Motorized horizontal docking station having integrated locking mechanism

• US 9,725,930 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2014
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uinta Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Henge Docks LLC (Uinta Products, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vroom, Matthew Leigh, Maskell, Benjamin Edwards
• Primary Examiner(s): Rashid, Harunur
• Application Number:
  US14/449,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20150186630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/065 using screw-thread elements F16B2/08 - F16B2/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2035/106 Monitoring of overload
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 35/10 Arrangements or devices for absorbing overload or preventing damage by overload for screw mechanisms F16H25/2021
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4282 on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0024 Peripheral component interconnect [PCI]
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18808 with rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2066 Friction

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for preventing unauthorized removal of an electronic device from a docking station including a first plug positioned to slidably interface with a first port of the electronic device, a second plug opposite the first plug and positioned to slidably interface with a second port of the electronic device, a mechanical locking mechanism operable to restrict removal of the first and second plugs from the electronic device, and a software application for communicating with the docking station, the software application including a messaging component for sending messages to, and receiving messages from, the docking station, and an authorization component for authorizing unlocking of the locking mechanism.

Claims

1. A system for preventing unauthorized removal of an electronic device from a docking station, the system comprising:

the docking station, the docking station comprising;

a first plug positioned to slidably interface with a first port of the electronic device;

a second plug opposite the first plug and positioned to slidably interface with a second port of the electronic device;

a mechanical locking mechanism operable to restrict removal of the first and second plugs from the electronic device;

a software application stored in a memory, the software application for communicating with the docking station, the software application comprising;

a messaging component stored in the memory, the messaging component for sending messages to, and receiving messages from, the docking station;

an authorization component stored in the memory, the authorization component for authorizing unlocking of the mechanical locking mechanism of the docking station, the authorization component configured to (1) receive a password;

(2) detect the presence of a nearby wireless device;

or (3) detect a hardware key and, upon successful authorization, set the docking station to an unlocked state; and

an undocking component stored in the memory, the undocking component configured to dismount data storage devices connected to the docking station.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the software application further comprises

a remote management component stored in the memory, the remote management component for receiving an undock command from a remote computer.

3. A system for preventing unauthorized removal of an electronic device from a docking station, the system comprising:

the docking station, the docking station comprising;

a first plug positioned to slidably interface with a first port of the electronic device;

a second plug opposite the first plug and positioned to slidably interface with a second port of the electronic device;

a mechanical locking mechanism operable to restrict removal of the first and second plugs from the electronic device;

a software application stored in a memory, the software application for communicating with the docking station, the software application configured to;

receive an undock message;

determine a lock state of the docking station and, if the docking station is not in a locked state, display a confirmation message on the electronic device and if the dock station is in a locked state, authorize unlocking of the docking station;

dismount a data storage device attached to the electronic device; and

send a message to the docking station, which, upon receipt by the docking station, causes the docking station to remove a first plug of the docking station from a first port of the electronic device by sliding the first plug away from the electronic device.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the undock message is received from the docking station and generated in response to pressing a button on the docking station.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the undock message is received from a remote computer.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the undock message comprises a password.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein the software application stored in the memory for communicating with the docking station is further configured to send an unlock message to the docking station.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the unlock message comprises a password.

9. The system of claim 3 wherein the storage device is connected to the electronic device through the docking station.

10. The system of claim 3 wherein the removing of the first plug is performed by a motor in the docking station.

11. The system of claim 3 wherein the displaying comprises requesting a password.

12. The system of claim 3 wherein the docking station is further configured to, upon receipt of the message, to remove a second plug of the docking station from a second port of the electronic device by sliding the second plug away from the electronic device;

wherein the first port is disposed on a first side of the electronic device; and

wherein the second port is disposed on a second side of the electronic device; and

wherein the first side is on an opposite side of the electronic device as the second side.