Data processing system and method for securing a docking station and its portable PC

• US 6,609,207 B1
• Filed: 03/02/1999
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cromer, Daryl Carvis, Locker, Howard, Springfield, Randall Scott, Kern, Eric Richard, Ward, James Peter, Ellison, Brandon Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Gail
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baum, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US09/260,921
• Time in Patent Office: 1,631 Days
• Field of Search: 713/303, 713/304, 713/201-202, 710/304
• US Class Current: 726/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss

Abstract

A data processing system and method including a docking station and a portable computer capable of being coupled to the docking station are disclosed for securing the docking station, the portable computer, and for securing the attachment of the docking station to the portable computer. The portable computer is coupled to the docking station. A disconnection password is established. When the portable computer is disconnected from the docking station, a user is prompted for the disconnection password. The portable computer is disabled in response to a failure to correctly enter the disconnection password, wherein the portable computer is inoperable without a correct entry of the disconnection password. When a portable computer is connected to the docking station, a correct entry of a connection password is required. In response to a failure to correctly enter the connection password, access to the docking station is prohibited. When the docking station is physically removed from its stationary support, correct entry of a relocation password is required. In response to a failure to correctly enter the password, access to the docking station is prohibited.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system including a docking station and a portable computer capable of being coupled to said docking station, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing a disconnection password and a connection password for de-coupling and coupling said portable computer to said docking station, respectively;

responsive to a disconnection of said portable computer from said docking station when said portable computer has been interactively coupled to said docking station, dynamically prompting a user of said portable computer for said disconnection password prior to allowing subsequent access to said portable computer; and

automatically disabling said portable computer when said user fails to correctly enter said disconnection password proximate to said disconnection, wherein said portable computer is inoperable without a correct entry of said disconnection password and said portable computer is enabled for subsequent access by said user when a correct disconnection password is entered.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

responsive to a coupling of said portable computer to said docking station, prompting said user for said connection password prior to allowing access to functional features of said docking station; and

prohibiting access to said docking station when said user fails to correctly enter said connection password.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of prohibiting access to said docking station further comprises the step of prohibiting access to devices included within said docking station by restricting a supply of power to said devices until said connection password is correctly entered.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

coupling said docking station to a stationary support utilizing a mechanical relocation switch included with said docking station; and

in response to said relocation switch being decoupled from said stationary support, disabling said docking station.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

establishing a relocation password;

in response to an attempt to access said docking station after said relocation switch is decoupled from said stationary support, prompting said user for said relocation password; and

prohibiting access to said docking station when said user fails to correctly enter said relocation password.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said docking station includes and electronic latch associated with said relocation switch, said method further comprising the steps of:

setting said electronic latch to a first state when said relocation switch is de-coupled from said stationary support, wherein said first state is reached by clearing said electronic latch;

prohibiting subsequent access to said docking station until said relocation password is correctly entered;

setting said electronic latch to a second state when said relocation switch is coupled to said stationary support and a correct relocation password is entered, said second state being different from said first state; and

enabling access to said docking station when said electronic latch is in said second state.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

supplying power to said electronic latch utilizing a battery power source; and

clearing said electronic latch by disconnected said battery power source when said relocation switch is de-coupled from said stationary support.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said docking station comprises a security processor, said method further comprising storing said disconnection password, said connection password, and said relocation password utilizing said security processor.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of prohibiting access to said docking station devices until said security processor determines that said connection password was correctly entered.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of providing said security processor with constant auxiliary power when said docking station is disabled.

11. A system for securing both a docking station and a portable computer that is capable of being coupled to said docking station, said system comprising:

means for interactively coupling said portable computer to said docking station;

means for establishing a disconnection password utilized for secure disconnection of said portable computer from said docking station to enable subsequent access by a user to said portable computer;

means for disconnecting said portable computer from said docking station;

means within said portable computer for dynamically prompting for said disconnection password in response to a disconnection of said portable computer from said docking station; and

means within said portable computer for automatically disabling said portable computer when said user fails to correctly enter said disconnection password proximate to said disconnection of said computer, wherein said portable computer remains inoperable without a correct entry of said disconnection password and said portable computer is enabled for subsequent access by said user when a correct disconnection-password is entered.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising:

means, when said portable computer is being coupled to said docking station;

for prompting said user for a connection password; and

means within said docking station for prohibiting access to devices and functions of said docking station when said user fails to correctly enter said connection password.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said means within said docking station for prohibiting access further comprises means for restricting a supply of power to said devices until said connection password is correctly entered.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein:

said docking station comprises a mechanical relocation switch and is coupled to a stationary support utilizing said mechanical relocation switch; and

in response to said relocation switch being decoupled from said stationary support.

15. The system according to claim 14, further comprising:

means within said docking station for establishing a relocation password;

means, in response to an attempt to access said docking station after said relocation switch is decoupled from said stationary support, for prompting said user for said relocation password; and

means within said docking station for prohibiting access to said docking station in response to a failure of said user to correctly enter said relocation password.

16. The system according to claim 15, further comprising:

an electronic latch included within said docking station, said electronic latch being coupled to said relocation switch;

means for clearing said electronic latch in response to said relocation switch being decoupled from said stationary support; and

means, in response to said electronic latch being cleared, for prohibiting access to devices and functions of said docking station until said relocation password is correctly entered.

17. The system according to claim 16, further comprising:

a battery power source for supplying power to said electronic latch; and

means for clearing said electronic latch by disconnecting said battery power source when said relocation switch is de-coupled from said stationary support.

18. The system according to claim 17, further comprising a security processor included within said docking station for storing said disconnection password, said connection password, and said relocation password.

19. The system according to claim 18, further comprising code executed by said security processor for prohibiting access to said docking station devices until said security processor determines that said connection password was correctly entered.

20. The system according to claim 19, further comprising means for providing said security processor capable with constant auxiliary power when said docking station is disabled.

21. A data processing system for securing a docking station and a portable computer that is capable of being coupled to said docking station, said system comprising:

a stationary support;

a docking station coupled to the stationary support said docking station comprising;

a mechanical relocation switch by which said docking station may be coupled and de-coupled from said stationary support;

means for establishing a disconnection password, a connection password, and a relocation password;

a security processor for storing said disconnection password, said connection password, and said relocation password;

means for prompting said user for a connection password in response to said portable computer being connected to said docking station;

means for prohibiting access to devices included within said docking station by prohibiting a supply of power to said devices until said connection password is correctly entered;

means, in response to said relocation switch being de-coupled from said stationary support, for said docking station to disable itself;

means, in response to an attempt to access said docking station after said relocation switch is de-coupled from said stationary support, for prompting said user for said relocation password;

means for prohibiting access to said devices and functions of said docking station when said user does not correctly enter said relocation password;

an electronic latch included coupled to said relocation switch that is capable of being cleared in response to said electronic switch being de-coupled from said stationary support;

means, in response to said electronic latch being cleared, for prohibiting access to said docking station until said relocation password is correctly entered;

a battery power source coupled to said electronic latch for supplying power to said electronic latch;

means, in response to said electronic latch being disconnected from said battery power source, for clearing said electronic latch, wherein said battery power source is disconnected from said electronic latch when said relocation switch is de-coupled from said stationary support;

said security processor executing code for prohibiting access to said docking rotation devices until said security processor determines that said connection password was correctly entered; and

said security processor capable of receiving constant auxiliary power when said docking station is disabled; and

a portable computer capable of being connected to and disconnected from said docking station, said portable computer including;

means for prompting a user for said disconnection password in response to a disconnection of said portable computer from said docking station; and

means for disabling itself when said user fails to correctly enter said disconnection password proximate to said disconnection, wherein said portable computer is inoperable without a correct entry of said disconnection password.