Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an electronic computer with a file bay cover including an electronic lock and a method of controlling the same. 
     The spread of electronic computers has recently derived even personal computers owned by individual persons and has accelerated the development of general software. Today, a variety of operating systems (OSs) and other software for promoting easy installation of the general software in computers are available. Easy installation, however, is apt to render a computer system unstable due to operator&#39;s careless installation work. In fact, careless installation often affects the OS software and other general software loaded in a computer. 
     In a personal computer, for example, careless installation is likely to overwrite or destroy other general software loaded in the computer. Also, in a network environment implemented by, e.g., the Internet, when the computer system of a provider or similar enterprise collectively managing an information network becomes unstable, it is apt to damage existing customers in the network environment. 
     Moreover, the prerequisite with a computer possibly used by a plurality of persons in an enterprise is that confidential information be prevented from leaking to the outside in the form of a floppy disk (FD) or similar removable medium. To meet this requirement, there is an increasing demand for a computer capable of rendering temporarily unusable a CD-ROM drive, FD drive or similar drive unit dealing with removable media, i.e., capable of implementing a collective security system. 
     In light of the above, it is a common practice with an electronic computer to cover a file bay, i.e., a space for accommodating a CD-ROM drive, an FD drive and other drive units with a cover or file bay cover including a lock. The file bay cover is mounted on the computer in such a manner as to cover the drive units including the CD-ROM drive and FD drive. However, the conventional file bay cover with a lock is implemented by a physical lock. As a result, in an enterprise, for example, in which hundreds of computers are operated daily, a great number of locks are required, complicating the management of file bays. 
     To render the CD-ROM drive and FD drive unusable, a password for entering a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) setup menu and replacing the conventional physical lock may be input on the computer, as also proposed in the past. However, locking relying on a password practically invalidates the function of the FD drive and limits even the reading operation of the FD drive. In addition, the CD-ROM drive and FD drive cannot be rendered usable or unusable unless the entire function of the computer is shut down for a moment. 
     Technologies relating to the present invention are disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 4-327666, 5-5375, 9-30613 and 9-73492 as well as in Japanese Patent No. 2, 741, 726. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electronic computer with a file bay cover including an electronic lock, which is capable of enhancing the efficiency of a centralized management and security system. 
     An electronic computer of the present invention includes a file bay cover for covering a file bay accommodating a drive unit that deals with a removable medium, and includes a lock for selectively locking or unlocking the file bay cover and a sensor responsive to closing of the file bay cover. The lock is opened by electronic control. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing a conventional electronic computer with a file bay cover; and 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B are isometric views showing an electronic-computer with a file bay cover including an electronic lock embodying the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     To better understand the present invention, brief reference will be made to a conventional electronic computer with a file bay cover including a lock, shown in FIG.  1 . As shown, the computer includes a body  1  on which a CD-ROM drive  6  and an FD drive  5  are mounted. A file bay cover  4  is also mounted on the body  1  in such a manner as to cover the CD-ROM drive  6  and FD drive  5 . Specifically, the file bay cover  4  has its opposite edges received in rails or channels  7  formed in opposite side edges of the front of a casing  2 . The file bay cover  4  prevents a person from loading or unloading the CD-ROM drive  6  or the FD drive  5  with a CD-ROM or a floppy disk, respectively, unless the person slides the cover  4  upward or downward along the rails  7 . This is successful to obviate careless operation. 
     In the above configuration, although the recording media cannot be taken in or taken out, a particular CD-ROM can be used as a data base. As for the FD drive  5 , too, while the replacement of the recording medium is limited, a recording medium existing in the drive  5  can be used to read or write data via a keyboard. 
     However, the above conventional computer with a file bay cover has some problems left unsolved, as discussed earlier. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, an electronic computer with a file bay cover including an electronic lock embodying the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 2A, the computer includes a body  1  having a casing  2 . The front end of the casing  2  is divided into an upper part  101  and a lower part  102 . Switches including a power switch, not shown, are arranged on the lower part  102  while a file bay or space  3  is formed on the upper part  101 . The file bay  3  is capable of accommodating three different drive units each dealing with a particular recording medium. In the illustrative embodiment, the file bay  3  is loaded with a CD-ROM drive  6  and an FD drive  5  that are specific forms of the drive units. A file bay cover  4  is hinged to one side of the upper part  101 . The rear of the file bay cover  4  is capable of contacting the front end of the upper part  101  while covering the file bay  3 . When the rear of the file bay cover  4  contacts the front end of the upper part  101 , the front of the cover  4  is flush with the lower part  102 . 
     A generally U-shaped latch  107  is positioned on the rear of the file bay cover  4 . When the cover  4  is closed, the latch  107  mates with a recess  103  formed in the front end of the upper part  101 . An electronic lock unit  105  is buried in the recess  103  and made up of a sensor  104  and a solenoid  106 . When the cover  4  is closed to cause the latch  107  to mate with the recess  103 , the end of the latch  107  abuts against the sensor  104 . In response, the sensor  104  determines that the cover  4  is ready to be locked. The solenoid l 06  is positioned in the lower portion of the recess  103  and electrically connected to circuitry arranged in the body  1 . The solenoid  106  includes a plunger  106 a capable of protruding into the recess  103 . 
     In operation, assume that a person closes the file bay cover  4  from a position shown in FIG. 2A to a position shown in FIG.  2 B. Then, the end of the latch  107  abuts against the sensor  104 . The sensor  104  therefore determines that the cover  4  is ready to be locked. In response to the resulting output of the sensor  104 , the plunger  106   a  of the solenoid  106  is caused to protrude into the recess  103  and lock the cover  4 . In this condition, although a CD-ROM or a floppy disk cannot be taken out of the file bay  3 , a CD-ROM, if existing in the CD-ROM drive  6 , can be used to read or write data. It is therefore possible to secure, e.g., confidential data to be read only in the form of a CD-ROM and to perform usual work with the CD-ROM in the locked state. This is also true with a floppy disk existing in the FD drive  5 . 
     To unlock the file bay cover  4 , the solenoid  106  is operated to retract its plunger  106   a  and thereby release the latch  107  from the recess  103 . This operation of the solenoid  106  is based on the authentication using, e.g., a password, a smart card or a fingerprint by way of example. This kind of authentication is much simpler than authentication using physical locks equal in number to electronic computers. 
     With a single smart card, for example, a person is capable of managing all computers authorized to operate. In a network environment, information relating to a password, a smart card or a fingerprint may be sent to an authentication server connected to the network, in which case the file bay cover  4  will not be unlocked if the server does not authenticate the above information. If desired, the authentication server may record the operation history of the lock for the centralized control of the registration of the password, smart card or fingerprint, so that easy management and security can be promoted. In addition, such an authentication server is allowed to operate the lock at a remote station and therefore manage it more easily. Further, the above authentication may be applied only to the opening of the cover  4 . 
     To further enhance security, a screw  108  for supporting the casing  2  may be provided in the upper part  101  such that the casing  2  is prevented from being opened at the same time as the file bay  3  is locked. 
     In summary, it will be seen that the present invention provides an electronic computer with a file bay cover including an electronic lock and having various unprecedented advantages, as enumerated below. 
     (1) A lock in the form of, e.g., a password, a smart card or a fingerprint is usable for authentication. This successfully enhances security while preserving the advantage that a CD-ROM drive or an FD drive, for example, can be locked or unlocked by a file bay cover even when the computer is in operation. 
     (2) In a network environment, information relating to the password, smart card or fingerprint may be sent to an authentication server connected to the network, in which case the file bay cover will not be unlocked if the server does not authenticate the above information. Further, the authentication server may record the operation history of the lock for the centralized control of the registration of the password, smart card or fingerprint, so that easy management and security can be promoted. 
     (3) Such an authentication server is allowed to operate the lock at a remote station. Even if a computer to be locked is located at a remote station or when time available is short, the file bay of the computer can be control led via a computer connected to the network. This is successful to save time. 
     (4) To further enhance security, a screw ( 108 ) for supporting the casing of the computer may be provided in the file bay such that the casing is prevented from being opened at the same time as the file bay is locked. Thus, as long as the file bay is locked, the casing is prevented from being disassembled. This further promotes security. 
     (5) A particular file bay cover may be assigned to each recording medium and selectively locked. Also, file management can be effected medium by medium. 
     (6) When the file bay cover is locked via, e.g., a keyboard, easy locking directly related to the operation of the computer is realized. This makes it necessary for the operator to perform the operation of the lock and that of the computer one by one. 
     (7) All file bay covers can be collectively locked or unlocked by electronic control in order to reduce the users&#39; loads. 
     (8) It is not necessary for a particular user to carry or manage a physical lock. In addition, the electronic control over at least the locking operation is desirable from the security standpoint. 
     (9) Only a manager or a person in charge of the computer can deal with the recording media, so that security is further promoted. 
     Various modifications will become possible for those skilled in the art after receiving the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope thereof.

Technology Category: 3