Distribution channel loss protection for electronic devices

• US 8,241,369 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2011
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Absolute Software Corporation
• Original Assignee: Absolute Software Corporation
• Inventors: Stevens, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Chai, Longbit
• Application Number:
  US13/280,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20120042397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 295 Days
• Field of Search: 726/35
• US Class Current: 726/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/70 Protecting specific internal or peripheral components, in which the protection of a component leads to protection of the entire computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1409 for removal detection of electrical appliances by detecting their physical disconnection from an electrical system, e.g. using a switch incorporated in the plug connector

Abstract

An electronic device, prior to entering a distribution channel, is equipped with a loss prevention client which permits limited use of the device until correct authentication is provided by a legitimate purchaser. By permitting limited use before authentication, the device remains both useful to a legitimate purchaser and valuable to a thief. While allowing operation in the possession of a thief, options can be provided to permit tracking of the device or to allow proper purchase of the device.

Claims

1. An electronic device configured with executable code for protecting against theft, said executable code capable of causing the electronic device to perform at least the following actions:

during an initial grace period that begins with a first startup after a purchase of the electronic device through a distribution channel, operate in a first mode in which a user of the electronic device is prompted to enter an unlock code associated with the purchase of the electronic device, wherein the electronic device is substantially fully functional during said grace period regardless of whether a valid unlock code is entered, such that the user need not enter a valid unlock code when first prompted to do so;

in response to entry of a valid unlock code, enter into a second mode in which the electronic device is fully functional and in which the user is no longer prompted to enter the unlock code; and

after the grace period expires without entry of a valid unlock code, operate in a third mode in which the electronic device does one or both of the following;

(1) transmits data regarding its location to a remote system to facilitate recovery from a possible thief, (2) performs an action that impedes use of the electronic device;

whereby the executable code protects against distribution channel theft of the electronic device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the executable code comprises a loss protection component, and is configured to permanently disable said loss protection component in response to user entry of a valid unlock code.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the executable code comprises firmware code that is capable of causing the loss protection component to be reinstalled on the electronic device if improperly removed.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the executable code additionally includes an agent component that is configured to manage communications with a monitoring center.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the executable code causes the electronic device, when in said first mode, to intermittently prompt a user to enter an unlock code.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the executable code causes the electronic device, when in said first mode, to prompt a user, each time the electronic device is started up, to enter an unlock code.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein said action that impedes use of the electronic device comprises rebooting the electronic device.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the third mode is a mode in which the electronic device performs an action that impedes use of the electronic device.

9. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein said action that impedes use of the electronic device comprises electronically locking the electronic device.

10. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the third mode is a mode in which the electronic device transmits data regarding its location to a remote system to facilitate recovery from a possible thief.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the executable code is configured to disable a loss protection component in the third mode to allow data regarding the location of the electronic device to be transmitted more frequently to the remote system.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein in the third mode the user of the electronic device is prompted to enter an unlock code associated with the purchase of the electronic device.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that comprises executable code that directs an electronic device to perform a process that comprises:

during an initial grace period that begins with a first startup after a purchase of the electronic device through a distribution channel, operate in a first mode in which a user of the electronic device is prompted to enter an unlock code associated with the purchase of the electronic device, wherein the electronic device is substantially fully functional during said grace period regardless of whether a valid unlock code is entered, such that the user need not enter a valid unlock code when first prompted to do so;

in response to entry of a valid unlock code, enter into a second mode in which the electronic device is fully functional and in which the user is no longer prompted to enter the unlock code; and

after the grace period expires without entry of a valid unlock code, operate in a third mode in which the electronic device does one or both of the following;

(1) transmits data regarding its location to a remote system to facilitate recovery from a possible thief, (2) performs an action that impedes use of the electronic device;

whereby the executable code protects against distribution channel theft of the electronic device.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the executable code comprises a loss protection component, and is configured to permanently disable said loss protection component in response to user entry of a valid unlock code.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the executable code comprises firmware code that is capable of causing the loss protection component to be reinstalled on the electronic device if improperly removed.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the executable code directs the electronic device, when operating in said first mode, to prompt a user, each time the electronic device is started up, to enter an unlock code.

17. An electronic device configured with executable code for protecting against distribution channel theft, said executable code capable of causing the electronic device to perform at least the following actions:

during an initial grace period that begins after a purchase of the electronic device through a distribution channel, operate in a first mode in which a user of the electronic device is prompted to enter an unlock code associated with the purchase of the electronic device, wherein the electronic device is functional during said grace period regardless of whether a valid unlock code is entered;

in response to entry of a valid unlock code, enter into a second mode in which the electronic device is functional and in which the user is no longer prompted to enter the unlock code; and

after the grace period expires without entry of a valid unlock code, operate in a third mode in which the electronic device does one or both of the following;

(1) transmits data regarding its location to a remote system to facilitate recovery from a possible thief, (2) performs an action that impedes use of the electronic device;

whereby the executable code protects against distribution channel theft of the electronic device.