COMPUTER ACTIVITY MONITORING DEVICE

• US 20130254372A1
• Filed: 03/20/2012
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Whitney Pierce
• Original Assignee: Whitney Pierce
• Inventors: Pierce, Whitney
• Application Number:
  US13/424,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20130254372A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/326 for error or online/offline status
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/328 Computer systems status display G06F11/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3438 monitoring of user actions tracking the activity of the user H04L67/535
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/445 by mutual authentication, e.g. between devices or programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/552 involving long-term monitoring or reporting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/554 involving event detection and direct action
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/567 using dedicated hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect

Abstract

A monitoring device for indicating computing activities occurring at a computing device is provided. A control module receives signals from the computing device. The signals correspond to an activity state of the computing device. A first visual indicator is coupled to the control module. The control module activates the first visual indicator in response to receipt of a signal corresponding to an approved activity state. A second visual indicator is also coupled to the control module. The control module activates the second visual indicator in response to receipt of a signal corresponding to an unapproved activity state.

Claims

1. A monitoring device for indicating computing activities occurring at a computing device comprising:

a control module that receives signals from the computing device, the signals correspond to an activity state of the computing device;

a first visual indicator coupled to the control module, the control module activates the first visual indicator in response to receipt of a signal corresponding to an approved activity state; and

a second visual indicator coupled to the control module, the control module activates the second visual indicator in response to receipt of a signal corresponding to an unapproved activity state.

2. The monitoring device of claim 1 further comprising a third visual indicator coupled to the control module, the control module activates the third visual indicator when the activity state of the computing device cannot be determined.

3. The monitoring device of claim 2 wherein:

the first visual indicator is a green light-emitting diode;

the second visual indicator is a red light-emitting diode; and

the third visual indicator is a yellow light-emitting diode.

4. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein:

the control module receives the signals from a driver module that resides at the computing device;

the driver module monitors the computing activities occurring at the computing device and determines whether the computing activities are approved computing activities or unapproved computing activities;

the driver module transmits to the control module a signal corresponding to an approved activity state in response to a determination that the computing activities are approved computing activities; and

the driver module transmits to the control module a signal corresponding to an unapproved activity state in response to a determination that the computing activities are unapproved activities.

5. The monitoring device of claim 4 wherein:

the control module attempts to authenticate the driver module when the monitoring device is attached to the computing device; and

the control module activates the second visual indicator when the control module cannot authenticate the driver module.

6. The monitoring device of claim 4 wherein the computing activities monitored by the driver module include at least one computing activity selected from the group consisting of:

operation of one or more predetermined software applications at the computing device;

operation of one or more network adapters at the computing device;

access of one or more predetermined network addresses;

access of one or more predetermined web domains;

access of one or more predetermined websites; and

access of a network using one or more predetermined network ports.

7. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the control module, the first visual indicator, and the second visual indicator are contained within a housing and further comprising:

a connector coupled to the control module wherein the connector is attachable to an input-output (I/O) port of the computing device such that the control module receives the signals from the computing device via the I/O port and connector.

8. The monitoring device of claim 7 wherein the connector is a universal serial bus (USB) connector.

9. The monitoring device of claim 1 further comprising an audio output device that emits a sound when the monitoring device is detached from the computing device.

10. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein:

the signals received at the control module from the computing device are encrypted signals; and

the control module decrypts the encrypted signals when activating the first visual indicator or the second visual indicator.

11. A computer-implemented method of indicating computing activities occurring at a computing device comprising:

receiving signals from the computing device that correspond to an activity state of the computing device;

automatically activating a first visual indicator in response to receipt of a signal corresponding to an approved activity state; and

automatically activating a second visual indicator in response to receipt of a signal corresponding to an unapproved activity state.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising activating a third visual indicator when the activity state of the computing device cannot be determined.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:

monitoring the computing activities occurring at the computing device;

determining whether the computing activities are approved computing activities or unapproved computing activities;

transmitting a signal corresponding to an approved activity state in response to a determination that the computing activities are approved computing activities; and

transmitting a signal corresponding to an unapproved activity state in response to a determination that the computing activities are unapproved computing activities.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 further comprising:

establishing a communication link with the computing device;

performing an authentication procedure when the communication link is established; and

activating the second visual indicator when the authentication procedure fails.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 further comprising emitting a sound at an audio output device when the communication link is lost.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 wherein monitoring the computing activities at the computing device includes at least one of:

monitoring operation of one or more predetermined software applications at the computing device;

monitoring operation of one or more network adapters at the computing device;

monitoring access of one or more predetermined network addresses;

monitoring access of one or more predetermined web domains;

monitoring access of one or more predetermined websites; and

monitoring access of a network using one or more predetermined network ports.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising receiving the signals from the computing device via a universal serial bus (USB) connector.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the signals received from the computing device are encrypted signals and further comprising decrypting the encrypted signals when activating the first visual indicator or the second visual indicator.

19. A monitoring device for indicating the computing activities occurring at a computing device comprising:

a microcontroller that receives signals from a driver module that resides at the computing device, the driver module monitors the computing activities occurring at the computing device, determines an activity state of the computing by determining whether the computing activities are approved computing activities or unapproved computing activities, and transmits to the microcontroller a signal corresponding to the activity state of the computing device;

a connector coupled to the microcontroller wherein the connector is attachable to an input-output (I/O) port of the computing device such that the microcontroller receives the signals from the driver module via the I/O port and the connector;

a first light-emitting diode coupled to the microcontroller, the microcontroller activates the first light-emitting diode in response to receipt of a signal corresponding to an approved activity state such that the first light-emitting diode visually communicates to an observer that approved computing activities are occurring at the computing device;

a second light-emitting diode coupled to the microcontroller, the microcontroller activates the second light-emitting diode in response to receipt of a signal corresponding to an unapproved activity state such that the second light-emitting diode visually communicates to the observer that unapproved computing activities are occurring at the computing device;

a third light-emitting diode coupled to the microcontroller, the microcontroller activates the third light-emitting diode when the activity state of the computing device cannot be determined; and

an audio output device that emits a sound when the monitoring device is detached from the computing device.