Patent · US Active

Method for detecting the improper removal of electronic equipment

US8397103B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
1References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 28, 2009
Grant dateMar 12, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 1, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06K7/0069
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for detecting an improper removal of the electronic equipment. In the method, having received a command from a higher-level device, the electronic equipment (card reader) executes processing operations in accordance with the command. The electronic equipment includes a first RAM for saving electronic information including the confidential data, a detection means (such as a switching circuit) for detecting the improper removal of the electronic equipment, a power supply control IC for shutting off a power supply to the RAM in accordance with a signal coming from the detection means, and a second RAM being separate from and independent of the first RAM. Data saved in the RAM is not deleted even if the power supply is shut off by the power supply control IC. Then, the detection means is activated after the confidential data saved in the first RAM is copied to the second RAM.

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