Abstract: A method is provided for controlling access to a target device. The method comprises receiving, by the target device, primary input from a user or user device, wherein the primary input matches a predetermined input stored by the target device and authorizes the user or user device to access the target device. The method further comprises storing, by the target device, one or more wireless secondary signals that are detected by the target device during a time period in which the primary input is received. Still further, the method comprises allowing access to the target device in response to receiving the primary input, and then allowing access to the target device in response to subsequently receiving at least one of the one or more wireless secondary signals matching one or more of the stored wireless secondary signals in the absence of receiving the primary input.

Abstract: Profiling operating efficiency deviations of a computing system includes: generating a profile of expected operating efficiency for a computing system in an ideal configuration; for each of a plurality of alternative configurations of the computing system, wherein each of the alternative configurations includes a variation of the ideal configuration that introduces a deviation in operating efficiency of the computing system, said variation comprising a root cause of the deviation: monitoring operating efficiency of the computing system identifying, from the monitored operating efficiency, a deviation of operating efficiency from the expected operating efficiency; and recording, in a data structure, an association of the deviation and the root cause of the deviation.

Abstract: Systems, computing devices, and methods for setting data usage levels among computing devices based on predicted data usage are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes predicting data usage by a computing device. The computing device is associated with a data usage plan including the computing device and at least one other computing device. The method also includes setting a data usage level of the at least one other computing device based on the predicted data usage.

Abstract: An apparatus for user authentication based on tracked activity includes an activity tracker module, a challenge module, and an authentication module. The activity tracker module is configured to electronically track one or more activities of a user. Electronically tracking the one or more activities includes obtaining information about at least one activity from an electronic device of the user. The challenge module is configured to present an authentication challenge to the user via a user interface for the electronic device. The authentication challenge is based on the one or more electronically tracked activities for the user. The authentication module is configured to determine whether to authenticate the user for access to one or more resources via the electronic device, based on the user's response to the authentication challenge.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining and using correlative thermal efficiency impacts to distribute workloads includes a baseline module, a deviation module, and a transfer module. The baseline module determines a baseline system thermal efficiency of a plurality of servers based on a utilization level of the plurality of servers, the baseline system thermal efficiency including a baseline thermal efficiency of a first server of the plurality of servers. The deviation module determines a deviation in a thermal efficiency from the baseline thermal efficiency of the first server of the plurality of servers based on a new workload assigned to the first server of the plurality of servers. The transfer module transfers the new workload to a second server of the plurality of servers in response to the deviation being above a deviation threshold.

Abstract: Systems, computing devices, and methods for setting data usage levels among computing devices based on predicted data usage are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes predicting data usage by a computing device. The computing device is associated with a data usage plan including the computing device and at least one other computing device. The method also includes setting a data usage level of the at least one other computing device based on the predicted data usage.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling access to a target device. The method comprises receiving, by the target device, primary input from a user or user device, wherein the primary input matches a predetermined input stored by the target device and authorizes the user or user device to access the target device. The method further comprises storing, by the target device, one or more wireless secondary signals that are detected by the target device during a time period in which the primary input is received. Still further, the method comprises allowing access to the target device in response to receiving the primary input, and then allowing access to the target device in response to subsequently receiving at least one of the one or more wireless secondary signals matching one or more of the stored wireless secondary signals in the absence of receiving the primary input.

Abstract: An apparatus for contacting a user via an alternate device includes a tracker module, an accessibility module, a contact identification module, and a contact router module. The tracker module obtains tracking information from one or more electronic devices of a user. At least one of the one or more electronic devices includes a communication device. The accessibility module determines, based on the tracking information, that the user is inaccessible via the communication device. The contact identification module autonomously identifies an alternate device for contacting the user. The alternate device is projected, based on the tracking information, to be in proximity to the user. The contact router module reroutes an incoming communication based on the alternate device.

Abstract: A method includes tracking access to files that are stored on a single disk, and identifying a file access sequence involving a first file and a second file stored on the disk, wherein the first file is accessed before the second file. The method further includes determining a time differential between a time that the first file is accessed and a time that the second file is accessed, and determining a direction and speed at which a drive head of the disk can move between sectors and tracks of the disk. Still further, the method includes migrating one or both of the first and second files to a new location on the disk so that, after the drive head of the disk has read the first file, the drive head is repositioned at a beginning of the second file in a period of time that is a function of the time differential.

Abstract: An apparatus for contacting a user via an alternate device includes a tracker module, an accessibility module, a contact identification module, and a contact router module. The tracker module obtains tracking information from one or more electronic devices of a user. At least one of the one or more electronic devices includes a communication device. The accessibility module determines, based on the tracking information, that the user is inaccessible via the communication device. The contact identification module autonomously identifies an alternate device for contacting the user. The alternate device is projected, based on the tracking information, to be in proximity to the user. The contact router module reroutes an incoming communication based on the alternate device.

Abstract: A first method includes a plurality of nodes communicating with a network switch, each node transmitting a packet with a packet header that includes a value of a node-level attribute selected from a node utilization level, a node role, and a dependency involving the node, and the network switch receiving the packet and prioritizing transmission of the packet based on the value of the node-level attribute identified in the packet header. In a related second method, each node reports the value of the node-level attribute to a management entity, the management entity determines a priority for each node based on the value of the node-level attribute received from each node, and the management entity provides the priority for each node to the network switch, such that the network switch prioritizes, for each packet, transmission of the packet based on the priority for the node involved in communication of the packet.

Abstract: Using a conversation context to manage conference participants including receiving a request from an invitee to join a conference in progress; extracting audio from the conference; converting said audio to data describing the conference; matching data to a context, wherein the context comprises a specification of a subject matter of the conference and a list of authorized participants for the conference; comparing the invitee to the list of the authorized participants for the conference; responsive to determining that the invitee matches an authorized participant of the list of authorized participants for the conference, granting permission to the invitee to join the conference; and responsive to determining that the invitee does not match an authorized participant of the list of authorized participants for the conference, denying the invitee access to the conference.

Abstract: Profiling operating efficiency deviations of a computing system includes: generating a profile of expected operating efficiency for a computing system in an ideal configuration; for each of a plurality of alternative configurations of the computing system, wherein each of the alternative configurations includes a variation of the ideal configuration that introduces a deviation in operating efficiency of the computing system, said variation comprising a root cause of the deviation: monitoring operating efficiency of the computing system identifying, from the monitored operating efficiency, a deviation of operating efficiency from the expected operating efficiency; and recording, in a data structure, an association of the deviation and the root cause of the deviation.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining and using correlative thermal efficiency impacts to distribute workloads includes a baseline module, a deviation module, and a transfer module. The baseline module determines a baseline system thermal efficiency of a plurality of servers based on a utilization level of the plurality of servers, the baseline system thermal efficiency including a baseline thermal efficiency of a first server of the plurality of servers. The deviation module determines a deviation in a thermal efficiency from the baseline thermal efficiency of the first server of the plurality of servers based on a new workload assigned to the first server of the plurality of servers. The transfer module transfers the new workload to a second server of the plurality of servers in response to the deviation being above a deviation threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus for user authentication based on tracked activity includes an activity tracker module, a challenge module, and an authentication module. The activity tracker module is configured to electronically track one or more activities of a user. Electronically tracking the one or more activities includes obtaining information about at least one activity from an electronic device of the user. The challenge module is configured to present an authentication challenge to the user via a user interface for the electronic device. The authentication challenge is based on the one or more electronically tracked activities for the user. The authentication module is configured to determine whether to authenticate the user for access to one or more resources via the electronic device, based on the user's response to the authentication challenge.

Abstract: A method includes determining a topic and a media type of a communication to be sent from a sending communication device to a designated receiving communication device, assigning one or more security requirements to the communication based on the topic and the media type, identifying a security state of the receiving communication device for receiving the communication via the media type, and transmitting the communication from the sending communication device to the receiving communication device only in response to the security state of the receiving communication device satisfying the one or more security requirements.

Abstract: A laptop computer housing includes a base, a lid, a hinge coupling the base and the lid, and one or more detection circuit for detecting multiple open lid angles between the lid and the base. A method includes detecting an open lid angle between the lid and the base of the laptop, and scaling power consumption of one or more components of the laptop in response to the detected open lid angle. For example, the method may enforce a first reduced power setting for the one or more components in response to detecting a first open lid angle, and may enforce a second reduced power setting for the one or more components in response to detecting a second open lid angle.

Abstract: A method includes tracking access to files that are stored on a single disk, and identifying a file access sequence involving a first file and a second file stored on the disk, wherein the first file is accessed before the second file. The method further includes determining a time differential between a time that the first file is accessed and a time that the second file is accessed, and determining a direction and speed at which a drive head of the disk can move between sectors and tracks of the disk. Still further, the method includes migrating one or both of the first and second files to a new location on the disk so that, after the drive head of the disk has read the first file, the drive head is repositioned at a beginning of the second file in a period of time that is a function of the time differential.

Abstract: A method includes identifying a movement event that will cause a computer to limit access to a first data storage device of the computer, wherein the first data storage device has internal moving parts. The method further includes identifying an application or file stored on the first data storage device that is to be accessed during a duration of the movement event, and caching or storing the identified application or file on a second data storage device of the computer prior to the movement event, wherein the second data storage device is a solid state device. Still further, the method includes accessing the identified application or file from the second data storage device for the duration of the movement event.

Abstract: Predictive block allocation in a flash device, where the flash device includes a plurality of blocks may include: receiving a request to store data to the flash device; determining, in dependence upon one or more characteristics of the data, a usage prediction value for the data; determining, in dependence upon the usage prediction value for the data and upon wear levels for the plurality of blocks, a block from among the plurality of blocks; and; and storing the data in the block of the plurality of blocks.