Electronic system and method for controlling access through user authentication

• US 6,633,981 B1
• Filed: 06/18/1999
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Davis, Derek L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peeso, Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US09/336,009
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 713/155, 713/156, 713/159, 713/161, 713/168, 713/172, 713/182, 713/185, 713/200, 713/201, 713/189
• US Class Current: 713/189
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/57 Certifying or maintaining trusted computer platforms, e.g. secure boots or power-downs, version controls, system software checks, secure updates or assessing vulnerabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2103 Challenge-response
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect

Abstract

A Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) device is designed to control access to a portion of BIOS code loaded in its internal memory. For example, during a boot process, an internal state machine permits access to the portion of the BIOS code in response to authentication of a portable token in communication with the BIOS device. Otherwise, the BIOS device precludes access to the portion of the BIOS code until the portable token is authenticated.

Claims