Computer system having an identification device

• US 7,657,731 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compal Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Compal Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Tsai, Wen-Sung, Chien, Chung-Chi, Cheng, Chih-Chuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rehman; Mohammed H
• Application Number:
  US11/620,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20070106891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/81 by operating on the power supply, e.g. enabling or disabling power-on, sleep or resume operations

Abstract

A computer system includes an identification device and a host. The identification device includes a first wireless module for receiving a radio identification signal and then emitting a radio user signal with an identification code. The host includes a processing module for controlling operation of the host, a second wireless module for emitting the radio identified signal and receiving the user signal, a power supply for supplying power to the processing module while receiving a power control signal, and a control module electrically connected to the power supply. Before the power supply supplies power to the processing module, the control module checks whether the identification code within the user signal matches a predetermined identification code as the second wireless module receives the user signal. If the identification code within the user signal matches the predetermined identification code, the control module can transmit the power control signal to the power supply.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

an identification device comprising;

a first wireless module for receiving a radio identification signal and then emitting a radio user signal with an identification code; and

a memory for storing the identification code; and

a host comprising;

an input interface for generating an input signal;

a second wireless module for receiving the radio user signal;

a control module for providing an access control signal when no user signal is received by the second wireless module, and for checking whether the identification code within the user signal matches a predetermined identification code as the second wireless module receives the user signal;

if the identification code within the user signal matches the predetermined identification code, the control module is capable of generating an access allowable signal; and

a processing module for performing an application program for controlling the operation of the computer system based on the input signal provided by the input interface;

while performing the application program, if receiving the access control signal, the processing module handles the application program according to the signal received from the input interface, if the processing module receives the access allowable signal from the control module, the processing module recovers the input interface to control the status of the application program based on the input signal from the input interface;

wherein the first wireless module is also capable of generating a corresponding electrical data signal while receiving a radio data signal, and the memory is capable of storing the electrical data signal.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the identification device comprises a battery for supplying power to the identification device.

3. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the identification device further comprises an input port for receiving an electrical data signal, and the memory is capable of storing the electrical data signal received by the input port.

4. The computer system of claim 3 wherein the input port is capable of being used to provide required power of the identification device or to charge the battery.

5. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the identification code is the ID of the identification device or a password.

6. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined identification code is capable of being modified through the use of the input interface, and the identification code stored in the identification device is capable of being modified in a wireless way via the second wireless module of the host.

7. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the identification device regularly emits the user signal via the first wireless module with a predetermined period, and the host receives the user signal via the second wireless module based on the predetermined period to determine the location of the identification device.

8. The computer system of claim 7 wherein the user signal emitted from the identification device complies with a bluetooth communication protocol.

9. The computer system of claim 7 wherein the user signal emitted from the identification device complies with an 802.11x communication protocol.

10. A computer system comprising:

an identification device comprising;

a first wireless module for receiving a radio identification signal and then emitting a radio user signal with an identification code; and

a memory for storing the identification code; and

a host comprising;

a second wireless module for receiving the radio user signal; and

a processing module for performing an access subprogram for controlling the operation of the computer system;

when performing the access subprogram, the processing module is capable of checking whether the identification code of the radio user signal received by the second wireless module matches a predetermined identification code;

if the identification code matches the predetermined identification code, the processing module continues to perform an application program corresponding to the access subprogram;

if not, the processing module stops performing the application program;

wherein the first wireless module is also capable of generating a corresponding electrical data signal while receiving a radio data signal, and the memory is capable of storing the electrical data signal.

11. The computer system of claim 10 wherein the identification device comprises a battery for supplying power to the identification device.

12. The computer system of claim 10 wherein the identification device further comprises an input port for receiving an electrical data signal, and the memory is capable of storing the electrical data signal received by the input port.

13. The computer system of claim 12 wherein the input port is capable of being used to provide required power of the identification device or to charge the battery.

14. The computer system of claim 10 wherein the identification code is the ID of the identification device or a password.

15. The computer system of claim 10 wherein the host further comprises an input interface for receiving input data;

the predetermined identification code is capable of being modified through the use of the input interface, and the identification code stored in the identification device is capable of being modified in a wireless way via the second wireless module of the host.

16. The computer system of claim 10 wherein the identification device regularly emits the user signal via the first wireless module with a predetermined period, and the host receives the user signal via the second wireless module based on the predetermined period to determine the location of the identification device.

17. The computer system of claim 16 wherein the user signal emitted from the identification device complies with a bluetooth communication protocol.

18. The computer system of claim 16 wherein the user signal emitted from the identification device complies with an 802.11x communication protocol.