Password protection for computer docking station

• US 6,175,926 B1
• Filed: 05/08/1998
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Fogle, Steven L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hua, Ly V.
• Application Number:
  US09/075,385
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 713/200, 713/201, 713/202
• US Class Current: 726/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication

Abstract

Security is provided for a docking station. Within the docking station a docking password is stored. Upon a portable computer being attached to the docking station, a password stored in the portable computer is compared to the docking password. If the password stored in the portable computer is equal to the docking password, the portable computer is allowed to access the docking station. If the password stored in the portable computer is not equal to the docking password, the portable computer is prevented from accessing the docking station.

Claims

1. A method for providing security to a docking station comprising the following steps:

(a) storing a docking password within the docking station;

(b) upon a portable computer being attached to the docking station, performing the followings substeps;

(b.1) comparing a password stored in the portable computer to the docking password,

(b.2) if the password stored in the portable computer is equal to the docking password, allowing the portable computer to access the docking station, and

(b.3) if the password stored in the portable computer is not equal to the docking password, preventing the portable computer from accessing the docking station; and

,

(c) storing an administrator password activation flag within the docking station;

wherein substep (b.1) includes the followings substeps;

(b.1.1) using an administrator password as the password which is compared to the docking password when the administrator password activation flag is true, and

(b.1.2) using a user password as the password which is compared to the docking password when the administrator password activation flag is not true.

2. A method as in claim 1 additionally comprising the following steps:

(d) storing a security activation flag within the docking station;

wherein step (b) is performed when the security activation flag is true; and

,

wherein when the security activation flag is not true, performing the following step instead of step (b);

(e) upon a portable computer being attached to the docking station, allowing the portable computer to access the docking station.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein in substep (b.1.2), when the administrator password activation flag is not true and the user password has a null value, using the administrator password as the password which is compared to the docking password.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein when in step (a) the docking password has a null value, performing the following step instead of step (b):

(d) upon a portable computer being attached to the docking station, allowing the portable computer to access the docking station.

5. Storage media which stores a software program which, when executed, performs a method comprising the following step:

(a) upon a portable computer being attached to a docking station, performing the followings substeps;

(a.1) obtaining a docking password stored in the docking station,

(a.2) comparing a password stored in the portable computer to the docking password,

(a.3) if the password stored in the portable computer is equal to the docking password, allowing the portable computer to access the docking station, and

(a.4) if the password stored in the portable computer is not equal to the docking password, preventing the portable computer from accessing the docking station;

wherein substep (a.1) comprises the following substep;

(a.1.1) obtaining an administrator password activation flag from within the docking station; and

,

wherein substep (a.2) includes the followings substeps;

(a.2.1) using an administrator password as the password which is compared to the docking password when the administrator password activation flag is true, and

(a.2.2) using a user password as the password which is compared to the docking password when the administrator password activation flag is not true.

6. Storage media as in claim 5 wherein in substep (a.2.2), when the administrator password activation flag is not true and the user password has a null value, using the administrator password as the password which is compared to the docking password.

7. Storage media as in claim 5 wherein substep (a.1) additionally comprises the following substeps:

(a.1.2) obtaining a security activation flag from within the docking station; and

,

(a.1.3) when the security activation flag is true proceeding to perform substep (a.2), substep (a.3) and substep (a.4);

wherein when the security activation flag is not true, performing the following substep instead of substep (a.2), substep (a.3) and substep (a.4);

(a.5) allowing the portable computer to access the docking station.

8. Storage media as in claim 5 wherein when in substep (a.1) the docking password has a null value, performing the following substep instead of substep (a.2), substep (a.3) and substep (a.4):

(a.5) allowing the portable computer to access the docking station.

9. A docking station comprising:

storage means for storing a docking password within the docking station; and

,

protection means for, upon a portable computer being attached to the docking station, comparing a password stored in the portable computer to the docking password, the protection means allowing the portable computer to access the docking station when the password stored in the portable computer is equal to the docking password, and the protection means preventing the portable computer from accessing the docking station when the password stored in the portable computer is not equal to the docking password;

wherein the storage means is additionally for storing an administrator password activation flag within the docking station;

wherein the protection means uses an administrator password as the password which is compared to the docking password when the administrator password activation flag is true; and

,

wherein the protection means uses a user password as the password which is compared to the docking password when the administrator password activation flag is not true.

10. A docking station as in claim 9, when the administrator password activation flag is not true and the user password has a null value, the protections means uses the administrator password as the password which is compared to the docking password.

11. A docking station as in claim 10 wherein when the docking password has a null value, the protection means allows the portable computer to access the docking station without comparing the password stored in the portable computer to the docking password.

12. A docking station as in claim 9:

wherein the storage means is additionally for storing a security activation flag within the docking station; and

,

wherein when the security activation flag is not true the protection means allows the portable computer to access the docking station without comparing the password stored in the portable computer to the docking password.