US5751950A — Secure power supply for protecting the shutdown o…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 169 words

A computer system protected against an unauthorized shutdown by a user, said computer system comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to said processor; a keyboard coupled to said processor for receiving data input from the user; a display coupled to said processor for providing visual feedback to the user; a data storage drive coupled to said processor for storing data; a power supply for supplying power to the computer system; a non-volatile memory to store a shutdown key for authorizing a shutdown of said power supply; a power supply shutdown circuit coupled to said power supply and said non-volatile memory, said power supply shutdown circuit including: a switch adapted to receive a power supply shutdown input from the user; an input device for receiving a password from a user upon receipt of said power supply shutdown input from the user; a comparator for comparing said password with said shutdown key; and a circuit for shutting down said power supply if said comparator indicates that said key matches said password.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 169 words

A computer system protected against an unauthorized shutdown by a user, said computer system comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to said processor; a keyboard coupled to said processor for receiving data input from the user; a display coupled to said processor for providing visual feedback to the user; a data storage drive coupled to said processor for storing data; a power supply for supplying power to the computer system; a non-volatile memory to store a shutdown key for authorizing a shutdown of said power supply; a power supply shutdown circuit coupled to said power supply and said non-volatile memory, said power supply shutdown circuit including: a switch adapted to receive a power supply shutdown input from the user; an input device for receiving a password from a user upon receipt of said power supply shutdown input from the user; a comparator for comparing said password with said shutdown key; and a circuit for shutting down said power supply if said comparator indicates that said key matches said password.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 42 words

The computer system of claim 1, wherein said input device further comprises: a code for displaying a dialog box on said display, said dialog box prompting the user to enter the password; and a code for receiving the password from said keyboard.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 102 words

The computer system of claim 1, wherein said power supply has a pair of alternating current (AC) terminals adapted to couple to an AC line, said circuit for shutting down said power supply further comprising: a power switch coupled between a first AC terminal and the AC line, said power switch normally making contact between said first AC terminal and said AC line; and a decoder coupled to said power switch, said decoder adapted to cause said power switch to break the contact between said first AC terminal and said AC line upon receipt of a shutdown instruction from said computer system.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 54 words

The computer system of claim 1, wherein said power supply has a shutdown input for disabling said power supply, said circuit for shutting down said power supply further comprising a decoder coupled to said shutdown input, said decoder adapted to assert said shutdown input upon receipt of the shutdown instruction from said computer system.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 20 words

The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a code for updating the shutdown key stored in said non-volatile memory.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 89 words

The computer system of claim 5, further comprising: a code for checking the presence of a password in the non-volatile memory; and a code for requesting the user to enter a new password in said non-volatile memory if said password is not already present in said non-volatile memory and otherwise, for requesting a key from the user and comparing said password stored said non-volatile memory and said key received from said user, and upon a matching condition, requesting the user to enter the new password in said non-volatile memory.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 14 words

The computer system of claim 1 wherein said non-volatile memory is a flash read-only-memory.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 15 words

The computer system of claim 1, wherein said non-volatile memory is a battery backed-up random-access-memory.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 15 words

The computer system of claim 1, wherein said non-volatile memory further contains system set-up parameters.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 42 words

The computer system of claim 1, further comprising an interrupt controller coupled to said switch and said processor, said interrupt controller causing the processor to execute an interrupt service routine in response to the toggling of said switch to an off position.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 92 words

A method for protecting a secure power supply in a computer system from an inadvertent shutdown, said computer system having a non-volatile memory storing a shutdown password, the method comprising the steps of: detecting toggle of a switch to turn off power from said computer system; requesting a key from a user in response to detecting toggle of the switch to turn off power; comparing said password stored in said non-volatile memory with said key received from said user; and shutting down the power supply only if said password matches said key.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 92 words

A method for protecting a secure power supply in a computer system from an inadvertent shutdown, said computer system having a non-volatile memory storing a shutdown password, the method comprising the steps of: detecting toggle of a switch to turn off power from said computer system; requesting a key from a user in response to detecting toggle of the switch to turn off power; comparing said password stored in said non-volatile memory with said key received from said user; and shutting down the power supply only if said password matches said key.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 93 words

The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: checking for the presence of a password in the non-volatile memory; if said password is not present in said non-volatile memory, requesting the user to enter a new password in said non-volatile memory; and if said password is present in said memory, requesting a key from the user and comparing said password stored in said non-volatile memory and said key received from said user, and when said key matches said password, requesting the user to enter a new key in said non-volatile memory.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of loading a driver routine in a system interrupt handling table only if the secure power supply is present in the computer system.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of checking if the user has toggled the switch back to an on-position when the password fails to match the key to abort the shutdown process.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 127 words

An apparatus for protecting a computer system from an unauthorized shutdown by a user, said apparatus comprising: a power supply for supplying power to the computer system; a non-volatile memory to store a shutdown key for authorizing a shutdown of said power supply; and a power supply shutdown circuit coupled to said power supply and said non-volatile memory, said power supply shutdown circuit including: a switch adapted to receive a power supply shutdown input from the user; an input device for receiving a password from a user upon receipt of said power supply shutdown input from the user; a comparator for comparing said password with said shutdown key; and a circuit for shutting down said power supply if said comparator indicates that said key matches said password.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 127 words

An apparatus for protecting a computer system from an unauthorized shutdown by a user, said apparatus comprising: a power supply for supplying power to the computer system; a non-volatile memory to store a shutdown key for authorizing a shutdown of said power supply; and a power supply shutdown circuit coupled to said power supply and said non-volatile memory, said power supply shutdown circuit including: a switch adapted to receive a power supply shutdown input from the user; an input device for receiving a password from a user upon receipt of said power supply shutdown input from the user; a comparator for comparing said password with said shutdown key; and a circuit for shutting down said power supply if said comparator indicates that said key matches said password.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 48 words

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for receiving a password further comprises: a keyboard; a display; a code for displaying a dialog box on said display, said dialog box prompting the user to enter the password; and a code for receiving the password from said keyboard.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 101 words

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said power supply has a pair of alternating current (AC) terminals adapted to couple to an AC line, said circuit for shutting down said power supply further comprising: a power switch coupled between a first AC terminal and the AC line, said power switch normally making contact between said first AC terminal and said AC line; and a decoder coupled to said power switch, said decoder adapted to cause said power switch to break the contact between said first AC terminal and said AC line upon receipt of the shutdown instruction from said computer system.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 53 words

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said power supply has a shutdown input for disabling said power supply, said circuit for shutting down said power supply further comprising a decoder coupled to said shutdown input, said decoder adapted to assert said shutdown input upon receipt of a shutdown instruction from said computer system.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a code for updating the shutdown key stored in said non-volatile memory.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 88 words

The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising: a code for checking the presence of a password in the non-volatile memory; and a code for requesting the user to enter a new password in said non-volatile memory if said password is not already present in said non-volatile memory and otherwise, for requesting a key from the user and comparing said password stored said non-volatile memory and said key received from said user, and upon a matching condition, requesting the user to enter the new password in said non-volatile memory.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said non-volatile memory is a flash read-only-memory.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said non-volatile memory is a battery backed-up random-access-memory RAM.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said non-volatile memory further contains system set-up parameters.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 62 words

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said computer system has a processor adapted to execute an interrupt service routine in response to an interrupt, said apparatus further comprising: an interrupt controller coupled to said switch and the processor, said interrupt controller causing the processor to execute an interrupt service routine in response to the toggling of said switch to an off position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-05-11	2001-11-10	2002-05-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-05-11	2005-11-10	2006-05-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-05-11	2009-11-10	2010-05-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Secure power supply for protecting the shutdown of a computer system

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