Security system for preventing a personal computer from being stolen or used by unauthorized people

• US 6,628,198 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2002
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Le Pennec, Jean-Francois, Fieschi, Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US09/683,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20020133713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/568.2, 340/568.3, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.3, 340/5.31, 340/5.33, 340/5.6, 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 340/5.65, 340/539.1, 235/375, 713/200
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss

Abstract

Security system for preventing a personal computer (PC) including at least a location in the PC adapted to receive a PCMCIA card from being used by unauthorized people including an extractable card having a connection adapted to insert the extractable card into the location for receiving a PCMCIA card. Further included are a processor and a wireless transceiver for remotely transmitting alarm information relative to the PC. Still further included is a program stored in the memory of the PC for communicating with the processor in order to activate selected security functions.

Claims

1. A security system for preventing a personal computer (PC) from being used by unauthorized people comprising:

an extractable card having a connection element, said extractable card adapted to be inserted into a location for receiving a PCMCIA card and including a processor and wireless transceiver for remotely transmitting alarm information relative to said PC;

a program adapted to be stored in a memory of said PC for communicating with said processor in order to activate selected security functions; and

a removable key normally connected to said extractable card comprising a wireless transceiver for receiving said information relative to said PC when said removable key has been removed from said extractable card.

2. The security system according to claim 1, wherein said extractable card includes a buzzer and said removable key includes a motion detector, said buzzer emits a sound when said motion detector has detected motion.

3. The security system according to claim 2, wherein said removable key also includes a buzzer which starts beeping when said motion detector has detected motion.

4. The security system according to claim 3, wherein said buzzer on said extractable card starts beeping when said program detects if an AC plug is removed.

5. The security system according to claim 3, wherein said buzzer in said removable key starts beeping when said program detects if an AC plug is removed.

6. The security system according to claim 5, wherein said wireless transceiver in said extractable card transmits alarm information to said wireless transceiver in said removable key which has been removed from said extractable card when said motion detector has detected motion.

7. The security system according to claim 5, wherein said wireless transceiver in said extractable card transmits alarm information to said wireless transceiver in said removable key when said program detects that the AC plug is removed.

8. The security system according to claim 6, wherein said removable key further includes a press button and a LED so that, when said removable key is removed from said extractable card, said buzzer on said removable key stops beeping as soon as said press button is pressed.

9. The security system according to claim 8, wherein said LED starts flashing as soon as said press button has been pressed.

10. The security system according to claim 3, wherein said buzzer on said extractable card starts beeping when said program detects that the PC battery is removed.

11. The security system according to claim 3, wherein said buzzer in said removable key starts beeping when said program detects that the PC battery is removed.

12. The security system according to claim 5, wherein said wireless transceiver in said extractable card transmits alarm information to said wireless transceiver in said removable key when said program detects that the PC battery is removed.

13. The security system according to claim 5, wherein said wireless transceiver in said extractable card transmits alarm information to said wireless transceiver in said removable key when said program detects that said extractable card is removed.

14. The security system according to claim 5, wherein said wireless transceiver in said extractable card transmits alarm information to said wireless transceiver in said removable key when said program detects said PC is powered off.

15. The security system according to claim 3, wherein said buzzer on said extractable card starts beeping when said program detects that said extractable card is removed.

16. The security system according to claim 3, wherein said buzzer on said extractable card starts beeping when said program detects that said PC is powered off.

17. The security system according to claim 3, wherein said buzzer in said removable key starts beeping when said program detects that the said extractable card is removed.

18. The security system according to claim 3, wherein said buzzer in said removable key starts beeping when said program detects that said PC is powered off.

19. The security system according to claim 1, wherein said program is set for said PC to boot only after receiving an authorization from said extractable card, said authorization being given after said extractable card has validated a one time password sent from said removable key to said extractable card, this validation being performed by using the one time password in said extractable card.

20. The security system according to claim 19, wherein said extractable card and said removable key exchange information regularly in order to synchronize their one time passwords.

21. The security system according to claim 1, wherein said program is set or selected files to be encrypted and decrypted by said processor in said extractable card by using an encryption key available in said removable key.