System and method for placing an electronic apparatus into a protected state in response to environmental data

• US 8,495,757 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Russo, Leonard E., Gaspard, Walter A., Wolford, Jeff W., Tomaszewski, Richard J., Elliott, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zand, Kambiz
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAYOU, YONAS A
• Application Number:
  US12/765,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20110265191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 726/34
• US Class Current: 726/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/74 operating in dual or compartmented mode, i.e. at least one secure mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2147 Locking files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for placing an electronic apparatus into a protected state in response to environmental data. The method discloses: receiving a set of environmental data applicable to an electronic apparatus; generating an environmental status applicable to the electronic apparatus based-on the environmental data; and placing the electronic apparatus into a protected state based-on the environmental status. The system discloses an environment characterization module which receives a set of environmental data applicable to an electronic apparatus, and generates an environmental status applicable to the electronic apparatus based-on the environmental data; and an apparatus protection module which places the electronic apparatus into a protected state based-on the environmental status.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (CRSM) containing computer instructions that, when executed, cause a computer processor to:

receive a set of environmental data indicative of movement of a portable electronic apparatus;

generate an environmental status applicable to the portable electronic apparatus based-on the environmental data; and

place the portable electronic apparatus into a protected state based-on the environmental status, wherein the protected state modifies the performance capabilities of the portable electronic apparatus.

2. The non-transitory CRSM of claim 1:

wherein the environmental data is provided by one from a group including a;

transducer, sensor, and switch.

3. The non-transitory CRSM of claim 1:

wherein the environmental data is provided by one from a group including;

an AC/DC power source signal;

a wall-outlet/battery power source signal;

an accelerometer signal;

GPS (Global Positioning System) data;

temperature;

humidity;

radiation level;

a computer dock/undocked signal; and

a computer locked/unlocked switch.

4. The non-transitory CRSM of claim 1:

wherein the computer instructions further cause the computer processor to;

integrate the environmental data over at least one predetermined time period; and

determine the environmental status based-on a probability that the portable electronic apparatus is in at least one of a set of environments, using one from a group of techniques including;

weighting algorithms;

thresholds;

heuristics; and

environmental look-up data.

5. The non-transitory CRSM of claim 4:

wherein the computer instructions further cause the computer processor to;

ground truth the environmental status determination based-on feedback provided by an operator which either confirms or refutes the environmental status determination.

6. The non-transitory CRSM of claim 1:

wherein the environmental status is one from a group including;

stationary;

moving;

to be moving;

falling;

likely to imminently sustain a disruptive/shock event;

is in a potentially disruptive environment;

proximate to a boat;

proximate to an airplane;

proximate to a land vehicle; and

proximate to an earthquake.

7. The non-transitory CRSM of claim 1:

wherein the computer instructions further cause the computer processor to;

integrate the environmental status over at least one predetermined time period; and

determine the protected state based-on a probability that the portable electronic apparatus is attributed with at least one of a set of environmental statuses, using one from a group of techniques including;

weighting algorithms;

thresholds;

heuristics; and

environmental look-up data.

8. The non-transitory CRSM of claim 1:

wherein the protected state is one from a group including;

a binary state;

normal;

abnormal;

a continuum of protected states dependent upon a cumulative and dynamic threat posed by the environment;

a percentage % threat-level;

full performance, degraded performance;

hardware on;

hardware off;

hard-drive head parked;

hard-drive head not parked;

maximum data block size transfers; and

minimal data block size transfers.

9. The non-transitory CRSM of claim 1:

wherein the portable electronic apparatus is one from a group including a;

computer;

notebook computer;

a handheld computer;

a disc drive; and

a communications circuit; and

an electronically controlled mechanical device.

10. The non-transitory CRSM of claim 1:

wherein the portable electronic apparatus is a computer; and

wherein the computer instructions further cause the computer processor to;

transfer data blocks greater than a predetermined set of data blocks, if an accelerometer indicates that the computer is not falling; and

prohibit data block transfers greater than the predetermined set of data blocks, if an accelerometer indicates that the computer is falling.

11. The non-transitory CRSM of claim 10:

wherein the predetermined set of data blocks is 256 data blocks.

12. The non-transitory CRSM of claim 1:

wherein the portable electronic apparatus is a computer; and

wherein computer instructions further cause the computer processor to;

transfer data blocks greater than a predetermined set of data blocks, if the computer is on AC power; and

prohibit data block transfers greater than the predetermined set of data blocks, if the computer is on DC power.

13. The non-transitory CRSM of claim 1:

wherein the portable electronic apparatus is a computer; and

wherein the computer instructions further cause the computer processor to;

transfer data blocks greater than a predetermined set of data blocks, if the computer is stationary; and

prohibit data block transfers greater than the predetermined set of data blocks, if the computer is mobile.

14. The non-transitory CRSM of claim 1:

wherein the portable electronic apparatus is a computer; and

wherein the computer instructions further cause the computer processor to;

alter a device driver to request transfers greater than a predetermined set of data blocks, if the computer is stationary; and

alter the device driver to request transfers not greater than the predetermined set of data blocks, if the computer is mobile.

15. A system, comprising:

a processor to operate an environmental characterization module and an apparatus protection module;

wherein the environment characterization module receives a set of environmental data indicative of movement of a portable electronic apparatus, and generates an environmental status applicable to the portable electronic apparatus based-on the environmental data; and

wherein the apparatus protection module places the portable electronic apparatus into a protected state based-on the environmental status, wherein the protected state modifies the performance capabilities of the portable electronic apparatus.

16. The system of claim 15:

wherein the portable electronic apparatus is a computer; and

wherein the apparatus protection module;

transfers data blocks greater than a predetermined set of data blocks, if an accelerometer indicates that the computer is not falling; and

prohibits data block transfers greater than the predetermined set of data blocks, if an accelerometer indicates that the computer is falling.

17. The system of claim 15:

wherein the portable electronic apparatus is a computer; and

wherein the apparatus protection module;

transfers data blocks greater than a predetermined set of data blocks, if the computer is on AC power; and

prohibits data block transfers greater than the predetermined set of data blocks, if the computer is on DC power.

18. The system of claim 15:

wherein the portable electronic apparatus is a computer; and

wherein the apparatus protection module;

transfers data blocks greater than a predetermined set of data blocks, if the computer is stationary; and

prohibits data block transfers greater than the predetermined set of data blocks, if the computer is mobile.

19. The system of claim 15:

wherein the portable electronic apparatus is a computer; and

wherein the apparatus protection module;

programs a device driver to request transfers greater than a predetermined set of data blocks, if the computer is stationary; and

programs the device driver to request transfers not greater than the predetermined set of data blocks, if the computer is mobile.

20. A portable electronic apparatus, comprising:

a storage device, containing a set of algorithms;

a processor device, configured to execute the algorithms;

a bus permitting communication between the storage device and processor device; and

wherein the set of algorithms include instructions for operating the processor device for;

receiving a set of environmental data indicative of movement of the portable electronic apparatus;

generating an environmental status applicable to the portable electronic apparatus based-on the environmental data; and

placing the portable electronic apparatus into a protected state based-on the environmental status, wherein the protected state modifies the performance capabilities of the portable electronic apparatus.