Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for disabling the capturing of chat session text. A chat session participant may store a profile for informing other chat session participants of preferences regarding the capture of chat session text. A chat session user may disable another user's ability to capture text. A chat session user may request that another user not capture text.

Abstract: Computer implemented method, system and computer program product for controlling software entitlement. A computer implemented method for controlling software entitlement includes receiving a request to install a software item on a designated machine. A determination is made if the designated machine is of a machine type authorized for installation of the software item. If the designated machine is of a machine type authorized for installation of the software item, a determination is made, using stored configuration data, if at least one additional criterion specified for entitlement to install the software item on the designated machine is satisfied using stored configuration data. If the at least one additional criterion specified for entitlement to install the software item on the designated machine is satisfied, installation of the software item on the designated machine is enabled in accordance with the at least one additional criterion.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are disclosed for touch and gesture detection. A light source array comprises a plurality of light sources. Each light source of the light source array transmits a light beam across a face of a display in response to being activated. A light sensor array comprises a plurality of light sensors. Each light sensor of the light sensor array detects an intensity of each light beam transmitted across the face of the display in response to being activated. A controller concurrently activates each light source of the light source array with each light sensor of the light sensor array as a source/sensor pair during a detection cycle while other light sources of the light source array and other light sensors of the light sensor array are inactive. The controller further determines a location of a pointer relative to the display from a pattern of light beam intensities for each source/sensor pair.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for method or system which is able to control access to a new computer user password reset. The system is preloaded with a random password that does not needed to be known by anyone. There are two main situations in which this method will be used. The first situation involves a locally managed password and account where the user does not log in to a domain. The second situation involves remote management, where the user logs in to a domain.

Abstract: A method for booting into computer memory a non-operating system (O.S.) program from a hard disk drive (HDD) prior to booting into memory an O.S. from the HDD. The method includes establishing a table of contents (TOC) on the HDD that contains entries for special O.S. programs. A pointer to the TOC is placed in non-volatile memory of the computer that is associated with the HDD, and when BIOS of the computer is prompted to load into memory one of the special O.S. programs, the pointer is accessed and used to locate the TOC, which in turn is accessed to load the special O.S. program.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for storage write caching. A storage address translation table is used to overlay a user image and a common image. A storage driver stack module receives a storage access call and generates a storage access request with a requested file path and a requested storage address. A storage mapper module receives the storage access request, accesses the storage address translation table, and looks up a matching entry in the storage address translation table where the requested file path matches a saved file path and the requested storage address matches a saved common storage address, and maps a saved user storage address from the matching entry if a match exists.

Abstract: A USB connection arrangement, where more secure locking is afforded than has hitherto been achieved. With a first USB connecting portion and a second USB connecting portion, a locking arrangement is provided for physically securing the first USB connecting portion and the second USB connecting portion with respect to one another. The locking arrangement includes at least one receptor portion disposed on at least one of the first and second USB connecting portions, and at least one pin portion engageable with the at least one receptor portion for physically securing at least one of the first and second connecting portions with respect to the other of the first and second connecting portions.

Abstract: When a contact in an electronically-stored phone book has more than one telephone number associated with the contact's name, a user is permitted to define times (and if desired day/dates) for which each number is to serve as the default number for the contact, so if the user selects the contact's name from a list or enters the contact's speed dial shortcut number, the number called by default changes depending on the time of day/date.

Abstract: The number of concurrent instant messaging sessions at a given time is limited. A user may configure the number of instant messaging sessions that are allowed at a given time. When a new request for an instant messaging session is received, a determination is made as to whether there are already the maximum number of allowed sessions. If the maximum number of sessions has been reached, the requestor receives a message indicating that the user is currently busy with other instant messaging sessions and inviting the requestor to join the queue. If the requestor joins the queue, then the requestor moves up in the queue when one of the user's instant messaging sessions terminate.

Abstract: A system and method that gathers activity level from users and provides a “busy gauge” to others that indicates the user's activity level. In one embodiment, the user's activity is computed automatically based upon the user's interaction with their computer system. In the automatic method, an input tracking routine records the user's input frequency, such as mouse clicks, voice inputs, keyboard inputs, and other inputs in order to determine the user's activity level. The recorded activity data is compared with activity level thresholds that can be either default thresholds or user-specified. The user can select to use a manual input level in which the user specifies the user's activity level despite the number of input actions received at the user's computer.

Abstract: A method for booting into computer memory a non-operating system (O.S.) program from a hard disk drive (HDD) prior to booting into memory an O.S. from the HDD. The method includes establishing a table of contents (TOC) on the HDD that contains entries for special O.S. programs. A pointer to the TOC is placed in non-volatile memory of the computer that is associated with the HDD, and when BIOS of the computer is prompted to load into memory one of the special O.S. programs, the pointer is accessed and used to locate the TOC, which in turn is accessed to load the special O.S. program.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for method or system which is able to control access to a new computer user password reset. The system is preloaded with a random password that does not needed to be known by anyone. There are two main situations in which this method will be used. The first situation involves a locally managed password and account where the user does not log in to a domain. The second situation involves remote management, where the user logs in to a domain.

Abstract: A card formed with a cavity located within the card. The cavity is used to hold one or more liquid chemicals. Additional hollow regions abut the visual and magnetic versions of the sensitive data and are normally separated from the chemicals. When the card is sharply folded, the chemicals are released from the cavity and flow in the hollow regions abutting the stored data. The chemicals render the data unreadable, such as by obscuring the visual display with an opaque film. Additionally, in at least some embodiments, the magnetic strip on the credit card is implemented in such a way that there are two separate portions, with the encoded data divided in such a way that both portions are required in order to be decoded.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for identifying structural stress conditions for computer hardware. The apparatus includes a plurality of modules configured to functionally execute the necessary steps of monitoring a physical condition affecting a computer hardware component, recognizing a potential damage condition based on a threshold, and responding to the potential damage condition. These modules in the described embodiments include a monitoring module, a recognition module, and a response module. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method would identify potential damage conditions and alert a user to the potential damage condition before physical damage to the computer hardware component occurs. The user can then alleviate the physical condition affecting the computer component and avoid component damage.