REMOTE SECURITY TECHNOLOGY

• US 20010013098A1
• Filed: 08/29/1997
• Published: 08/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: OLARIG, SOMPONG P., ANGELO, MICHAEL F.
• Granted Patent: US 6,418,533 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/575 Secure boot
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/1097 Boot, Start, Initialise, Power
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1418 Removal detected by failure in electrical connection between the appliance and a control centre, home control panel or a power supply

Abstract

A computer security system whereby access is controlled by remote enablement or disablement. The system can be coupled with third-party products to accommodate satellite transmissions for long-distance access control.

Claims

1. A complex electronic system, comprising:

at least one microprocessor operatively connected to detect inputs from an input device;

a nonvolatile memory containing settings for administrative configurations;

a memory which is connected to be read/write accessible by said microprocessor;

input/output circuitry operatively connected to said microprocessor; and

an RF receiver operatively connected to write to said nonvolatile memory, said receiver being receptive to a communication system;

wherein said system includes at least one security feature which can be remotely activated by commanding said receiver, through said communication system, to modify at least one of said settings in said nonvolatile memory.

2. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said receiver is integral with said system.

3. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said security feature is a boot password requirement.

4. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said system will not function without said receiver.

5. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said receiver is a wireless device.

6. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said communications system uses radio frequency.

7. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said receiver is integrated into a system board which also carries said microprocessor.

8. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said receiver is active even when said microprocessor is asleep.

9. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said receiver is also operatively connected to selectably force said microprocessor into a reset procedure.

10. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the decision to enable or disable operations is included with a Power-On Self-Test procedure.

11. The system of

claim 1

, wherein operation of said system is automatically disabled if an electronic key bit is set in memory.

12. The system of

claim 1

, wherein operation of said system is automatically disabled if said receiver is not operational.

13. The system of

claim 1

, wherein operation of said system is disabled if a valid password is not entered when requested.

14. A system security method, comprising the steps of:

(a.) receiving a security-activation command from an RF transmitting source; and

(b.) selectively changing at least one administrative configuration options of a system to activate at least one security feature, based upon said command.

15. The method of

claim 14

, wherein said step (b.) also forces the system into a reset operation.

16. The method of

claim 14

, wherein said receiving step uses a receiver which is constantly active, even when other portions of the system are inactive.

17. The method of

claim 14

, wherein said security feature is conditionally activated during an automatic Power-On Self-Test procedure of said computer.

18. The method of

claim 14

, wherein said security feature is boot password protection.

19. The method of

claim 14

, wherein said security feature disables the operation of the system.