Power controlled computer security system and method

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A port locking computer security system is implemented in the power management module of the hardware-software interface program (BIOS).
A hotkey sequence of keystrokes activates the portlock feature and a system management interrupt (SMI) is generated.
A SMI handler routine generates a signal to a hardware device handler.
The device handler then powers OFF or disables data access or data transfer I/O ports on the computer.
I/O ports in the OFF state cannot be accessed.
Thus, data in the computer cannot be transmitted, copied, or "beamed" via infrared, to an unauthorized system or medium.
The invention is particularly useful for the security of portable of notebook type computers.
Data I/O ports in the OFF state are reactivated after receiving a password and a SMI interrupt is generated.
A SMI handler generates a signal to a hardware device handler.
The device handler then powers ON various data transfer I/O ports on the computer.
Enablement and disablement of the portlock invention in the BIOS of the computer, hotkey verification, and password verification are maintained in CMOS computer memory.
Such elements can be altered in the computer BIOS setup program.