Portable computer supporting paging instructions

• US 7,372,358 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Barrus, Jeff, Thomas, Shane, Klein, Dean A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US11/356,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20060152340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 340/7.1, 340/7.2, 340/55, 340/7.4, 340/58, 340/5.64, 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/825.37, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.29, 340/7.33, 340/7.36, 340/572.1, 379/44, 379/106.01, 379/142.11, 726/35, 726/29, 726/36, 709/250, 713/170, 713/183, 713/310, 713/324
• 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 manufacturing a device having security functions, the method comprising:

configuring the device to receive information via a wireless receiver, such that the wireless receiver is operative when the device is otherwise powered down;

providing a resettable status flag in a memory of the device, the resettable status flag having a first state and a second state and such that the status flag can be stored when the device is otherwise powered down;

configuring a processor of the device to set the status of the resettable status flag to the first state or the second state in response to the information received via the wireless receiver; and

providing the device with computer instructions that, when executed by the processor during a boot sequence following main power up of the device, perform a security function that comprises;

determining the status of the resettable status flag;

if the resettable status flag is in the first state, aborting the boot sequence;

determining whether the device is connected to one of a plurality of phone lines of a communications network via a modem; and

if the device is connected to one of the plurality of phone lines, transmitting a caller ID tag of the one phone line indicative of the location of the device with the modem after terminating the boot sequence.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver is located in the device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the security function further comprises completing the boot sequence if the resettable status flag is in the second state.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting a first power supply to the device to provide main device power and such that the wireless receiver is operative and the status flag can be stored when the first power supply is disconnected from the device.

3. A device comprising:

a resettable status flag storable in a memory of the device, the resettable status flag configured to have a first state and a second state;

a wireless receiver configured to receive boot sequence information, wherein the boot sequence information identifies the first state or the second state, the first state associated with at least one stored security command, wherein the wireless receiver and at least a portion of the memory are operative to receive the boot sequence information and to store the resettable status flag when the device is otherwise powered down; and

a processor configured to set the status of the resettable status flag to the first state or the second state in response to the boot sequence information received via the wireless receiver, the processor further configured to determine the status of the resettable status flag during a boot sequence, the processor further configured to terminate the boot sequence if the status of the resettable status flag is set to the first state, the processor further configured to initiate execution of the at least one stored security command after terminating the boot sequence.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the boot sequence information comprises a plurality of alphanumeric characters.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the boot sequence information contains at least one string of characters that is associated with a boot sequence operation.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the boot sequence information contains at least one string of characters that is associated with a plurality of boot sequence operations.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the boot sequence information comprises a flag bit.

19. The device of claim 3 further comprising a first power supply connected to the device to provide main device power and wherein the wireless receiver and the at least a portion of the memory are operative to receive the boot sequence information and to store the resettable status flag when the first power supply is disconnected from the device.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the first power supply comprises a battery such that the device comprises a portable device.

8. A device comprising:

means for receiving information;

means for storing a resettable status flag, the resettable status flag having a first state and a second state, wherein the means for storing are operative to store the resettable status flag and such that the device can receive the information when the device is otherwise not operative;

means for configuring a processor of the device to set the status of the resettable status flag to the first state or the second state in response to the information received via the wireless receiver; and

means for providing the device with computer instructions that, when executed by the processor during a boot sequence, perform a security function that comprises;

means for determining the status of the resettable status flag;

if the resettable status flag is in the first state, means for aborting the boot sequence,

means for determining whether the device is connected to one of a plurality of phone lines of a communications network via a modem; and

if the device is connected to one of the plurality of phone lines, means for transmitting a caller ID tag of the one phone line indicative of the location of the device with the modem after aborting the boot sequence.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein wireless receiver is located in the device.

16. The device of claim 8, wherein performing the security function further comprises completing the boot sequence if the resettable status flag is in the second state.

21. The device of claim 8, further comprising first means for supplying power connected to the device to provide main device power and wherein the means for receiving information and the means for storing are operative to receive the boot sequence information and to store the resettable status flag when the first means for supplying power are disconnected from the device.

10. A method of manufacturing a device having security functions, the method comprising:

configuring the device to receive information, such that the information can be received when the device is otherwise powered down;

providing a resettable status flag in at least a portion of memory of the device, the resettable status flag having a first state and a second state such that the resettable status flag can be stored when the device is otherwise powered down;

configuring a processor of the device to set the status of the resettable status flag to the first state or the second state in response to the information received; and

providing the device with computer instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform a security function that comprises;

terminating the boot sequence if the status flag is in the first state; and

transmitting a caller ID tag of a phone line indicative of the location of the device with a modem when the device is connected to a communication network via the modem through the phone line after terminating the boot sequence.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein further comprising a wireless receiver is located in the device and wherein the wireless receiver and the at least portion of the memory are operative when the device is otherwise powered down.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein performing the security function further comprises turning off a speaker associated with the modem when the device is connected to the communication network via the modem through the phone line and when the flag is in the first state.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein performing the security function further comprises periodically determining when the modem is connected to the communication network.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the received information is from a pager.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein performing the security function further comprises completing a boot sequence when the resettable status flag is in the second state.

22. The method of claim 10, further comprising connecting a first power supply to the device to provide main device power and such that the information can be received and such that the resettable status flag can be stored when the first power supply is disconnected from the device.