Computer anti-theft system

• US 6,137,409 A
• Filed: 08/28/1998
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Custos Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bruce Randall Stephens
• Inventors: Stephens, Bruce Randall
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US09/141,706
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/572.9, 340/825.31, 70/277, 70/278.1, 70/278.7, 439/304, 439/306, 361/172
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1409 for removal detection of electrical appliances by detecting their physical disconnection from an electrical system, e.g. using a switch incorporated in the plug connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]

Abstract

A computer anti-theft system that includes a remote transmitter unit carried by the user, a dongle that physically attaches and selectively locks onto the parallel port on an existing computer, and a software program that is loaded into the computer'"'"'s memory. When the system is activated, the remote transmitter unit transmits a pulse code signal which is received by a receiver component located inside the dongle. When the pulse code signal is received, the dongle is elevated to an active state. The dongle then transmits a return pulse code signal to the remote transmitter unit and the loop continues. If no pulse code signal is received, the dongle, is elevated to an alarm state. An alarm pulse code signal is then broadcast to the remote transmitter unit and elevating it to an alarm state. In one embodiment, the software program is used to control a solenoid inside the dongle which prevents removal of the dongle from the parallel port. The dongle and remote transmitter are electrically self contained thereby enabling the computer to be turned-off.

Claims

1. An anti-theft system for a computer having operating memory and at least one external port, said system comprising:

a. a receiver component located in a receiver unit capable of being affixed to the external port on the computer, said receiver component capable of receiving or transmitting a pulse code signal;

b. a first alarm means coupled to said receiver component;

c. a locking means to lock said receiver unit to the external port;

d. a transmitter component capable of transmitting or receiving a pulse code signal to communicate with said receiver component;

e. a second alarm means coupled to said transmitter component, said second alarm means being activated when said first alarm coupled to said receiver component is activated; and

,

f. a software program loaded into the memory of said computer, said software program capable of programming said pulse code signal to said receiving component and said transmitter component.

2. An anti-theft system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said first alarm means coupled to said receiver component is activated when said receiver component and said transmitter component are moved outside a selected range.

3. An anti-theft system, as recited in claim 2, wherein said software program is capable of activating or deactivating said locking means.

4. An anti-theft system, as recited in claim 1, further including a motion detecting switch connected to said remote receiver component.

5. An anti-theft system, as recited in claim 4, wherein said software program is capable of activating and deactivating said locking means.

6. An anti-theft system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said first alarm means is an audio alarm.

7. An anti-theft system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said first alarm means is a visual alarm.

8. An anti-theft system as recited in claim 1, further including said first alarm means and said locking means being housed inside said receiver unit.

9. An anti-theft system, as recited in claim 8, wherein said locking means is a solenoid with a selectively extendable arm, said solenoid being disposed inside said receiver unit so that said arm may selectively extend to prevent the removal of said receiver unit from said external port.

10. An anti-theft system, as recited in claim 9, wherein said software program is used to activate said solenoid and extend said arm therefrom and thereby prevent the removal of said receiver unit from said external port.

11. An anti-theft system, as recited in claim 10, wherein said receiver unit is threadingly attached to said external port.

12. An anti-theft system, as recited in claim 11, wherein said external port is a parallel port.

13. An anti-theft system for a computer having an external port, said system comprising:

a. a dongle capable of being connected to the external port on the computer;

b. a receiver component housed inside said dongle;

c. a switching means housed inside said dongle and coupled to said receiver component to indicate an alarm condition;

d. a first alarm means housed inside said dongle and coupled to said switching means;

e. a locking means housed inside said dongle to lock said dongle to the external port on the computer;

f. a remote transmitter unit containing a transmitter component capable of transmitting or receiving a pulse code signal from said receiver component, said transmitter component including a second alarm means coupled to said first alarm means to indicate when said first alarm means is activated; and

,

g. a software program loaded into the computer, said software program capable of activating and deactivating said receiver component and said locking means in said dongle.

14. An anti-theft system, as recited in claim 13, wherein said switching means activates said first alarm means when said receiver component and said remote transmitter component are outside a selected range of each other.

15. An anti-theft system, as recited in claim 14, wherein said switching means includes a motion detecting switch connected to said receiver unit.

16. An anti-theft system, as recited in claim 15, wherein said second alarm means is an audio alarm.

17. An anti-theft system, as recited in claim 16, wherein said second alarm means includes a visual alarm.

18. An anti-theft system, as recited in claim 13, wherein said locking means is a solenoid with a selectively extendable arm, said solenoid being disposed inside said dongle so that said arm may prevent the removal of said dongle from said external port.

19. An anti-theft system, as recited in claim 18, wherein said software program is used to activate said solenoid to extend said arm therefrom and prevent the removal of said dongle from said external port.

20. An anti-theft system for a computer having operating memory and at least one external port, said system comprising:

a. a receiver unit capable of being affixed to the external port on the computer, said receiver unit including a receiver component capable of receiving or transmitting a pulse code signal;

b. a switching means coupled to said receiver component;

c. a first alarm means coupled to said switching means capable of being activated to an alarm state;

d. a locking means to lock said receiver unit to the external port;

e. a remote transmitter unit including a transmitter component capable of transmitting or receiving said pulse code signal to communicate with said receiver component; and

,

f. a second alarm means coupled to said transmitter component capable of indicating when said first alarm means is activated.