System and method for authorizing use of a connection device coupled to a processing system

• US 20050198399A1
• Filed: 03/02/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Stancil, Charles J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,584,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/249
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles

Abstract

Embodiments of a device authorization system authorize a connection device to be communicatively coupled to a processing system. One embodiment comprises a communication system interface configured to receive authorization from a network administrator device for a processing system to communicatively couple to a connection device; a card detector to detect the presence of the connection device when coupled to the processing system; and a card power switch configured to receive an authorization signal when the processing system is authorized to communicatively couple to the connection device, and configured to supply power to the connection device only when the authorization signal is present and when the card detector detects the presence of the connection device.

Claims

1. A system that authorizes connection devices, the system comprising:

a communication system interface configured to receive authorization from a network administrator device for a processing system to communicatively couple to a connection device;

a card detector configured to detect the presence of the connection device when coupled to the processing system; and

a card power switch configured to receive an authorization signal when the processing system is authorized to communicatively couple to the connection device, and configured to supply power to the connection device only when the authorization signal is present and when the card detector detects the presence of the connection device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an input/output (I/O) connection configured to couple to the connection device such that communications can be received via the connection device from another communication system or a peripheral device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the I/O connection comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the I/O connection comprises a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Express connection.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the I/O connection comprises an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) connection.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a connection to the card detector such that the card detector communicates the authorization signal to the card power switch.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a connection to the card power switch from a communication bus such that the authorization signal is received by the card power switch.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a memory configured to store the authorization from the network administrator device; and

a processor configured to retrieve the authorization from the memory and further configured to cause the authorization signal to be communicated to the card power switch.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a single receptacle residing on the processing system, wherein the connection device and a second type of connection device are configured to couple to the processing system using the single receptacle.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the card power switch provides a first power that is unique to power requirements of the connection device and a second power that is unique to power requirements of the second type of connection device

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a signal generator configured to generate the authorization signal;

a logical OR gate comprising;

a first input coupled to the signal generator;

a second input coupled to a connector configured to detect the presence of the connection device when coupled to the processing system; and

an output coupled to the card power switch such that the authorization signal is generated by the output of the logical OR gate only when the connection device is authorized to be communicatively coupled to the processing system and when presence of the connection device is detected.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a violation detector configured to detect presence of the connection device and further configured to communicate a violation signal to the network administrator device when the connection device is not authorized to be communicatively coupled to the processing system.

13. A method for authorizing connection devices, the method comprising:

detecting presence of a connection device when coupled to a processing system;

determining if the connection device is authorized to be communicatively coupled to the processing system;

providing power to the connection device when the connection device is authorized to be communicatively coupled to the processing system; and

not providing sufficient power to the connection device when the connection device is not authorized to be communicatively coupled to the processing system.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving an authorization from a remote network administrator device via a communication system coupling the remote network administrator device and the processing system.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

generating an authorization signal when the connection device is authorized to be communicatively coupled to the processing system; and

communicating the authorization signal to a card power switch such that the card power switch provides power to the connection device when the connection device is authorized to be communicatively coupled to the processing system.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein providing power comprises providing power that is unique to power requirements of the connection device.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

detecting presence of a second type of connection device when coupled to the processing system;

determining if the second type of connection device is authorized to be communicatively coupled to the processing system;

providing power to the second type of connection device if the connection device is authorized to be communicatively coupled to the processing system; and

not providing power to the second type of connection device if the connection device is not authorized to be communicatively coupled to the processing system.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein providing power to the second type of connection device comprises providing power that is unique to power requirements of the second type of connection device.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the connection device and the second type of connection device are configured to couple to the processing system using a single receptacle residing on the processing system.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining that the connection device is not authorized to be communicatively coupled to the processing system;

generating a violation signal in response to determining that the connection device is not authorized; and

communicating the violation signal to a remote network administrator device via a communication system coupling the remote network administrator device and the processing system.

21. A system for authorizing connection devices, the system comprising:

means for detecting presence of a connection device when coupled to a processing system;

means for determining if the connection device is authorized to be communicatively coupled to the processing system;

means for actuating a card power switch such that the connection device is provided power when the connection device is authorized to be communicatively coupled to the processing system; and

means for not actuating the card power switch such that the connection device is not provided power when the connection device is not authorized to be communicatively coupled to the processing system.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising means for receiving an authorization from a remote network administrator device via a communication system coupling the remote network administrator device and the processing system.

23. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for generating an authorization signal when the connection device is authorized to be communicatively coupled to the processing system; and

means for communicating the authorization signal to the card power switch such that the card power switch provides power to the connection device when the connection device is authorized to be communicatively coupled to the processing system.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for providing power comprise means for providing power that is unique to power requirements of the connection device.

25. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for detecting presence of a second type of connection device when coupled to the processing system;

means for determining if the second type of connection device is authorized to be communicatively coupled to the processing system;

means for providing power to the second type of connection device if the connection device is authorized to be communicatively coupled to the processing system; and

means for not providing power to the second type of connection device if the connection device is not authorized to be communicatively coupled to the processing system.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for providing power to the second type of connection device comprise means for providing power that is unique to power requirements of the second type of connection device.

27. The system of claim 21, further comprising means for coupling the connection device and the second type of connection device to the processing system using the same means for coupling residing on the processing system.

28. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for determining that the connection device is not authorized to be communicatively coupled to the processing system;

means for generating a violation signal in response to determining that the connection device is not authorized; and

means for communicating the violation signal to a remote network administrator device via a communication system coupling the remote network administrator device and the processing system.