Remote asset management of computer systems

• US 20070001827A1
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Wong, Hong, Asbjornsen, Steven W. S.
• Application Number:
  US11/174,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20070001827A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.130
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A security device that is configured to receive lock and unlock signals from a remote location via a communication channel. The security device may include a sensor to detect unauthorized disablement and may generate warning signals to report such unauthorized disablement.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a request to unlock a security device used to secure a first computer system; and

sending an unlock signal to unlock the security device, wherein the security device is configured to be unlocked using either the unlock signal or using a key.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the key is a manual key or an electronic key.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the unlock signal is sent from a second computer system using wired or wireless communications.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the unlock signal is processed using an out-of-band (OOB) controller in the first computer system.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the request to unlock is verified before the unlock signal is sent.

6. A method, comprising:

sensing a break associated with a locked security device used to secure a first computer system, the break causing the first computer system to be unsecured;

from the first computer system, sending a first signal to a second computer system to indicate the break;

when the break is determined to be unauthorized, from the second computer system, sending a second signal to the first computer system to disable the first computer system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein disabling the first computer system comprises causing the first computer system to fail to boot.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first signal and the second signal are processed by an out-of-band (OOB) controller in the first computer system.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the break is sensed when the security device is disabled without using a key.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the key is a mechanical key or an electronic key

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the electronic key is activated when the second computer system sends an unlock signal to the first computer system to unlock the security device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the security device is disabled when a cable coupled to the security device is disconnected.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

logic to receive an unlock signal to unlock a security device, the unlock signal received via a communication channel, the security device used to secure a first computer system; and

logic to send a warning signal to a second computer system via the communication channel when the security device is disabled without authorization.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the unlock signal is to cause a cable coupled to the security device to be disconnected from the security device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the warning signal is sent when the cable is disconnected from the security device without authorization.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the warning signal is sent when there is a break in the cable.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein responsive to receiving the warning signal, the second computer system is to send disable signal to the first computer system to disable the first computer system.

18. A system, comprising:

a communication controller to receive lock or unlock signal to control operation of a security device, wherein the lock or unlock signal are sent by a networked computer system; and

a sensor to sense a break in a cable coupled to the security device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein when the break in the cable is determined to be unauthorized, the communication controller is to send a warning signal to the networked computer system.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the communication controller is an out-of-band (OOB) controller.