Automated Control System for Multi-Level Authority to Operate Electronic and Electrical Devices

Abstract

The invention relates to an automated control system for multi-level authority to operate electronic and electrical equipment, said system comprising one or more wireless or wired controlled devices and one or more separate communicator and/or transmitter devices for an operation authorizing code and/or separate user identifiers for communicating the codes to a customer or a device. In the process of granting authorities to operate, the system utilizes, as positional data for a user or a device, the base station information of a mobile phone network and/or at close range a wired or wireless communication link, such as a bluetooth communication link.

1 . An automated control system for multi-level authority to operate electronic and electrical devices, said system comprising one or more wireless or wired controlled devices and one or more separate communicator and/or transmitter devices for an operation authorizing code and/or separate user identifiers for communicating the codes to a customer or the device, wherein the permission to operate electronic or electrical devices or the control or delivery of a code authorizing it proceeds automatically on the basis of the location of an authorized user and/or the device or the predetermined mutual relationship therebetween, such that the security or operating level of the protected device may change according to a location and a service mode,
 such that the geographic data of base stations in a mobile phone network is used as a code and the user and/or the device must be located within the range of a predetermined base station in a mobile phone network and the level of operating authority is determined on the basis of the location of various base stations,   or such that the presence of a user is identified by means of the base station information of a mobile phone network and a short-range wireless communication link, such as bluetooth or Wlan, in such a way that the short-range communication link is activated automatically once the user arrives within the range of a determined base station in a mobile phone network,   or an operating authority code is transmitted from the factory to the user by way of an authorized dealer,   or the accepted operating location of the device is identified at close range by means of a code transmitter operating either over a wired or wireless communication link, the activation of which proceeds as described above or by connecting the device to its normal operating environment, such as a charging unit or a docking station or by way of a home automation, security or surveillance system.   
   
   
       2 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the transmission or communication of an operation permitting or authorizing code is effected by any of the alternatives listed as follows: by means of a charging unit, a service power supply system, a clearance monitoring or a smart home/car control system, and useful options for a security code include childproof locks available for entertainment equipment, mobile phone passwords, base station information, a bluetooth/Wlan communication link or a separate code assigned for this service. 
   
   
       3 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the security code for a protected device is communicated by way of either supply logistic or electrical payment systems in isolation from the actual product. 
   
   
       4 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the security code is not made available to a customer until at a sale transaction. 
   
   
       5 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the seller of a protected device is capable of communicating a security code to his/her customer by a separate business or personal encryption code. 
   
   
       6 . A system as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the right of a protected device seller to communicate a security code to his/her customer is verified by a logistic system authorization of the correct seller according to the shipping address of the product. 
   
   
       7 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the protected device includes at least one or more security codes covering a range of protection levels, which can be delivered to the device automatically with prior known data transfer methods from outside the device by using prior known data transfer interfaces. 
   
   
       8 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the code transmitter is apart from a protected device either as a separate code transmitter or integrated with other protected or unprotected devices. 
   
   
       9 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the location of a code transmitter can change virtually either randomly or specifically or as distributed amongst one or more protected devices. 
   
   
       10 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein one and the same or several different security codes can be used for protecting a plurality of devices, and in that the code(s) can be protected by prior known protection methods. 
   
   
       11 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the security code(s) is (are) transmitted automatically to a protected device either under the control of an operating mode, randomly, at desired intervals and/or by way of a burglar control, clearance monitoring system or some other personal identification method as the presence of an authorized user is detected. 
   
   
       12 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the protected device can operate in a plurality of various restricted operating modes depending on each permitted protection level. 
   
   
       13 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the protected device has a peripheral or data transfer equipment thereof containing a code transmitter, whereby a desired protection level can be established by various operating conditions. 
   
   
       14 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the security codes can be stored in a separate memory unit detachable from the code transmitter. 
   
   
       15 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the use of a security code is prominently displayed in the products with a relevant registered brand.