Abstract: A computer application stored on a storage medium (e.g., a portable storage medium such as a compact disk) is automatically launched. Initialization information expressed in accordance with a predefined syntax is stored on the storage medium. Also stored in the computer is "launching" information sufficient, together with the initialization information, to enable the computer to launch the application. The application is automatically launched, without user intervention, by reading the initialization information and using it in connection with the launching information stored in the computer.

Abstract: A user interface of simplifying selection of speaker volume level and power conservation level in a computer system. An icon is presented for setting the speaker volume which includes a bar graph of relative speaker volume. By depressing left or right arrow keys the graph moves and the volume level of the speaker is changed. By depressing the down arrow key when setting the volume level, the speaker is beeped to allow for a level check during the setting process. A series of icons are used to indicate and select power conservation level. Each icon includes a battery with a faucet attached to the side of the battery. Different water flow rates indicate the various conservation levels. A human figure is located adjacent the faucet to indicate the user-customerized conservation level.

Abstract: A computer system which provides emulation routines that cause a keyboard or mouse to appear present to the system software even when the devices are not physically installed. On system start up, this allows installation of appropriate device drivers by the operating system. If a keyboard or mouse is later installed, the emulation responses are discontinued, and a keyboard and mouse operate normally. When the system is placed in a standby state, the keyboard and mouse connectors are totally powered down. Before this power down, the BIOS routines save the configuration state of the keyboard and mouse as recorded by the emulation routines, which have been tracking commands sent to those devices even when those devices are operating. When power is reenabled to the keyboard and mouse connectors, the configuration of those devices is restored from that saved configuration data.

Abstract: A computer system which utilizes a CMOS memory/RTC and does not have a separate battery for powering the CMOS memory/RTC. A serial EEPROM is utilized to maintain the contents of the CMOS memory. When the computer is entered into a setup mode and the CMOS information is to be saved, it is saved to both the CMOS memory and to the serial EEPROM. Upon booting up, a check is made to see if the CMOS memory has not lost data. If it has, then the copy stored in the serial EEPROM is retrieved and utilized. In a second embodiment, a flash EEPROM used to store the BIOS of the computer also stores this information. The flash EEPROM is a type where the EEPROM is divided into several partitions and each can be programmed independently of the others. The partition of the flash EEPROM used for the CMOS information is originally erased. The partition is sufficiently large to contain numerous copies of the CMOS data. Copies of the CMOS data are sequentially stored.

Abstract: A computer system with a digitizer based screen display in which the digitizer data is buffered through a first-in first-out memory (FIFO). The processor is only interrupted when a full digitizer data packet is available in the FIFO, rather than being interrupted on each data byte available in the FIFO. The FIFO can hold multiple digitizer data packets, so that data is not lost should the processor in the computer system be unable to immediately handle these digitizer data packets. The system also provides a filter in a separate controller that examines each digitizer data packet to determine if the pen is in a predefined screen location that performs a prespecified function. If so, rather than pass the digitizer data packet to the system processor through the FIFO, the command is passed through a separate register to the processor based on the "hotspot" touched on the screen.

Abstract: A battery charge controller and fuel gauge which accurately monitors the voltage, temperature, and charge and discharge current of a rechargeable battery, and calculates the battery's charge capacity and charge level. Each time the battery is fully discharged, any calculated charge level remaining is divided by two and subtracted from the previously calculated charge capacity. When the battery is fully charged, the charge level is set equal to the charge capacity. During subsequent charge and discharge, the current is converted to a coulomb count and added or subtracted from the charge level to maintain an accurate charge level. Fast charge inefficiency due to temperature is considered by subtracting a temperature proportional factor before the charge level of the battery is updated. The charge level, voltage and temperature are used to determine the optimal fast charge termination point to achieve full charge and prevent temperature abuse and overcharge.

Abstract: A battery charge controller and fuel gauge which accurately monitors the voltage, temperature, and charge and discharge current of a rechargeable battery, and calculates the battery's charge capacity and charge level. Each time the battery is fully discharged, any calculated charge level remaining is divided by subtracted from the previously calculated charge capacity. When the battery is fully charged, the charge level is set equal to the charge capacity. During subsequent charge and discharge, the current is converted to a coulomb count and added or subtracted from the charge level to maintain an accurate charge level. Fast charge inefficiency due to temperature is considered by subtracting a temperature proportional factor before the charge level of the battery is updated. The charge level, voltage and temperature are used to determine the optimal fast charge termination point to achieve full charge and prevent temperature abuse and overcharge.

Abstract: A keyboard controller which scans entered input sequences for an input sequence to activate a display blanking feature. A password and particular hot key are loaded by the system microprocessor. The keyboard controller then scans until the designated sequence is activated. The display on the monitor is blanked until a password sequence is entered. The password mode may be directly activated from the system microprocessor. The display blanking feature is especially useful in conjunction with a keyboard password lock.