Always-available embedded theft reaction subsystem

• US 9,619,671 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Berger, Michael, Kataria, Mukesh, Tripp, Jeffrey M., Rasheed, Yasser, Birnbaum, David, Huynh, Hung P., Kupermann, Eli, Gedeon, Mazen G., Resch, Joshua M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poltorak, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nobahar, Abdulhakim
• Application Number:
  US13/992,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20140020121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,937 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/65 Environment-dependent, e.g. using captured environmental data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/67 Risk-dependent, e.g. selecting a security level depending on risk profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent

Abstract

A platform including a security system is described. The security system comprises, in one embodiment, a multi-state system having a plurality of modes, available whenever the platform has a source of power. The modes comprise an unarmed mode, in which the security system is not protecting the platform, an armed mode, in which the platform is protected, the armed mode reached from the unarmed mode, after an arming command, and a suspecting mode, in which the platform is suspecting theft, the suspecting mode reached from the armed mode, when a risk behavior is detected.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory to store instructions that, when performed by the processor, enable the processor to;

arm the system using a semi-automatic arming scheme,

wherein, the semi-automatic arming scheme to include a first manual step that readies the platform for arming, and a second automatic step which requires no affirmative end user action; and

monitor movement of a platform among a plurality of modes regardless of a power status of the platform, the plurality of modes comprising;

an unarmed mode, in which the system is to not protect the platform;

an armed mode, in which the platform is to be protected by encrypting data of the platform, the armed mode reached from the unarmed mode, after an arming command;

a suspecting mode, in which the platform is suspecting theft, the suspecting mode reached from the armed mode when a risk behavior is detected, wherein the risk behavior comprises disconnection of external power to the platform; and

an arming-in-progress mode, entered when the arming command is received prior to completion of entry into the armed mode,

wherein, in the arming-in-progress mode, when the platform detects an inability to complete an arming process to enter the armed mode, an alert is sent,

wherein once the arming is complete, the platform is in the armed mode, and

wherein once the platform is in the suspecting mode, it remains in the suspecting mode until the system is disarmed.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein, when the risk behavior is detected, the system takes a security action.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the security action comprises one of:

sending an alert via a network connection, audio alarm, an alert for the end-user and transitioning the platform to another mode for data protection.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein to arm the system further one of the following schemes may be used:

an automatic arming scheme to require no affirmative end user action, and

a manual arming to include scheme an affirmative user action to trigger the arming of the platform.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the manual arming comprises one of:

a keyboard press, a physical switch or button, a voice command, closing of platform lid, providing a biometric and an arming connection with linked device.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the automatic arming comprises having a policy, which indicates arming of the platform, the policy comprising one or more of:

a location-based policy, a time-based policy, absence of a linked device, absence of a biometric and absence or presence of an identified network connection.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the unarmed mode is reached from the armed mode and suspecting mode after receiving a disarming command.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the disarming command comprises an indication of authorized user presence.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein once the platform is in the suspecting mode, it remains in the suspecting mode until the system is disarmed.

10. A system, comprising:

a processor powered in a plurality of modes; and

a memory to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, enable the processor to arm the system using a semi-automatic arming scheme,

wherein, the semi-automatic arming scheme to include a first manual step that readies the platform for arming, and a second automatic step which requires no affirmative end user action;

wherein, whenever a power supply is available, the processor further to execute instructions to control movement of a platform among;

an unarmed mode, in which the system is to not protect the platform;

an armed mode, in which the platform is to be protected by encrypting data of the platform, the armed mode reached from the unarmed mode, after an arming command performed by the processor;

a suspecting mode, in which the processor has executed instructions to indicate a theft suspicion, the suspecting mode reached from the armed mode, when the processor determines a risk behavior, wherein the risk behavior comprises disconnection of external power to the platform; and

an arming-in-progress mode, entered when the arming command is received prior to completion of entry into the armed mode,

wherein, in the arming-in-progress mode, when the platform detects an inability to complete an arming process to enter the armed mode, an alert is sent,

wherein once the arming is complete, the platform is in the armed mode, and

wherein once the platform is in the suspecting mode, it remains in the suspecting mode until the system is disarmed.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a power source, the power source powering the processor regardless of a power state of the platform.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the power source further powers the processor to execute instructions to provide a risk behavior logic to detect a potential problem.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the risk behavior logic comprises multiple sensors, including:

a sensor to sense motion, a power monitor, a network connection, a paired device detection, and a location sensor.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the power source further powers the processor to execute instructions to provide a disarming logic to detect a disarming command, indicating a presence of an authorized user.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the disarming logic comprises multiple disarming types, including:

a network connection detection, a paired device detection, a biometric, a keyboard entry, and a physical switch or button.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

the processor to execute instructions to provide a security action when the processor determines the theft suspicion, the processor powered by a power source when the processor determines the theft suspicion.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the security action utilizes one of:

a network connection and messaging system, an audio output, and a power transition logic to transition a power state of the platform.

18. A platform comprising:

a processor; and

a memory to store instructions that, when performed by the processor, enable the processor to;

arm the platform using a semi-automatic arming scheme, wherein,

the semi-automatic arming scheme to include a first manual step that readies the platform for arming, and a second automatic step which requires no affirmative end user action;

receive data from one or more interfaces, including a motion sensor, a GPS receiver, and a Bluetooth sensor, to detect an action triggering a suspicion of theft of the platform, and transition the platform into a suspecting mode;

perform one or more security actions in response to being in the suspecting mode, the one or more security actions designed to protect data on the platform, and prevent theft of the platform; and

control the movement of the platform, based on the availability of power, among;

an unarmed mode, in which the system is to not protect the platform;

an armed mode, in which the platform is to be protected by encrypting data of the platform, the armed mode reached from the unarmed mode, after an arming command;

a suspecting mode, in which the platform is suspecting theft, the suspecting mode reached from the armed mode when a risk behavior is detected, wherein the risk behavior comprises disconnection of external power to the platform; and

an arming-in-progress mode, entered when the arming command is received prior to completion of entry into the armed mode,

wherein, in the arming-in-progress mode, when the platform detects an inability to complete an arming process to enter the armed mode, an alert is sent,

wherein once the arming is complete, the platform is in the armed mode, and

wherein once the platform is in the suspecting mode, it remains in the suspecting mode until the system is disarmed.

19. The platform of claim 18, further comprising a dedicated connection between the processor and the one or more interfaces, such that another entity cannot access the dedicated connection.

20. The platform of claim 18, wherein the processor is a secure controller that cannot be updated by a malicious user or malicious software.