Abstract: A system for identifying a lost or stolen device includes a transmitter, a receiver and a computer. The transmitter is coupled to the device and transmits identification information. The receiver receives the identification information transmitted by the transmitter when the transmitter is within a defined distance from the receiver. The computer is coupled to the receiver so as to receive the information from the receiver. The computer has a first secure database which stores data associated with lost or stolen devices and which prevents unauthorized access to the data stored therein. The computer compares the information with the stored data, and generates an alarm if the information matches at least some of the stored data.

Abstract: A system for identifying a lost or stolen device includes a transmitter, a receiver and a computer. The transmitter is coupled to the device and transmits identification information. The receiver receives the identification information transmitted by the transmitter when the transmitter is within a defined distance from the receiver. The computer is coupled to the receiver so as to receive the information from the receiver. The computer has a first secure database which stores data associated with lost or stolen devices and which prevents unauthorized access to the data stored therein. The computer compares the information with the stored data, and generates an alarm if the information matches at least some of the stored data.

Abstract: A system for identifying a lost or stolen device includes a transmitter, a receiver and a computer. The transmitter is coupled to the device and transmits identification information. The receiver receives the identification information transmitted by the transmitter when the transmitter is within a defined distance from the receiver. The computer is coupled to the receiver so as to receive the information from the receiver. The computer has a first secure database which stores data associated with lost or stolen devices and which prevents unauthorized access to the data stored therein. The computer compares the information with the stored data, and generates an alarm if the information matches at least some of the stored data.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying a lost or stolen device is disclosed herein. The system includes: a transmitter, coupled to said device, for transmitting identification information; a receiver for receiving the identification information transmitted by the transmitter, when the transmitter is within a defined distance from the receiver; and a computer, coupled to the receiver for receiving the information from the receiver, and having a database for storing data associated with lost or stolen devices; wherein the computer compares the information with the data, and generates an alarm if the information indicates that the device is lost or stolen.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying a lost or stolen device is disclosed herein. The system includes: a transmitter, coupled to said device, for transmitting identification information; a receiver for receiving the identification information transmitted by the transmitter, when the transmitter is within a defined distance from the receiver; and a computer, coupled to the receiver for receiving the information from the receiver, and having a database for storing data associated with lost or stolen devices; wherein the computer compares the information with the data, and generates an alarm if the information indicates that the device is lost or stolen.

Abstract: System and methods for identifying a lost or stolen device. In one aspect, a method includes: receiving a plurality of items on a platform configured to support the items for transportation, one or more of the items being registered in a database; interrogating via an interrogation signal transmitted from a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader to one or more RFID tags attached to one or more of the items while on the platform; and communicating with the database over an Internet to identify an item as being missing and associated with the platform, based on a result of interrorgating.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying a lost or stolen device is disclosed herein. The system includes: a transmitter, coupled to said device, for transmitting identification information; a receiver for receiving the identification information transmitted by the transmitter, when the transmitter is within a defined distance from the receiver; and a computer, coupled to the receiver for receiving the information from the receiver, and having a database for storing data associated with lost or stolen devices; wherein the computer compares the information with the data, and generates an alarm if the information indicates that the device is lost or stolen.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying a lost or stolen device is disclosed herein. The system includes: a transmitter, coupled to said device, for transmitting identification information; a receiver for receiving the identification information transmitted by the transmitter, when the transmitter is within a defined distance from the receiver; and a computer, coupled to the receiver for receiving the information from the receiver, and having a database for storing data associated with lost or stolen devices; wherein the computer compares the information with the data, and generates an alarm if the information indicates that the device is lost or stolen.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying a lost or stolen device is disclosed herein. The system includes: a transmitter, coupled to said device, for transmitting identification information; a receiver for receiving the identification information transmitted by the transmitter, when the transmitter is within a defined distance from the receiver; and a computer, coupled to the receiver for receiving the information from the receiver, and having a database for storing data associated with lost or stolen devices; wherein the computer compares the information with the data, and generates an alarm if the information indicates that the device is lost or stolen.

Abstract: Input devices for controlling a pointer or other visual indicator on a display of a computer system. In one embodiment, an input device includes a body configured to face a support structure (e.g., a base assembly of a portable computer, a desktop, a tabletop, etc.), a projecting member extending between the body and the support structure, and a position sensor operatively connected to the projecting member. The body may be a housing including a first section or bottom section configured to move over the support structure, and a second section or top section facing generally away from the support structure. The second section can have a contoured surface extending over the support structure such that the contoured surface is configured to engage a palm of a hand of a user. The body, for example, may be a full-sized mouse housing configured to be gripped by a user.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a software facility for installing software products. The facility first displays a list of available software products that may be installed. The facility then receives user input selecting one of the available software products. After user input is received, the facility executes a script for installing the selected software product. In the preferred embodiment, the script is derived from an installation program provided by the vendor of the software product. The facility thus installs the selected software product without executing the installation program provided by the vendor of the software product. In a further preferred embodiment, the facility produces the executed script by executing the vendor installation program provided by the vendor of the software product, identifying changes made during the execution of the vendor installation program, and generating a script that, when executed, effects the identified changes.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a software facility for installing software products. The facility first displays a list of available software products that may be installed. The facility then receives user input selecting one of the available software products. After user input is received, the facility executes a script for installing the selected software product. In the preferred embodiment, the script is derived from an installation program provided by the vendor of the software product. The facility thus installs the selected software product without executing the installation program provided by the vendor of the software product. In a further preferred embodiment, the facility produces the executed script by executing the vendor installation program provided by the vendor of the software product, identifying changes made during the execution of the vendor installation program, and generating a script that, when executed, effects the identified changes.

Abstract: Methods for operating hand-held input devices for controlling a visual indicator on a computer system display. In one embodiment, an input device includes a body configured to face a support structure, a projecting member extending between the body and the support structure, and a position sensor operatively connected to the projecting member. The body includes a bottom section configured to move over the support structure and a top section having a contoured surface configured to engage a palm of a hand. The projecting member can have a first portion connected to either the body or the support structure, and a second portion projecting from the first portion toward the other of the body or the support structure. For example, the projecting member can be a rod having a first end pivotally connected to the body and a second end engaged with the support structure such that the second end is inhibited from moving with respect to the support structure.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a facility for securing the use of a distinguished operation, such as a computer system administration operation, to authorized users. The facility first displays an ornamental image to a user. The displayed ornamental image contains a visual key feature that the facility uses to discern the authority of the user to perform the distinguished operation. The facility then determines whether the user has selected the key feature within the ornamental image. The facility invokes the distinguished operation only in response to a determination that the user has selected the key feature. In this way, only authorized users informed to select the key feature may invoke the distinguished operation.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a software facility for inferring the identity of a preferred server for use by a computer system. The facility first reads system configuration information describing the configuration of the computer system. The facility also reads configuration mapping information specifying a mapping from system configuration information to preferred servers. The facility then applies the read mapping information to the read system configuration information to identify a preferred server for the computer system. In some embodiments, the computer system proceeds to consume resources of the preferred server identified in this manner.