Microprocessor controlled security system for computers

• US 5,187,352 A
• Filed: 10/15/1990
• Issued: 02/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William Blair
• Original Assignee: Brooks, Stanley J., William Blair
• Inventors: Blair, William, Brooks, Stanley J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PITTS, HAROLD I
• Application Number:
  US07/597,422
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/487, 340/825.31, 902/22, 380/25
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/71 to assure secure computing or processing of information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/82 Protecting input, output or interconnection devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/04 using counting means or digital clocks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus

Abstract

A microprocessor controlled computer security system is disclosed that provides for controlled access to single or multiple components of a computer system. The security system includes a magnetic card reading and encoding device that reads component access and time allotment data from a magnetically encoded card. A microcontroller, which incorporates a microprocessor, processes the data read by the reading and encoding device and responsively issues enable or disable signals through a component interface circuit to the computer system component or components to be enabled or disabled. The components to be enabled may be the video display device, hard disk drive, or external central processing units of slave computers. The security system further includes audio and visual indicators that provide system and component status information. The magnetic card reading and encoding device is operable in a program mode, wherein the magnetic card is programmed with component access and time data, and a reading mode wherein the reading and encoding device reads and updates the access and time data on the card.

Claims

1. A microprocessor controlled computer security system for controlling access to components of a computer system, said security system comprising, in combination:

magnetic card reading and encoding means for reading input signals from a magnetically encoded card, said magnetically encoded card including at least one magnetically encoded data track;

microcontroller means for processing said input signals read by said magnetic card reading means and responsively providing computer system component enable and disable signals and indicator signals, wherein a component enable signal is provided in response to a first reading of an input signal by the magnetic card reading means and a component disable signal is provided in response to a subsequent reading of the same input signal by the magnetic card reading means;

component interface means for enabling and disabling at least one component of said computer system in response to said component enable and disable signals provided by said microcontroller means; and

indicator means for indicating the status of said components and said security system in response to said indicator signals.

2. The computer security system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said magnetically encoded card includes plurality magnetically encoded data tracks that may be independently read by said magnetic card reading and encoding means, each data track designating the enablement and disablement of a specific component of said computer system.

3. The computer security system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the components enabled and disabled by said security system include a disk drive and a video display.

4. The computer security system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each read operation is performed upon insertion and retraction of said card into and out of said magnetic card reading and encoding means.

5. The computer security system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one data track of said magnetically encoded card includes a time field allocating a predetermined amount of computer system access time, said time field being decremented by said microcontroller means in proportion to the time said component designated by said data track including said time field is enabled, and said microcontroller means disabling said component enabled by said data track that includes said time field upon expiration of said computer system access time allocated by said time field.

6. The computer security system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said microcontroller means provides a first indicator signal to said indicator means for indicating that a first fraction of said system access time remains allocated by said time field, and a second indicator signal to said indicator means for indicating that a second fraction, less than said first fraction, of said computer system access time remains allocated by said time field.

7. The computer security system as claimed in claim 5, whereupon enabling said component designated by said data track including said time field, said magnetic card reading means zeros said time field on said data track whereby said magnetically encoded card may not be used to enable another component designated by said data track.

8. The computer security system as claimed in claim 7, whereupon disabling said component designated by said data track including said time field, said magnetic card reading means credits any residual computer system access time allocated by said time field to said magnetically encoded card.

9. The computer security system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said computer system is a personal computer.

10. The computer security system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indicator means comprises a sound producing device responsive to said indicator signals.

11. The computer security system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indicator means comprises at least one visual indicator light responsive to said indicator signals.

12. The computer security system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said component interface means enables the tube power of a video device of said computer system.

13. The computer security system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said component interface means includes an indicator means for indicating the imminent disablement of said video device.

14. The computer security system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said interface means comprises a peripheral interface circuit providing said enable and disable signals to a peripheral bus communicating with said components to be enabled or disabled.

15. The computer security system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said interface means further comprises a video adapter interface circuit responsive to said enable and disable signals that enables or disables the video display of said computer system.

16. The computer security system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said peripheral bus is connected to a hard disk drive of said computer system.

17. The computer security system of claim 14 wherein said components to be enabled or disabled connected to said peripheral bus are components of remote computer systems which are enabled or disabled in response to enable and disable signals from said microcontroller means.

18. The computer security system of claim 1 further comprising a program switch having a first condition and a second condition, said magnetic card reading and encoding means encoding said magnetically encoded card when said program switch is in said first condition, and reading said magnetically encoded card when said switch is in said second condition.

19. A security system for a network of personal computers linked together by a peripheral data bus, said network including a host computer, comprising, in combination:

at least one magnetically encodeable card, each card having a data track for encoding input signals permitting access to at least one predetermined components of personal computers in said network;

a reading and encoding unit for said card adapted for electrically communicating with said host computer of said network;

means for processing said input signals read by said reading and said encoding unit and for responsively generating component enable and disable signals; and

a peripheral interface circuit for interfacing said means for processing to said peripheral data bus such that said component enable and disable signals are sent to said predetermined components;

whereby said at least one predetermined components of computers of said network ar enabled in response to a reading of said data track of said card by said reading and encoding unit and disabled in response to a subsequent reading of said data track of said card by said reading and encoding unit.

20. In a computer system comprising a host computer, peripheral equipment in communication with said host computer, and a magnetic card reading and encoding device placed in communication with said host computer, a method of controlling access to said host computer and said peripheral equipment comprising the steps of:

a) encoding a magnetically encodeable card with signals for enabling a predetermined component of said computer system;

b) reading said magnetically encoded card with said magnetic card reading and encoding device when said card is inserted into said reading and encoding device;

c) enabling said predetermined component if said predetermined component is disabled when said card is read by said reading and encoding device; and

d) disabling said predetermined component if said predetermined component is already enabled when said card is read by said reading and encoding device.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20 wherein said card is provided with a time field and said time field is encoded with access time signals providing a finite amount of access time in which said predetermined component will be enabled, and wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

decreasing the access time encoded on said card of the time said component is enabled; and

crediting residual access time for said component when said card is retracted from said reading and encoding device after said card has been inserted into said reaching and encoding device when said predetermined component is already enabled.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21 wherein said time field is zeroed upon withdrawal of said card from said reading and encoding device after said card has been inserted into said reading and encoding device when said predetermined component is already disabled.

23. The method as claimed in claim 20 wherein said step of encoding further comprises the step of encoding said magnetically encoded card with a plurality of enable signals for enabling a plurality of predetermined components of said computer system.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23 wherein said plurality of predetermined components are linked to said host computer via a SCSI bus.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein at least one of said predetermined components is a hard disk drive of a remotely located computer.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein said method further comprises the step of providing a warning signal alerting the user that the expiration of the access time is imminent when said access time is nearly expired.