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.

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: A landing gear warning system for an aircraft with at least one retractable landing gear member comprising: (a) a landing gear indicator adapted for generating a signal representative of the position of the landing gear member; (b) an aircraft positioning system adapted for generating a signal representative of the aircraft's latitude, longitude, and elevation; (c) a pilot warning device; and (d) a computer system operatively coupled to the landing gear indicator, the aircraft positioning system, and the pilot warning device, wherein the computer system includes a database that contains the longitude and latitude, and elevation of a plurality of runways, and wherein the computer system is adapted for receiving the signal representative of the aircraft's latitude, longitude, and elevation, adapted for receiving the signal representative of the position of the landing gear member, and adapted for generating a pilot warning signal that activates the pilot warning device if the aircraft's elevation is less than a