Importance

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Abstract

In order to boot a portable computer, a smart key is required to be inserted into a PCMCIA card of the portable computer. Firmware in the PCMCIA card verifies that a smart key has been inserted. The portable computer will boot only when two conditions are met. The first condition is that the smart key, the PCMCIA card, and the portable computer all contemporaneously have the matching codes stored therein. The second condition is that the first condition is met and that a new random generated and encrypted code is successfully stored in each of the smart key, the PCMCIA card, and the portable computer. Until these two conditions are met, the portable computer will not boot. Once booted, access to certain coded files on the portable computer is denied if respective matching codes in the coded files are not also contained in the smart key. Also, the portable computer will not exit an idle, sleep, or power conservation mode until the two conditions are met. Also disclosed are an inventive apparatus and system including a smart key, an ASIC analogous to the PCMCIA card, and a computerized apparatus analogous to the portable computer, where the foregoing two conditions must be met before a user gains access to the computerized apparatus. Contemplated computerized apparatus include PDAs, copy machines, facsimile machines, standalone modems, mobile telephones, pagers, televisions, and automobiles.

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First Claim