Interference management for an electronic device security and tracking system and method

• US 8,163,035 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Softex LLC (FIG LLC (d/b/a Fortress Investment Group LLC))
• Original Assignee: Softex Incorporated
• Inventors: Bhansali, Apurva Mahendrakumar, Jain, Manoj Kumar, Dube, Shradha, Rangarajan, Gayathri, Patel, Mehul Ramjibhai, Raikar, Rayesh Kashinath, Dhanani, Kamal Mansukhlal, Kapila, Ranjit, Varghese, Elza Abraham, Tucker, Thomas David
• Primary Examiner(s): Simitoski, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tolentino, Roderick
• Application Number:
  US11/929,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20080127308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• Field of Search: 726/34, 726/35, 340287-309, 713/161, 705/67, 379 37- 51
• US Class Current: 726/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/572 Secure firmware programming, e.g. of basic input output system [BIOS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning

Abstract

This disclosure relates to interference management for a security and tracking system of an electronic device. In one embodiment, during a startup process, an electronic device executes a security program and automatically attempts to access a first web server to ascertain whether the electronic devices has been reported as stolen. In response to an unsuccessful attempt to access the first web server, the electronic device may automatically attempt to access a second web server for data regarding operational status of the first web server. In response to unsuccessful attempts to access the first and second web servers, the electronic device may automatically present an interference alert to provide notification that the electronic device will be disabled if the electronic device continues to experience interference. The electronic device may be automatically disabled in response to a predetermined number of startup sequences with interference. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method for managing interference with a security and tracking system of an electronic device, the method comprising:

during a startup process for an electronic device, executing a security program that causes the electronic device to automatically attempt to access a first web server;

in response to an unsuccessful attempt to access the first web server, automatically attempting to access a second web server;

determining whether the electronic device can access a third web server, other than the first and second web servers;

in response to unsuccessful attempts to access the first and second web servers and a determination that the electronic device can access the third web server, automatically presenting an interference alert on the electronic device, wherein the operation of automatically presenting an interference alert comprises (a) presenting a warning that the electronic device will be disabled after a specified number of startup sequences have experienced unsuccessful attempts to access at least one of the first and second web servers and (b) presenting a message that an override code can be used to prevent the electronic device from being disabled;

if the override code has not been entered in the electronic device, automatically disabling the electronic device in response to the specified number of startup sequences having experienced unsuccessful attempts to access at least one of the first and second web servers; and

if the override code has been entered in the electronic device, allowing the electronic device to continue operation, despite interference with the security and tracking system of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the specified number is five.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to a successful attempt to access the first web server, querying the first web server as to whether the electronic device has been reported stolen.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to a successful attempt to access the second web server, querying the second web server as to a status of the first web server.

5. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a non-transitory machine-readable medium; and

instructions in the machine-readable medium, wherein the instructions, when executed by an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform operations comprising;

automatically attempting to access a first web server;

in response to an unsuccessful attempt to access the first web server, automatically attempting to access a second web server;

determining whether the electronic device can access a third web server, other than the first and second web servers;

in response to unsuccessful attempts to access the first and second web servers and a determination that the electronic device can access the third web server, automatically presenting an interference alert on the electronic device, wherein the operation of automatically presenting an interference alert comprises (a) presenting a warning that the electronic device will be disabled after a specified number of startup sequences have experienced unsuccessful attempts to access at least one of the first and second web servers and (b) presenting a message that an override code can be used to prevent the electronic device from being disabled;

if the override code has not been entered in the electronic device, automatically disabling the electronic device in response to the specified number of startup sequences having experienced unsuccessful attempts to access at least one of the first and second web servers; and

if the override code has been entered in the electronic device, allowing the electronic device to continue operation, despite interference with the security and tracking system of the electronic device.

6. An article of manufacture according to claim 5, wherein the specified number is five.

7. An article of manufacture according to claim 5, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to a successful attempt to access the first web server, querying the first web server as to whether the electronic device has been reported stolen.

8. An article of manufacture according to claim 5, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to a successful attempt to access the second web server, querying the second web server as to a status of the first web server.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

a non-transitory machine-readable medium responsive to the processor; and

instructions in the machine-readable medium, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to perform operations comprising;

automatically attempting to access a first web server;

in response to an unsuccessful attempt to access the first web server, automatically attempting to access a second web server;

determining whether the electronic device can access a third web server, other than the first and second web servers;

in response to unsuccessful attempts to access the first and second web servers and a determination that the electronic device can access the third web server, automatically presenting an interference alert on the electronic device, wherein the operation of automatically presenting an interference alert comprises (a) presenting a warning that the electronic device will be disabled after a specified number of startup sequences have experienced unsuccessful attempts to access at least one of the first and second web servers and (b) presenting a message that an override code can be used to prevent the electronic device from being disabled;

if the override code has not been entered in the electronic device, automatically disabling the electronic device in response to the specified number of startup sequences having experienced unsuccessful attempts to access at least one of the first and second web servers; and

if the override code has been entered in the electronic device, allowing the electronic device to continue operation, despite interference with the security and tracking system of the electronic device.

10. An electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the specified number is five.

11. An electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to a successful attempt to access the first web server, querying the first web server as to whether the electronic device has been reported stolen.

12. An electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to a successful attempt to access the second web server, querying the second web server as to a status of the first web server.