Security locking apparatus and method for portable computer

In a portable computer having a slot disposed to receive the locking element of a locking mechanism, wherein the locking element is movable between lock and unlock modes by operation of a manual user interface, a method comprising the steps of:

• generating a signal confirming that a user engaged in operating said portable computer is authorized to do so;
• running a specified program on said portable computer to generate a release command;
• actuating a device to vary at least one dimension of the entrance to said slot in response to said release command, wherein said actuatable device is movable between first and second positions to adjust a slot adjust component between a hold and a release configurations, respectively, wherein said actuatable device is moved to said second position only for a specified time interval, and is thereafter moved back to said first position, wherein said slot adjust component is positioned proximate to the entrance to said slot and comprises a mechanism responsive to movements of said actuatable device to vary at least one dimension of said slot entrance between hold and release configurations;
• and
• removing said locking element from said slot while said locking element remains in its lock mode.

In a portable computer having a computer readable medium and a slot disposed to receive the locking element of a locking mechanism, wherein the locking element is movable between lock and unlock modes by operation of a manual user interface, a computer program product in said computer readable medium comprising:

• first instructions for generating a signal confirming that a user engaged in operating said portable computer is authorized to do so;
• second instructions for running a specified program on said portable computer to generate a release command;
• and
• third instructions for actuating a device to vary at least one dimension of the entrance to said slot in response to said release command, wherein said actuatable device is movable between first and second positions to adjust a slot adjust component between a hold and a release configurations, respectively, wherein said actuatable device is moved to said second position only for a specified time interval, and is thereafter moved back to said first position, wherein said slot adjust component is positioned proximate to the entrance to said slot and comprises a mechanism responsive to movements of said actuatable device to vary at least one dimension of said slot entrance between hold and release configurations, and
• said variation of said slot dimension enabling said locking element to be removed from said slot while said locking element remains in its lock mode.