Abstract: A method and apparatus for assuring delivery of paid advertising to a user may involve asking a question about an advertisement or requiring data about the advertisement to be entered. In one embodiment, a human presence indicator, such as stylized letters, may be displayed during or after the presentation of an advertisement to be copied by a user to indicate presence during the advertisement. When the challenge relating to ad viewing is correctly answered, a value associated with viewing the ad may be credited to a user account, either locally or at a clearinghouse or other repository.

Abstract: A method and system for auxiliary display of information for a computing device. An auxiliary display is integrated with a computing system to provide an area where notifications can be peripherally presented off-screen. Whenever a background task sends a notification to the main display of the system, the notification may be redirected to appear instead on the auxiliary display. A user may then glance at the notification appearing on the auxiliary display to be informed of the message without interruption from the current task onscreen. Any type of information may be presented on the auxiliary display including incoming communications, meeting reminders, system alerts, and information from Internet subscription services. The auxiliary display may be placed on the central processor chassis or on the monitor border along with LED indicator lights to provide simple peripheral-vision notification. By pressing a button, a user may obtain additional detailed follow-up information.

Abstract: A plurality of secure execution environments may be used to bind individual components and a computer to that computer or to blind computers to a given system. The secure execution environment may be operable to evaluate characteristics of the computer, such as memory usage, clock validity, and pay-per-use or subscription purchased data, to determine compliance to an operating policy. Each of the secure execution environments may exchange information regarding its own evaluation of compliance to the operating policy. When one or more secure execution environments determines noncompliance or when communication between secure execution environments cannot be established a sanction may be imposed, limiting functionality or disabling the computer.

Abstract: A computer is architected so that a monitoring and enforcement of an operating policy is carried out at an interface circuit that transmits data between a processor and one or more function blocks. The function blocks may include system memory, a display, a network, a USB port, or a non-volatile memory. Since the interface circuit handles every transaction between the processor and its supported function blocks, the interface circuit is an effective point at which to enforce limited performance modes when the computer's usage is not in compliance with the operating policy.

Abstract: An electronic device, such as, a computer, may be adapted for self-monitoring for compliance to an operating policy. The operating policy may specify a pay-per-use or subscription business model and measurements associated with compliant usage. A secure execution environment may measure usage in accordance with the business model as well as monitor and enforce compliance to the operating policy. To increase the difficulty of attacking or otherwise disabling the secure execution environment, elements of the secure execution environment may be distributed. The distribution points may include other functional elements of the computer, such as interface circuits, or may even be remotely located over a network. An implementation method for disaggregating the secure execution environment is also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer is modified to add a memory management module between a memory controller and memory. The module may control or intercept signals between the memory controller and the memory to disable a portion or all of the computer's normal function. The memory management module may be a discrete device or may be part of the memory controller itself.

Abstract: Described are computer-controlled switching mechanisms that couple various audio/visual devices' outputs to the inputs of other audio/visual devices. The user (or some process) selects an audio/visual operating mode via a computer system, and the computer system controls the switching mechanism to couple audio/visual devices in a way that matches the mode. The computer may also control settings and operations of some or all of the devices.

Abstract: Described is a technology by which a computing device is booted into a normal mode of operation or a limited mode of operation, depending on whether the computing device was operating correctly (e.g., with respect to policy) prior to a reboot. The reboot may be forced. Examples of incorrect state include an overdue payment on a leased computer, or improper execution of certain important software. A metering mechanism evaluates the state of the computing device, and when an incorrect state is detected, configures the computing device for operation in the limited mode, by setting the computing device to boot via one boot path (e.g., a limited-mode BIOS) instead of another boot path (e.g., a normal-mode BIOS). A BIOS selector switches to the limited BIOS on the next reboot, wherein the computing device is restricted to the limited mode of operation (regardless of subsequent reboots) until the correct state is restored.

Abstract: An auxiliary computing device normally used for remotely controlling a primary device may change its functionality and extend its usefulness based on a usage context. An auxiliary device may change its usage context by connecting differently to a primary device depending on any number of parameters including distance from the device, battery life, connection method, and proximity to other devices. The device may change its usage context by interfacing with a primary device service that communicates with various applications to feed the auxiliary device different information in different usage contexts. Further, the device may control different functions of the primary device based on the usage context.

Abstract: A computing system that incorporates an auxiliary processor to the main system processor. The auxiliary system utilizes a separate application runtime for processes and is capable of operating even when the primary system is in an off state. Methods for load-balancing are provided based on computing needs respective to power consumption requirements. Processes that are not computationally intensive are processed by a low-power, auxiliary processor. In addition, peripheral components accessible to the overall computing system are shared.

Abstract: Systems and methods of sharing files and data in memory between the two operating systems running on a computing device. A main operating system (OS) may execute on the computing device an provide numerous system features and functionality. To conserver power, the main OS may unload, or the computer may be reset, suspended or be shutdown. Prior to doing so, the main OS writes data to a known memory location that allows access by a secondary OS when the main OS is not present. The secondary OS provides a limited set of functionalities, while being able to use and interact with the data stored in the known memory location. Information about the data and permissions are stored in mailbox that is accessible to both operating system such that changes made when the secondary operating system is active are synchronized with the main operating system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided that provides a reliable diskless network-bootable computers using a local non-volatile memory (NVM) cache. The NVM cache is used by the computer when the network is temporarily unavailable or slow. The cache is later synchronized with a remote boot server having remote storage volumes when network conditions improve. It is determined if data is to be stored in the NVM cache or the remote storage volume. Data sent to the remote storage volume is transactionally written and the data is cached in the NVM cache if a network outage is occurring or a transaction complete message has not been received. The data stored in the NVM cache allows the user to continue operating during network outages and the computer can be cold-booted using the data in the NVM cache if the network is unavailable.

Abstract: A method and system for auxiliary display of information for a computing device. An auxiliary display is integrated with a computing system to provide an area where notifications can be peripherally presented off-screen. Whenever a background task sends a notification to the main display of the system, the notification may be redirected to appear instead on the auxiliary display. A user may then glance at the notification appearing on the auxiliary display to be informed of the message without interruption from the current task onscreen. Any type of information may be presented on the auxiliary display including incoming communications, meeting reminders, system alerts, and information from Internet subscription services. The auxiliary display may be placed on the central processor chassis or on the monitor border along with LED indicator lights to provide simple peripheral-vision notification. By pressing a button, a user may obtain additional detailed follow-up information.

Abstract: A cellular telephone having an optical mouse component built into the telephone. The telephone is adapted to track when it was turned ON and placed on a suitable surface. The top of the telephone includes two buttons which are used as “left click” and “right click” buttons while the mouse optics are in use. These buttons could be used for other functions when the mouse optics were not in use. The telephone communicates with a user's laptop in any number of ways including being paired to it through Bluetooth or by being physically connected using USB. The same optics used for the mouse component are capable of scanning coded symbols and barcodes. Users can scan nearly any item and retrieve information from a locally stored database or from a network. Users can also scan unique IDs from phonecards or other references which cause action such as loading more minutes onto the phone, downloading other information or sending of information from the phone to take part in a transaction.

Abstract: A method and system for buffering power for rotating media devices. A power management circuit includes a power augmentation circuit and a power storage device. The power augmentation circuit is arranged to sense when the storage device motor is accelerating and to supply additional power to the storage device motor in response thereto. The power storage device is arranged to store the additional power. The power storage device may be trickle charged from the system power supply and may also be charged as power is recaptured from the storage device motor as it decelerates.

Abstract: An optical cursor control device, for example, an optical mouse, is adapted to use its array sensor to capture image intensity data associated with barcodes. The image intensity data and associated x-y position data is processed to recreate the barcode image and then is decoded to deliver data to a process running on an associated computer. An apparatus and method are disclosed as well as alternatives to reduce the amount of data sent between the cursor control device and the computer.

Abstract: A computer is adapted for use in different operating modes by configuring an output controller, such as a graphics processing unit, to screen output signals prior to presenting them to the output device. A secure environment in the output controller verifies a digital signature or a hash of the output signal to determine whether the output signal is compatible with the current mode of operation. Thus only authorized output signals are presented when the computer is operating in a limited function mode, such as when metered usage time is expired. The apparatus and method also disclose similar output signal screening for determining whether the computer should be returned from a standby, or no-metering, mode to an active, or metered mode.

Abstract: An improved system and method for using a file system to automatically backup a file in persistent storage is provided. A storage aggregator may organize nonvolatile memory for use in aggregate to store backup copies of a file. A file system filter driver may receive a request from an application for storing a file and may access a policy to determining whether to create a backup copy of the file and what type of backup to apply to the file. A generational file handler may create and manage a set of generational files as backup copies of a particular application file. And a recovery user interface may be provided to retrieve one or more backup copies, such as the set of generational files, for inspection by a user to recover whatever copy of the file may be desired by the user.

Abstract: A computing system is equipped with one or more ports, each of which includes a plurality of coupler lines configured to engage connectors that may be associated with different types of external services and/or devices, including public switched telephone networks, Ethernet networks, ISDN networks, and/or telephone devices. Upon detecting a connection to a port, a controller evaluates at least one electrical property of the lines of the port. Based on the evaluation, the controller determines if the port is engaged with a known type of service or device. When the type of service or device is known, the controller selectively switches a plurality of port lines to appropriate communications subsystems to enable the computing system to communicate with the device or service. For example, a conventional telephone device can then be used as an audio input/output device for communication over the Internet rather than over a public switched telephone network.

Abstract: A method and system for providing virus detection. A virus detection system provides for the use of pattern matching techniques on data at a binary level for virus detection. Whenever an incoming data stream is received, the data stream is segmented into time-based data frames. The time-based data frames are processed to generate associated data frame images utilizing signal processing identification and filter techniques. One or more data frame images are compared to a stored virus image utilizing pattern analysis techniques. A pattern match value associated with each data frame image is generated based on the comparison and a determination is made as to whether or not the pattern match value exceeds a pattern match value threshold. When the pattern match value exceeds the pattern match value threshold, a pattern associated with the virus image is removed from the time-based frames to produce a filtered data stream.