System for automatically initiating a computer security and/or screen saver mode

• US 6,367,020 B1
• Filed: 03/09/1998
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mei California, Inc. (Micron Technology, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Klein, Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEUNG, MARY DA ZHI WANG
• Application Number:
  US09/037,361
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 713/202, 713/320, 713/323, 713/340, 713/200, 345/862, 345/867
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly

Abstract

A system for automatically switching a computer to a password protected screen saver mode when a computer user leaves the proximity of the computer. The system includes a proximity sensor that determines whether or not an individual is located proximate the computer. The proximity sensor interfaces with either the computer a bus bridge, a keyboard controller, a keyboard, or some another component of the computer to cause the computer to start executing a screen saver program responsive to an output signal from the proximity sensor. A variety of proximity sensors may be used, including ultrasound, infrared, or electromagnetic proximity sensors. A proximity sensor may also detect the presence of the computer user by detecting the weight of the user at a location proximate the computer.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the operating mode of a computer, the system comprising:

a proximity sensor comprising an ultrasound sensor for detecting whether a person is located proximate the computer without need for the person to wear an extraneous device for the proximity sensor to detect the person, the proximity sensor generating a detection signal indicative of the person leaving the proximity of the computer; and

a control circuit coupled to the proximity sensor and the computer, the control circuit switching the computer to a password protected operating mode responsive to the detection signal, the control circuit including

a signal conditioning unit coupled to the proximity sensor that receives a relatively low frequency signal from the proximity sensor indicative of a frequency difference between an acoustic signal from the proximity sensor and a reflected acoustic signal, the signal conditioning unit converting the relatively low frequency signal to a conditioned signal having a magnitude indicative of the amplitude of the relatively low frequency signal; and

a threshold detection circuit coupled to the signal conditioning unit that receives the conditioned signal and switches the computer to the password protected operating mode when the conditioned signal satisfies a predetermined threshold.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the control circuit comprises a keyboard controller included in the computer, the keyboard controller being coupled to a keyboard and to the proximity sensor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the control circuit comprises a keyboard included in the computer, the proximity sensor being coupled to the keyboard.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the control circuit comprises a bus bridge included in the computer, the proximity sensor being coupled to an input port of the bus bridge.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the proximity sensor comprises a motion detector that generates the detection signal indicative of whether motion is detected proximate the computer.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the proximity sensor comprises an infrared proximity sensor.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the proximity sensor comprises:

an electromagnetic signal generator generating electromagnetic radiation in an area surrounding the computer; and

an electromagnetic signal detector generating the detection signal responsive to detecting electromagnetic radiation from the electromagnetic signal generator that is reflected from the person proximate the computer.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the proximity sensor comprises a weight sensor that detects the weight of the person at a predetermined location proximate the computer.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the signal conditioning unit converts the relatively low frequency signal to a direct current signal having a magnitude indicative of the amplitude of the relatively low frequency signal.

10. A system for controlling the operating mode of a computer, the system comprising:

a proximity sensor comprising an ultrasound sensor for detecting whether a person is located proximate the computer without need for the person to wear an extraneous device for the proximity sensor to detect the person, the proximity sensor generating a detection signal indicative of whether or not the person is proximate the computer; and

a control circuit coupled to the proximity sensor and a computer, the control device causing the computer to execute a screen saver program responsive to a detection signal indicating that the person is not in the proximity of the computer, the control circuit including

a signal conditioning unit coupled to the proximity sensor that receives a relatively low frequency signal from the proximity sensor indicative of a frequency difference between an acoustic signal from the proximity sensor and a reflected acoustic signal, the signal conditioning unit converting the relatively low frequency signal to a conditioned signal having a magnitude indicative of the amplitude of the relatively low frequency signal; and

a threshold detection circuit coupled to the signal conditioning unit that receives the conditioned signal and switches the computer to the screen saver program mode when the conditioned signal satisfies a predetermined threshold.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the screen saver program executed by the computer requires the entry of a password before the computer is able to run an application program.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the control circuit comprises a keyboard controller included in the computer, the keyboard controller being coupled to a keyboard and to the proximity sensor.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the control circuit comprises a keyboard included in the computer, the proximity sensor being coupled to the keyboard.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the control circuit comprises bus bridge included in the computer, the proximity sensor being coupled to an input port of the bus bridge.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the proximity sensor comprises a motion detector that generates a detection signal indicative of whether motion is detected proximate the computer.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the proximity sensor comprises an infrared proximity sensor.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the proximity sensor comprises:

an electromagnetic signal generator generating electromagnetic radiation in an area surrounding the computer; and

an electromagnetic signal detector generating a detection signal indicating that the person is in the proximity of the computer responsive to detecting electromagnetic radiation from the electromagnetic signal generator that is reflected from the person proximate the computer.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the proximity sensor comprises a weight sensor that detects the weight of the person at a predetermined location proximate the computer.

19. The system of claim 10 wherein the signal conditioning unit converts the relatively low frequency signal to a direct current signal having a magnitude indicative of the amplitude of the relatively low frequency signal.

20. A computer, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a memory device coupled to the microprocessor, the memory device containing a screen saver program for execution by the microprocessor;

an input device coupled to the microprocessor;

a display device coupled to the microprocessor;

a proximity sensor comprising an ultrasound sensor for detecting whether a person is located proximate the computer without need for the person to wear an extraneous device for the proximity sensor to detect the person, the proximity sensor generating a detection signal indicative of whether or not person is proximate the computer; and

a control circuit coupled to the proximity sensor and to the microprocessor, the control circuit causing the computer to execute a screen saver program responsive to a detection signal indicating that the person is not in the proximity of the computer, the control circuit including

a signal conditioning unit coupled to the proximity sensor that receives a relatively low frequency signal from the proximity sensor indicative of a frequency difference between an acoustic signal from the proximity sensor and a reflected acoustic signal, the signal conditioning unit converting the relatively low frequency signal to a conditioned signal having a magnitude indicative of the amplitude of the relatively low frequency signal; and

a threshold detection circuit coupled to the signal conditioning unit that receives the conditioned signal and switches the computer to the screen saver program when the conditioned signal satisfies a predetermined threshold.

21. The computer of claim 20 wherein the screen saver program executed by the computer requires the entry of a password before the computer is able to run an application program.

22. The computer of claim 20 wherein the control circuit comprises a coupling circuit coupling the proximity sensor to the microprocessor.

23. The computer of claim 20 wherein the control circuit comprises a keyboard controller included in the computer, the keyboard controller being coupled to a keyboard and to the proximity sensor.

24. The computer of claim 20 wherein the control circuit comprises a keyboard included in the computer, the proximity sensor being coupled to the keyboard.

25. The computer of claim 20 wherein the control circuit comprises a bus bridge included in the computer, the proximity sensor being coupled to an input port of the bus bridge.

26. The computer of claim 20 wherein the proximity sensor comprises a motion detector that generates a detection signal indicative of whether motion is detected proximate the computer.

27. The computer of claim 20 wherein the proximity sensor comprises an infrared proximity sensor.

28. The computer of claim 20 wherein the proximity sensor comprises:

an electromagnetic signal generator generating electromagnetic radiation in an area surrounding the computer; and

and electromagnetic signal detector generating a detection signal indicating that the person is in the proximity of the computer responsive to detecting electromagnetic radiation from the electromagnetic signal generator that is reflected from the person proximate the computer.

29. The computer of claim 20 wherein the proximity sensor comprises a weight sensor that detects the weight of the person at a predetermined location proximate the computer.

30. The computer of claim 20 wherein the signal conditioning unit converts the relatively low frequency signal to a direct current signal having a magnitude indicative of the amplitude of the relatively low frequency signal.