Detecting theft and disabling stolen equipment

• US 7,786,861 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2007
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Howarth, Arthur G., Miriyala, Prasad, Prasad, Chandrodaya, Saville, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout; Brent
• Application Number:
  US11/699,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20080180244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 3405681-5723, 340/825.69, 340/5.61, 455/574, 455/410, 455/411, 726/4, 717/174, 707/104.1, 707/9, 713/166
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss

Abstract

Some implementations of the present invention provide methods and devices for detecting the theft of, and disabling, electronic devices such as computers and network devices. The devices may be disabled when a signal is not detected, e.g., for a predetermined period of time. For example, a radio frequency (“RF”) signal (e.g., a beacon), an Internet Protocol (“IP”) signal or the like may define a space within which the devices may be operated with complete functionality. Outside this space, the devices will be disabled, at least to some degree. The degree of disablement may depend on the length of time since the signal was last detected. Alternatively, the devices may be disabled when a signal is detected: some such implementations define “portals,” “choke points” or the like past which a device may not be transported without some degree of disablement.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining by a computing device whether a signal is detected;

controlling an operational state of the computing device according to whether the signal is detected; and

ascertaining a length of time that the signal is not detected, wherein the controlling step comprises disabling the computing device to varying degrees according to the length of time the signal is not detected;

wherein disabling the computing device to varying degrees comprises;

setting the computing device to first disabled state after a first predetermined length of time that the signal is not detected; and

setting the computing device to second disabled state after a second predetermined length of time that the signal is not detected, wherein the first disabled state includes more functionality than the second disabled state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device cannot be removed from the second disabled state until an enabling device communicates with the computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises determining whether a radio frequency signal is detected.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises determining whether an Internet Protocol signal is detected.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is provided to a predetermined area.

6. The method of claim 5,

wherein the predetermined area comprises an area within which the computing device is authorized to function, and

wherein the controlling step comprises disabling the computing device when the computing device is transported outside the predetermined area, where the signal is not detected.

7. The method of claim 5,

wherein the predetermined area comprises a portal between an authorized area within which the computing device is authorized to function and an unauthorized area within which the computing device is not authorized to function.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of allowing the computing device to function in a fully operational state until the first predetermined length of time has elapsed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the enabling device does not generate the signal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein disabling the computing device is performed by a disabler of the computing device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein when the computing device is in the second disabled state, the computing device is prevented from completing an initialization or boot sequence.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the enabling device communicates with the computing device via a port or interface of the computing device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving by the computing device a communication from an enabling device;

wherein the computing device enters an enabled state from the second disabled state after receiving the communication from the enabling device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein after the computing device enters the enabled state, the computing device remains in the enabled state without being in communication with the enabling device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein after the computing device enters the enabled state, the computing device does not enter a disabled state if a communication is not received from the enabling device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein when the computing device is in the second disabled state, the operational state of the computing device cannot be controlled according to whether the signal is detected until an enabling device communicates with the computing device.

17. An apparatus comprising:

means for determining by a computing device whether a signal is detected;

means for controlling an operational state of the computing device according to whether the signal is detected; and

means for ascertaining a length of time that the signal is not detected, wherein the controlling means is configured to disable the computing device to varying degrees according to the length of time the signal is not detected;

wherein the controlling means comprises;

means for setting the computing device to first disabled state after a first predetermined length of time that the signal is not detected; and

means for setting the computing device to second disabled state after a second predetermined length of time that the signal is not detected, wherein the first disabled state includes more functionality than the second disabled state.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the determining means comprises means for determining whether a radio frequency signal is detected.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the determining means comprises means for determining whether an Internet Protocol signal is detected.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the determining means comprises a radio frequency interface.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the determining means comprises a wireless interface.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the controlling means comprises a processor.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein at least one of the determining means and the controlling means are configured for communication with a motherboard of the computing device.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein at least one of the determining means and the controlling means comprises an active radio frequency identification tag.

25. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the controlling means is configured to allow the computing device to function in a fully operational state until the first predetermined length of time has elapsed.

26. A computer-readable medium storing thereon computer-readable instructions for causing a computing device to perform the following steps:

determining by the computing device whether a signal is detected;

controlling an operational state of the computing device according to whether the signal is detected; and

ascertaining a length of time that the signal is not detected, wherein the controlling step comprises disabling the computing device to varying degrees according to the length of time the signal is not detected;

wherein disabling the computing device to varying degrees comprises;

setting the computing device to first disabled state after a first predetermined length of time that the signal is not detected; and

setting the computing device to second disabled state after a second predetermined length of time that the signal is not detected, wherein the first disabled state includes more functionality than the second disabled state.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the computer-readable instructions cause the computing device to perform the following steps:

allowing the computing device to function in a fully operational state until the first predetermined length of time has elapsed.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the computing device cannot be removed from the second disabled state until an enabling device communicates with the computing device.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein when the computing device is in the second disabled state, the computing device is prevented from completing an initialization or boot sequence.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein determining comprises determining whether a radio frequency signal is detected.

31. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein determining comprises determining whether an Internet Protocol signal is detected.