Computer system identification

• US 7,743,412 B1
• Filed: 02/26/1999
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Parikh, Vishesh, Mi, James Q., Teng, Albert Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pyzocha; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): CALLAHAN, PAUL E
• Application Number:
  US09/259,620
• Time in Patent Office: 4,134 Days
• Field of Search: 713/168, 713/176, 713/200, 713/159, 713/171, 713/179, 380/283, 380/285, 705/67, 705/72, 726/9, 726/20, 726/30, 902/26
• US Class Current: 726/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/73 by creating or determining hardware identification, e.g. serial numbers

Abstract

A computer system includes an interface and a processor. The interface is adapted to receive a request from another computer system for identification of the first computer system. The adapter also furnishes a hash value that identifies the first computer system to the other computer system. The processor is coupled to the interface and is adapted to encrypt an identifier that identifies the first computer system with a key associated with the other computer system to provide the hash value.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, over a global computer network, an unsolicited request from a first computer system coupled to the global computer network for a second computer system coupled to the global computer network to provide an identification of the second computer system;

in response to the request, providing a visual interface on the second computer system to notify both a user of the second computer system of the request and prompt the user to allow or deny the request; and

in response to the user allowing the request providing a hash value to the first computer system, the hash value being generated by encryption of a key associated with a first computer system with an identifier that identifies the second computer system, and

based on a response of the user to the request, selectively communicating the key to a browser of the second computer system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier that identifies the second computer system comprises a processor number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the key indicates an address of a web site of the first computer system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computer system is located at a remote location relative to the second computer system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an error indication to the first computer system in response to the user denying the request.

6. An article comprising a storage medium readable by a first processor-based system, the storage medium storing instructions to cause a processor of the first processor-based system to:

receive an unsolicited request over a global computer network from a first computer system coupled to the global computer network for a second computer system to provide an identification of the second computer system;

in response to the request, provide a visual interface on the second computer system to notify both a user of the second computer system of the request and prompt the user to allow or deny the request; and

in response to the user allowing the request, provide a hash value to the first computer system, the hash value being generated by encryption of a key associated with the first computer system with an identifier that identifies the second computer system, and

based on a response of the user to the request, selectively communicating the key to a browser of the second computer system.

7. The article of claim 6, wherein the identifier that identifies the second computer system comprises a processor number.

8. The article of claim 6, wherein the key indicates an address of a web site of the first computer system.

9. The article of claim 6, wherein the first computer system is located at a remote location relative to the second computer system.

10. A system comprising:

a database; and

a first computer coupled to the database to;

receive an unsolicited request over a global computer network from a second computer coupled to the global computer network for the first computer to provide an identification of the first computer;

in response to the request, provide a visual interface on the first computer to notify both a user of the first computer of the request and prompt the user to allow or deny the request; and

in response to the user allowing the request, provide a hash value to the second computer, the hash value being generated by encryption of a key associated with the second computer with an identifier that identifies the first computer, and

based on a response of the user to the request, selectively communicating the key to a browser of the first computer.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the identifier that identifies the first computer comprises a processor number.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the key indicates an address of a web site of the second computer.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the second computer is located at a remote location relative to the first computer.