US5848231A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System configuration contingent upon secure input
Assignee: ActivCard Ireland Ltd
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Filing: 1996-12-24
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Granted: 1998-12-08
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Expires: 2016-12-24
Abstract
Abstract A method of configuring and reconfiguring a computer system based on user authorization is presented wherein at least some users perceive themselves and available system resources as the entirety of the computer system. The resources are configured through use of virtual resources providing predetermined access privileges and configurations for some users. In another aspect, a method is provided of configuring and reconfiguring a computer system based on biometric user input wherein at least some user biometric input is necessary in order to gain authorized access to a system and to configure the system based on the authorized user. The configuration is, preferably, transparent to the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Neil Teitelbaum
- 👤 Gordon Sean Freedman
- 👤 Stephen J. Borza
- 👤 Michael A. Borza
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:59
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/0354; G06F3/03543; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/24; G06F21/00; G06F21/30; G06F21/31; G06F3/02; G06F3/0202; G06F3/021; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/445; G06F9/44505; G06V; G06V40/00; G06V40/10; G06V40/12; G06V40/13; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/033; G06F2203/0333; G06F2203/0336; G06F2211/00; G06F2211/1097; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2149
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer in execution of a current virtual system, the host computer comprising a plurality of virtual systems, the method comprising the steps of: at intervals, determining a user identification of a user of the host system; locating a virtual system in dependence upon the user identification; and when a virtual system associated with the user identification is located, executing the virtual system of the host computer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer in execution of a current virtual system, the host computer comprising a plurality of virtual systems, the method comprising the steps of: at intervals, determining a user identification of a user of the host system; locating a virtual system in dependence upon the user identification; and when a virtual system associated with the user identification is located, executing the virtual system of the host computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer comprising a plurality of virtual systems as defined in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: storing a current virtual system loaded in memory of the host computer to a non-volatile storage means; and loading the located virtual system in dependence upon the user identification.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
100 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer comprising a plurality of virtual systems as defined in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: determining if the user identification is a same user identification or a different user identification as that associated with a current virtual system; when a different user identification is determined, storing a current virtual system in execution on the host computer to a non-volatile storage means and loading the different virtual system in dependence upon the user identification; and when a same user identification is determined, continuing execution of the current virtual system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of: when a virtual system associated with the user identification is not located, executing a virtual system on the host computer in dependence upon a default configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer in execution of a current virtual system, comprising a plurality of virtual systems, as defined in claim 1 wherein the user identification is determined in dependence upon biometric information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer as defined in claim 5 wherein the biometric information is provided to biometric input means incorporated into a pointing device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer as defined in claim 5 wherein the biometric information is provided to biometric input means incorporated into a keyboard.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer as defined in claim 7 wherein the biometric information is provided by imaging fingertips resting on keys and/or fingertips depressing keys.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer in execution of a current virtual system and in communication with a computer network, said network comprising a plurality of virtual systems, the method comprising the steps of: at intervals, determining a user identification; searching computers in communication with the network for a virtual system associated with the determined user identification; and when a virtual system associated with the user identification is located, executing the virtual system on the host computer.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer in execution of a current virtual system and in communication with a computer network, said network comprising a plurality of virtual systems, the method comprising the steps of: at intervals, determining a user identification; searching computers in communication with the network for a virtual system associated with the determined user identification; and when a virtual system associated with the user identification is located, executing the virtual system on the host computer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer as defined in claim 9 further comprising the steps of: storing a current virtual system loaded in memory of the host computer on a computer in communication with the network; and loading the virtual system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
97 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer as defined in claim 9 further comprising the steps of: determining if the user identification is a same user identification or a different user identification as that associated with a current virtual system; when a different user identification is determined, storing a current virtual system in execution on the host computer on a computer in communication with the network and loading the different virtual system in dependence upon the user identification; and when a same user identification is determined, continuing execution of the current virtual system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
141 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer as defined in claim 9 further comprising the steps of: determining if the user identification is a same user identification or a different user identification as that associated with a current virtual system; when a different user identification is determined, storing a current virtual system in execution on the host computer on a computer in communication with the network and loading the different virtual system in dependence upon the user identification; when a same user identification is determined, determining if the current virtual system is a most recent virtual system associated with the user identification; when a most recent system is not determined, loading the more recent virtual system in dependence upon the user identification; and, when a most recent system is determined, continuing execution of the current virtual system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer as defined in claim 9 further comprising the step of: when a virtual system associated with the user identification is not located, executing a virtual system on the host computer in dependence upon a default configuration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer in execution of a current virtual system and in communication with a computer network, said network comprising a plurality of virtual systems, as defined in claim 9 wherein the user identification is determined in dependence upon biometric information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer in execution of a current virtual system and in communication with a computer network, said network comprising a plurality of virtual systems, as defined in claim 14 wherein the biometric information is provided to biometric input means incorporated into a pointing device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer in execution of a current virtual system and in communication with a computer network, said network comprising a plurality of virtual systems, as defined in claim 14 wherein the biometric information is provided to biometric input means incorporated into a keyboard.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer in execution of a current virtual system and in communication with a computer network, said network comprising a plurality of virtual systems, as defined in claim 16 wherein the biometric information is provided by imaging fingertips resting on keys and/or fingertips depressing keys.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer in execution of an operating system, the method comprising the steps of: using a biometric input means and at intervals during normal use, determining a user identification; locating configuration information in dependence upon the user identification; and configuring at least a portion of the host computer in dependence upon the configuration information.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer in execution of an operating system, the method comprising the steps of: using a biometric input means and at intervals during normal use, determining a user identification; locating configuration information in dependence upon the user identification; and configuring at least a portion of the host computer in dependence upon the configuration information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer as defined in claim 18 further comprising the steps of: storing current configuration information from the host computer in non-volatile storage means; and loading the located configuration information.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer as defined in claim 18 further comprising the steps of: determining if the user identification is a same user identification or a different user identification as that associated with a current configuration information; when a different user identification is determined, storing a current configuration information from the host computer in non-volatile storage means and loading the different configuration information in dependence upon the user identification.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer as defined in claim 18 further comprising the step of: when configuration information associated with the user identification is not located, loading default configuration information on the host computer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer as defined in claim 18 further comprising the step of: when configuration information associated with the user identification is not located, pausing execution of the current operating system.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer as defined in claim 18 wherein the biometric input means is incorporated into a pointing device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer as defined in claim 23 wherein the biometric input means is a fingerprint imaging device disposed for provision of a finger tip during normal use of the pointing device.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer as defined in claim 18 wherein the biometric input means is incorporated into a keyboard.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer as defined in claim 25 wherein the biometric input means is a fingerprint imager for imaging fingertips resting on keys and/or fingertips depressing said keys.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer executing an operating system and in communication with a computer network comprising the steps of: using a biometric input means and at intervals during normal use, determining a user identification; searching computers in communication with the network for configuration information associated with the determined user identification; locating configuration information in dependence upon the user identification; and configuring at least a portion of the host computer in dependence upon the configuration information.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer executing an operating system and in communication with a computer network comprising the steps of: using a biometric input means and at intervals during normal use, determining a user identification; searching computers in communication with the network for configuration information associated with the determined user identification; locating configuration information in dependence upon the user identification; and configuring at least a portion of the host computer in dependence upon the configuration information.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer in communication with a computer network as defined in claim 27 further comprising the steps of: storing current configuration information from the host computer on a computer in communication with the network; and loading the located configuration information.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer in communication with a computer network as defined in claim 27 further comprising the steps of: determining if the user identification is a different user identification from that associated with a current virtual system; and when a different user identification is determined, storing current configuration information from the host computer on a computer in communication with the network and loading the different configuration information in dependence upon the user identification.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer in communication with a computer network as defined in claim 27 further comprising the step of: when configuration information associated with the user identification is not located, loading a default configuration information on the host computer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer in communication with a computer network as defined in claim 27 further comprising the step of: when configuration information associated with the user identification is not located, pausing execution of the operating system.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer in communication with a computer network as defined in claim 27 wherein the biometric input means is incorporated into a pointing device.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of dynamically user configuration to a host computer in communication with a computer network as defined in claim 32 wherein the biometric input means is a fingerprint imaging device disposed for provision of a finger tip during normal use of the pointing device.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer in communication with a computer network as defined in claim 32 wherein the configuration information relates to the pointing device.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer in communication with a computer network as defined in claim 27 wherein the biometric input means is incorporated into a keyboard.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer as defined in claim 35 wherein the biometric input means is a fingerprint imager for imaging fingertips resting on keys and/or fingertips depressing said keys.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computer as defined in claim 35 wherein the configuration information relates to the keyboard.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of dynamically providing user configuration to a host computeer in communication with a computer network as defined in claim 29 further comprising the steps of: when the user identification is a same user identification as that associated with a current virtual system, determining if the configuration information on the host computer is most recent configuration information associated with the user identification; and, when the user configuration is not a most recent stored configuration information, loading the most recent stored configuration information in dependence upon the user identification.
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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) | 2001-12-07 | 2002-06-08 | 2002-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-07 | 2006-06-08 | 2006-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-07 | 2010-06-08 | 2010-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |