Power controlled computer security system and method
US6032256A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 9, 1995 |
| Grant date | Feb 29, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 9, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F21/31
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An I/O port locking computer security system is implemented in the power management module of the hardware-software interface program (BIOS). A hotkey sequence of keystrokes activates the portlock feature and a system management interrupt signal (SMI) is generated. A SMI handler routine receives the interrupt signal and generates a signal to a hardware device handler. The device handler receives the signal and then disables various data transfer I/O ports on the computer (e.g., serial, parallel, fax, modem, floppy drives, and infrared communication ports). I/O ports in the disabled state cannot be accessed. Thus, data in the computer cannot be transmitted, copied, or "beamed" via infrared, to an unauthorized system or medium. I/O ports in the disabled state are enabled after receiving a password and a SMI interrupt signal is generated. A SMI handler receives the interrupt signal and generates a signal to a hardware device handler. The device handler receives the signal and then enables various I/O ports on the computer. Enablement or disablement of the portlock feature, the hotkey keystroke sequence, and the password are maintained in CMOS computer memory. Such elements can be alte…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.