A program drive device for computers and game machines, designed to run a variety of game programs, aerobic programs or dance programs on personal computers, commercial computers, personal game machines, or commercial game machines, under the control of users' physical action, is disclosed. The program drive device of this invention consists of a pad having a predetermined area and provided with a plurality of rails thereon. A support column movably engages with each of said rails while standing...

This invention is related to a platform for notebook computers, which includes a spine at the rear edge to make the top of the platform form an inclination, so that when a notebook computer is placed on the platform, the notebook computer will be inclined at an appropriate angle, making the user feel comfortable and find it convenient to operate the notebook computer, and soft pads are used for preventing slippage of the notebook computer. Two electric fans are used for dissipating heat generate...

The invention is a method and apparatus for the thermal management of computers. The method features determining a temperature of a predetermined location in the computer, reading indirect inputs of the computer, determining desired states of cooling options based on the temperature and the indirect inputs, and placing the cooling options in their desired states. To determine the desired states of the cooling options, an index is formed based on the indirect inputs; and the index indicates to wh...

An automated payment system particularly suited for purchases over a distributed computer network such as the Internet. In such a distributed computer network, a "merchant" computer contains certain promotional information which is communicated to a "customer's" computer. Based upon the promotional information, the operator of the "customer's" computer decides to purchase the services or goods described by the promotional information. The "customer's" computer is linked to a "payment processing"...

A modular backplane having a low-profile bridge module for industrial computers is disclosed. The modular backplane generally comprises a plurality of modular backplane segments and a plurality of bridge modules for connecting the modular backplane segments. Each modular backplane segment includes a front side and a back side, in which the front side has a plurality of slots and the back side has a primary dedicated connector and a secondary dedicated connector. Each bridge module includes a cir...

A device and a method is provided for protecting a laptop computer or other shock-sensitive electronic devices from impact while being transported within conventional luggage along with personal articles by securing one or more collapsible and lightweight bands of material having external hook and loop fasteners to the laptop computer and securing a plurality of pads along the edges of the electronic device by coupling the pads to the external hook and loop fasteners of the band of material. The...

This invention generally relates to one or more computer networks having computers like personal computers or network servers with microprocessors linked by broadband transmission means and having hardware, software, firmware, and other means such that at least one parallel processing operation occurs that involve at least two computers in the network. More particularly, this invention relates to one or more large networks composed of smaller networks and large numbers of computers connected, li...

A filter bag of rectangular shape is fitted over the computer to be protected. It has a main opening for receiving the computer, and is longer than the computer with the open-ended position extended beyond the computer and tied to close the main opening against the passage of air therethrough. After fitting the bag over the computer, a piece of the bag is cut to form an inner flap, and this flap with an outer flap remains hingedly secured to the bag, in register with a hole in the computer. The ...

The present invention discloses a hinge assembly for notebook computers capable of keeping a screen of a monitor connected face-to-face with a main system of the notebook, and such hinge assembly also can keep an included angle between the monitor and the main system from zero degree (i.e. closed status for stacking the monitor and the main system) to 180 degrees (i.e. horizontally aligned status of the monitor and the main system). Furthermore, the monitor can continue to be turned over until t...

In accordance with the present invention, a messaging system utilizes a local queue manager to receive messages intended for other processes. Messages received by the local queue manager are stored onto a local persistent storage device when a process sending the message has completed the sending action. The local queue manager then sends the message to an appropriate recipient. When the message has been received and confirmed, the recipient removes the message from the persistent storage device...