Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

Compaq Information Technologies Group, L.p.

Paul E Hiles

Paul H McCann

Robert S Brayton

Javier E Chavez

Gary L Alose

Scott M Dawson

An innovative security system in which the need to &ldquo;unlock&rdquo; the system is eliminated if the system is awakened within a predetermined duration from its last use. In the preferred embodiment, when the user &ldquo;logs onto&rdquo; a system by activating it and entering his password, the time of login, plus a predetermined delay, is stored in nonvolatile memory. Thereafter, if the system is placed (or places itself) into a low-power mode, no password will be required to log onto the system if the logon is made before the time stored in nonvolatile memory. If the logon is attempted after this time, the user must go through the entire authorization procedure.

Password delay

A password-phrasing security mechanism utilizing personalized challenge phrasing to prompt the user into remembering a pre-defined personalized coded phrase to gain access to a secured system.

Challenge/response security architecture with fuzzy recognition of long

An object-driven application tool allows a Value Added Reseller (VAR) to access a large body of publicly available information about computing devices and to identify the needs of a particular customer or end user and to select an appropriate solution of equipment, hardware, and networking products to meet the customer's needs. Moreover, the tool includes capabilities allowing a VAR to demonstrate to the end user the appropriateness of the solution, for allowing information entry in high level, abstract business-oriented vocabulary rather than a highly technical low level jargon (thus facilitating data entry of information obtained from the end user) and allowing the tool to recognize whether, for example, a slight increase in memory capacity beyond the express needs of the end user may allow a dramatic reduction in requirements for processor speed or non-volatile data storage. The latter tools allow the exemplary embodiment of the present invention to suggest superior solutions over and beyond the express needs of the end user. Selection of a particular solution is generally decoupled from the needs of the end user, which are stored in a separate database; thereafter, as new equipment to obtain on-line information relating to new products and services. Information in the database also includes retrofit information, so that new products can be installed into existing networks.

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Tomball, TX, United States of America

Paul E Hiles