Abstract: A protective cover for a handheld portable electronic device includes a front cover, and one or more mounting portions. The mounting portions can couple the front cover to the handheld portable electronic device. The front cover can cover the display screen of the portable electronic device. The front cover, the mounting portions, or both include studded surfaces or socket surfaces. The studded surfaces or socket surfaces couple with standard building elements of a play building set.

Abstract: A case for a portable electronic device includes a cavity and one or more studded surfaces. The cavity can receive at least a portion of the portable electronic device such that the portable electronic device is removable from the cavity through an opening in the cavity. The studded surfaces can be coupled with one or more building elements.

Abstract: A waterproof, heat-proof, and fire-proof protective cover for a hot barbecue grill or other cooking apparatus. In one embodiment, the protective cover includes a waterproof flexible outside shell conforming generally to the shape of the hot barbecue grill and having an underside, and at least one inside flexible shell coupled to the underside of the outside shell. The inside shell includes at least one heat-dissipating material disposed to contact a hot portion of the hot barbecue grill when the protective cover is placed thereon.

Abstract: A case for a portable electronic device includes a cavity and one or more studded surfaces. The cavity can receive at least a portion of the portable electronic device such that the portable electronic device is removable from the cavity through an opening in the cavity.

Abstract: A case for a portable electronic device includes a cavity and one or more studded surfaces. The cavity can receive at least a portion of the portable electronic device such that the portable electronic device is removable from the cavity through an opening in the cavity. The studded surfaces can be coupled with one or more building elements.

Abstract: A protective cover for a handheld portable electronic device includes a front cover, and one or more mounting portions. The mounting portions can couple the front cover to the handheld portable electronic device. The front cover can cover the display screen of the portable electronic device. The front cover, the mounting portions, or both include studded surfaces or socket surfaces. The studded surfaces or socket surfaces couple with standard building elements of a play building set.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a convertible protective cover for protecting an article. The cover includes a covering portion having an underside, a pillowcase portion having an inside surface, and a tether having two ends, one end coupled to the covering portion and the other end coupled to the pillowcase portion. The covering portion can be stuffed into the tethered pillowcase portion to form a stuffed pillow that conceals the cover. Conversely, the protective cover conceals the pillowcase portion while the protective cover is in use to protect the article.

Abstract: A protective cover for inhibiting corrosion of barbecue grills, automobiles, outdoor furniture, and other metal-containing articles. In one embodiment, the protective cover includes a water vapor-permeable shell and at least one volatile corrosion inhibitor (VCI) disposed on or in the water vapor-permeable shell. The shell includes two outer layers of spunbond polypropylene with an inner layer of polypropylene film impregnated with the VCI. The VCI actively inhibits corrosion, while the entrapment of moisture inside the shell is inhibited by the water vapor-permeable shell.

Abstract: A waterproof, heat-proof, and fire-proof protective cover for a hot barbecue grill or other cooking apparatus. In one embodiment, the protective cover includes a waterproof flexible outside shell conforming generally to the shape of the hot barbecue grill and having an underside, and at least one inside flexible shell coupled to the underside of the outside shell. The inside shell includes at least one heat-dissipating material disposed to contact a hot portion of the hot barbecue grill when the protective cover is placed thereon.

Abstract: A case for a portable electronic device includes a cavity and one or more studded surfaces. The cavity can receive at least a portion of the portable electronic device such that the portable electronic device is removable from the cavity through an opening in the cavity.

Abstract: A case for a portable electronic device includes a cavity and one or more studded surfaces. The cavity can receive at least a portion of the portable electronic device such that the portable electronic device is removable from the cavity through an opening in the cavity.

Abstract: A case for a portable electronic device includes a cavity and one or more studded surfaces. The cavity can receive at least a portion of the portable electronic device such that the portable electronic device is removable from the cavity through an opening in the cavity.

Abstract: A method and system for maintaining the execution speed of a multiprocessor computer system includes automatically detecting a change in instruction execution rate in a disabled processor by a threshold amount and determining an amount of change in instruction execution rate to adjust an actual system-level instruction execution rate to approximate a target system-level instruction execution rate. The target system-level execution rate being pre-determined. Thereafter, the method adjusts one or more instruction processor execution rates such that the actual system-level instruction execution rate approximates the target system-level instruction execution rate to overcome the loss of the disabled processor. One embodiment of the invention involves the use of a processor key for licensing of processor resources within the computer system and offers the option of enabling a dynamic processor recovery method as well as an automatic execution rate regulation method.

Abstract: A method for specifying an operating system (OS) file to use in a computing system after a system reboot begins by copying at least one new OS file to a system disk. An OS file to be installed is selected from the new OS files on the disk. The system is booted into the selected OS file, the selected OS file becoming the currently running OS on the system. A boot pointer on the system disk is updated to point to the selected OS file, such that any subsequent reboot will be into the selected OS file.

Abstract: A system and method for providing multiple access levels to users of a wireless network system. The network system includes a plurality of wireless access points coupled to a network. Access points (APs) for the network may be widely distributed in various facilities, such as airports, mass-transit stations, and various businesses. The network may couple to a wide area network, such as the Internet. A portable computing device (PCD) of a user may store identification information which indicates an access or privilege level for the user of the PCD. The access level may determine the network access and/or services available to the user of the PCD. The identification information may include a System ID of the PCD. Each of the access points may be operable to “listen for” or detect the identification information of the PCD. The network system may store a list of identification information and a corresponding list of access levels.

Abstract: A method and system for dumping computer memory includes receiving an instruction to perform a dump of memory in a partitioned computer system where each partition has at least one processor and associated memory. The associated memory having a first portion and a second portion where the first portion is normally actively used for user application program or data storage. After receipt of the dump request, the source memory content is protected against corruption or contention from other program sources and copied into the second portion of memory. Preferably, the first and second portions are co-located RAM to provide speedy transfers of information. Access to the first portion of memory is then permitted by removing the protections and the user may have full access to run applications. The dump image is then transferred to any location as a background I/O task as the user executes his applications.