Portable computer supporting paging instructions

• US 20060152340A1
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Dean A. Klein, Jeff Barrus, Shane Thomas
• Inventors: Klein, Dean A., Barrus, Jeff, Thomas, Shane
• Granted Patent: US 7,372,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/7.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/228 combined with other devices having a different main function, e.g. watches
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/023 with message or information receiving capability

Abstract

A portable computer is described that contains a circuit for receiving pages and performing security functions based on the received page. Once a page has been received by the portable computer, the computer'"'"'s hard drive can be automatically reformatted, or the portable computer can be prevented from booting. In addition, the portable computer can be programmed to use a modem to automatically dial a security center and transmit security information such as the Caller ID Tag of the current telephone number.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a device having security functions, the method comprising:

configuring the device to receive information via a wireless receiver;

providing a resettable status flag in a memory of the device;

configuring a processor of the device to set the status of the flag based at least in part on the content of the information received via the wireless receiver; and

providing the device with computer instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform a security function that comprises;

determining the status of the flag; and

if the flag is in a predetermined state, determining whether the device is connected to a communications network via a modem, and transmitting information indicative of the location of the device with the modem.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver is located in the device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a public switched telephone network is utilized in order to transmit information indicative of the location of the device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information indicative of the location of the device comprises a caller ID tag.

5. A device comprising:

a wireless receiver configured to receive a boot sequence information, wherein the boot sequence information identifies at least one of a plurality of boot sequence operations for the device; and

a receiver configured to receive the boot sequence information from the wireless receiver; and

a processor configured to initiate execution of the identified at least one of a plurality of boot sequence operations.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the boot sequence information comprises a plurality of alphanumeric characters.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the boot sequence information contains at least one string of characters that is associated with a boot sequence operation.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the boot sequence information contains at least one string of characters that is associated with a plurality of boot sequence operations.

9. The device of claim 5, wherein the boot sequence information comprises a flag bit.

10. A device comprising:

means for configuring the device to receive information via a wireless receiver;

means for providing a resettable status flag in a memory of the device;

means for configuring a processor of the device to set the status of the flag based at least in part on the content of the information received via the wireless receiver; and

means for providing the device with computer instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform a security function that comprises;

means for determining the status of the flag; and

if the flag is in a predetermined state, means for determining whether the device is connected to a communications network via a modem, and means for transmitting information indicative of the location of the device with the modem.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein wireless receiver is located in the device.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein a public switched telephone network is utilized in order to transmit the information indicative of the location of the device.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the information indicative of the location of the device comprises a caller ID tag.

14. A method of manufacturing a device having security functions, the method comprising:

configuring the device to receive information via a wireless receiver;

providing a resettable status flag in a memory of the device;

configuring a processor of the device to set the status of the flag based at least in part on the content of the information received via the wireless receiver; and

providing the device with computer instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform a security function that comprises;

transmitting information indicative of the location of the device with a modem when the device is connected to a communication network via the modem and when the flag is in a predetermined state.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the wireless receiver is located in the device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein a public switched telephone network is utilized in order to transmit information indicative of the location of the device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the information indicative of the location of the device comprises a caller ID tag.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the security function further comprises turning off a speaker associated with the modem when the device is connected to a communication network via the modem and when the flag is in a predetermined state.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the security function further comprises periodically determining when the modem is connected to the communication network.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the received wireless information is from a pager.