Secure identification system

• US 5,892,901 A
• Filed: 06/10/1997
• Issued: 04/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Latham, Daniel L., Landwehr, Carl E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E.
• Application Number:
  US08/872,316
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 395/186, 395/187.01, 395/188.01, 395/200.59, 395/185.08, 395/185.04, 371/25.1, 371/22.1, 370/216
• US Class Current: 726/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly

Abstract

A system in which two circuits which are spatially mobile with respect to one another communicate with one another over a preselected range to identify themselves. So long as the communication remains, one of the circuits, called a detector, maintains the input/output of a third circuit enabled. Upon breaking communication, for example by one of the circuits moving outside the preselected range, input/output of the third circuit is disabled. In one embodiment, the third circuit is a computer workstation to which the detector is affixed, and the other circuit, called the agent, is worn or carried by an authorized user of the workstation. This permits the workstation to be available to the user while he is present, and become unavailable in general when he is not.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first circuit and a second circuit spatially mobile with respect to one another, and a third circuit comprising an input/output portion effective for electronic communication outside said third circuit via said input/output portion;

said first and second circuits being adapted to be in periodic communication with one another within a preselected spatial range;

said second circuit is adapted, responsive to said periodic communication, to identify whether said first circuit is a preselected approved circuit;

said second circuit is further adapted, upon failure of said second circuit to identify said approved circuit within a preselected time, to disable said input/output portion of said third circuit effective to prevent said electronic communication.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said second circuit is effective, responsive to identifying said first circuit as said preselected approved circuit, to enable said electronic communication.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said periodic communication comprises:

a poll signal from said second circuit, and

a preselected response signal from said first circuit generated responsive to said poll signal.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein:

said second circuit is effective, responsive to identifying said first circuit as said preselected approved circuit, to enable said electronic communication;

said third circuit is a computer;

said second circuit comprises at least one member of the set whose members are;

a keyboard operatively connected to said computer, a mouse operatively connected to said computer, and a monitor operatively connected to said computer;

said second circuit comprises a programmable digital processor operatively disposed effective to permit said second circuit to identify whether said first circuit is a preselected approved circuit, and to prevent said electronic communication

said first circuit is adapted to be carried by a human being;

said second circuit is adapted to be attached to said third circuit;

said third circuit receives its power from said second circuit, effective for shut down of said second circuit to cause shutdown of said third circuit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said third circuit is a computer.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said second circuit comprises at least one member of the set whose members are:

a keyboard operatively connected to said computer, a mouse operatively connected to said computer, and a monitor operatively connected to said computer.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said at least one member comprises a keyboard operatively connected to said computer, a mouse operatively connected to said computer, and a monitor operatively connected to said computer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said second circuit comprises a programmable digital processor operatively disposed effective to permit said second circuit to identify whether said first circuit is a preselected approved circuit, and to prevent said electronic communication.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said first circuit is adapted to be carried by a human being.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said third circuit is a computer, and said second circuit is a circuit board comprising a programmable digital processor.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said second circuit is adapted to be attached to said third circuit.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said third circuit receives its power from said second circuit, effective for shut down of said second circuit to cause shutdown of said third circuit.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said second circuit is further adapted, responsive to said failure of said second circuit to identify whether said first circuit is a preselected approved circuit within said first preselected time, to disconnect power to said third circuit upon failure of said second circuit to identify said first circuit as a preselected approved circuit within a further preselected time following said first preselected time.