USB Keyboard Wake-Up Apparatus with Password Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for protecting computer safety, such as using passwords or BIOS verification, are ineffective when the OS or BIOS can be deciphered, and existing solutions like Taiwan patent 374871 are not applicable to USB keyboards due to the lack of a USB host interface in Super IO.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus electrically coupled to a south bridge or Platform Controller Hub with a second USB host interface, a switch element, a control element with memory for storing a password, and a wake-up element, which switches the USB keyboard between host interfaces to securely wake up the computer system from suspend or shutdown modes by comparing input passwords.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a USB keyboard is used with conventional protection methods (Super IO), then the computer can be protected with password verification, but Super IO lacks a USB host interface making it incompatible
Solution Approach 1:
The south bridge or PCH is designed to provide USB host interface functionality for wake-up operations, making it universally compatible with USB keyboards. This eliminates the limitation of Super IO by utilizing the existing USB capabilities of the south bridge/PCH, allowing the same protection mechanism to work with modern USB keyboards while maintaining compatibility with the system's existing USB infrastructure
2Reliability
If password verification is performed through OS or BIOS, then user authentication can be implemented, but the OS or BIOS can be deciphered compromising security
Solution Approach 1:
The south bridge or PCH acts as an intermediary between the USB keyboard and the system, performing password verification before the system fully boots into OS or BIOS. This mediator role allows authentication to occur at a lower level where the password checking logic is more protected and cannot be easily accessed or deciphered by users, thereby maintaining security while still enabling convenient USB keyboard input
Solution Approach 2:
Password verification is performed preliminarily during the wake-up process before the system enters normal operation mode. By conducting authentication earlier in the boot sequence, the system ensures that only authorized users can proceed to load the OS or BIOS, preventing unauthorized access and potential decryption attempts before they can occur
3Use of energy by moving object
If the system enters suspend-to-ram mode, suspend-to-disk mode or shutdown mode to save energy, then power consumption is reduced, but the system cannot respond to USB keyboard input for wake-up
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares wake-up capability in advance by maintaining the ability to detect USB keyboard signals even in suspend or shutdown states. The south bridge or PCH retains minimal functionality to monitor USB ports and detect wake-up triggers, allowing the system to remain in low-power mode while still being ready to respond to authorized wake-up events when the correct password is entered
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for waking up a computer system is disclosed. The apparatus is electrically coupled to a south bridge, or a Platform Controller Hub (PCH), having a first USB host interface. The apparatus comprises: a second USB host interface; a switch element, for electrically coupling a USB keyboard to either the first USB host interface or the second USB host interface; a control element, electrically coupled to the second USB host interface and the switch element; and a wake-up element, electrically coupled to the control element, wherein when the computer system enters a suspend-to-ram mode, a suspend-to-disk mode or a shutdown mode, the control element controls the switch element to electrically couple the USB keyboard to the second USB host interface; wherein when a user inputs a password, the second USB host interface receives the password and transfers it to the control element, and if the password matches the predetermined password, the control element wakes up the computer system and controls the switch element to electrically couple the USB keyboard to the first USB host interface.