System and method for managing access to functions supported by a multi-function port
First Claim
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1. A method for managing access to a plurality of different functions supported by a multi-function port of a processor-based device, the method comprising:
- according to configuration information stored in the processor-based device, selecting on a per user basis to limit access to at least one function of the plurality of different functions supported by the multi-function port, wherein the multi-function port is configured to connect to any one of a plurality of different external devices, and wherein the processor-based device is responsive to requests to initiate performance of corresponding ones of the plurality of different functions;
detecting an attempt by a specific user to access the at least one function via the multi-function port;
determining whether the specific user is authorized to access the at least one function, wherein determining whether the specific user is authorized to access the at least one function comprises determining whether the at least one function is disabled for the specific user, and wherein determining whether the at least one function is disabled for the specific user comprises accessing a registry key for a class driver associated with the at least one function; and
enabling access by the specific user to the at least one function supported by the multi-function port if said user is authorized.
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Abstract
According to at least one embodiment, a system comprises an interface means for supporting a plurality of functional accesses; and means for selectively limiting on a per user basis access to certain ones of said plurality of functional accesses via the interface means.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for managing access to a plurality of different functions supported by a multi-function port of a processor-based device, the method comprising:
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according to configuration information stored in the processor-based device, selecting on a per user basis to limit access to at least one function of the plurality of different functions supported by the multi-function port, wherein the multi-function port is configured to connect to any one of a plurality of different external devices, and wherein the processor-based device is responsive to requests to initiate performance of corresponding ones of the plurality of different functions; detecting an attempt by a specific user to access the at least one function via the multi-function port; determining whether the specific user is authorized to access the at least one function, wherein determining whether the specific user is authorized to access the at least one function comprises determining whether the at least one function is disabled for the specific user, and wherein determining whether the at least one function is disabled for the specific user comprises accessing a registry key for a class driver associated with the at least one function; and enabling access by the specific user to the at least one function supported by the multi-function port if said user is authorized. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for managing access to a plurality of functions in a processor-based device supported by a multi-function port of the processor-based device, the method comprising:
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selecting to limit access to at least one function of the plurality of functions supported by the multi-function port that is connectable to any one of a plurality of different external devices; storing the selection as a configuration that an operating system (OS) in the processor-based device uses to verify access to the at least one function; detecting, by the processor-based device, an attempt to access the at least one function via the multi-function port; determining, by the processor-based device, whether said access to the at least one function is authorized by reading the stored configuration, wherein determining whether said access to the at least one function is authorized comprises determining whether the at least one function is disabled for a specific user, and wherein determining whether the at least one function is disabled for said user comprises accessing a registry key for a class driver associated with the at least one function; enabling, by the processor-based device, access to the at least one function supported by the multi-function port if said access is authorized; enabling unrestricted access to a second one of the plurality of functions, wherein the second function is different from the at least one function; and in response to a request for the second function, allowing unrestricted access to the second function by the processor-based device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for managing access to a plurality of functions supported by a multi-function port, the system comprising:
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a processor; at least one multi-function port operable to support the plurality of functions, wherein the at least one multi-function port is connectable to any one of a plurality of different external devices; a data storage device to store information that defines for a specific user of a plurality of users whether access for the specific user to at least one function of the plurality of functions is authorized, the information to further indicate that access to a second, different one of the plurality of functions is unrestricted; process executable on the processor to determine, upon a requested access from the specific user for the at least one function via the multi-function port, whether said requested access is authorized based at least in part on said stored information, wherein the process is to determine whether the specific user is authorized to access the at least one function by determining whether the at least one function is disabled for the specific user, and wherein the at least one function is determined to be disabled for the specific user by accessing a registry key for a class driver associated with the at least one function, and the process executable to further determine, in response to a request from the specific user for the second function, to allow unrestricted access to the second function. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A processor-based device comprising:
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a processor; at least one Universal Serial Bus (USB) port operable to support a plurality of functions, where access by a specific user to at least one function of the plurality of functions is limited, and access to a second, different one of the plurality of functions is unrestricted; a registry key; and process executable on the processor to determine, upon a requested access from the specific user for the at least one function via the at least one USB port, whether the requested access is authorized, wherein the process is executable to further allow unrestricted access to the second function in response to a request for the second function, wherein the process is to determine whether the requested access is authorized by determining whether the at least one function is disabled for the specific user, and the process is to determine whether the at least one function is disabled by accessing the registry key for a class driver associated with the at least one function. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification