Security system

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, a method and an apparatus are provided wherein a device is disabled if the device is located more then a predetermined distance away from the owner. Accordingly, a lost or stolen device is rendered unusable. The device has coupled thereto a receiver or transceiver. A transmitter or transceiver is located separately from the device. When the receiver and transmitter can communicate, the device is usable, when the receiver and transmitter cannot communicate, the receiver disables the device, rendering the device unusable.

1 . A security device for an electronic apparatus comprising: 
 a primary transceiver coupled to the electronic apparatus; and    a secondary transceiver wherein said primary transceiver has a transmit range defining an area within which said primary transceiver can communicate with said secondary transceiver and wherein said primary transceiver of said financial transaction card attempts to communicate with said secondary transceiver by said primary transceiver sending a first communication to said secondary transceiver which is received by said secondary receiver and wherein said secondary transceiver responds to said first communication by sending a first response to said first communication to said primary transceiver and wherein upon said primary transceiver receiving said response, said primary transceiver enables at least one function of the electronic apparatus and wherein when said primary transceiver of said financial transaction card cannot communicate with said secondary transceiver because said secondary transceiver is outside of said transmit range of said primary transceiver said electronic apparatus has at least one function disabled.    
   
   
       2 . The security device of  claim 1  wherein said electronic apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a cellular telephone, a Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) and a laptop computer.  
   
   
       3 . The security device of  claim 1  wherein said function is selected from the group consisting of enabling the electronic device to power up, enabling the electronic device to place a call, enabling the electronic device to connect to a network, and enabling the electronic device to access stored information.  
   
   
       4 . The security device of  claim 1  wherein said primary transceiver comprises an active transceiver.  
   
   
       5 . The security device of  claim 1  wherein said primary transceiver comprises a passive transceiver.  
   
   
       6 . The security device of  claim 1  wherein said secondary transceiver comprises an active transceiver.  
   
   
       7 . The security device of  claim 1  wherein said secondary transceiver comprises a passive transceiver.  
   
   
       8 . The security device of  claim 1  wherein said first communication comprises a ping.  
   
   
       9 . The security device of  claim 8  wherein said response to first communication comprises a response to said ping.  
   
   
       10 . A security method for an electronic apparatus comprising: 
 providing a primary transceiver coupled to the electronic apparatus; and    providing a secondary transceiver wherein said primary transceiver has a transmit range defining an area within which said primary transceiver can communicate with said secondary transceiver and wherein said primary transceiver of said electronic apparatus attempts to communicate with said secondary transceiver by said primary transceiver sending a first communication to said secondary transceiver which is received by said secondary receiver and wherein said secondary transceiver responds to said first communication by sending a first response to said first communication to said primary transceiver and wherein upon said primary transceiver receiving said response, said primary transceiver enables said electronic apparatus to function and wherein when said primary transceiver of said of said electronic apparatus cannot communicate with said secondary transceiver because said secondary transceiver is outside of said transmit range of said primary transceiver said electronic apparatus is disabled from performing a function.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said electronic apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a cellular telephone, a Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) and a laptop computer.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  said function is selected from the group consisting of enabling the electronic device to power up, enabling the electronic device to place a call, enabling the electronic device to connect to a network, enabling the electronic device to access stored information.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said primary transceiver comprises an active transceiver.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said primary transceiver comprises a passive transceiver.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said secondary transceiver comprises an active transceiver.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said secondary transceiver comprises a passive transceiver.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said first communication comprises a ping.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said response to first communication comprises a response to said ping.