Safe zones for portable electronic devices
First Claim
1. A method of providing security for a portable electronic device comprising:
- a. defining at least one geographic safe zone and storing corresponding geocoordinates in the portable electronic device;
b. selectively enabling at least one security feature on the portable electronic device;
c. acquiring the position of the portable electronic device;
d. sensing the occurrence of a triggering event; and
e. in response to the sensing of the triggering event, initiating the at least one security feature conditioned on whether the location of the portable electronic device is outside of the at least one geographic safe zone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A security system for a cellular telephone for controlling the status of security features based on location. The invention includes at least one security feature within the cellular telephone that is activated by a triggering event. A memory unit is positioned within the cellular telephone for entering safe zone coordinates. A locator either positioned within, or accessible by, the cellular phone provides for determining the geographic location of the phone. The system compares the present location of the cellular phone with the safe zones maintained in memory. When the triggering event occurs, at least one of the security features is disabled when the cellular phone is within the safe zone coordinates. The security features are maintained enabled when the cellular telephone is outside the safe zone coordinates.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of providing security for a portable electronic device comprising:
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a. defining at least one geographic safe zone and storing corresponding geocoordinates in the portable electronic device;
b. selectively enabling at least one security feature on the portable electronic device;
c. acquiring the position of the portable electronic device;
d. sensing the occurrence of a triggering event; and
e. in response to the sensing of the triggering event, initiating the at least one security feature conditioned on whether the location of the portable electronic device is outside of the at least one geographic safe zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of providing security features of a wireless communications device, the device having a memory unit and at least one security feature that is activated by a triggering event, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. defining at least one safe zone having a geographic area and storing the at least one safe zone within the memory unit, b. selecting which of the at least one security feature will be disabled within each safe zone and storing the selection in the memory unit;
c. thereafter, sensing the occurrence of the triggering event;
d. determining whether the wireless communications device is geographically located within any of the safe zones; and
e. over-riding the security features that are listed within the memory unit for the corresponding safe zone. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of preventing theft and accidental loss of a wireless communications device comprising:
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a. defining a safe zone of a geographic area and storing the safe zone within a memory of the device;
b. enabling a security feature of the device;
C. sensing the occurrence of a triggering event;
d. determining the current position of the device through a locator positioned within the device upon sensing the occurrence of the triggering event;
e. comparing the current position of the device with the safe zone; and
f. initiating the security feature if the device is positioned outside of the safe zone.
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21. A wireless communications device having at least one security feature, said device comprising:
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a. means for defining at least one geographic safe zone and inputting it into a memory unit within the wireless communications device; and
b. means for determining a geographic location of the cellular telephone;
c. at least one of said security features being disabled when said wireless communications device is positioned within at least one of said safe zones and being enabled when said wireless communications device is positioned outside said safe zones.
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Specification