Methods and devices enabling displays of electronic devices based on separation thereof

• US 6,594,762 B1
• Filed: 05/05/1999
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Banh, Tuyen, Doub, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Gail
• Assistant Examiner(s): JACKSON, JENISE E
• Application Number:
  US09/305,867
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 713/200, 713/201, 713/202, 713/300, 713/310, 713/340, 713/320, 709/229, 709/217, 455/3.05, 455/411, 455/517, 455/524, 455/555, 455/556, 705/67, 235/385
• US Class Current: 726/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication

Abstract

An electronic device and a remote device cooperate to enable a display of an electronic device when a distance between the electronic device and the remote device is less than a transmit range and to disable the display when the distance is greater than the transmit range. Disabling the display of the electronic device may improve the security of data on display. Moreover, the disabling and enabling of the display may be carried out automatically, thereby possibly relieving the authorized user from logging out or powering-off the electronic device to secure the display. When the authorized user carries the remote device, the display may be enabled and disabled as the user moves relative to the electronic device. The display of the electronic device may be enabled when the electronic device and the remote device are located within a first distance and the display is disabled when the remote device is located a second distance from the remote device, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance. For example, when the user carries the remote device, the display is enabled when the user is within a first distance from the electronic device. When the user carriers the remote device to a second greater distance from the electronic device, the display is enabled.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a display of an electronic device that cooperates with a remote device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving at the remote device a first signal transmitted from the electronic device, wherein the step of receiving at the remote device comprises the step of receiving a receive authentication code, wherein the receive authentication code identifies the electronic device which cooperates with the remote device;

transmitting a second signal from the remote device responsive to receiving the first signal to enable the display of the electronic device when the remote device and the electronic device are located within a transmit range of each other; and

not transmitting the second signal from the remote device responsive to receiving the first signal to disable the display of the electronic device when the remote device and the electronic device are not located within the transmit range of each other.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting comprises the step of transmitting a transmit authentication code to the electronic device, wherein the transmit authentication code identifies the remote device which cooperates with the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transmit authentication code comprises a pseudo-random code.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving further comprises the step of determining whether the electronic device and the remote device are located within the transmit range of each other, wherein the transmit range is set using a signal threshold level for the first signal transmitted from the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining comprises the step of determining whether the electronic device and the remote device are located within the transmit range of each other, wherein the transmit range is adjustable.

6. A remote device that cooperates with an electronic device, the remote device comprising:

a receiver that receives signals from the electronic device;

a processor, coupled to the receiver, wherein the processor processes a first signal received from the electronic device through the receiver and generates a second signal, responsive to the first signal, when the electronic device and the remote device are located within a transmit range of each other, and wherein the processor does not generate the second signal when the electronic device and the remote device are not located within the transmit range of each other, wherein the first signal includes a receive authentication code, wherein the receive authentication code identifies the electronic device which cooperates with the remote device; and

a transmitter, coupled to the processor, wherein the transmitter transmits the second signal from the remote device so that the display of the electronic device is enabled when the remote device and the electronic device are located within the transmit range of each other.

7. The remote device of claim 6, wherein the second signal includes a transmit authentication code, wherein the transmit authentication code identifies the remote device which cooperates with the electronic device.

8. The remote device of claim 7, wherein the transmit authentication code comprises a pseudo-random code.

9. The remote device of claim 6, wherein the transmit range is controlled using a signal threshold level for the first signal received from the electronic device.

10. The remote device of claim 6, wherein the transmit range is adjustable.

11. A method of controlling a display of an electronic device that cooperates with a remote device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving at the remote device a first signal transmitted from the electronic device;

transmitting a second signal from the remote device responsive to receiving the first signal to enable the display of the electronic device when the remote device and the electronic device are located within a transmit range of each other; and

ceasing transmission of the second signal from the remote device responsive to receiving the first signal to disable the display of the electronic device when the remote device and the electronic device are not located within the transmit range of each other.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of receiving at the remote device comprises the step of receiving a receive authentication code, wherein the receive authentication code identifies the electronic device which cooperates with the remote device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of transmitting comprises the step of transmitting a transmit authentication code to the electronic device, wherein the transmit authentication code identifies the remote device which cooperates with the electronic device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the transmit authentication code comprises a pseudo-random code.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of receiving further comprises the step of determining whether the electronic device and the remote device are located within the transmit range of each other at the remote device, wherein the transmit range is set using a signal threshold level for the first signal transmitted from the electronic device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of determining comprises the step of determining whether the electronic device and the remote device are located within the transmit range of each other, wherein the transmit range is adjustable.

17. A emote device that cooperates with an electronic device comprising:

a receiver that transmits and receives signals to and from the electronic device;

processor, coupled to the receiver, wherein the processor processes a first signal received from the electronic device through the receiver and generates a second signal, responsive to the first signal, when the electronic device and the remote device are located within a transmit range of each other, and wherein the processor ceases generating the second signal when the electronic device and the remote device are not located within the transmit range of each other; and

a transmitter, coupled to the processor, wherein the transmitter transmits the second signal from the remote device so that the display of the electronic device is enabled when the remote device and the electronic device are located within the transmit range of each other.

18. The remote device of claim 17, wherein the first signal includes a receive authentication code, wherein the receive authentication code identifies the electronic device which cooperates with the remote device.

19. The remote device of claim 17, wherein the second signal includes a transmit authentication code, wherein the transmit authentication code identifies the remote device which cooperates with the electronic device.

20. The remote device of claim 19, wherein the transmit authentication code comprises a pseudo-random code.

21. The remote device of claim 17, wherein the transmit range is controlled using a signal threshold level for the first signal received from the electronic device.

22. The remote device of claim 17, wherein the transmit range is adjustable.

23. A system for controlling a display of an electronic device that cooperates with a remote device comprising:

means for receiving at the remote device a first signal transmitted from the electronic device;

means for transmitting a second signal from the remote device responsive to receiving the first signal to enable the display of the electronic device when the remote device and the electronic device are located within a transmit range of each other; and

means for ceasing transmission of the second signal from the remote device responsive to receiving the first signal to disable the display of the electronic device when the remote device and the electronic device are not located within the transmit range of each other.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the means for receiving at the remote device comprises means for receiving a receive authentication code, wherein the receive authentication code identifies the electronic device which cooperates with the remote device.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the means for transmitting comprises means for transmitting a transmit authentication code to the electronic device, wherein the transmit authentication code identifies the remote device which cooperates with the electronic device.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the transmit authentication code comprises a pseudo-random code.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein means for receiving further comprises means for determining whether the electronic device and the remote device are located within the transmit range of each other at the remote device, wherein the transmit range is set using a signal threshold level for the first signal transmitted from the electronic device.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the means for determining comprises means for determining whether the electronic device and the remote device are located within the transmit range of each other, wherein the transmit range is adjustable.