PORTABLE DESKTOP DEVICE AND METHOD OF HOST COMPUTER SYSTEM HARDWARE RECOGNITION AND CONFIGURATION

• US 20110078428A1
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kingston Digital, Inc. (Kingston Technology Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Memory Experts International, Inc.
• Inventors: HAMID, Laurence
• Granted Patent: US 8,516,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/41 where a single sign-on provides access to a plurality of computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/575 Secure boot
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/034 Test or assess a computer or a system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

A portable desktop device and method for host computer system hardware recognition and configuration are provided. The portable desktop device causes on a first boot, the host computer system to recognize hardware devices connected thereto, and to configure hardware configuration files of the portable desktop O/S in accordance with the recognized hardware. Once the hardware configuration files have been configured, the system is rebooted. On the second boot, the host computer determines that the portable desktop has been configured for its hardware, and initiates start-up of the portable desktop.

Claims

1. A method of host computer system hardware recognition and configuration for a portable desktop device coupled with the host computer system, the method comprising:

on a first boot of the host computer system from the portable desktop device;

recognizing at least one hardware device connected to the host computer system,

configuring at least one hardware configuration file of a portable desktop O/S of the portable desktop device in accordance with the recognized hardware devices, and

rebooting the host computer system; and

,

on a second boot of the host computer system from the portable desktop device;

starting up the portable desktop O/S using the configured at least one hardware configuration file.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein recognizing at least one hardware device further comprises identifying at least one hardware device connected to the host computer system.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein recognizing at least one hardware device further comprises collecting information comprising at least one of a status, a capability, and a configuration of each hardware device of the at least one hardware device.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein configuring the at least one hardware configuration file further comprises for each hardware device of the at least one hardware device:

determining whether the hardware device is known; and

in a case that the hardware device is determined to be known;

identifying a device driver for the hardware device and determining an availability and location of the device driver and performing at least one of;

determining whether the hardware device or the device driver has any associated security concerns;

determining whether the device driver is certified;

determining whether the hardware device is unsupported for a portable desktop environment of the portable desktop device.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein configuring the at least one hardware configuration file further comprises for each hardware device of the at least one hardware device:

performing one of creating and modifying a hardware configuration file of the at least one hardware configuration file in accordance with a security specification of the portable desktop device.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein performing one of creating and modifying the hardware configuration file comprises:

in a case that the hardware device is determined to be unknown, performing one of;

disabling the hardware device and restricting the operation of the hardware device, in the hardware configuration file in accordance with the security specification.

7. A method according to claim 5 wherein performing one of creating and modifying the hardware configuration file comprises:

in a case that the hardware device or the device driver has been determined to have any associated security concerns, performing one of;

disabling the hardware device and restricting the operation of the hardware device, in the hardware configuration file in accordance with the security specification.

8. A method according to claim 5 wherein performing one of creating and modifying the hardware configuration file comprises:

in a case that the device driver has been determined to be uncertified, performing one of;

disabling the hardware device and restricting the operation of the hardware device, in the hardware configuration file in accordance with the security specification.

9. A method according to claim 5 wherein performing one of creating and modifying the hardware configuration file comprises:

in a case that the device driver has been determined to be unsupported, performing one of;

disabling the hardware device and restricting the operation of the hardware device, in the hardware configuration file in accordance with the security specification.

10. A method according to claim 5 wherein performing one of creating and modifying the hardware configuration file comprises:

in a case that the device driver has been determined to be unavailable, performing one of;

disabling the hardware device and restricting the operation of the hardware device, in the hardware configuration file in accordance with the security specification.

11. A method according to claim 5, further comprising:

in a case that it is determined that the device driver is available at a remote location, performing in accordance with a security specification;

establishing a connection between the host computer system and the remote location; and

retrieving the device driver.

12. A method according to claim 5 further comprising:

determining whether performing one of creating and modifying a hardware configuration file of the at least one hardware configuration file may be performed in accordance with a functional specification of the portable desktop device; and

in a case that it is determined that performing one of creating and modifying a hardware configuration file of the at least one hardware configuration file could only be performed in other than accordance with a functional specification, ceasing the hardware recognition and configuration.

13. A method according to claim 12 further comprising:

on the first boot of the host computer system;

before recognizing the at least one hardware device, determining that a previously configured flag has a value indicating that the portable desktop device is other than configured; and

before rebooting the system, setting the previously configured flag to a value indicating that the portable desktop device has been configured; and

on the second boot of the host computer system;

before starting up the portable desktop O/S, determining that the previously configured flag has the value indicating that the portable desktop device has been configured and thereafter resetting the previously configured flag to the value indicating that the portable desktop device is other than configured.

14. A method according to claim 2 further comprising:

on the first boot of the host computer, and after recognizing the at least one hardware device;

determining whether a hardware profile exists for the at least one hardware device;

in a case that it is determined that the hardware profile exists, configuring the at least one hardware configuration file further comprises at least one of creating and modifying the at least one hardware configuration file in accordance with the hardware profile; and

in a case that it is determined that the hardware profile other than exists, performing after configuring the at least one hardware configuration file, saving a hardware profile comprising a definition of the configuring of the at least one hardware configuration file.

15. A method according to claim 2 further comprising before recognizing the at least one hardware device:

authenticating a user of the portable desktop device, and in a case that the user is determined to be other than authenticated, ceasing the hardware recognition and configuration.

35. A method according to claim 5 wherein performing one of creating and modifying the hardware configuration file comprises:

in a case that the hardware device is determined to be known and that the device driver for the hardware device is available locally in the portable desktop O/S, and that the hardware device is supported for the portable desktop environment of the portable desktop device;

enabling the hardware device and its operation, in the hardware configuration file in accordance with the security specification.

16. A portable desktop device comprising:

I/O hardware for coupling the portable desktop device to a host computer system, the host computer system connected to at least one hardware device;

memory storage comprising;

a portable desktop storage block comprising a portable desktop O/S; and

a boot process block for execution by the host computer system, and on a first boot of the host computer system from the portable desktop device;

a hardware recognition and configuration process block of the boot process block for causing the host computer system to;

recognize the at least one hardware device connected to the host computer system; and

configure at least one hardware configuration file of the portable desktop O/S in accordance with the recognized hardware devices,

the boot process block for causing the host computer system to reboot itself once the host computer system has finished recognizing the at least one hardware device and configuring the at least one hardware configuration file, and

on a second boot of the host computer system, the boot process block for

causing the host computer system to initiate starting up the portable desktop O/S using the configured at least one hardware configuration file.

17. A device according to claim 16 wherein recognizing the at least one hardware device further comprises identifying at least one hardware device connected to the host computer system.

18. A device according to claim 17 wherein recognizing the at least one hardware device further comprises collecting information comprising at least one of a status, a capability, and a configuration of each hardware device of the at least one hardware device.

19. A device according to claim 17 wherein configuring the at least one hardware configuration file further comprises for each hardware device of the at least one hardware device:

determining whether the hardware device is known; and

in a case that the hardware device is determined to be known;

identifying a device driver for the hardware device and determining an availability and location of the device driver and performing at least one of;

determining whether the hardware device or the device driver has any associated security concerns;

determining whether the device driver is certified;

determining whether the hardware device is unsupported for a portable desktop environment of the portable desktop device.

20. A device according to claim 19 wherein configuring the at least one hardware configuration file further comprises for each hardware device of the at least one hardware device:

performing one of creating and modifying a hardware configuration file of the at least one hardware configuration file in accordance with a security specification of the portable desktop device.

21. A device according to claim 20 wherein performing one of creating and modifying the hardware configuration file comprises:

in a case that the hardware device is determined to be unknown, performing one of;

disabling the hardware device and restricting the operation of the hardware device, in the hardware configuration file in accordance with the security specification.

22. A device according to claim 20 wherein performing one of creating and modifying the hardware configuration file comprises:

in a case that the hardware device or the device driver has been determined to have any associated security concerns, performing one of;

disabling the hardware device and restricting the operation of the hardware device, in the hardware configuration file in accordance with the security specification.

23. A device according to claim 20 wherein performing one of creating and modifying the hardware configuration file comprises:

in a case that the device driver has been determined to be uncertified, performing one of;

disabling the hardware device and restricting the operation of the hardware device, in the hardware configuration file in accordance with the security specification.

24. A device according to claim 20 wherein performing one of creating and modifying the hardware configuration file comprises:

in a case that the device driver has been determined to be unsupported, performing one of;

disabling the hardware device and restricting the operation of the hardware device, in the hardware configuration file in accordance with the security specification.

25. A device according to claim 20 wherein performing one of creating and modifying the hardware configuration file comprises:

in a case that the device driver has been determined to be unavailable, performing one of;

disabling the hardware device and restricting the operation of the hardware device, in the hardware configuration file in accordance with the security specification.

26. A device according to claim 20, wherein the hardware recognition and configuration process block causes the host computer system to, in a case that it is determined that the device driver is available at a remote location, in accordance with a security specification:

establish a connection between the host computer system and the remote location; and

retrieve the device driver.

27. A device according to claim 20 wherein the hardware recognition and configuration process block causes the host computer system to:

determine whether performing one of creating and modifying a hardware configuration file of the at least one hardware configuration file may be performed in accordance with a functional specification of the portable desktop device; and

in a case that it is determined that performing one of creating and modifying a hardware configuration file of the at least one hardware configuration file could only be performed in other than accordance with a functional specification, cease the hardware recognition and configuration process.

28. A device according to claim 27 wherein the boot process block causes the host computer system to:

on the first boot of the host computer system;

before recognizing the at least one hardware device, determine that a previously configured flag has a value indicating that the portable desktop device is other than configured; and

before rebooting the system, set the previously configured flag to a value indicating that the portable desktop device has been configured; and

on the second boot of the host computer system;

before starting up the portable desktop O/S, determine that the previously configured flag has the value indicating that the portable desktop device has been configured and reset the previously configured flag to the value indicating that the portable desktop device is other than configured.

29. A device according to claim 17 wherein the boot process block causes the host computer system to:

on the first boot of the host computer, and after recognizing the at least one hardware device;

determine whether a hardware profile exists for the at least one hardware device;

in a case that it is determined that the hardware profile exists, configuring the at least one hardware configuration file further comprises at least one of creating and modifying the at least one hardware configuration file in accordance with the hardware profile; and

in a case that it is determined that the hardware profile other than exists, after configuring the at least one hardware configuration file, save a hardware profile comprising a definition of the configuring of the at least one hardware configuration file.

30. A device according to claim 17 wherein the boot process block causes the host computer system to:

before recognizing the at least one hardware device, authenticate a user of the portable desktop device, and in a case that the user is determined to be other than authenticated, cease the boot process.

36. A device according to claim 20 wherein performing one of creating and modifying the hardware configuration file comprises:

in a case that the hardware device is determined to be known and that the device driver for the hardware device is available locally in the portable desktop O/S, and that the hardware device is supported for the portable desktop environment of the portable desktop device;

enabling the hardware device and its operation, in the hardware configuration file in accordance with the security specification.

31. A method of host computer system hardware recognition and configuration for a portable desktop device coupled with the host computer system, the method comprising:

on a first boot of the host computer system from the portable desktop device;

recognizing at least one hardware device connected to the host computer system,

copying at least one hardware configuration file to a portable desktop O/S of the portable desktop device in accordance with the recognized hardware devices, and

rebooting the host computer system; and

,

on a second boot of the host computer system from the portable desktop device;

starting up the portable desktop O/S using the copied at least one hardware configuration file.

32. A method according to claim 31 wherein the step of copying at least one hardware configuration file comprises selecting, in accordance with the recognized hardware devices, from a plurality of hardware configuration files, the at least one hardware configuration file.

33. A portable desktop device comprising:

I/O hardware for coupling the portable desktop device to a host computer system, the host computer system connected to at least one hardware device;

memory storage comprising;

a portable desktop storage block comprising a portable desktop O/S; and

a boot process block for execution by the host computer system, and on a first boot of the host computer system from the portable desktop device;

a hardware recognition and configuration process block of the boot process block for causing the host computer system to;

recognize the at least one hardware device connected to the host computer system; and

copy at least one hardware configuration file to the portable desktop O/S in accordance with the recognized hardware devices,

the boot process block for causing the host computer system to reboot itself once the host computer system has finished recognizing the at least one hardware device and copying the at least one hardware configuration file, and

on a second boot of the host computer system, the boot process block for causing the host computer system to initiate starting up the portable desktop O/S using the copied at least one hardware configuration file.

34. A device according to claim 33 wherein the hardware configuration process block'"'"'s copying of the at least one hardware configuration file comprises selecting, in accordance with the recognized hardware devices, from a plurality of hardware configuration files, the at least one hardware configuration file.