Method for automatically verifying security code of computer system operated by remote controller

• US 20010020276A1
• Filed: 02/08/2001
• Published: 09/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Byung-Jae, Kim, Hong-Sam
• Granted Patent: US 7,020,785 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards

Abstract

A computer system includes a remote controller for generating a remote control signal to remotely control operations of the system, a remote control signal receiver for receiving the remote control signal generated from the remote controller, and a shell program for executing various remote control operations by the remote controller. If a security code verification operation is performed when the computer system returns from a stand-by state to a normal state by the remote controller, the shell program serves to automatically input a security code transmitted from the remote controller. This makes it possible to automatically input a security code that a user must directly input using an input device such as a keyboard, when the computer system returns to the normal state. Therefore, user convenience can be enhanced.

Claims

1. A method for automatically verifying a security code set in a computer whose operations are controlled by a remote controller, the method comprising the steps of:

pressing a button on an input device;

transmitting said security code data to said computer;

checking whether the set security code is matched with the transmitted security code; and

if matched, converting an operation mode of the computer into a normal mode.

2. The method of

claim 1

, wherein said input device is one of a remote controller, a keyboard, and a mouse.

3. The method of

claim 1

, wherein said input device is a remote controller.

4. The method of

claim 3

, wherein a shell program inside said computer for verification of said input security code data.

5. The method of

claim 3

, wherein the remote controller generates an instruction and a security code for remotely controlling the computer.

6. The method of

claim 2

, wherein the step of inputting the security code is automatically performed when the security code verification initiation data is generated by the remote controller;

and wherein a user directly inputs the security code using a keyboard when the security code verification initiation data is generated through another data input device.

7. The method of

claim 1

, wherein said computer comprises an operating system (OS) program such as Windows to verify that the input security code matches the set security code inside said computer.

8. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the function to verify a security code is provided for power saving and security of the computer, and is performed just before a power state of the computer is converted into a normal state from a stand-by state.

9. The method of

claim 3

, wherein the function to verify a security code is provided for power saving and security of the computer, and is performed just before a power state of the computer is converted into a normal state from a stand-by state.

10. A method for automatically verifying a security code of a multi-user computer via one of a plurality of cordless remote controllers, the method comprising the steps of:

operating one of said plurality of remote controllers to turn on and boot said computer;

waiting a predetermined period of time for said computer to lapse into a stand-by mode;

pushing a button on one of said plurality of remote controllers to attempt to bring said computer to a normal mode;

transmitting a password to said computer from said remote control device that attempted to bring said computer back to a normal mode;

determining whether the remote controller used to attempt to bring said computer to a normal mode is the same remote control device that booted said computer;

bringing said computer back to a normal mode if said remote control device used to bring the computer back to a normal mode is the same remote control device used to boot the computer; and

rebooting said computer and repeating all of the above steps if the remote control device used to bring said computer to a normal mode is different from the remote control device used to boot the computer.

11. The method of

claim 10

, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting to said computer from said one of said plurality of remote controllers a password unique to said remote controller when said computer is booted;

saving said password of said remote controller to disk in said computer for future use; and

comparing a password transmitted to said computer by said remote controller that is attempting to resume said computer to a normal mode with said password stored in said disk to determine whether the remote controller used to attempt to resume said computer to a normal mode is the same remote controller used to boot said computer.

12. The method of

claim 11

, wherein the multi-user computer includes a plurality of save-to-disk storage areas for each one of said plurality of remote controllers.

13. A computer being operated by a remote control device, said remote control device transmitting security information to said computer to activate said computer, said computer comprising:

a remote control signal receiver for receiving signals from said remote control device;

a shell program for handling and transmitting said received signals from said remote control device; and

a general purpose input/output unit connected between said receiver and said shell program to facilitate communication therebetween.

14. The computer of

claim 13

, said computer comprising a hierarchical structure comprised of:

a hardware layer comprising said general purpose input/output unit and said receiver;

a basic input output system layer attached to said hardware layer;

an operating system layer connected to said basic input/output system layer;

said operating system layer comprising an operating system program that receives input from said shell program regarding security information and determines whether security information input by said remote device matches a security code stored in said computer; and

an application layer that comprises said shell program.

15. The computer of

claim 13

, wherein said remote control signal receiver comprises a microprocessor for controlling the overall operation of the computer.

16. A method for resuming normal operation of a computer when a computer is in a standby mode, said method comprising the steps of:

determining whether or not there has been any input to said computer for a predetermined period of time;

performing a screen save function;

switching said computer from a normal operation mode into a standby state;

pushing a button on a remote wireless device;

transmitting security data from said remote device to said computer;

checking whether the security data transmitted from said remote wireless device matches security data stored within said computer; and

reviving said computer from said standby mode to a normal operation mode if said security data input from said remote wireless device matches said security data stored within said computer.

17. The method of

claim 16

, further comprising the step of operating said computer from said remote wireless device after said computer is restored to said normal operation mode.

18. The method of

claim 17

, further comprising the step of displaying a prompt requesting security code data to be input to said computer.