Method and system for limiting use of electronic equipment

• US 20040056759A1
• Filed: 12/16/2002
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Ungs, Kelly J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,034,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.74
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1409 for removal detection of electrical appliances by detecting their physical disconnection from an electrical system, e.g. using a switch incorporated in the plug connector

Abstract

A system and method for securing electronic devices with a non-physical tether which automatically disables operation of the device when the device fails to confirm its location within a predetermined area and/or connection to a predetermined network.

Claims

1. A system for securing electronic devices, the system comprising:

a mobile electronic device configured to communicate data over a communication network;

software disposed on said mobile electronic device;

said encoded information configured to automatically password restrict, with a disconnected password, access to functionality of said mobile electronic device, in response to a failure of said encoded information to obtain a notification of a connection between said mobile electronic device and the computer network;

where said access to functionality which is automatically password restricted by said encoded information, is access to functionality which would otherwise be available from said mobile electronic device despite a non-existent connection between said mobile electronic device and the computer network;

said disconnected password is not identical to a password otherwise used to gain access to said functionality when said electronic device is connected to the computer network.

2. A system of claim 1 wherein said encoded information is configured to determine a status of the connection between said mobile electronic device and the computer network.

3. An apparatus comprising:

a protected item;

means for restricting a characteristic of said protected item in response to a determination that said protected item is outside of a predetermined space;

where said characteristic of said protected item would otherwise exist irrespective of whether said electronic device is outside of said predetermined space.

4. An apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

said protected item is an electronic device;

said characteristic is an operational characteristic;

said predetermined space is a predetermined space of intended operation;

said predetermined space of intended operation is a geographic space; and

,

said means for restricting comprises a means for determining a geographic location of said electronic device.

5. An apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for determining a geographic location comprises a means for receiving a radio signal and generating location information of said electronic device in response thereto.

6. An apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for receiving a radio signal further comprises a means for determining a signal strength of said radio signal.

7. An apparatus of claim 6 further comprising means for calculating a geographic distance from a predetermined location to said electronic device based upon said signal strength.

8. An apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for calculating uses a Longley-Rice signal strength calculator.

9. An apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for receiving a radio signal is a global positioning system receiver.

10. An apparatus of claim 9 wherein said electronic device is a handheld barcode scanner which is configured to communicate over a computer network.

11. An apparatus of claim 8 wherein said electronic device is a handheld barcode scanner which is configured to communicate over a computer network.

12. An apparatus of claim 4 wherein said predetermined space of intended operation is limited by an ability to communicate over a predetermined computer network.

31. An apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

said protected item is a non- electronic device; and

said characteristic is an identification characteristic.

13. A system for securing electronic equipment comprising:

a first electronic device and a second electronic device, having dissimilar characteristics for a percentage of time coupled to a computer network;

said computer network configured for providing data communication between said first and said second electronic devices;

said first electronic device having a first means for storing data;

said second electronic device having a second means for storing data;

said first means for storing data containing a first configurable encoded information security application configured for automatically self-disabling said first electronic device when said first electronic device is disconnected from said computer network for a first predetermined time period;

said second means for storing data containing a second configurable encoded information security application configured for automatically self-disabling said second electronic device when said second electronic device is disconnected from said computer network for a second predetermined time period;

said first means for storing data further containing a first configuration encoded information application programmed for configuring said first configurable encoded information security application;

said second means for storing data further containing a second configuration encoded information application programmed for configuring said second configurable encoded information security application; and

said first configurable encoded information security application and said second configurable encoded information security application being programmed to allow differing configurations for said first electronic device and said second electronic device in response to said dissimilar characteristics for a percentage of time coupled to a computer network.

14. A system of claim 13 wherein said differing configurations comprise differing time periods for said first predetermined time period and said second predetermined time period.

15. A system of claim 14 wherein said first electronic device is a handheld mobile electronic device and said second electronic device is a desktop computer.

16. A system of claim 15 wherein said second predetermined time period has a longer duration than said first predetermined time period.

17. A system of claim 16 wherein said handheld mobile electronic device is a handheld barcode scanner which is configured to communicate data over a computer network.

18. A system for limiting use of electronic equipment comprising:

a first encoded information security application configured to perform the steps comprising;

monitoring a first use of a first electronic device to determine if said first use is within a first predetermined space of intended operations;

disabling said first electronic device when said first use is determined to be outside of said first predetermined space of intended operations;

a second encoded information security application configured to perform the steps comprising;

monitoring a second use of a second electronic device to determine if said second use is within a second predetermined space of intended operations; and

disabling said second electronic device when said second use is determined to be outside of said second predetermined space of intended operations.

19. A system of claim 18 wherein said first encoded information security application is disposed on said first electronic device and said second encoded information security application is disposed on said second electronic device.

20. A system for reducing theft of electronic equipment comprising:

a first protected piece of electronic equipment; and

,

means, disposed on said first protected piece, for reducing benefits obtained by removing said first protected piece from a first predetermined geographic location.

21. A system for limiting use of a handheld barcode scanner comprising:

a computer network configured to communicate with mobile wireless handheld barcode scanners;

a first mobile wireless handheld barcode scanner which is configured to communicate data over said computer network;

first initial configuration application disposed on said first mobile wireless handheld barcode scanner;

a first wireless tether application, disposed on said first mobile wireless handheld barcode scanner, and configured by said first initial configuration application, wherein said first wireless tether application comprises;

means for determining whether said first mobile wireless handheld barcode scanner is in communication with said computer network;

means for determining a first duration of any lapse of communication between said first mobile wireless handheld barcode scanner and said computer network;

means for comparing said first duration of a lapse of communication to a first predetermined lapse limit; and

,

means for automatically limiting further use of said first mobile wireless handheld barcode scanner without the input of a first password where said first password is different from an on-network password which permits use of said first mobile wireless handheld when said first predetermined lapse limit has not been exceeded by said first duration of a lapse of communication;

a second mobile wireless handheld barcode scanner which is configured to communicate data over said computer network;

second initial configuration application disposed on said second mobile wireless handheld barcode scanner;

a second wireless tether application, disposed on said second mobile wireless handheld barcode scanner, and configured by said second initial configuration application, wherein said second wireless tether application comprises;

means for determining whether said second mobile wireless handheld barcode scanner is in communication with said computer network;

means for determining a second duration of any lapse of communication between said second mobile wireless handheld barcode scanner and said computer network;

means for comparing said second duration of a lapse of communication to a second predetermined lapse limit;

means for automatically limiting further use of said second mobile wireless handheld barcode scanner without the input of a second password where said second password is different from an on-network password which permits use of said second mobile wireless handheld when said second predetermined lapse limit has not been exceeded by said second duration of a lapse of communication; and

said first predetermined lapse limit is set by said first initial configuration application and said second predetermined lapse limit is set by said second initial configuration application with differing lapse limits in response to differing use characteristic between said first mobile wireless handheld barcode scanner and said second mobile wireless handheld barcode scanner.

22. A system comprising:

a protected item;

an electronic location detector coupled to said protected item, said electronic location detector configured to make a determination of whether said protected item is located within a predetermined space; and

wherein said protected item has a predetermined characteristic which is responsive to said determination.

23. A system of claim 22 wherein:

said predetermined space is a geographic space; and

,

said electronic location detector comprises a geographic location detector.

24. A system of claim 23 wherein said geographic location detector comprises a radio receiver and location determining encoded information.

25. A system of claim 24 wherein said radio receiver further comprises a radio signal strength detector.

26. A system of claim 25 further comprising a geographic distance calculator based upon output of said radio signal strength detector.

27. A system of claim26 wherein said geographic distance calculator uses a Longley-Rice signal strength calculator.

28. A system of claim 24 wherein said radio receiver is a global positioning system receiver.

29. A system of claim 28 wherein said protected item is a non-electronic device.

30. A system of claim 29 wherein protected item is a financial instrument and said electronic location detector is a radio frequency identification tag, and further comprising:

video surveillance equipment which is enabled when said radio frequency identification tag is removed from a protected area.