Electronic Device Security and Tracking System and Method

• US 20080134284A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Softex LLC (FIG LLC (d/b/a Fortress Investment Group LLC))
• Original Assignee: Softex Incorporated
• Inventors: Dube, Shradha, Raikar, Rayesh Kashinath, Kapila, Ranjit, Bhansali, Apurva Mahendrakumar, Jain, Manoj Kumar, Rangarajan, Gayathri, Tucker, Thomas David, Dhanani, Kamal Mansukhlal, Patel, Mehul Ramjibhai, Varghese, Elza Abraham
• Granted Patent: US 8,145,892 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/572 Secure firmware programming, e.g. of basic input output system [BIOS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning

Abstract

A system and method for securing and tracking an electronic device. The system includes hardware, software and firmware components that cooperate to allow tracking, disabling, and other interaction with the stolen electronic device. The system includes an application component, non-viewable component and Basic Input/Output Subsystem (BIOS) component that are present on the electronic device. The BIOS component maintains the secured environment of the application and non-viewable components. If only the application component was provided, a simple low level format of the hard disk drive would remove the application and bypass the security features. The system implements an “application and BIOS” based solution to electronic device security.

Claims

1. A method of providing an electronic device security and tracking system and method (ESTSM) service, comprising:

accepting a selection of an opt-in to use the ESTSM service; and

making available the ESTSM service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the accepting a selection of an opt-in to use the ESTSM service comprises:

accepting a selection of an opt-in to use the ESTSM service from a user of an electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the accepting a selection of an opt-in to use the ESTSM service comprises:

accepting a selection of an opt-in to use the ESTSM service, wherein the use includes a use on a trial basis.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the making available the ESTSM service comprises:

making available the ESTSM service free of charge.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the making available the ESTSM service comprises:

making available the ESTSM service in return for a fee.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the making available the ESTSM service is performed by a manufacturer of an electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the making available the ESTSM service is performed by a third party.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sharing revenue generated by a selection of an opt-in to use the ESTSM service, wherein the sharing includes sharing between a party making available the ESTSM service and a third party.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

administering the ESTSM service.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the administering the ESTSM service, wherein the administering includes an administering by a manufacturer of an electronic device to be protected by the ESTSM service.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the administering the ESTSM service, wherein the administering includes an administering by a third party.

12. A system for protecting an electronic device, comprising:

a non-viewable component;

an application component connected to the non-viewable component, said application component capable of communicating with the non-viewable component, wherein said application component executes within an operating system environment;

a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) component connected to the non-viewable component; and

a server system capable of communicating through a secure medium with the application component;

wherein the system is operable to protect the electronic device upon operations including

an acceptance of a selection of an opt-in to use the system, and

a making available of a use of the system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the acceptance of the selection of the opt-in to use the system includes the acceptance of the selection of the opt-in to use the system from a user of the electronic device.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the acceptance of the selection of the opt-in to use the system includes a use on a trial basis.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the making available of a use of the system is performed free of charge.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the making available of a use of the system is performed for a fee.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the making available of a use of the system is performed by a manufacturer of the electronic device.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the making available of a use of the system is performed by a third party.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the system is operable to protect the electronic device upon operations including an administration of the system.

20. A computer system, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor operably coupleable to the memory to

accept a selection of an opt-in to use the ESTSM service; and

make available an electronic device security and tracking system and method (ESTSM) service.

21. A machine-readable medium that provides instructions, which when executed by a machine, cause said machine to perform operations comprising:

making available an electronic device security and tracking system and method (ESTSM) service; and

accepting a selection of an opt-in to use the ESTSM service.