Security system

• US 6,111,505 A
• Filed: 08/17/1999
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fred N. Gratzon
• Original Assignee: Fred N. Gratzon
• Inventors: Wagener, Carl S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US09/376,767
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/686.1, 340/649, 340/568, 340/545.6, 340/573, 340/546, 340/691
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings

Abstract

The present invention is a method for monitoring equipment. A computer having an enclosure defining an enclosure space is initially provided. Disposed within the enclosure space is a central processing unit including a memory and an arithmetic logic unit. The computer is provided with communication means operably connected to the central processing unit for permitting communication between the central processing unit and a peripheral device. An alarm sensor is disposed within the enclosure space of the computer. When the alarm sensor senses an alarm condition, the security system outputs a data signal indicative of the alarm condition for sounding an alarm, for example.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring equipment comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic device comprising;

an enclosure defining an enclosure space;

a central processing unit disposed within the enclosure space, the central processing unit including a memory and an arithmetic logic unit;

communication means operably connected to the central processing unit for permitting communication between the central processing unit and a peripheral device;

disposing an alarm sensor within the enclosure space of the electronic device;

conducting a first audit on the electronic device by the alarm sensor to determine a first list of peripherals which are operably connected to the communication means;

storing the first list of peripherals determined by the first audit;

conducting a second audit on the electronic device by the alarm sensor to determine a second list of peripherals which are operably connected to the communication means;

comparing the second list of peripherals to the first list of peripherals; and

outputting a first data signal indicative of an alarm condition when the second list of peripherals is not identical to the first list of peripherals.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the step of storing the first data signal.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the method further comprises the step of:

storing a second data signal indicative of the time and date coincident of when the second audit was conducted.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of outputting the data signal is defined further as:

outputting the first data signal via the communication means; and

receiving the first data signal by a peripheral device located externally of the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing the electronic device, the electronic device is defined further as being a personal computer.