Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for retrieving and installing device driver software across a network. The method operates by detecting the presence of a device in a computer system for which no current driver is installed in the computer system. Upon detecting such a device, the method reads a locator specifying the location of a current driver for the device from a non-volatile memory on the device. The method uses this locator to communicate with a remote host across the network, and to retrieve a current driver for the device from the remote host. Next, this current driver is installed on the computer system. In one embodiment of the present invention, the locator includes a universal resource locator (URL) and the network includes the Internet. One embodiment of the present invention reboots the computer system after installing the current driver.

Abstract: A system for locating computer documents or data of interest to a user without specification by the user of topics of interest. The system detects the selection of computer documents by the user of the system, and analyzes the contents of the selected computer documents to identify topics to which the contents are related. The system also monitors the user's interactions with the selected computer documents. The system then proceeds without user intervention, using the identified topics and the monitored user interaction information to generate topics of interest to the user. The system next determines a level of user interest in the various generated topics, and prioritizes the generated topics on the basis of these levels. The system then uses the prioritized generated topics of user interest to locate documents whose contents are of interest to the user, and makes the located documents available to the user for selection.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that retrieves and installs device driver software across a network. The system includes a detection mechanism that detects the presence of a device in a computer system for which no current driver is installed in the computer system. The system also includes a reading mechanism that reads a locator specifying the location of a current driver for the device from a non-volatile memory on the device. The system additionally includes a driver retrieving mechanism that uses the locator to communicate with a remote host across the network in order to retrieve the current driver for the device from the remote host. The system also includes an installation mechanism that installs the current driver on the computer system.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a disc player that accommodates multiple discs. The system includes a labeling mechanism within the disc player that is configured to assign a label to a disc from the plurality of discs. This labeling mechanism includes a sampling mechanism that is configured to read audio data from the disc and an identifier construction mechanism that is configured to use the audio data to construct an identifier for the disc. The system also includes a label input device that receives a label for the disc from a user and an associating mechanism that is configured to associate the label with the identifier. The disc storage unit also includes first and second slots and a memory storage device coupled to the disc storage unit, for storing identification data for discs stored in the first and second slots.

Abstract: A computer system and method for filtering unauthorized electronic mail messages that are sent by senders to a user. The system includes a list of the identifications of the senders who are authorized to send an electronic mail message to the user. When an electronic mail message is received, the system determines whether the sender of the electronic mail message is authorized by determining whether the identification of sender in the electronic mail message is in the list of the identifications of the senders who are authorized. When the sender of the electronic mail message is determined to be authorized, the system stores the electronic mail message in an Inbox folder. When the sender of the electronic mail message is determined to be not authorized, the system stores the electronic mail message in a Junk Mail folder.

Abstract: A system for estimating the total usage of computer system resources by all users with access to those resources, performed in such a way that desired demographic information is available and computer users are not deterred from using the resource by the usage estimation techniques.

Abstract: A radar detector for alerting an operator of a motor vehicle to an incoming police radar signal. This radar detector includes a microprocessor; a circuit coupled to the microprocessor for detecting the incoming police radar signal; and a global positioning system receiver coupled to the microprocessor. Upon detection of an incoming radar signal, the radar detector can utilize the position, velocity, and/or heading data from the global positioning system receiver to determine whether to generate an alert.

Abstract: A method for operating an input device and a laptop computer. The input device may be attached to or detached from the laptop computer and may be accessed by a user in either the attached or detached positions. The user may secure the laptop computer in a stowed configuration without removing the input device and may access the input device immediately upon re-positioning the computer from the stowed configuration to an unstowed configuration. The user may access the input device by manipulating a joystick, touch pad or rotatable sphere. In one embodiment, the user may rotate the rotatable sphere by moving it with the fingers when the input device is attached, and by inverting the input device and moving the input device across a flat surface when the input device is detached.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for removing power and signals from a bus card in a computer system when the bus card is inadvertently removed from the computer system while the computer system is operating. The method includes sensing a movement of the bus card from a bus connector in the computer system while the computer system is operating, and in response to the movement, removing power and signals from the bus card. The present invention can thereby prevent damage or failure of the computer system when a bus card is inadvertently removed from the computer system by powering down the bus card and/or removing signals from the bus card before it is completely removed. Another embodiment of the present invention includes sensing an insertion of the bus card into the bus connector, and in response to the insertion of the bus card, resetting the bus card.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for skipping a track on a disc in a disc player. Unlike current methods, this method does not rely on identifying tracks to be skipped based upon which slot a disc is located in. Instead, one embodiment of the present invention identifies discs based upon identification data read from discs in the disc player. Thus, this embodiment of the present invention provides a method for skipping a track on a disc in a disc player that operates by identifying discs contained in the disc player. The method receives track identification data from a track sequencer. The method also reads track identification data for tracks to be skipped from a memory storage device. The method then compares the track identification data for the tracks to be skipped with the track identification data from the track sequencer.

Abstract: A detachable device for a laptop computer. The laptop computer has a base and a display housing coupled to the base. The display housing is movable relative to the base between a closed position in which the computer is in a stowed configuration and an open position in which the computer is in an unstowed configuration and the display housing and base are accessible to a user. The input device includes controls that receive commands from the user and transmit the commands to the computer via a communication link. In one embodiment, the input device may be attached to the computer by positioning it within an aperture of the base. The input device may be detached from the computer by removing it from the aperture. The controls of the input device may remain accessible to the user when the input device is either attached to or detached from the base. The computer may be placed in the stowed configuration when the input device is in the attached position.

Abstract: A closure system useful for securing a device having a stylus. In a first embodiment, the closure system includes a housing having first and second housing members, the first housing member being configured to matingly contact the second housing member when the device is in a closed configuration. The stylus is received within a channel located in the second housing member. A latch release also located within the second member is controlled by the position of the stylus such that when the stylus is inserted within the channel, the latch release engages a latch located on the first member, thereby preventing the first and second members from separating. The latch release may also be used to block the latch such that the first and second housing members can not be mated when the stylus is removed from the channel. In another embodiment, a blocking device located within the second housing member and separate from the latch is utilized to prevent the device from being closed when the stylus is removed.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for skipping a track on a disc in a disc player. Unlike current systems, this system does not rely on identifying tracks to be skipped based upon which slot a disc is located in. Instead, one embodiment of the present invention identifies discs based upon identification data read from discs in the disc player. Thus, one embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for playing discs that skips a track on a disc. The apparatus includes a disc player including a sequencing mechanism that generates a sequence of tracks from discs in the disc player. The disc player also includes an identification mechanism within the disc player that reads identification information from discs in the disc player and determines from the identification information if a specific disc is in the disc player.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for removing signals and power from a bus card in a computer system when the bus card is inadvertently removed from the computer system while the computer system is operating. This apparatus includes a bus connector, for receiving a bus card, and a power conductor to provide an electrical coupling between the bus card and a power source. The apparatus also includes a power switch coupled between the power conductor and the bus connector, to selectively provide power to a bus card in the bus connector. The apparatus additionally includes a movement sensor, for sensing a movement of the bus card from the bus connector. The apparatus also includes a controller coupled between the movement sensor and the power switch, for activating the power switch to remove power from the bus card when the movement sensor detects a movement of the bus card from the bus connector.

Abstract: An apparatus for locating a stolen computer or other electrical device is implemented by special programming stored in a program storage device. When an e-mail is being sent from the stolen electronic device, the sender address is compared to an owner address. If the sender address does not match the owner address, the e-mail is redirected or copied to e.g. a law-enforcement agency or a stolen-computer registry address.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a portable computing device comprising a housing including a keyboard. The embodiment also includes a first pointing device coupled to the housing, as well as a second pointing device coupled to the housing between the keyboard and a first edge of the housing. The embodiment additionally includes a plurality of buttons disposed on the housing so that at least one button is located between the first pointing device and the second pointing device, and at least one button is located between the glide point and the first edge of the housing. In another embodiment, the plurality of buttons is movably disposed on the housing so that when buttons are located in a first position, at least one button is located between the first pointing device and the second pointing device, and when buttons are located in a second position, at least one button is located between the second pointing device and the first edge of the housing.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for skipping a track on a disc in a disc player. Unlike current systems, this system does not rely on identifying tracks to be skipped based upon which slot a disc is located in. Instead, one embodiment of the present invention identifies discs based upon identification data read from discs in the disc player. Thus, one embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for playing discs that skips a track on a disc. The apparatus includes a disc player including a sequencing mechanism that generates a sequence of tracks from discs in the disc player. The disc player also includes an identification mechanism within the disc player that reads identification information from discs in the disc player and determines from the identification information if a specific disc is in the disc player.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a method for locating an electronic device capable of sending e-mail. The method includes identifying that an e-mail is being sent from the electronic device. Next, the sender address is compared to an owner address. If the sender address does not match the owner address, the e-mail is redirected. In some embodiments, the method is performed by a computer. In other embodiments, the method is performed by a modem.

Abstract: A method for locating an electronic device such as a stolen portable computer. The method includes initiating a phone call; receiving automatic number identification (ANI) information; and terminating the phone call before the call is answered. The received ANI information may then be provided to law enforcement agencies so that they may retrieve the electronic device. The act of initiating and terminating may be performed by a computer or a modem.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for skipping a track on a disc in a disc player. Unlike current methods, this method does not rely on identifying tracks to be skipped based upon which slot a disc is located in. Instead, one embodiment of the present invention identifies discs based upon identification data read from discs in the disc player. Thus, this embodiment of the present invention provides a method for skipping a track on a disc in a disc player that operates by identifying discs contained in the disc player. The method receives track identification data from a track sequencer. The method also reads track identification data for tracks to be skipped from a memory storage device. The method then compares the track identification data for the tracks to be skipped with the track identification data from the track sequencer.