Abstract: A system is provided, the system having at least one client computer and a server computer coupled to the at least one client computer via a network. The system also has a printer coupled to the server computer and shared by the at least one client computer. The printer is perceived by each client computer to be a local printer.

Abstract: A method comprises automatically determining whether a network device is local or remote to a client access device. If the network device is local to the client access device, the method comprises using a first access protocol to access the network device. If the network device is remote to the client access device, the method comprises using a second access protocol to access the network device.

Abstract: A method for generating a collection of media files including scanning metadata of media files with a processor to associate the media files with one or more media servers, utilizing the processor to identify one or more of the media servers to be associated with the collection of media files, and generating on a storage medium the collection of media files to include the media files associated with one or more of the media servers which are identified to be associated with the collection of media files.

Abstract: A method for configuring a machine including launching an administrative safe mode on the machine when a secured configuration file is detected on a removable storage medium and extracting metadata from the secured configuration file to populate one or more settings fields on the machine that the secured configuration file identifies to configure.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system comprises a network attached storage (NAS) server not having a general-purpose user input device. The NAS server comprises local data storage and a plurality of automated media portals each operable for receiving a direct communicative coupling of a portable storage media and reading data from the received portable storage media for storage to the local data storage. According to another embodiment, a method comprises receiving a direct communicative coupling of a portable storage media to any of a plurality of different automated media portals of a NAS server, wherein the NAS server comprises local data storage and wherein the NAS server does not include a general-purpose user input device. The NAS server reads data from the received portable storage media, and the NAS server stores the data to the local data storage.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium contains software that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform various actions. For example, as a result of a user-initiated event, the software causes the processor to automatically select at least one file from among a plurality of files based on a policy, and to automatically transfer the selected at least one file across a network.

Abstract: A system is provided, the system having at least one client computer and a server computer coupled to the at least one client computer via a network. The system also has a printer coupled to the server computer and shared by the at least one client computer. The printer is perceived by each client computer to be a local printer.

Abstract: Methods and systems of verifying permission for a remote computer system to access a web page. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising receiving a request from a remote computer to access a web page stored on a server, verifying permission of the remote computer to access the web page without the remote computer system sending a user name and password, and granting the remote computer access to the web page if permission is verified.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system comprises a network attached storage (NAS) server not having a general-purpose user input device. The NAS server comprises local data storage and a plurality of automated media portals each operable for receiving a direct communicative coupling of a portable storage media and reading data from the received portable storage media for storage to the local data storage. According to another embodiment, a method comprises receiving a direct communicative coupling of a portable storage media to any of a plurality of different automated media portals of a NAS server, wherein the NAS server comprises local data storage and wherein the NAS server does not include a general-purpose user input device. The NAS server reads data from the received portable storage media, and the NAS server stores the data to the local data storage.

Abstract: A method comprises automatically determining whether a network device is local or remote to a client access device. If the network device is local to the client access device, the method comprises using a first access protocol to access the network device. If the network device is remote to the client access device, the method comprises using a second access protocol to access the network device.

Abstract: A context identification system is implemented in a window manager to optimize association of menu items with windows. The context identification system has an application registration mechanism, a window creation mechanism, and a menu item placement mechanism. The application registration mechanism creates menu items to be placed in windows for display. Each menu item comprises a context expression, a predefined function specification defining an action to be taken by the window manager when the menu item is prompted, and a menu string defining a display image corresponding to the menu item. The window creation mechanism defines windows for display. A context list of context identifiers is maintained by the window creation mechanism for each window. Finally, the menu item placement mechanism determines which menu items are to be placed in each window based upon an evaluation of a context expression associated with each menu item and the context list of context identifiers associated with each window.