Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Multiple computer communication using cryptography – Protection at a particular protocol layer
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-08
2001-08-28
Wright, Norman M. (Department: 2131)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Multiple computer communication using cryptography
Protection at a particular protocol layer
C340S540000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282655
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to computers, and more specifically, the invention relates to a computer interface which utilizes a motion sensor that senses that the user is in the immediate vicinity of the computer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Computer security is of great concern to businesses which are increasingly relying on the efficiency of computers to operate the businesses. On the other hand, competitors, disgruntled employees, computer hackers and others are a constant threat to the security of the computer's data base.
Several prior art devices have attempted to solve this security problem. U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,961 to Elwell discloses a ceiling sensor to interface with the computerized controllers of energy management systems. This ceiling is operable to detect motion through the use of a transmitted signal of predetermined frequency, which when received, has experienced a Doppler shift. Comparison of the received signal with its frequency change to the transmitted signal produces motion detection which when incorporated with an isolated latching relay enables the switching on and off of light, heating, air conditioning or security interfaces. A method of fabricating a ceiling sensor for a computer controller interface is also described.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,635,905 to Blackburn et al discloses a system for detecting the presence of a human who may be observing an artifact which is within his or her line of sight or field of view. The system includes a laser with a lens at the output and which is triggered rapidly in order to produce a pulsed beam having divergent rays of visible or invisible infrared light which irradiates an are to be examined for the presence of an observer. The light reflected from individuals and objects in the area is reflected into a pair of vision devices or pair of vision assemblies the output of which are fed into a computer. The computer has software programs which utilize vision device output data to the intensity and location of the light pixels in the image thereof to detect the presence and orientation of the eyes of an individual in the area based on the light pixel intensity and location data.
The above patents are the closest prior art found that showed motion detectors related to computer operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention consists of a keyboard interface which utilizes a motion detector that senses that the user is in the immediate vicinity of the computer. The invention may be implemented with an infrared motion detector aimed at a desired location in front of the computer terminal or some other device such as a micro-switch in the user's chair for example. The keyboard interface can then act by sending an artificial “keystroke” in the same manner as a keyboard signal that would prevent the enabling of the computer's security (for example, a password protected screen saver), in one embodiment. Another embodiment might have the keyboard interface send a signal when the motion detector detects the absence of a person, thereby signaling for immediate enabling of the computer's security software.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5202929 (1993-04-01), Lemelson
patent: 5281961 (1994-01-01), Elwell
patent: 5544321 (1996-08-01), Theimer et al.
patent: 5548660 (1996-08-01), Lemelson
patent: 5555376 (1996-09-01), Theimer et al.
patent: 5635905 (1997-06-01), Blackburn et al.
patent: 5835083 (1998-11-01), Nielson et al.
patent: 5926404 (1999-07-01), Zeller et al.
patent: 5958055 (1999-09-01), Evoy et al.
patent: 5960085 (1999-09-01), De La Huegra
patent: 6002427 (1999-12-01), Kipust
Burdick Harold A.
Reyak Christopher
Wright Norman M.
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