Machine security systems
First Claim
1. A security system for a machine comprising:
- (a) an operating station including means for allowing a human operator to operate and control a machine from said operating station;
(b) means for attempting to identify a person seeking to operate the machine;
(c) means for automatically generating a control signal when the identification means confirms the identity of a person authorized to operate the machine;
(d) means for applying the control signal to the operating station to permit the authorized person to activate the operating station and act as operator of the machine from the operating station;
(e) means for detecting entry to and departure from a select area in the vicinity of the operating station by any person and for automatically generating a sisal upon said detection; and
(f) means coupled to the detection means and to the operating station for deactivating the operating station when the detection means has generated a signal, thereby indicating that the select area does not contain only the operator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are provided for enabling and recording operations relating to machines such as computers. In particular, the invention involves electronic means for sensing or scanning one or more physical characteristics of a person or persons about to enter and/or receive data from a computer and generating signals indicative of such physical characteristic(s), which signals are automatically analyzed and compared with signals stored in a memory to generate enabling signals for enabling the operation of the machine. In a particular form of the invention, both the presence of a person at a computer terminal and an identifying characteristic of such person are sensed and used to enable the operation of the machine and the entry and retrieval of data.
57 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A security system for a machine comprising:
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(a) an operating station including means for allowing a human operator to operate and control a machine from said operating station; (b) means for attempting to identify a person seeking to operate the machine; (c) means for automatically generating a control signal when the identification means confirms the identity of a person authorized to operate the machine; (d) means for applying the control signal to the operating station to permit the authorized person to activate the operating station and act as operator of the machine from the operating station; (e) means for detecting entry to and departure from a select area in the vicinity of the operating station by any person and for automatically generating a sisal upon said detection; and (f) means coupled to the detection means and to the operating station for deactivating the operating station when the detection means has generated a signal, thereby indicating that the select area does not contain only the operator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A security system for a machine comprising:
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(a) an operating station including means for allowing a human operator to operate and control a machine; (b) means for attempting to identify a person seeking to operate the machine; (c) means for automatically generating a control signal when the identification means confirms the identity of a person authorized to operate the machine; (d) means for applying the control signal to permit the authorized person to activate the operating station and act as operator of the machine from the operating station; (e) means for detecting departure of the operator from a predetermined area around the operating station and for automatically generating a signal upon said detection; and (f) means coupled to the detection means and to the operating station for deactivating the operating station when the detection means has generated a signal, thereby indicating that the operator is no longer within said predetermined area. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A security system for a machine comprising:
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(a) a terminal configured to allow a human operator to operate and exchange information with a machine; (b) a personal-identification system configured to automatically generate on its output a first electronic control signal when a person authorized to operate the machine is situated adjacent to the terminal; (c) a detector situated to generate on its output a second control signal when the person departs a select vicinity of the terminal; and (d) a control circuit coupled to the terminal and the outputs of (b) and (c) and configured to apply the two control signals to permit the person to activate and act as operator of the terminal when the personal-identification system has issued the first control signal and the detector has not issued the second control signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of securing a machine comprising:
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(a) attempting automatic identification of a person seeking to operate and control a machine from an operating station; (b) generating a first electronic signal upon confirming the identity of a person who is authorized to operate the machine; (c) applying the first signal to the operating station to permit the authorized person to activate the operating station and act as operator of the machine from the operating station; (d) automatically detecting entry to and departure from a select area in the vicinity of the operating station by another person and generating a second electronic signal upon said detection; and (e) applying the first and second signals to control the operating station to allow the operator to operate the operating station only when the first signal has been generated, but not the second, thereby indicating that the select area contains only the operator. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification