Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Multiple computer communication using cryptography – Protection at a particular protocol layer
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-08
2001-12-11
Hayes, Gail (Department: 2131)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Multiple computer communication using cryptography
Protection at a particular protocol layer
C714S036000, C713S002000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330676
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to data-processing systems. In particular, the present invention relates to methods and systems for detecting the presence of users in the vicinity of a data-processing system. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and systems for identifying particular users. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to methods and systems for automatically initiating particular activities within a data-processing system, such as a computer system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A typical computer system comes equipped with a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, a keyboard, and various peripherals, such as a display monitor and a printer. In normal usage, it is common for computer peripherals to be turned off or temporarily paused until a user manually initiates processing of particular system activities, such as powering on the computer or activating particular computer applications. In particular, network-based computers that boot themselves from a host computer are often faced with a lengthy “boot” or “power-up” period. A user must manually press a power “on” switch connected to the computer and wait while the system powers up. This procedure is often referred to as a “cold boot,” and requires manual activity on the part of the user, which often prevents the user from focusing efforts on other, more important tasks. In addition, upon “power up” particular activities are routinely performed, which may be of use to some individual users but of no interest to other users.
Based on the foregoing, it can be appreciated that a need exists for a method and system which would automatically boot computers in response to the detection of the presence of a user in an area near the computer. A need also exists for a method and system for configuring and customizing the automatic initiation of particular computer system activities in order so save on start-up time and free users to focus on other tasks. Currently, however, there are no devices believed to be available which automatically and satisfactorily accomplish this purpose.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved data-processing system.
It is therefore another object of the present invention to provide a method and system for detecting the presence of users within the vicinity of a data-processing system.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved method and system for identifying particular users.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved method and system for automatically initiating particular activities within a data-processing system, such as a computer system.
The above and other objects are achieved as is now described. A method and system for automatically initiating power application and particular computer system activities in a computer system. Initially, a predetermined list of computer system activities to be initiated is stored within the computer system. Thereafter, the presence of a user within a particular area surrounding the computer system is detected. Next, a particular amount of time that has passed since the computer system activities were last processed is determined. The computer system activities contained within the predetermined list of computer system activities are then automatically initiated, in response to detecting the presence of a user within the particular area, if the particular amount of time that has passed since the computer system activities were last processed is greater than a predetermined threshold period, thereby permitting power application and selected computer system activities to be initiated without manual user input. The computer system itself may be implemented as a computer workstation or stand-alone personal computer within a distributed computer network. In this case, the predetermined list of computer system activities to be initiated can be stored at a memory location (e.g., memory location at a server or host) within the distributed computer network.
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Bracewell & Patterson LLP.
Hayes Gail
International Business Machines - Corporation
Revak Christopher A.
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