SENDING LOG OF ACCESSED DATA PRIOR TO EXECUTING DISABLE COMMAND IN LOST COMPUTER

• US 20090328233A1
• Filed: 06/25/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Cromer, Daryl Carvis, Locker, Howard Jeffrey, Cheston, Richard Wayne
• Application Number:
  US12/146,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20090328233A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/554 involving event detection and direct action
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/575 Secure boot
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2147 Locking files

Abstract

Prior to disabling itself in response to a disable command, a lost or stolen portable computer first constructs a log of data that has been accessed recently and sends the log to the rightful owner'"'"'s address, so the owner knows specifically what data might have been compromised.

Claims

1. A portable computer, comprising:

a portable housing;

a processor in the housing;

a tangible computer readable storage medium in the housing and accessible to the processor and bearing information;

a transceiver in the housing configured to receive a disable command and in response transmit a log of data that has been accessed, prior to executing the disable command.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein the log is of data accessed since a benchmark time.

3. The computer of claim 2, wherein the log indicates data that has been read and data that has been written.

4. The computer of claim 1, wherein the disable command causes the computer to render itself substantially unusable.

5. The computer of claim 2, wherein the benchmark time is identified in the disable command.

6. The computer of claim 2, wherein the log contains at least file names that have been accessed since the benchmark time.

7. Computer, comprising:

at least one processor executing logic comprising generating a disable command, the disable command including at least;

an address to which a log of recently accessed data is to be sent;

an address of a computer sought to be disabled; and

instruction to the computer sought to be disabled to disable itself after sending a log of recently accessed data to the address to which the log of accessed data is to be sent.

8. Computer of claim 7, wherein the disable command is encrypted.

9. Computer of claim 7, wherein the address to which the log of accessed data is to be sent is an address of the computer sending the disable command.

10. Computer of claim 7, wherein the address to which the log of accessed data is to be sent is an address of an Internet server.

11. Computer of claim 7, wherein the disable command further includes a benchmark time.

12. Method, comprising:

receiving a disable command at a computer;

in response to the disable command, transmitting information indicating accessed data; and

after the transmitting act, disabling the computer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the computer disables itself.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the information indicating accessed data indicates data accessed since a benchmark time.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the benchmark time is defined in the disable command.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the information is transmitted to an address identified in the disable command.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the information indicates data that has been read and data that has been written.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the disable command causes the computer to

render itself substantially unusable.