Abstract: A method and system that provides a pass through block device that is utilized to redirect all the writes bound to the system drive(s) to an overlay skin device. Reads are performed on overlay device contents and the overlay device contents take precedence over the contents of the base device. Applications of a particular theme may be installed on the overlay device. The overlay device is provided on a removable media and thus allows for creation of a set of exchangeable skins. Nested overlays are utilized to create separation of the OS data, application data, and user data. Switchable user skins enable writes into overlays and allow a user to create operating environments which can be utilized to change the use of a computer system. Since the overlays are provided on a removable media, the user only needs to substitute the overlay to switch the user's operating environment.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for processing events. Events occurring during execution of an application are monitored to form monitored events. A plurality of sequences of method types and transition types from the monitored events are identified to form an identified plurality of sequences of method types and transitions types. Overhead compensation values are identified for the identified plurality of sequences of method types and transitions types to form identified overhead compensation values. Observed metrics for the monitored events are adjusted using the identified overhead compensation values.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program code for profiling an application. Execution of an application is monitored. A set of metrics relating to execution of the application occurring during monitoring execution of the application are collected to form a set of observed metrics. An execution environment overhead occurring with respect to the set of observed events is identified to form an identified execution environment overhead. The set of observed metrics is adjusted using the identified execution environment overhead to form a set of calibrated metrics.

Abstract: A user enters control settings into a content receiver whereby the control settings correspond to a particular viewer or a particular time-of-day. The content receiver receives a media signal and metadata that includes censorship level information. The content receiver uses the control settings to identify an applicable censorship level and uses the metadata to de-scramble the media signal to a censorship level corresponding to the identified applicable censorship level. The content receiver provides the de-scrambled media signal to a viewer's display.

Abstract: A text modification mechanism is provided for formatting data such that the information can be reasonably deciphered by a human, but cannot be easily recognized by computer recognition techniques. The text modification mechanism alters printed text so that computer recognition of characters becomes difficult. Modification of the text may be accomplished with manipulation of the fonts or the background. The mechanism may also modify the text based on user preferences.

Abstract: A text modification mechanism is provided for formatting data such that the information can be reasonably deciphered by a human, but cannot be easily recognized by computer recognition techniques. The text modification mechanism alters printed text so that computer recognition of characters becomes difficult. Modification of the text may be accomplished with manipulation of the fonts or the background. The mechanism may also modify the text based on user preferences.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for sampling call stack information. Monitoring for an event is performed during an execution of a plurality of threads by a set of processors. A portion of the plurality of threads is identified based on a policy to form a set of identified threads in response to an occurrence of the event. Call stack information is collected for the set of identified threads using an under utilized processor in a set of processors in response to identifying the portion of the plurality of threads, wherein the call stack information is used to profile a processor in the set of processors.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for profiling objects. A set of data addresses for a set of objects is identified in response to detecting an event involving a set of objects. A determination is made as to whether any of the set of objects are located in a heap for a virtual machine using the set of data addresses. Call stack information for a thread causing the event is obtained in response to an object in the set of objects being located in the heap, wherein the call stack information is obtained for each object in the set of objects present in the heap.

Abstract: A technique for storing or backing up data to a removable media such as a CD or DVD with an enhanced probability that such data can be successfully read or recovered from such media subsequent to the writing/storing/backing-up of the data. This enhanced probability is achieved by storing the data to be copied to the media in multiple different physical locations of the media, such that a plurality of duplicate copies of the data exists on the media. Because there are multiple copies of the data stored on the media, the probability of being able to successfully read at least one good copy of the data is enhanced. For example, if one of the copies cannot be successfully read due to an unrecoverable error, another of the copies can be used to satisfy the read or restore operation. It is also possible to read all copies of the data in response to a read/restore operation, and any differences in the read data will indicate an error with at least one of the copies.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing access rights information on computer accessible content are provided. The apparatus and method provide a mechanism through which access rights information is provided in association with information and content such that use of the information and content is controlled based on the access rights information. The apparatus and method include access rights information tags being associated with information and content. A web browser is provided with code, either in the web browser, or as a plugin application or browser extension, to process the access rights information and thereby control the usage of the associated information and content. In addition, an interface is provided through which a user may gain access to content that is associated with access rights information. The interface is generated based on the access rights information associated with the content and the access level of the user.

Abstract: A system, method, and program controls the occurrence of unsolicited browser windows by enabling a user to specify a maximum depth of a window that can be opened. Before opening a new window, the browser determines the window depth in relation to the specified depth. If the new window to be opened has a given depth in relation to the specified setting which allows the new window to be opened, the window will be opened. If the new window to be opened has a given depth in relation to the specified setting which does not allow the new window to be opened, the window will not be opened. Furthermore, the browser prevents a new window from being opened from a current window if the current window is being closed.

Abstract: A method for serving an image from a server to a client, e.g., a computer having a browser or other graphics viewing engine. The user of the client first specifies a set of one or more bitmap characteristics for an image transfer, with at least one of the bitmap characteristics including a number of bits per pixel. Preferably, this specification is accomplished using an applet or other piece of code that is downloaded to the client from the server. Later, when the server receives a client request that includes data identifying a specified bitmap characteristic, a server processing routine (e.g., a servlet) generates a version of the image that conforms to the specified bitmap characteristic. This version is then delivered back to the client in response to the original request. In this way, the user of the client machine can control the particular characteristics of the image files that are delivered to his or her machine.

Abstract: A system, method, and program controls a display of pages retrieved over a network by a browser program. A predetermined minimum threshold of time for displaying a page is required before the page can be included in a browser history list that is used to satisfy “Back” and “Forward” requests from a user. For each page, if the length of time that the page is displayed is less than the minimum threshold of time, then the page, or a reference to the page, is not stored in memory in the history list. In this way, pages that merely forward or reference another page, i.e., forwarder pages, are not included in the history list. As such, a forwarder page will not be included in the sequence of pages when a “Back” function is utilized by a user.

Abstract: A portable device having improved configurability and adaptability. The portable device has a case or chassis that can be placed in either an open or closed position, to thereby allow for insertion and removal of other devices within the portable device. When increased functionality is required or desired, the device's case is expanded by placing it in an open position, to allow additional devices to be operated in conjunction with the portable device. These devices can provide various types of electronic or computer operations, such as electronic adapters or media drives, as well as mechanical operations such as air movement with one or more additional fans or other types of heat sink. When decreased functionality is required or desired, such as to reduce the overall size and weight of the portable device, the device's case is contracted by placing it in a closed position. This allows on-demand expansion and contraction capability for the portable device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a data processing system for performing a raster operation of graphics data. A system memory and a video memory is included in the data processing system. The system memory and the video memory are connected by a bus wherein the graphics data is organized into picture elements. A plurality of picture elements is read from the system memory. A plurality of picture elements is read from the video memory. A raster operation is performed on the plurality of picture elements to form a plurality of processed picture elements. The plurality of processed picture elements is written to the video memory.

Abstract: Performance events are counted for a computing system. This includes designating a first processor counter as a low-order counter for counting a certain performance event encountered by the processor and associating with the first counter a second counter as a high-order counter. The first counter is incremented responsive to detecting the performance event for a first processing thread. Responsive to a second thread, an accumulator in system memory for the first thread and first and second counters is updated. Responsive to the first thread becoming active, values of the first and second counters are loaded from the accumulator. Responsive to a user call to read and return a combined value, a first instance of the second counter is read, then the first counter is read and a second instance of the second counter is read before returning the combined value.

Abstract: A value in a counter on a processor is incremented for occurrences of a monitored event, providing a measured value for the event. The value of the counter register for a first thread is saved responsive to a switch from the first thread to a second thread. The value is saved in an accumulator in system memory. Then, responsive to a switch back to the first thread, the value for the first thread is restored from the accumulator. In this way, a counter may be read, and its value, for the first thread, for example, remains consistent despite any intervening thread switches. Since the counter register may be read directly, in the user state, this provides a faster and more consistent way to update performance counts.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing access rights information on computer accessible content are provided. The apparatus and method provide a mechanism through which access rights information is provided in association with information and content such that use of the information and content is controlled based on the access rights information. The apparatus and method include access rights information tags being associated with information and content. A web browser is provided with code, either in the web browser, or as a plugin application or browser extension, to process the access rights information and thereby control the usage of the associated information and content. In addition to being implemented as tags, the access rights information may be inserted into a file such as in the file header. In such an embodiment, the file header includes a pointer to the file data and thus, the inclusion of the access rights information into the file header does not disrupt the processing of the file.

Abstract: A portable device having improved configurability and adaptability. The portable device has a case or chassis that can be placed in either an open or closed position, to thereby allow for insertion and removal of other devices within the portable device. When increased functionality is required or desired, the device's case is expanded by placing it in an open position, to allow additional devices to be operated in conjunction with the portable device. These devices can provide various types of electronic or computer operations, such as electronic adapters or media drives, as well as mechanical operations such as air movement with one or more additional fans or other types of heat sink. When decreased functionality is required or desired, such as to reduce the overall size and weight of the portable device, the device's case is contracted by placing it in a closed position. This allows on-demand expansion and contraction capability for the portable device.

Abstract: A system and method for selectively de-scrambling a media signal is presented. A user enters control settings into a content receiver whereby the control settings correspond to a particular viewer or a particular time-of-day. The content receiver receives a media signal and metadata that includes censorship level information. The content receiver uses the control settings to identify an applicable censorship level and uses the metadata to de-scramble the media signal to a censorship level corresponding to the identified applicable censorship level. The content receiver provides the de-scrambled media signal to a viewer's display.