Method for information reception in a portable computer

• US 6,522,242 B1
• Filed: 06/17/1998
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• 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:
  US09/098,935
• Time in Patent Office: 1,707 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/825.31, 340/539, 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/686.6, 340/328, 340/5.2, 340/7.1, 340/7.4, 340/7.51, 340/5.25, 379/93.06, 710/101, 713/200
• US Class Current: 340/7.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/228 combined with other devices having a different main function, e.g. watches

Abstract

A computing device receives page messages and performs functions based on the page message. The messages may be stored in a non-volatile memory. The functions may include security functions for portable computing applications.

Claims

1. A method of performing a function in a portable computer comprising a page receiver, said method comprising:

running a page receiver setup program in said portable computer, wherein said set up program allows an end-user to define a code to correspond to one or more security function commands, wherein said code comprises one or more alphanumeric characters, and wherein said code is reprogrammable and customizable by the end-user;

receiving at said page receiver setup program an end-user input associated with defining said code;

receiving a page message comprising said code via said page receiver;

storing said page message;

interpreting said page message as a command to perform said commands; and

performing one or more security functions associated with said commands in said portable computer in response to said page message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein performing said security functions comprises altering existing data stored on a disk drive in said portable computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein performing said security functions comprises activating an audible alarm.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein performing said security functions comprises altering the performance of a subsequent boot procedure of said portable computer.