International Business Machines Corporation

Lenovo (singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Paul Harrison Benson

Duane Edward Norris

Michael William Clark

James Stephen Rutledge

William Hemena

Cory Allen Chapman

Steven Taylor Pancoast

James A Heaney

James Alfred Hearney

Ken Scott Seethaler

Duane Thomas Crump, Deceased

The present invention provides a 'smart' AP, whereby the AP periodically checks its connection with a network and, if a determination is made that the connection between the AP and the network server has been lost, an indication of this loss of connection is made available to all wireless stations connected to the AP. In a preferred embodiment, the indication given to the wireless stations is in the form of an SSID change. When the AP detects the loss of network connection, it automatically changes its SSID from a primary SSID to an alternative SSID. The wireless stations receive the alternative SSID and, since they are configured to connect to the primary SSID, immediately and automatically begin to search for another AP in the system that is using the primary SSID, and then connect to AP having the strongest signal. In one embodiment, the alternative SSID's can be selected so as to provide diagnostic assistance to a person attempting repairs to the faulty AP/network connection.

Smart access point

A personal computer scanner for scanning the three-dimensional (3D) objects has a frame with an axis, and a front plate. The front plate has a large array of axial pinholes that each contain a slidably movable pin to form a bed of pins. A detection device is slidably mounted near the rear of the frame. A stepper motor is used to move the detection device relative to frame. The detection device has a sensor plate on its front surface with an array of sensors that correspond one-to-one with the pins. The user selects an object to be scanned and inserts it into the bed of pins to form an impression. The pins readily move and comply to the contours of the object. After the impression is made, the detection device is slowly incremented by the stepper motor toward the pins. The individual sensors are monitored by a host computer until they have been contacted by their respective pins. When a sensor has been touched by its pin, the sensor is scanned by the computer to record the displacement of the pin. This step is repeated until each paired sensor and pin make contact. With this information, the host computer digitally reconstructs the surface of the object scanned based on the displacements of the pins.

Computer scanner for three-dimensional objects

A computer system having suspend and resume capabilities that uses the hard drive to extend the amount of nonvolatile memory (NVRAM) in the system. As the system is powered down, the system processor saves to the hard drive system parameters such as: resource allocation data determined pursuant to the Plug & Play specification, total power on hours for the system, the number of power on cycles for the system, error codes, and the dates the errors occurred. The saving to hard drive begins responsive to circuitry monitoring the primary (AC input) portion of the power supply indicating that the power supply input is out of tolerance, as would occur when the user actuates the power switch to turn the system off or during a blackout. During the period of reliable processing time remaining, the above system parameters are written to the hard file. The system parameters are also saved to the hard file during the controlled power off that occurs as the system state is suspended.

Computer system having power supply primary sense to facilitate

Described is a personal computer system which includes a central processing unit (CPU) and power management circuitry (PMC) in circuit communication with the CPU. A power supply is in circuit communication with the CPU and the PMC and includes circuitry for selectively providing system power to the computer system and auxiliary power to the PMC (1) from an external source or (2) from an internal source. When the system is in a normal operating state and the external source stops providing power at a predetermined level (e.g., brownout or blackout) to the power supply, the power supply is operative to generate a control signal to the PMC and switch to its internal power source. The power management circuitry is characterized in that while in the normal operating state, responsive to the power supply activating the control signal, the PMC causes the computer system to change to the suspend state wherein the entire state of the system is safely saved to a non-volatile storage device.

Computer system which is operative to change from a normal operating

Described is a personal computer system which includes a central processing unit (CPU) and power management circuitry (PMC) in circuit communication with the CPU. A switch is coupled to the PMC. A power supply is coupled to the CPU, PMC and the switch and includes circuitry for selectively providing system power to the computer system and auxiliary power to the PMC (1) from an external source or (2) from an internal source. When the system is in a normal operating state and the external source stops providing power at a predetermined level (e.g., blackout or brownout) to the power supply, the power supply is operative to change to its internal power and generate a control signal to the switch. The control signal causes the switch to activate a closure event and generate another control signal. In response to the activation of the latter control signal, the power management circuitry is operative to cause the system to change to the suspend state wherein the entire state of the system is safely saved to a non-volatile storage device.

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Paul Harrison Benson