Patent ID: 6456958
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: G06F,G07C

Abstract:
A method for allowing a user access to one of a first and a second electronic devices having improved security to prevent information theft, said method comprising the steps of;emitting a radio frequency (RF) signal and an audio signal (24) simultaneously from the second electronic device (14), detecting the RF signal (20) with the first electronic device (12), detecting the audio signal (24) with the first electronic device (12), and measuring a time interval (28) between the detection of the RF signal (20) and detection of the audio signal (24) by the second electronic device (14), comparing the measured time interval (28) to a predetermined time range (38), enabling one of the first and the second electronic devices in response to the time interval (28) being within the predetermined time range (38) such that access to the enabled electronic device is provided to the user (52) in the proximity of the electronic device, and disabling one of the first and the second electronic devices in response to the time interval (28) being outside the predetermined time range (38) such that access to the disabled electronic device is denied when the user (52) is not in the proximity of the electronic device.