# US 2010/0169965 A1 · Enabling a service to return lost laptops > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0169965 A1 - Document ID: US20100169965A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/317,946 - Filed: 2008-12-30 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-30 - Assignees: Intel Corporation - Inventors: Jasmeet Chhabra; Gyan Prakash - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100169965A1 ## CPC - G06F 21/88: Detecting or preventing theft or loss - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium for providing a unique identifier for a computer system and a message from a service external to the computer system, such as a laptop return service, for display when the computer system is powered on. The computer system is configured to restrict functionality until the service authorizes restoration of full functionality of the computer system. The message includes contact information for the laptop return service and, when the service is contacted, the service sends an instruction to return the computer system to full functionality. Other embodiments are described and claimed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: providing a unique identifier for a computer system and a message from a service external to the computer system for display when the computer system is powered on; and configuring the computer system to restrict functionality of the computer system until the service authorizes restoration of full functionality of the computer system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the unique identifier for the computer system and the message are selectively provided for display only after receiving a communication from the service. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein configuring the computer system to restrict the functionality of the computer system comprises disabling the computer system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein configuring the computer system to restrict the functionality of the computer system comprises restricting the functionality of the computer system in accordance with an instruction from the service. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein restricting the functionality of the computer system in accordance with the instruction from the service comprises disabling access to the unique identifier after an operating system is loaded. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: configuring the computer system to restore the full functionality of the computer system in response to an instruction authorizing the restoration from the service. ### Claim 7 A method comprising: receiving a notification that a computer system is at least one of lost and stolen at a service; obtaining a unique identifier for the computer system; and sending an instruction from the service to the computer system to restrict functionality of the computer system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 further comprising: receiving a second notification, wherein the second notification indicates that the computer system is found; and sending an instruction to the computer system to authorize restoration of full functionality of the computer system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 further comprising: retrieving user contact information associated with the unique identifier; and using the user contact information to contact a user of the computer system. ### Claim 10 A system comprising: a memory; BIOS firmware loaded in the memory to provide a unique identifier for the system and a message from a service external to the system for display when the system is powered on; and a chipset module to configure the system to restrict functionality of the system until the service authorizes restoration of full functionality of the system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the BIOS firmware selectively provides the unique identifier for the system and the message for display only after receiving a communication from the service. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the chipset module is further adapted to restrict the functionality of the system by disabling the system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the chipset module is further adapted to restrict the functionality of the system by restricting the functionality of the system in accordance with an instruction from the service. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein restricting the functionality of the system in accordance with the instruction from the service comprises disabling access to the unique identifier after an operating system is loaded. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the chipset module is further adapted to configure the system to restore the full functionality of the system in response to an instruction authorizing the restoration from the service. ### Claim 16 A computer-readable storage medium comprising: first instructions to provide a unique identifier for a computer system and a message from a service external to the computer system for display when the computer system is powered on; and second instructions to configure the computer system to restrict functionality of the computer system until the service authorizes restoration of full functionality of the computer system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 17) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 wherein the first instructions selectively provide the unique identifier for the computer system and the message for display only after receiving a communication from the service. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 wherein the second instructions are further adapted to restrict the functionality of the computer system by disabling the computer system. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 wherein the second instructions are further adapted to restrict the functionality of the computer system by restricting the functionality of the computer system in accordance with an instruction from the service. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 wherein restricting the functionality of the computer system in accordance with the instruction from the service comprises disabling access to the laptop identification number after an operating system is loaded. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 wherein the second instructions are further adapted to configure the computer system to restore the full functionality of the computer system in response to an instruction authorizing the restoration from the service.