Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

Richard O Waldorf

Michael F Angelo

David F Heinrich

Paul R Culley

Alan L Goodrum

Hung Q Le

Barry S Basile

Clarence Y Mar

Raymond Y Chow

Pamela M Cook

Harry Q Le

A computer system according to the present invention implements a self-modifying &ldquo;fail-safe&rdquo; password system that allows a manufacturer or site administrator to securely supply a single-use password to users who lose a power-up password. The fail-safe password system utilizes at least one fail-safe counter, an encryption/decryption algorithm, a public key, and a secure non-volatile memory space. The fail-safe password is derived by generating a hash code using SHA, MD5,or a similar algorithm and encrypting the result. The fail-safe password is then communicated to the user. After the user enters the fail-safe password, the computer system generates an internal hash value and compares it with the hash code of the decrypted fail-safe password. When the decrypted fail-safe password matches the internal hash value, the user is allowed access to the computer system.

Computer access via a single-use password

A computer password security method employing a south bridge circuitry where the user password is compared to a secured password stored in secured memory which is directly accessible to the south bridge circuitry, removing any threat of data bus and/or unprotected memory snooping.

Computer architecture with password-checking bus bridge

A method for powering up a removable circuit card when it is inserted into a card slot of a computer system includes providing power and a clock signal to the circuit card. A communication link is electrically coupled to the circuit card after both the power and the clock signal are provided to the circuit card.

Removal and insertion of expansion cards in a computer system

Growing community of inventors

Cypress, TX, United States of America

Richard O Waldorf