International Business Machines Corporation

Jeffrey Bart Jennings

Julianne Frances Haugh

Jeffrey D Young

Kofi Kekessie

Gaurav Chaudhry

Carlo A Matos

Robert M Morgan

David T Cain

Richard Alan Dayan

One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method for providing controlled access to electronic content. A password is associated with electronic content, such as by password-protecting an electronic file that contains the electronic content. At least one password attempt is received in an effort to access the electronic content. Each password attempt is compared to the password at a selected subset of 'trap' character positions. Up to a threshold number of password entries is allowed that have incorrect characters at any of the trap character positions. A greater number or even an unlimited number of incorrect password entries are allowed having incorrect characters at non-trap character positions. Access to the electronic content is allowed only if one of the password entries exactly matches the password.

Preventing inadvertent lock-out during password entry dialog

A method, programmed medium and system are provided for altering the airflow through an electronic device such as a laptop computer in response to overheating, and feedback about the state of use of a laptop computer. In an exemplary embodiment, a laptop case is constructed such that it has an alternate opening for each intake and/or exhaust port. The primary intake and/or exhaust port is located such that it does not interfere with the user while the laptop is being operated normally. When it is detected that an intake and/or exhaust port is potentially blocked, it is determined whether or not the laptop is actively being used. If the laptop is not being used when an overheated condition is detected, a predetermined action is taken to change the air input/output air flow through an alternate exhaust path. If the laptop is being used, other actions, in terms of altering airflow, may take place, such as enabling a user to selectively choose a different airflow path from a plurality of airflow paths available within the electronic device being cooled.

Dynamic cooling system for electronic device with air flow path changes

One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method for enforcing a temperature limit of a client computer. The method includes receiving a request for computer-executable work to be executed on a client computer. If executing all of the requested work on the client computer would cause the client computer to exceed the temperature limit, a portion of the requested work may be selectively redirected to a remote computer in an amount selected to enforce the temperature limit of the client computer. Simultaneously, the remainder of the requested work may be executed on the client computer. The output of the redirected work may be communicated from the remote computer back to the client computer over a network.

Thermal management using distributed computing systems

A computer program product and system are disclosed for distributed Preboot eXecution Environment (PXE) server booting. The computer program product may include an image request module configured to send a PXE boot image request to a master boot server; an assignment receiving module configured to receive a temporary PXE server RAM image and a subset of target machines from the master boot server, the temporary PXE server RAM image configured to assign a recipient target machine as a temporary PXE server, the temporary PXE server configured to agent boot the subset of target machines; a subset boot module configured to send each target machine in the subset of target machines an agent boot image; a subset confirmation module configured to receive a boot confirmation from each target machine, the boot confirmation configured to indicate that the target machine booted successfully; a master confirmation module configured to send a subset boot confirmation to the master boot server, the subset boot confirmation configured to indicate that the subset of target machines booted successfully; and an image receiving module configured to receive an agent boot image.

Distributed preboot execution environment (PXE) server booting

A system and method in which authentication data, such as a password, which is sent to a server/firewall as part of an authentication request, for example a logon request, is received at the server/firewall in a plurality of messages at a plurality of logical ports from the user, thus improving protection against replay attacks. In one embodiment, a plurality of user authentication data parts is obtained from a remote user device as part of an authentication request, the plurality of user authentication data parts is assembled into user authentication data; the authenticity of the authentication request is checked using the user authentication data; and communication with the remote user device is enabled if the authentication request data is determined to be authentic.

Obscuring authentication data of remote user

A method, computer program product, and system are disclosed for distributed Preboot execution Environment (PXE) server booting. The method may include receiving a PXE boot image request from a plurality of target machines and sending one or more target machines a temporary PXE server RAM image and a subset of target machines. The temporary PXE server RAM image assigns a recipient target machine as a temporary PXE server and each temporary PXE server is delegated the subset of target machines to PXE boot. The method may also include receiving a subset boot confirmation from each temporary PXE server that indicates that the subset of target machines delegated to each temporary PXE server booted successfully. Finally, the method may include sending the one or more temporary PXE servers an agent boot image in response to the subset boot confirmation from each temporary PXE server.

Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for glyphword-based security. Embodiments include establishing a glyphword comprising a plurality of glyphs; and creating a plurality of glyphsheets wherein each glyphsheet includes one or more glyphs included in the established glyphword and one or more glyphs not included in the established glyphword; and for each glyphsheet: presenting to a user the glyphsheet; receiving from the user at least one selection of a glyph included in the glyphsheet; determining whether the glyphsheet is the last glyphsheet if the glyph selected by the user is not included in the glyphs of the glyphword; and providing access to a resource if the glyphsheet is the last glyphsheet.

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Jeffrey Bart Jennings