Paging activated electronic security system
First Claim
1. An antitheft system for incorporation into electronic equipment to disable the equipment if stolen, wherein the equipment includes a power-on self test (POST) processing circuit that executes a POST routine when activation power is applied to the electronic equipment, comprising:
- a paging receiver that receives a paging signal that uniquely identifies the electronic equipment which is broadcast when the electronic equipment is discovered to be stolen, the paging receiver setting an internal condition within the antitheft system upon receipt of the paging signal that indicates that the equipment has been stolen. the POST processing circuit executing instructions that interact with the antitheft system to determine if the internal condition indicates that the equipment has been stolen, and if so, causing an error in the POST routine such that the equipment fails to boot, thus disabling the electronic equipment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An antitheft system for use in portable consumer electronic equipment. The antitheft system includes an antitheft receiver that receives a deactivation code that is transmitted by a paging system transmitted when the device is reported stolen. Upon receipt of the deactivation code, a microprocessor within the electronic equipment causes the equipment to become inoperative. To ensure the antitheft receiver is not removed or tampered with, the microprocessor queries the antitheft receiver for a unique identification number associated with the device. If the identification number does not match a number that is stored within the equipment, the equipment assumes the antitheft receiver has been tampered with and causes the equipment to become inoperative
71 Citations
5 Claims
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1. An antitheft system for incorporation into electronic equipment to disable the equipment if stolen, wherein the equipment includes a power-on self test (POST) processing circuit that executes a POST routine when activation power is applied to the electronic equipment, comprising:
a paging receiver that receives a paging signal that uniquely identifies the electronic equipment which is broadcast when the electronic equipment is discovered to be stolen, the paging receiver setting an internal condition within the antitheft system upon receipt of the paging signal that indicates that the equipment has been stolen. the POST processing circuit executing instructions that interact with the antitheft system to determine if the internal condition indicates that the equipment has been stolen, and if so, causing an error in the POST routine such that the equipment fails to boot, thus disabling the electronic equipment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
Specification