Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
1997-06-09
2001-07-31
Harrell, Robert B. (Department: 2152)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Miscellaneous
C709S229000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269392
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many electronic devices, such as laptop computers and cellular telephones, are becoming more compact and portable. While such portability is extremely convenient for the user, it has given rise to an increased risk of theft. These electronic devices are often very expensive and are easily lost or stolen.
Previously, attempts have been made to provide means for retrieving lost or stolen items of various types. The simplest approach is marking the item with the name and the address of the owner, or some other identification such as a driver's license number. If the item falls into the hands of an honest person, then the owner can be located. However, this approach may not deter a thief who can remove visible markings on the device.
Password protection schemes are of dubious value in discouraging theft or retrieving an item. Although the data can be protected from theft, the computer hardware cannot be found or retrieved. Another approach has been to place a radio transmitter on the item. This has been done in the context of automobile anti-theft devices. The police or a commercial organization monitors the applicable radio frequency to try to locate a stolen vehicle. This method is not suitable for smaller items such as cellular telephones or laptop computers. First, it is inconvenient to disassemble such devices in order to attempt to install a transmitter therein. Second, there may not be any convenient space available to affix such a transmitter. Furthermore, a rather elaborate monitoring service, including directional antennas or the like, is required to trace the source of radio transmissions.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved means for tracing or locating smaller lost or stolen objects, particularly laptop computers, cellular telephones, desktop computers and other small, portable electronic devices or expensive home and office electronic equipment.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved means for locating lost or stolen items, this means being hidden from unauthorized users in order to reduce the risk of such means being disabled by the unauthorized user.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide an improved means for locating lost or stolen items which actively resist attempts to disable the means by an unauthorized user.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide an improved means for inexpensively and reliably locating lost or stolen items.
This invention also advantageously does not interfere with the operating system or running applications. This is accomplished by disposing the means for initiating communication with a host system in the firmware such as on the ROM BIOS or the modem component of a client electronic device. This security system operates independently of the operating system running on the electronic device.
In addition, a feature whereby the security system transmits through the Internet is disclosed. This feature enables the security system to initiate a call to the host monitoring system even when the client is simultaneously running a different Internet application. This system is also disclosed in co-pending parent application Ser. No. 08/826,098 which is hereby incorporated by reference. This represents an advantage over the system disclosed in co-pending parent application Ser. No. 08/558,432, which is hereby incorporated by reference, which could not transmit while an application was using the modem since interference could alert the user to the presence of the security system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a security apparatus and method for retrieving lost or stolen electronic devices such as portable computers, PCs (including stolen components such as CPU, hard drives, etc.), cablevision devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular telephones, etc. This invention enables electronic devices to be surveyed or monitored by implanting thereon an intelligent Agent with a pre-defined task set. This Agent communicates with a preselected host monitoring system which is capable of multiple services including; tracing location, providing identifying indicia such as an electronic serial number (ESN), and electronically notifying the end user/owner of its location. The Agent hides within the software/firmware/hardware of the electronic device, and operates without interfering with the regular operation of the device. According to one embodiment of the invention, the Agent is disposed on the ROM BIOS of the electronic device and the Agent takes control of the electronic device and its facilities during its boot-up. According to another embodiment of the invention, the Agent is disposed on the modem component of the electronic device and the Agent operates independently of the electronic device. Another embodiment of the Agent is on the processing unit (e.g., microprocessor) of the electronic device. Yet another embodiment of the Agent is a hardware implementation, such as hard wired circuitry or a single integrated circuit. The Agent is further designed to evade detection and resist attempts to disable it by an unauthorized user.
The invention provides a novel security device for small computers, cellular telephones and the like which can be programmed as firmware onto the non-volatile memory (such as ROM BIOS, ROM, Flash ROM, EPROM, EEPROM or the like) of such devices. Accordingly, no physical alteration is necessary or apparent to a thief. The existence of the security device is well cloaked and thus it cannot be readily located or disabled even if the possibility of its existence is suspected. Apparatuses and methods according to the invention can be very cost effective, requiring relatively inexpensive modifications to software or hardware and operation of relatively few monitoring devices.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an electronic device with an integral security system. The security system includes means for sending signals to a remote station at spaced apart intervals of time. The signals include identifying indicia for the electronic device. The means for sending signals includes a telecommunications interface connectable to a telecommunications system, and means for dialing a preselected telecommunications number. In an alternative embodiment, signals are sent through a global network interface. This can be accomplished via the standard public telecommunications system which may be linked to a global network service provider, or through a private network (LAN) link to the global network. The remote station includes a telecommunications receiver having the preselected telecommunications number. The remote station and the electronic device may also simultaneously be connected through the global network.
In one embodiment of the invention the electronic device is a computer, and the means for sending signals includes means for providing signals to the telecommunication interface to dial a preselected telecommunication number and send the identifying indicia. The telecommunication interface may be a modem. The means for providing signals may include security algorithm installed as a firmware onto the non-volatile memory (such as ROM BIOS, ROM, Flash ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, or the like) of the computer, a software program, a micro-code program, a digital signal processor (“DSP”) program or a built-in function of the operating system.
The security system may be recorded on the boot sector of a hard disk, on a hidden system file such as IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, IBMBIO.COM or IBMDOS.COM, or alternatively on the ROM BIOS of the computer, or a combination of both. The security system functions without interfering with the operating system or any running applications. The security system is loaded into memory whenever the electronic device is powered on or reset. It is loaded before the operating system. Alternatively, the security system may be recorded on the Flash ROM of the modem component of the electronic device. The security system functions independently of the main processor of t
Ashworth David G.
Cain Fraser
Cotichini Christian
Gardner Philip B.
Livingston Peter Michael Bruce
Harrell Robert B.
Liu & Liu LLP
Vu Thong
LandOfFree
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