Assuring physical security of a subscriber line device

Abstract

A security system and method for a client device connected to a network by a broadband connection. The security system insures that the client machine has not been moved from its authorized location. A check is made to insure that the machine is located at its assigned location. If this check finds that the client machine is not at its assigned location, the network connection is inhibited or terminated.

1 . An apparatus including: 
 at least one processor operable to determine if a client device is operating from a pre-established physical location by determining the actual physical location of said client device, and comparing said actual physical location of said client device to said pre-established physical location.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said at least one processor is also operable to terminate the operation of said client device if said physical location and said pre-established location are different.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said client device includes a stored encrypted key and said at least one processor is operable to check said key.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said at least one processor is operable to determine the actual physical location of said client device by initiating a telephone call from a telephone line connected to said client device and checking the caller ID of the telephone line that initiated said call.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said apparatus and said client device are connected via a cable modem.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said apparatus and said client device are connected via a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connection.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said apparatus is connected to the Internet.  
   
   
       8 . Apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said at least one processor is operable to determine the actual physical location of said client device using a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit to determine the location of said client device.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for determining if a client device is operating from a pre-established physical location, 
 said apparatus including,    a mechanism for determining the actual physical location of said client device,    a comparison mechanism for comparing actual physical location of said client device to said pre-established physical location.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  including, 
 a mechanism for terminating the operation of said device if said physical location and said pre-established location are different.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said client device includes a stored encrypted key and apparatus includes a mechanism operable to check said key.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  including a mechanism operable to determine the actual physical location of said client device by initiating a telephone call from a telephone line connected to said client device and checking the caller ID of the telephone line that initiated said call.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said apparatus and said client device are connected via a cable modem system.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said apparatus and said client device are connected via a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connection.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 9  wherein said apparatus is connected to the Internet.  
   
   
       16 . A security method including, 
 a security check sequence operable when a client device is initialized,    said security check sequence including,    automatically determining the actual physical location of said client device,    comparing said actual physical location to a pre-established physical location,    termination said initialization of said client device if said physical location and said pre-established locations do not match, and    continuing said initialization of said client device if said physical location and said pre-established locations do match.    whereby said client device is only initialized if said device is at a pre-established physical location.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the actual physical location of said client device is determined by initiating a telephone call to said client device from a telephone line connected to said client device and checking the caller ID of the telephone line that initiated said call.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the actual physical location of said client device is determined by use of a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said client device is connected to a network by uses of a cable modem.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein a notification is automatically given if said actual physical location and said pre-established located do not match.