Computer architecture with automatic disabling of hardware/software features using satellite positioning data

• US 6,125,446 A
• Filed: 08/29/1997
• Issued: 09/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Fridel, Derace M., Angelo, Michael F., Olarig, Sompong P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Palys, Joseph E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai, Rijue
• Application Number:
  US08/920,383
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 713/200, 713/201, 713/202, 709/200, 709/206, 709/246, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/232, 709/223, 380/29.32, 380/25, 380/4, 701/207, 701/200, 340/990, 340/988, 342/352, 342/357, 707/104
• US Class Current: 726/8
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/57 Certifying or maintaining trusted computer platforms, e.g. secure boots or power-downs, version controls, system software checks, secure updates or assessing vulnerabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1418 Removal detected by failure in electrical connection between the appliance and a control centre, home control panel or a power supply

Abstract

A method and system for enabling/disabling automatic encryption engines/algorithms using the Global Positioning System for country/locale verification and compliance with federal encryption export statutes.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a microprocessor operatively connected to detect inputs from an input device;

a memory which is connected to be read/write accessible by said microprocessor;

input/output circuitry operatively connected to said microprocessor; and

a wireless locator device which comprises a receiver receptive to at least one worldwide positioning systems, and which is operatively connected to communicate current location information to at least one component of said system;

wherein said computer system is programmed to selectively disable at least one operational feature thereof, based upon said current location information wherein said computer system is programmed to apply a spatial margin of error to said location data, to avoid any possible errors when the computer is in close proximity to a country'"'"'s border, before enabling said operational feature.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said operational feature is a software application.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said operational feature includes a cryptographic algorithm.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said operational feature is a hardware computational capability.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said worldwide positioning system is the Global Positioning System.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said wireless locator device is connected so that said computer system becomes inoperative if said locator device is removed.

7. A computer system, comprising:

a microprocessor operatively connected to detect inputs from an input device;

a memory which is connected to be read/write accessible by said microprocessor;

input/output circuitry operatively connected to said microprocessor; and

a wireless locator device which comprises a receiver receptive to at least one worldwide positioning system, and which is operatively connected to communicate current location information to at least one component of said system;

wherein said computer system is programmed to selectively enable execution of at least one cryptographic algorithm based upon said current location information wherein said microprocessor is programmed to apply a spatial margin of error to said location data, to avoid any possible error when the computer is in close proximity to a country'"'"'s border, before enabling said execution.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein said cryptographic algorithm uses more than 56-bit encryption.

9. The computer system of claim 7, wherein said cryptographic algorithm is an encoding algorithm.

10. The computer system of claim 7, wherein said worldwide positioning system is the Global Positioning System.

11. The computer system of claim 7, wherein said wireless locator device is connected so that said computer system becomes inoperative if said locator device is removed.

12. The computer system of claim 7, wherein said wireless locator device is integrated into a system board of said computer.

13. A computer system, comprising:

one or more microprocessors operatively connected to detect inputs from an input device;

a memory which is connected to be read/write accessible by said microprocessors;

input/output circuitry operatively connected to said microprocessors; and

a wireless locator device which comprises a receiver receptive to at least one worldwide positioning system, and which is operatively connected to communicate current location information to at least one component of said system;

wherein said microprocessors collectively have a maximum performance of more than a first value based upon a computer performance standard, and are selectively limited to a lower mode of performance less than said first value, based on said current location information wherein said microprocessor is programed to apply a spatial margin of error to said location data, to avoid any possible error when the computer is in close proximity to a country'"'"'s border.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein said computer comprises more than four said microprocessors.

15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein said microprocessors are operatively connected to comprise a parallel processing architecture.

16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein said worldwide positioning system is a Global Positioning System.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein said worldwide positioning system is a Differential Global Positioning System.

18. The computer system of claim 13, wherein said wireless locator device is integral with and internal to said computer, and connected so that said computer becomes inoperative if said locator device is removed.

19. The computer system of claim 13, wherein said wireless locator device is integrated with said microprocessor into a system board of said computer.

20. A method of selectively disabling a feature of a computer, comprising the steps of:

(a.) receiving location data from a locator device; and

(b.) authorizing or not authorizing operation of said feature, based upon said location data;

wherein said locator device is integral with and internal to the computer, and connected so that the computer becomes inoperative if said locator device is removed wherein said authorizing step applies a spatial margin of error to said location data, to avoid any possible errors when the computer is in close proximity to a country'"'"'s border.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said locator device is a Global Positioning System receiver.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said locator device is compatible with Differential Global Positioning System operation.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said feature is a software feature.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein said feature is a hardware feature.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein said feature is an application request for execution of a cryptographic algorithm.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein said feature is a software application which is licensed only in some locations.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein said authorizing step is included with a Power-On Self-Test procedure.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein said locator device is a wireless receiver.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein said locator device is integrated into a system board of a computer, and connected so that said computer becomes inoperative if said locator device is removed.

30. A method of operating a computer, comprising the steps of:

(a.) receiving location data from a locator device; and

(b.) depending on said location data, conditionally limiting the maximum performance of a computer to less than a first value which is defined by a computer performance standard, wherein said conditional limiting step applies a spatial margin of error to said location data, to avoid any possible errors when the computer is in close proximity to a country'"'"'s border.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said conditional limiting step is included with a Power-On Self-Test procedure.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein said locator device is compatible with a Global Positioning System signal format.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein said computer comprises more than four said microprocessors.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein said microprocessors are operatively connected to comprise a parallel processing architecture.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein said computer performance standard is a Computer Theoretical Performance standard.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein said locator device is a wireless receiver.

37. The method of claim 30, wherein said locator device is compatible with a worldwide positioning system, said worldwide positioning system is a Global Positioning System.

38. The method of claim 30, wherein said locator device is a wireless receiver and is integral with and located internal to the computer, and connected so that the computer becomes inoperative if said locator device is removed.

39. The method of claim 30, wherein said locator device is a wireless receiver and is integrated into a system board of the computer.