Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Multiple computer communication using cryptography – Protection at a particular protocol layer
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-10
2001-07-17
Wright, Norman M. (Department: 2131)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Multiple computer communication using cryptography
Protection at a particular protocol layer
C340S870030, C340S870030, C340S870030, C340S870030, C340S870030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263440
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to computer systems assets tracking and protection and more particularly to electronic tracking and protection of display monitors attached to computers.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Personal computer and workstation systems (computers) are well known in the art. Computers include components such as hard disk drives, dual in line memories (DIMMs), single in-line memories (SIMMs), display monitors, central processing units (CPUs), and other components. Computers and their respective components, are highly valuable assets. At the same time, computers and computer components are easily portable and easily reconfigured. The more compact the computers and the computer components the easier it is to transport them. Moreover, the more conforming the computers and computer components are to industry standards the easier it is to reconfigure the computers with exchanged or stolen components.
Thus, assets management, misplacement and theft of computers and computer components present a major problem. As a result, there exists an ever increasing need for improved computer assets management and protection such as security for computers against the unauthorized removal or theft of their components.
In addition, today, computer networks (networks) are employed to provide increased computing power and efficiency to a plurality of computers which are located throughout a large area. Through the network, the plurality of computers are generally interlinked with each other and with a server system or a central processing center. However, the dissemination of the computers throughout the large area compounds the computer assets tracking and protection problem.
Computers provided by IBM Corporation currently carry a tamper detection switch, which can detect when a computer cover has been removed and causes the computers to be functionally disabled on subsequent boots until the user successfully enters an appropriate password. This and other similar mechanisms adequately protects the overall computer system but does not deter theft of the components within the computer, nor does it provide means for tracking computer assets.
Accordingly, a number of methods have been developed for guarding against the unauthorized removal of computer assets. One such method is the use of Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) tags which are widely used in commercial markets for everything from clothing to Compact Disks. When an item with an EAS tag is carried through a portal, the portal sounds an audible alarm to notify security of a tamper event. The EAS tags are attached or embedded in computer systems to provide a notification of when an asset is removed.
Although useful for retail applications, EAS technology is less effective for protecting corporate assets such as computers and computer components. Opportunities may exist for employees to defeat the technology by removing the tags, transferring components through a mail service, or reusing components in other computers within the building.
It is therefore desirable to provide a system and method that provide electronic tracking and protection of computer assets. Particularly, obtaining and reporting information associated with display monitors is needed. The tracking and protection of computer assets should be automated and easily implemented in various computer systems environments. The present invention addresses such a need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward a method, system and computer readable medium (the present invention) for reporting information related to a monitor attached to a computer which includes a system memory. The present invention includes electronically reading the information from the monitor and storing the monitor information in the system memory. The present invention further includes retrieving the monitor information from the system memory and providing the monitor information for viewing via a browser. The monitor information comprises electronically readable information including its identity.
One aspect of the present invention further includes comparing the monitor information with a corresponding last known information, wherein a mismatch indicates that the monitor has been changed. Another aspect of the present invention further includes copying the monitor information to a radio frequency (RF) enabled memory, wherein the monitor information can be logged utilizing an RF reader means.
The RF reader means may be included in an RF gate and/or a hand held device. Computer systems with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology configured in accordance with the present invention enable automated electronic tracking of computer assets such as the monitors as they pass through the RF gate in or out of a portal. Computer systems with the RFID technology also enable the automated electronic tracking of the monitors or other computer assets via the hand held device. In either case, no direct contact with the monitor is needed for the tracking and reporting.
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Khatri Barry B.
Kilmer Gregory W.
Pruett Gregory B.
Grosser George E.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Sawyer, Jr. Joseph A.
Wright Norman M.
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