Method and apparatus for preventing unauthorized access to peripheral devices
AssigneePackard Bell NEC
InventorsJimmy Dean Smith, Mark D. Nicol, Brian K. Straup, Terence Paul O'Brien, Michael P. Krau, Richard David Ball
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to a system for providing programmable configuration protection of a programmable Input/Output device. By configuration protection, it is meant that the programming options of an I/O controller can be set in accordance to a given environment, and then by use of a programming controlled signal, prevent the changing of the programmed environment or remove those programmed options considered unsafe in the now secured environment.
Claims8
A security system for preventing unauthorized access to peripheral devices by a computer system which includes a CPU and one or more peripheral devices, said system comprising:
- a storage device including means for storing predetermined security data regarding access to said peripheral devices;
- and
- a control device electrically coupled to said storage device including means for reading said predetermined security data and for preventing all interrupt request signals from a peripheral device from being transmitted to said CPU when said peripheral device, as a function of said predetermined security data, is determined to be secured, said control device continuing to allow said computer system access to said peripheral device.
A security system for preventing unauthorized access to peripheral devices by a computer system which includes a CPU and one or more peripheral devices, said system comprising:
- means for storing predetermined security data regarding access to predetermined peripheral devices, said security data for blocking predetermined interrupt request signals;
- and
- means electrically coupled to said storing means for allowing said CPU to access said peripheral devices but preventing all interrupt request signals from a peripheral device from being transmitted to said CPU when said peripheral device is determined to be secured as a function of said security data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.