Patent ID: 6041413
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A power-up security control apparatus for a computer system having a mainboard circuitry, a power supply, and a keyboard, the apparatus comprising:a keyboard intercept unit for intercepting keyboard signals capable of communicating between a keyboard controller interface of the mainboard circuitry and the keyboard when the computer system is off;a keyboard input data decoder for receiving and decoding the keyboard signals intercepted by the keyboard intercept unit;a buffer connected to an output of the keyboard input data decoder for storing the decoded keyboard signals in a pre-determined format;a password memory for storing a preset password for authorizing the computer system to power up;a comparing unit having inputs connected to the output of the buffer and the password memory, the comparing unit comparing the decoded keyboard signals and the preset password and generating a matching condition signal indicating whether the decoded keyboard signals and the preset password match; anda power supply control unit receiving the matching condition signal and subsequently generating a control signal based on a logical status of the matching condition signal in order to control the power supply of the computer system.