Computer system having a function for intercepting lewd/violent programs and method for controlling access of such lewd/violent programs

• US 5,978,920 A
• Filed: 09/04/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Sang-Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Heckler, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/923,099
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 395/188.01, 395/712, 713/202
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment

Abstract

A computer system having a function of interrupting lewd/violent programs which includes a read-only-memory for storing an initialization program and a security grade setup program; a non-volatile memory device for storing a security grade which is a program classification code selected by a user for designating an unacceptable program content contained in an application program, and a password for identifying the user when changing the security grade; and a controller for controlling execution of an application program according to the security grade of the application program and the security grade stored in the non-volatile memory device during initialization, and for controlling the changing of the security grade stored in the non-volatile memory device during the security grade setup, when the user inputs a password that corresponds to the password stored in the non-volatile memory device. As a result, the computer system is able to limit access to application programs that contain unacceptable levels of graphic sex, violence, and strong language.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a first memory device for storing an initialization program and a security grade setup program;

a second memory device for storing a security grade which is a program classification code selected by a user for designating an unacceptable program content contained in an application program, and a password for identifying the user when changing the security grade; and

a controller for controlling execution of an application program according to the security grade of the application program and the security grade stored in said second memory device during operation of said initialization program, and for controlling the changing of the security grade stored in said second memory device during operation of said security grade setup program, when the user inputs a password that corresponds to the password stored in said second memory device.

2. The computer system of claim 1, further comprised of said first memory device corresponding to a read-only-memory.

3. The computer system of claim 1, further comprised of said second memory device corresponding to a non-volatile memory.

4. The computer system of claim 1, further comprised of said second memory device comprising:

an electrically erasable and programmable read-only-memory having an address port and a data port respectively connected to corresponding signal lines of a system bus, for executing data read/write operation under control of said controller; and

an address decoder for reading address input through the address port of said electrically erasable and programmable read-only-memory, and determining whether an input address corresponds to said electrically erasable and programmable read-only-memory.

5. A method for controlling a computer system having a function of interrupting lewd/violent programs, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an application program in the computer system;

comparing a security grade contained in an application program with a security grade set in the computer system when the application program is executed;

detennining whether the security grade set in the computer system enables execution of the application program;

executing the application program when the security grade set in the computer system enables execution of the application program; and

alternatively, providing a visual display of an error message indicating that the application program cannot be executed, when the security grade set in the computer system does not enable execution of the application program.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a password when an user inputs a specific key via a key input unit designating said password during initialization of the computer system;

determining whether the password input by the user corresponds to a set password; and

updating a new security grade, via said key input unit, when the password input by the user corresponds to the set password; and

alternatively, providing a visual display of an error message when the password input by the user does not correspond to the set password.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprised of the security grade set in the computer system enabling execution of the application program, when the security grade contained in the application program exceeds the security grade set in the computer system.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a password when an user inputs a specific key via a key input unit designating said password during initialization of the computer system;

determining whether the password input by the user corresponds to a set password; and

updating a new security grade, via said key input unit, when the password input by the user corresponds to the set password; and

alternatively, providing a visual display of an error message when the password input by the user does not correspond to the set password.

9. A computer system, comprising:

a central processing unit;

a first memory for loading a program executed by the central processing unit;

a second memory for storing an initialization program and a security grade setup program;

a security grade memory device for storing a security grade which is a program classification code selected by a user for designating an unacceptable program content contained in an application program, and a password for identifying the user when changing the security grade;

a plurality of peripheral device controllers for driving operation of a plurality of peripheral devices including a display device, a keyboard, a printer, a hard disk drive and a compact-disk read-only-memory drive; and

said central processing unit controlling execution of an application program according to the security grade of an application program and the security grade stored in said security grade memory device during initialization, and for controlling the changing of the security grade stored in said security grade memory device during said security grade setup, when the user inputs a password that corresponds to the password stored in said security grade memory device.

10. The computer system of claim 9, further comprised of said first memory corresponding to a random-access-memory.

11. The computer system of claim 9, further comprised of said second memory corresponding to a read-only-memory.

12. The computer system of claim 9, further comprised of said security grade memory device corresponding to a non-volatile memory.

13. The computer system of claim 9, further comprised of said security grade memory device comprising:

an electrically erasable and programmable read-only-memory having an address port and a data port respectively connected to corresponding signal lines of a system bus, for executing data read/write operation; and

an address decoder for reading address input through the address port of said electrically erasable and programmable read-only-memory, and determining whether an input address corresponds to said electrically erasable and programmable read-only-memory.