GB2426615A

GB2426615A - Proximity key

Info

Publication number: GB2426615A
Application number: GB0510603A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Richard Whiteman; Conor O'reilly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-05-25
Filing date: 2005-05-25
Publication date: 2006-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 2025-05-25
Also published as: GB0510603D0; GB2426615B

Abstract

A proximity Key system consisting of two parts (the Key and the Software) prevents electronic equipment being used unless the Key-holder is nearby. The Key is a battery powered electrical device able to communicate via encoded radio waves. The Software configures programmable electrical equipment so that it can communicate with the Key (e.g. via Bluetooth<TM> technology) and estimate distance between the equipment and the Key. Use prevention is achieved by automatic locking of the equipment's central processing unit when a pre-selected distance between the Key and the equipment is exceeded. The equipment is unlocked by the user manually inputting a password or the Key moving back within the pre-selected distance. The Key and equipment (via the Software) can also be configured to emit a visual, audible or vibrating alarm when the pre-selected distance is exceeded.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Proximity Key The invention is an electronic security device. It has been designed to prevent electronic equipment being used unless the key-holder is nearby. Use prevention is achieved by locking the equipment's central processing umt. The invention could be used with equipment such as (but not limited to): computers mobile phones personal digital assistants mobile entertainment devices The invention is made up of two parts - an electronic key (the "Key") and the related software (the "Software"). The invention can be added to a piece of equipment at: the time of production - by the manufacturer any time after production - by the owner of the equipment (if it is programmable) Key The Key is a small battery powered electronic device which can communicate via encoded radio waves. It is able to pair itself with electronic equipment ("Paired Equipment") using a publicly available radio frequency. Pairing enables the Key to

technology). It can be configured with: a distance measurement system or systems an alarm triggering system an alarm or alarms (visual/audible/vibrating) Software The Software is written in a form that can be downloaded by Paired Equipment (e.g. via the internet, a data storage device, mobile phone networks or a computer). It enables the Paired Equipment to communicate with the Key using radio waves and recognise whether radio signals have been transmitted by the Key (e.g. by using Bluetooth technology). The Software allows Paired Equipment to be configured with: a distance measurement system or systems an electronic locking function or functions (the "Locking Function") an alarm triggering system an alarm or alarms (visual/audible/vibrating) The Software allows the user to set: the method by which distance between the Paired Equipment and the Key is calculated the trigger distance for the Locking Function and alarm(s) the operation mode required by the user Distance measurement The invention enables Paired Equipment to estimate the distance between itself and the Key. This can be done by a number of methods including: signal strength the delay in receiving a "response signal" from the Key when a "request signal" has been sent by the Paired Equipment Trigger distance The invention allows the user to program the Paired Equipment with a trigger distance. This is the distance between the Key and the Paired Equipment at which the Locking Function and alarm(s) are activated (if switched on). Security functions The invention configures Paired Equipment with a Locking Function to prevent it being used when the trigger distance is exceeded. The function blocks access to the Paired Equipment's central processing unit. There are a number of systems currently in existence - the one most relevant to this invention is the password protected key-lock system. Both the Key and Paired Equipment can also be configured with alarms. These alert the Key-bolder when the trigger distance has been exceeded. The alarms can be visual, audible or vibrating. Operation modes Mode 1: The Locking Function is activated when the trigger distance is exceeded. The function can only be de-activated by the user manually inputting a password. Mode 2: The same as mode I except that the Locking Function is automatically deactivated if the Key moves back within the trigger distance. Alarm functions: These can be activated in the same way as the Locking Function. The type of alarm signal and its duration can be pre-selected by the user.

Claims

CLAIMS Proximity Key A proximity key system consisting of two parts - the "Key" and the "Software" which prevents electronic equipment being used unless the Key is within a preselected distance from the equipment. A Key (as claimed in Claim 1) which is a battery powered electrical device able to communicate with equipment (programmed with the Software) by emitting and receiving encoded radio waves e.g. by using Bluetooth technology. A Key (as claimed in Claim 2) configured with a distance measuring system or systems. A Key (as claimed in Claim 2) which can be configured with an alarm triggering system. A Key (as claimed in Claim 2) which can be configured with an alarm or alarms (audible/visual/vibrating). A Key (as claimed in Claim 2) which has switches enabling its alarms (as claimed in claim 5) to be turned on or off. Software (as claimed in Claim 1) which can be downloaded by equipment to enable the equipment ("Paired Equipment") to communicate with the Key by sending and receiving encoded radio waves e.g. by using Bluetooth technology. Software (as claimed in Claim 7) which can program Paired Equipment with a distance measurement system or systems. Software (as claimed in Claim 7) which enables Paired Equipment to estimate the distance between itself and the Key via radio communication between itself and the Key. Software (as claimed in Claim 7) which can lock the central processing unit of Paired Equipment (the "Locking Function") e.g. by activating the equipment's password protected key-lock. Software (as claimed in Claim 7) which enables the user, via Paired Equipment, to adjust the distance at which the Locking Function (as claimed in Claim 10) and alarm(s) (as claimed in Claims 5 and 17) are triggered (the "Trigger Distance"). Software (as claimed in Claim 7) which can activate the Locking Function (as claimed in Claim 10) when the Trigger Distance is exceeded. . Software (as claimed in Claim 7) which allows different modes to be selected for the Locking Function (as claimed in Claim 10). Software (as claimed in Claim 7) which programs Paired Equipment with a Locking Function mode that requires manual unlocking (e.g. by entering a password) after the Trigger Distance has been exceeded. Software (as claimed in Claim 7) which programs Paired Equipment with a Locking Function mode that automatically de-activates the Locking Function when the Key moves back within the Trigger Distance. Software (as claimed in Claim 7) which programs Paired Equipment with an alarm triggering system. Software (as claimed in Claim 7) which programs Paired Equipment with an alarm or alarms (audible/visual/vibrating). Software (as claimed in Claim 7) which allows the user to prc-select which (if any) of the Paired Equipment's and Key's alarms are activated when the Trigger Distance is exceeded. Software (as claimed in Claim 7) which allows the user to pre-select how long the alarms (as claimed in Claims 5 and 17) operate for.