JP2005316693A - Information processor and notification method to be executed by information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor capable of notifying a possessor of the fact that his/her belongings have been stolen. <P>SOLUTION: A password is applied to set contents stored in an automatic transmission set contents storage part 28a, the password cannot be changed by a stealer and automatic transmission ON release is set to OFF (step S103 OFF). Then an automatic transmission control part 20a starts automatic transmission to a cellular phone 3 or a fixed telephone 4 (step S104). In order to inform a correct possessor that the stealer steals and uses a computer 1, an audio CODEC 23 generates an identification sound on the basis of a vibration wave generated by a system timer 20b (step S108). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus equipped with a theft countermeasure function.

  In recent years, information processing apparatuses such as notebook personal computers have been reduced in size in order to further improve portability.

  However, an information processing apparatus with improved portability is easily stolen by a third party.

As a theft notification system for mobile communication devices, the mobile phone is equipped with a personal authentication function, and the mobile phone is stolen to the service center and the owner automatically by the theft using the mobile phone. There has been a theft notification system that notifies the effect (see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-199155 (page 5, FIG. 2)

  In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the electronic device to be stolen is a mobile phone, the use of the mobile phone by the theft is notified to the business operator service center that it has been stolen.

  However, if, for example, a notebook personal computer that does not have a telephone function and is not assigned a telephone number is stolen, a legitimate owner cannot know that the personal computer has been stolen.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that can notify an owner that a property has been stolen.

  In order to achieve the above object, in an information processing apparatus according to claim 1, in an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external device via a telephone line, a switch for starting power supply to the system of the information processing device, and the external device The setting means for setting the telephone number assigned to the device, and the sound generated after the power supply is started by operating the switch, and the sound generated by the external device to which the telephone number set by the setting means is assigned Transmission means for transmitting the message over a telephone line.

  In the notification method according to claim 4, in the notification method executed by the information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external device via a telephone line, power supply to the information processing apparatus system is started by operating a switch. The phone number assigned to the external device is set, the power supply is started by operating the switch, the sound is generated, and the phone number set by the setting means is generated to the assigned external device. Sound is transmitted through a telephone line.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to notify the owner of being stolen.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  First, the system configuration of the information processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. This information processing apparatus is realized as, for example, a notebook personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a computer) 1.

  A CPU 10, a memory 13, a graphics controller 15, and an I / O hub 20 are connected to the host hub 11.

  The host hub 11 is a bridge device that connects the system bus 12 of the CPU 10 and the I / O hub 20. The host hub 11 incorporates a memory controller that controls access to the memory 13.

  The CPU 10 is a processor provided for controlling the operation of the computer 1. The CPU 10 executes an operating system (OS) and various application / utility programs that are loaded from the hard disk drive (HDD) 21 that is an external storage device to the memory 13 via the memory bus 14. The CPU 10 also executes a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) stored in the BIOS-ROM 22.

  A graphics controller 15 connected to the host hub 11 via the AGP bus 16 controls an LCD 18 used as a display monitor of the computer 1. The graphics controller 15 has a video memory (VRAM) 17 and displays data drawn in the video memory 17 by the OS / application program on the LCD 18.

  An I / O hub 20 connected to the host hub 11 via a dedicated bus such as a hub interface controls each device on a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus 23 and each device on a low pin count (LPC) bus 22. The I / O hub 20 includes an IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) controller for controlling the HDD 21 that is an external storage device, and a USB controller for controlling the USB 36.

  The HDD 21 is connected to the I / O hub 20 via the serial ATA 21a. The HDD 21 stores an operating system (OS), various applications / utility programs, and data created by the user by using application programs.

  A BT (BlueTooth) module 37 is connected to the I / O hub 20 via the USB 36. The BT module 37 includes an LSI group (for example, an RF unit, a baseband unit, etc.) necessary for performing Bluetooth communication (hereinafter referred to as BT communication). The antenna 38 connected to the BT module 37 transmits radio waves to a partner that performs BT communication, or receives radio waves transmitted from the partner that performs BT communication.

  The audio codec 23 is connected to the I / O hub 20 via an AC (Audio Codec) 97 (22). The audio codec 23 is a kind of codec for sound input / output. The audio codec 23 includes an input / output sound codec, an analog modem data processor, and the like.

  A modem 24 and an AMP 25a are connected to the audio codec 23. The AMP 25a amplifies the sound signal generated by the audio codec 23. The sound signal amplified by the AMP 25a is sent to the speaker 25, and the speaker 25 outputs sound waves in the audible frequency band.

  The modem 24 performs a modulation process from a digital signal to an analog signal, a demodulation process from an analog signal to a digital signal, and the like.

  The analog signal converted from the digital signal by the modem 24 is transmitted to the mobile phone 3, the fixed phone 4 and the like via the telephone line 2 which is an analog line network.

  The mobile phone 3 and the fixed phone 4 are owned by the authorized owner of the computer 1. Each of the mobile phone 3 and the fixed phone 4 includes a display.

  A wireless LAN controller 34 is connected on the PCI bus 23. The wireless LAN controller 34 includes an LSI group (for example, an RF unit, a baseband unit, etc.) necessary for performing wireless LAN communication such as IEEE 802.11g communication. The antenna 35 connected to the wireless LAN controller 34 transmits radio waves to a partner that performs wireless LAN communication or receives radio waves transmitted from a partner that performs wireless LAN communication.

  An embedded controller / keyboard controller IC (EC / KBC) 23 is connected to the LPC bus 22.

  The embedded controller / keyboard controller IC (EC / KBC) 23 is a one-chip microcomputer in which an embedded controller for power management and a keyboard controller for controlling the keyboard (KB) unit 5 are integrated. The EC / KBC 23 has a function of powering on / off the computer 1 in accordance with the operation of the power button by the user. The EC / KBC 23 is connected with a keyboard 29, a PSC (Power Supply Controller) 30, and a main switch 39. An AC power supply 31 and a secondary battery 32 are connected to the PSC 39.

  The keyboard 39 is composed of a group of keys engraved with alphabetic characters, kana, numbers, symbols, and the like. When the user presses these keys, characters assigned to the keys are input to the computer 1.

  The main switch 39 is a switch that is pushed down when power supply to a module group constituting the computer 1 is started. The EC / KBC 23 detects that the main switch 39 has been pressed, and notifies the PSC 30 to supply power to each module from the AC power supply 31 or the secondary battery 32. Next, detailed configurations of the I / O hub 20 and the EC / KBC 28 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the I / O hub and the EC / KBC.

  The EC / KBC 28 is provided with an automatic transmission setting content storage unit 28a. Here, the automatic transmission means that a sound or the like is automatically transmitted to a mobile phone or a fixed phone owned by the owner of the computer 1 when the computer 1 is turned on. The automatic transmission setting content storage unit 28a stores setting content of operations performed by an automatic transmission control unit described later. The setting content stored in the automatic transmission setting content storage unit 28a will be described below.

  (1) Automatic transmission ON / OFF setting: Set whether or not to perform automatic transmission and save the setting contents. By turning on automatic transmission, an automatic transmission control unit, which will be described later, can perform automatic transmission to a transmission destination while power is supplied.

  (2) Automatic transmission ON release setting: Saves the key assignment contents operated to turn off automatic transmission set to ON.

  In order to prevent setting contents stored in the automatic transmission setting content storage unit 28a from being easily changed by a thief, a password is applied to the setting content stored in the automatic transmission setting content storage unit 28a. Yes. Further, since power is supplied to the EC / KBC 28 even when the main power supply of the computer 1 is turned off, the contents stored in the automatic transmission setting content storage unit 28a are always held.

  The I / O hub 20 is provided with an automatic transmission control unit 20a, a system timer 20b, a transmission destination setting unit 20c, and a redial function setting unit 20d.

  The automatic transmission control unit 20a performs automatic transmission control based on the setting content stored in the automatic transmission setting content storage unit 28a.

  The system timer 20b generates a vibration wave under a predetermined condition. The generated vibration wave is transmitted to the audio codec and converted into an analog sound signal.

  The telephone number of the authorized owner of the computer 1 is designated in the destination setting unit 20c. The destination is the mobile phone 3 or the fixed phone 4 described with reference to FIG.

  The redial function setting unit 20d has the functions described below.

(1) During automatic call, if the telephone line 2 is not connected, or it is connected to the telephone line 2, but it is necessary to make a call again because of the status of the destination set in the destination setting unit 20c Function for setting the redial interval time and the function for measuring the elapsed time of the redial interval in a case where the automatic dialing is performed. Next, the anti-theft setting performed by the authorized owner of the computer 1 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating theft countermeasure setting performed by the authorized owner of the computer. The anti-theft setting will be described below according to the flow.

  -Set the automatic call setting to ON (step S10).

  An operation necessary for canceling the automatic transmission ON setting is set (step S11). As this operation, an operation of pressing a predetermined key on the keyboard 29 can be considered. Therefore, a setting for assigning a predetermined key to be pressed when canceling the automatic transmission ON setting is performed. If the authorized owner performs this setting in advance, the automatic transmission function is turned on by performing an operation such as pressing a predetermined key of the keyboard 29 before the authorized owner starts using the computer 1. This can be prevented.

  The telephone number of the mobile phone 3 or the fixed phone 4 owned by the authorized owner of the computer 1 is designated in the destination setting unit 20c (step S12).

  Set the number of calls (redial) of the destination and the redial interval in the redial function setting unit 20d.

  Next, processing executed by the computer 1 when the computer 1 is used by a thief who has stolen the computer 1 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by the computer 1 when the computer 1 is used by a theft.

  The thief turns on the main power supply of the computer 1 (step S101). With the main power-on operation, power is supplied from the AC power supply 31 or the secondary battery 32 to each module (including the I / O hub 20) constituting the computer 1.

  The automatic transmission control unit 20a provided in the I / O hub 20 to which the power is supplied refers to the automatic transmission ON / OFF setting content stored in the automatic transmission setting content storage unit 28a provided in the EC / KBC 28. As described above, since the password is applied to the setting content stored in the automatic transmission setting content storage unit 28a, the theft cannot be changed and the automatic transmission setting is set to ON (step S102 ON).

  The automatic transmission control unit 20a refers to the operation content of a predetermined key necessary for canceling the automatic transmission ON release setting stored in the automatic transmission setting content storage unit 28a. As described above, since the password is applied to the setting content stored in the automatic transmission setting content storage unit 28a, the theft cannot be changed, and the automatic transmission ON release setting is set to OFF. (Step S103 OFF).

  The automatic transmission control unit 20a initializes a counter that counts the number of calls provided in the redial function setting unit 20d. Thereafter, the automatic call control unit 20a refers to the number of calls to the destination, the redial interval, and the destination setting set in the dial function setting unit 20d, and starts the automatic call to the mobile phone 3 or the fixed phone 4 (step S104).

  The automatic transmission control unit 20a detects whether or not a vibration wave is generated by the system timer 20b, and confirms the communication state with the transmission destination based on the detection result (step S105).

  If the theft has not connected the computer 1 to the telephone line 2 (No at Step S105), the process proceeds to a redial process waiting state (Step S107). On the other hand, if the theft has connected the computer 1 to the telephone line 2 (Yes in step S105), if the automatic transmission control unit 20a detects that a vibration wave is generated by the system timer 20b, Is performed (step S106).

  The automatic transmission control unit 20a counts the number of calls to the destination using a counter provided in the redial function setting unit 20d and counts the number of calls to the destination within the preset number of calls to the destination. It is determined whether or not a call state is established.

  If the automatic call control unit 20a determines that a call is made with the callee (Yes in step S106), the process proceeds to identification sound generation processing.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the automatic call control unit 20a is not in a call state with the call destination (No in step S106), the process shifts to a redial process waiting state (step S107).

  The automatic transmission control unit 20a initializes a counter that counts the number of calls provided in the redial function setting unit 20d. Further, the automatic transmission control unit 20a measures the time for redialing to the destination, and when the redialing time is reached, the automatic transmission control unit 20a executes the redial process again.

  In order to notify the authorized owner that the theft has stolen and used the computer 1, the audio codec 23 generates an identification sound based on the vibration wave generated by the system timer 20b (step S108). ). The authorized owner of the computer 1 can recognize that the computer 1 has been stolen by listening to the identification sound generated through the mobile phone 2 or the fixed phone 3.

  Further, the phone number used by the theft can be displayed on the display provided on the mobile phone 2 or the fixed phone 3 to which the authorized owner of the computer 1 sets the phone number, so that the thief can be identified. It becomes.

  In the above-described embodiment, as a method for notifying the authorized owner that the computer 1 has been stolen, the method for automatically calling the mobile phone 2 or the fixed phone 3 via the modem 24 has been described. The authorized owner may be notified that the computer 1 has been stolen using wireless LAN communication.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

The system block diagram explaining the system configuration | structure of information processing apparatus. The figure which shows the detailed structure of I / O hub and EC / KBC. The flowchart explaining the antitheft setting performed by the regular owner of a computer. The flowchart explaining the process performed with the computer 1 in case a computer is used by a thief.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... personal computer, 2 ... telephone line, 3 ... mobile phone, 4 ... landline,

Claims (6)

In an information processing apparatus that can communicate with an external device via a telephone line,
A switch for starting power supply to the system of the information processing apparatus;
Setting means for setting a telephone number assigned to the external device;
After power supply is started by the operation of the switch, a sound is generated, and the generated sound is transmitted to the external device to which the telephone number set by the setting unit is assigned through the telephone line. A transmission means;
An information processing device comprising: Second setting means for setting whether to transmit the sound to the external device by the transmitting means;
Changing means for changing the content set to transmit the sound to the external device by the second setting means to a content not transmitting the sound to the external device;
The transmission means includes
After the power supply is started by the operation of the switch, the content set to transmit the sound to the external device by the changing means is changed so as not to be transmitted to the external device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sound is not generated after the supply is started. The transmission means includes
Means for generating a message after power supply is started by the operation of the switch and transmitting the message to the external device to which the telephone number set by the setting means is assigned via the telephone line; The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: In a notification method executed by an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external device via a telephone line,
By operating the switch, power supply to the information processing system is started.
Set a telephone number assigned to the external device,
After power supply is started by the operation of the switch, a sound is generated, and the generated sound is transmitted to the external device to which the telephone number set by the setting unit is assigned through the telephone line. A notification method characterized by that. Set whether to send the sound to the external device,
After the power supply is started by the operation of the switch, the power supply is started by the operation of the switch by changing the content that is set to transmit the sound to the external device to the content that is not transmitted to the external device. The notification method according to claim 4, wherein the sound is not generated after being performed. And a means for generating a message after power supply is started by operating the switch and transmitting the message to the external device to which the set telephone number is assigned through the telephone line. The notification method according to claim 4.

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