Patent ID: 6763315
Filing Date: 2004-07-13
Classification: G06F,G07C

Abstract:
A method of determining proximity of a user (11) having a first electronic device (12) to a second electronic device (14) for allowing the user (11) access to the second electronic device (14), said method comprising the steps of:partitioning data (44) stored within the second electronic device (14) into a plurality of data blocks (48), (50), (52) for transmittance of the data blocks (48), (50), (52) over wireless connections to the first electronic device (12); spreading the plurality of data blocks (48), (50), (52) over a plurality of radio frequencies (f1, f2, f3) such that each of the data blocks (48), (50), (52) is transmitted at a different of the frequencies (f1, f2, f3) for secure transmission between the first electronic device (12) and the second electronic device (14); transmitting the data blocks (48), (50), (52) in a plurality of signals at the different frequencies (f1, f2, f3) to establish communication between the first electronic device (12) and the second electronic device (14); detecting the plurality of signals at the different frequencies with the first electronic device (12); measuring a signal strength for each of a predetermined number of the detected plurality of signals at the different frequencies (f1, f2, f3); determining an overall signal strength from the predetermined number of measured signal strengths and comparing the overall signal strength to a predetermined threshold; and enabling the second electronic device (14) in response to the overall signal strength being above the predetermined threshold and disabling the second electronic device (14) in response to the overall signal strength being below the predetermined threshold.