Ultrasonic sensor component signal communication to standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator for entry/exit computer proximity determination

• US 20030046588A1
• Filed: 08/15/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ComputerProx Corp.
• Original Assignee: ComputerProx Corp.
• Inventors: Gliniecki, Gregory James, Elliott, Mark Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,346,933 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly

Abstract

A device in one example comprises a standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator and an ultrasonic sensor component. The standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator is coupled with a computer through a universal serial bus port. The ultrasonic sensor component is coupled with the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator. The ultrasonic sensor component communicates one or more signals to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that serve to allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make a determination of entry to or exit from a predetermined proximity of the computer by a user. The determination of entry to or exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user causes the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to send a corresponding entrance or exit user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer through the universal serial bus port.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator coupled with a computer through a universal serial bus port; and

an ultrasonic sensor component coupled with the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator;

wherein the ultrasonic sensor component communicates one or more signals to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that serve to allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make a determination of entry to or exit from a predetermined proximity of the computer by a user;

wherein the determination of entry to or exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user causes the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to send a corresponding entrance or exit user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer through the universal serial bus port.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic sensor component communicates one or more of the one or more signals to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that serve to allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make a determination of exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user;

wherein the determination of exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user causes the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to send the exit user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer through the universal serial bus port;

wherein the exit user configurable keystroke sequence serves to place the computer in a secure state.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the exit user configurable keystroke sequence comprises a CTL-ALT-DEL “

k”

sequence.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic sensor component communicates one or more of the one or more signals to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that serve to allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make a determination of exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user;

wherein the determination of exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user causes the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to send the exit user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer through the universal serial bus port;

wherein the exit user configurable keystroke sequence serves to place the computer in one or more of a low-power state and a standby state.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic sensor component communicates one or more of the one or more signals to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that serve to allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make a determination of entry to the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user;

wherein the determination of entry to the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user causes the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to send the entrance user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer through the universal serial bus port;

wherein the entrance user configurable keystroke sequence serves to place the computer in one or more of an active state, a login state and a re-authentication state.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic sensor component communicates one or more of the one or more signals to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that serve to allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make a determination of entry to the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user;

wherein the determination of entry to the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user causes the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to send the entrance user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer through the universal serial bus port;

wherein the entrance user configurable keystroke sequence serves to place the computer in an armed state that serves to indicate to the user that exit by the user from the predetermined proximity of the computer in the armed state will cause the exit user configurable keystroke sequence to be sent to the computer.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator comprises a configuration settings component that serves to set a delay that allows the user a predetermined time to move from within the predetermined proximity of the computer to without the predetermined proximity of the computer and back within the predetermined proximity of the computer without the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator sending the entrance user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer and without the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator sending the exit user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the ultrasonic sensor component communicates one or more of the one or more signals to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that serve to allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make a determination of expiration of the predetermined time before the user has moved from within the predetermined proximity of the computer to without the predetermined proximity of the computer and back within the predetermined proximity of the computer;

wherein the determination of expiration of the predetermined time before the user has moved from within the predetermined proximity of the computer to without the predetermined proximity of the computer and back within the predetermined proximity of the computer causes the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to send the exit user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer through the universal serial bus port.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic sensor component serves to allow the user to set a very specific distance as the predetermined proximity to the computer.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic sensor component continuously sends pulses of ultrasound toward a user space to obtain the one or more signals the ultrasonic sensor component communicates to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that serve to allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make the determination of entry to or exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the ultrasonic sensor component receives corresponding reflections, from a body of the user, of the pulses of ultrasound the ultrasonic sensor component continuously sends toward the user space;

wherein the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator employs time between one or more of the pulses and corresponding one or more of the reflections to calculate a distance of the user from the ultrasonic sensor component.

12. A method, comprising the steps of:

coupling a standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator with a computer through a universal serial bus port; and

coupling an ultrasonic sensor component with the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator;

communicating one or more signals from the ultrasonic sensor component to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make a determination of entry to or exit from a predetermined proximity of the computer by a user; and

causing, through employment of the determination of entry to or exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user, the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to send a corresponding entrance or exit user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer through the universal serial bus port.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of communicating the one or more signals from the ultrasonic sensor component to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make the determination of entry to or exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user comprises the step of:

communicating one or more of the one or more signals from the ultrasonic sensor component to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make a determination of exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user;

wherein the step of causing, through employment of the determination of entry to or exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user, the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to send the corresponding entrance or exit user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer through the universal serial bus port comprises the step of;

causing, through employment of the determination of exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user, the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to send the exit user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer through the universal serial bus port; and

the method further comprising the step of;

placing the computer in a secure state through employment of the exit user configurable keystroke sequence.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the step of causing, through employment of the determination of exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user, the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to send the exit user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer through the universal serial bus port comprises the step of:

selecting the exit user configurable keystroke sequence to comprise a CTL-ALT-DEL “

k”

sequence.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of communicating the one or more signals from the ultrasonic sensor component to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make the determination of entry to or exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user comprises the step of:

communicating one or more of the one or more signals from the ultrasonic sensor component to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make a determination of exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user;

wherein the step of causing, through employment of the determination of entry to or exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user, the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to send the corresponding entrance or exit user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer through the universal serial bus port comprises the step of;

causing, through employment of the determination of exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user, the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to send the exit user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer through the universal serial bus port; and

the method further comprising the step of;

placing the computer in one or more of a low-power state and a standby state through employment of the exit user configurable keystroke sequence.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of communicating the one or more signals from the ultrasonic sensor component to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make the determination of entry to or exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user comprises the step of:

communicating one or more of the one or more signals from the ultrasonic sensor component to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make a determination of entry to the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user;

wherein the step of causing, through employment of the determination of entry to or exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user, the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to send the corresponding entrance or exit user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer through the universal serial bus port comprises the step of;

causing, through employment of the determination of entry to the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user, the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to send the entrance user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer through the universal serial bus port; and

the method further comprising the step of;

placing the computer in one or more of an active state, a login state and a re-authentication state through employment of the entrance user configurable keystroke sequence.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of communicating the one or more signals from the ultrasonic sensor component to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make the determination of entry to or exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user comprises the step of:

communicating one or more of the one or more signals from the ultrasonic sensor component to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make a determination of entry to the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user;

wherein the step of causing, through employment of the determination of entry to or exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user, the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to send the corresponding entrance or exit user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer through the universal serial bus port comprises the step of;

causing, through employment of the determination of entry to the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user, the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to send the entrance user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer through the universal serial bus port; and

the method further comprising the step of;

placing, through employment of the entrance user configurable keystroke sequence, the computer in an armed state that serves to indicate to the user that exit by the user from the predetermined proximity of the computer in the armed state will cause the exit user configurable keystroke sequence to be sent to the computer.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of coupling the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator with the computer through the universal serial bus port comprises the step of:

selecting the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to comprise a configuration settings component;

the method further comprising the step of;

setting, through employment of the configuration settings component, a delay that allows the user a predetermined time to move from within the predetermined proximity of the computer to without the predetermined proximity of the computer and back within the predetermined proximity of the computer without the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator sending the entrance user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer and without the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator sending the exit user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer;

wherein the step of communicating the one or more signals from the ultrasonic sensor component to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make the determination of entry to or exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user comprises the step of;

communicating one or more of the one or more signals from the ultrasonic sensor component to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that serve to allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make a determination of expiration of the predetermined time before the user has moved from within the predetermined proximity of the computer to without the predetermined proximity of the computer and back within the predetermined proximity of the computer;

wherein the step of causing, through employment of the determination of entry to or exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user, the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to send the corresponding entrance or exit user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer through the universal serial bus port comprises the step of;

causing, through employment of the determination of expiration of the predetermined time before the user has moved from within the predetermined proximity of the computer to without the predetermined proximity of the computer and back within the predetermined proximity of the computer, the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to send the exit user configurable keystroke sequence to the computer through the universal serial bus port.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of coupling the ultrasonic sensor component with the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator comprises the step of:

selecting the ultrasonic sensor component to allow the user to set a very specific distance as the predetermined proximity to the computer.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of communicating the one or more signals from the ultrasonic sensor component to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make the determination of entry to or exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user comprises the step of:

continuously sending pulses of ultrasound from the ultrasonic sensor component and toward a user space to obtain the one or more signals communicated from the ultrasonic sensor component to the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator that allow the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator to make the determination of entry to or exit from the predetermined proximity of the computer by the user;

the method further comprising the steps of;

receiving, through employment of the ultrasonic sensor component, corresponding reflections, from a body of the user, of the pulses of ultrasound continuously sent from the ultrasonic sensor component and toward the user space;

employing, at the standalone universal serial bus keyboard emulator, time between one or more of the pulses and corresponding one or more of the reflections to calculate a distance of the user from the ultrasonic sensor component.