Protecting electronic devices from extended unauthorized use

• US 20070138999A1
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, Michael, Lemker, Brian, Hamlin, Jay
• Granted Patent: US 8,539,590 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source

Abstract

When unauthorized use of a device is suspected, a recharging mechanism (e.g., recharge-circuit) of the device is disabled in order to guard against extended unauthorized use of the device. The recharging mechanism normally recharges the rechargeable-power-supply that powers the device. Consequently, normal use and enjoyment of the device can be significantly reduced by disabling the rechager. Moreover, for devices that are mainly powered by a rechargeable-power-supply (e.g., music-players, phones, Personal Digital Assistants), disabling the recharger effectively renders the device inoperable when the power of the main power-supply has run out. As such, disabling the recharger should serve as a deterrent to theft.

Claims

1. A method for guarding against unauthorized use of a device, said method comprising:

determining whether to disable a recharger associated with said device in order to protect said device against unauthorized use of said device, wherein said device can be powered by a rechargeable-power-supply that can be charged by said recharger when said recharger is enabled; and

disabling said recharger associated with said device so that said rechargeable-power-supply cannot be charged by said recharger.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said disabling of said rechrager effectively renders said device inoperable when the rechargeable-power-supply runs out of power.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said rechargeable-power-supply is the main power supply for said device.

4. A method as recited in claim 3,

wherein said device is a handheld-device, and

wherein said rechargeable-power-supply is the main power supply for said device.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said device is one or more of the following:

a personal computer, a cell phone, a Global Positioning System (GPS), a media-player, a wireless device, a handheld-device, a personal digital assistant, a music-player.

6. A method for protecting a device against unauthorized use, said method comprising:

determining whether unauthorized use of said device can be suspected; and

disabling a recharger associated with said device so that a rechargeable-power-supply that normally powers said device cannot be charged by said recharger.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said determining of whether unauthorized use of said device can be suspected comprises:

determining whether an event, condition, or situation indicates that said device may be in use without authorization.

8. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said determining of whether unauthorized use of said device can be suspected comprises one or more of the following:

determining whether said device has been connected to another object;

determining whether said device is out of a determined geographical boundary; and

determining whether a timer has expired.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein said object is one or more of the following:

another device, an adaptor that connects said device to a power-supply, a server, a personal computer.

10. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said method further comprises:

determining whether said device is authorized for use when said determining determines that said device can be suspected.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said determining of whether said device is authorized is made based on a security-code that has been assigned to an authorized user of said device.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein said security-code is or is based on one or more of the following:

a name of a song, artist, or a folder, and

digital content associated with a song artist, or a folder.

13. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said disabling of said recharger comprises:

disabling a recharge-circuit of said device.

14. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said disabling of said recharge-circuit of said device comprises one or more of the following:

sending a disable-recharge-circuit command to said device,

causing computer code to be executed that effectively disables said recharge-circuit, and

loading firmware or software that causes disabling of said recharge-circuit.

15. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said method further comprises:

determining whether said device has been connected to an object;

determining an identifier that identifies said object when said determining determines that said device has been connected to said object;

determining whether said identifier is authorized when said determining determines that said device has been connected to said object; and

initiating an authorization process when said determining determines that said identifier is not authorized.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said authorization process comprises:

requesting a security code that has been assigned to an authorized user of said device.

17. A method of guarding against unauthorized use of a device, said method comprises:

determining whether a connection between said device and another entity has been established;

determining whether unauthorized use of said device is suspected when said determining determines that a connection between said device and said another entity has been established; and

performing one or more operations in response to suspected unauthorized use of said device when said determining determines that unauthorized use of said device is suspected.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein said one or more operations include one or more of the following:

disabling a recharger associated with said device,

disabling downloading capabilities of said device,

not allowing a requested operation which has been initiated by said device.

19. A device capable of guarding against unauthorized use, wherein said device is operable to:

determine whether to disable a recharger associated with said device in order to protect said device against unauthorized use of said device, wherein said device can be powered by a rechargeable-power-supply that can be charged by said recharger when said recharger is enabled; and

disable said recharger associated with said device so that said rechargeable-power-supply cannot be charged by said recharger.

20. A device as recited in claim 19, wherein said device is one or more of the following:

a personal computer, a cell phone, a Global Positioning System (GPS), a media-player, a wireless device, a handheld-device, a personal digital assistant, a music-player.

21. A computer readable medium including computer program code for guarding against unauthorized use of a device, said computer program code comprising:

computer program code for determining whether to disable a recharger associated with said device in order to protect said device against unauthorized use of said device, wherein said device can be powered by a rechargeable-power-supply that can be charged by said recharger when said recharger is enabled; and

computer program code for disabling said recharger associated with said device so that said rechargeable-power-supply cannot be charged by said recharger.