Abstract: Examples associated with interference generation are described. One example system includes a personal digital assistant. A listening device in the system may receive voice input to control the personal digital assistant. An interference generator integrated with the listening device may generate a noise pattern to prevent the listening device from receiving voice input. An interface for the interference generator may allow a user to activate and deactivate the interference generator and provide a visual indicator describing whether the interference generator is active.

Abstract: Examples associated with interference generation are described. One example system includes a personal digital assistant. A listening device in the system may receive voice input to control the personal digital assistant. An interference generator integrated with the listening device may generate a noise pattern to prevent the listening device from receiving voice input. An interface for the interference generator may allow a user to activate and deactivate the interference generator and provide a visual indicator describing whether the interference generator is active.

Abstract: In one embodiment a flag on a first client device on a network can indicate that a first service is to be synchronized with the second service on the network.

Abstract: A method including initializing at least one component of another computing machine in response to the other computing machine coupling to a computing machine, loading a component driver onto the computing machine for at least one of the initialized components, and configuring the computing machine to use the component driver to control at least one of the initialized components of the other computing machine.

Abstract: A method including initializing at least one component of another computing machine in response to the other computing machine coupling to a computing machine, loading a component driver onto the computing machine for at least one of the initialized components, and configuring the computing machine to use the component driver to control at least one of the initialized components of the other computing machine

Abstract: A method for executing a command including detecting a gesture from a user with a sensor, identifying the gesture and a command associated with the gesture, and identifying at least one corresponding device to execute the command on and configuring a device to execute the command on at least one of the corresponding devices.

Abstract: An “ownership tag” in a special area of memory of a computer system identifies an owner of the computer system by displaying the ownership tag during initialization of the computer system. The ownership tag may be presented during the installation and execution of the Basic Input Output System. (BIOS) preferably during Power on Self Test (POST) process. An administrator may access the ownership tag by interrupting the process by pressing the an appropriate key, which transitions the computer to an administrator set up mode. An administrator able to enter the administrator password may then alter the contents of the protected memory, changing the ownership tag. The ownership tag is preferably stored in a region of memory not accessible to a typical user, but accessible to an administrator aware of the administrator password. The ownership tag is stored in a flash memory, which is very difficult to remove from the system board, or to modify without administrator-level security access.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method for recovering a BIOS in a computer is described, comprising: unattendingly loading a BIOS recovery code image into system ROM stored on a bootable device; and unattendingly rebooting the computer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting and reporting revision identification numbers (“rev IDs”). When the revision identifier of hardware that the computer is built out of changes, this can impact the actual and/or perceived stability of the computer. In some embodiments, devices may include a programmable register, which may be programmed to a revision identifier. This number may be the revision identifier of a previous version of this hardware that was originally incorporated in the system design.

Abstract: An “ownership tag” in a special area of memory of a computer system identifies an owner of the computer system by displaying the ownership tag during initialization of the computer system. The ownership tag may be presented during the installation and execution of the Basic Input Output System (BIOS) preferably during Power on Self Test (POST) process. An administrator may access the ownership tag by interrupting the process by pressing the an appropriate key, which transitions the computer to an administrator set up mode. An administrator able to enter the administrator password may then alter the contents of the protected memory, changing the ownership tag. The ownership tag is preferably stored in a region of memory not accessible to a typical user, but accessible to an administrator aware of the administrator password. The ownership tag is stored in a flash memory, which is very difficult to remove from the system board, or to modify without administrator-level security access.

Abstract: A computer system that includes a system ROM with at least two sets of character strings, one set in English and at least one other set in a non-English language. Generally, each set of character strings includes characters, words and phrases that are translations of corresponding character strings in the other sets. In a preferred embodiment, the system ROM includes only two sets of character strings—one English and the other non-English. The non-English set of character strings is included as part of a “language module” stored or flashed into the system ROM. The character strings preferably are used to provide information and instructions to a user during system setup. When setup is run, the computer system determines whether a valid international language module is included in the system ROM. If a valid language module is included, the user is prompted to select either English or whatever international language is provided in the language module.

Abstract: A computer system provides for flashing a non-volatile memory image to a non-volatile memory and reading data from a non-volatile memory independently of an operating system. An image buffer is allocated in a volatile memory of the computer system. If flashing a non-volatile memory image to the non-volatile memory is desired, the image buffer is loaded with a portion of the non-volatile memory image. BIOS interface code is then called to place an SMI event code into a memory and to generate a system management interrupt causing the computer system to enter a system management mode. SMI handler code examines the SMI event code and calls SMI service code. Next, the image buffer is located and the portion of the non-volatile memory in the image buffer is flashed to the non-volatile memory by the SMI service code. Locating the image buffer may include locating an image header defined within the volatile memory. The image header may include a password for providing access to the non-volatile memory.