Combined RSM State-Change Initiation Sequence

Abstract

A user's intention to perform a computer operation is confirmed in order to safeguard against accidental performance of the operation. The operation is initiated only after a user's intention to perform the operation is confirmed. The user's intention is confirmed by changing, within the computer configuration, the state of the combined presence of a first removable storage medium and a second removable storage medium. The user's intention is confirmed without requiring the use of a user-input device of a computer.

Description

[0001] This patent application is a continuation application claiming priority in the United States under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120 to the benefit of the filing date of international patent application serial No. PCT / US02 / 40106, filed designating the United States on Dec. 16, 2002, and titled "Initiation Sequences For Performing Protected Computer Operations" (and to be published in English), which international patent application is incorporated herein by reference. This application also relates to the same field of invention as the current assignee's U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 248,424, filed Jan. 18, 2003, which is the nonprovisional of provisional U.S. patent application serial No. 60 / 350,434, filed Jan. 22, 2002, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0002] It is desirable when a certain operation is to be performed on a computer to require user confirmation for such operation before initiation thereof. By way of example and not limitation...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention relates to a system and method for confirming a user's intention to perform a computer operation only after they have confirmed their intention through a user-input device. This prevents accidental computer operations from being performed. The invention involves replacing a first removable storage medium with a second removable storage medium after a program on the first medium has been read, and initiating the operation only after the second removable storage medium is confirmed to be present. This method can be performed using computer-readable media and hardware. The technical effect of the invention is to ensure that computer operations are performed only after the user's intention to do so is confirmed."

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, there are circumstances in which a user's intention to perform an operation cannot be confirmed beforehand and, thus, the operation is unprotected from accidental performance.

For example, a user's intention to perform an operation cannot be confirmed when there are no traditional user-input and / or user-output devices.

A user's intention to perform an operation also cannot be confirmed when user-input and / or user-output devices associated with a computer malfunction or otherwise are disabled.

A user's intention to perform an operation also cannot be confirmed when the operation itself must be successfully performed on the computer before the associated user-input and / or user-output devices may even be initialized.

Under these circumstances, allowing an operation to be performed on the computer without user confirmation is undesirable but, nevertheless, necessary.

The disadvantages of not being able to confirm a user's intentions to perform an operation are particularly apparent when an operation is to be performed on a "headless server" using a "bootstrap program."

The headless server then might run unattended for months or years.

Unfortunately, if the bootstrap media is inadvertently left in the drive of the headless server (which frequently happens), then, upon reboot months or years later, the operation performed by the auto-running bootstrap program on the headless server automatically restarts contrary to the actual intention of the user.

Such an accidental restarting of the bootstrap program (which does not seek to confirm a user's intention to perform again the operation) often indicates deletion of or damage to data and security information on the headless server.

While certainly not as costly as destroying months or years of data, the requirement of a reboot nonetheless proves wasteful and frustrating when the bootstrap media is inadvertently left in the drive.

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