JPH06332560A - Computer with remote control input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To switch to a mode to detect a password that is inputted from a MODEM, etc., by remote control and then to detect the input from a MODEM, etc. CONSTITUTION:The computer containing a remote input device consists of an emergency release key 9 that serves as a detection mode switch means to detect a password inputted from a MODEM 11, etc., by remote control when a power supply to a computer 12 is started and a detecting means which detects the input from a MODEM 10, etc., in response to the switch means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having a password function, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus having a password function and including a word processor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are several types of passwords, such as a password to be checked at startup and a password to be checked when a specific operation is in use.

FIG. 8 is a system configuration diagram of a general computer in which a password can be set, and FIG. 9 shows the configuration in the memory.

The ROM 41 stores basic programs necessary for starting and operating the system. The non-volatile memory 43 is a storage device in which the contents can be written by the operation of the system user and retains the contents even when the power is turned off. Usually, a method of backing up the power source of a C-MOS-RAM with a battery is often adopted. ing. Basic and important information necessary for starting and operating the system is stored therein, and information regarding the password is stored in the nonvolatile memory 43 by the operation of the system user. The stored contents are the password use flag 49,
The password character string (4
8).

FIG. 10 shows a password check procedure in the processing procedure when the power is turned on. At power-on, if the password use flag (16) is “OK”, the system accepts a key input from the system user and starts up only when it is the same as the stored password character string (48), The system is ready for use. If you enter an incorrect password character string, S8-4, S8-5, S8-
The process proceeds to S8-3, S8-4, and again requests the password character string. That is, the system has a structure such that the system cannot be used unless a correct password character string is input.

[0006]

Due to the above configuration,
In a conventional information processing device, the system user forgets the password, or the password has been rewritten for some reason, so that the same character string as the password character string 48 stored in the system cannot be input. When it becomes impossible, in the current technology, when the power is turned on, the system is started according to the procedure of FIG. 10, and the correct password character string 48 is required to be input in S8-4, so this state is canceled by the normal operation. However, it is necessary to bring the system to the service base of the manufacturer that has the password release facility, and the system user should immediately The system is unavailable.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances. For the purpose of preventing the system user from using the personal computer etc. without permission, the "password setting, power-on system There is a system that has a function to check the user's key input and start it only when it is the same as the set character string. In this check process, not only the key input but also the input from the modem etc. is checked. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved system capable of inputting a password by remote control.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the power input to the computer is confirmed by inputting the password, and the input device of the computer is started only when the passwords match. In detection mode switching means for detecting when the password is inputted by remote control from a modem or the like when the power of the computer is turned on, and detection means for detecting input from the modem or the like according to the switching means. A computer with a remote control input device, characterized in that

[0009]

According to the present invention, since the input can be performed by remote control, the service base of the manufacturer having the password release facility can release the password check by using the telephone line and the system user can immediately use the system. Also, there is little burden such as the cost required for cancellation.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of a computer capable of setting a password according to the present invention.

Storage device 1, ROM 2, RAM 3, non-volatile memory 4, central processing unit 5, display device 6, input device 7,
An external storage device 8, an emergency release key 9, a modem 10, a modem 11, a computer 12, and a switching center 13 'are provided. The modems 11 and 12 are equipments for remotely releasing the password, and the computer in the equipments has a very general configuration, so the details are omitted.
FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the memory.

The emergency canceling code 13 is determined in advance and is stored at the time of manufacturing the system in such a way as not to be lost. Generally, it is usually stored in the ROM 2, which is the case in the embodiment.
There are other methods, and it is not possible to limit to this. (Example:
Stored in an external storage device, stored on a semiconductor chip that exists on the circuit, or by utilizing the electrical characteristics of the circuit).

The emergency release key 9 is necessary for the present invention,
Although it is described as an independent key, it is not always necessary to provide a special key, and it is possible to substitute the operation of inputting a code not used for the password character string from the input device.

Modem / NCU (Network Con
The control unit 10 is necessary for the present invention,
Alternatively, any device that inputs data from a remote place apart from the system can be used instead.

FIG. 3 shows a password check procedure in the processing procedure when the power is turned on. When the password is not set, the password use flag 16 is "No"
If the system user sets a password, this will be (OK) and at the same time the password character string 15
In addition, the character string input by the system user is stored. This is a password registration procedure that is generally performed by a computer, and therefore its details are omitted.

Next, the processing when the power is turned on will be described. When the power of the system is turned on, first, the devices installed in the system are checked and initialized (S in FIG. 3).
3-1). Next, the password use flag 16 is checked (S3-2), and if “no”, the password is not checked and the initialization is continued. If there is no abnormality in the system,
The OS is loaded and the system becomes usable (S3-
7). If the password use flag is "OK", then the password is checked. First, a display prompting the user to enter a password is displayed on the display device 6 (S3-3), and waits until the system user operates the input device 7 (S3-4).

When waiting for password input (S3-4),
The character string input by the system user is compared with the registered password character string 15 (S3-5), initialization is continued only when they match, and the system becomes usable (S3).
3-7).

Here, if the system user cannot input the same character string as the registered password character string, initialization cannot be continued in the prior art. That is, S3-
4 → S3-5 → S3-6 → S3-4, and again S3-
Returning to 4, I cannot use the system forever.

In the present invention, the password input waiting (S3-
At the time of 4), by operating the emergency release key 9 (S3-8), the password is input by the modem / NCU 10
(S3-8). Then, the presence / absence of a modem / NCU is checked (S3-9), and if OK, it is checked whether data can be received, that is, whether a data ring is established (S3-10).・
Data is received from the NCU (S3-11). this is,
Details are omitted because this is a technique that is usually performed by a computer. The received data is compared with the emergency release code stored in advance in the ROM (at the time of manufacturing the system) (S3-12). If they match, as in the case where the correct password is entered, the system initialization continues, and if there is no abnormality, the OS is loaded and the system becomes usable. Input process from modem / NCU (S
3-9 to 13), if any error is detected,
The error is displayed on the display device 6 (S3-14), and the process returns to the password input waiting (S3-4).

On the other hand, the service base of the manufacturer needs to prepare equipment capable of correctly outputting the emergency cancel code (S3-12) to the communication line. This equipment is a modem N
It is composed of a general computer 12 to which the CU 11 is connected, an emergency release program (3-3 in FIG. 4), and a model code correspondence table (3-2 in FIG. 4).

FIG. 4 shows the memory configuration of this computer. When the power is turned on, the emergency release program 3-3 is automatically executed, and this program automatically loads the model code correspondence table 3-2 into the memory. . These techniques are general and will not be described in detail. After that, the emergency release program waits for the input of model information (S5-2), and when the system user requests it, the emergency release code is input according to the procedure shown in FIG. Send more. Model code correspondence table 3-2
Is a table in which the emergency release codes of all the manufactured models are compared for each model information.

Further, what is compared with each model information is that
By changing the emergency release code for each model, the risk of the emergency release code leaking to the outside is reduced.
It is not an essential condition, it is just an example.

FIG. 5 shows the operation of the emergency release program. If there is a request (S5-1) from the system user to cancel the password, the model information (S5-1)
Confirm and enter 5-2). The model information (S5-2) is a model name, a manufacturing number, etc., and is information for identifying the emergency cancel code. When this is input, the correct emergency release code is searched from the model code correspondence table 3-2 (S
5-3). Then, it is checked whether the system user can receive data, that is, whether the data ring is established (S5-4), and if it is OK, the emergency release code is sent to the communication line via the modem / NCU. (S5-
7) Output the completion to the display device (S5-8),
The processing is completed (S5-9). If it is not OK in S5-4, an error is output to the display device (S5-5). At this time, if the operator does not operate the end key, S5 is executed again.
Return to -4. When the data ring is not established forever, the operator can operate the end key to forcibly stop the operation (S5-6 → 9).

A series of these processes enables the following services. That is, the system user calls the manufacturer and establishes the data ring before the password is input (S3-1 to S4). With the above preparations, the password check can be passed and the system can be used immediately by operating the emergency release key 9 instead of the password. There are various possible emergency release keys, but the simplest method is shown.

FIG. 6 is a detailed description of the emergency release key, which was described as a single device in FIG. The central processing unit (6-1) corresponds to 4 in FIG. 1, and the part surrounded by the broken line corresponds to 9 in FIG. 1 by the emergency release key. The emergency release key is the address decoder (6-2),
It is composed of a switch (6-3) and a pull-up resistor (6-4). The pull-up resistor is connected to the system power supply VCC (6-8) and one terminal of the switch is connected to the system ground (6-9). The other terminal of the switch is connected to the address decoder (6-2) and the pull-up resistor. The switch (6-3) represents a contact portion of the emergency release key, and normally the contacts are separated from each other. When the emergency release key is pressed, the contact is closed and electrical continuity can be established. The address decoder (6-2) includes an I / O-r signal line (6-5),
It is connected to the central processing unit (6-1) via the address decoder (6-6) and the data bus (6-7). I / O-r
The signal line is a signal line which becomes 1 when the central processing unit accesses the I / O device. (In reality, there are many negative logic circuits, but here, for simplification, all the logic including the signals described later is used.) The address decoder (6-2) is composed of logic circuits. It becomes 1 only when the address bus (6-6) has one specific value (referred to as an emergency release key boat), and I / O
It is made such that the switch state is connected to the data bus (6-7) only when the result is 1 by ANDing with the -r signal line (6-5). This is a technique that is often used, so details are omitted.

Next, the operation will be described. If the emergency release key is pressed, that is, the switch (6-3) is closed, it is connected to the ground (6-9), so that it looks like 0 from the address decoder (6-2) side. If you do not press the emergency release key, you will not be connected to the ground (6-9), so it will be connected to the power supply VCC (6-8) through the pull-up resistor (6-4), so 1 from the address decoder (6-2) side. Looks like. In this way, the state of the emergency release key can be converted into logical information. Next, when the central processing unit (6-1) tries to read data from the port of the emergency release key,
The I / O-r (6-5) becomes 1 and the address bus (6-6) becomes the specified value. The output becomes 1 even through the logic circuit of the address decoder (6-2), and I / O-r
Since the output ANDed with the signal line (6-5) is also 1, the state of the switch is connected to the data bus (6-7), and 1 or 0 is read according to the state. In this way, whether or not the emergency release key is operated can be checked at any time.

Next, the operation of the software for switching to the modem is shown in FIG. Waiting for password input in Fig. 3 (S3-
When it becomes 4), the port of the emergency release key is read (S7-
1). 1 or 0 is read as data through the circuit already described. This is judged (S7-2), and if 0, it means that the emergency release key has been pressed, so S3-9 in FIG.
If the value is 1, the key input is checked because it has not been pressed (S7-3). If there is no key input, the process starts over from S3-1. If there is a key input, it can be determined that a password has been input, so control is passed to S3-5 in FIG.

[0029]

According to the present invention, since the data can be input by remote control, the service base of the manufacturer having the password cancellation facility can cancel the password check by using the telephone line, etc., and the system user can immediately enter the system. It can be used, and the burden of releasing it is low.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a memory of the computer of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a password confirmation operation of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a memory of a computer of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an emergency canceling operation of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of an emergency release key included in the system configuration of the computer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an emergency release operation for switching to the modem of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a conventional computer.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a memory of a conventional computer.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a conventional password confirmation operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Storage Device 2 ROM 3 RAM 4 Nonvolatile Memory 5 Central Processing Unit 6 Display Device 7 Input Device 8 External Storage Device 9 Emergency Release Key 10 Modem

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An input device of a computer which starts up a computer only when the power-on to the computer is confirmed by inputting a password and the passwords match. When the computer is powered on, the password is a modem. A remote operation input device comprising a detection mode switching means for detecting an input from a remote operation from a remote controller, and a detection means for detecting an input from a modem or the like according to the switching means. Computer with. 2. A computer with a remote control input device according to claim 1, wherein said detection mode switching means comprises an emergency release key.