Abstract: An instant messaging client may operate on a host device and enable various forms of control of the host device via instant messaging commands. The instant messaging client may connect to an instant messaging service using a user name and having a list of authorized users. The client may be able to sense that a user is on line and initiate a message session with the user. The user may also be able to initiate a session with the host device through the instant messaging client and perform a variety of functions through the instant messaging session.

Abstract: An instant messaging client may operate on a host device and enable various forms of control of the host device via instant messaging commands. The instant messaging client may connect to an instant messaging service using a user name and having a list of authorized users. The client may be able to sense that a user is on line and initiate a message session with the user. The user may also be able to initiate a session with the host device through the instant messaging client and perform a variety of functions through the instant messaging session.

Abstract: An instant messaging client may operate on a device and enable various forms of control of the device via instant messaging commands. The instant messaging client may connect to an instant messaging service using a user name and having a list of authorized users. The client may be able to sense that a user is on line and initiate a message session with the user. The user may also be able to initiate a session with the device through the instant messaging client and perform a variety of functions through the instant messaging session.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for performing software installation on a headless device. A first device is used to interactively obtain answers in connection with installation processing performed on the first device regarding the software installation for the headless device. The answers are communicated to the headless device. The answers are used in connection with executing installation software on the headless device to perform the software installation on the headless device.

Abstract: A display system and methods provide for a large, high-resolution display that is scalable. The scalable display is made up of a number of smaller displays. The resolution of the scalable display is the combined resolutions of the smaller displays according to the vertical and horizontal layout of the smaller displays. The system includes an intermediate computer that acts as a primary client to a network computer to request and receive video data at the resolution of the scalable display. The intermediate computer reconfigures video data from a format consistent with the large, scalable display coordinates to a format consistent with the coordinates of the individual smaller displays. The intermediate computer sends reconfigured video data to the smaller displays (through clients) according to which portion of the scalable display each of the smaller displays supports.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a componentized remote user interface are disclosed. Such user interfaces are particularly suitable for use in remote configuration of a device, such as a headless device, that is in network communication with a computer. The user interface may be a web page rendered from an HTML file that defines the web page and a separate file that includes script for associating a value with a variable parameter. The HTML file may include a reference to the variable parameter and incorporate the other file therein by reference. When the web page is rendered, the device parses the HTML file to identify the file incorporated therein by reference and substitutes the parameter value provided in the file for the variable included in the HTML file. Thus, the rendered web page may include the actual value of the parameter, and the HTML file need not have the actual value hard-coded therein.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a componentized remote user interface are disclosed. Such user interfaces are particularly suitable for use in remote configuration of a device, such as a headless device, that is in network communication with a computer. The user interface may be a web page rendered from an HTML file that defines the web page and a separate file that includes script for associating a value with a variable parameter. The HTML file may include a reference to the variable parameter and incorporate the other file therein by reference. When the web page is rendered, the device parses the HTML file to identify the file incorporated therein by reference and substitutes the parameter value provided in the file for the variable included in the HTML file. Thus, the rendered web page may include the actual value of the parameter, and the HTML file need not have the actual value hard-coded therein.

Abstract: Network switches with enhanced processing power and a virus information database are used to detect possible virus attacks and identify the source of the attacks within a computer network. A network switch has multiple ports that are directly connected to different computers for routing network communication packets among the computers. The packets passing through the network switch are scanned for virus signatures and/or patterns of virus attacks. In an off-line scan mode, a copy of the packets passing through the switch is saved into a packet queue for scanning. Alternatively, in an on-line scan mode, packets received by the network switch are scanned for virus signatures or virus attack patterns before being forwarded to their destination ports.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for performing software installation on a headless device. A first device is used to interactively obtain answers in connection with installation processing performed on the first device regarding the software installation for the headless device. The answers are communicated to the headless device. The answers are used in connection with executing installation software on the headless device to perform the software installation on the headless device.

Abstract: An instant messaging client may operate on a host device and enable various forms of control of the host device via instant messaging commands. The instant messaging client may connect to an instant messaging service using a user name and having a list of authorized users. The client may be able to sense that a user is on line and initiate a message session with the user. The user may also be able to initiate a session with the host device through the instant messaging client and perform a variety of functions through the instant messaging session.

Abstract: A method for creating a customized version of a bootable restore OS comprising determining the PC's software component needs, communicating the PC's software component needs to a server computer, and providing a bootable restore OS for the PC including the PC's software component needs.

Abstract: A method of restoring information comprising initializing a computer from a networked device, selecting a backup image that includes user generated information, disposed on the networked device, and reinstalling the backup image from the networked device to the computer.

Abstract: A computing system comprising a smart share, a smart share processor coupled to the smart share, a rule accessible to the smart share processor, wherein a file being added to or modified on the smart share results in an event, the event being detected by the smart share processor that determines if the rule applies to the file and, if so, causes the rule to be applied.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a componentized remote user interface are disclosed. Such user interfaces are particularly suitable for use in remote configuration of a device, such as a headless device, that is in network communication with a computer. The user interface may be a web page rendered from an HTML file that defines the web page and a separate file that includes script for associating a value with a variable parameter. The HTML file may include a reference to the variable parameter and incorporate the other file therein by reference. When the web page is rendered, the device parses the HTML file to identify the file incorporated therein by reference and substitutes the parameter value provided in the file for the variable included in the HTML file. Thus, the rendered web page may include the actual value of the parameter, and the HTML file need not have the actual value hard-coded therein.

Abstract: Systems and methods for self-configuration and automatic disk balancing of network attached storage devices are disclosed. Methods are disclosed for providing automatic disk balancing that uses a self-configuring set of network storage devices. A self-configuring set of network storage devices enables a user to merely plug in a new storage device; the network self-configures to provide additional storage. The user, as well as applications available on the client computer, can then logically access data stored on any of a plurality of such devices as if the data were stored on a single selected one of the devices.

Abstract: A display system and methods provide for a large, high-resolution display that is scalable. The scalable display is made up of a number of smaller displays. The resolution of the scalable display is the combined resolutions of the smaller displays according to the vertical and horizontal layout of the smaller displays. The system includes an intermediate computer that acts as a primary client to a network computer to request and receive video data at the resolution of the scalable display. The intermediate computer reconfigures video data from a format consistent with the large, scalable display coordinates to a format consistent with the coordinates of the individual smaller displays. The intermediate computer sends reconfigured video data to the smaller displays (through clients) according to which portion of the scalable display each of the smaller displays supports.

Abstract: An email concentrator implemented as part of a residential gateway device receives email associated with multiple email accounts from multiple email servers, stores the email, and serves the email to multiple email client applications associated with the multiple email accounts. The email concentrator may also perform centralized processing functions associated with the email, such as virus scanning, filtering, or user-defined rule application.

Abstract: Network switches with enhanced processing power and a virus information database are used to detect possible virus attacks and identify the source of the attacks within a computer network. A network switch has multiple ports that are directly connected to different computers for routing network communication packets among the computers. The packets passing through the network switch are scanned for virus signatures and/or patterns of virus attacks. In an off-line scan mode, a copy of the packets passing through the switch is saved into a packet queue for scanning. Alternatively, in an on-line scan mode, packets received by the network switch are scanned for virus signatures or virus attack patterns before being forwarded to their destination ports.