Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system that initiates specific maintenance and diagnostic boot images on remote computers. The system is used to select a particular remote device over a network. A particular new boot image is also selected, and that boot image is tailored to operate a maintenance or diagnostic function on the target machine. The new boot image is downloaded to the target, and the target is rebooted with the new boot image. The new boot image is selected from other specific boot images. Upon reboot, the new boot image performs the diagnostic or maintenance routines on the remote target machine. At some predetermined point, the original boot image is swapped back, and the machine rebooted once again. This returns the machine to its original image.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system that initiates specific maintenance and diagnostic boot images on remote computers. The system is used to select a particular remote device over a network. A particular new boot image is also selected, and that boot image is tailored to operate a maintenance or diagnostic function on the target machine. The new boot image is downloaded to the target, and the target is rebooted with the new boot image. The new boot image is selected from other specific boot images. Upon reboot, the new boot image performs the diagnostic or maintenance routines on the remote target machine. At some predetermined point, the original boot image is swapped back, and the machine rebooted once again. This returns the machine to its original image.

Abstract: A customer automatically receiving an assignment on his wireless device without the need to visit a reservation desk is provided. When the customer initially makes a reservation with a vendor, a computer records the wireless device's identification. When the customer arrives at or near the vendor's location, the system creates an out-of-range condition for the wireless device by shielding a portion of a location that the customer will be passing through. In response, the wireless device re-scans the control channels in an attempt to establish better communications with a wireless communication tower. A transceiver positioned in the transition zone transmits a channel that is detected and locked-on by the wireless device. The wireless device transmits its identification to the transceiver, which in turn forwards it to the computer. The computer sends assignment information to the wireless device.

Abstract: A method and system whereby a customer automatically receives an assignment on his wireless device without the need to visit a reservation desk. When the customer initially makes a reservation with a vendor, a computer records the wireless device's identification. When the customer arrives at or near the vendor's location, the system creates an out-of-range condition for the wireless device by shielding a portion of a location that the customer will be passing through. In response, the wireless device re-scans the control channels in an attempt to establish better communications with a wireless communication tower. A transceiver positioned in the transition zone transmits a channel that is detected and locked-on by the wireless device. The wireless device transmits it identification to the transceiver, which in turn forwards it to the computer. The computer sends assignment information to the wireless device.

Abstract: Controlling access to a facility includes sending a program and profile for facility services to a user's portable device. The services have telephones connected via a local area network (“LAN”), so a call originating on the LAN to such a telephone may be completed on the LAN without accessing a wide area telephone network (“WAN”). The program is executed on the user's portable device so that the device operates in a facility mode. In this mode, the device displays services from the profile, so that the user can select a service and easily place telephone calls to it solely over the LAN. Responsive to the user's service selection, in a normal operating sub-mode the user's portable device places a call via the WAN using a longer telephone number and in a local operating sub-mode the user's portable device places the call via the LAN using a shortcut number.

Abstract: Accessing information about a facility includes loading a program and profile for facility services in a memory associated with a user's wireless portable device. The services have telephones connected via a local area network (“LAN”), so that a call originating on the LAN to such a telephone may be completed on the LAN without accessing a wide area telephone network (“WAN”). The program is executed on the user's portable device so that the device operates in a facility mode. In this mode the device displays the services from the profile, so that the user can select among them and easily place telephone calls to them solely over the LAN. In one alternative, normal and local sub-modes of operation are enabled. In the normal sub-mode the portable device places calls for the selected service via the WAN and in the local sub-mode the calls are solely over the LAN.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for detecting when a wireless device is entering a quiet zone. An out-of-range condition is created in an entryway to a quiet zone. When a wireless device is in a transition zone, the device transmits a re-scan message with a unit identification in an attempt to reestablish communication with the communication tower. A re-scan receiver is provided in the entryway to receive re-scan messages and notify a mobile telephone switching office that the device is entering a quiet zone. The switching office then sends a ring type modifier property to the device when the device leaves the transition zone and reestablishes communications with the communication tower.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for detecting when a wireless device is entering a quiet zone. An out-of-range condition is created in an entryway to a quiet zone. When a wireless device is in a transition zone, the device transmits a re-scan message with a unit identification in an attempt to reestablish communication with the communication tower. A re-scan receiver is provided in the entryway to receive re-scan messages and notify a mobile telephone switching office that the device is entering a quiet zone. The switching office then sends a ring type modifier property to the device when the device leaves the transition zone and reestablishes communications with the communication tower.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system that initiates specific maintenance and diagnostic boot images on remote computers. The system is used to select a particular remote device over a network. A particular new boot image is also selected, and that boot image is tailored to operate a maintenance or diagnostic function on the target machine. The new boot image is downloaded to the target, and the target is rebooted with the new boot image. The new boot image is selected from other specific boot images. Upon reboot, the new boot image performs the diagnostic or maintenance routines on the remote target machine. At some predetermined point, the original boot image is swapped back, and the machine rebooted once again. This returns the machine to its original image.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system that initiates specific maintenance and diagnostic boot images on remote computers. The system is used to select a particular remote device over a network. A particular new boot image is also selected, and that boot image is tailored to operate a maintenance or diagnostic function on the target machine. The new boot image is downloaded to the target, and the target is rebooted with the new boot image. The new boot image is selected from other specific boot images. Upon reboot, the new boot image performs the diagnostic or maintenance routines on the remote target machine. At some predetermined point, the original boot image is swapped back, and the machine rebooted once again. This returns the machine to its original image.

Abstract: A method and system whereby a customer automatically receives an assignment on his wireless device without the need to visit a reservation desk. When the customer initially makes a reservation with a vendor, a computer records the wireless device's identification. When the customer arrives at or near the vendor's location, the system creates an out-of-range condition for the wireless device by shielding a portion of a location that the customer will be passing through. In response, the wireless device re-scans the control channels in an attempt to establish better communications with a wireless communication tower. A transceiver positioned in the transition zone transmits a channel that is detected and locked-on by the wireless device. The wireless device transmits it identification to the transceiver, which in turn forwards it to the computer. The computer sends assignment information to the wireless device.

Abstract: A method of booting a plurality of target devices in communication with a network based on at least one target device definition is provided. A server in communication with the plurality of target devices receives a request for a boot file from at least one target device. A boot server in communication with the plurality of target devices is contacted. The boot server determines if the target device is defined. If the target device is not defined, the target device definition for the target device is created at the boot server. A bootstrap is executed at the target device, the bootstrap corresponding to the target definition. Systems and programs for using the method are also provided.

Abstract: A method and system for the management of and assistance to weaving looms in the weaving premises includes, for each loom, a unit to control actuators, a set of operation sensors, and a logic a unit apt to correlate signals from the sensors with the control unit. The logic unit is connected, through communication elements, to a server of a service center common to various weaving premises. The server is interfaced to a client for the acquisition from and output to the weaving premises of loom data and for processing of diagnostic routines and of solutions to failures of the looms, and to database for the sorted storage of data and of diagnosis and solutions. The client is able to gain access into the database and compare data acquired from and output to the weaving premises to find solutions to the failures.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for detecting when a wireless device is entering a quiet zone. An out-of-range condition is created in an entryway to a quiet zone. When a wireless device is in a transition zone, the device transmits a re-scan message with a unit identification in an attempt to reestablish communication with the communication tower. A re-scan receiver is provided in the entryway to receive re-scan messages and notify a mobile telephone switching office that the device is entering a quiet zone. The switching office then sends a ring type modifier property to the device when the device leaves the transition zone and reestablishes communications with the communication tower.

Abstract: A system for the management of and assistance to weaving looms in the weaving premises is described, and a method of assistance connected therewith, of the type comprising, for each loom, a unit to control actuators, a set of operation sensors, and a logic unit apt to correlate signals from said sensors with said control unit, said logic unit being connected, through communication means, to a server of a service centre common to various weaving premises, said server being interfaced to a client for the acquisition from and output to the weaving premises of loom data and for processing of diagnostic routines and of solutions to failures of the looms, as well as to a database for the sorted storage of such data and of said diagnosis and solutions, the client being able to gain access into said database so as to make comparisons with the data acquired from and output to the weaving premises to thereby find solutions to the failures.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system that initiates specific maintenance and diagnostic boot images on remote computers. The system is used to select a particular remote device over a network. A particular new boot image is also selected, and that boot image is tailored to operate a maintenance or diagnostic function on the target machine. The new boot image is downloaded to the target, and the target is rebooted with the new boot image. The new boot image is selected from other specific boot images. Upon reboot, the new boot image performs the diagnostic or maintenance routines on the remote target machine. At some predetermined point, the original boot image is swapped back, and the machine rebooted once again. This returns the machine to its original image.

Abstract: A method of booting a plurality of target devices in communication with a network based on at least one target device definition is provided. A server in communication with the plurality of target devices receives a request for a boot file from at least one target device. A boot server in communication with the plurality of target devices is contacted. The boot server determines if the target device is defined. If the target device is not defined, the target device definition for the target device is created at the boot server. A bootstrap is executed at the target device, the bootstrap corresponding to the target definition. Systems and programs for using the method are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for booting a client data processing system from a set of boot images stored on a server data processing system. At power up of the client data processing system, an image request is sent to the server data processing system from the client data processing system. According to a state of the client data processing system, an initial boot image is selected and sent to the client data processing system. The state of the client data processing system is monitored. Responsive to an indication that the client data processing system needs to be rebooted, a new boot image is selected, if needed depending on the state, and sent to the client data processing system. This selection is made according to the state of the client data processing system at the time the indication is identified. The client data processing system is rebooted using the boot image from the server data processing system.