Monitoring identity of computer users accessing data bases, and storing information about the users and the accessed data base

• US 5,748,889 A
• Filed: 11/05/1996
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Winmore, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lee S. Weinblatt
• Inventors: Langer, Thomas, Weinblatt, Lee S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wright, Norman M.
• Application Number:
  US08/730,120
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 395/186, 395/187.01, 395/188.01, 380/3, 380/4, 380/9, 380/21, 380/23, 380/25, 380/42, 380/44
• US Class Current: 726/20
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/30 with provision for auxiliary signals

Abstract

A monitoring technique for identifying users who access a particular data base. A unique code is precoded in each of the data bases being monitored. When access to a data base is designated by the user, the precoded portion therein is read to retrieve the code. If the retrieved code matches any of the codes stored in memory for data bases which are being monitored, the existence of a match actuates a trigger signal source which is part of a stationary unit. The source emits a trigger signal from the stationary unit which is received by a portable unit, such as a watch, worn by the user. The watch responds to the received trigger signal by emitting an ID signal unique to its associated user. That ID signal is detected and stored by the stationary unit.

Claims

1. Apparatus for monitoring access by computer users to data bases available on information sources, the apparatus including a stationary monitoring portion and a plurality of portable transmitter devices respectively associated with such users,

wherein the stationary monitoring portion comprises:

a signal detector responsive to code signals respectively stored in association with the data bases and information sources and respectively unique thereto,

a comparator responsive to said signal detector for producing an output signal when a match exists between a code signal detected by said signal detector and a stored code which corresponds to one of the data bases and information sources that is being monitored,

a trigger signal source responsive to the output signal of said comparator for emitting a trigger signal adapted to trigger emission of ID signals by the portable transmitter devices,

an ID signal processing circuit responsive to the emitted ID signal to compare the emitted ID signal with stored ID codes and, if a match with a particular ID code is found, to output the particular ID code, and

a memory coupled to the output of said ID signal processing circuit to store said particular ID code; and

wherein each of said portable transmitter devices comprises transmitter means for emitting the ID signals which are respectively unique to the associated users, and means responsive to said trigger signal to actuate said transmitter means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ID code stored in each of said plurality of portable transmitter devices is unique.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal detector receives a coded signal from the information sources identifying the information source.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal detector receives a coded signal from the information source identifying the data base.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal detector receives a coded signal from the information source identifying the portion of the data base accessed by the computer use.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control circuit between said comparator and said trigger signal source for producing a control signal at preset intervals for input to said trigger signal source as long as an accessed source and/or data base matched by said comparator remains unchanged.

7. Apparatus for monitoring access by computer users to a data base having a code applied thereto, the apparatus including a stationary unit and a plurality of portable devices.

wherein the stationary unit comprises:

a detector for detecting the code when the data base is accessed and producing an output signal in response thereto,

a trigger signal source for emitting a trigger signal responsive to said output signal, and

a memory;

wherein the portable devices are adapted to be worn by the computer users, respectively, and are responsive to said trigger signal only within a predetermined distance from said trigger signal source to emit an ID signal unique to the particular computer user wearing it; and

wherein said memory stores the ID signal of the particular computer user.

8. A method for monitoring access by computer users to data bases available on information sources with apparatus including a stationary monitoring portion and a plurality of portable transmitter devices respectively associated with such users, comprising the steps of:

detecting a signal corresponding to code signals respectively stored in association with the data bases and information sources and respectively unique thereto,

determining whether a match exists between the detected signal and a stored code which corresponds to one of the data bases and information sources that is being monitored,

emitting a trigger signal, when said determining step finds a match, which is adapted to trigger emission of ID signals by the portable transmitter devices,

triggering the portable transmitter devices in response to said trigger signal to emit the ID signals,

responsive to the emitted ID signals, comparing the emitted ID signals with stored ID codes and, if a match with a particular ID code is found, outputting the particular ID code, and

storing said particular ID code.

9. A method for monitoring access by computer users to a data base having a code applied thereto, by apparatus including a stationary unit and a portable device, comprising the steps of:

detecting the code when the data base is accessed and producing an output signal in response thereto;

emitting a trigger signal from the stationary unit in response to said output signal;

providing the portable device to be carried by computer users so that it is responsive to said trigger signal within a predetermined distance from the stationary unit to emit an ID signal unique to the computer user wearing it; and

comparing the ID signal from said portable device with stored ID codes and, if a match is found, storing a matched ID signal.