System, device and method for secure provision of key credential information

• US 20100186070A1
• Filed: 01/22/2009
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: James Mcalear
• Original Assignee: James Mcalear
• Inventors: McAlear, James A.
• Application Number:
  US12/321,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20100186070A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices

Abstract

A system for secure provision of key credential information is provided. The system comprises secure logic circuitry for being disposed in a host computer. The secure logic circuitry detects a message received from a remote computer connected to the host computer and indicative of a request for provision of the key credential information; generates a message for prompting a user for provision of the key credential information; receives the key credential information; and provides the key credential information to the remote computer absent processing using circuitry of the host computer. The system further comprises a secure user interface cormected to the secure logic circuitry for receiving the key credential information from the user and providing the same to the secure logic circuitry.

Claims

1. A system for secure provision of key credential information comprising:

secure logic circuitry for being disposed in a host computer, the secure logic circuitry for;

detecting a message received from a remote computer connected to the host computer and indicative of a request for provision of the key credential information;

generating a message for prompting a user for provision of the key credential information receiving the key credential information; and

,

providing the key credential information to the remote computer absent processing using circuitry of the host computer; and

,

a secure user interface connected to the secure logic circuitry for receiving the key credential information from the user and providing the same to the secure logic circuitry.

2. A system for secure provision of key credential information as defined in claim 1 wherein the secure user interface comprises:

a secure display for displaying the message for prompting the user for provision of the key credential information; and

,

a secure keyboard for providing the key credential information.

3. A system for secure provision of key credential information as defined in claim 1 wherein the secure logic circuitry is placed on a network interface card.

4. A system for secure provision of key credential information as defined in claim 3 wherein the secure user interface is provided as a peripheral device connected to the network interface card.

5. A system for secure provision of key credential information as defined in claim 1 wherein the secure logic circuitry comprises a processor and memory, the memory having executable commands stored therein for execution on the processor.

6. A method for secure provision of key credential information comprising:

using a secure logic circuitry disposed in a host computer, detecting a message received from a remote computer connected to the host computer and indicative of a request for provision of the key credential information;

using the secure logic circuitry, generating a message prompting a user for providing the key credential information;

using a secure user interface connected to the secure logic circuitry, receiving the key credential information from the user and providing the same to the secure logic circuitry;

using the secure logic circuitry, providing the key credential information to the remote computer absent processing using circuitry of the host computer.

7. A method for secure provision of key credential information as defined in claim 6 comprising:

using the secure logic circuitry, generating display data for displaying the message prompting the user; and

,

using a display of the secure user interface displaying the message prompting the user.

8. A method for secure provision of key credential information as defined in claim 6 comprising scanning messages received from the remote computer for detecting the message indicative of a request for provision of the key credential information.

9. A method for secure provision of key credential information as defined in claim 7 comprising interrupting transmission of keystroke signals from a keyboard connected to the host computer to the circuitry of the host computer.

10. A method for secure provision of key credential information as defined in claim 6 comprising:

interrupting communication between the circuitry of the host computer and the remote computer after detection of the message indicative of a request for provision of the key credential information; and

,

enabling the communication between the circuitry of the host computer and the remote computer after provision of the key credential information to the remote computer.

11. A method for secure provision of key credential information as defined in claim 6 comprising using the secure logic circuitry, encoding the key credential information for provision of the same in an obfuscated fashion.

12. A device for providing secure key credential information comprising:

key credential information request detection means connected to a host computer adapted for detecting a message received from a remote computer connected to the host computer and indicative of a request for provision of the key credential information;

secure logic circuitry for being disposed within the host computer and adapted for receiving key credential information from a user and providing same to the remote computer while not providing key credential information to any other processor of the host computer; and

keyboard means adapted for receiving the key credential information from the user and providing the same to the secure logic circuitry.

13. The device according to claim 12 having display means connected to the key credential information request detection means and adapted for generating a message for prompting the user for provision of the key credential information in response to the detection of a message received from the remote computer connected to the host computer and indicative of a request for provision of the key credential information.