Locking System for Electronic Equipment

• US 20090015372A1
• Filed: 07/01/2008
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Direct Source International, LLC
• Original Assignee: Direct Source International, LLC
• Inventors: Kady, Darren
• Granted Patent: US 8,289,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.540
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/81 by operating on the power supply, e.g. enabling or disabling power-on, sleep or resume operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data

Abstract

The operating control system can be use on electronic equipment, such as cell phones, computers, engine analyzers, etc. An input device, programming a single or multiple devices, enables the input of user access data by a primary user for multiple modes. Access for secondary users can be controlled and monitored by the primary user. The system requires password entry upon the total loss of power, shutting down the system if the password is not obtained. In another embodiment the system differentiates between power outages, removal of power, loss due to water and normal loss of power due to use. A further embodiment tracks usage of the device by units, enabling primary user refill of the units.

Claims

1. An operating control system for electronic equipment, said control system being internal to said electronic equipment and having:

a. an activation/deactivation member;

b. at least three user programmable modes;

c. at least two user access codes, at least one of said at least two user access codes being a primary user code to program parameters for each said at least three user programmable modes and at least one other of said at least two user access codes being a secondary code that enables user access only to said at least three user programmable modes based upon said program parameters, programmed by said primary user code;

d. an activate programming mode, said activate programming mode accessible with said primary user access code for programming said parameters for said at least three programmable modes;

g. input means, said input means to receive said user access codes, said programmable mode selection;

h. an internal microprocessor, said internal microprocessor receiving input from said input means and executing said program parameters;

i. a use mode, said use mode being activated by entry of said secondary code to enables use of said multiple user programmable modes based upon said parameters;

wherein said microprocessor controls operation of said electronic equipment based upon said parameters in said at least three user programmable modes for each of said multiple user access codes.

2. The operating control system of claim 1 having multiple user programmable activation periods, each of said multiple user programmable activation periods being set by a user for each of said at least three user programmable modes.

3. The operating control system of claim 1 wherein said electronic equipment is a cell phone.

4. The operating control system of claim 3 wherein said at least three user programmable modes include, normal operation and at least one member from the group of sleep mode, delayed start, at least one extension mode, selective number blocking, and partial operation, each of said at least three programmable modes being operable for a user programmed period.

5. The operating control system of claim 4 wherein said at least one member is partial operation and said partial operation includes making outbound calls and blocking inbound calls.

6. The operating control system of claim 4 wherein said partial operation includes receiving inbound calls and blocking outbound calls.

7. The operating control system of claim 4 wherein said partial operation includes programming permitted numbers for outgoing calls.

8. The operating control system of claim 4 wherein said partial operation includes programming permitted numbers for incoming calls.

9. The operating control system of claim 1 wherein said electronic equipment is a computer.

10. The operating control system of claim 9 having multiple user programmable activation periods, each of said multiple user programmable activation periods being set by a user for each of said at least three user programmable modes.

11. The operating control system of claim 9 wherein said at least three user programmable modes include, normal operation and at least one member from the group of URL access, instant message access, timed operation, and delayed start, each of said at least three programmable modes being operable for a user programmed period.

12. The operating control system of claim 9 wherein one of said user programmable modes is limiting downloading programs to secondary codes having programmed access.

13. The operating control system of claim 9 wherein one of said user programmable modes is limiting program installation to secondary codes having programmed access.

14. The operating control system of claim 11 wherein said user selecting normal operation returns said electronic equipment to the previously activated sequence for the remainder of said activation period.

15. The operating control system of claim 1 wherein said secondary user has programming rights, said programming rights being determined and programmed by said primary user.

16. The operating control system of claim 1 wherein a frequency of entering said secondary user access code to access said electronic equipment is based on primary user programming.

17. The operating control system of claim 1 where said input means is a remote, said remote requiring at least one password.

18. The operating control system of claim 2 wherein said programmable time period is based on counting down a programmed number of units.

19. An operating control system for electronic equipment, said control system being internal to said electronic equipment and having:

a. an activation/deactivation member;

b. at least three user programmable modes;

d. at least two user access codes, at least one of said at least two user access codes being a primary user code to program parameters for each said at least three user programmable modes and at least one other of said at least two user access codes being a secondary code that enables user access only to said at least three user programmable modes based upon said program parameters, programmed by said primary user code;

d. an activate programming mode, said activate programming mode accessible with said primary user access code for programming said parameters for said at least three programmable modes;

g. input means, said input means to receive said user access codes, said programmable mode selection;

i. an internal microprocessor, said internal microprocessor receiving input from said input means and executing said program parameters;

j. a use mode, said use mode being activated by entry of said secondary code to enables use of said multiple user programmable modes based upon said parameters;

k. secondary user has programming rights, said programming rights being determined and programmed by said primary user.

l. Required secondary user access code entry, the frequency of said secondary user access code entry being programmed by said primary user.

wherein said microprocessor controls operation of said electronic equipment based upon said parameters in said at least three user programmable modes for each of said multiple user access codes.

20. An internal operating control system for battery powered equipment, said control system having:

a secondary battery;

a water sensor;

a sub-program, said sub-program preventing reactivation of said battery powered equipment for a predetermined period of time from the activation of said water sensor.