Portable computer system having password control means for holding one or more passwords such that the passwords are unreadable by direct access from a main processor

• US 5,537,544 A
• Filed: 08/16/1993
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsukada, Hiroyuki, Kawawa, Tatsuya, Morisawa, Toshikazu, Mamata, Tohru, Yamaki, Masayo
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Decady, Albert
• Application Number:
  US08/106,922
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 395/575, 395/186, 395/188.01, 395/3, 380/4, 380/25, 380/3, 364/225, 364/260.81, 364/864, 364/865, 364/866
• US Class Current: 726/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2113 Multi-level security, e.g. mandatory access control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices

Abstract

A portable computer system includes a keyboard for inputting at least a password, and a main CPU for controlling the system operation to perform a data processing. Particularly, the computer system further includes a password control section, holding one or more registered passwords as being unreadable by direct access from the main CPU, for allowing the main CPU to perform the data processing when a password identical to one of the registered passwords held therein is input by the keyboard.

Claims