Method and apparatus for controlling access to detachably connectable computer devices using an encrypted password
First Claim
1. A network communications device which is detachably connectable to a computer system and which prevents unauthorized network communications, the network communications device comprising:
- a network communications interface;
a password input to receive first and second passwords;
encryption logic coupled to the password input to encrypt the first and second passwords according to a same encryption routine;
a storage element coupled to the encryption logic to store the encrypted first password; and
network communications enabling logic coupled to the encryption logic and to the storage element, the network communications enabling logic to enable network communications via the network communications interface only if the encrypted second password is the same as the encrypted first password.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling access to a detachably connectable computer device using encryption is disclosed. The method and apparatus include a connector for coupling the device to a computer, an input for receiving a password from a user, encrypting logic for encrypting the password and comparing logic for comparing the received password with a key. The key is determined by encrypting a user-assigned password and storing it as the key. Further included is circuitry for determining whether the received password corresponds to the key, and circuitry for sending an enable signal to configuration logic of the detachably connectable computer device, upon a determination that the received password corresponds to the key.
102 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A network communications device which is detachably connectable to a computer system and which prevents unauthorized network communications, the network communications device comprising:
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a network communications interface; a password input to receive first and second passwords; encryption logic coupled to the password input to encrypt the first and second passwords according to a same encryption routine; a storage element coupled to the encryption logic to store the encrypted first password; and network communications enabling logic coupled to the encryption logic and to the storage element, the network communications enabling logic to enable network communications via the network communications interface only if the encrypted second password is the same as the encrypted first password. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for preventing unauthorized network communications over a network communications device, the network communications device being detachably connectable to a computer system, the method comprising the steps of:
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encrypting a first password received by the network communications device using an encryption algorithm; storing the encrypted first password on the network communications device; encrypting a second password using the same encryption algorithm, the second Password being received by the network communications device after the first password; comparing the encrypted second password to the encrypted first password; and the network communications device enabling network communications using the network communications device only if the encrypted second password matches the encrypted first password. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIAI) communications card that prevents unauthorized communications using the PCMCIA communications card, the PCMCIA communications card comprising:
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a network communications interface; a password input to receive first and second passwords; encryption logic coupled to the password input to encrypt the first and second passwords according to a predetermined encryption routine; a storage element coupled to the encryption logic to store the encrypted first password; and network communications enabling logic coupled to the encryption logic and to the storage element, the network communications enabling logic to enable network communications via the PCMCIA communications card network communications interface only if the encrypted second password matches the stored, encrypted first password.
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11. A computer system comprising:
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a processor to process information; a bus coupled to the processor to communicate information; and a PCMCIA network communications device. The PCMCIA network communications device being detachably coupled to the computer system, the PCMCIA network communications device comprising; a network communications interface, a password input to receive first and second passwords from the computer system, encryption logic coupled to the password input to encrypt the first and second passwords according to an encryption algorithm, and network communications enabling logic coupled to the storage element and to the encryption logic, the network communications enabling logic enabling communications via the network communications interface if the encrypted second password matches the encrypted first password. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification