Geographic location receiver based computer system security

• US 6,457,129 B2
• Filed: 03/31/1998
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: OʼMahony, Barry A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DIEU MINH T
• Application Number:
  US09/052,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20010011352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• Field of Search: 713/200, 713/201, 713/202
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS

Abstract

A method and apparatus using a location receiver for computer security is provided. A system includes a processor and a bus coupled to the processor. The system further includes a location receiver for receiving a current location of the system, and a database including at least one authorized location for the system. The system further includes a comparator for comparing the current location with the authorized location. The system also includes a response unit for responding if the current location does not correspond to the authorized location.

Claims

1. A system coupled to a device, the system comprising:

a location receiver to receive a current location of the system;

a memory to include at least one authorized location for the system;

a comparator to compare the current location with the authorized location; and

a response unit to be programmed by a user of the system with one or more responses, the response unit to perform substantially automatically at least one of the responses if the current location does not correspond to the authorized location.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmed response comprises disabling the device to which the system is coupled if the current location does not correspond to the authorized location.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmed response comprises sending a warning to a user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmed response comprises alerting authorities if the current location does not correspond to the authorized location.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmed response comprises deleting files from the system to prevent access to the files.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmed response comprises, for a device which is a computer system, locking the computer system until the current location corresponds to the authorized location.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a timer to trigger a comparison by the comparator of the current location and the authorized location on a periodic basis.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the location receiver comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface to add and delete authorized locations in the memory.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein access to the user interface is protected by a security mechanism.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the security mechanism is a password system.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the memory is a flash memory card, and wherein the user interface is a flash memory user interface.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the user interface further comprises:

a map display mechanism to display a map; and

a selection mechanism to select an area within the map as an authorized location.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a translation mechanism to translate the area to geographic coordinates for the location receiver.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a default response.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a computer system, and a processor of the computer system is used as the comparator.

17. A method of security for an item including a processor, a memory, and a security mechanism, the method comprising:

allowing a user to program at least one response into the security mechanism;

periodically receiving current location information corresponding to a current geographic coordinates of the item from a location receiving unit;

comparing the current location of the item with one or more authorized locations in the memory; and

performing substantially automatically at least one of the responses if the current location of the item does not correspond to one of the one or more authorized locations.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the programmed response comprises one of the following:

disabling the item, sending a warning to a user, alerting authorities, files, and locking the item.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of preventing the item from being enabled until the current location corresponds to an authorized location.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said authorized location may be a plurality of authorized locations, and comparing the current location comprises comparing each of the plurality of authorized locations with the current location.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a request to change the database of authorized locations;

verifying an authorization to change the database of authorized locations; and

if an authorization is received, enabling a user to add and delete the authorized locations.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein enabling a user to add additional authorized locations comprises:

displaying a map;

prompting the user to select a new authorized location on the map.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising translating the new authorized location into a set of location coordinates.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein displaying a map comprises displaying a plurality of increasingly detailed maps based on the user'"'"'s selections.

25. A computer system including a security mechanism for the computer system, the computer system comprising:

a processor;

a bus;

a memory coupled to the processor and the bus; and

a security mechanism comprising;

the memory to include at least one authorized location for the system;

a location receiver to receive a current location of the system;

the processor to compare the current location with the authorized location; and

a response unit to be programmed by a user of the computer system with one or more responses, the response unit to perform substantially automatically at least one of the responses if the current location does not correspond to the authorized location.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the response unit is further to disable the processor if the current location does not correspond to the authorized location.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the response comprises one of the following:

disabling the computer system, sending a warning to a user, alerting authorities, deleting files from the computer system, limiting access to the computer system, and locking the computer system until the current location corresponds to the authorized location.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein alerting authorities comprises sending an electronic message to a designated authority, when the computer system is coupled to a network.