Patent · US Expired

Security apparatus and method

US5715174A · kind A · utility

113Cited by
4References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 15, 1994
Grant dateFeb 3, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 15, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04W12/63
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus with an integral security system. The apparatus includes an electronic device for sending signals to a remote station, such as a pre-determined telephone number, at spaced-apart intervals of time. The signals include identifying indicia for the apparatus. The identifying indicia may be a characteristic serial number. The apparatus may include a computer and software for providing the signals to a communication interface on the computer. Preferably the software is programmed on a memory device for the computer at a location not normally accessible to operating software for the computer such as a boot sector of a disk thereof. The system should contact the remote station without visual or audio signals apparent to the user. The remote station is able to determine the identification and location of the computer from the signals received including the identifying indicia and caller I.D. signals provided by a telephone company.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.