Patent Application
20090115606
1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method and apparatus relating to ensuring an authenticated device is tamper proof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hand-held devices, such as, calculators, are often used in the educational environment. As a result, these devices are typically used in a classroom environment or even a testing environment to take some of the standardized state-level tests.
Students may use functionalities offered by such hand-held devices during exam in a way that jeopardizes the exam outcome. For example, students may utilize stored equations or communicate with other calculators in their network to retrieve restricted information. Hence, such functionalities may provide a tool for a student to cheat during an exam.
As a result, hand-held devices may be set to press-to-test (PTT) mode. The press-to-test mode allows a teacher to restrict the functionalities are should not be used on an exam. Hence, the teacher is able to utilize such hand-held device without being concerned that the students are cheating by utilizing unauthorized functions of the device. However, the current devices do not provide a way for the teacher to easily and visually inspect multiple devices to ensure that the press-to-test mode was properly set and maintained.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved hand-held device that offers a way to easily inspect multiple hand-held devices to ensure that the press-to-test mode was properly set and maintained.
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a method and apparatus relating to a hand-held device. The hand-held device comprising a visual indicator utilized to indicate at least one a normal mode or a press-to-test mode, and where in the setting of the visual indicator are tamper proof.
So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
The processor 102 may be any processor capable of executing computer instructions, such as, instructions stored in the memory 108. The processor 102 may be specific to a hand-held device, calculator or the like, and may be capable of performing algebraic calculation, geometry functions and the like. The processor 102 may include normal and security peripherals that monitor and ensure that the apparatus 100 is tamper-proof, which may be monitored by the security module 104. Herein, tamper proof means that unauthorized code or changes are not allowed, or that at least a portion of the memory or of the settings is protected from unauthorized access.
The support circuit 106 are circuits that may include, but are not limited to, power supplies, clock circuits, cache memory and the like. The support circuit 106 assist in executing functions relating to the hand-held apparatus 100. Herein, a computer readable medium is any medium in which computer data or instruction can be stored and/or accessed.
The security module 104 ensures that an authorized user is capable of changing the mode of the apparatus, for example, by checking a password, a user login, preferences, settings, or the like. For example, if the apparatus 100 is a calculator, a teacher may set the calculator to restrictive mode. A restrictive mode is a mode that restricts certain functionalities. If a student attempts to alter the mode of the calculator, the security module 104 would restrict the student from changing the calculator mode. However, the security module 104 would allow a teacher to alter the calculator's mode to a non-restrictive mode. Herein, a restrictive mode is referred to a press-to-test (PTT) mode, whereas a non-restrictive mode is referred to as a normal mode. The modes that facilitate the transition from and/or to normal and press-to-test modes are transition modes.
The security module 104 is a module that restricts the user from accessing secured area of memory and altering data, such as, user information, forcing calculator mode, resetting the calculator, etc. As a result, a teacher may set the calculator to a restrictive mode for an exam. Due to the security module 104, the teacher would be confident that a student would not be able to utilize the functionalities that the teacher restricted by resetting the calculator, changing user preferences/settings, etc.
The memory 108 may comprise random access memory, read only memory, removable disk memory, flash memory, and various combinations of these types of memory. The memory 108 may be referred to as main memory, cache memory, buffer memory and the like. The memory 108 may store an operating system (OS), database software, various forms of application software, such as, application programs 110, mode routine 112, and the like. The mode routine 112 allows the user to set the apparatus 100 to normal or press-to-test mode. An embodiment of the method performed by the mode routine is described in
The hand-held device 100 may include a peripheral access module 114. The peripheral access module 114 is a module that allows or restricts access to peripherals, such as, visual indicator 118. For example, the peripheral access module 114 may communicate with the security module 104 in order to allow or prohibit access to the memory portions that controls hardware, such as, visual indicator 118. As such, the visual indicator 118 may be set by certain registers or memory location, which may only be changed by an authorized user, a specific device, a predetermined sequence of instruction, a password, etc. Hence, the visual indictor is tamper-proof.
For example, a teacher may utilize a calculator during an exam. The teacher may allow the students to utilize the algebraic functionality and disallow the use of saved equations and graphing functions. The mode setting of the calculator determines the setting of the visual indicator. The visual indicator may display a visual aid that indicates that access to saved equations and graphing function is restricted on the calculator. For example, the visual indicator may be a light emitting diode (LED) that emits a green light for 1 second followed by a red light for 2 seconds to indicate that the calculator restricts access to its saved equations and graphing function. The peripheral access module 114 protects access to the settings of the visual indicator 118. Therefore, the visual indicator's settings may only be changed by an authorized user, a specific device, a password, etc. As a result, the visual indicator is tamper proof and a teacher may utilize such an indicator to easily monitor the settings of multiple calculators. An example of the visual display setting is presented in
The normal mode 200 is the mode in which a user is able to access most or all of the functionalities of an apparatus, such as, a calculator. For example, in normal mode 202, a student is not restricted from using calculator functionalities. Hence, a student would be able to store equations, retrieve equations, communicate with other users on a network, etc. In the normal mode 202, a user may initiate a request to transition to press-to-test mode 206. In one embodiment, when the devise is in normal mode 202, a student would not be able to alter his or her own setting to function as a teacher, administrator, allow himself or herself to reset the calculator and the like. When the device is in the normal mode, a visual display may not be utilized or may default to a specific setting. However, even when in the normal mode, the visual display setting are tamper proof, for example, the settings are protected by the security module 104 and/or peripheral access module 114 (both described in
In press-to-test mode 206, a user is restricted from accessing certain areas of memory or certain calculator functionalities. For example, in press-to-test mode 206 a student may be restricted from using calculator functionalities, such as, storing equations, retrieving equations, communicating with other users utilizing calculators on a calculator network, etc. While in press-to-test, a visual display is utilized to visually and easily display the functionality restricted on the device. For example, the user may be restricted from initiating various communication or calculation functionalities. Accordingly, the visual display displays a visual aid indicating the restriction of such functionality or indicating the specific mode of the calculator. The setting of the visual indicator are tamper proof and are protected from tampering with, for example, protected by the peripheral security module 104 and/or access module 114 (both described in
In one embodiment, such restriction and visual display setting may be broadcasted to a plurality of calculators or may be performed on each calculator separately. In another embodiment, a calculator may change mode and visual indicator setting only if the change mode instruction is received from a specific user or calculator. For example, a calculator may be setup to allow only a teacher to alter the mode, specify the type of functionality available when in press-to-test mode 206, setup users, setup visual display, etc. While in press-to-test mode 206, the hand-held device is tamper-proof. For example, the student is restricted from changing his or her setting to act as an administrator, a teacher, allow himself or herself to reset the calculator, alter the visual display setting, and the like. Moreover, the student is restricted from changing modes, resetting the calculator, changing functionality settings, etc.
Therefore, when in press-to-test mode 206, the calculator functionality is limited based on specified press-to-test mode 206 and/or functionality. The calculator is tamper-proof secured by utilizing security module 104 and/or peripheral access module 114 (both described in
When a hand-held device, such as a calculator, receives a request to transitioning from the normal mode 202 to the press-to-test mode 206, the calculator then transitions to the transition to press-to-test mode 204. In the transition to press-to-test mode 204, the calculator may enter the tamper-proof verification and may indicate that press-to-test mode 206 has been properly and securely initiated. In the transition to press-to-test mode 206, the mode transition method 200 may utilize the security module 104 and/or peripheral access module 114 (both described in
When the hand-held device, such as a calculator, receives a request to transition from the press-to-test mode 202 to the normal mode 206, the calculator then transitions to the transition to normal mode 208. In the transition to normal mode 208, the calculator performs tamper-proof verification and indication that normal mode 202 has been properly and securely initiated. The mode transition method 200 ensures that the device or user requesting the change is authorized to perform such a request. If the person is not authorized, the request is denied or ignored. If the person is authorized, the mode transition method 200 allows the device to return to its normal mode 202, wherein all the functionalities are available to the user. In the transition to normal mode 206, the mode transition method 200 may utilize the security module 104 and/or peripheral access module 114 (both described in
In another embodiment, the red LED is illuminated for intervals, such as, 0.25 second and at 0.5 seconds the green LED is illuminated. The result is a yellow illumination for 0.25 second followed by a green illumination for 0.25 second. In
In one embodiment, if a hand-held device boots up when in press-to-test mode, The LED may alternatively illuminate the red LED and green LED to indicate the more restrictive mode. After boot up, the green LED may be illuminated. In one embodiment, for any mode selected the red LED is illuminated during boot up; however, after boot up, no red illumination may be visible. Hence, a teacher may be able to identify a student rebooting his or her hand-held device. When transitioning from press-to-test mode to normal mode, an LED color illumination may sequence to indicate that the device is exiting press-to-test mode or is in normal mode.
The settings of the LED are archived in a protected area in memory, such that such setting a tamper proofed. Hence, utilizing the illumination colors of the visual indicator, a teacher may query the multiple hand-held devices and trust that the illumination is a valid indication of the device mode and functionality setting.
While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
This application claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/201,852 filed on Aug. 29, 2008, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/969,599, filed Aug. 31, 2007, which is herein incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60969599 | Aug 2007 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12201852 | Aug 2008 | US |
| Child | 12333007 | US |
