Locking digital pen

• US 20070030257A1
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Polozoff, Alexandre, Hamilton, Rick, Boss, Gregory, Bhogal, Kulvir
• Application Number:
  US11/197,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20070030257A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof

Abstract

A locking digital pen system includes memory means which is available for storing user passwords for a plurality of users. When a user wishes to activate the digital pen, the user is enabled to use the digital pen to enter a password. After verification of the password, the pen is unlocked and the system associates the user with a matching digital signature certificate. When the user wishes to lock the pen, the user is enabled to actuate a button on the pen or provide an entry to a coupled computer to initiate a locking sequence. The system then disassociates the user from the digital signature certificates so the pen can no longer be used to digitally sign documents and the pen enters a locked state. In another embodiment, an authorized user may disable the unlocking function of the pen whereby the pen may not be unlocked by entry of a password but rather only when a special code is entered into the system.

Claims

1. A method for enabling usage of a digital pen by only authorized users to perform a set of enhanced functions in an enhanced operational mode, said method comprising:

using said digital pen in a limited operational mode, said limited operational mode being effective only to enable a first user of said digital pen to generate a user authorization code for said digital pen;

determining that said user authorization code generated by said first user is one of a plurality of predetermined authorization codes designated to enable use of said digital pen in said enhanced operational mode; and

enabling said enhanced operational mode with said digital pen if said first user authorization code is one of a plurality of predetermined authorization codes designated to enable use of said digital pen, said enhanced operational mode being operable to enable said user to use said digital pen to perform operations by said user with said digital pen which are not available to said user when said digital pen is in said limited operational mode.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including enabling said first user to change from said enhanced operational mode for said digital pen to said limited operational mode whereby a new authorization code may be generated by a second user to enable said enhanced function mode of said digital pen for said second user.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including enabling said first user to input said user authorization code directly into a user input device which is a part of said digital pen.

4. The method as said forth in claim 3 wherein said input device comprises a series of switching devices mounted on said digital pen, said switching devices being selectively operable by said first user for inputting said user authorization code.

5. the method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said series of switching devices comprises a series of tumbler switches, each of said tumbler switches being capable of being set by said first user to selected characters, said user authorization code being comprised of a combination of said selected characters.

6. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein one of said switching devices is selectively operable to effect a change from said enhanced operational mode for said digital pen to said limited operational mode whereby a new authorization code may be generated by a second user to enable said enhanced function mode of said digital pen for said second user.

7. The method as set forth in claim 4 and further including displaying said user authorization code generated by said first user on a display device on said digital pen.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7 and further including using said display device on said digital pen to display information other than said user authorization code to said first user.

9. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said display device comprises a liquid crystal display.

10. The method as set forth in claim 3 and further including processing said user authorization code in processing means included within said digital pen to accomplish said determining.

11. The method as set forth in claim 3 and further including processing said user authorization code in processing means located remotely from said digital pen to accomplish said determining.

12. The method as set forth in claim 4 and further including storing said user authorization code in memory contained within said digital pen.

13. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said enabling said first user to change from said enhanced operational mode for said digital pen to said limited operational mode is accomplished by actuation of only one of said switching devices.

14. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including, after said determining, associating said user authorization code with stored user certificate information in order to enable said first user to generate an authorized user digital signature for use in processing electronic commercial and other documentation.

15. A programmed product, said programmed product being executable by a computer system to generate operational signals effective for enabling said computer system to interface with a digital pen and allow usage of said digital pen by only authorized users to perform a set of enhanced functions in an enhanced operational mode, said operational signals being selectively operable to enable:

using said digital pen in a limited operational mode, said limited operational mode being effective only to enable a first user of said digital pen to generate a user authorization code for said digital pen;

determining that said user authorization code generated by said first user is one of a plurality of predetermined authorization codes designated to enable use of said digital pen in said enhanced operational mode; and

executing said enhanced operational mode with said digital pen if said first user authorization code is one of a plurality of predetermined authorization codes designated to enable use of said digital pen, said enhanced operational mode being operable to enable said user to use said digital pen to perform operations by said user with said digital pen which are not available to said user when said digital pen is in said limited operational mode.

16. The programmed product as set forth in claim 15 wherein said operational signals are further effective for:

enabling said first user to change from said enhanced operational mode for said digital pen to said limited operational mode whereby a new authorization code may be generated by a second user to enable said enhanced function mode of said digital pen for said second user.

17. A digital pen comprising:

user input means on said digital pen, said user input means being arranged for enabling usage of a digital pen by only authorized users to perform a set of enhanced functions in an enhanced operational mode, said user input means being selectively operable in a limited operational mode to enable a first user of said digital pen to generate a user authorization code for said digital pen;

memory means for storing said user authorization code;

means arranged for coupling said digital pen to a processing means, said processing means being selectively operable for determining that said user authorization code generated by said first user is one of a plurality of predetermined authorization codes designated to enable use of said digital pen in said enhanced operational mode, said processing means being further operable for enabling said enhanced operational mode with said digital pen if said first user authorization code is one of a plurality of predetermined authorization codes designated to enable use of said digital pen, said enhanced operational mode being operable to enable said user to use said digital pen to perform operations by said user with said digital pen which are not available to said user when said digital pen is in said limited operational mode.

18. The digital pen as set forth in claim 17 and further including means for enabling said first user to change from said enhanced operational mode for said digital pen to said limited operational mode whereby a new authorization code may be generated by a second user to enable said enhanced function mode of said digital pen for said second user.

19. The digital pen as set forth in claim 18 and further including a first switching means on said digital pen wherein said means for enabling said first user to change from said enhanced operational mode for said digital pen to said limited operational mode is accomplished by a single actuation of said first switching means.

20. The digital pen as set forth in claim 17 wherein said digital pen further includes a display device and a second switching means on said digital pen, said display device being selectively operable for displaying said authorization code generated by said first user to said first user, said second switching means being selectively operable by said first user to enter said authorization code displayed on said display device for said processing by said processing means.