Abstract: A home entertainment system comprises a sub-system with audio/video functionalities, a computer and a device interface that interconnects the sub-system and the computer. The computer controls the sub-system through a software application The computer and the sub-system have separate user-controls. In case the computer crashes, the user can still control those audio/video functionalities of the sub-system that are independent of the computer.

Abstract: A computer system having suspend and resume capabilities that uses the hard drive to extend the amount of nonvolatile memory (NVRAM) in the system. As the system is powered down, the system processor saves to the hard drive system parameters such as: resource allocation data determined pursuant to the Plug & Play specification, total power on hours for the system, the number of power on cycles for the system, error codes, and the dates the errors occurred. The saving to hard drive begins responsive to circuitry monitoring the primary (AC input) portion of the power supply indicating that the power supply input is out of tolerance, as would occur when the user actuates the power switch to turn the system off or during a blackout. During the period of reliable processing time remaining, the above system parameters are written to the hard file. The system parameters are also saved to the hard file during the controlled power off that occurs as the system state is suspended.

Abstract: A desktop computer system having the capability to suspend and resume the state of the computer system. The suspended system state is saved to the system hard file such that system power may be removed, effectively allowing a system suspend requiring no power from the power supply.

Abstract: A monitor and debugger routine operable on a personal computer for facilitating the design of power-on self-test (POST) and basic input and output system (BIOS) code. The monitor and debugger routine is invoked by POST code early in the system initialization process, before most of the system hardware devices have been initialized and before the operating system has been invoked. The monitor and debugger routine uses minimal system resources--lower memory and a serial communications controller--and is accessed via an external communications and display device connected via a serial communications link generated by the serial communications controller. As so invoked, the monitor and debugger routine can be used to facilitate the design and debugging of the remaining portions of the system initialization code, hardware interface code, suspend and resume code, video code, and other code that cannot be debugged using standard debuggers that require a functioning BIOS and an operating system to operate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for processing two analog composite video signals to be displayed to a human observer. The system includes at least a first and a second video source for generating first and second analog composite video signals respectively, and a selector coupled to the first and second video sources. The selector is operative to supply either the first or second analog composite video signal to one input of a video processor and independently and simultaneously supply either the first or second analog composite video signal to a second input of the video processor. The video processor is operative under control of a CPU to generate an output analog composite video signal comprised of a portion of the analog composite video signal supplied to the video processor's first input and a portion of the analog composite video signal supplied to the video processor's second input.

Abstract: A computer system having suspend and resume capabilities using a plurality of suspend files to save multiple system states. Provision is made for use of multiple operating systems requiring multiple swap files. Also, a cross-session data file monitor prevents corruption of data files from one session to another.

Abstract: A computer system having suspend and resume capabilities using multiple suspend timers. The multiple suspend timers execute such that the computer system suspends after a longer period of time of user inactivity when the system is powered up in an attended mode and suspends after a shorter period of time of inactivity when the system is powered up in an unattended mode. If the system awakens in an unattended mode and user activity is subsequently detected, the system changes to suspend after the longer period of time of user inactivity. The multiple timers are implemented either by a single timer restarted to two different values or by two independent timers having different expiration values.

Abstract: A computer system having suspend and resume capabilities using suspend once resume many (SORM) sessions. In SORM sessions, the state of the computer system at a particular point in time is saved to the nonvolatile memory, e.g., hard drive, so that that exact system state can be resumed from the hard drive. However, the system state is discarded (not saved to the hard drive) when the user is finished with that particular session. Also, with SORM sessions, the suspend file always stays the same; therefore, a computer system resumed from a SORM suspend file is always resumed to a fixed, predetermined state. SORM sessions also facilitate operating systems executing software designed to execute on another operating system.

Abstract: A computer system having a CPU, a power management processor, a modem, and a power supply in circuit communication. The power management processor controls the regulation of power to the CPU by the power supply. Responsive to a ring signal having a frequency in a predetermined range being detected by the power management processor, the power management processor causes the power supply to provide regulated power to the computer system. Thereafter, the CPU confirms that a ring signal was present by querying the modem whether the modem also detected a ring. If so, the system remains powered. If not, the CPU causes the power management controller to cause the power supply to cease providing regulated power.