Information handling system port fluidic component manager

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10140478-B2
Application number	US-201514952176-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2015
Priority date	Nov 25, 2015
Publication date	Nov 27, 2018
Grant date	Nov 27, 2018

Abstract

An information handling system processing component is selectively disabled by inflation of a bladder with a microfluidic reservoir in response to a predetermined condition, such as detection of malicious code or unauthorized access to information stored on the information handling system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An information handling system comprising:
a chassis;
a processor disposed in the chassis and operates to execute instructions to process information;
a memory disposed in the chassis and interfaced with the processor, the memory operable to store the information;
one or more removable devices digitally communicatively interfaced with the processor through a connector;
a microfluid bladder disposed proximate the connector and operates to inflate to a predetermined size that interacts with the removable device and the connector to interrupt the digital communication interface;
a microfluidic reservoir in fluidic communication with the microfluid bladder; and
a microfluidic controller interfaced with the microfluidic reservoir and operates to inflate the microfluid bladder in response to detection of a malicious attack to the information handling system seeking unauthorized retrieval of data.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the removable devices comprises a persistent memory storage device.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the removable device comprises a power supply.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the removable device comprises random access memory.

5. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the removable device comprises a network interface card.

6. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising a biasing device disposed proximate the microfluid bladder and operates to re-establish the interface on deflation of the microfluid bladder.

7. A method for securing an information handling system, the method comprising:
detecting, by a processor of the information handling system, malicious attack to the information handling system seeking unauthorized retrieval of data of the information handling system; and
in response to the detecting, inflating a microfluidic bladder, said microfluidic bladder disposed proximate a connector within a digital communication interface between the processor and one or more removable devices, and operates to inflate to a predetermined size that interacts with the one or more removable devices and the connector to interrupt the digital communication interface, said inflating disabling the digital communication interface between the processor and the one or more removable devices.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein:
the detecting comprises an unauthorized access to a storage device; and
the inflating comprises separating the storage device from a communication link with expansion of the microfluidic bladder proximate the communication link.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein:
the detecting comprises an unauthorized access to a network interface device; and
the inflating comprises separating the network interface device from a communication link with expansion of the microfluidic bladder proximate the communication link.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein:
the detecting comprises unauthorized motion of the information handling system; and the inflating comprises destroying a hard disk drive with the inflation of the microfluidic bladder.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein:
the detecting comprises unauthorized opening of a housing enclosing the information handling system; and
the deflating comprises destroying a hard disk drive with the inflation of the microfluidic bladder.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising deflating the microfluidic bladder to re-enable the digital communication interface.

13. A security system comprising:
a fluidic reservoir;
a fluidic bladder interfaced with the fluidic reservoir, said fluidic bladder disposed proximate a connector in a digital communication interface between a processor and one or more removable devices;
a pressure controller interfaced with the fluidic reservoir and fluidic bladder, the pressure controller operates to selectively increase and decrease fluid contents in the fluidic bladder; and
a security module interfaced with the pressure controller and operates to inflate the fluidic bladder in response to detection of malicious code executing at an information handling system, said inflating disabling the digital communication interface between the processor and the one or more removable devices.

14. The security system of claim 13 wherein the removable devices comprises a storage device coupled to the connector, the inflating of the fluidic bladder separating the storage device at the connector.

15. The security system of claim 13 further comprising wherein the removable devices comprises network interface card coupled to the connector, the inflating of the fluidic bladder separating the network interface card at the connector.

16. The security system of claim 13 wherein the removable devices comprises a power supply coupled to the connector, the inflating of the fluidic bladder separating the power supply at the connector.

17. The security system of claim 13 wherein the security module interfaced with the pressure controller and operates to inflate the fluidic bladder further in response to detection of an unauthorized access to information stored on the information handling system.

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• Peana Stefan
• Farhan Munif M
• Schwager Mark A
• Meyers David M
• Leonard Brian Hargrove
• Knepper Lawrence E

Classifications

• G06F21/88 Primary

  Detecting or preventing theft or loss · CPC title

• G06F21/6245

  Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes · CPC title

• G06F2221/034

  Test or assess a computer or a system · CPC title

• G06F21/554

  involving event detection and direct action · CPC title