METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED LOCKING OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN CONNECTED ENVIRONMENTS

• US 20160373926A1
• Filed: 06/19/2015
• Published: 12/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Bahadirov, Izzat
• Granted Patent: US 10,440,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for securing electronic devices. The method includes identifying a plurality of electronic devices. The plurality of electronic devices includes at least one stationary device connected to a home network and at least one personal device associated with the home network. The method also includes monitoring the home network for a presence event. The method also includes, responsive to an occurrence of the presence event, determining after a predetermined period of time whether one of the at least one personal device is present. The method also includes locking or unlocking the at least one stationary device when none of the at least one personal device is present.

Claims

1. A method for securing electronic devices, the method comprising:

identifying a plurality of electronic devices, wherein the plurality of electronic devices includes at least one stationary device connected to a home network and at least one personal device associated with the home network;

monitoring the home network for a presence event;

responsive to an occurrence of the presence event, determining after a predetermined period of time whether one of the at least one personal device is present; and

locking or unlocking the at least one stationary device when none of the at least one personal device is present.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the home network is associated with a home.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the presence event comprises one of the at least one personal device entering or leaving a home associated with the home network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the presence event comprises one of the at least one personal device connecting or disconnecting to the home network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the presence event comprises a door of a home associated with the home network being locked or unlocked.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the presence event comprises a security system of a home associated with the home network being armed or disarmed.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the presence event comprises a security system of a home associated with the home network being armed or disarmed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining after the predetermined period of time whether one of the at least one personal device is present comprises:

determining whether the location of the one of the at least one personal device is within a home; and

responsive to the location of the one of the at least one personal device being within the home, identifying the one of the at least one personal device as being present.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining after the predetermined period of time whether one of the at least one personal device is present comprises:

determining whether the one of the at least one personal device is connected to the home network; and

responsive to the at least one personal device being connected to the home network, identifying the one of the at least one personal device as being present.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the home is a zone set by a geographical area.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory element; and

processing circuitry coupled to the memory element, the processing circuitry configured to;

identify a plurality of electronic devices, wherein the plurality of electronic devices includes at least one stationary device connected to a home network and at least one personal device associated with the home network;

monitor the home network for a presence event;

responsive to an occurrence of the presence event, determine after a predetermined period of time whether one of the at least one personal device is present; and

lock or unlock the at least one stationary device when none of the at least one personal device is present.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the home network is associated with a home.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the presence event comprises one of the at least one personal device entering or leaving a home associated with the home network.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the presence event comprises one of the at least one personal device connecting or disconnecting to the home network.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the presence event comprises a door of a home associated with the home network being locked or unlocked.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the presence event comprises a security system of a home associated with the home network being armed or disarmed.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the presence event comprises a security system of a home associated with the home network being armed or disarmed.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein determining after the predetermined period of time whether one of the at least one personal device is present comprises the processing circuitry configured to:

determine whether the location of the one of the at least one personal device is within a home; and

responsive to the location of the one of the at least one personal device being within the home, identify the one of the at least one personal device as being present.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein determining after the predetermined period of time whether one of the at least one personal device is present comprises the processing circuitry configured to:

determine whether the one of the at least one personal device is connected to the home network; and

responsive to the at least one personal device being connected to the home network, identify the one of the at least one personal device as being present.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the home is a zone set by a geographical area.