James C Howell

US Patent:

20020083237, Jun 27, 2002

Filed:

Dec 22, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/746313

Inventors:

James Howell - Georgetown TX, US
James Leftwich - Austin TX, US

International Classification:

G06F013/00

US Classification:

710/062000

Abstract:

The present invention incorporates a silicon based isolation device into a portable computer. An additional silicon based isolation device is also incorporated into a docking station for a personal computer. Either or both of the isolation components may be programmable. The invention also teaches a silicon based isolation device for use with a modem. Again, the silicon based isolation devices may be programmable. An embodiment of the invention teaches a circuit (or other means) to detect docking of the computer in a docking station.

US Patent:

20030208361, Nov 6, 2003

Filed:

May 2, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/137623

Inventors:

Daryl Belinne - Austin TX, US
Shree Dandekar - Austin TX, US
James Howell - Georgetown TX, US
Shannon Boesch - Austin TX, US

International Classification:

G06F017/60

US Classification:

705/001000

Abstract:

The invention relates to an on-line store which allows a customer to order services of other providers while maintaining a consistent customer experience and control over the customer. Additionally, the invention relates to a system for enabling configuration of an information handling system which includes a configurator, a checkout module, a service activation module, and a database. The configurator configures the system with options selected according to user input. Payment options, obtaining payment and delivery information are presented by the checkout module. The service activation module enables a user to activate a service and a database receives and supplies information to the configurator, the checkout module and the service activation module. The invention also relates to a method of enabling configuration of an information handling system which includes configuring a system with options selected according to user input, presenting payment options and obtaining payment and delivery information during the checkout process, enabling a user to activate a service; and using information derived during the configuring for the enabling. The invention further relates to an on-line store for enabling configuration of an information handling system which includes configuring a system with options selected according to user input, presenting payment options and obtaining payment and delivery information, enabling a user to activate a service; and a database. The database receives and supplies information from and to the configurator, the checkout module and the service activation module.

US Patent:

20030225631, Dec 4, 2003

Filed:

May 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/158981

Inventors:

James Howell - Georgetown TX, US
Thomas Vrhel - Austin TX, US
Shree Dandekar - Austin TX, US

International Classification:

G06F017/60

US Classification:

705/027000

Abstract:

The invention relates to a system for preconfiguring an information handling system which includes: a configurator, a registration and customization module, a store registration and customization information module and a database. The configurator configures a system with options selected according to user input. Information relating to registration and customization is obtained by the registration and customization module for the information handling system. The store registration and customization information module stores the information relating to the registration and customization on the information handling system. The database receives from and supplies information to the configurator, the registration and customization module and the store registration and customization information module. Further, the invention relates to a method of preconfiguring an information handling system which configures a system with options selected according to user input. Information is obtained relating to registration for the information handling system. The information relating to the registration is stored in a database and loaded from the database onto a particular information handling system while fabricating the particular information handling system. Also, the invention relates to a system configuration store for preconfiguring an information handling system which includes means for configuring a system with options selected according to user input; means for obtaining information relating to registration information for the information handling system; means for storing the information relating to the registration information in a database; and, means for loading the information relating to registration information from the database onto a particular information handling system while fabricating the particular information handling system.

US Patent:

20040140987, Jul 22, 2004

Filed:

Jan 17, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/346523

Inventors:

James Howell - Georgetown TX, US
Shree Dandekar - Austin TX, US

International Classification:

G09G005/00

US Classification:

345/700000

Abstract:

A method of providing a customized out of box experience for an information handling system. The method includes configuring an information handling system with options selected according to user input and presenting a customized out of box experience when the information handling system is initially started by a user based upon selected service options. The options selected include service options. The configuring includes customizing an out of box presentation based upon selected service options.

US Patent:

20040143492, Jul 22, 2004

Filed:

Jan 17, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/346159

Inventors:

James Howell - Georgetown TX, US
Shannon Boesch - Austin TX, US

International Classification:

G06F017/60

US Classification:

705/014000

Abstract:

A method for restoring a purchase verification, which includes obtaining a service tag value that uniquely identifies an information handling system, obtaining a promotion code value that identifies a benefit, registering the benefit, the registering including linking the service tag value with the product code value, and during a software reinstall obtaining the promotion code value by providing the service tag value to a manufacturer.

US Patent:

20050049932, Mar 3, 2005

Filed:

Sep 3, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/654387

Inventors:

James Howell - Georgetown TX, US
Christopher Ramirez - Austin TX, US

International Classification:

G06F017/60

US Classification:

705026000

Abstract:

A system for enabling configuration of an information handling system which includes a configurator, a service activation module, and a subscription services management module. The configurator configures an information handling system with options selected according to user input. The service activation module enables a user to activate a service and the subscription services management module links information relating to an information handling system order with information relating to a service order.

US Patent:

20050071270, Mar 31, 2005

Filed:

Sep 26, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/672130

Inventors:

Christopher Ramirez - Austin TX, US
James Howell - Georgetown TX, US

International Classification:

G06F017/60
H04K001/00
H04L009/00

US Classification:

705050000, 705014000

Abstract:

A method for enabling remote restoration of a purchase verification. The method includes obtaining a value that uniquely identifies an information handling system, obtaining a promotion code value that identifies a benefit, linking the value that uniquely identifies the information handling system with the promotion code value for the information handling system, providing the promotion code value to the information handling system to re-enable the benefit, and during remote restoration, obtaining the promotion code value for the information handling system by providing the value that uniquely identifies the information handling system.

US Patent:

20050131835, Jun 16, 2005

Filed:

Dec 12, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/734840

Inventors:

James Howell - Georgetown TX, US

International Classification:

G06F017/60

US Classification:

705064000

Abstract:

A system which dynamically generates a list of applications on an individual machine that a firewall application should enable access to the internet by default is provided. The list is generated via registering applications during factory installation. Firewall applications scan this list of registered applications during the installation or setup of the firewall application and add all applications in the list to the list of default trusted applications.