US5809230A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for controlling access to personal computer system resources
Assignee: CLICK CHOICECOM Inc
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Filing: 1996-01-16
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Granted: 1998-09-15
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Expires: 2016-01-16
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for controlling access to computer resources of a computer is disclosed. The access control program preferably includes a plurality of program components, which may be terminate stay resident (TSR) programs, for intercepting interrupt service calls. The interrupt service calls are verified to determine whether the user is authorized for the resource requested in the service call. The program components use files containing a list of authorized resources for the computer user. These files are, preferably, used at system initialization to modify the system resource files used by the operating system to identify program and program groups which are displayed to a user. A boot protection program is also disclosed which may be installed with the access control program to prevent a boot program stored on media within the diskette drive from acquiring control of the system during system initialization. The boot protection program corrupts the master boot record, boot record and partition table so that other boot programs do not have sufficient information to initialize the system. The master boot program is modified to access this requisite information elsewhere during system initialization.
Inventors
- 👤 J. L. A. Pereira
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 01:05
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/60; G06F21/62; G06F21/6218; G06F2211/00; G06F2211/007; G06F2211/1097; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2137; G06F2221/2149
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for limiting a user's access to computer resources of a computer system, comprising: relocating an original master boot record and an original partition table from a first location to a second location on a hard disk; providing a corrupted master boot record and a corrupted partition table at said first location so that a program using the corrupted master boot record and said corrupted partition table is unable to initialize said system; and using, via a security protection program, at system initialization said corrupted master boot record and locating via the security protection program, said original master boot record and said original partition table at said second location to initialize said computer system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for limiting a user's access to computer resources of a computer system, comprising: relocating an original master boot record and an original partition table from a first location to a second location on a hard disk; providing a corrupted master boot record and a corrupted partition table at said first location so that a program using the corrupted master boot record and said corrupted partition table is unable to initialize said system; and using, via a security protection program, at system initialization said corrupted master boot record and locating via the security protection program, said original master boot record and said original partition table at said second location to initialize said computer system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: controlling computer initialization using said relocated master boot record and said relocated partition table; and installing a program component for controlling access to computer resources in a memory of said system prior to allowing a user to access said computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: deleting hard disk information from a boot record; and storing said hard disk information in said corrupted master boot record so that said hard disk information may be restored in said boot record prior to activating said boot record.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said second memory location is determining from the steps of: copying the original master boot record to a file during set-up of the security protection program; searching the root directory of the hard disk to locate a cylinder/track/sector address of the file containing the original master boot record; and storing the address of the original master boot record for reference by said corrupted master boot record.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
123 words
A software-implemented system for controlling access to a hard disk during a computer system initialization comprising: a modified master boot record written to a memory location on a hard disk corresponding to location for an original master boot record; a corrupted partition table written to a memory location on said hard disk corresponding to a location for an original partition table; an original partition table stored to a location on said hard disk different from said corrupted partition table; and a corrupted boot record written to a memory location on said hard disk corresponding to a location for an original boot record whereby said modified master boot record accesses previously stored information during system initialization to restore said boot record for system initialization.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
A software-implemented system for controlling access to a hard disk during a computer system initialization comprising: a modified master boot record written to a memory location on a hard disk corresponding to location for an original master boot record; a corrupted partition table written to a memory location on said hard disk corresponding to a location for an original partition table; an original partition table stored to a location on said hard disk different from said corrupted partition table; and a corrupted boot record written to a memory location on said hard disk corresponding to a location for an original boot record whereby said modified master boot record accesses previously stored information during system initialization to restore said boot record for system initialization.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said modified master boot record loads a program component for controlling user access to computer resources before a user is provided access to a computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 5 said modified master boot record including: a protection program identifier so that installation of said modified master boot record may be verified.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said corrupted partition table is encrypted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said stored disk information is removed from said original boot record.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
117 words
A computer implemented method that prevents unauthorized access to a computer system, comprising the steps of: moving an original master boot record from its original location to a non-standard location in memory; creating a modified master boot record by storing a modified partition table in the modified master boot record that has different specifications than the original master boot record, said modified partition table containing specifications that prevents an operating system from booting from a diskette, thereby preventing access to computer system resources; storing the modified master boot record at the location corresponding to the original location of the original master boot record; and using said modified master boot record to control access to computer system resources.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
117 words
A computer implemented method that prevents unauthorized access to a computer system, comprising the steps of: moving an original master boot record from its original location to a non-standard location in memory; creating a modified master boot record by storing a modified partition table in the modified master boot record that has different specifications than the original master boot record, said modified partition table containing specifications that prevents an operating system from booting from a diskette, thereby preventing access to computer system resources; storing the modified master boot record at the location corresponding to the original location of the original master boot record; and using said modified master boot record to control access to computer system resources.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said non-standard memory location is an arbitrary memory location determined by a security protection program.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said arbitrary location is determining from the steps of: copying the original master boot record to a file during set-up of the security protection program; searching the root directory of a hard disk to locate a cylinder/track/sector address of the file containing the original master boot record; and storing the address of the original master boot record for reference by said modified master boot record.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
A computer implemented method that protects a computer system from unauthorized access, comprising the steps of: accessing a boot record of a hard disk; changing the boot record data in a manner that prevents an unauthorized user from accessing the hard disk; and storing information that enables the original boot record data to be restored by an access protection program.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
A computer implemented method that protects a computer system from unauthorized access, comprising the steps of: accessing a boot record of a hard disk; changing the boot record data in a manner that prevents an unauthorized user from accessing the hard disk; and storing information that enables the original boot record data to be restored by an access protection program.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 13 comprising the steps of: removing disk information from the boot record of the hard disk; and storing information removed from said boot record in a manner that enables the original boot record data to be restored by the access protection program.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of: moving a master boot record to a non-standard memory location different than the original location for the master boot record; creating a modified master boot record which is stored at the original location of the master boot record; and storing information in the modified master boot record that enables the boot record to be restored by a security protection program.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said non-standard memory location is an arbitrary memory location determined by the security protection program.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said arbitrary location is determined from the steps of: copying the master boot record to a file during set-up of the security protection program; searching the root directory of the hard disk to locate a cylinder/track/sector address of the file containing the master boot record; and storing the address of the original master boot record for reference by said modified master boot record.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of corrupting a partition table in a manner that prevents the computer system from booting.
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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) | 2001-09-14 | 2002-03-16 | 2002-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-14 | 2006-03-16 | 2006-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-14 | 2010-03-16 | 2010-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |