Software controlled port locking mechanisms
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsMiles C. Pedrone, Andrew C. M. Hicks, Michael P. Lyons, Yunli Tang, Tynan J. Garrett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An operating system for a computer device that includes code in the form of a hook that controls lock in and lock out of a removable data communication connection object (for example, a cable terminating in a connector, a card) with respect to a data communication port by means of an electromechanical lock. Software requiring system administrator authentication to lock a removable data communication connection object out of a data communication port. Software requiring system administrator authentication to lock a removable data communication connection object into a data communication port.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- providing a computer device with a data communication port that includes an electromechanical lock that is movable between at least two positions as follows:
- (i) a locked position where any mechanically engaged removable data communication object is locked from being removed from mechanical engagement with the data communication port and any uninserted data communication object is locked out from mechanically engaging the data communication port;
- and (ii) an unlocked position where removable data communication objects are free to be mechanically engaged and disengaged with the data communication port;
- moving, under control of an unlock hook in the operating system of the computer device, the electromechanical lock from the locked position to the unlocked position;
- and
- after a removable mechanical data communication object has been mechanically engaged with the data communication port, moving, under control of an unlock hook in the operating system of the computer device, the electromechanical lock from the unlocked position to the locked position.
A computer-implemented method comprising:
- providing a computer device with a data communication port that includes an electromechanical lock that is movable between at least two positions as follows:
- (i) a locked position where any mechanically engaged removable data communication object is locked from being removed from mechanical engagement with the data communication port and any uninserted data communication object is locked out from mechanically engaging the data communication port;
- and (ii) an unlocked position where removable data communication objects are free to be mechanically engaged and disengaged with the data communication port;
- authenticating a user for system administrator type access to an operating system;
- subsequent to the authentication, receiving user input from the user through a user interface;
- and
- responsive to the user input, moving the electromechanical lock from the locked position to the unlocked position.
A computer-implemented method comprising:
- providing a computer device with a data communication port that includes an electromechanical lock that is movable between at least two positions as follows:
- (i) a locked position where any mechanically engaged removable data communication object is locked from being removed from mechanical engagement with the data communication port and any uninserted data communication object is locked out from mechanically engaging the data communication port;
- and (ii) an unlocked position where removable data communication objects are free to be mechanically engaged and disengaged with the data communication port;
- authenticating a user for system administrator type access to an operating system;
- subsequent to the authentication, receiving user input from the user through a user interface;
- and
- responsive to the user input, moving the electromechanical lock from the unlocked position to the locked position to mechanically engage a removable data communication object in the data communication port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.