Personal computer protection device

• US 6,961,856 B1
• Filed: 07/09/2000
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PC Failsafe, LLC
• Original Assignee: PC Failsafe, LLC
• Inventors: Kouropoulus, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Colin, Carl G
• Application Number:
  US09/612,612
• Time in Patent Office: 1,941 Days
• Field of Search: 713/200, 713/300, 713/340, 713/324, 713/330, 710/73, 710/125, 345/156, 395/750, 307/38, 307/125, 361116-119, 361/166, 439/502
• US Class Current: 726/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/261 PC controlled powerstrip

Abstract

A personal computer protection device for disconnecting a computer system from a communications channel during power down periods. The personal computer protection device includes a power sensor for sensing power drawn by the computer system, an input port for connecting to a communications channel, an output for connecting the input port to a communications channel input of the computer system and a relay connected between the input port and output port. The relay selectively disconnects the input port and output port when the sensor senses the power drawn is below a threshold value thereby indicating the computer system is in a powered down or sleep state.

Claims

1. A personal computer protection device for disconnecting a computer system from a network connection during power down periods, said personal computer protection device comprising:

an AC outlet for providing electrical power to a monitor of the computer system;

means for sensing an amount of power drawn from said AC outlet by said monitor;

a housing having an input port for connecting to a network;

an output in said housing for connecting said input port to a network connection of the computer system; and

a relay in said housing connected between said input port and output port for selectively disconnecting said input port and output port automatically upon said sensing means sensing the power drawn from said AC outlet is below a threshold value indicating the computer system is in a powered down or sleep state.

2. The personal computer protection device as recited in claim 1, wherein said input and output ports are cable connectors, said input port being connectable to a cable line.

3. The personal computer protection device as recited in claim 1, wherein said input and output ports are xDSL, said input port being connectable to a xDSL line.

4. The personal computer protection device as recited in claim 1, wherein said input and output ports are telephone connectors, said input port being connectable to a telephone line.

5. The personal computer protection device as recited in claim 1, wherein said device includes first, second and third input ports, first, second and third corresponding output ports and first second and third relays, each relay being connected between a respective pair of input and output ports.

6. The personal computer protection device as recited in claim 5, wherein said first input and first output ports are cable connectors, said second input and second output ports are xDSL connectors and said third input and third output ports are telephone connectors.

7. The personal computer protection device as recited in claim 6, further comprising a telephone/facsimile connector, said telephone/facsimile connector being powered on at all times said device is in the on mode.

8. The personal computer protection device as recited in claim 5, further comprising a manual override switch for manually triggering said relay to disconnect said first, second and third input ports from said first, second and third output ports, respectively.

9. The personal computer protection device as recited in claim 6, further comprising a manual override switch for manually triggering said relay to disconnect said input and output ports, thereby switching the protection device from an on mode to an off mode, and an AC power switch for turning off all power to said protection device and computer.

10. The personal computer protection device as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for sensing triggers said relay to connect said input and output port during a predetermined period during a day thereby allowing a user to contact the computer system through the communications channel during the predetermined time of day.

11. The personal computer protection device as recited in claim 1, wherein said sensing means senses the amount of power used by the computer system including the monitor.

12. The personal computer protection device as recited in claim 1, wherein said sensing means senses the amount of power drawn directly from the AC outlet by the monitor.

13. A personal computer protection device for disconnecting a computer system from a network connection during power down periods, said personal computer protection device including:

a housing having input and output ports for various types of network connections, with one input port being connected through a line to one output port for each particular type of network connection;

a plug connectable to an AC power source;

an AC outlet for providing electrical power;

means for sensing a power drawn from said AC outlet by a monitor in said computer system;

a relay in said housing in each line connecting an input port to an output port;

said sensing means disabling each relay for disconnecting the input ports from the output ports when the power drawn by the monitor from said AC outlet is below a threshold value indicating the computer system is in a powered down or sleep state; and

a manually operated switch for disabling said relays to move said protection device from an on mode to an off mode.

14. A personal computer protection device for disconnecting a computer system from a network connection during reduced power periods, said personal computer protection device comprising:

an AC power outlet;

a power sensor monitoring power drawn by a monitor of the computer system from said AC power outlet;

a housing having an input port for connecting to a network;

an output in said housing for connecting said input port to a network connector of the computer system; and

a relay in said housing connected between said input port and output port for selectively disconnecting said input port and output port automatically upon said power sensor detecting that the power drawn is below a threshold value indicating the computer system is in a reduced power state.

15. The personal computer protection device of claim 14, wherein said power sensor monitors power consumption by monitoring a voltage.

16. The personal computer protection device of claim 14, wherein said power sensor monitors power drawn by said monitor by monitoring the power drawn by said computer system including said monitor.