Method and apparatus for trusted keyboard scanning
View Patent ↗A keyboard scan engine integrated on a chipset to initiate a keyscan process. The keyboard scan engine detects a key depression. When in a trusted mode, the keyboard scan engine transmits a key code, corresponding to the key depression, through a trusted internal bus interface. When in a non-trusted mode, the keyboard scan engine transmits the key code through an interface to be processed by an onboard keyboard controller.
1. A method comprising:
a keyboard scan engine integrated on a chipset initiating a keyscan process;
the keyboard scan engine detecting a key depression;
when in a trusted mode, transmitting a key code, corresponding to the key depression, through a trusted internal bus interface and transmitting the key code through a legacy interface when in a non-trusted mode.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trusted internal bus interface is a trusted Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface.
3. The method of claim 1 , further including:
when in a non-trusted mode, sending a key code, corresponding to the key depression, through an interface to be processed by an onboard keyboard controller.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein, in the not-trusted mode, the key code is transmitted to the onboard keyboard controller via a PS/2 interface.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the keyboard scan engine is integrated on an I/O hub controller of the chipset.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the I/O hub controller includes a port expander interfacing with a keyboard.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the keyboard scan engine implements a key scan algorithm.
8. A system comprising:
a central processing unit;
a memory unit; and
a keyboard scan engine integrated on a chipset, the keyboard scan engine to initiate a keyscan process, detect a key depression, and, when in a trusted mode, transmit a key code, corresponding to the key depression, through a trusted internal bus interface and transmitting the key code through a legacy interface when in a non-trusted mode.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the trusted internal bus interface is a trusted Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface.
10. The system of claim 8 , further including:
when in a non-trusted mode, the key code is to be transmitted through an interface to be processed by an onboard keyboard controller.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein, in the not-trusted mode, the key code is to be transmitted to the onboard keyboard controller via a PS/2 interface.
12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the keyboard scan engine is integrated on an I/O hub controller of the chipset.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the I/O hub controller includes a port expander interfacing with a keyboard.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the keyboard scan engine implements a key scan algorithm.
15. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions, which when executed by a processor, perform a method comprising:
a keyboard scan engine integrated on a chipset initiating a keyscan process;
the keyboard scan engine detecting a key depression;
when in a trusted mode, transmitting a key code, corresponding to the key depression, through a trusted internal bus interface and transmitting the key code through a legacy interface when in a non-trusted mode.
16. The machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the trusted internal bus interface is a trusted Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface.
17. The machine-readable medium of claim 15 , further including:
when in a non-trusted mode, sending a key code, corresponding to the key depression, through an interface to be processed by an onboard keyboard controller.
18. The machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein, in the not-trusted mode, the key code is transmitted to the onboard keyboard controller via a PS/2 interface.
19. The machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the keyboard scan engine is integrated on an I/O hub controller of the chipset.
20. The machine-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the I/O hub controller includes a port expander interfacing with a keyboard.
21. The machine-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the keyboard scan engine implements a key scan algorithm.
22. A system comprising:
a central processing unit;
a memory unit;
a graphics controller; and
a keyboard scan engine integrated on a chipset, the keyboard scan engine to initiate a keyscan process, detect a key depression, and, when in a trusted mode, transmit a key code, corresponding to the key depression, through a trusted internal bus interface and transmitting the key code through a legacy interface when in a non-trusted mode.
23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the trusted internal bus interface is a trusted Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface.
24. The system of claim 22 , further including:
when in a non-trusted mode, the key code is to be transmitted through an interface to be processed by an onboard keyboard controller.
25. The system of claim 24 , wherein, in the not-trusted mode, the key code is to be transmitted to the onboard keyboard controller via a PS/2 interface.
26. The system of claim 22 , wherein the keyboard scan engine is integrated on I/O hub controller of the chipset.
27. The system of claim 26 , wherein the I/O hub controller includes a port expander interfacing with a keyboard.