Communications: electrical – Continuously variable indicating – With meter reading
Patent
1996-11-06
1998-10-06
Mullen, Jr., Thomas J.
Communications: electrical
Continuously variable indicating
With meter reading
340571, 340693, G06F 704
Patent
active
058183450
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to providing theft protection for electrically-powered articles, particularly computer systems such as personal computers, mainly from homes and small businesses, by making the article (personal computer) unusable by the thief.
In FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically shown a conventional personal computer. It includes a power supply unit (PSU) 10 which is connected by a plug 18 to a mains supply (not shown) and which supplies the whole computer with power when the mains switch 12 is closed i.e. the computer is switched on. A real time clock (RTC) 11 is powered from the PSU 10 when the computer is switched on by switch 12 or from a battery 13 when the computer is switched off at switch 12. Diodes 14 and 15 schematically show how the battery 13 is connected so that it only powers RTC 11 while the computer is switched off. The RTC 11 includes a flip-flop (not shown) which is set by the RTC when the RTC detects loss of power, for instance when the battery is flat. The central processing unit (CPU) 16 can read the output of the flip-flop and can thus update the RTC with the correct time when that is input by a user after power to the RTC has been lost. The CPU resets the flip-flop after the RTC has been updated. The system also includes a program store 17.
The use of passwords to prevent unauthorised use of computer systems is commonplace. However, password protection does not prevent theft, that is provide theft protection, as the password(s) can be disabled by either removing power to the RTC, i.e. removing or shorting the battery, or by shorting a jumper specially designed for this purpose. This type of password protection, furthermore, requests that the password be entered every time the system is started, which is unsuitable for theft protection.
Theft protection schemes which use a unique serial number that must be input every time the system is powered are common, for example, with car stereos, which must have the serial number input after every disconnection or replacement of the car's battery. The serial number is fixed and cannot be changed by the user. The serial number does not, however, provide protection against unauthorised use of the system once it is powered.
An object of the invention is to provide theft protection to computer systems, such as personal computer systems by making the system useless to anybody but the rightful owner. Preferably this should be achieved in such a manner that it does not impair the productivity of the rightful owner (user) by requesting user action, such as the inputting of passwords, when they are not needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for protecting an electrically-powered article from theft, the article including an electrical element to which electrical power is required to be supplied even when the article is not in operation, the method including the steps of normally providing said power by means of a power supply external to the article; in the event of disconnection from the power supply, providing said power for up to a predetermined short time period from an alternative source within the article; providing means whereby the existence of a power discontinuity immediately following the expiry of the predetermined time period can be subsequently detected, and preventing operation of the article upon detection of a said power discontinuity until a correct theft protection password has been provided by a potential operator.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of protecting a computer system from theft, the system including an element to which electrical power is required to be supplied even when the system is shut down, the method including the steps of: normally providing said power by a mains-supplied power unit; in the event of discontinuities in the mains supply providing said power for up to a predetermined short time interval from an alternative source within th
REFERENCES:
patent: 4494114 (1985-01-01), Kaish
patent: 4584651 (1986-04-01), Carey, Jr. et al.
patent: 4806926 (1989-02-01), Nakamura
patent: 5021916 (1991-06-01), Hubbard
patent: 5111058 (1992-05-01), Martin
ICL Systems AB
Mullen Jr. Thomas J.
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