Apparatus and method for providing access security to a device coupled upon a two-wire bidirectional bus
US6510522B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 20, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jan 21, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 20, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F21/78
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer system, bus interface unit, and method are provided for securing certain devices connected to an I2C bus. Those devices include any device which contains sensitive information or passwords. For example, a device controlled by a I2C-connected device bay controller may contain sensitive files, data, and information to which improper access may be denied by securing the device bay controller. Moreover, improper accesses to passwords contained in non-volatile memory connected to the I2C bus must also be prevented. A bus interface unit coupled within the computer contains registers, and logic which compares the incoming I2C target and word addresses with coded bits within fields of those registers. If the target or word address is to a protected address or range of addresses, then an unlock signal must be issued before the security control logic will allow the target or word address to access the I2C bus or addressed device thereon. The unlock signal can be assigned to a particular slot among numerous slots, wherein the slots are arranged in hierarchical order. This allows a system administrator the capability to unlock accesses to protected non-volatile memory, and thereby a…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.