International Business Machines Corporation

Adstec Corporation

Erich Hindermeyer

Thomas G Speidel

Thomas Gerhard Moegerle

Konrad Gierens

Eckhard Kunigkeit

Siegbert Link

A digital system or device includes a battery pack as an exemplary functional subunit. In a warranty case determined by an electrical load test for determining its actual charge capacity, a battery check program initializes, via the operating system and an underlying printer, a printout of a warranty certificate. This certificate form, in particular, contains a UID of the underlying battery pack gathered from a ROM implemented in the battery pack. Before generating the printout of the certificate, the UID gathered from the ROM is coded e.g. by the battery check program and only the coded UID is printed. The printout of the warranty certificate thereafter will be delivered to the warranty service provider by the user. After having received the delivered warranty certificate and having checked validity of the user's warranty claim by means of the coded UID the warranty service provider sends a replacement battery pack back to the user. As a consequence, the user can replace the battery pack on its own and therefore does not have to deliver the replaced battery pack to the warranty service provider.

Computerized method and system for managing warranty services in a digital system or device

The computer system initially operates in a fully operational mode in which an operating system in the computer system is operating and the computer system executes one or more user applications installed in the computer system. In response to a predefined time interval lapsing, the computer system automatically switches from the fully operational mode to a limited operational mode in which the one or more user applications are terminated, the operating system is shut down, and a BIOS within the computer system solicits entry of a password by a user. If the user fails to enter a valid password, operation of the operating system and execution of the one or more user applications are prevented. If a user attempts to activate the computer system for which the time interval has already lapsed, a BIOS within the computer system boots up, determines that the computer system is currently set for a limited operational mode, prevents boot up of an operating system of the computer system, and solicits a password from a user. If the user fails to enter a valid password, the BIOS continues to prevent boot up of the operating system. If the user enters a valid password, the operating system boots up and executes one or more user applications within the computer system.

System, method and program product for controlling access to computer system

A method and apparatus for safe and fast turning of a page in a book is taught which is more flexible with respect to the varying characteristics of the applied books, is independent of the mechanical and electrical tolerances of the system and from system wear and tear. The method comprises the steps of: applying an initial value of a contact force between a page lifter and the page and/or an initial value of a contact time for the contact between the page lifter and the page, and increasing the value of the contact force and/or contact time when no page has been lifted during a page turning procedure; whereby the last applied value of the contact force and/or contact time is applicable as the initial value when a next page is provided to be turned over.

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Dettenhausen, Germany

Erich Hindermeyer