Client controlled lock for electronic devices
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsMark St. John, Martin Holladay, Todd Carpenter, James Duffus, Ricardo Lopez-Barquilla
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronic device can be locked and secured by activating a hardware locking mechanism on the device. The locking mechanism is controlled by a locking policy that is defined and implemented from the client side. If the locking mechanism is activated, then the device operates in a limited mode of operation instead of in a normal mode of operation. The locking mechanism can be deactivated, placing the device into the normal mode of operation, when a specified condition is satisfied.
Claims20
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for securing an electronic device, said method comprising:
- activating a locking mechanism on said device according to a locking policy that is defined and implemented from the client side, wherein if said locking mechanism is activated, then said device operates in a limited mode of operation instead of in a normal mode of operation;
- and
- deactivating said locking mechanism and placing said device into said normal mode of operation when a condition is satisfied.
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable components comprising:
- a system for securing an electronic device having said system installed thereon, said system comprising:
- a locking mechanism resident on said device, said locking mechanism implemented based on a locking policy controlled by a client-side authority;
- and
- a locking agent coupled to said locking mechanism and also resident on said device, said locking agent operable for implementing said locking policy;
- wherein said locking mechanism, if activated, places said device in a limited mode of operation that has reduced functionality relative to a normal mode of operation, and wherein said locking mechanism is deactivated when a condition is satisfied.
A computer system comprising:
- a processor;
- memory coupled to said processor;
- and
- a hardware-implemented locking mechanism coupled to said memory and operable for selecting between a locked state and an unlocked state depending on a locking policy that is controlled from the client side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.