JPH05204484A - Portable computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate illegal use by a third person by judging the correctness of system using from given key information at the time of power supply of a main body of a device and making the normal processing of the whole device when the system using is not correct. CONSTITUTION:When a power source switch 6 becomes on, information of a key module 41 mounted in a key interface part 40 is read-in to confirm whether it is correct or not. When correctness is not confirmed, a power source control processor 2 set a random number decided by a random number generation means in a counter in RAM to start the counter, prepares a reset command after waiting for time corresponding to the set value and sends it to main CPU 11 by way of a power source control interface 28, etc. Thus, system processing is reset and the system comes into the state where a program board is necessary so that substantial processing becomes impossible. Thus, unfair using by the third person can be prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable computer having an antitheft mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, personal computers have become smaller and lighter in weight, easier to carry, and have higher performance and higher functionality. In particular, in recent years, battery-operable personal computers such as a laptop type and a book type, which are equipped with a mass storage such as a hard disk drive (HDD) and a RAM pack, have become widespread and used in various fields.

This type of personal computer is characterized in that it is easy to carry, but along with this, countermeasures against theft and theft have become a major issue. That is, a small personal computer such as a laptop type or a book type is easy to be stolen and plagiarized because it is easy to carry, and in particular, a high-performance small-sized computer equipped with a large-capacity storage such as a hard disk drive and a large-capacity IC memory Personal computers often store high-level and important information with extremely high asset value, and theft of both hardware and software, including the theft of such information,
Countermeasures against plagiarism become a major issue.

However, in this kind of conventional small personal computer, no sufficient measures are taken against theft and plagiarism, and there is a problem in handling sensitive and important information. Was left.

[0005]

As described above, in the past, measures against theft and plagiarism have not been sufficiently taken in small personal computers, and in recent years, in particular, they are easy to carry and have high performance and large capacity. With the advent of small capacity personal computers, reliable measures against theft and plagiarism have become essential.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable computer that prevents the computer body from being stolen by making the system inoperable in the case of unauthorized use by a third party, and thus realizes the theft and stolen functions of both hardware and software.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in a portable computer which is easy to carry, the validity of the system is judged by judging the validity of the system from the supplied key information when the power of the apparatus main body is turned on. If it is not determined that there is a means to lead to the state that the normal processing operation of the main unit cannot be maintained, and that the normal system operation is not maintained when the legal use is not confirmed, it is necessary to set up an environment to prevent unauthorized use. Characterize.

To give a concrete example,
The legitimacy of the system is judged from the key information of the key module in the key module attachment / detachment section that enables only the authorized user to present the key module and the system startup process accompanying the power switch on operation. When the correctness is not confirmed by the means and the means, the system reset signal is generated or the system power is forcibly cut off at an undetermined timing within a predetermined time range, and normal system processing operation cannot be maintained. And a means for guiding.

[0009]

According to the present invention, in a portable computer that is easy to carry, when the power of the apparatus main body is turned on, the validity of the system is judged by the key information provided, and when the validity of the system is not judged, Set the state where normal processing operation of the device body cannot be maintained. To give a specific example, when the system is used, by presenting the key module that only a legitimate user has to the computer main body, the key information of the above key module is used in the system startup process accompanying the power switch on operation of the computer main body. When the correctness of system use is judged and the correctness is not confirmed, a system reset signal is generated or the system power is forcibly cut off at an indefinite timing within a predetermined time range to ensure normal system processing operation. Lead to an unsustainable state. As described above, the theft and plagiarism prevention mechanism which causes an abnormality at an undetermined timing during use prevents unauthorized use by a third party and prevents theft and plagiarism including software of the computer main body.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a portable computer equipped with an anti-theft mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, a microprocessor of an intelligent power supply (power supply device) for centrally managing a system power supply is shown. An example of a configuration in which a processing function (fit processing function) for preventing theft and theft is used is illustrated.
2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the power supply device 1 shown in FIG.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an intelligent power supply (herein referred to as a power supply device) equipped with a microprocessor for controlling the power supply of the system, which controls the entire system. CPU in charge
It is connected to the (main CPU) 11 via the system bus 10 and a power supply control interface (PS-IF) 28.

In addition to the original system power supply control function of centrally managing the system power supply, the power supply device 1 sets a state in which an abnormality occurs at an indefinite timing to prevent theft and theft as shown in FIG. It has a so-called fit processing function, and each has a power control processor (PC-CP).
U) The process is executed under the control of 2.

The power supply control processor 2 constantly monitors and controls the power supply regardless of the on / off state of the power supply, and according to the power supply control program stored in the internal ROM 4, various operations for system operation. Control of the power supply circuit 3 for generating and outputting the power supply for power supply, on / off control of power supply in accordance with the operation of the power switch 6, and the built-in battery 31A,
It centrally manages the system power supply including charge control according to the charge control parameters of 31B and 31S. Further, the power supply control processor 2 executes, in addition to the various power supply control processes described above, a fit process for setting an abnormal state at an indefinite timing, which is shown in FIG.

A power supply control interface (PS-) used for data transmission / reception between the power supply device 1 and the main CPU 11.
The IF) 28 transmits / receives data via the I / O register (serial I / O) 20 of the power supply device 1. The I / O register (serial I / O) 20 of the power supply device 1 is the power control processor 2 The received data is converted into serial data and sent out to the power supply control interface (PS-IF) 28.
Restores the serial data to parallel data and sends it to the main CPU 11 via the system bus 10.

In the fit processing (processing for setting a state in which an abnormality occurs at an undefined timing to prevent theft or theft) executed as part of the power control processing under the control of the power control processor 2, the key discrimination is performed. When the validity is not confirmed by the processing, the system reset signal (R-CMD) is generated at an undefined timing within a predetermined time range, and the system reset signal (R-CMD) is sent to the I / O register (serial I / O). ) 20 to the main CPU 11.

The power supply circuit 3, which is a main component of the power supply device 1, controls the output of the power supply to each component in the system under the control of the power supply control processor 2 via the I / O driver 8. A switch circuit 33 is provided. This switch circuit 33 is provided for each battery (31
A, 31B, 31S), a battery unit 31,
And each output power of the power supply adapter 29 is input as a primary power supply, and under the control of the power supply control processor 2, DC-DC
It controls the output of the primary power supply to the converter 34 and also controls the charging of the battery unit 31.

The DC-DC converter 34 receives the primary power source through the switch circuit 33 to generate the operating power source (secondary power source) for each component in the system and supply it to each component. At this time, the backup power source (VBK) is not controlled by the switch circuit 33 and is always output.

In addition, the power supply device 1 having the power supply control processor 2 is provided with an anti-theft function section using the three-dimensional key having the specific code information, which is a component of reference numerals 40 and 41.

That is, reference numeral 40 denotes a key interface unit (Key-I / F) connected to the internal bus 9 of the power supply device 1 and realizes the read access function of the key code by the power supply control processor 2.

This key interface section (Key-I / F)
Reference numeral 40 includes a key insertion opening formed in the system body and a mounting storage portion for the same key, and has a signal terminal portion on a predetermined surface portion of the key mounting storage portion.

Reference numeral 41 denotes the key interface section (Key-
This is a key module with specific code information for personal identification, which is mounted on the I / F) 40, and when the system is used, the key interface part (Key-
I / F) 40.

Incidentally, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, each constituent element other than the above-mentioned constituent elements is described in, for example, JP-A-2-
The detailed description of components that are not directly related to the present invention will be omitted here, as disclosed in detail in Japanese Patent No. 166209, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-27413, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-27414, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a fit processing routine executed under the power supply control processor 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and here, when the validity is not confirmed, within the predetermined time range. An example is shown of a process in which a system reset signal is generated at an indefinite timing and a normal system processing operation cannot be maintained. The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The power supply control processor 2 always monitors and controls the power supply according to the power supply control program stored in the internal ROM 4 regardless of the on / off state of the power supply.

That is, the power supply control processor 2 uses the internal RO
Execute the processing of the power supply control program stored in M4,
System power control such as power on / off control and charging control is performed, and the anti-theft fit process shown in FIG. 3 is executed.

In this fit processing, it is determined whether or not the power switch 6 has been turned on, and when it is recognized that the power switch 6 has been turned on, the key interface unit (Key-I / F) 40 is mounted. Key module (Key)
41 key information is read and the key interface (Ke
It is determined whether or not a key module (Key) 41 which is held only by a legitimate user is mounted on the yI / F) 40 (FIG. 3).
Steps S1 and S2).

Here, when the validity is confirmed, that is, when the key module (Key) 41 mounted on the key interface unit (Key-I / F) 40 is the code of the authorized user, the fit process is terminated. To do.

When the validity is not confirmed, that is, when the key module (Key) 41 mounted on the key interface unit (Key-I / F) 40 does not have the code of the authorized user, or the key module (Key) ) 41 is not installed, the power supply control processor 2 activates the random number generation means and sets a value that changes within a predetermined range in a counter in the internal RAM 5 at a predetermined timing,
The counter is activated and the counting operation according to the set value is started (steps S3 and S4 in FIG. 3).

Further, the power supply control processor 2 waits for the end of the counting of the counter and then resets the command (R-
CMD) is generated (steps S5 and S6 in FIG. 3), and the command (R-CMD) is sent to the I / O register (serial I / O).
O) 20, power control interface (PS-IF) 2
It is sent to the main CPU 11 via the CPU 8 or the like (step S7 in FIG. 3).

As a result, after the power switch 6 is turned on to start the system, the system processing is reset within a short time (according to the random number value), and the state in which the program load is required is restored. Processing becomes impossible.

Thus, even if a third party who does not have the correct key tries to start the system, the system is reset in a short time, so that the unauthorized use by the third party can be eliminated and the software of the computer main body can be eliminated. It is possible to prevent theft and theft including. In particular, by clearly showing in a pamphlet, a usage manual, etc., that a third party recognizes that normal operation cannot be maintained without a correct key, a more remarkable antitheft and antitheft effect can be expected.

In the above embodiment, the system reset by the reset command (R-CMD) output from the power supply unit 1 can be input not only by the reset button operation but also by the key operation, for example. It may be a reset corresponding to another system reset (restart of the system).

Further, in the above embodiment, the theft and plagiarism mechanism for resetting the system processing is taken as an example. For example, in the judgment of the validity of the system use based on the given key information, the validity of the system use is judged. When sex is not judged,
The system operation power supply may be cut off (or temporarily cut off) at an indefinite timing within a predetermined time range.

In this case, instead of the reset command (R-CMD), the power supply unit 1 outputs a power supply cutoff command to the switch circuit 33 to forcibly cut off the power supply to the DC-DC converter 34 temporarily. ..

Even in such a configuration, when the system is improperly used, the system is set to the fit state (meaning seizure or attraction) as in the above-described embodiment, so that the system does not have the correct key. When a third party attempts to start up the system, the system is temporarily turned off within a short period of time, so it is possible to prevent unauthorized use by a third party, and theft and plagiarism including the software of the computer itself. Can be prevented.

In the above embodiment, the antitheft mechanism is realized by using the power supply control processor 2 built in the power supply device 1. However, the invention is not limited to this, and the structure is realized by the processing of the main CPU 11, for example. A configuration having a control processor dedicated to theft prevention may be used.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, although the constitution is such that the legitimacy of the system is judged by the key possessed by the legitimate user, for example, the power supply unit 1 is provided with a keypad,
Other legitimacy recognizing means may be used, for example, the ID information is operated and input by the key operation on the keypad, and the power supply control processor 2 judges the legitimacy of system use based on the ID information.

[0038]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when the power of the apparatus main body is turned on, there is a means for judging the validity of the system using the key information provided, and the validity of the system use by the means. When it is not judged, it is equipped with a means to lead to the state where normal processing operation of the main body of the device cannot be maintained, and the system environment is such that normal system operation is not maintained when proper use is not confirmed. Unauthorized use can be eliminated, and theft and theft, including the software of the computer itself, can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a portable computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the power supply device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a fitting process operation of the embodiment shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Power supply (intelligent power supply), 2
... power control processor (PC-CPU), 3 power circuit, 4 internal ROM, 5 internal RAM, 6 power switch, 7 I / O register (parallel I / O), 8 I / O
O driver, 9 ... internal bus, 10 ... system bus, 11
... Main CPU, 20 ... I / O register (serial I / O
O), 28 ... Power supply control interface (PS-I
F), 31 ... Battery unit, 32 ... Charge unit, 33 ... Switch circuit, 34, 35 ... DC-DC converter, 40 ... Key interface section (Key-I / F)
), 41 ... Key module (Key), R-CMD ... Reset command.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. When the power of the apparatus main body is turned on, a means for judging the validity of the system use based on the information given by a specific operation, and the normality of the apparatus main body when the validity of the system use is not judged by the means. A portable computer comprising means for leading to a state where processing operation cannot be maintained. 2. A means for judging the validity of system use from the key information provided when the power of the apparatus main body is turned on,
A portable computer comprising means for outputting a reset signal at an undetermined timing within a predetermined time range when the validity of the system is not judged by the means. 3. A means for judging the validity of system use from the supplied key information when the power of the apparatus main body is turned on,
A portable computer, characterized in that it comprises means for cutting off the system operating power supply at an indefinite timing within a predetermined time range when the validity of the system is not judged by the means. 4. The key information is provided to the device body by a key module independent of the device body.
The listed portable computer.