Password operated system for preventing unauthorized or accidental computer memory alteration
First Claim
1. In a digital computer used to control the operation of a machine, said computer including, a high-speed operating system memory adapted to contain the computer system operating programs, a high-speed program memory adapted to contain at least one of a plurality of the programs used to operate said machine, input and output means for operating and observing the operation of said computer, a low-speed memory device having replaceable easily stored permanent memory elements, said low-speed memory device being capable of storing substantially more information than said high-speed memories thereby permitting storage of said plurality of programs along with the operating system programs and having a protected portion wherein stored information cannot be altered by said computer, said protected portion containing a password that is unique to each one of said memory elements, and means for transferring information between said high-speed memories and said low-speed memory;
- an automatic lockout device comprising;
means for comparing the password in said high-speed operating system memory and the password in said low-speed memory, and means to prevent alteration of information in said low-speed memory when the passwords in said high-speed operating system memory and said low-speed memory do not match.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Manipulation of a digital computer magnetic memory is locked out to prevent unauthorized or accidental erasure. The memory is provided with a unique password. Unless the correct password is present in the computer, or entered into the computer by the operator, the computer will not run and the memory cannot be altered.
72 Citations
9 Claims
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1. In a digital computer used to control the operation of a machine, said computer including, a high-speed operating system memory adapted to contain the computer system operating programs, a high-speed program memory adapted to contain at least one of a plurality of the programs used to operate said machine, input and output means for operating and observing the operation of said computer, a low-speed memory device having replaceable easily stored permanent memory elements, said low-speed memory device being capable of storing substantially more information than said high-speed memories thereby permitting storage of said plurality of programs along with the operating system programs and having a protected portion wherein stored information cannot be altered by said computer, said protected portion containing a password that is unique to each one of said memory elements, and means for transferring information between said high-speed memories and said low-speed memory;
- an automatic lockout device comprising;
means for comparing the password in said high-speed operating system memory and the password in said low-speed memory, and means to prevent alteration of information in said low-speed memory when the passwords in said high-speed operating system memory and said low-speed memory do not match.
- an automatic lockout device comprising;
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2. The computer of claim 1 wherein said computer includes means for transferring automatically said password to said high-speed operating system memory from said low-speed memory.
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3. The computer of claim 1 wherein said computer includes operator controlled means for entering said password in said high-speed operating system memory.
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4. The computer of claim 1 wherein said lockout device includes means to prevent altering information to said low-speed memory and said high-speed program memory.
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5. The computer of claim 1 wherein said lockout device includes means for operation in accordance with user commands entered via said input means.
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6. The computer of claim 1 wherein said lockout device is operated by means of a pushbutton on a control panel.
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7. The computer of claim 1 wherein said low-speed memory is a magnetic disk memory.
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8. The computer of claim 7 wherein means responsive to removing a disk from said disk memory actuate said lockout device.
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9. The computer of claim 8 wherein said lockout device includes means to automatically operate said lockout device after a predetermined time following the last disk memory removal operation.
Specification