System and method for preventing unauthorized use of a wireless or wired remote device

• US 20030032407A1
• Filed: 08/08/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samuel Buchbinder
• Original Assignee: Samuel Buchbinder
• Inventors: Mages, Ken
• Application Number:
  US10/215,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20030032407A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1066 Game playing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/16 with lock-out or secrecy provision in party-line systems

Abstract

A system and method for determining whether an authorized user has retained possession of a device for participating in gaming activities. The system includes a wireless or wired remote device that is fitted with a kill switch that will disable use of the device until the authorized user resubmits the necessary verification. The kill switch may be activated by the lack of movement of the device, thermal sensors, capacity sensors, contact switches, dead-man switches or the like.

Claims

1. A system for preventing the unauthorized use of a device comprising:

a device for performing one or more transactions;

means to detect when the device is left unattended; and

means to prevent performance of the transactions when it is determined that the device has been left unattended.

2. A system for preventing unauthorized remote gaming activities comprising:

a device for allowing an authorized user to participate in gaming activities;

means to provide gaming activities;

means to detect when the device is left unattended; and

means to cease the gaming activities when it is determined that the device has been left unattended.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the device is a wireless device.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the detection means comprises a motion sensor.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the motion sensor comprises a positively-charged thin foil strip located between a pair of arms of a negatively-charged U-shaped member, wherein movement of the wireless device causes the thin foil strip to contact one of the arms the U-shaped member to complete a circuit.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the means to cease gaming activities comprises means to determine if the circuit is completed within a predetermined amount of time.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein the detecting means comprises a dead man'"'"'s switch.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the dead man'"'"'s switch comprises a pressure-sensitive band located around the wireless device.

9. The system of claim 3 wherein the detecting means comprises a contact switch.

10. The system of claim 3 wherein the detecting means comprises a thermal sensor.

11. The system of claim 3 wherein the detecting means comprises a capacitor sensor.

12. The system of claim 3 which further comprises means to verify identity of the authorized user.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the identifying means comprises a biometric scanning device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the identifying means comprises a password.

15. A method for preventing the unauthorized use of a device comprising the steps of:

providing a device to an authorized user for performing one or more transactions;

providing means to activate the device;

detecting whether the authorized user has retained possession of the device; and

selectively allowing the performance of the transactions depending on whether the authorized user has retained possession of the device.

16. A method for preventing unauthorized remote gaming activities comprising the steps of:

providing a device to an authorized user for performing gaming activities;

providing means to activate the device;

detecting whether the authorized user has retained possession of the device;

selectively allowing the gaming activities to proceed depending on whether the authorized user has retained possession of the device.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the device is a wireless device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of detecting whether the authorized user has retained possession of the wireless device comprises means to determine whether the wireless device has been moved within a predetermined time period.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of detecting whether the authorized user has retained possession of the wireless device comprises using a motion sensor.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the motion sensor comprises a positively-charged thin foil strip located between a pair of arms of a negatively-charged U-shaped member, wherein movement of the wireless device causes the thin foil strip to contact one of the arms of the U-shaped member to complete a circuit.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of detecting whether the authorized user has retained possession of the wireless device further comprises means to determine if the circuit is completed within a predetermined amount of time.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of detecting whether the authorized user has retained possession of the wireless device comprises using a dead man'"'"'s switch.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the contact switch comprises a pressure-sensitive band located around the wireless device.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of detecting whether the authorized user has retained possession of the wireless device comprises using a contact switch.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of detecting whether the authorized user has retained possession of the wireless device comprises using a thermal sensor.

26. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of detecting whether the authorized user has retained possession of the wireless device comprises using a capacity sensor.

27. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of detecting whether the authorized user has retained possession of the wireless device comprises means to determine whether the wireless device has been placed on a surface.

28. The method of claim 17 which further comprises the step of verifying the authorized use of the wireless device after the wireless device is shut down.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of verifying the authorized use comprises using a biometric scanner.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of verifying the authorized user comprises inputting a password.