Method and apparatus for deterring snooping of data in digital data processing systems

• US 20030156384A1
• Filed: 01/18/2002
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Massaro, Timothy John, Ziolkowski, Allen John
• Granted Patent: US 7,083,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/686
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1639 Arrangements for locking plugged peripheral connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0208 Interlock mechanisms; Means for avoiding unauthorised use or function, e.g. tamperproof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49169 Assembling electrical component directly to terminal or elongated conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49174 Assembling terminal to elongated conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49815 Disassembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5313 Means to assemble electrical device

Abstract

A physical latching mechanism prevents access to or tampering with an I/O port of a computer system. In the preferred embodiment, a display monitor cable of an unattended workstation being operated remotely is disconnected and latched to prevent re-connection and display of remote activity. The latch includes a first latch which locks the cable to the workstation system unit, and a second latch which blocks the open end of the cable. Each latch preferably a pair of L-shaped members which engage each other in a nested fashion, one being attached to a cable coupling while the other is connected to the system unit or is used to block the cable open end. The members are locked by engagement means at one end and a padlock at the other.

Claims

1. A method of operating a workstation containing a system unit housing a processor and a physically separate display monitor containing a display screen, said display monitor being coupled to said system unit with a display monitor data cable, said method comprising the steps of:

disconnecting said display monitor data cable;

engaging a latching mechanism to at least one of the set consisting of the system unit, the display monitor, and the display monitor data cable, wherein said latching mechanism prevents re-connection of said display monitor data cable; and

thereafter operating said workstation from a remote location.

2. The method of operating a workstation of claim 1, wherein said step of engaging a latching mechanism comprises the steps of:

attaching a first latch at a coupling of said display monitor data cable to said system unit, said first latch preventing detachment of said display monitor data cable from said system unit at said coupling; and

attaching a second latch at an open end of said display monitor data cable, said second latch preventing attachment of a coupling to said open end of said display monitor data cable.

3. The method of operating a workstation of claim 2, wherein said display monitor data cable comprises first and second segments capable of being connected by a coupling, wherein said disconnecting step comprises disconnecting said first segment from said second segment at said coupling, said first latch being attached at a coupling of said first segment to said system unit, and said second latch being attached to said first segment at said coupling for connecting said first and second segments.

4. The method of operating a workstation of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

disengaging at least a portion of said latching mechanism;

re-connecting said display monitor data cable; and

thereafter operating said workstation from the workstation location.

5. The method of operating a workstation of claim 4, wherein a portion of said latching mechanism remains attached to said workstation while being operated in from a remote location and while being operated from the workstation location.

6. A latching apparatus which latches a data cable coupling in an electronically coupled configuration to a data port of an electronic device, comprising:

a first member which is securely attached to said electronic device using at least one first removable fastener;

a second member which is securely attached to said data cable coupling using at least one second removable fastener; and

a locking mechanism which locks said first and second members together in said electronically coupled configuration;

wherein, when said first and second members are locked together in said electronically coupled configuration, said first and second removable fasteners are obscured so as to be non-removable.

7. The latching apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

said first member comprises an L-shaped member;

said second member comprises an L-shaped member; and

when said first and second members are locked together in said electronically coupled configuration, said first and second members are positioned in a nested configuration.

8. The latching apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

said first member contains an aperture at a first end thereof;

said second member contains an aperture at a first end thereof; and

said locking mechanism comprises a padlock which passes through said aperture in said first member and said aperture in said second member.

9. The latching apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

said first member contains an aperture at a first end thereof;

said second member contains an aperture at a first end thereof and an engagement mechanism at a second end thereof for engaging a second end of said first member when said first and second members are locked together in said electronically coupled configuration; and

said locking mechanism comprises a padlock which passes through said aperture in said first member and said aperture in said second member.

10. The latching apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first and second members are removable from said electronic device and data cable by removing said removable fasteners, and wherein said electronic device and data cable may be restored to their original state upon removal of said first and second members.

11. A latching apparatus for a data cable, comprising, comprising:

a first member which is securely attached to a coupling at an open end of said data cable using at least one first removable fastener;

a second member which, in a locked configuration, obscures at least a portion of said coupling to prevent electrical attachment of a device to said coupling; and

a locking mechanism which locks said first and second members together in said locked configuration;

wherein, when said first and second members are locked together in said locked configuration, said first removable fastener is obscured so as to be non-removable.

12. The latching apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

said first member contains an aperture at a first end thereof;

said second member contains an aperture at a first end thereof and an engagement mechanism at a second end thereof for engaging a second end of said first member when said first and second members are locked together in said electronically coupled configuration; and

said locking mechanism comprises a padlock which passes through said aperture in said first member and said aperture in said second member.

13. The latching apparatus of claim 11, wherein said first member is removable from said data cable by removing said at least one removable fastener, and wherein said data cable may be restored to its original state upon removal of said first member.

14. A computer system, comprising:

an electronic component having a data port;

a data cable having a first coupling for forming an electrical connection with said data port;

a first member which is securely attached to said electronic component using at least one first removable fastener;

a second member which is securely attached to said data cable coupling using at least one second removable fastener; and

a locking mechanism which locks said first and second members together in said electronically coupled configuration;

wherein, when said first and second members are locked together in said electronically coupled configuration, said first and second removable fasteners are obscured so as to be non-removable.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein said electronic component is a system unit, and said data cable communicates with at least one other component of said system.

16. The computer system of claim 14, wherein:

said first member comprises an L-shaped member;

said second member comprises an L-shaped member; and

when said first and second members are locked together in said electronically coupled configuration, said first and second members are positioned in a nested configuration.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein:

said first member contains an aperture at a first end thereof;

said second member contains an aperture at a first end thereof; and

said locking mechanism comprises a padlock which passes through said aperture in said first member and said aperture in said second member.

18. The computer system of claim 14, wherein said data cable is securely attached to another object, thereby deterring theft of said electronic component.

19. The computer system of claim 14, wherein said first and second members are removable from said electronic device and data cable by removing said removable fasteners, and wherein said electronic component and data cable may be restored to their original state upon removal of said first and second members.

20. The computer system of claim 14, further comprising:

a third member which is securely attached to a second coupling of said data cable at an end of said cable opposite said first coupling using at least one third removable fastener;

a fourth member which, in a locked configuration, obscures at least a portion of said second coupling to prevent electrical attachment of a device to said second coupling; and

a locking mechanism which locks said third and fourth members together in said locked configuration;

wherein, when said third and fourth members are locked together in said locked configuration, said third removable fastener is obscured so as to be non-removable.