Pre-boot authentication system

• US 7,797,729 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2005
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lee, Shyh-shin
• Primary Examiner(s): Homayounmehr, Farid
• Application Number:
  US11/220,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20060010317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,834 Days
• Field of Search: 713/182, 713/100, 713/2, 726/2
• US Class Current: 726/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/572 Secure firmware programming, e.g. of basic input output system [BIOS]

Abstract

The invention provides a method for providing enhancements to a BIOS system without using replacement hardware in a microprocessor-based device. The microprocessor-based device boots from a BIOS procedure and interrupts the BIOS procedure to read information from an information module inserted to a information module reader connected to the microprocessor-based device. The information read from the information module is used to selectively alter the BIOS procedure.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing a basic input output system (BIOS) of a computing device during a BIOS procedure, the computing device having an adaptive interface module, the adaptive interface module being capable of communicating with an information module, and the BIOS procedure having an interval with a start and a finish, the method comprising the steps of:

starting the BIOS procedure;

interrupting the BIOS procedure during the interval before the finish;

establishing communication with said information module through said adaptive interface module by exchanging a plurality of signals between said information module and said adaptive interface module;

determining by said adaptive interface module a data format, within which updated information stored in said information module is addressable and available, according to said plurality of signals;

retrieving said updated information from the information module according to said data format;

and modifying the BIOS procedure and updating system settings for an authorized user according to the updated information;

wherein the steps of establishing communication with said information module through said adaptive interface module by exchanging a plurality of signals between said information module and said adaptive interface module, and determining by said adaptive interface module a data format, within which updated information stored in said information module is addressable and available, according to said plurality of signals, further comprises the steps of;

sending a handshake prompt signal from said adaptive interface module to said information module;

if said handshake prompt signal is recognized by said information module, operating the steps of;

sending a corresponding handshake return signal from said information module to said adaptive interface;

establishing communication with said information module through said adaptive interface module; and

determining by said adaptive interface module a data format, within which updated information stored in said information module is addressable and available, according to said handshake prompt signal and said handshake return signal; and

if said handshake prompt signal is not recognized by said information module, sending a next handshake prompt signal from said adaptive interface module to said information module; and

wherein, the steps of sending a handshake prompt signal from said adaptive interface module to said information module and sending a corresponding handshake return signal from said information module to said adaptive interface further comprises the steps of;

sending said handshake prompt signal from said adaptive interface module to said information module through a corresponding one of a plurality of format library modules coupled to said information module and sending said corresponding handshake return signal from said information module to said adaptive interface through said corresponding format library module.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated information being capable of modifying the BIOS procedure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated information further comprising new subroutines for the BIOS.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated information being capable of modifying an operating system for the computing device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

commencing said BIOS procedure after the step of modifying the BIOS procedure and updating the system settings.

6. A system for enhancing a basic input output system (BIOS) of a computing device during a BIOS procedure, the BIOS procedure having an interval with a start and a finish, the system comprising:

a microprocessor-based device, the microprocessor-based device having an information module reader with an adaptive interface module, a BIOS, and an operating system; and

an information module capable of being inserted into the information module reader, wherein the microprocessor-based device being booted through the BIOS procedure, the microprocessor-based device also being capable of;

interrupting the BIOS procedure between start and finish;

establishing communication between said information module and said adaptive interface module by exchanging a plurality of signals between said information module and said adaptive interface module through said information module reader, determining by said adaptive interface module a data format, within which updated information stored in said information module is addressable and available, according to said plurality of signals,

retrieving said updated information from the information module through the information module reader according to said data format, and altering the BIOS procedure and updating system settings for an authorized user according to the retrieved information;

wherein the steps of establishing communication with said information module through said adaptive interface module by exchanging a plurality of signals between said information module and said adaptive interface module, and determining by said adaptive interface module a data format, within which updated information stored in said information module is addressable and available, according to said plurality of signals, further comprises the steps of;

sending a handshake prompt signal from said adaptive interface module to said information module;

if said handshake prompt signal is recognized by said information module, operating the steps of;

sending a corresponding handshake return signal from said information module to said adaptive interface;

establishing communication with said information module through said adaptive interface module; and

determining by said adaptive interface module a data format, within which updated information stored in said information module is addressable and available, according to said handshake prompt signal and said handshake return signal; and

if said handshake prompt signal is not recognized by said information module, sending a next handshake prompt signal from said adaptive interface module to said information module; and

wherein, the steps of sending a handshake prompt signal from said adaptive interface module to said information module and sending a corresponding handshake return signal from said information module to said adaptive interface further comprises the steps of;

sending said handshake prompt signal from said adaptive interface module to said information module through a corresponding one of a plurality of format library modules coupled to said information module and sending said corresponding handshake return signal from said information module to said adaptive interface through said corresponding format library module.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the retrieved information being subroutines for the BIOS.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the retrieved information being capable of modifying the operating system of the microprocessor-based device.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said microprocessor-based device is further capable of commencing said BIOS procedure after altering the BIOS procedure and updating the system settings.