Portable computer supporting paging functions

• US 6,518,874 B2
• Filed: 06/17/1998
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Klein, Dean A., Barrus, Jeff, Thomas, Shane
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BANGACHON, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US09/098,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20010045884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/825.31, 340/7.1, 340/7.2, 340/7.33, 340/7.39, 340/5.3, 340/5.64, 340/5.74, 340/539, 340/3.1, 340/3.3, 710/102, 713/1, 713/2, 713/189, 713/100, 713/151, 712/229
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• 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 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/228 combined with other devices having a different main function, e.g. watches
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/023 with message or information receiving capability

Abstract

A portable computer is described that contains a circuit for receiving pages and performing security functions based on the received page. Once a page has been received by the portable computer, the computer'"'"'s hard drive can be automatically reformatted, or the portable computer can be prevented from booting. In addition, the portable computer can be programmed to use a modem to automatically dial a security center and transmit security information such as the Caller ID Tag of the current telephone number.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a microprocessor;

a wireless receiver;

a memory having a resettable status flag stored therein, wherein the status of the flag is determined by information received via said wireless receiver; and

a memory coupled to said microprocessor having a boot program stored therein, said boot program being executed by said microprocessor upon application of electrical power to said microprocessor, wherein said boot program is operative to cause said microprocessor to retrieve said resettable status flag, and terminate further performance of said boot program if said resettable status flag is in a pre-defined state.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein said memory having a resettable status flag stored therein comprises an EEPROM.

3. A programmed storage device having a boot program for a portable computer stored therein, said boot program comprising instructions which when performed by a microprocessor performs a boot sequence comprising the steps of:

retrieving a resettable status flag from a memory associated with a wireless receiver, said resettable status flag having at least first and second states;

completing boot sequence performance if said resettable status flag is in said first state; and

terminating boot sequence performance if said resettable status flag is in said second state.

4. The programmed storage device of claim 3, wherein said method additionally comprises performing a security command before terminating boot sequence performance.

5. The programmed storage device of claim 4, wherein performing said security command comprises altering existing data stored on a disk drive in said portable computer.

6. The programmed storage device of claim 3, wherein said method additionally comprises retrieving at least a portion of a page message.