Portable computer supporting paging instructions

• US 6,683,528 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2003
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• 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:
  US10/349,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20030107474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 340/7.1, 340/5.64, 340/568.1, 340/825.44, 340/825.31, 340/571, 340/7.2, 340/7.33, 340/7.39, 340/5.3, 340/3.1, 340/3.3, 710/101, 710/102, 713/1, 713/200
• US Class Current: 340/7.1
• 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 method of providing a security function in a computing device, the method comprising:

storing a resettable status flag in a memory of the device;

receiving information via a wireless receiver;

setting the status of the flag based at least in part on the content of the received information; and

terminating execution of a boot program of the computing device if the flag is in a pre-defined state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving comprises receiving information via a wireless receiver of the device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving comprises receiving information via a wireless receiver coupled to the device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein terminating execution of a boot program comprises executing the boot program upon application of electrical power to the device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing one or more security commands before terminating execution of the boot program.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein performing one or more security commands comprises instructing a modem of the device to dial a predetermined telephone number and transmit information indicative of the location of the device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein instructing the modem to transmit information comprises instructing the modem to transmit a caller ID tag of a phone where the device is located.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein performing one or more security commands comprises instructing the device to reformat a hard disk drive of the device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein storing comprises storing the flag in a memory of a portable computer.

10. A method of securing a computing device, the method comprising:

executing a boot program in the device, the 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, the flag having at least first and second states;

completing boot sequence performance if the flag is in the first state; and

terminating boot sequence performance if the flag is in the second state.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising performing a security command before terminating boot sequence performance.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein performing the security command comprises altering existing data stored on a disk drive in the device.

13. The method claim 10, further comprising retrieving at least a portion of a page message.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein executing a boot program comprises executing a boot program in a portable computer.