Direction-sensitive, touch-activated security device and method of use therefor
First Claim
1. A method for permitting access to an electronic system, comprising:
- receiving at least a first and second signal, wherein each signal indicates a state change of a corresponding switch, wherein each state change is in response to a selector being urged in a particular direction;
said electronic system comparing each signal with a group of predetermined signals and a direction associated with each signal of said group of predetermined signals; and
permitting access to an operating mode of said electronic system when said comparing action determines that each signal accords with said group of predetermined signals and said direction associated with each signal of said group of predetermined signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This abstract has been included pursuant to Section 1.72(b) of the Rules for Patent and Trademark Cases, Title 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This abstract is intended only to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to generally determine the nature of the technical disclosure. This abstract is not intended to aid in the interpretation of the scope of any claim.
A direction-sensitive, touch activated security device is coupled to an electronic system, such as a computing device or other type of computer-assisted equipment. The security device includes a selector which is manipulated along certain directions by a user. Signals which represent the particular movements of the selector are conveyed to the computing device where they are compared with a predetermined group of signals and associated directions. In the event that the signals from the selector accord with the predetermined group of signals, the computing device permits the user to operate the device, use the device in a specific mode, or to undock the device from a docking station. Alternatively, a user traces a pattern on a touchpad that is compared with a predetermined pattern. Based on the results of this comparison, the user is permitted access to the computing device or to operate in a specific mode.
37 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for permitting access to an electronic system, comprising:
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receiving at least a first and second signal, wherein each signal indicates a state change of a corresponding switch, wherein each state change is in response to a selector being urged in a particular direction;
said electronic system comparing each signal with a group of predetermined signals and a direction associated with each signal of said group of predetermined signals; and
permitting access to an operating mode of said electronic system when said comparing action determines that each signal accords with said group of predetermined signals and said direction associated with each signal of said group of predetermined signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29)
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12. An electronic system which enters an operational mode based on inputs from a direction-sensitive and touch-activated security device, comprising:
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a signal conditioner for receiving a plurality of signals wherein each signal indicates a state change of one of a plurality of corresponding switches, said state change being in response to a selector being urged in a first or a second direction;
a processor for comparing the plurality of signals output from said signal conditioner with a predetermined group of signals, wherein each signal of said predetermined group of signals is associated with an accompanying direction; and
an access control circuit which permits the use of said operational mode based on the results of said comparing action.
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18. In a portable computer, a method of permitting said portable computer to be removed from a docking station, comprising:
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receiving a first signal which conveys that a selector has been urged toward a first direction;
receiving a second signal which conveys that said selector has been urged along a second direction, said second direction being different from said first direction;
comparing said first and second signals with a predetermined sequence of signals, each signal of said predetermined sequence of signal being associated with a particular direction; and
permitting undocking of said portable computer when said comparing action determines that said first and second signals accord with said predetermined sequence of signals.
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27. A method for permitting access to a computing device, comprising:
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receiving signals from a touchpad, said signals representing the movements of a user'"'"'s finger tracing a pattern on said touchpad, comparing said signals with at least one group of predetermined signals associated with movements of said user'"'"'s finger tracing said pattern on said touchpad; and
permitting access to an operating mode of said computing device when said comparing action determines that said signals representing movements of said user'"'"'s finger tracing a pattern on said touchpad accords with said at least one group of predetermined signals associated with movements of said user'"'"'s finger tracing said pattern on said touchpad.
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30. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said machine to perform method steps for directing a portable computer to enter an operational mode, said method comprising:
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receiving signals from a touchpad, said signals representing the movements of a user'"'"'s finger tracing a pattern on said touchpad, comparing said signals with a group of predetermined signals associated with movements of said user'"'"'s finger tracing said pattern on said touchpad; and
permitting access to an operating mode of said computing device when said comparing action determines that said signals representing movements of said user'"'"'s finger tracing a pattern on said touchpad accords with said group of predetermined signals associated with movements of said user'"'"'s finger tracing said pattern on said touchpad. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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Specification