Abstract: A USB connection arrangement, where more secure locking is afforded than has hitherto been achieved. With a first USB connecting portion and a second USB connecting portion, a locking arrangement is provided for physically securing the first USB connecting portion and the second USB connecting portion with respect to one another. The locking arrangement includes at least one receptor portion disposed on at least one of the first and second USB connecting portions, and at least one pin portion engageable with the at least one receptor portion for physically securing at least one of the first and second connecting portions with respect to the other of the first and second connecting portions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for providing an option when sending an email which will require the recipient of the email to provide an extra level of authentication before displaying the email contents in order to prove that he or she is indeed the correct recipient of the email. Validation is required by the recipient every time he or she opens an email. This validation occurs in the form of authentication that the user is indeed the intended recipient of the email, and can be provided in various means, including biometric identification, password phrases, and so forth.

Abstract: A system and method for installing a type-1 hypervisor onto a secondary storage of a computer while a user operating system is already installed and executing in main memory.

Abstract: A hypervisor-based system and method for downloading device driver updates that prevents confusion on the part of the driver update software as to which driver, physical or virtual, is being updated.

Abstract: A system and method that validates the identity of an instant messaging session user is provided. An instant messaging session is established between two instant messaging applications running on two different computers connected through a computer network. After the instant messaging session has been established, one of the users requests identity authentication of the other user. The other user supplies the requested identity authentication data, such as a password. The identity authentication data is verified and, if the identity authentication data is successfully verified, a secure message is displayed.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting viruses. According to the method, data is stored in a journal area of memory before changes embodied in the data are written to virtual memory. At least a first portion of the data in the journal area of memory is scanned for viruses. In some embodiments, a second portion of data that immediately precedes and/or immediately follows data to which the first portion of the data pertains is scanned for viruses. Preferably, the virtual memory includes a persistent storage device. Also provided is a system that includes a processor, a memory that includes virtual memory and a journal storage area, and a virus scanner controlled by the processor. The virus scanner scans the journal storage area for viruses.

Abstract: The present invention provides a client and server tool that interrogates file sharing attributes of a client/server system from both the client side and the server side. These attributes may include software fireballs, sharing policies, and security attributes. By interrogating the file sharing attributes from both the client and server sides, network access problems emanating from entire side (client and server) can be discovered, and automated solutions can be presented to rectify any problems.

Abstract: A system and method is provided to track events related to shortcuts. These events include moving shortcuts from one location (menu) to another location (menu), renaming a folder in which a shortcut resides, and changing the name of a shortcut. Changes related to shortcuts generate operating system events. The system and method includes a process that is registered with the operating system in order to receive data regarding events that relate to shortcut changes. When a shortcut event is received by the process, the process updates applicable configuration files and references. Installation scripts are automatically updated so that the uninstall process (when eventually executed) can locate all shortcuts that pertain to the application and remove the shortcuts along with the uninstalled application.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for identifying structural stress conditions for computer hardware. The apparatus includes a plurality of modules configured to functionally execute the necessary steps of monitoring a physical condition affecting a computer hardware component, recognizing a potential damage condition based on a threshold, and responding to the potential damage condition. These modules in the described embodiments include a monitoring module, a recognition module, and a response module. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method would identify potential damage conditions and alert a user to the potential damage condition before physical damage to the computer hardware component occurs. The user can then alleviate the physical condition affecting the computer component and avoid component damage.

Abstract: A system and method for autonomically configuring a router are presented. An agent is installed on a client that tracks resource authorizations for particular applications. The agent sends a configuration request to a router that requests the router to change one or more router parameters, such as assigning a port to the client. The router compares the configuration request against its router policies, and changes router parameters (assigns resources) based upon the configuration request. Once the agent and the router authorize the resources, the application uses the resources to communicate with a computer network through the client resource and the router resource. When the application is terminated, the router and the client disable their respective resources.

Abstract: A method and data processing system for providing a preload imaging process that is self-healing. The state information of a single or multi-threaded preload environment is autonomically recognized and stored in a log file along with the corresponding file images that are being preloaded. The log tracks the image files and related state information for a plurality of simultaneously executing (preloading) threads. When a crash occurs during the preload process, the log information is dynamically analyzed to determine a safe point within the respective threads to resume the preload operation. The preload process is then autonomically resumed from the safe location without necessarily having to restart the entire process.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing the efficiency of a thermal management profile includes a central repository. The central repository is for receiving data for power consumption and location from equipment, combining the data with a current temperature near the equipment, and adjusting the current temperature based on the combined data.

Abstract: Automatic display of a pop-up window on a computer is delayed until a time period has elapsed since the last user keyboard entry or mouse manipulation, to avoid distracting the user while the user is busy inputting data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing the use of card skimmers on electronic card terminals are disclosed. Embodiments include a method that generally includes ejecting from a card slot in a rear faceplate an electronic card and determining the relative movement between a front faceplate and the card slot. Embodiments also include before receiving a second electronic card, changing the relative position of the card slot and the front faceplate. Embodiments may include moving the rear faceplate or moving the front faceplate. Further embodiments may include detecting an error during the changing of the relative position of the card slot and the front faceplate and, if an error is detected, moving the card slot to a lockdown position. Movements between the front faceplate and the card slot may be vertical, horizontal, radial, etc., and may be randomly generated.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for finding an application compatible with a file. An identification module is included to associate an identifier with a file within a computing device, the identifier configured to identify an application compatible with the file. An access module is included to access the identifier in response to selection of the file. A reference module is included to reference an application external to the computing device using the identifier. In an alternate embodiment, the access module accesses the identifier in response to selection of the file and failure to locate an application registered with the computing device compatible with the file.

Abstract: Controlling access to a computerized device includes deriving a hash from two pieces of information, signing the hash to create a signed password and storing the password in the device. In response to an initial access attempt, the user is prompted to enter two input values. A local hash is then derived from the two input values and compared to a hash derived from the stored password. Upon detecting a match between the hashes, the user is granted access to the device, where the match indicates equivalence between the two pieces of information and the two input values. The input values may include information specific or personal to the user and information unique to the device. A public/private key pair may be used to sign and optionally encrypt and decrypt the stored password.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for disabling the capturing of chat session text. A chat session participant may store a profile for informing other chat session participants of preferences regarding the capture of chat session text. A chat session user may disable another user's ability to capture text. A chat session user may request that another user not capture text.

Abstract: Handedness settings for an embedded point and click input device are automatically established based on signals that are generated when a user rests his hand on the device. For example, the device can be a joystick or a button-like trackpoint element on the keyboard of an IBM Thinkpad®.

Abstract: Handedness settings for a mouse-like point and click input device are automatically established based on signals that are generated when a user rests his hand on the device.

Abstract: Real time quality of service (QoS) of a link between Internet chat users is gathered and displayed to the users.