Abstract: An apparatus for dynamically managing the power consumption of peripheral devices in a computer includes at least one peripheral device, a power management unit, and a memory unit. The power management unit includes a daemon program and a device idle time table. The daemon program is used for carrying out a first criterion by determining whether the power supplied to the device is associated with an active application program of the computer based on the device idle time table, and carrying out a second criterion by determining whether the power supplied to the device is associated with the inactive application programs of the computer based on the device idle time table. A power-saving signal is sent to an operating system of the computer when both criteria are satisfied, and the operating system activates an embedded power management utility to turn off the peripheral device in response to the power-saving signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a windows-based power management method for optimally distributing power for various tasks in a portable device. The power management method includes the following steps: (a) categorizing each task to be executed by the portable device, (b) prescribing a power management policy, (c) distributing shares of a power supply unit among the tasks based on the category the tasks are associated therewith according to the power management policy, and (d) in response to the commands input by the user through a graphical user interface, increasing the share of the power supply unit provided for a task running within an active window of the portable device to accomplish an optimized distribution of power among tasks to be executed by the portable device.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a server automatically detecting a new joining portable device in a wireless local area network (LAN) and providing the new joining portable device with a new identification number, thereby the portable device can automatically access the wireless LAN and obtain the services from the server.

Abstract: An electronic system includes a network interface connecting the electronic system to a network, a non-volatile memory containing system software, and a CPU connected to the network interface and the non-volatile memory. The CPU discovers new software update components on the network using a universal plug and play (UPnP) protocol, downloads a selected software update component from the new software update components discovered on the network, and updates the non-volatile memory with the downloaded software update component. If the update should fail, a boot loader containing a network stack for a UPnP protocol can be used to reboot the electronic system using a backup software program discovered using the UPnP protocol. When booting, the CPU discovers new update components on the network using the UPnP protocol, downloads a selected update component from the new update components discovered on the network, and updates the non-volatile memory with the downloaded update component.

Abstract: A simple input method for a web browser allowing a user to launch a web page from an on-screen menu when the web content is displayed on any enabled display device without a pointing device to aid navigation. The method for navigating in a web page environment includes parsing the incoming mark-up language using an HTML parser, allocating an index number to each hyper-link of the web page and creating an anchor table which records the associations made, displaying the modified mark-up language with each hyperlink shown with an index number prefixed, and launching subsequent web pages according to the index number(s) selected by the user via a suitable input means, which in turn may include a numeric keypad of a remote control handset.

Abstract: Disclosed is a windows-based power management method for optimally distributing power for various tasks in a portable device. The power management method includes the following steps: (a) categorizing each task to be executed by the portable device, (b) prescribing a power management policy, (c) distributing shares of a power supply unit among the tasks based on the category the tasks are associated therewith according to the power management policy, and (d) in response to the commands input by the user through a graphical user interface, increasing the share of the power supply unit provided for a task running within an active window of the portable device to accomplish an optimized distribution of power among tasks to be executed by the portable device.

Abstract: An apparatus for dynamically managing the power consumption of peripheral devices in a computer includes at least one peripheral device, a power management unit, and a memory unit. The power management unit includes a daemon program and a device idle time table. The daemon program is used for carrying out a first criterion by determining whether the power supplied to the device is associated with an active application program of the computer based on the device idle time table, and carrying out a second criterion by determining whether the power supplied to the device is associated with the inactive application programs of the computer based on the device idle time table. A power-saving signal is sent to an operating system of the computer when both criteria are satisfied, and the operating system activates an embedded power management utility to turn off the peripheral device in response to the power-saving signal.

Abstract: A web browsing device includes a CPU having a plurality of frequency or voltage settings, a storage device storing a prediction table listing predicted frequency or voltage settings of the CPU for a plurality of web pages organized by universal resource locator (URL), and a power manager. The power manager sets the frequency or voltage setting of the CPU when opening a web page. If the URL of the web page is listed in the prediction table, the power manager sets the frequency or voltage of the CPU to the predicted frequency or voltage setting for the web page listed in the prediction table. If the URL of the web page is not listed in the prediction table, the power manager sets the frequency or voltage setting of the CPU to a default value. The power manager tracks the CPU workload while processing the web page, calculates an optimal frequency or voltage setting for the CPU based on the web page workload, and updates the prediction table to reflect the optimal frequency or voltage setting.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a server automatically detecting a new joining portable device in a wireless local area network (LAN) and providing the new joining portable device with a new identification number, thereby the portable device can automatically access the wireless LAN and obtain the services from the server.