Patent · US Expired

Automatic security locking method and system for wireless-enabled devices

US7257374B1 · kind B1 · utility

82Cited by
15References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 10, 2004
Grant dateAug 14, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 29, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04W48/04
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A security system for wireless devices such as mobile phones includes a wireless signal transmitter, and a signal strength detector and microprocessor associated with the wireless device being safeguarded. The microprocessor disables or locks the wireless device if the measurement by the detector of the strength of the signal transmitted by the wireless transmitter is less than a predetermined value, thereby indicating that there is more than a predetermined separation distance between the protected device and the transmitter, i.e., that, e.g., someone has taken the device. The disabled wireless device stays disabled until the measured signal strength is again greater than the predetermined value. Once this value is reached the device is automatically unlocked or enabled.

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