Methods and apparatus for securing computer systems
OwnerDavid Mendenhall, Sterling Wharton +1inventors
InventorsDavid Mendenhall, Sterling Wharton, Chester Heath
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer system includes: a data-handling system operable to receive and transmit data over a data path; a storage device operatively coupled to the data-handling system to receive data from and deliver stored data to the data-handling system; and a security element operatively coupled between an external data path and the data-handling system via the data path, the security element establishing the data path as a trusted path, wherein the data-handling system, the storage device and the security element are disposed in a common physical housing such that access to the data path requires breach of the housing.
Claims65
A computer system, comprising:
- a data-handling system operable to receive and transmit data over a data path;
- a storage device operatively coupled to the data-handling system to receive data from and deliver stored data to the data-handling system;
- and
- a security element operatively coupled between an external data path and the data-handling system via the data path, the security element establishing the data path as a trusted path,
- wherein the data-handling system, the storage device and the security element are disposed in a common physical housing such that access to the data path requires breach of the housing.
A computer system, comprising:
- a data-handling system operable to receive and transmit data over a data path;
- a storage device operatively coupled to the data-handling system to receive data from and deliver stored data to the data-handling system;
- and
- a security element operatively coupled between an external data path and the data-handling system via the data path, the security element establishing the data path as a trusted path,
- wherein the security element is disposed in a separate physical housing from the data-handling system and the storage device, and the data path is encased in an armored sheath operable to substantially resist access to the data path by unauthorized entities.
A security element operatively connectable between an external data path and a data-handling system via a data path, wherein:
- (i) the security element establishes the data path as a trusted path, (ii) the security element is disposed in a separate physical housing from the data-handling system and an associated storage device, and (iii) the data path is encased in an armored sheath operable to substantially resist access to the data path by unauthorized entities.
A security cable operatively connectable between a security element and a data-handling system to establish a data path therebetween, wherein:
- (i) the security element establishes the data path as a trusted path, (ii) the security element is disposed in a separate physical housing from the data-handling system and an associated storage device, and (iii) the data path is encased in an armored sheath operable to substantially resist access to the data path by unauthorized entities.
A computer system, comprising:
- a data-handling system operable to receive and transmit data over a first data path;
- a storage device operatively coupled to the data-handling system via a second data path to receive data from and deliver stored data to the data-handling system;
- and
- a security element operatively coupled between an external data path and the data-handling system via the data path, the security element establishing the data path as a trusted path,
- wherein at least one of the data-handling system, the storage device, and the security element is disposed in a separate physical housing from the other elements of the system, and one or more of the data paths are encased in an armored sheath operable to substantially resist access to the data path by unauthorized entities.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.