Abstract: Remotely storing data between computers or devices across a wide area network for purposes of redundancy or collaboration. A service brokers the transfer of data between an initiating computer and a destination device, thereby establishing a peer-to-peer architecture by which data of the initiating computer can be stored remotely on the destination device. The process begins as the initiating computer issues a request for permission to store the data remotely on an identified destination device. The permission is granted if the initiating computer properly identifies the destination device using information, such as a network address or a password, that is privately communicated between the users of the destination device and the initiating computer. Accordingly, substantially any computer user having access to the Internet can achieve remote backup of data and remote collaboration of data with the assistance of a trusted third party who also is registered with the service.

Abstract: A central data management unit (i.e., a home network appliance) receives a request for Internet data from an input device having an associated display device. The Internet data request is then transferred from the central data management unit over the Internet. The central data management unit then receives the requested Internet data, processes the data, and forwards the data to the display device associated with the input device that generated the request. The central data management unit also receives a request for multimedia data from another input device associated with yet another display device. In response to the request for multimedia data, the multimedia data is tuned from a multimedia transmission. The multimedia data is processed at the central data management unit and is forwarded to the second display device associated with the second input device.

Abstract: A method is provided of installing device drivers in a host processing system coupled to a number of peripheral devices. At system initialization, the host processing system requests the peripheral devices to which it is coupled to each provide a device code for identifying the type of the peripheral device. The host processing system receives the device codes from the peripheral devices and transmits the device codes to a remote server over a network, such as the Internet. The remote server selects an appropriate device driver for each peripheral device from a plurality of stored device drivers based on the device codes received from the host processing system and then transmits the device drivers to the host processing system over the network. This driver download process is carried out with no intervention from the user.

Abstract: A method is provided of installing device drivers in a host processing system coupled to a number of peripheral devices. At system initialization, the host processing system requests the peripheral devices to which it is coupled to each provide a device code for identifying the type of the peripheral device. The host processing system receives the device codes from the peripheral devices and transmits the device codes to a remote server over a network, such as the Internet. The remote server selects an appropriate device driver for each peripheral device from a plurality of stored device drivers based on the device codes received from the host processing system and then transmits the device drivers to the host processing system over the network. This driver download process is carried out with no intervention from the user.

Abstract: An expansion port for a processing system peripheral device provides for a system power down prior to connection of another device to the port. A number of devices in a processing system are connected in a daisy chain. One of the devices includes a power supply for supplying power to each of the devices. Each of the devices includes a segment of an enable circuit for enabling or disabling the power supply. Each of the devices further includes an expansion port for connecting the enable circuit and other signals to another device in the daisy chain. An access panel is provided to cover the expansion port when the port is not in use. When the access panel is closed a switch located at the expansion port and coupled to the enable circuit of the device is actuated in order to enable the power supply. When the access panel is not in place and no other device is connected to the expansion port, the switch is in a different position which causes the power supply to be disabled.

Abstract: The method of the present invention includes steps wherein a circuit designer, using standard computer assisted design (CAD) tools, designs a circuit which may include multi-cycle paths (MCPs). The designer inserts a conceptual circuit element, referred to as a "path breaker" into multi-cycle paths, such that the result is to convert all multi-cycle paths into single cycle paths. The designer then utilizes functional simulation software to edit the circuit design. To the simulator, a path breaker appears to be a latch in which the latch output goes to an unknown state when the input changes, and remains so until the output has been clocked and is equal to the input. Traditional logic synthesis is then performed on the circuit such that a net list is generated which includes the path breakers. Based on the net list, a post processor determines where in the circuit multi-cycle paths exist and generates a net list without path breakers, as well as a list of the multi-cycle paths.