Abstract: A method and system for authentication in a computer system is disclosed. The method and system of the present invention includes registering a biometric template in the computer system, thereafter, verifying the authenticity of the registered biometric template and then comparing the biometric template with a biometric image of the user if the biometric template is authentic. If the user's biometric image matches the biometric template, the computer system will continue to boot.

Abstract: The hard disk drive of a computer system is loaded with a preloaded image including an operating system, a number of application programs, and a device driver installation routine, all of which are not dependent on the hardware configuration of the computer system. A hidden partition of the hard disk drive is also loaded with a number of device drivers, which are dependent upon the hardware configuration. During the first boot only of the preloaded image, the device drivers are installed by the device driver installation routine.

Abstract: A method for forming an interface free layer of silicon on a substrate of monocrystalline silicon is provided. According to the method, a substrate of monocrystalline silicon having a surface substantially free of oxide is provided. A silicon layer in-situ doped is deposited on the surface of the substrate in an oxygen-free environment and at a temperature below 700° C. so as to produce a monocrystalline portion of the silicon layer adjacent to the substrate and a polycrystalline portion of the silicon layer spaced apart from the substrate. The silicon layer is heated so as to grow the monocrystalline portion of the silicon layer through a part of the polycrystalline portion of the silicon layer. Also provided is a method for manufacturing a bipolar transistor.

Abstract: A method and system for providing field replaceable units (FRU's) to a personal computer being repaired of updated. A software agent, installed on the personal computer, collects identification information about all FRU's in the personal computer. The collected identification information is stored in a memory register in the personal computer on a scheduled periodic basis, and then transmitted to and stored on a remote service computer. A field service technician, upon receipt of a repair request for the personal computer, retrieves the identification information from the remote service computer identifying all FRU's for the uniquely identified personal computer. The technician then brings all FRU's used by the personal computer to the field repair site so that the needed FRU is readily available, thus avoiding multiple trips that would be required to first visually inspect the components of the personal computer and then return with the needed FRU's.

Abstract: A method and system for binding a device to a planar is disclosed. According to the preferred embodiment of the method and system of the present invention, a programmable memory chip is provided on the planar and the device is detachably attached to the planar. The method and system further includes using the programmable memory chip to bind the device to the planar.

Abstract: A method and system for control of key pair usage in a computer system is disclosed. The method and system comprise creating key pair material for utilization with an embedded security chip of the computer system. The key pair material includes tag data. The method and system further includes determining whether the key pair material is bound to the embedded security chip based on the tag data.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for securing decrypted files in a shared environment. A filter driver in a kernel space may be configured to control service requests to encrypted files stored in a shared area, e.g., a shared directory on a disk unit, accessible by multiple users. The filter driver may receive a service request to open an encrypted document in the shared area issued from an authorized user. Upon receiving the encrypted data, the filter driver may decrypt the encrypted data. The filter driver may subsequently store the decrypted data in a file in a non-shared area, e.g., a non-shared directory. The non-shared area may be accessible only by the authorized user that requested access to the encrypted file. By storing the decrypted data in a file in the non-shared area, a file once decrypted may be protected in a file sharing environment.

Abstract: A measuring device for determining the thickness of a non-homogeneous medium such as the thickness of a road structure. The device includes a radar transmitter and two spaced receivers. Information on the timing of the transmitted signal as well as the signals received by the two receivers is used to calculate the material thickness while eliminating signal drift.

Abstract: An intelligent network interface monitors activity states of a client and reports them to a network manager using a single network connection. The network interface monitors interrupts occurring on the client, derives activity states from the interrupts, and logs the activity states on the network interface. An activity state specifies whether the client is in a hung state, but may also specify whether the client is off, sleeping, inactive, or active. The network interface may periodically report the activity states to the network manager or report upon receiving a command. The network interface is preferably powered full time using a trickle power supply and therefore operates even when the remainder of the client is off. By including a processor or specialized logic on the network interface, the interface operates independently of the client operating system and therefore monitors and reports even when the client malfunctions.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method determines which products are to be advertised as specials on web pages or in another form of advertisement, based on comparing scores generated for each product within a number of products offered for sale to predict the profit potential of the product. Preferably, the score is generated by multiplying a profit factor, indicating a profit for each sale, by a sales factor, determining the likelihood of selling the product, and by an inventory factor, which is included to prevent the advertisement of a product for which an inadequate inventory is held as a special. Preferably, web pages are automatically generated at a predetermined time with products having the best scores being advertised as specials.

Abstract: When a flash unlock routine unlocks the flash memory to permit updating of a BIOS image, a message is left in secure non-volatile memory, such as a EEPROM. Upon the next re-boot, the boot block code will detect the special message in the non-volatile memory and perform a signature verification of the next block of code that is to be executed during the POST process. This code block will check the remainder of the BIOS image before POST proceeds.

Abstract: An update utility requests a signature verification of the utility's signature along with a request to unlock the flash memory stored in the utility. A trusted platform module (“TPM”) performs a signature verification of the utility using a previously stored public key. Upon verification of the signature, the TPM unlocks the flash memory to permit update of the utility. Upon completion of the update, the flash utility issues a lock request to the TPM to relock the flash memory.

Abstract: An SMI (System Management Interrupt) generation capability is added to the cryptographic verification operation utilized to verify an update of a system management utility, such as the BIOS update utility. With the addition of an SMI upon completion of a signature verification command, the SMI handler issues a signature verification request to a trusted platform module (TPM) and returns control to the controlling application with a status code indicating it should begin polling the SMI handler for status. Upon completion of the verification operation, the TPM issues the SMI. The SMI handler then queries the TPM for status. The SMI handler then updates its internal status and permits access to the requested resource assuming the verification is successful. Upon the next poll from the application, the SMI handler returns the status to the calling application, which would either continue or abort with the update operation.

Abstract: Data stored on a computer readable medium in a computing system is protected from being read within another computing system by encrypting a data structure, such as the FAT table of a disk recorded using a FAT-based file system or a portion of the master file table of a disk recorded using an NTFS file system. This data structure is used to find the files on the medium. Encryption and decryption preferably occur within a cryptographic processor of the computing system, with this data structure in a hard drive being encrypted as the computing system is shut down and decrypted after power on. In an alternate embodiment, a utility program provides for selective encryption and decryption of a data structure in a removable computer readable medium.

Abstract: A method and system for providing automatic notification of an end of lease of a computer system and its location within a computer network is disclosed. The computer network includes a server computer system and multiple client computer systems. A message is initially sent from the server computer system to all the client computer systems to inquire the lease status of each of the client computer systems. At each of the client computer systems, a determination is made as to whether or not a current date falls within a predetermined amount of days from the end of lease date for the client computer system. If the current date falls within the predetermined amount of days from the end of lease date for the client computer system, the physical location of the client computer system is obtained from a storage device located at an Ethernet wall plate to which the client computer system is attached.

Abstract: A data processing system and method are described for permitting a portable computer to automatically detect the presence of a printer within a remote area, and responsive to the detection, automatically establishing a communications link with the printer. The portable computer is physically disconnected from the printer. The portable computer transmits a wireless query signal to the remote area. In response to a printer physically located within the remote area receiving the wireless query signal, the printer transmits a wireless reply signal to the remote area. In response to the portable computer receiving the wireless reply signal, the computer automatically establishes a communications link with the printer so that the computer may utilize the printer to print information. The communications link may be established with a printer for which the computer does not include a printer driver necessary for communicating with the printer.

Abstract: A data processing system and method are described for permitting a server computer system to perform remote diagnostics on a malfunctioning client computer system coupled to the server computer system utilizing a network. The server computer system transmits a diagnostic command to the malfunctioning client computer system utilizing the network. A network adapter operating as a bus controller for an internal bus within the malfunctioning client computer system executes the diagnostic command. The network adapter transmits a result of the execution of the diagnostic command to the server computer system. In this manner, the diagnostic command is executed within a malfunctioning client computer system by a remote, server computer system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the prevention and treatment of blood-borne and toxin mediated diseases, and in particular anti-C5a antibodies for the prevention and treatment of sepsis in humans as well as other animals. The present invention also relates to methods of generating anti-C5a antibodies employing C-terminal truncated C5a peptides.

Abstract: Multiple PCI adapter cards are supported by a single PCI slot through the aspects of the present invention. A computer system aspect includes an &mgr;ATX planar including at least one PCI slot, and a riser card mounted in the at least one PCI slot, the riser card supporting multiple PCI adapter cards and providing signal generation to allow the multiple PCI adapter cards to utilize the at least one PCI slot. The riser card aspect includes a PCI connector for coupling to a PCI slot on the &mgr;ATX planar, a plurality of PCI slots for attaching a plurality of PCI adapter cards, and a logic device for providing separate bus signal pairs to each of the plurality of PCI adapter cards from a single signal pair of the PCI slot on the &mgr;ATX planar.

Abstract: A method and system for reconfiguring a multi-dimension sound system is disclosed. The method and system include a remote control that is capable of emitting a low-frequency sound wave pulse pattern, and a plurality of speakers, wherein each speaker includes a pulse counter that counts a number of sound wave pulses received from the remote control over a predetermined time period. The method and system further include an audio receiver that includes a digital audio encoding system. The receiver uses the respective sound wave pulse count from each of the speakers to compute the distance between the remote control and each speaker, and programs the digital audio encoding system with speaker delay times based on the computed distances.