Proximity detection of valid computer user

• US 6,189,105 B1
• Filed: 02/20/1998
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lopes, Robert Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cao, Chun
• Application Number:
  US09/026,983
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 713/200, 713/201, 713/202
• US Class Current: 726/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly

Abstract

A method and apparatus for continuously authorizing a computer for use. A proximity detection system provides a coded message from a badge on an authorized user to a proximity reader in communication with the computer. The computer contains a process either in its kernel, operating system, and/or application program to repeatedly and continuously detect the presence of an authorized user within a desired proximity of the computer. If an authorizing code is received from an authorized user, the computer continues to allow full use of the computer. If an authorizing code is not received, a desired feature of the computer (e.g., the display, the keyboard, the mode of the processor) is disabled until the authorized user again enters the proximity zone of the computer.

Claims

1. A proximity detection system for a computer, comprising:

a detection module that continuously determines a presence of an authorizing code from an authorized user;

a synchronous detection module that continuously detects a presence of a person synchronously with said presence of said authorizing code;

a timer associated with said computer, said timer being operable to expire upon at least one of non-receipt of said authorizing code and a failure to detect said presence of said person; and

a disabling module in said computer, said disabling module disabling at least one feature of said computer based on an expiration of said timer.

2. The proximity detection system for a computer according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one feature is a display function.

3. The proximity detection system for a computer according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one feature is an operation mode of a processor in said computer.

4. The proximity detection system for a computer according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one feature is input from a keyboard.

5. The proximity detection system for a computer according to claim 1, further comprising:

an enabling module in said computer, said enabling module enabling said at least one feature of said computer based on receipt of said authorizing code from said authorized user of said computer and said detection of said person.

6. The proximity detection system for a computer according to claim 5, wherein:

said enabling module is adapted and arranged to reset said timer substantially upon receipt of said authorizing code and said detection of said person.

7. A proximity detection system for a computer, comprising:

a detection module that continuously determines a presence of an authorizing code from an authorized user;

a synchronous detection module that continuously detects a presence of a person synchronously with said detection of said authorizing code; and

a disabling module in said computer, said disabling module disabling at least one feature of said computer based on at least one of a determination by said detection module that said authorizing code is not present and a determination by said synchronous detection module that said person is not present.

8. The proximity detection system for a computer according to claim 7, wherein:

said at least one feature is a display function.

9. The proximity detection system for a computer according to claim 7, wherein:

said at least one feature is an operation mode of a processor in said computer.

10. The proximity detection system for a computer according to claim 7, wherein:

said at least one feature is input from a keyboard.

11. The proximity detection system for a computer according to claim 7, further comprising:

an enabling module in said computer, said enabling module enabling said at least one feature of said computer based on said determination by said detection module that said authorized code is present and said determination by said synchronous detection module that said person is synchronously present with said detection of said authorizing code.

12. A proximity detection system for a computer, comprising:

authorizing code detection means for continuously detecting an authorizing code from an authorized user of said computer;

synchronous detection means for continuously detecting a presence of a person synchronously with said detection of said authorizing code by said authorizing code detection means; and

disabling means for disabling at least one feature of said computer based on at least one of said determination by said authorizing code detection means that said authorizing code is not detected and a determination by said synchronous detection means that a person is not present synchronously with said detection of said authorizing code.

13. The proximity detection system for a computer according to claim 12, wherein:

said at least one feature is a display function.

14. The proximity detection system for a computer according to claim 12, wherein:

said at least one feature is an operation mode of a processor in said computer.

15. The proximity detection system for a computer according to claim 12, wherein:

said at least one feature is input from a keyboard.

16. The proximity detection system for a computer according to claim 12, further comprising:

enabling means for enabling said at least one feature of said computer based on said determination by said authorizing code detection means that said authorized user is within said proximity of said proximity reader means and said determination by said synchronous detection means that a person is present synchronously with said detection of said authorizing code.

17. A method of continuously detecting an authorized user within a proximity of a computer, said method comprising:

determining receipt of a coded message from said authorized user indicating that said authorized user is within a proximity of said computer;

determining a presence of a person synchronously with receipt of said coded message from said authorized user;

disabling at least one function of said computer if at least one of said coded message was not received from said authorized user and said person was not determined as being synchronously present with said receipt of said coded message from said authorized user;

enabling said at least one function of said computer if said coded message is received from said authorized user and said person is determined to be synchronously present with said receipt of said coded message from said authorized user;

said step of enabling and said step of disabling being repeatedly performed as said authorized user moves in and out of said proximity of said computer.

18. The method of continuously detecting an authorized user within a proximity of a computer according to claim 17, wherein:

said step of disabling comprises disabling a display of said computer; and

said step of enabling comprises enabling said display of said computer.

19. The method of continuously detecting an authorized user within a proximity of a computer according to claim 17, wherein:

said step of disabling comprises placing a processor of said computer in a standby mode; and

said step of enabling comprises placing said processor of said computer in an operating mode.

20. The method of continuously detecting an authorized user within a proximity of a computer according to claim 17, wherein:

said step of disabling comprises disabling input from a keyboard of said computer; and

said step of enabling comprises enabling a display of said computer.

21. A proximity detection system comprising:

means for enabling a computer when an authorizing code from a valid user is present and a person is synchronously present with a receipt of said authorizing code; and

means for disabling said computer when at least one of said authorizing code from said valid user is not present and a person is not synchronously present with said presence of said authorizing code.