Password protected modular computer method and device

• US RE43,119 E1
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acqis LLC (Acqis Technology, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Acqis LLC (Acqis Technology, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chu, William W. Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): DADA, BEEMNET W
• Application Number:
  US12/577,074
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 713/164, 713/172, 713/189, 713/190, 713/193, 713/194, 711/164, 726/9, 726/18, 726/28, 726/34, 710/301
• US Class Current: 713/193
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss

Abstract

A method and device for securing a removable Attached Computer Module (“ACM”) 10. ACM 10 inserts into a Computer Module Bay (“CMB”) 40 within a peripheral console to form a functional computer such as a desktop computer or portable computer. The present ACM 10 includes a locking system, which includes hardware and software 600, 700, to prevent accidental removal or theft of the ACM from the peripheral console. While ACM is in transit, further security is necessary against illegal or unauthorized use. If ACM contains confidential data, a high security method is needed to safeguard against theft.

Claims

1. A computer module, said module system comprising:

a console comprising

a first low voltage differential signal (“

LVDS”

) channel comprising two sets of unidirectional, serial bit channels to transmit data in opposite directions; and

an interface controller coupled to said first LVDS channel; and

a computer module comprising

an enclosure, said enclosure being insertable into a said console;

a central processing unit in said enclosure, said central processing unit comprising a microprocessor based integrated circuit chip;

an integrated interface controller and bridge unit to communicate encoded address and data of Peripheral Component Interconnect (“

PCI”

) bus transaction, said integrated interface controller and bridge unit directly coupled to said central processing unit without any intervening PCI bus;

a second LVDS channel extending directly from said integrated interface controller and bridge unit to convey said encoded address and data of PCI bus transaction, said second LVDS channel comprising two sets of unidirectional, multiple serial bit channels to transmit data in opposite directions;

a hard disk drive in said enclosure, said hard disk drive being coupled to said central processing unit; and

a programmable memory device in said enclosure, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for preventing a possibility of unauthorized use of said hard disk drive.

2. The computer module of claim 1 further comprising a host interface controller for providing a status of a locking device in said enclosure.

3. The computer module of claim 1 further comprising a mechanical locking device that is coupled to said programmable memory device.

4. The computer module of claim 1 further comprising a host interface controller coupled to a mechanical locking device, said host interface controller being coupled to said programmable memory device.

5. The computer module system of claim 1 wherein said programmable memory device comprises a flash memory device.

6. The computer module of claim 1 wherein said programmable memory device comprises a flash memory device having at least 8 Mbits of cells and greater.

7. The computer module of claim 1 further comprising a security program in a main memory.

8. The computer module of claim 7 wherein said security program comprises a code for storing a password on said programmable memory device.

9. The computer module of claim 8 wherein said security program comprises a code for checking a time from said real-time clock circuit.

10. The computer module of claim 1 further comprising a host interface controller coupled to a solenoid that drives a mechanical lock in a first position to a second position.

11. The computer module of claim 10 wherein said solenoid also drives said mechanical lock from said second position to said first position.

12. The computer module of claim 1 further comprising a real-time clock circuit coupled to said central processing unit.

13. The computer module of claim 12 further comprising a battery coupled to a host interface controller that includes said real-time clock.

47. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said integrated interface controller and bridge unit is configured to output said encoded address and data of PCI bus transaction as 10-bit packets.

48. The computer system of claim 47 wherein said hard disk drive is coupled to said central processing unit through said integrated interface controller and bridge unit.

14. A method for operating a computer system, said method comprising:

inserting an attached computer module (“

ACM”

) into a bay of a console of a modular computer system, said console comprising a first low voltage differential signal (“

LVDS”

) channel comprising two sets of unidirectional, multiple serial bit channels to transmit encoded address and data of Peripheral Component Interconnect (“

PCI”

) bus transaction in opposite directions, said ACM comprising

a microprocessor unit coupled to a mass memory storage device including a plurality of application software program files;

an integrated interface controller and bridge unit directly coupled to said microprocessor unit without any intervening PCI bus; and

a second LVDS channel extending directly from said integrated interface controller and bridge unit, said second LVDS channel comprising at least two unidirectional, serial bit channels to transmit data in opposite directions;

applying power to said computer system and said ACM to execute a security program, said security program being stored in said mass memory storage device; and

prompting for a user password from a user on a display.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said ACM comprises an enclosure that houses said microprocessor unit and said mass memory storage device.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising providing a user password to said security program.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising wherein said mass memory storage device comprises a flash memory devicefor storing a desired password for said ACM.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said flash memory device maintains said desired password when power is removed from said ACM.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said flash memory device is coupled to a host interface controller that is coupled to said microprocessor based unit.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein said mass memory storage device comprises a code directed to comparing said user password with a desired password.

21. The method of claim 14 further comprising identifying a permanent password or user code on said attached computer module.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said permanent password or user code is stored in said microprocessor unit.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said permanent password or user code is stored in a flash memory device coupled to said microprocessor unit.

24. A computer system comprising:

a console comprising a LAN communication device and a first low voltage differential signal (“

LVDS”

) channel comprising two sets of unidirectional, multiple serial bit channels to transmit encoded address and data of Peripheral Component Interconnect (“

PCI”

) bus transaction in opposite directions;

a computer module comprising an enclosure insertable into said console to form a functional computer;

a central processing unit in said enclosure, said central processing unit comprising a microprocessor based integrated circuit chip;

a hard disk drive in said enclosure, said hard disk drive being coupled to said central processing unit;

a programmable memory device in said enclosure, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for preventing a possibility of unauthorized use of said hard disk drive;

an integrated interface controller and bridge unit in said enclosure, said integrated interface controller and bridge unit directly coupled to said central processing unit without any intervening PCI bus; and

a second LVDS channel extending directly from said integrated interface controller and bridge unit, said second LVDS channel comprising at least two unidirectional, serial bit channels to transmit data in opposite directions;

wherein said integrated interface controller and bridge unit is configured to communicate to said console through said second LVDS channel and an interface connector.

25. The computer system of claim 24 further comprising a graphics accelerator in said enclosure.

26. The computer system of claim 24 wherein said first LVDS channel is configured to transmit said encoded address and data of PCI bus transaction in 10-bit packets.

49. The computer system of claim 26 wherein said integrated interface controller and bridge unit is configured to output a serial bit stream that is conveyed over said second LVDS channel as data packets.

50. The computer system of claim 49 wherein said serial bit stream comprises information of Universal Serial Bus protocol.

51. The computer system of claim 49 wherein said hard disk drive is coupled to said central processing unit through said integrated interface controller and bridge unit.

27. A method for operating a computer system, said method comprising:

inserting an attached computer module (“

ACM”

) into a bay of a modular computer system housed in a console, said console comprising a LAN communication device and a first low voltage differential signal (“

LVDS”

) channel comprising two sets of unidirectional, multiple serial bit channels to transmit encoded address and data of Peripheral Component Interconnect (“

PCI”

) bus transaction in opposite directions, said ACM comprising

a graphics subsystem;

a microprocessor unit coupled to a mass memory storage device;

a peripheral bridge coupled to said microprocessor unit without any intervening PCI bus; and

a second LVDS channel extending directly from said peripheral bridge, said second LVDS channel comprising at least two unidirectional, serial bit channels to transmit data in opposite directions;

applying power to said computer system and said ACM to execute a security program, said security program being stored in said mass memory storage device; and

prompting for a user password from a user on a display.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising transmitting said encoded address and data of PCI bus transaction in 10-bit packets through said first LVDS channel.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein said mass memory storage device comprises a flash memory device.

30. The method of claim 27 further comprising executing said security program to prevent unauthorized use of said mass memory storage device based on said user password.

31. The method of claim 27 further comprising executing said security program to manage an access privilege to data based on said user password.

32. A method for operating a computer system, said method comprising:

inserting an attached computer module (“

ACM”

) into a bay of a modular computer system housed in a console, said console comprising an add-on card slot and a first low voltage differential signal (“

LVDS”

) channel comprising two sets of unidirectional, multiple serial bit channels to transmit encoded address and data of Peripheral Component Interconnect (“

PCI”

) bus transaction in opposite directions, said ACM comprising

a microprocessor unit coupled to a mass memory storage device comprising a plurality of application software program files;

an enclosure;

an integrated interface controller and bridge unit directly coupled to said microprocessor unit without any intervening PCI bus; and

a second LVDS channel extending directly from said integrated interface controller and bridge unit, said second LVDS channel comprising at least two unidirectional, serial bit channels to transmit data in opposite directions;

applying power to said computer system and said ACM to execute a security program, said security program being stored in said mass memory storage device; and

prompting for a user password from a user on a display,

wherein data in said mass memory storage device is accessed by said microprocessor unit through said integrated interface controller and bridge unit.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising transmitting said encoded address and data of PCI bus transaction in 10-bit packets through said first LVDS channel.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein said mass memory storage device comprises a flash memory.

35. A method for operating a computer system, said method comprising:

inserting an attached computer module (“

ACM”

) into a bay of a console of a modular computer system, said console comprising a LAN communication device, a removable storage media subsystem, and a first low voltage differential signal (“

LVDS”

) channel comprising two unidirectional, serial channels to transmit encoded address and data of Peripheral Component Interconnect (“

PCI”

) bus transaction in 10-bit packets, said ACM comprising

a microprocessor unit coupled to a mass memory storage device;

a peripheral bridge directly coupled to said microprocessor unit without any intervening PCI bus; and

a second LVDS channel extending directly from said peripheral bridge, said second LVDS channel comprising two unidirectional, serial bit channels to transmit data in opposite directions;

applying power to said computer system and said ACM to execute a security program, said security program being stored in said mass memory storage device; and

prompting for a user password from a user on a display.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said mass memory storage device comprises a flash memory.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein said mass memory storage device comprises a hard disk drive.

38. A method for operating a computer system, said method comprising:

inserting an attached computer module (“

ACM”

) into a bay of a console of a modular computer system, said console comprising a LAN communication device and a first low voltage differential signal (“

LVDS”

) channel comprising two sets of unidirectional, multiple serial bit channels to transmit encoded Peripheral Component Interconnect (“

PCI”

) bus transaction address and data in opposite directions, said ACM comprising

a microprocessor unit coupled to a mass memory storage device;

a peripheral bridge directly coupled to said microprocessor unit without any intervening PCI bus; and

a second LVDS channel extending directly from said peripheral bridge, said second LVDS channel comprising two sets of unidirectional, serial bit channels to transmit data in opposite directions;

applying power to said computer system and said ACM to execute a security program, said security program being stored in said mass memory storage device; and

prompting for a user password from a user on a display.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein said mass memory storage device comprises a flash memory.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein said mass memory storage device comprises a hard disk drive.

41. A computer module, said module comprising:

an enclosure, said enclosure being insertable into a console of a modular computer system, said console comprising a first low voltage differential signal (“

LVDS”

) channel comprising two sets of unidirectional, multiple serial bit channels to transmit data in opposite directions;

a central processing unit in said enclosure, said central processing unit comprising a microprocessor based integrated circuit chip;

a peripheral bridge to communicate address and data of Peripheral Component Interconnect (“

PCI”

) bus transaction in an encoded, serial form, said peripheral bridge directly coupled to said central processing unit without any intervening PCI bus;

a hard disk drive in said enclosure, said hard disk drive being coupled to said central processing unit;

a second LVDS channel extending directly from said peripheral bridge to convey said address and data of PCI bus transaction in said encoded, serial form, said second LVDS channel comprising two sets of unidirectional, multiple serial bit channels to transmit data in opposite directions; and

a programmable memory device in said enclosure, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for preventing a possibility of unauthorized use of said hard disk drive.

42. The computer module of claim 41 wherein said second LVDS channel is configured to transmit data in 10-bit packets.

43. The computer module of claim 41 wherein said first LVDS channel couples to said second LVDS channel upon insertion of said computer module into said console.

52. The computer module of claim 42 wherein said peripheral bridge is configured to output an encoded serial bit stream comprising said address and data of PCI bus transaction.

53. The computer module of claim 52 wherein said encoded serial bit stream comprises information to permit decoding to create a PCI bus transaction.

54. The computer module of claim 53 wherein said hard disk drive is coupled to said central processing unit through said peripheral bridge.

55. The computer module of claim 54 wherein said peripheral bridge comprises a north bridge.

56. The computer module of claim 42 wherein said peripheral bridge comprises an interface controller to output said address and data of PCI bus transaction in said encoded, serial form, and said second LVDS channel extends directly from said interface controller.

57. The computer module of claim 56 wherein said interface controller is integrated with the peripheral bridge to form a single integrated unit.

58. The computer module of claim 57 wherein said interface controller is directly coupled to said central processing unit without any intervening PCI bus.

44. A computer module, said module comprising:

an enclosure, said enclosure being insertable into a console of a modular computer system, said console comprising a first low voltage differential signal (“

LVDS”

) channel comprising two sets of unidirectional, serial bit channels to transmit data in opposite directions;

a central processing unit in said enclosure, said central processing unit comprising a microprocessor based integrated circuit chip;

an integrated interface controller and bridge unit coupled to said central processing unit without any intervening Peripheral Component Interconnect (“

PCI”

) bus;

a hard disk drive in said enclosure, said hard disk drive being coupled to said central processing unit;

a second LVDS channel extending directly from said integrated interface controller and bridge unit, said second LVDS channel comprising two sets of unidirectional, serial bit channels to transmit data in opposite directions; and

a programmable memory device in said enclosure, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for preventing a possibility of unauthorized use of said hard disk drive,

wherein said first LVDS channel couples to said second LVDS channel upon insertion of said computer module into said console.

45. The computer module of claim 44 wherein said console further comprises a power supply to supply power to said computer module upon insertion.

46. The computer module of claim 44 wherein said second LVDS channel is configured to transmit encoded address and data of PCI bus transaction in 10-bit packets.

59. The computer module of claim 44 wherein said integrated interface controller and bridge unit is configured to output an encoded serial bit stream that is conveyed over said second LVDS channel.

60. The computer module of claim 59 wherein said encoded serial bit stream is conveyed over said second LVDS channel as 10-bit packets.

61. The computer module of claim 59 wherein said hard disk drive is coupled to said central processing unit through said integrated interface controller and bridge unit.

62. The computer module of claim 59 wherein said encoded serial bit stream comprises information of Universal Serial Bus protocol.