Method and apparatus for protecting a device connected to a newtwork
First Claim
1. A method for detecting removal of a device connected to a network by a network connection, comprising:
- monitoring said network connection; and
generating an alarm if said network connection is disconnected.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for detecting the removal of a device connected to a network. The present invention generates an alarm on a protected device when an unauthorized user disconnects the device from a network connection. The network connection is monitored and an alarm is generated if the protected device is disconnected from the network connection without proper notification to the theft protection utility. A number of fail-safe features can optionally be employed to ensure that the theft protection aspects of the present invention are not bypassed. For example, the theft protection utility process can employ speaker, volume and/or power control features to ensure that the alarms generated by the present invention, or the theft protection feature itself, cannot be bypassed.
45 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for detecting removal of a device connected to a network by a network connection, comprising:
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monitoring said network connection; and
generating an alarm if said network connection is disconnected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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12. A method for detecting removal of a device connected to a network by a network connection, comprising:
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sending a message to a second device connected to said network that will initiate a response; and
generating an alarm if said response is not received within a predefined time interval.
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17. A method for detecting removal of a device connected to a network by a network connection, comprising:
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monitoring a signal received on said network connection from a remote device over said network connection; and
generating an alarm if said signal is no longer received.
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22. A system for detecting removal of a device connected to a network by a network connection, comprising:
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a memory that stores computer-readable code; and
a processor operatively coupled to said memory, said processor configured to implement said computer-readable code, said computer-readable code configured to;
monitor said network connection; and
generate an alarm if said network connection is disconnected. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An article of manufacture for detecting removal of a device connected to a network by a network connection, comprising:
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a computer readable medium having computer readable code means embodied thereon, said computer readable program code means comprising;
a step to monitor said network connection; and
a step to generate an alarm if said network connection is disconnected.
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32. A system for detecting removal of a device connected to a network by a network connection, comprising:
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means for monitoring said network connection; and
means for generating an alarm if said network connection is disconnected.
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Specification