Computer lock system with time-control function

• US 20030191960A1
• Filed: 04/09/2002
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wink Technologies Inc. (Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Wink Technologies Inc. (Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.))
• Inventors: Hung-yi, Yang
• Application Number:
  US10/118,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20030191960A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data

Abstract

A computer lock system with time-control function consists of a main program to supervise the right and time of using the computer system by authorized users, and a subprogram to process and store basic data such as the entry of the users for ID examination and the setting of time-limit for using the computer system. Said main program thereof, once checked by a BootRom chip on a protect card and executed in an operating system, will start an internal clock for time-control and a screen saver to keep the computer system locked in wait for the access of an authorized user passing the ID examination so as to protect the computer system from the illegal use of the crackers and secure the right of the users. When the time-limit of using the computer system is up, said main program thereof will restart said screen saver to keep the computer system locked again in wait for another legal user, thus efficiently protecting the right and regulating the time of using the computer system by the users. Beside supervising the operating system on PC, said computer lock system thereof can also combine with the operation of network to supervise and manage the computer systems on workstations.

Claims

1. A computer lock system with time-control function, especially, a computer lock system having a main program which, after being checked by a BootRom chip on a protect card and executed in an operating system, will start an internal clock for time-control and a screen saver to keep the computer system locked in wait for the access of authorized users passing the ID examination so as to supervise the legal use of the computer system by authorized users during pre-set time-limit, protecting the right of the users from the crackers and regulating the using-time of the computer system as well;

wherein said main program thereof includes the supervising steps as follows;

special function keys of the operating system being locked or said main program being directly saved in a hidden file after said computer lock system being started and executed;

an internal clock of said main program thereof being started and synchronized with the time received from the clock of the current computer system;

said internal clock thereof, as the standard for time-control, checking and correcting, if necessary, the time on the current computer system every one second;

meanwhile said main program starting a screen saver and keeping the computer system locked in wait for the access of authorized users;

before allowed the access to the computer system, a user, inputting basic data such as account no. and password into the computer system, must be examined and authorized by said main program thereof which will decide whether said user having the legal right to use the computer system during pre-set time-limit so as to efficiently ensure the right of authorized users and regulate the using-time of the computer system;

after the user passing the ID examination, said main program thereof unlocking said screen saver and the computer system proceeding to a normal operation by said authorized user during a pre-set time-limit;

otherwise, said main program will keep the computer system locked till the user reconfirming and passing the ID examination, or simply quitting the computer system;

after a legal access to the computer system, said internal clock starting the counting of time for time-control and, at a certain pre-set time, sending out warning signal and sound to remind the user that the pre-set time-limit is coming to an end soon;

once passing the pre-set using-time, said main program thereof restarting the screen saver, and keeping the computer system locked in wait for the access of another authorized user so as to enhance the security of the computer system with efficient time-control.

2. The computer lock system with time-control function as claimed in claim 1 wherein a BootRom program, loaded in the computer system and once started, can carry out the examination of the main program of said computer lock system thereof to ensure said main program thereof being found in the computer system without being interrupted;

otherwise, said BootRom chip on the protect card, not checking said main program thereof and modifying the parameter, can directly restore the registered file and said main program thereof before executing said main program thereof;

or a manager system can be selected after said BootRom chip thereof being started, and said restoration of said main program thereof can be canceled with the same protect effect after the account no. and password of the system administer being input;

in other case, one or more than one supervising protect programs can also be used in the system to mutually enhance the safety of said computer lock system without being interrupted.

3. The computer lock system with time-control function as claimed in claim 1 wherein said main program thereof, once started, are automatically saved in a hidden file to prevent the interruption of said main program thereof by a user via special function keys;

otherwise, once said main program thereof being started, special function keys of the computer system(Ctrl+Alt+Del, Alt+F4, Alt+Tab, Num Lock, Quit and Close keys) will be locked to secure the safety of said computer lock system.

4. The computer lock system with time-control function as claimed in claim 1 wherein, besides starting the screen saver and locking the special function keys to supervise the operating system of the computer system, said computer lock system thereof can also combine with the operation of network;

once being started, said main program thereof loaded on a main computer can lock the keyboards and mouse connected to the computers on the workstation till said main program thereof on said main computer sending out message to decide if to unlock said keyboards and mouse for use, thus managing and regulating the right and time of using the computer systems.

5. The computer lock system with time-control function as claimed in claim 1 wherein for authorization of the legal users of the computer system, different means can be used for ID examination:

for example, directly inputting account no. and password on the keyboards, IC cards, bar code cards, magnetic cards, sensor cards, fingerprint-matching, or retina-matching, etc.

6. The computer lock system with time-control function as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ID of the user can be examined directly on PC, or, data sent out from workstation can be examined and matched by a main computer on the network to determine if to unlock the computer systems on workstation for efficient management of the right and time of using the computer systems.

7. The computer clock system with time-control function as claimed in claim 1 wherein said computer clock system has a subprogram for the processing of basic data for ID examination, in which a user, after inputting the correct account no. and password of the system administrator, can select from a choosing list for data processing including:

the claims of the copyright, the setup of hardware, the issue of IC cards with ID data, the setup of printers, the setup of the parameter of the system thereof, the printing of basic data of the users, the setting of time-limit, the entry of the password of the system administrator, and the entry of basic data of the regular users, etc.;

said processed data input in said ID entry program will be transferred to the main program of said computer lock system thereof for authorization of the legal access of the users to the computer system.