Security control for computer power supply system

• US 6,298,447 B1
• Filed: 07/20/1998
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Cheng-Chih
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIN, WEN TAI
• Application Number:
  US09/118,895
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 713/189, 713/202, 713/310, 713/200, 713/201, 713/313, 713/193, 713/300, 713/320, 714/241, 340/825.34, 340/825.31, 324/178
• US Class Current: 726/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/81 by operating on the power supply, e.g. enabling or disabling power-on, sleep or resume operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof

Abstract

A computer system power-on security control that does not allow a computer power source to turn on until a valid passcode is entered. The system includes a mouse intercept unit for intercepting mouse signals directed to a mouse controller in the computer system when the power source is off. A memory stores valid passcodes used to power on the computer system. A comparator unit is configured to compare received mouse signals to the stored passcodes. A power supply control unit, connected to the comparator unit, outputs a power control signal to turn on the computer system power source when the mouse signals match the stored passcode.

Claims

1. A system for controlling power-up of a computer system having a mouse connected to a mouse controller being connected to a power source, said system comprising:

a mouse intercept unit for intercepting mouse signals directed to the mouse controller, the mouse intercept unit including means for intercepting mouse signals when the power source is off;

a comparator unit configured to compare the mouse signals to a passcode; and

a power supply control unit connected to the comparator unit, for outputting a power control signal to turn on the power source when the mouse signals match the passcode.

2. The system according to claim 1 further including:

a standby power source configured to output power to the mouse intercept unit, comparator unit, and power supply control unit.

3. The system according to claim 1 further including:

a standby power source configured to output power to the mouse intercept unit, comparator unit and power supply control unit when the power source is off.

4. The system according to claim 1 further including:

a mouse input data decoder for receiving and decoding the intercepted mouse signals.

5. The system according to claim 4 further including:

a buffer connected to an output of the mouse input data decoder for storing the decoded signals.

6. The system according to claim 5 wherein said comparator unit includes means for comparing the passcode to the decoder signals stored in the buffer.

7. The system according to claim 1 further including:

a state machine connected to an output of the mouse input data decoder for processing the decoded signals.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein said comparator unit includes means for comparing the passcode to the decoder signals processed by the state machine.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein said power supply unit includes means for maintaining a power off to the supply unit when the passcode does not match the decoded signals.

10. The system according to claim 1 wherein the power supply control unit includes a logical NAND circuit which receives an output of the comparator unit and a logical status of a switch on the power source.

11. The system according to claim 1 wherein the mouse intercept unit includes a pair of buffers configured to receive a pair of signals from the mouse.

12. The system according to claim 1 further including a memory for storing passcodes.

13. The system according to claim 12 wherein the memory is a non-volatile random-access memory.

14. The system according to claim 12 wherein the memory is a designated memory space in a CMOS configuration memory of the computer system.

15. The system according to claim 12 wherein the memory is a static random-access memory supported by a back-up battery when the computer system is turned off.

16. A method of controlling power-up of a computer system having a mouse connected to a mouse controller and a memory storing a passcode, said computer system being connected to a power source, said method including the steps of:

intercepting mouse signals directed to the mouse controller when the power source is off;

comparing the mouse signals to the passcode; and

outputting a power control signal to turn on the power source when the mouse signals match the passcode.

17. The method according to claim 16 further including the step of:

decoding the intercepted mouse signals.

18. The method according to claim 17 further including the step of:

storing the decoded signals.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein said step of comparing includes the step of comparing the passcode to the stored decoded signals.

20. The method according to claim 16 further including maintaining a power off to the supply unit when the passcode does not match the decoded signals.

21. A system for controlling power-up of a computer system having a mouse connected to a mouse controller, said computer system connected to a power source, said system comprising:

a mouse intercept unit for intercepting the mouse signals communicated between the mouse controller and the mouse when the computer system is powered off;

a mouse input data decoder for receiving and decoding the mouse signals intercepted by the mouse intercept unit;

a buffer connected to the output of the mouse input data decoder for storing the decoded data of the mouse signals;

a passcode memory for storing the preset passcode designated for authorized power up of the computer system;

a comparator unit having each of two inputs connected to the output of the buffer and the passcode memory, respectively, the comparator unit comparing the mouse signals and the preset passcode and generating a signal indicating a matching condition of the comparison; and

a power supply control unit for generating a control signal based on the logical status of the matching condition in order to control a power up of the power supply of the computer system.

22. The system according to claim 21 wherein the power supply control unit includes means for initiating the power supply to supply power to the computer system when the comparator unit generates a positive matching condition as a result of the comparison, and maintaining the power supply at the power off status when the comparator unit generates a negative matching condition as a result of the comparison.

23. A power security system for controlling power-up of a computer having a mouse and a stored passcode, the power security system comprising:

a mouse intercepting unit for intercepting mouse signals from the mouse when the computer system is power off; and

a comparator unit for comparing the intercepted mouse signals with the stored passcode, wherein if the mouse signals match the passcode, the comparator unit exports a signal to fully turn on the computer system.