METHOD FOR ALLOWING A USER ACCESS TO AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING IMPROVED SECURITY
First Claim
1. A method of determining the distance between a first electronic device and a second electronic device for allowing a user to access one of the first and the second electronic devices, said method comprising the steps of;
- emitting a radio frequency (RF) signal and an audio signal (24) simultaneously from the second electronic device (14), detecting the RF signal (20) with the first electronic device (12), detecting the audio signal (24) with the first electronic device (12), and measuring a time interval (28) between the detection of the RF signal (20) and detection of the audio signal (24) by the second electronic device (14), said method characterized by comparing the measured time interval (28) to a predetermined time range (38) and enabling one of the first and the second electronic devices in response to the time interval (28) being within the predetermined time range (38) such that the user (52) may have access to the enabled electronic device and disabling one of the first and the second electronic devices in response to the time interval (28) being outside the predetermined time range (38) such that the user (52) cannot have access to the disabled electronic device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A security apparatus and a method for determining the distance between a computer (72) and a token (70) carried by a user (52) for allowing the user (52) to access the computer (72). The computer (72) is connected to a first transeiver (16) having at least one antenna for emitting and detecting a radio frequency (RF) signal, and to a microphone (76) for detecting an audio signal (24). The computer (72) is also connected to a counter (26) for measuring a time interval (28) between a transmitted RF signal (20) and audio signal (24) from the token (70). The token (70) is connected to a second transceiver (30) having at least one antenna for emitting and detecting a RF signal (20) and a loudspeaker (74) for emitting an audio signal (24). The method is characterized by comparing the measured time interval (28) to a predetermined time range (38) and enabling the computer (72) in response to the time interval (28) being within the predetermined time range (38) such that the user (52) may have access to the enabled computer (72) and disabling the computer (72) in response to the time interval (28) being outside the predetermined time range (38).
72 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of determining the distance between a first electronic device and a second electronic device for allowing a user to access one of the first and the second electronic devices, said method comprising the steps of;
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emitting a radio frequency (RF) signal and an audio signal (24) simultaneously from the second electronic device (14), detecting the RF signal (20) with the first electronic device (12), detecting the audio signal (24) with the first electronic device (12), and measuring a time interval (28) between the detection of the RF signal (20) and detection of the audio signal (24) by the second electronic device (14), said method characterized by comparing the measured time interval (28) to a predetermined time range (38) and enabling one of the first and the second electronic devices in response to the time interval (28) being within the predetermined time range (38) such that the user (52) may have access to the enabled electronic device and disabling one of the first and the second electronic devices in response to the time interval (28) being outside the predetermined time range (38) such that the user (52) cannot have access to the disabled electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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17. A security apparatus comprising;
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a first electronic device (12), a first transceiver (16) connected to said first electronic device (12) and having at least one antenna for emitting and detecting a radio frequency (RF) signal, a first detector (22) connected to said first electronic device (12) for detecting an audio signal (24), a second electronic device (14), a second transceiver (30) connected to said second device and having at least one antenna for emitting and detecting a RF signal (20), a transmitter (34) connected to said second electronic device (14) for emitting an audio signal (24), a counter (26) connected to said first electronic device (12) for measuring a time interval (28) between a transmitted RF signal (20) and audio signal (24) from said second electronic device (14), said apparatus characterized by a first processor (36) connected to said first electronic device (12) for comparing the measured time interval (28) to a predetermined time range (38) and enabling one of said first and second electronic devices in response to said time interval (28) being within said predetermined time range (38) and disabling one of said first and second electronic devices in response to said time interval (28) being outside the predetermined time range (38).
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Specification