System and Method For Securing Portable Computers

• US 20080022417A1
• Filed: 07/20/2006
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: McKay, Michael, Garrison, John M.
• Application Number:
  US11/458,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20080022417A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning

Abstract

A method, system, and computer-usable medium for laptop security. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a security manager establishes a desired network topology with a collection of laptops, wherein each of the collection of laptops communicates with other laptops within the collection of laptops utilizing a wireless connection. In response to establishing the desired network topology, the security manager causes the plurality of laptops to enter a lock down state. In response to detecting that a disruption in communication has occurred, the security manager issues an alarm.

Claims

1. A method for laptop security, comprising:

establishing a desired network topology with a plurality of laptops, wherein each of said plurality of laptops communicates with other laptops utilizing a wireless connection;

in response to establishing said desired network topology, causing a plurality of laptops to enter a lock down state; and

in response to detecting that a disruption in communication has occurred, issuing an alarm.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said wireless connection includes at least one infrared transmitter and receiver.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said issuing an alarm further comprises:

forwarding a disruption notice to said other laptops.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said desired network topology includes physically arranging said plurality laptops in a desired configuration and establishing said wireless connection between said plurality of laptops.

5. A system for laptop security comprising:

a processor;

a databus coupled to said processor; and

a computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, said computer-usable medium being coupled to said databus, said computer program code comprising instructions executable by said processor and configured for;

establishing a desired network topology with a plurality of laptops, wherein each of said plurality of laptops communicates with other laptops utilizing a wireless connection;

in response to establishing said desired network topology, causing a plurality of laptops to enter a lock down state; and

in response to detecting that a disruption in communication has occurred, issuing an alarm.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said wireless connection includes at least one infrared transmitter and receiver.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein said issuing an alarm further comprises:

forwarding a disruption notice to said other laptops.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein said desired network topology includes physically arranging said plurality laptops in a desired configuration and establishing said wireless connection between said plurality of laptops.

9. A computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, said computer program code comprising computer-executable instructions configured for:

establishing a desired network topology with a plurality of laptops, wherein each of said plurality of laptops communicates with other laptops utilizing a wireless connection;

in response to establishing said desired network topology, causing a plurality of laptops to enter a lock down state; and

in response to detecting that a disruption in communication has occurred, issuing an alarm.

10. The computer-usable medium according to claim 9, wherein said wireless connection includes at least one infrared transmitter and receiver.

11. The computer-usable medium according to claim 9, wherein said embodied computer program code for issuing an alarm further comprises computer-executable instructions configured for:

forwarding a disruption notice to said other laptops.

12. The computer-usable medium according to claim 9, wherein said desired network topology includes physically arranging said plurality laptops in a desired configuration and establishing said wireless connection between said plurality of laptops.