Locking of communication device based on proximity
First Claim
1. A method of locking a communication device based on proximity, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a location device operable to communicate with the communication device;
transmitting a signal by the location device;
detecting the signal by the communication device; and
locking at least one function of the communication device when the detecting step indicates that the location device is not in proximity to the communication device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of locking a communication device based on proximity includes a step of providing (202) a location device that is positioned on the person of an authorized user of the communication device. The communication device and the location device are initialized (204) to define proximity locking rules. Signals are transmitted (206) by the location device and detected (208) by the communication device to determine proximity (210). If the devices are found to not be in proximity to each other, at least one function of the communication device is locked (211) from use, to prevent unauthorized use of the communication device if it were to be lost or stolen.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of locking a communication device based on proximity, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a location device operable to communicate with the communication device;
transmitting a signal by the location device;
detecting the signal by the communication device; and
locking at least one function of the communication device when the detecting step indicates that the location device is not in proximity to the communication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of locking a communication device based on proximity, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a location device with a unique identifier and operable to communicate with the communication device, the location device and communication device communicating over a short-range wireless link;
initializing the communication device and the location device, and selecting at least one function of the communication device for locking based on proximity;
transmitting a signal by the location device;
detecting the signal and unique identifier of the location device by the communication device; and
locking at least one function of the communication device when the unique identifier is identified and the detection step indicates that the location device is not in proximity to the communication device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A proximity monitoring communication system for locking at least one function of a communication device, the system comprising:
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a wireless location device operable on a short-range wireless network, the wireless location device including a unique identifier; and
a communication device operable on a wireless wide area network and the short-range wireless network to communicate with the location device, a communication manager operable for detection of a signal from the location device to determine proximity thereof, wherein, when the communication manager detects that the location device is not in proximity to the communication device, the communication manager locks at least one function of the communication device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of locking a function of a communication device based on proximity, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a location device operable to communicate with the communication device;
selecting the function to lock on the communication device;
attempting to access the function on the communication device;
detecting the location device by the communication device; and
allowing access to the function when the detecting step indicates that the location device is in proximity to the communication device, and denying access to the function when the detecting step indicates that the location device is not in proximity to the communication device.
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Specification