Abstract: In one aspect, a first Internet of Things (IoT) device includes at least one processor and storage accessible to the at least one processor. The storage includes instructions executable by the at least one processor to transmit a request related to one or more first settings to apply at the first IoT device, where the request transmitted using wireless communication other than Wi-Fi/Internet communication. The instructions are also executable to receive data indicating one or more second settings applied at a second IoT device using the wireless communication and to apply the one or more first settings at the first IoT device based on the received data.

Abstract: In one aspect, a first Internet of Things (IoT) device includes at least one processor and storage accessible to the at least one processor. The storage includes instructions executable by the at least one processor to transmit a request related to one or more first settings to apply at the first IoT device, where the request transmitted using wireless communication other than Wi-Fi/Internet communication. The instructions are also executable to receive data indicating one or more second settings applied at a second IoT device using the wireless communication and to apply the one or more first settings at the first IoT device based on the received data.

Abstract: In one aspect, a device includes at least one processor, a display accessible to the at least one processor, and storage accessible to the at least one processor. The storage includes instructions executable by the at least one processor to present content on the display and to identify at least one condition related to a user's eyes. The instructions are also executable to, based at least in part on the identification, change at least one setting that is being used to present the content on the display and/or present a prompt on the display that includes an instruction for the user to take an action.

Abstract: In one aspect, a device includes an accelerometer, a processor and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory bears instructions executable by the processor to receive first data from a biometric sensor which communicates with the device, and receive second data from the accelerometer. The first data pertains to a biometric of a user and the second data pertains to acceleration of the device. The memory also bears instructions executable by the processor to determine one or more emotions of the user based at least partially on the first data and the second data, and determine whether to execute a function at the device at least partially based on the emotion and based on third data associated with a use context of the device.

Abstract: A first device captures session data for each application session that is executing on a first device, and provides the session data to a second device in order for the second device to reconstruct the application sessions. A first device identifies one or more application sessions currently executing on the first device. Each of the application sessions include a media object and session data, which includes a media object identifier that corresponds to the media object and a first device media session position. The first device captures the session data transmits the captured session data to one or more second devices. The second devices are adapted to reconstruct at least one of the application sessions using the received session data and positions the application sessions at a second device media session position that corresponds to the received first device media session position.

Abstract: The color of a projected image is dynamically corrected by sensing the color of the surface onto which the image is projected before the image is projected, and/or sensing the color of the surface between frames of the projected image, and/or by sensing the projected image as it is displayed on the surface and comparing what is sensed to the original image. Corrections to the color of the projected image are then made based on the sensed information from the surface onto which the image is projected.

Abstract: A system includes at least one computer; at least one dock which engages the computer, and at least first and second millimeter wave transceivers which transmit information between the computer and the dock. The first transceiver sends signals having a first polarization and the second transceiver sends signals having a second polarization different from the first polarization.

Abstract: Fingertip-sized discrete areas are provided on a slate computer and have different tactile characteristics than the remainder of the surface on which they are disposed. The discrete areas are arranged to mimic home keys of a keyboard and each discrete area corresponds to a respective home key. In this way, a user is given tactile feedback of when fingers are properly placed in the home position, with home key finger placement triggering the presentation of a full keyboard on screen. Other embodiments do not use tactilely distinct keys, with simultaneous placement of two or more fingers on the computer triggering display of the virtual keyboard.

Abstract: The color of a projected image is dynamically corrected by sensing the color of the surface onto which the image is projected before the image is projected, and/or sensing the color of the surface between frames of the projected image, and/or by sensing the projected image as it is displayed on the surface and comparing what is sensed to the original image. Corrections to the color of the projected image are then made based on the sensed information from the surface onto which the image is projected.

Abstract: In one aspect, a device includes a battery charger, a processor, and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory bears instructions executable by the processor to access a history of at least one previous battery charge by the battery charger of a battery powering the device, access calendar information of a user of the device, determine an approximate time available to charge the battery based on the history, the calendar information, and a current charge level of a battery to be charged by the battery charger, and regulate current from the battery charger to the battery to charge the battery to a predetermined capacity to within at least a threshold time of the approximate time available.

Abstract: In one aspect, a device includes an accelerometer, a processor and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory bears instructions executable by the processor to receive first data from a biometric sensor which communicates with the device, and receive second data from the accelerometer. The first data pertains to a biometric of a user and the second data pertains to acceleration of the device. The memory also bears instructions executable by the processor to determine one or more emotions of the user based at least partially on the first data and the second data, and determine whether to execute a function at the device at least partially based on the emotion and based on third data associated with a use context of the device.

Abstract: A system includes at least one computer, at least one dock which engages the computer, and at least first and second millimeter wave transceivers which transmit information between the computer and the dock. The first transceiver sends signals having a first polarization and the second transceiver sends signals having a second polarization different from the first polarization.

Abstract: Systems and arrangements for remotely selecting a bootable image via a WOL packet for a wake-on-LAN (WOL) capable computer are contemplated. Server-side embodiments include hardware and/or software for determining a client to be managed, determining whether the client is active on the network, and transmitting a WOL packet having a vector, or operating system partition identification (OSPID), to describe a bootable image accessible by the WOL capable computer. Some embodiments may include an OSPID that points to a secure bootable image such as a bootable image on a hard drive, a compact disk (CD) connected to the computer, or other local resource. Client-side embodiments may receive the WOL packet at, for instance, a network interface card (NIC), recognize that the WOL packet includes an OSPID that describes the bootable image to boot, and implement an alternative boot sequence to boot from that bootable image.

Abstract: Systems and arrangements for remotely selecting a bootable image via a WOL packet for a wake-on-LAN (WOL) capable computer are contemplated. Server-side embodiments include hardware and/or software for determining a client to be managed, determining whether the client is active on the network, and transmitting a WOL packet having a vector, or operating system partition identification (OSPID), to describe a bootable image accessible by the WOL capable computer. Some embodiments may include an OSPID that points to a secure bootable image such as a bootable image on a hard drive, a compact disk (CD) connected to the computer, or other local resource. Client-side embodiments may receive the WOL packet at, for instance, a network interface card (NIC), recognize that the WOL packet includes an OSPID that describes the bootable image to boot, and implement an alternative boot sequence to boot from that bootable image.

Abstract: Hacking a rental computer to use it beyond purchased rental time is prevented by plugging a time card with internal counter into a DIMM socket of the motherboard and encrypting the register locations of the time card with the private key of the motherboard to bind the time card to the motherboard. Thus, if the time card is not detected at boot or if it is removed during operation the computer is disabled. The counter counts down the rented time period as it receives clocking signals, and at the elapse of the purchased period disables the computer.

Abstract: A system, method, and program product is provided that establishes a shared secret between a computer system and a peripheral device such as a removable nonvolatile storage device or a printer. After establishing the shared secret, the peripheral device is locked. After the peripheral device is locked, an unlock request is received and the shared secret is sent to the peripheral device. The peripheral device then attempts to verify the shared secret. If the shared secret is successfully verified, then the peripheral device is unlocked allowing use of the device by using an encryption key that is made available by the verified shared secret. On the other hand, if the shared secret is not verified, then the peripheral device remains locked and use of the device is prevented.

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 detect a degraded condition on the backbone network. Upon detecting the degraded condition, the access point selectively dissociates clients on the wireless network. In order to select which clients are dissociated first, a predetermined client dissociation policy is established. The policy can include account priority, bandwidth utilization, elapsed time since last transfer, and, amongst other criteria, whether the client is currently transferring in peer-to-peer mode on the wireless network. Upon detecting the degraded condition, either immediately or after a predetermined delay to ensure that the degraded condition is not temporary, clients on the wireless network are dissociated according to the preestablished policy.

Abstract: An approach is provided that receives a user identifier from a user of the information handling system. The user identifier can include a username as well as a user authentication code, such as a password. Hardware settings that correspond to the user identifier are retrieved from a nonvolatile memory. Hardware devices, such as ports (e.g., USB controller), network interfaces, storage devices, and boot sequences, are configured using the retrieved hardware settings. After the hardware devices have been configured to correspond to the identified user, an operating system is booted.

Abstract: A hard disk drive unit includes a microprocessor programmed to erase data stored within the drive unit if it is determined that a process potentially leading to a misuse of the data stored within the drive unit, and if secure disposal configuration data stored in nonvolatile storage within the drive indicates that the data is to be erased. Such a process includes initializing the drive unit for operation without providing a password matching a password stored in the drive unit, initializing the drive unit in a system not having CMOS configuration data matching the drive unit, and determining that a failure rate within the drive unit exceeds a threshold level.

Abstract: A system, method, and program product is provided that initializes a counter maintained in a nonvolatile memory of a security module to an initialization value. The security module receives requests for a secret from requesters. The security module releases the secret to the requesters and the released secrets are stored in memory areas allocated to the requesters. A counter is incremented when the secret is released. Requestors send notifications to the security module indicating that the requestor has removed the secret from the requestor's memory area. The security module decrements the counter each time a notification is received. When the computer system is rebooted, if the counter is not at the initialization value, the system memory is scrubbed erasing any secrets that remain in memory.