Abstract:
A method and an apparatus utilizing the RFID technology for the login security of a computing device are disclosed. The computing device includes a processing unit, an RFID reader, and a memory. The RFID reader is coupled to the processing unit for communicating with an external RFID tag in which a user data is stored. The memory is coupled to the processing unit for storing a login data. The RFID reader reads the user data from the RFID tag and the processing unit compares the user data with the login data. If the user data matches the login data, the processing unit allows the computing device to be accessed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for setting up a secure login procedure on a computing device, especially to a method and an apparatus using the RFID technology to login a computing device. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    When a user is about to use a computer, the operating system usually requires the user to provide login information. The login information usually includes a user name and a password. If the user name and the password are checked correct, the user can be allowed to access the computer. Sometimes, when a computer powers on, the computer also checks password when executing the POST (power on self test). If the entered password does not match the predetermined password, the computer does not boot up and hence the user cannot access the computer. 
         [0005]    In addition to a password, some computers utilize fingerprint to identify an authorized user. The fingerprint reader may be embedded in a computer or as an external device connected to the computer through any kind of interface such as a USB interface. If the fingerprint reader recognizes a correct fingerprint, the computer is ready to be accessed. 
         [0006]    By using the above two methods personal privacy and important data can be securely protected. However, the password is easily forgotten and the fingerprint has a risk of fail recognition. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is therefore a primary objective of the claimed invention to provide a method and an apparatus which utilize the RFID technology for computer login security. 
         [0008]    According to an embodiment of the claimed invention, a computing device capable of being activated via an RFID (radio frequency identification) interface is disclosed. The computing device includes a processing unit, an RFID reader, and a memory. The RFID reader is coupled to the processing unit for communicating with an external RFID tag in which a user data is stored. The memory is coupled to the processing unit for storing a login data. The RFID reader reads the user data from the external RFID tag and the processing unit compares the user data with the login data. If the user data matches the login data, the processing unit allows the computing device to be accessed. 
         [0009]    According to another embodiment of the claimed invention, a computing device capable of being activated via an RFID interface is disclosed. The computing device includes a processing unit, a memory, an interface, and a bus controller. The memory is coupled to the processing unit for storing a login data. The interface is utilized for connecting an external RFID reader. The bus controller is coupled between the processing unit and the interface for communicating with the external RFID reader. The RFID reader reads a user data from an external RFID tag and the user data is transmitted to the processing unit through the interface under the control of the bus controller. The processing unit compares the user data with the login data and if the user data matches the login data, the processing unit allows the computing device to be accessed. 
         [0010]    According to still another embodiment of the claimed invention, a method of activating a computing device via an RFID interface is disclosed. The method includes: using an RFID reader to read a user data, which is stored in an RFID tag, into the computing device; comparing the user data with a login data, which is initially stored in the computing device; and if the user data matches the login data, allowing the computing device to be accessed. 
         [0011]    These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows an illustrative drawing of a computing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a flow chart illustrating utilization of RFID technology in a computing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a flow chart illustrating utilization of RFID technology in a computing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows an illustrative drawing of a computing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  shows an illustrative drawing of a computing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]    Certain terms are used throughout the description and following claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, electronic equipment manufacturers may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following description and in the claims, the terms “include” and “comprise” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “include, but not limited to . . . ”. Also, the term “couple” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct electrical connection. Accordingly, if one device is coupled to another device, that connection may be through a direct electrical connection, or through an indirect electrical connection via other devices and connections. 
         [0018]    Please refer to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  shows an illustrative drawing of a computing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The computing device  100  includes an RFID reader  110 , a CPU  120 , a memory controller  130 , a memory  140 , an I/O controller  150 , and a bus controller  160 . The RFID reader  110  is directly connected to the CPU  120  and the operating frequency of the RFID reader  110  is preferably 13.56 MHz, 125 KHz, 433.92 MHz or 900 MHz etc. The RFID reader  110  can communicate with an external RFID tag (not shown) through the antenna  112 . An RFID tag is generally referred to as a transponder, which is made of a semiconductor device and transmits RF signals in response to reception of an RF signal from the RFID reader  110 . The data received by the RFID reader  110  can be directly transmitted to the CPU  120 . The memory  140  is coupled to the CPU  120  through the memory controller  130 . The memory  140  stores several sets of login data. Each set of login data includes a user name and a password. Different users can be set to have different limits of authority. The memory controller  130  controls read and write process of the memory  140 . When the CPU  120  requires data in the memory  140 , the CPU  120  sends a command signal to the memory controller  130 . After retrieving data from the memory  140 , the memory controller  130  sends the data to the CPU  120 . The CPU  120  is also coupled to an I/O controller  150  through the bus controller  160 . The I/O controller  150  communicates with peripherals outside the computing device  100  such as a keyboard  152  and a mouse  154 . Signals generated by the keyboard  152  or the mouse  154  are received by the I/O controller  150  and are further transmitted to the CPU under the control of the bus controller  160 . 
         [0019]    Please refer to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  shows a flow chart illustrating utilization of RFID technology in a computing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. First, the computing device  100  is powered on, and a POST (power on self test) of the computing device  100  executes (S 210 ). Then the computing device  100  pauses to wait for a user data being input to the computing device  100  (S 220 ). A user data usually includes a user name and a password. As mentioned above, the keyboard  152  is connected to the computing device  100  such that the user data can be input to the computing device  100  through the keyboard  152 . In addition, since the computing device  100  is embedded with the RFID reader  110 , a user data can also be input to the computing device  100  by using an RFID tag, in which a user data is stored, to communicate with the RFID reader  110 . The computing device  100  keeps waiting until a user data is received via either the keyboard  152  or the RFID reader  110  (S 220 ). When the computing device  100  receives the user data, the CPU  120  compares the user data with the login data stored in the memory  140  (S 230 ). If the inputted user data does not match the login data, the computing device  100  goes back to step S 220 ; however, if the user data matches the login data, the computing device  100  starts to boot (S 240 ). In short, a computing device can be securely protected by using the RFID technology. 
         [0020]    Please refer to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  shows a flow chart illustrating utilization of RFID technology in a computing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. After the computing device  100  finishes the POST, it begins to execute an operating system (S 310 ). Generally, the operating system requires a user data to prepare different environment settings for different user, and also different limits of authority can be set according to the user. Therefore, the operating system keeps waiting for a user data to be input to the computing device  100  until a user data is input via either the keyboard  152  or the RFID reader  110  (S 320 ). When a user data is input, the CPU  120  compares the user data with the login data stored in the memory  140  (S 330 ). If the inputted user data does not match the login data, the computing device  100  goes back to step S 320 ; however, if the user data matches the login data, the computing device  100  will be running the operating system (S 340 ). Afterwards, the computing device  100  checks if the user logouts the operating system (S 350 ). If the user logouts the operating system, the computing device goes back to step S 320 , waiting for a user data; if the user does not logout the operating system, the computing device  100  checks if the operating system is shut down (S 360 ). If the operating system is not shut down, the computing device  100  goes back to step S 340 ; if the operating system is shut down, the operating system is quit. Next time after the operating system starts up (S 310 ) and before the operating system in operation (S 340 ), the computing device  100  still requires a correct user data. Similarly, a computer can be securely protected by using the RFID technology. 
         [0021]    In addition to the computer  100  shown in  FIG. 1 , there are also different kinds of configurations of computing devices that utilize RFID technology for security. Please refer to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  shows an illustrative drawing of a computing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The computing device  400  includes an RFID reader  410 , a CPU  420 , a memory controller  430 , a memory  440 , an I/O controller  450 , a bus controller  460  and an adapter  470 . The CPU  420 , the memory controller  430 , the memory  440 , the I/O controller  450 , and the keyboard  452  and the mouse  454 , which are connected to the I/O controller  450 , have the same function as their corresponding devices shown in  FIG. 1 . For brevity, the description of these devices is omitted. In this embodiment, the RFID reader  410  which has an antenna  412  is coupled to the bus controller  460  through an adapter  470 . Preferably, the operating frequency of the RFID reader  410  is 13.56 MHz, 125 KHz, 433.92 MHz or 900 MHz etc. The RFID reader  410  reads a user data and then the user data is transmitted to the CPU  420  through the adapter  470  under the control of the bus controller  460 . The CPU  420  then compares the user data with the login data stored in the memory  440 . The adapter  470  can be implemented by an internal connection interface such as a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect), a mini PCI, PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association), CompactFlash, SDIO etc. 
         [0022]    Please refer to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  shows an illustrative drawing of a computing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The computing device  500  includes a CPU  520 , a memory controller  530 , a memory  540 , an I/O controller  550 , a bus controller  560 , and an interface  570 . The CPU  520 , the memory controller  530 , the memory  540 , the I/O controller  550 ,and the keyboard  552  and the mouse  554 , which are connected to the I/O controller  550 , have the same function as their corresponding devices shown in  FIG. 1 . For brevity, the description of these devices is omitted. In this embodiment, an RFID reader  510  which has an antenna  512  is coupled to the computing device  500  through the interface  570 . Preferably, the operating frequency of the RFID reader  410  is 13.56 MHz, 125 KHz, 433.92 MHz or 900 MHz etc. The RFID reader  510  reads user data and then the user data is transmitted to the CPU  520  through the interface  570  under the control of the bus controller  560 . The CPU  520  then compares the user data with the login data stored in the memory  540 . The interface  570  can be implemented by a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, an IEEE 1394 (firewire) interface, an RS232 interface, etc. 
         [0023]    In summary, a computing device such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer or even a PDA can use the RFID technology as a login means for a user to login the computing device. Using RFID to login the computing device can avoid having the risk of forgetting password or fail recognition of a fingerprint. The RFID reader can be embedded in the computing device by being directly coupled to the CPU or through an adapter such as a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect), a mini PCI, PCMCIA, CompactFlash, SDIO etc. Alternatively, the RFID reader can be an external device to the computing device as well. The RFID reader can be connected to the computing device through an interface such as a USB interface, an IEEE 1394 interface or an RS232 interface. The RFID added computing device checks user data when the CPU is executing a POST (power on self test) of the computing device or when the CPU is executing an operating system of the computing device. 
         [0024]    Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.