system. The method comprises identifying a configurable PnP device; disabling the identified configurable PnP device; testing the disabled, configurable PnP device for a configuration; and verifying that, for the tested configuration, the resulting current resources match the set resources. In variations of these aspects, the methods may be performed by instructions encoded on a computer-readable, program storage medium and used to program a computer.

Abstract: A computer system allows resuming from Power-On Suspend (POS) mode by generating an interrupt. The interrupt generates a System Management Interrupt (SMI), which a controller uses to produce a POS resume event signal to resume the system from the Power-On Suspend mode. The system allows use of chipsets such as the VIA VT82C586B that are incapable of directly causing a resume from POS mode in response to an interrupt.

Abstract: A computer system incorporating capabilities for displaying the audio disk track number when the computer system is playing an audio disk. The computer system determines if a disk is present in the disk drive. If a disk is present, the computer system determines if an audio disk is present in the disk drive. If so, the computer system then monitors the disk drive. When the audio disk is played by the disk drive, the computer system displays the audio disk track number. The computer system then periodically polls the disk drive to update the audio disk track number. The computer system displays a battery gauge status when the audio disk track number is not being displayed. The status display is visible when the portable computer is in either an open or closed state.

Abstract: A computer system protects against loss of a computer's volatile data using system ROM and operating system resources. Upon entry into a reduced power state, or sleep mode, the operating system directs device drivers to save the state of hardware registers to RAM. Then, the system ROM saves the contents of RAM to a file in a non-volatile storage medium, such as a hard disk drive. A bit is set in CMOS to indicate completion of this transfer. Upon return from sleep mode, the system ROM clears the CMOS bit and returns to normal operation. However, if a system reboot occurs and the CMOS bit is set, the non-volatile storage file is retrieved, and its contents are restored to RAM. The operating system then directs device drivers to retrieve information from the restored RAM to reinitialize the hardware registers under their control. Thus, the integrity of volatile RAM is maintained following a power loss during a reduced power state.

Abstract: A monitor includes a file that identifies one or more compatible monitors and/or a list of features of the monitor. A processing unit, such as a computer, that does not specifically support the particular monitor may nonetheless configure itself to operate effectively with the monitor. If the processing unit supports a compatible monitor, it configures itself to operate with the compatible monitor. Otherwise, the processing unit may configure itself to support the features of the particular monitor.

Abstract: A computer system incorporating capabilities for displaying the audio disk track number when the computer system is playing an audio disk. The computer system determines if a disk is present in the disk drive. If a disk is present, the computer system determines if an audio disk is present in the disk drive. If so, the computer system then monitors the disk drive. When the audio disk is played by the disk drive, the computer system displays the audio disk track number. The computer system then periodically polls the disk drive to update the audio disk track number. The computer system displays a battery gauge status when the audio disk track number is not being displayed. The status display is visible when the portable computer is in either an open or closed state.

Abstract: A computer system that implements communication support with a minimum amount of main memory. The computer system provides a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) for execution in Random Access Memory (RAM). Included in the BIOS is the communication initialization and runtime code. Upon initialization, the communication initialization code is executed, configuring and initializing communication devices, including a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device. After the initialization, the runtime communication code is moved to a secure memory, such as System Management Mode (SMM) memory. The runtime communication code is executed in response to an interrupt to the secure memory. If the secure memory is SMM memory, then a SMI will trigger the execution of the communication code. The main memory is not accessed to execute the runtime communication code.

Abstract: A computer system incorporating capabilities for displaying the audio disk track number when the computer system is playing an audio disk. The computer system determines if a disk is present in the disk drive. If a disk is present, the computer system determines if an audio disk is present in the disk drive. If so, the computer system then monitors the disk drive. When the audio disk is played by the disk drive, the computer system displays the audio disk track number. The computer system then periodically polls the disk drive to update the audio disk track number. The computer system displays a battery gauge status when the audio disk track number is not being displayed. The status display is visible when the portable computer is in either an open or closed state.

Abstract: A method is provided for creating a virtual operating system directed power management event. The method may include executing a prepare-to-sleep routine in a computer system running an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) compliant operating system. The prepare-to-sleep routine may include programming ACPI compliant core logic such as the Intel PIIX4 device to generate an I/O trap system management interrupt (SMI) upon accesses to the ACPI WAK.sub.-- STS register. The prepare-to-sleep routine may also enable non-dedicated event signals, such as legacy IRQs, to serve as resume events. After a resume event, the operating system reads the WAK.sub.-- STS register. Upon access to the WAK.sub.-- STS an SMI is generated. An SMI handler may be executed that determines if the resume event was generated by a wake device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting a marker in preparation for cutting that is adapted for use with fabrics having a stripe or plaid patterns that provide for an axis of symmetry. The present invention is characterized by computer assisted design matching that provides for either manual or automatic alignment of the garment segments in the computerized marker with reference and match locations on the fabric web.

Abstract: A system for adjusting the marker in preparation for cutting that is adapted for use with fabrics having a stripe or plaid design is characterized by computer assisted design matching that provides for automatic alignment of the fabric web with the cutting apparatus as well as matching fabrics whose designs vary in contrast. The present system also provides for coordinate matching between an image obtained by the system's camera and the actual fabric.

Abstract: A garment cutting system adapted for use with fabrics having a stripe or plaid design is characterized by computer assisted design matching that allows for either manual or automatic matching both between a garment marker to the fabric layup and between sequenced garment segment patterns. The present system employs data reduction techniques to reduce processing time and includes apparatus for optimizing image stability, focus and illumination.