Access to applications of an electronic processing device solely based on geographic location
First Claim
1. An electronic processing device, comprising:
- (a) a user interface to interact with a user;
(b) location detection electronics;
(c) processing electronics connected to the user interface and the location detection electronics;
(d) memory to store a plurality of functions/applications associated with a plurality of geographic regions, the memory connected to the processing electronics;
(e) a gatekeeper to allow access to at least one application/function only when the electronic processing device is within an associated one of the plurality of geographic locations based solely on the associated geographic location.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Applications/functions within an electronic processing device having a GPS card and antenna, such as a laptop or personal digital assistant, can be enabled only when in a specified geographic location. For each critical application/function, its accessibility is programmed to be enabled/disabled only in specified geographic regions. No additional passwords are required: access or abortion of an running program are automatic. The geographic regions can be input into the electronic processing device using GPS processing or using a graphical user interface on a map. Other methods of determining the boundaries of the appropriate geographic regions for each applications/functions are disclosed. An application/function will not be opened if the electronic device is not within the geographic region associated with the application/function. When an existing application/function is running and the user changes geographic regions, an abort message is automatically generated for those applications/functions that should not be active in the new geographic regions. A GPS card and antenna within the electronic processing device receive and process the device'"'"'s current location.
146 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An electronic processing device, comprising:
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(a) a user interface to interact with a user;
(b) location detection electronics;
(c) processing electronics connected to the user interface and the location detection electronics;
(d) memory to store a plurality of functions/applications associated with a plurality of geographic regions, the memory connected to the processing electronics;
(e) a gatekeeper to allow access to at least one application/function only when the electronic processing device is within an associated one of the plurality of geographic locations based solely on the associated geographic location.
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2. A method to access an application/function in an electronic processing device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) invoking a user interface of the electronic processing device;
(b) entering a description of a first geographic location;
(c) associating at least one application/function of the electronic processing device with the first geographic region;
(d) enabling a user to access the at least one application/function of the electronic device only when the electronic device is in the first geographic region based solely on whether the electronic processing device is within the geographic region associated with the at least one application/function. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method to restrict access to an application/function of an electronic processing device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) invoking a user interface of the electronic processing device;
(b) determining the present location of the electronic processing device;
(c) invoking an application/function of the electronic processing device;
(d) restricting access to the application/function of the electronic processing device solely because the electronic processing device is not within a geographic region associated with the application/function; and
(e) sending a message to abort the application/function whenever the electronic processing device is moved out of the associated geographic region. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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12. A method to protect an electronic processing device from unauthorized use, comprising the steps of:
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(a) invoking a user interface of the electronic processing device;
(b) entering a description of at least one geographic location by a method selected from the group of methods consisting of;
obtaining the GPS location from GPS processing electronics within the electronic processing device and creating boundaries by extending a selected distance from the GPS location, delineating the boundaries of the first geographic region using a graphical user interface on a map containing the first geographic region, entering the longitude and latitude of the boundaries of the geographic region, and entering a street address associated with a geographic region;
(c) invoking at least one application/function stored on the electronic processing device;
(d) associating each of the at least one application/function with one of the at least one geographic region;
(e) determining the present location of the electronic processing device using GPS signals processed by GPS processing electronics within the electronic processing device;
(f) assigning priority to the at least one geographic region;
(g) allowing the user to use the at least one application/function in the at least one geographic region solely because the at least one geographic region is the geographic region associated with the at least one application/function;
(h) indicating that the electronic processing device has moved out of the associated geographic region; and
(i) notifying a user that the application/function should be aborted.
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13. An article of manufacture, comprising a data storage medium tangibly embodying a program of machine readable instructions executable by an electronic processing apparatus to perform method steps for operating the electronic processing apparatus, said method steps comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing a plurality of descriptions of geographic regions;
(b) storing a plurality of applications/functions, each associated with one or more of the descriptions of geographic regions;
(c) assigning a priority to each of the plurality of descriptions of geographic regions;
(d) determining the present location of the electronic processing device; and
(e) allowing a user to use an application/function of the electronic processing device in the present location solely because the present location is within the description of the geographic region associated with the application/function.
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14. A secure electronic processing device, comprising:
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(a) means to store a plurality of descriptions of geographic locations in which said secure electronic processing device may be used;
(b) means to store a plurality of geographic-specific applications/functions, each of said geographic-specific applications/functions associated with at least one of said geographic locations;
(c) means to determine the present location of said electronic processing device;
(d) means to determine that said present location is one of said geographic locations;
(e) means to invoke a geographic-specific application/function;
(f) means to allow access to the invoked geographic-specific application/function solely because the present location is one of said geographic locations associated with the invoked application/function.
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Specification