Enabling a service to return lost laptops

• US 20100169965A1
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Prakash, Gyan, Chhabra, Jasmeet
• Granted Patent: US 8,317,878 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss

Abstract

A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium for providing a unique identifier for a computer system and a message from a service external to the computer system, such as a laptop return service, for display when the computer system is powered on. The computer system is configured to restrict functionality until the service authorizes restoration of full functionality of the computer system. The message includes contact information for the laptop return service and, when the service is contacted, the service sends an instruction to return the computer system to full functionality. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a unique identifier for a computer system and a message from a service external to the computer system for display when the computer system is powered on; and

configuring the computer system to restrict functionality of the computer system until the service authorizes restoration of full functionality of the computer system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein

the unique identifier for the computer system and the message are selectively provided for display only after receiving a communication from the service.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein

configuring the computer system to restrict the functionality of the computer system comprises disabling the computer system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein

configuring the computer system to restrict the functionality of the computer system comprises restricting the functionality of the computer system in accordance with an instruction from the service.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein

restricting the functionality of the computer system in accordance with the instruction from the service comprises disabling access to the unique identifier after an operating system is loaded.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

configuring the computer system to restore the full functionality of the computer system in response to an instruction authorizing the restoration from the service.

7. A method comprising:

receiving a notification that a computer system is at least one of lost and stolen at a service;

obtaining a unique identifier for the computer system; and

sending an instruction from the service to the computer system to restrict functionality of the computer system.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

receiving a second notification, wherein the second notification indicates that the computer system is found; and

sending an instruction to the computer system to authorize restoration of full functionality of the computer system.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

retrieving user contact information associated with the unique identifier; and

using the user contact information to contact a user of the computer system.

10. A system comprising:

a memory;

BIOS firmware loaded in the memory to provide a unique identifier for the system and a message from a service external to the system for display when the system is powered on; and

a chipset module to configure the system to restrict functionality of the system until the service authorizes restoration of full functionality of the system.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein

the BIOS firmware selectively provides the unique identifier for the system and the message for display only after receiving a communication from the service.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein

the chipset module is further adapted to restrict the functionality of the system by disabling the system.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein

the chipset module is further adapted to restrict the functionality of the system by restricting the functionality of the system in accordance with an instruction from the service.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein

restricting the functionality of the system in accordance with the instruction from the service comprises disabling access to the unique identifier after an operating system is loaded.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein

the chipset module is further adapted to configure the system to restore the full functionality of the system in response to an instruction authorizing the restoration from the service.

16. A computer-readable storage medium comprising:

first instructions to provide a unique identifier for a computer system and a message from a service external to the computer system for display when the computer system is powered on; and

second instructions to configure the computer system to restrict functionality of the computer system until the service authorizes restoration of full functionality of the computer system.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 wherein

the first instructions selectively provide the unique identifier for the computer system and the message for display only after receiving a communication from the service.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 wherein

the second instructions are further adapted to restrict the functionality of the computer system by disabling the computer system.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 wherein

the second instructions are further adapted to restrict the functionality of the computer system by restricting the functionality of the computer system in accordance with an instruction from the service.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 wherein

restricting the functionality of the computer system in accordance with the instruction from the service comprises disabling access to the laptop identification number after an operating system is loaded.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 wherein

the second instructions are further adapted to configure the computer system to restore the full functionality of the computer system in response to an instruction authorizing the restoration from the service.