Patent ID: 7260726

Claim:
An apparatus to enable operation of a computer by authorized users when in a secure mode of operation, the apparatus comprising: a hub, the hub being configured to be portable and in communication with the computer, the hub further including, an installed system tray program configured to allow on demand customization of hub features using a graphical user interface, the customization of hub features including an ability to allow a user to select secure hub ports and an ability to permit a user to enable remote locking of the hub; a card reader; a hub microprocessor, and an encryption engine configured to encrypt/decrypt data communications between the hub and a data storage device protected by the hub, the encryption engine including, a plurality of encryption/decryption channels, and a control logic that is configured to determine which encryption/decryption channel is available and direct encrypted data passing through the hub to available encryption/decryption channels; a card, the card being configured for insertion into the card reader, the card including a card microprocessor; and a user authentication device, the user authentication device being configured to validate the user as an authorized user of the card wherein, if the user is validated as the authorized user, the card microprocessor being configured to pass a key to the hub microprocessor in response to the validation of the user as the authorized user of the card, thereby activating the encryption engine of the hub to-allow encryption/decryption of data communications.