Network security system for detecting removal of electronic equipment
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A security system for detecting disconnection of electronic equipment from a network, said security system comprising:
- current loop means including separate current loops associated with different pieces of monitored equipment, each of said current loops employing a pair of data communication lines which connect one of the associated pieces of equipment to the network and which are coupled to existing internal circuitry within the associated piece of monitored equipment, and wherein respective pairs of data communication lines are associated with different ones of the associated pieces of equipment;
source means for supplying a low DC current signal to each of said current loops; and
detector means for monitoring the current signal through each of said current loops and detecting a change in said current signal through one of said current loops which represents disconnection of said associated piece of equipment from the network.
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Abstract
A system and method are provided for monitoring the connection of electronic equipment, such as remote computer workstations, to a network via a communication link and detecting the disconnection of such equipment from the network. The system includes current loops internally coupled to protected pieces of equipment so that each piece of associated equipment has an associated current loop. A low current power signal is provided to each of the current loops. A sensor monitors the current flow through each current loop to detect removal of the equipment from the network. Removal of a piece of hardware breaks the current flow through the associated current loop which in turn may activate an alarm. This invention is particularly adapted to be used with an existing 10BaseT communication link or equivalent thereof, employing existing wiring to form the current loops.
567 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A security system for detecting disconnection of electronic equipment from a network, said security system comprising:
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current loop means including separate current loops associated with different pieces of monitored equipment, each of said current loops employing a pair of data communication lines which connect one of the associated pieces of equipment to the network and which are coupled to existing internal circuitry within the associated piece of monitored equipment, and wherein respective pairs of data communication lines are associated with different ones of the associated pieces of equipment; source means for supplying a low DC current signal to each of said current loops; and detector means for monitoring the current signal through each of said current loops and detecting a change in said current signal through one of said current loops which represents disconnection of said associated piece of equipment from the network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A security system for detecting unauthorized disconnection of electronic equipment that is connected to a network communication link having existing pairs of data communication lines interconnecting said electronic equipment to a network, said system comprising:
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current loop means including separate current loops associated with different pieces of protected equipment and internally coupled to the associated pieces of protected equipment, each of said current loops using said existing pair of data communication lines which are coupled together via existing internal circuitry within said associated equipment to form a complete circuit path therethrough, and wherein respective pairs of data communication lines are associated with different ones of the associated pieces of equipment; source means for supplying a low DC current signal to each of said current loops; sensing means for sensing current flow through each of said current loops and detecting a change in said current flow through one of said current loops which is indicative of disconnection of one of the associated pieces of equipment; and output means for providing an alarm output signal so as to indicate detection of a disconnected one of said pieces of equipment. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for detecting unauthorized disconnection of remotely located electronic equipment which has existing data communication lines connecting the equipment to a network, said method comprising:
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selecting respective pairs of the existing data communication lines for associated pieces of monitored equipment so that each of said selected pairs of data communication lines forms a current loop through the associated pieces of monitored equipment, wherein said respective pairs of data communication lines are associated with different ones of the associated pieces of equipment; supplying a low DC current signal to each current loop so as to achieve continuous current flow through each current loop while each of said associated pieces of equipment is physically connected to said network via the data communication lines; and sensing said DC current signal in each of said current loops so as to detect a change in current flow indicative of disconnection of one of said pieces of associated equipment. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification