AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF A SECURITY PROTECTION MODE OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20100229248A1
• Filed: 03/05/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Absolute Software Corporation
• Original Assignee: Absolute Software Corporation
• Inventors: Glave, Geoffrey John
• Granted Patent: US 8,800,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss

Abstract

An automated method and apparatus is provided for deterring unauthorized use or theft of electronic devices, or other sorts of items into which a tracking device has been installed, particularly those in a distribution channel. The automated method is performed by a computer system of a monitoring center, and comprises the steps of: receiving a call over a network from the electronic device, said call initiated by an agent installed on the electronic device, said agent including functionality for tracking usage of the electronic device and for reporting information regarding said usage to the monitoring center, the agent thereby facilitating recovery of the electronic device when stolen; in response to the call, determining, at least, whether a sale of the electronic device has been reported; and by communication with the agent, causing the electronic device to enter into a state that is dependent, at least, upon the determination of whether a sale of the electronic device has been reported, said state affecting whether the agent reports information to the monitoring center regarding usage of the electronic device.

Claims

1. An automated method of remotely monitoring and controlling an electronic device, the method comprising:

by a computer system of a monitoring centre;

receiving a call over a network from the electronic device, said call initiated by an agent installed on the electronic device, said agent including functionality for tracking usage of the electronic device and for reporting information regarding said usage to the monitoring center, the agent thereby facilitating recovery of the electronic device when stolen;

in response to the call, determining, at least, whether a sale of the electronic device has been reported; and

by communication with the agent, causing the electronic device to enter into a state that is dependent, at least, upon the determination of whether a sale of the electronic device has been reported, said state affecting whether the agent reports information to the monitoring center regarding usage of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises, in response to detecting that a sale of the electronic device has been reported, causing the electronic device to enter into a state in which the agent does not report information regarding usage of the computing device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises, in response to detecting that a sale of the electronic device has been reported, causing the electronic device to prompt a user thereof to upgrade or replace the agent.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises, in response to the call, determining whether the electronic device has been reported as stolen.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises, in response to determining that the electronic device has not been reported as either sold or stolen, causing an alert message to be transmitted to a manufacturer or distributor of the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises, in response to the call, determining whether the electronic device has been reported as associated with a particular retail entity.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises, in response to determining that the electronic device has not been reported as either sold or stolen, and in response to determining that the electronic device has been reported as associated with a particular retail entity, causing an alert message to be transmitted to the retain entity.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding usage comprises information reflective of a location of the electronic device.

9. A system for remotely monitoring and controlling in a distribution channel an electronic device comprising a processor and a device memory, and an interface for connection to a communications network, the system comprising:

an agent installed on the electronic device, the agent including functionality for tracking usage of the electronic device and for reporting information regarding said usage to a monitoring centre, the agent thereby facilitating recovery of the electronic device when stolen; and

a monitoring center comprising an interface for connection to a communications network, a processor and a monitoring center memory comprising a database of information relating to the identities and reports of sale of one or more individual agents, said monitoring center being configured to;

a. receive a call over a network from the electronic device, said call initiated by the agent installed on the electronic device;

b. in response to the call, determine, at least, whether a sale of the electronic device has been reported; and

c. by communication with the agent, cause the electronic device to enter into a state that is dependent, at least, upon the determination of whether a sale of the electronic device has been reported, said state affecting whether the agent reports information to the monitoring center regarding usage of the electronic device.

10. A computer system comprising at least one physical computer, said computer system programmed, via executable instructions stored in computer storage, to perform an automated method of remotely monitoring and controlling an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving a call over a network from the electronic device, said call initiated by an agent installed on the electronic device, said agent including functionality for tracking usage of the electronic device and for reporting information regarding said usage to the monitoring center, the agent thereby facilitating recovery of the electronic device when stolen;

in response to the call, determining, at least, whether a sale of the electronic device has been reported; and

by communication with the agent, causing the electronic device to enter into a state that is dependent, at least, upon the determination of whether a sale of the electronic device has been reported, said state affecting whether the agent reports information to the monitoring center regarding usage of the electronic device.