Apparatus and method for limiting access to mass storage devices in a computer system
US5657445A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 26, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 12, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 26, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F12/1491
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer system is provided with the capability of protecting portions of the mass storage media therein from unauthorized access. The mechanism employed to protect portions of the mass storage media is advantageously operating system independent. Thus, the protection mechanism functions regardless of what operating system is installed or what particular application software is presently being executed. More particularly, the computer system includes a processor configured to execute code in an operational mode and in a system management mode. A mass storage device and a memory are coupled to the processor. At least one region of the mass storage device is designated as a protected region by the user or by the manufacturer. The computer system is configured to trap mass storage device I/O operations and, in response to a trapped mass storage device I/O operation, the processor enters a system management mode. The computer system is configured to prevent execution of the trapped mass storage device I/O operation if the trapped mass storage device I/O operation is directed to a protected region of the mass storage device. However, the computer executes the trapped mass storage devi…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.