Method and apparatus for protecting a device connected to a newtwork

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for detecting the removal of a device connected to a network. The present invention generates an alarm on a protected device when an unauthorized user disconnects the device from a network connection. The network connection is monitored and an alarm is generated if the protected device is disconnected from the network connection without proper notification to the theft protection utility. A number of fail-safe features can optionally be employed to ensure that the theft protection aspects of the present invention are not bypassed. For example, the theft protection utility process can employ speaker, volume and/or power control features to ensure that the alarms generated by the present invention, or the theft protection feature itself, cannot be bypassed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for detecting removal of a device connected to a network by a network connection, comprising: 
 monitoring said network connection; and    generating an alarm if said network connection is disconnected.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of preventing a volume of said device from being reduced below a predefined minimum level.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of preventing said device from being turned off.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said monitoring step is automatically activated in a passive manner.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said monitoring step is manually activated by a user.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said generating step can be prevented by entering a password.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said monitoring step further comprises the step of sending a message to a remote device and awaiting a response.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said monitoring step further comprises the step of receiving a message from a remote device.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said monitoring step further comprises the step of receiving a signal from a remote device.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said monitoring step further comprises the step of polling one or more local network ports on said device.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said generating step is performed only if said network connection is disconnected by an unauthorized user.  
     
     
         12 . A method for detecting removal of a device connected to a network by a network connection, comprising: 
 sending a message to a second device connected to said network that will initiate a response; and    generating an alarm if said response is not received within a predefined time interval.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of preventing a volume of said device from being reduced below a predefined minimum level.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of preventing said device from being turned off.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said generating step can be prevented by entering a password.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said generating step is performed only if said network connection is disconnected by an unauthorized user.  
     
     
         17 . A method for detecting removal of a device connected to a network by a network connection, comprising: 
 monitoring a signal received on said network connection from a remote device over said network connection; and    generating an alarm if said signal is no longer received.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of preventing a volume of said device from being reduced below a predefined minimum level.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of preventing said device from being turned off.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said generating step can be prevented by entering a password.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said generating step is performed only if said network connection is disconnected by an unauthorized user.  
     
     
         22 . A system for detecting removal of a device connected to a network by a network connection, comprising: 
 a memory that stores computer-readable code; and    a processor operatively coupled to said memory, said processor configured to implement said computer-readable code, said computer-readable code configured to:    monitor said network connection; and    generate an alarm if said network connection is disconnected.    
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said processor is further configured to prevent a volume of said device from being reduced below a predefined minimum level.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said processor is further configured to prevent said device from being turned off.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said processor is further configured to prevent said alarm by entering a password.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said processor is further configured to send a message to a remote device and await a response.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said processor is further configured to receive a message from a remote device.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said processor is further configured to receive a signal from a remote device.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said processor is further configured to poll one or more local network ports on said device.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said processor is further configured to generate said alarm only if said network connection is disconnected by an unauthorized user.  
     
     
         31 . An article of manufacture for detecting removal of a device connected to a network by a network connection, comprising: 
 a computer readable medium having computer readable code means embodied thereon, said computer readable program code means comprising:    a step to monitor said network connection; and    a step to generate an alarm if said network connection is disconnected.    
     
     
         32 . A system for detecting removal of a device connected to a network by a network connection, comprising: 
 means for monitoring said network connection; and    means for generating an alarm if said network connection is disconnected.