Providing a User Input Interface Prior to Initiation of an Operating System

• US 20110078786A1
• Filed: 12/07/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wah Yiu Kwong, Wayne L. Proefrock
• Original Assignee: Wah Yiu Kwong, Wayne L. Proefrock
• Inventors: Kwong, Wah Yiu, Proefrock, Wayne L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,826,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/363 Graphics controllers

Abstract

A processor-based system, including systems without keyboards, may receive user inputs prior to booting. This may done using the graphics controller to generate a window which allows the user to input information. The system firmware may then compare any user inputs, such as passwords, and may determine whether or not to actually initiate system booting.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor;

a storage coupled to said processor; and

a graphics controller coupled to said storage to generate a graphical user interface before the operating system has booted.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said system does not include a keyboard.

3. The system of claim 1 including a touch screen display.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said storage stores instructions that enable the processor to automatically boot the operating system when a user input is received through a graphical user interface before the operating system is booted.

5. The system of claim 1 including an option read only memory that stores information to generate a graphical user interface for the entry of a password prior to booting of an operating system.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a graphics controller coupled to said processor, said graphics controller to generate a graphical user interface to receive a password before an operating system associated with the first processor boots, said graphics controller to compare said password to stored information and to initiate booting said operating system after comparing said password to stored information.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, said apparatus including an option memory, said graphics controller to store information for generating said graphical user interface on an option memory.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, said graphics controller to use boot code to generate the graphical user interface.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, said graphics controller to generate a graphical user interface to enable the user to input a password.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, said graphics controller to generate an on screen keyboard as said graphical user interface.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, said graphical user interface to enable user inputs to be received without a keyboard.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said operating system only boots if the user has been authenticated.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, said graphics controller to receive a password entered without a keyboard using the graphical user interface.

14. A graphics controller comprising:

a processor; and

a storage coupled to said processor;

said processor to generate a graphical user interface to receive a password before an operating system not associated with the processor boots, said processor to compare said password to stored information and to initiate booting of said operating system after comparing said password to stored information.

15. The controller of claim 14 wherein said processor includes a digital signal processor.

16. The controller of claim 14, said processor to use boot code to generate the graphical user interface.

17. The controller of claim 14, said processor to generate a graphical user interface to enable the user to input a password.

18. The controller of claim 14, said graphical user interface to enable user inputs to be received without a keyboard.

19. The controller of claim 14, said processor to receive a password entered without a keyboard using the graphical user interface.

20. The controller of claim 14, said processor to prevent booting without authentication.