Password processing system for computer

• US 5,485,622 A
• Filed: 09/25/1992
• Issued: 01/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamaki, Masayo
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Jack B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz R.
• Application Number:
  US07/950,589
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 395/725, 395/800, 380/4, 380/23, 380/24, 380/25, 380/21
• US Class Current: 726/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication

Abstract

A CPU determines whether a password canceller is connected to a system main body prior to execution of password check processing on the basis of stored password information at the start of the system. When the password canceller is connected to the system main body, the CPU clears the stored password information to start the system. However, when the password canceller is not connected to system main body, the CPU executes password check processing and controls the start of the system.

Claims

1. A password processing system for a computer, comprising:

first storing means for storing a password necessary for the operation of the system;

querying means to query a user for a response to a password challenge;

second storing means coupled to said first storing means for storing a first program by which whether or not a computer can be started in accordance with a concurrence between the stored password and the response from the user;

third storing means for storing a second program by which the stored password can be discarded or ignored;

first program executing means coupled to said first storing means and said second storing means for executing the first program stored in said second storing means based on the password stored in said first storing means;

connecting means for removably connecting a password bypass device to the password processing system;

providing means, coupled to said third storing means, for providing a password canceling data in response to a connection of the password bypass device by said connecting means; and

second program executing means for executing the second program stored in said third storing means, so as to discard or ignore the password stored in said first storing means when the password cancelling data is provided by said providing means, thereby allowing the computer to start regardless of the password; and

wherein said first and second executing means are coupled to said computer.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the computer includes:

a system bus coupled to said second program executing means; and

a connector, having a given number of connection pins, for connecting an external device of the computer to said system bus.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said connector includes a parallel port of the computer.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein said connector includes a serial port of the computer.

5. A system according to claim 2, wherein said providing means is formed of said external device which can be optionally connected to said second program executing means, via said connector and said system bus.

6. A system according to claim 2, wherein said second program executing means includes:

means for supplying a first data to a part of the connection pins of said connector;

means for receiving a second data from another part of the connection pins of said connector;

means for comparing the first data with the second data so as to detect whether or not the former corresponds to the latter; and

means for discarding or ignoring the password when said comparing means detects that the first data corresponds to the second data.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said second program executing means further includes:

register means for independently storing the first data and the second data,

wherein the first data stored in said register means is compared by said comparing means with the second data stored in said register means which is obtained when said external device is connected to said connector.

8. A system according to claim 6, wherein said connector is formed of a parallel port connector having data pins for handling n-bit data where n is a natural number, and control pins for handling data for controlling an operation of an external device which can be connected to said system bus via said connector.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said providing means includes a password canceller which can be optionally connected to said second program executing means via said parallel port connector, wherein said password canceller comprises:

means for electrically connecting the data pins to the control pins of said parallel port connector.

10. A computer system in which start of said computer system is controlled on the basis of password information, comprising:

means for inputting password information for the operation of said computer system;

means for storing the password information input by said inputting means;

means for querying a user for a password;

means for detecting whether a bypass device is connected to the computer upon a system power-on operation;

means for comparing the stored password and a response from the user when queried for a password;

means for preventing the starting of the computer system if the stored password does not match the response from a user when queried for a password; and

means for starting the computer system regardless of password information stored in said storing means when a result of detection by said detecting means represents that said bypass device is connected to said computer system.

11. A computer system for executing programs containing an initialization routine, a password check routine, and a password clear routine, comprising:

means for storing a password in said system;

means for querying a user for a password;

means for executing the initialization routine after a power-on of the computer system;

means for checking whether or not the password supplied by the user in response to the query is the same as that stored in said storing means, after the initialization routine is executed by said executing means;

means for detecting if an external device having a predetermined electrical configuration is connected to the computer system;

means for executing the password clear routine if said detecting means detects that the external device is connected to the computer system thereby starting an operation of the computer system;

means for executing the password check routine if said detecting means detects that the external device is not connected to the computer system, thereby preventing the start of the computer system unless information corresponding to the password stored in said storing means is input to the computer system in response to said query of the user.

12. A computer system for executing programs containing an initialization routine, a password check routine, and a password clear routine, comprising:

means for storing a password;

means for querying a user for a password;

means for executing the initialization routine after a power-on of the computer system;

means for checking whether or not the password supplied by the user in response to said query is stored in said storing means, after the initialization routine is executed by said executing means;

means for detecting if an external device having a predetermined electrical configuration is connected to the computer system;

means for providing a first specific data to the external device if said detecting means detects that the external device is connected to the computer system;

means for fetching from the external device a second specific data corresponding to the first specific data, a correspondence between the first and second specific data being determined by the predetermined electrical configuration of the external device;

means for checking the correspondence between the first and second specific data;

first determining means for determining that the external device connected to the computer system is valid if the first specific data corresponds to the second specific data;

second determining means for determining that the external device connected to the computer system is invalid if the first specific data does not correspond to the second specific data;

means for executing the password clear routine if said first determining means determine that the external device connected to the computer system is valid;

means for executing the password check routine if said second determining means determines that the external device connected to the computer system is invalid, thereby preventing the start of the computer system unless information corresponding to the password stored in said storing means is input to the computer system.

13. A method of executing programs in a computer containing an initialization routine, a password check routine, and a password clear routine, comprising:

storing a password in a memory;

executing the initialization routine after a power-on of the computer system;

querying a user for a password;

checking whether or not the password supplied in response to the query of the user is the same as what is stored in the memory after the initialization routine is executed;

detecting if an external device having a predetermined electrical configuration is connected to the computer system;

executing a password clear routine if the external device is connected to the computer system, thereby starting an operation of the computer system;

executing a password check routine if the external device is not connected to the computer system, thereby preventing the start of the computer system unless information corresponding to the stored password is input to the computer system.

14. A method for executing programs containing an initialization routine, a password check routine, and a password clear routine, comprising:

storing a password in a memory;

executing the initialization routine after a power-on of the computer system;

querying a user for a password;

checking whether or not the password supplied by the user in response to said query is the same as the password stored after the initialization routine is executed;

detecting if an external device having a predetermined electrical configuration is connected to the computer system;

providing a first specific data to the external device if the external device is connected to the computer system;

fetching from the external device a second specific data corresponding to the first specific data, a correspondence between the first and second specific data being determined by the predetermined electrical configuration of the external device;

checking the correspondence between the first and second specific data;

determining that the external device connected to the computer system is valid if the first specific data corresponds to the second specific data;

determining that the external device connected to the computer system is invalid if the first specific data does not correspond to the second specific data;

executing the password clear routine if it is determined that the external device connected to the computer system is valid;

executing the password check routine if it is determined that the external device connected to the computer system is invalid, thereby preventing the start of the computer system unless information corresponding to the stored password is input to the computer system.

15. A computer system, comprising:

a data input device inputting password data;

a memory storing the password data input from the data input device;

means to query a user for a password coupled to said data input device;

a connector removably connecting an external device to the computer system;

a password bypass device removably connected to the connector;

means for preventing the computer system from operating unless the response to the query from the data input device after the computer system is powered on, corresponds to password data previously stored in the memory;

means for detecting whether the password bypass device is connected to the connector when the computer system is powered on; and

means for permitting the operation of the computer system without the input of the output data when the detecting means detects the password bypass device is connected to the connector.

16. A computer system according to claim 15, wherein the connector has a parallel port.

17. A computer system according to claim 15, wherein the connector has a serial port.

18. A computer system according to claim 15, wherein the connector has a mouse port.

19. A computer system according to claim 15, wherein the connector has a joystick port.

20. A computer system according to claim 15, further comprising means for erasing password data stored in the memory when the detecting means detects the password bypass device is connected to the connector.

21. A computer system, comprising:

a keyboard inputting a password data;

a non-volatile memory storing the password data input from the keyboard;

means for querying a user for a password;

an external connector removably connecting an external device to the computer system;

means for preventing the computer system from operating unless the password data stored in the non-volatile memory corresponds to the response to the password query input from the keyboard after the computer system is powered on when the password data is stored in the non-volatile memory;

a cancel device removably connected to the external connector, a kind of the cancel device being different from a kind of the external device;

means for detecting whether the cancel device is connected to the external connector when the computer system is powered on; and

means for invalidating the password data stored in the non-volatile memory so that the computer system operates without the correspondence of the password data with the input data when the detecting means detects the cancel device is connected to the external connector.

22. A computer system according to claim 21, wherein the connector has a parallel port.

23. A computer system according to claim 21, wherein the connector has a serial port.

24. A computer system according to claim 21, wherein the connector has a mouse port.

25. A computer system according to claim 21, wherein the connector has a joystick port.

26. A computer system according to claim 21, further comprising means for erasing the password data when the detecting means detects the cancel device is connected to the external connector.