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US 6,665,800 B1Granted
System and method for securing a computer system
AssigneeDell USA, L.P.
InventorMuhammed Jaber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computer system includes circuitry for selecting among first and second parameters in response to a command. The parameters are for use in computing a password. The circuitry is for reading content of the selected parameter from a computer-readable medium and computing the password in response thereto. The password computed in response to content of the first parameter is different from the password computed in response to content of the second parameter. Also, the circuitry is for concealing the password from a user of the computer system.
Claims36
A computer system, comprising:
- at least one computer-readable medium;
- and
- a computer means for:
- in response to a command, selecting among first and second parameters, wherein the parameters are for use in computing a password, and wherein the first and second parameters are respectively first and second procedures for computing the password;
- reading content of the selected parameter from the computer-readable medium, and computing the password in response thereto, wherein the password computed in response to content of the first parameter is different from the password computed in response to content of the second parameter;
- and concealing the password from a user of the computer system.
3 more elements
A computer system, comprising:
- at least one computer-readable medium;
- and
- a computer means for:
- in response to a command, selecting among first and second parameters, wherein the parameters are for use in computing a password, and wherein the first and second parameters are respectively first and second operands for computing the password;
- reading content of the selected parameter from the computer-readable medium, and computing the password in response thereto, wherein the password computed in response to content of the first parameter is different from the password computed in response to content of the second parameter, and concealing the password from a user of the computer system.
2 more elements
A computer system, comprising:
- at least one computer-readable medium wherein the computer-readable medium is a basic input output system (“BIOS”) memory;
- and
- a computer means for:
- in response to a command, selecting among first and second parameters, wherein the parameters are for use in computing a password;
- reading content of the selected parameter from the computer-readable medium, and computing the password in response thereto, wherein the password computed in response to content of the first parameter is different from the password computed in response to content of the second parameter;
- and concealing the password from a user of the computer system.
3 more elements
A computer system, comprising:
- at least one computer-readable medium;
- and
- a computer means for:
- in response to a command, selecting among first and second parameters by identifying the second parameter as being active in the computer-readable medium, wherein the parameters are for use in computing a password;
- reading content of the selected parameter from the computer-readable medium, and computing the password in response thereto, wherein the password computed in response to content of the first parameter is different from the password computed in response to content of the second parameter;
- and concealing the password from a user of the computer system.
3 more elements
A computer system, comprising:
- a first computer-readable medium;
- a second computer-readable medium;
- and
- a computer for:
- in response to a command, selecting among first and second parameters, the parameters being for use in computing a password;
- reading content of the selected parameter from the first computer-readable medium and computing the password in response thereto, the password computed in response to content of the first parameter being different from the password computed in response to content of the second parameter;
- concealing the password from a user of the computer system;
- receiving information from the user;
- determining whether the information matches the password;
- and
- in response to determining the information matches the password, permitting the user to read from and write information to the second computer-readable medium.
8 more elements
A method performed by a computer system, the method comprising:
- in response to a command, selecting among first and second parameters, the parameters being for use in computing a password, the first and second parameters being respectively first and second procedures for computing the password;
- reading content of the selected parameter from a computer-readable medium and computing the password in response thereto, the password computed in response to content of the first parameter being different from the password computed in response to content of the second parameter;
- and
- concealing the password from a user of the computer system.
1 more element
A method performed by a computer system, the method comprising:
- in response to a command, selecting among first and second parameters, the parameters being for use in computing a password, the first and second parameters being respectively first and second operands for computing the password;
- reading content of the selected parameter from a computer-readable medium and computing the password in response thereto, the password computed in response to content of the first parameter being different from the password computed in response to content of the second parameter;
- and
- concealing the password from a user of the computer system.
1 more element
A method performed by a computer system, the method comprising:
- in response to a command, selecting among first and second parameters, the parameters being for use in computing a password;
- reading content of the selected parameter from a computer-readable medium and computing the password in response thereto, the password computed in response to content of the first parameter being different from the password computed in response to content of the second parameter, and the computer-readable medium being a basic input output system (“BIOS”) memory;
- and
- concealing the password from a user of the computer system.
1 more element
A method performed by a computer system, the method comprising:
- in response to a command, selecting among first and second parameters by identifying the second parameter as being active in the computer-readable medium, the parameters being for use in computing a password;
- reading content of the selected parameter from a computer-readable medium and computing the password in response thereto, the password computed in response to content of the first parameter being different from the password computed in response to content of the second parameter;
- and
- concealing the password from a user of the computer system.
1 more element
A method performed by a computer system, the method comprising:
- in response to a command, selecting among first and second parameters, the parameters being for use in computing a password;
- reading content of the selected parameter from a first computer-readable medium and computing the password in response thereto, the password computed in response to content of the first parameter being different from the password computed in response to content of the second parameter;
- concealing the password from a user of the computer system;
- receiving information from the user;
- determining whether the information matches the password;
- and
- in response to determining the information matches the password, permitting the user to read from and write information to a second computer-readable medium.
4 more elements
A computer program product, comprising:
- a computer program processable by a computer system for causing the computer system to:
- in response to a command, select among first and second parameters, the parameters being for use in computing a password, wherein the first and second parameters are respectively first and second procedures for computing the password;
- read content of the selected parameter from a computer-readable medium and compute the password in response thereto, the password computed in response to content of the first parameter being different from the password computed in response to content of the second parameter;
- and
- conceal the password from a user of the computer system;
- and
- apparatus on which the computer program is embodied and from which the computer program is accessible by the computer system.
4 more elements
A computer program product, comprising:
- a computer program processable by a computer system for causing the computer system to:
- in response to a command, select among first and second parameters, the parameters being for use in computing a password, wherein the first and second parameters are respectively first and second operands for computing the password;
- read content of the selected parameter from a computer-readable medium and compute the password in response thereto, the password computed in response to content of the first parameter being different from the password computed in response to content of the second parameter;
- and
- conceal the password from a user of the computer system;
- and
- apparatus on which the computer program is embodied and from which the computer program is accessible by the computer system.
4 more elements
A computer program product, comprising:
- a computer program processable by a computer system for causing the computer system to:
- in response to a command, select among first and second parameters, the parameters being for use in computing a password;
- read content of the selected parameter from a computer-readable medium and compute the password in response thereto, the password computed in response to tent of the first parameter being different from the password computed in response to content of the second parameter, wherein the computer-readable medium is a basic input output system (“BIOS”) memory;
- and
- conceal the password from a user of the computer system;
- and
- apparatus on which the computer program is embodied and from which the computer program is accessible by the computer system.
4 more elements
A computer program product, comprising:
- a computer program processable by a computer system for causing the computer system to:
- in response to a command, select among first and second parameters by identifying the second parameter as being active in the computer-readable medium, the parameters being for use in computing a password;
- read content of the selected parameter from a computer-readable medium and compute the password in response thereto, the password computed in response to content of the first parameter being different from the password computed in response to content of the second parameter;
- and
- conceal the password from a user of the computer system;
- and
- apparatus on which the computer program is embodied and from which the computer program is accessible by the computer system.
4 more elements
A computer program product, comprising:
- a computer program processable by a computer system for causing the computer system to:
- in response to a command, select among first and second parameters, the parameters being for use in computing a password;
- read content of the selected parameter from a first computer-readable medium and compute the password in response thereto, the password computed in response to content of the first parameter being different from the password computed in response to content of the second parameter;
- conceal the password from a user of the computer system;
- receive information from the user;
- determine whether the information matches the password;
- and
- in response to determining the information matches the password, permit the user to read from and write information to a second computer-readable medium;
- and
- apparatus on which the computer program is embodied and from which the computer program is accessible by the computer system.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.