Password protected modular computer method and device

Abstract

A method and device for securing a removable Attached Computer Module (“ACM”) 10. ACM 10 inserts into a Computer Module Bay (“CMB”) 40 within a peripheral console to form a functional computer such as a desktop computer or portable computer. The present ACM 10 includes a locking system, which includes hardware and software 600, 700, to prevent accidental removal or theft of the ACM from the peripheral console. While ACM is in transit, further security is necessary against illegal or unauthorized use. If ACM contains confidential data, a high security method is needed to safeguard against theft.

1. A computer module, said module comprising:
 an enclosure, said enclosure being insertable into a console;    a central processing unit in said enclosure, said central processing unit comprising a microprocessor based integrated circuit chip;    a hard disk drive in said enclosure, said hard disk drive being coupled to said central processing unit; and    a programmable memory device in said enclosure, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for preventing a possibility of unauthorized use of said hard disk drive.    
     
     
       2. The computer module of  claim 1  further comprising a host interface controller for providing a status of a locking device in said enclosure. 
     
     
       3. The computer module of  claim 1  further comprising a mechanical locking device that is coupled to said programmable memory device. 
     
     
       4. The computer module of  claim 1  further comprising a host interface controller coupled to a mechanical locking device, said host interface controller being coupled to said programmable memory device. 
     
     
       5. The computer module of  claim 1  wherein said programmable memory device comprises a flash memory device. 
     
     
       6. The computer module of  claim 1  wherein said programmable memory device comprises a flash memory device having at least  8  Mbits of cells and greater. 
     
     
       7. The computer module of  claim 1  further comprising a security program in a main memory. 
     
     
       8. The computer module of  claim 7  wherein said security program comprises a code for storing a password on said programmable memory device. 
     
     
       9. The computer module of  claim 8  wherein said security program comprises a code for checking a time from said real-time clock circuit. 
     
     
       10. The computer module of  claim 1  further comprising a host interface controller coupled to a solenoid that drives a mechanical lock in a first position to a second position. 
     
     
       11. The computer module of  claim 10  wherein said solenoid also drives said mechanical lock from said second position to said first position. 
     
     
       12. The computer module of  claim 1  further comprising a real-time clock circuit coupled to said central processing unit. 
     
     
       13. The computer module of  claim 12  further comprising a battery coupled to a host interface controller that includes said real-time clock. 
     
     
       14. A method for operating a computer system, said method comprising:
 inserting an attached computer module (“ACM”) into a bay of a modular computer system, said ACM comprising a microprocessor unit coupled to a mass memory storage device;    applying power to said computer system and said ACM to execute a security program, said security program being stored in said mass memory storage device; and    prompting for a user password from a user on a display.    
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  wherein said ACM comprises an enclosure that houses said microprocessor unit and said mass memory storage device. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14  further comprising providing a user password to said security program. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14  further comprising a flash memory device for storing a desired password for said ACM. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  wherein said flash memory device maintains said desired password when power is removed from said ACM. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18  wherein said flash memory device is coupled to a host interface controller that is coupled to said microprocessor based unit. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 14  wherein said mass memory storage device comprises a code directed to comparing said user password with a desired password. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 14  further comprising identifying a permanent password or user code on said attached computer module. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21  wherein said permanent password or user code is stored in said microprocessor unit. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 21  wherein said permanent password or user code is stored in a flash memory device coupled to said microprocessor unit. 
     
     
       24. A computer module, said module comprising:
   an enclosure, said enclosure being insertable into a console;        a central processing unit in said enclosure, said central processing unit comprising a microprocessor based integrated circuit chip;        a hard disk drive in said enclosure, said hard disk drive being coupled to said central processing unit;        an interface controller coupled to a differential signal channel for communicating an encoded serial bit stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction, wherein the differential signal channel comprises two sets of unidirectional serial bit channels which transmit data in opposite directions; and        a programmable memory device in said enclosure, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for preventing unauthorized use of said hard disk drive.     
     
     
       25. The computer module of  claim 24  wherein the encoded serial bit stream comprises  10  bit packets. 
     
     
       26. The computer module of  claim 24  wherein the serial bit stream of PCI bus transaction comprises encoded PCI address and data bits. 
     
     
       27. The computer module of  claim 24  wherein the computer module communicates to the console through serial bit based lines transmitting data packets in Universal Serial Bus ( USB) protocol. 
     
     
       28. A computer module comprising:
   an enclosure insertable into a console to form a functional computer, said console comprising a first interface controller;        a central processing unit in said enclosure, said central processing unit comprising a microprocessor based integrated circuit chip;        a hard disk drive in said enclosure, said hard disk drive being coupled to said central processing unit;        a second interface controller coupled to the first interface controller through a differential signal channel comprising two sets of unidirectional serial bit channels in opposite directions which transmit data in  10  bit packets; and        a programmable memory device in said enclosure, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for preventing unauthorized use of said hard disk drive.     
     
     
       29. The computer module of  claim 28  wherein the differential signal channels communicate an encoded serial bit stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus address and data transaction. 
     
     
       30. The computer module of  claim 28  further comprising a security program configured to manage a user's access privilege of data based on said password. 
     
     
       31. A computer module comprising:
   an enclosure being insertable into a console;        a central processing unit in said enclosure, said central processing unit comprising a microprocessor based integrated circuit chip;        a hard disk drive in said enclosure, said hard disk drive being coupled to said central processing unit;        an interface controller coupled to a differential signal channel for communicating an encoded serial bit stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction, wherein the differential signal channel comprises two sets of unidirectional serial bit channels which transmit data in opposite directions; and        a programmable memory device in said enclosure, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for preventing unauthorized use of said hard disk drive;        wherein the computer module communicates to the console through serial bit based lines transmitting data packets in Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol.     
     
     
       32. A method for operating a computer system, said method comprising:
   inserting an attached computer module (“ACM”) into a bay of a modular computer system, said ACM comprising,      an interface controller coupled to a differential signal channel for communicating encoded serial bit stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction, the differential signal channel transmitting data in two sets of unidirectional serial bit channels in opposite directions, and        a microprocessor unit coupled to a mass memory storage device;          applying power to said computer system and said ACM to execute a security program, said security program being stored in said mass memory storage device; and        prompting for a user password from a user on a display.     
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 32  wherein said security program is configured to manage a user's privilege to access data based on said password. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 32  further comprises transmitting the encoded serial bit stream in  10  bit packets. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 32  further comprises the serial bit stream of PCI bus transaction transmitting encoded PCI address and data bits. 
     
     
       36. A method for operating a computer system, said method comprising:
   inserting an attached computer module (“ACM”) into a bay of a modular computer system housed in a console, said console comprising a first interface controller; said ACM comprising,      a microprocessor unit coupled to a mass memory storage device including a plurality of application software program files, the microprocessor unit configured to execute the plurality of application software program files, and        a second interface controller;          applying power to said computer system such that said ACM communicates with the console through said interface controllers, the ACM executing a security program, said security program being stored in said mass storage device;        storing a user password in said ACM; and        prompting for said user password from a user on a display coupled to the console; wherein said interface controllers communicates through a differential signal channel for communicating an encoded serial bit stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction, the differential signal channel transmitting data in two sets of unidirectional serial bit channels in opposite directions.     
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 36  wherein said mass memory storage device comprises flash memory. 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 36  wherein said security program manages a user's privilege to access data based on said password. 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 36  further comprises transmitting the encoded serial bit stream in  10  bit packets. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 36  further comprises the serial bit stream of PCI bus transaction transmitting encoded PCI address and data bits. 
     
     
       41. A computer module comprising:
   an enclosure configured to be inserted into a console to form a functional computer;        a central processing unit in said enclosure, said central processing unit comprising a microprocessor based integrated circuit chip;        a hard disk drive in said enclosure, said hard disk drive coupled to said central processing unit;        a differential signal channel in said enclosure, said differential signal channel comprising two sets of unidirectional serial bit channels in opposite directions;        a first interface controller configured to be coupled to the console upon insertion of the enclosure into the console, the first interface controller configured to transmit Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction on the differential signal channel; and        a programmable memory device in said enclosure, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for preventing unauthorized use of said hard disk drive.     
     
     
       42. The computer module of  claim 41  wherein the first interface controller is configured to be coupled with a second interface controller of the console through the differential signal channel. 
     
     
       43. A computer module comprising:
   an enclosure configured to be inserted into a console;        a central processing unit in said enclosure, said central processing unit comprising a microprocessor based integrated circuit chip;        a hard disk drive in said enclosure, said hard disk drive being coupled to said central processing unit;        a differential signal channel in said enclosure, said differential signal channel comprising two sets of unidirectional serial channels in opposite directions;        an interface controller coupled to the differential signal channels and configured to communicate data in a form of encoded bit stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction; and        a programmable memory device in said enclosure, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for preventing unauthorized use of said hard disk drive.     
     
     
       44. A method for operating a computer system, said method comprising:
   inserting an attached computer module (“ACM”)  into a bay of a modular computer system, said ACM comprising,      a microprocessor unit coupled to a mass memory storage device;        a differential signal channel comprising two sets of unidirectional serial channels in opposite directions; and        an interface controller coupled to the differential signal channel and configured to communicate data on the serial channels comprising encoded bit stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect ( PCI) bus transaction;          applying power to said computer system and said ACM to execute a security program, said security program being stored in said mass memory storage device; and        prompting for a user password from a user on a display.     
     
     
       45. A method for operating a computer system, said method comprising:
   inserting an attached computer module (“ACM”) into a bay of a modular computer system, said ACM comprising,      a microprocessor unit coupled to a mass memory storage device;        a differential signal channel comprising two sets of unidirectional serial channels in opposite directions, and        an interface controller coupled to a connector through the differential signal channel, wherein data communication to the serial channels comprises an encoded bit stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction;          applying power to said computer system and said ACM to execute a security program, said security program being stored in said mass memory storage device; and        prompting for a user password from a user on a display.     
     
     
       46. A computer module comprising:
   an enclosure configured to be inserted into a slot of a console comprising a power supply;        a central processing unit in said enclosure, said central processing unit comprising a microprocessor based integrated circuit chip;        a hard disk drive in said enclosure, said hard disk drive being coupled to said central processing unit;        a low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channel in said enclosure, said low voltage differential signal channel comprising two sets of multiple unidirectional serial differential signal channels in opposite directions;        an interface controller coupled to a connector through the low voltage differential signal channel and configured to communicate data in a form of encoded bit stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction; and        a programmable memory device in said enclosure, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for preventing unauthorized use of said hard disk drive.     
     
     
       47. The computer module of  claim 46  configured to receive power from the power supply in the console after insertion into the console. 
     
     
       48. The computer module of  claim 46  wherein the LVDS channel is configured to communicate in  10  bit packets. 
     
     
       49. The computer module of  claim 46  wherein the interface controller in the computer module is configured to couple to the console upon insertion into the console. 
     
     
       50. A computer module comprising:
   an enclosure insertable into a slot of a console to form a functional computer, said console comprising a first interface controller;        a central processing unit in said enclosure, said central processing unit comprising a microprocessor based integrated circuit chip;        a hard disk drive in said enclosure, said hard disk drive being coupled to said central processing unit;        a second interface controller coupled to the first interface controller through a low voltage differential signal  ( LVDS )  channel comprising two sets of multiple unidirectional serial differential signal channels in opposite directions and configured to communicate data in a form of encoded bit stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect  ( PCI )  bus transaction; and        a programmable memory device in said enclosure, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for preventing unauthorized use of said hard disk drive.     
     
     
       51. The computer module of  claim 50  wherein the LVDS channel is configured to communicate in  10  bit packets. 
     
     
       52. The computer module of  claim 50  further comprising a security program configured to manage a user's access privilege of data based on said password. 
     
     
       53. A computer module comprising:
   an enclosure insertable into a slot of a console to form a functional computer, said console comprising a power supply;        a central processing unit in said enclosure, said central processing unit comprising a microprocessor based integrated circuit chip;        a hard disk drive in said enclosure, said hard disk drive being coupled to said central processing unit;        an interface controller coupled to the console upon insertion through a low voltage differential signal  ( LVDS )  channel comprising two sets of multiple unidirectional serial differential signal channels in opposite directions and configured to communicate data in a form of encoded bit stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect  ( PCI )  bus transaction; and        a programmable memory device in said enclosure, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for preventing unauthorized use of said hard disk drive.     
     
     
       54. The computer module of  claim 53  wherein the LVDS channel is configured to communicate in  10  bit packets. 
     
     
       55. The computer module of  claim 53  further comprising a security program configured to manage a user's access privilege of data based on said password. 
     
     
       56. The computer module of  claim 53  configured to receive power from the power supply after insertion into the console. 
     
     
       57. A computer module comprising:
   an enclosure configured to be inserted into a slot of a console comprising a LAN communication device;        a central processing unit in said enclosure, said central processing unit comprising a microprocessor based integrated circuit chip;        a hard disk drive in said enclosure, said hard disk drive being coupled to said central processing unit;        a low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channel in said enclosure, said low voltage differential signal channel comprising two sets of multiple unidirectional serial bit channels in opposite directions and configured to communicate data in a form of encoded bit stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction;        an interface controller coupled to the low voltage differential signal channel; and        a programmable memory device in said enclosure, said programmable memory device being configurable to store a password for preventing unauthorized use of said hard disk drive.     
     
     
       58. The computer module of  claim 57  wherein the LVDS channel is configured to communicate in  10  bit packets. 
     
     
       59. The computer module of  claim 57  wherein the computer module is configured to receive power to operate from a power supply in the console after insertion into the console.