Microprocessor controlled security system for computers
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A microprocessor controlled computer security system for controlling access to components of a computer system, said security system comprising, in combination:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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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:
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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.
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification