Wireless proximity containment security

• US 5,712,973 A
• Filed: 05/20/1996
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dayan, Richard A., McGovern, Joseph P., Newman, Palmer E.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUA, LY
• Application Number:
  US08/650,205
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 395/186, 395/652, 380/4, 380/25
• US Class Current: 726/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly

Abstract

A personal computer system has security features enabling control over access to data retained in such system. The system cooperates with a transmitter of radiation having a predefined characteristic. A radiation detector within the system detects such radiation and produces an alarm signal when detection fails or is lost. The alarm signal is retained and triggers security logic cooperating with power-on-sequence logic to prevent the system from becoming operative. It is preferred to also provide an erasable memory element that when switched to an active state stores a privileged-access password. Logic is provided to cooperate with such element and override the security logic when the correct password is input to the system.

As an added security feature the transmitter may be deactivated if an intrusion is detected at the site to shut down all systems responding to the radiation in the security zone.

Claims

1. A personal computer system having a normal power-up logic sequence to become operative in receiving and retaining data, such system being capable of securing the data retained within the system against access when moved from a security zone defined by a transmitter for radiation having a predefined radiation characteristic, the system comprising:

a detector for radiation which produces an alarm signal upon losing detection of radiation having said predefined characteristic;

security logic cooperating with said power-up logic and responsive to said alarm signal to prevent said system from becoming operative.

2. A personal computer system according to claim 1 wherein the predefined characteristic is the frequency of the radiation.

3. A personal computer system according to claim 1 including an erasable memory element mounted within said system for selective activation to active and inactive states and for receiving and storing a password when in the active state;

and logic operative when said element contains a password to override said security logic to allow the system to become operative upon identification of said password to the system by the operator.

4. A personal computer system according to claim 3 wherein said security logic is disabled when said erasable memory element does not contain a password.

5. A personal computer system according to claim 3 wherein the password is identified by manual activation of a keyboard cooperatively connected to said system.

6. A personal computer system according to claim 1 wherein the predefined characteristic is an encoded set of digits that are repeated.

7. A secured system which includes at least one computer with start-up logic that when power is applied prepares the system to process and store data, said system comprising:

a transmitter of radiation with a predefined characteristic for defining a security zone where such radiation exceeds a predefined threshhold;

a detector mounted in said computer which detects such radiation and activates security logic that cooperates with said start up logic to prevent processing and storage of data if such radiation does not exceed said threshhold.

8. A secured system according to claim 7, wherein the predefined radiation characteristic is frequency.

9. A secured computer system according to claim 7 additionally including an erasable memory element mounted within said computer for selective activation to active and inactive states and for receiving and storing a password when in the active state;

and logic operative when said element contains a password to override said security logic to allow the system to become operative upon identification of said password to the system by the operator.

10. A personal computer system according to claim 9 wherein said security logic is disabled when said erasable memory element does not contain a password.