Abstract: A method and system for notifying a viewer of the arrival or presence of one or more video input signals in a video display system, such as a personal computer (PC) or television (TV) system. If a video signal is already present, the system may optionally notify a viewer of the termination or absence of the video signal. The invention further provides the viewer with the opportunity to dynamically select the video source to view. Upon sensing the presence of a new video signal, the system alerts the viewer who may then select whether to view the new video signal or maintain prior viewing status.

Abstract: A method and system for notifying a viewer of the arrival or presence of one or more video input signals in a video display system, such as a personal computer (PC) or television (TV) system. If a video signal is already present, the system may optionally notify a viewer of the termination or absence of the video signal. The invention further provides the viewer with the opportunity to dynamically select the video source to view. Upon sensing the presence of a new video signal, the system alerts the viewer who may then select whether to view the new video signal or maintain prior viewing status.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a method that reduces the time required to gather system configuration information during an initialization process within a computer system. The method operates by checking a chassis intrusion detection circuit within the computer system to determine whether a chassis of the computer system has been opened. If the chassis intrusion detection circuit indicates that the chassis has been opened, the method performs a normal initialization operation that gathers system configuration information by communicating directly with computer system components to determine a state of the computer system components. This system configuration information is stored in a nonvolatile storage device.

Abstract: A method to notify an operating system level application includes setting a value (while executing in the system management mode) that is visible to the operating system level application before returning control to the operating system. The operating system visible value may cause an interrupt service routine to execute. The interrupt service routine may determine various characteristics of the system management event and pass this information to the operating system and/or application.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus that reduces the time required to gather system configuration information during an initialization process within a computer system. The apparatus includes a chassis intrusion detection circuit that determines whether a chassis of the computer system has been opened. The apparatus also includes a system initialization mechanism that operates when the chassis intrusion detection circuit indicates that the chassis has been opened, and is configured to perform an initialization operation that gathers system configuration information by communicating directly with computer system components to determine a state of the computer system components. The system initialization mechanism saves this system configuration information in a nonvolatile storage device.

Abstract: A technique to generate a web-based presentation is described that includes obtaining an entry from a feature table (the entry having an identification portion and an installation portion), and generating at least part of the presentation based on the installation portion if the entry corresponds to a loaded feature. At least a part of the presentation may also be generated based on entries not associated with operational features of a computer system. The method may be automatically executed on initial system power-up, or on user command.

Abstract: A method to protect against system memory configuration data loss and/or corruption includes obtaining configuration data from a computer system memory module, determining if the obtained configuration data is incorrect, and repairing the configuration data of the memory module if the obtained configuration data is incorrect. A computer system providing memory configuration data protection includes a random access memory having one or more modules (each memory module having module configuration data), a nonvolatile storage element having configuration data for each of the memory modules stored thereon, and a processor module adapted to determine if the configuration data from one of the memory modules is incorrect and, if it is, use at least a portion of the configuration data stored in the nonvolatile storage element to replace at least a portion of the configuration data of the memory module having the incorrect configuration data.

Abstract: Techniques to notify an operating system level application that a system management event has occurred include setting a value (while executing in the system management mode) that is visible to the operating system (and applications executing thereunder) before returning control to the operating system. The operating system visible value may cause a special system management driver routine to execute. The special system management driver routine may determine various characteristics of the system management event and pass this information to an application.

Abstract: A technique to generate a web-based presentation is described that includes obtaining an entry from a feature table (the entry having an identification portion and an installation portion), and generating at least part of the presentation based on the installation portion if the entry corresponds to a loaded feature. At least a part of the presentation may also be generated based on entries not associated with operational features of a computer system. The method may be automatically executed on initial system power-up, or on user command.