US5448045A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for protecting computers via intelligent tokens or smart cards
Assignee: F Poszat HU LLC
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Filing: 1993-02-26
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Granted: 1995-09-05
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Expires: 2013-02-26
Abstract
Abstract The possibility of corruption of critical information required in the operation of a computer is reduced by storing the critical information in a device; communicating authorization information between the device and the computer; and causing the device, in response to the authorization information, to enable the computer to read the critical information stored in the device. The device includes a housing, a memory within the housing containing information needed for startup of the host computer, and a communication channel for allowing the memory to be accessed externally of the housing. The device is initialized by storing the critical information in memory on the device, storing authorization information in memory on the device, and configuring a microprocessor in the device to release the critical information to the computer only after completing an authorization routine based on the authorization information.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul C. Clark
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:55
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/50; G06F21/57; G06F21/575; G06F21/55; G06F21/56; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2153
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for reducing the possibility of corruption of critical information required in the operation of a computer comprising: storing the critical information in a device, communicating authorization information between the device and the computer, and in the course of booting the computer, executing modified boot code that causes the device, in response to the authorization information, to allow the computer access to the critical information stored in the device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for reducing the possibility of corruption of critical information required in the operation of a computer comprising: storing the critical information in a device, communicating authorization information between the device and the computer, and in the course of booting the computer, executing modified boot code that causes the device, in response to the authorization information, to allow the computer access to the critical information stored in the device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of communicating authorization information and enabling the computer to read comprise a user entering a password, and the device verifying the password.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the authorization information comprises biometric information about a user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising storing a password in the device, in the device, comparing the stored password with an externally supplied password, and basing a determination of whether to enable the computer to read the stored critical information on the results of the step of comparing the passwords.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the device comprises a microprocessor and a memory.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the device comprises a pocket-sized card containing the microprocessor and the memory.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said critical information comprises boot-sector information used in starting the computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said critical information comprises executable code.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said critical information comprises system data or user data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the computer booting itself from the critical information read from the device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the modified boot code in the form of a BIOS extension.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of communicating authorization information and enabling the computer to read, comprise the device passing to the computer, secret information shared with the computer, and the computer validating the shared secret information passed from the device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the shared secret information comprises a host access code.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the authorization information comprises file signatures for executable code.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the authorization information comprises a user's cryptographic key.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the stored critical information includes file integrity information.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of booting a computer, comprising storing, in a device which is separate from the computer, boot information, user authorization information, and device authorization information in the form of a secret shared with the computer, providing a communication link between the device and the computer, receiving possibly valid authorization information from a user, in the device, checking the possibly valid authorization information against the stored user authorization information to determine validity, if the password is determined to be valid, passing the boot information and the shared secret information from the device to the computer, in the computer, checking the validity of the shared secret information, and in the course of booting the computer, executing modified boot code that causes, if the shared secret information is valid, the boot information to be used in booting the computer.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of booting a computer, comprising storing, in a device which is separate from the computer, boot information, user authorization information, and device authorization information in the form of a secret shared with the computer, providing a communication link between the device and the computer, receiving possibly valid authorization information from a user, in the device, checking the possibly valid authorization information against the stored user authorization information to determine validity, if the password is determined to be valid, passing the boot information and the shared secret information from the device to the computer, in the computer, checking the validity of the shared secret information, and in the course of booting the computer, executing modified boot code that causes, if the shared secret information is valid, the boot information to be used in booting the computer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-09-04 | 1999-03-06 | 1999-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-04 | 2003-03-06 | 2003-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-04 | 2007-03-06 | 2007-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |