Software controlled port locking mechanisms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10796029-B2
Application number	US-201715828249-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2017
Priority date	Nov 30, 2017
Publication date	Oct 6, 2020
Grant date	Oct 6, 2020

Abstract

An operating system for a computer device that includes code in the form of a hook that controls lock in and lock out of a removable data communication connection object (for example, a cable terminating in a connector, a card) with respect to a data communication port by means of an electromechanical lock. Software requiring system administrator authentication to lock a removable data communication connection object out of a data communication port. Software requiring system administrator authentication to lock a removable data communication connection object into a data communication port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
providing a first computer device with a data communication port that includes an electromechanical lock that is movable between at least two positions as follows: (i) a locked position where any mechanically engaged removable data communication object is locked from being removed from mechanical engagement with the data communication port and any uninserted data communication object is locked out from mechanically engaging the data communication port; and (ii) an unlocked position where removable data communication objects are free to be mechanically engaged and disengaged with the data communication port;
after a removable mechanical data communication object has been mechanically engaged with the data communication port, moving, under control of software running on computer(s), the electromechanical lock from the unlocked position to the locked position so that the removable data communication object cannot be removed from the data communication port;
receiving a request, through software running on computer(s), to unlock the data communication port so that the removable data communication object can be removed from the data communication port, with the request being received by a system administrator device that is used by a system administrator who is a human individual;
responsive to the receipt of the request, receiving from the system administrator and through the system administrator device, authorization to unlock the data communication port;
responsive to receipt of the authorization from the system administrator, unlocking the data communication port so that the removable data communication object can be removed; and
responsive to removal of the data communication object, re-locking, by software running on computer(s), the data communication port so that removable data communication objects can not be mechanically engaged with the data communication port.

2. The CIM of claim 1 wherein the data communication port is structured, sized, shaped and located to receive Ethernet type removable data communication objects.

3. The CIM of claim 1 wherein the data communication port is structured, sized, shaped and located to receive FICON (fiber connection) channel type removable data communication objects.

4. The CIM of claim 1 wherein the data communication port is structured, sized, shaped and located to receive Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) and/or Enhanced Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP+) type removable data communication objects.

5. The CIM of claim 1 wherein the data communication port is structured, sized, shaped and located to receive Gigabit Interface Converter (GBIC) type removable data communication objects.

6. The CIM of claim 1 wherein the data communication port is structured, sized, shaped and located to receive Universal Serial Bus (USB) type removable data communication objects.

7. The CIM of claim 1 wherein the data communication port is structured, sized, shaped and located to receive Direct Attach Cable (DAC) type removable data communication objects.

8. The CIM of claim 1 wherein the request is sent by an information technology (IT) worker who is working on repair and/or maintenance of the first computer device.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Pedrone Miles C
• Hicks Andrew C M
• Lyons Michael P
• Tang Yunli
• Garrett Tynan J

Classifications

• G06F21/85 Primary

  interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices · CPC title

• G06F2213/0026

  PCI express · CPC title

• G06F13/4282

  on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus (on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247) · CPC title