Abstract: A system and method for concurrent WLAN and WPAN wireless modes from a single device is presented. A client uses a Wi-Fi device's infrastructure mode to communicate in a WLAN environment and, during idle WLAN times, uses the Wi-Fi device's adhoc mode to communicate in a WPAN environment. The Wi-Fi device uses a watchdog timer to switch between infrastructure mode and adhoc mode. When the client's Wi-Fi device switches to infrastructure mode, the client's Wi-Fi device uses an infrastructure register and an infrastructure device driver to transfer data over the WLAN environment. Likewise, when the client's Wi-Fi device switches to adhoc mode, the client's Wi-Fi device uses an adhoc register and an adhoc device driver to transfer data over the WLAN environment. The client uses a code shim to act as a virtual device driver at times when either the infrastructure device driver or the adhoc device driver is inactive.

Abstract: A method that utilizes software and hardware mechanisms to meet the FCC requirement for a U-NII antenna to be an integral part of the device in which it operates, while providing wireless ready U-NII devices and CRUable U-NII radios. Enhancements are made to the software BIOS, including the inclusion of a table of approved radio-antenna PCI ID pairs to create an authentication scheme that verifies and authenticates the radio and antenna combination as being an FCC-approved unique coupling during boot-up of the system. The BIOS also comprises an OEM field that stores an encrypted secret key utilized to complete a second check of the radio model placed in the device. During boot up of the device, the PCI ID pairs from the BIOS are compared against the PCI ID of the radio and the secret key is checked against the radio model.

Abstract: A security fob periodically transmits wireless access signals that can be received by entities such as computers, buildings and the like to which access is sought. A motion detector is in the fob so that when the fob has been motionless for a threshold period non-essential components are deenergized, putting the fob in a sleep mode to conserve battery power.

Abstract: A wireless network access point is described which provides the resources of a backbone network to wireless clients. The access point is able to minimize the performance impact on 802.11g clients in the presence of mixed in 802.11g/802.11b traffic by isolating wireless network traffic based on protocol. At least one 802.11g timer is maintained for 802.11g traffic. Request for transfers by 802.11b clients which are blind to 802.11g traffic are delayed until after the expiration of the 802.11g timer. Traffic for 802.11g clients proceeds unimpeded while the 802.11g timer is active. A similar timer is optionally maintained for 802.11b traffic.

Abstract: A client computer is connected via a network to an anti-virus server and polls the server for indication that an anti-virus needs to be immediately downloaded from the anti-virus server. The client computer disengages from the network, and re-establishes a link with only the trusted anti-virus server. The anti-virus fix is installed, the client computer re-booted, and the client computer is then allowed to reconnect to the full network. If the client's primary operating system (OS) is infected, a secondary OS in the client computer performs the anti-virus download and execution. The disengagement from the network is performed by applying a filter in a network interface card (NIC) driver by the primary OS, the secondary OS, a service processor (SP), or by a virtual machine manager (VMM), depending on which is available at the client computer.

Abstract: A computer tablet includes a wireless receiver, and a pen is configured to be manipulated by a person to ride against the computer tablet and thereby provide input to the computer tablet. The pen includes a wireless transmitter. A processor associated with the computer tablet outputs an alarm when a signal from the transmitter of the pen is not sensed by the computer tablet within a time period.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for autonomically disposing a computer such as a workstation. The computer's local persistent storage medium is configured with pre-boot image which is configured with a set of functional modules that facilitate disposal or recycling of the computer to the next user. The disposal and recycle methods are automated, require minimal user intervention, and facilitate moving configuration options and data to a different computer. The entire process may execute from the pre-boot image on the computer's local persistent storage medium without ever booting the primary operating system.

Abstract: A ball grid array (BGA) includes straight pins at the corners and if desired along the edges of the array that are engaged with a PCB to reduce stress on the solder balls. The pins can be on the chip substrate of the BGA or on a separate frame that is glued to the chip substrate.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) for supporting a ball grid array (BGA) includes stress relief features to reduce stress on the solder balls. The stress relief features can be plural lines formed into the PCB along the edges of the BGA, and/or holes formed through the PCB near the corners of the BGA.

Abstract: An apparatus for securely backing up data using a cryptographic module includes a mass storage device having a first accessible portion and a second encrypted portion. The mass storage device is initialized to only decrypt the encrypted portion on the system that first created the encrypted portion. The cryptographic module may be a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) based on specifications from the Trusted Computer Group. The mass storage device comprises a trusted platform interface module configured to communicate with the TPM. The system may include a motherboard having a TPM, and the mass storage device. The method in one embodiment comprises providing a computer readable mass storage device, initializing a password module, transmitting an encrypted password to the cryptographic module, authenticating the encrypted password, decrypting the encrypted password, transmitting the decrypted password to the computer readable medium, and decrypting the second encrypted portion using the decrypted password.

Abstract: A method and system for booting up multiple PCI peripheral devices, such that the number of bootable PCI peripheral devices is not limited by the amount of computer system memory that is dedicated to storing executable boot code for the peripheral devices. The executable boot code is stored on a Read Only Memory (ROM) on each peripheral device. When a new PCI peripheral device begins to boot up, a check for available memory space in a ROM scan memory address space is performed. If there is not enough available room in the ROM scan memory address space for the new device's executable boot code, then a ROM scan detection logic pages an image of another peripheral device's executable boot code out of the ROM scan memory address space before storing the new device's executable boot code into the ROM scan memory address space.

Abstract: A network includes a plurality of wall plates, each of the wall plates couples a network resource such as a computer or a network attached device to the network and includes an RFID circuit to detect proximate devices having an RFID tag. The proximate devices can be network attached devices or non network attached devices such as desks, phones, and artwork. Logic is included within each wall plate which includes wall plate physical location information. The logic is designed to respond to a broadcast signal. In so doing, the physical location of any resource can be determined. The physical location of all known resources are provided to an inventory application in the network, thereby allowing network administrators and users to remotely determine the physical location (room, floor, building, etc.) of any and all known resources attached to the network. Likewise, local computer users are able to identify the network resources located in their vicinity.

Abstract: A method and system for configuring an operating system in a computer system including language selection during bootup rather than at manufacture. A first aspect of the method and system comprises providing a plurality of operating system images in the computer system, each of the plurality of operating system images being based upon a particular language, selecting one of the plurality of operating system images based on the language supported by the computer system and loading the selected operating system image into the computer system. A second aspect of the method and system comprises providing a language-independent operating system image in the computer system, determining a language supported by the computer system, loading the language-independent operating system image into the computer system, and associating the language supported by the computer system with the language-independent operating system image.

Abstract: A method, computer program product and system for restoring previously un-backed up data during a system restore. A computing system may include a locked partition in its storage medium to store an alternate operating system and backed-up files. The alternate operating system may determine which files have been modified since the most recent backup and run a virus scan on those modified files. The alternate operating system may copy the modified files with no detected viruses as well as those modified files with a detected virus but cleaned by the virus scan. The backup files in the locked partition that have been modified since the most recent backup operation may be replaced with these uncorrupted modified files. In this manner, the system may be able to recover files since the most recent backup while ensuring at least in part that the restored files do not contain any viruses.

Abstract: A wireless communication network comprising: (1) a plurality of mobile devices each configured to receive a beacon being broadcasted within the network and determine based on information transmitted within the beacon whether the mobile device is supported within the network; and (2) one or more access devices configured to broadcast the beacon within the network. Each of the mobile devices has a transmitting mechanism for communicating with the one or more access device. However, only those mobile devices that are supported by the network respond to the receipt of the beacon. Thus, no transmission occurs from the mobile devices until the device is identified as being supported by the network. These mobile devices instantiating a communication path with the one or more access devices and request an authentication from the one or more access devices. In this manner, a handshake mechanism is established between the access devices and the mobile devices that are supported by the network.

Abstract: Apparatus and method provides dynamic load balancing of network bandwidth between access points in an 802.11 wireless LAN. The access point generates and monitors average bandwidth utilization of client devices connected to said access point. The average bandwidth utilization for each client device is aggregated and selected clients are forced to roam to other access points if the aggregate bandwidth is equal or exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: A method and system for providing automatic notification of an end of lease of a computer system and its location within a computer network is disclosed. The computer network includes a server computer system and multiple client computer systems. A message is initially sent from the server computer system to all the client computer systems to inquire the lease status of each of the client computer systems. At each of the client computer systems, a determination is made as to whether or not a current date falls within a predetermined amount of days from the end of lease date for the client computer system. If the current date falls within the predetermined amount of days from the end of lease date for the client computer system, the physical location of the client computer system is obtained from a storage device located at an Ethernet wall plate to which the client computer system is attached.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium containing programming instructions for tracking a secure boot in a computer system having a plurality of devices is disclosed. The method, system and computer readable medium include providing an embedded security system (ESS) in the computer system, wherein the ESS includes at least one boot platform configuration register (PCR) and a shadow PCR for each of the at least one boot PCRs, initiating a platform reset to boot the computer system via BIOS, and, for a device booted, generating a measurement value for the device and extending that value to one of the at least one boot PCRs and its corresponding shadow PCR. The system, method and computer readable medium of the present invention also includes comparing the measurement values of the boot PCRs to their corresponding shadow PCRs, whereby the computer system is trusted if the measurement values match.

Abstract: A method and system is described for remotely managing a battery powered client computer. A data packet, which includes a set of instructions, is sent to the client computer from a managing computer. Included in the data packet is a field indicating how much computing time is needed to execute the set of instructions. If the client computer is operating on battery power, the client computer determines if there is enough battery life remaining to execute the set of instructions. If not, then the set of instructions are disregarded.

Abstract: A method for authentication in a computer system includes registering a biometric template in the computer system, thereafter, verifying the authenticity of the registered biometric template and then comparing the biometric template with a biometric image of a user if the biometric template is authentic. If the user's biometric image matches the biometric template, the computer system will continue to boot.