Patent ID: 7509509

Claim:
A method for a computing device connected to a computing network to communicate over a computer network when said computing device is in a hibernate or power off state comprising the steps of: detecting a hibernate or power off state of the computing device; activating a network communication component of said computing device in response to the detection of a hibernate or power off state of the computing device; monitoring a computer network interface for inquires transmitted to the computing device; detecting a network inquiry at the computing device, the inquiry being transmitted over the computer network; identifying a target computing device of the detected network inquiry by identifying a unique byte code for each computing device connected to the computer network; identifying the inquiry sender and determining whether the sender of the inquiry has the right to send an inquiry or communicate with the computing device; when the determination is that the sender is a valid sender, retrieving information requested in the inquiry; transmitting the retrieved information over the computer network to a source of the inquiry; determining of whether the computing device is still in a hibernate or power off state; and returning to a monitoring activity of said monitoring step when the determination is that the computer device is still in a hibernate or power off state.