Abstract:
A switch box (named a security switch) comprises a housing with a manually and/or automatically activated ON/OFF switch for a phone and/or data line connected through the switch box. A user can disconnect his computer from the Internet to eliminate hacking when the computer is not in use. A simple push/pull lever moves any available type of male/female plug from a connect to a disconnect mode. A multi-wire version is shown. A future advanced electronic filter is shown which automatically replaces confidential data like a social security number with a set of dummy data while browsing on the Internet.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a switch to manually and/or automatically disconnect any type of data line (coaxial, dial up, DSL, fiber optics, ethernet), from a data communications device and/or a computer primarily for security reasons.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    From its infancy to the present, the Internet has exploded into being an integral part of a consumer&#39;s daily life. As usage and access to the Internet increases so will the demand for easier and faster Internet capabilities. Internet services providing access to the Internet through technologies such as CABLE and DSL modems are a clear choice to meet this demand. Unfortunately, these technologies generate a security risk to the user. In order to provide easy access, speedy web browsing and downloading, CABLE and DSL services operate as an “always ON” system. The threat of potential intrusion from outside sources will be high. Sensitive data including social security number, credit card numbers and expiration dates, even bank account data is sitting live and vulnerable and waiting to be tapped by unauthorized outside intruders.  
           [0003]    Therefore, it is the objective of the present invention to provide the capability to protect private/personal data by conveniently connecting to the Internet when in use and to conveniently disconnect from the Internet when not in use.  
           [0004]    The above objectives are met by the mechanism of the present invention which provides a user the convenient, easy, and effective method of connecting and disconnecting from the Internet network. Additionally, this invention provides security to a computer that is on but not being monitored or used. Furthermore, this invention will further provide the capability to browse the Internet without any identifiable trace to the user.  
           [0005]    The basic system disclosed herein physically disconnects a data line from a computer modem. Listed below are other electrical wire switches.  
           [0006]    Horn &#39;786 teaches a mechanical key which turns in a box, wherein the box contains two ends of a cable. Turning the key ON connects the four (or more) conductors. Turning the key OFF disconnects all the conductors. A collar prevents bypassing the lock so that parents can lock out a child from access to the Internet. There is no suggestion of a switch to handle coaxial and other cabling with a simple security type of on/off switch nor a phone line switch without a key.  
           [0007]    Flowers &#39;543 discloses a lock switch on a phone jack. The device has a rotatable lock with a contact arm to disconnect a standard phone line with a key. The purpose is to prevent phone calls on the line while the device is locked. No suggestion exists to provide a coaxial switch nor a phone line switch without a key.  
           [0008]    The present invention offers a simple push/pull lever to disconnect any type of data line from a computer, without a key, to prevent hacking into the computer. A second embodiment provides an electronic filter to sanitize outgoing data for the Internet user who is browsing, so that sensitive data such as a social security number is not needlessly sent all over the world while a user browses.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The main aspect of the present invention is to provide a simple switch which an Internet user can switch ON/OFF with any type of data line connection.  
           [0010]    Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an electrical/mechanical relay version of the switch.  
           [0011]    Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a monitoring system having an electronic filter for outgoing data, thereby sanitizing confidential data while browsing on the Internet. Thus, the user must specifically authorize the release of confidential data such as to perform a purchase.  
           [0012]    The manual connect/disconnect process can be upgraded and replaced with an electrical automatic or manual method. Using developed software application tools and integrating them into the computer (desktop), the user will have the capability to configure the mode of operation for this invention through a “pop up window”. The user will have the capability to easily configure the invention to operate under an “AUTO” or “Manual” mode condition. In “AUTO” mode, connection to the Internet will be automatic as soon as any “key” on the keyboard is pressed. Additionally, the user can program the device to automatically disconnect from the Internet if selected time intervals without network activity has passed (seconds, minutes, hours).  
           [0013]    Other aspects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the security switch showing the wide range of computer communication types the device can handle.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2A (prior art) is a front perspective view of a female phone line or DSL plug.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2B (prior art) is a top perspective view of the male plug for the FIG. 2A plug.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 (prior art) is a front perspective view of a double female plug for the phone line of FIG. 1.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the FIG. 2B plug with a quick release boot.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5A is a front perspective view of an ethernet female plug.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5B is a top perspective view of an ethernet male plug.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6A is a side perspective view of a fiber optic male plug.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6B is a side perspective view of a fiber optic female plug.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment security switch.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of FIG. 7  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 9 is the same view as FIG. 8 with the switch closed.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 10 is a partial cutaway view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 8  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of an alternate embodiment using a relay switch.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 12A (prior art) is a top perspective view of a coaxial cable with a male B &amp; C connector.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 12B (prior art) is a top perspective view of the female B &amp; C type connector for the FIG. 12A connector.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 13 (prior art) is a top perspective view of a coaxial cable female/female bulkhead connector.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of the FIG. 10 switch connected to the female bulkhead coaxial connector.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 15 is the same view as FIG. 14 with the switch in the closed position.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 16 is a top perspective partial cutaway view of the FIG. 14 device.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view of an alternate embodiment having a two data circuit connect/disconnect capability.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIGS. 18 and 19 are a flow chart of the logic behind an alternate embodiment electronic output data monitoring and filtering system.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 20 is a sectional view of an alternate embodiment electro mechanical switch. 
     
    
       [0037]    Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0038]    Referring first to FIG. 1 a computer  1  has a modem  2 . The modem  2  is connected to the security switch  3  via wire  4 . The wire  5  can be any type of data medium connection to be compatible with a plug including a coaxial cable male plug  121 , a regular phone or DSL male plug  201 , a fiber optic male plug  600 , or an ethernet male plug  501 . The female plugs are labeled  122 ,  200 ,  601 ,  500 , and are located in a wall  10 . The Internet provider  65  is connected to the wall mounted plug via an appropriate wire  61 ,  62 ,  63 ,  64 .  
         [0039]    Whatever the connection the user has chosen, the security switch  3  can be adapted to handle the plugs in order to disconnect the modem  2  from the wall plug. Normally only one wall plug connection is chosen by a user. However, multiple connections are possible. The embodiment of FIG. 17 can handle any number of multiple wall plugs.  
         [0040]    Referring next to FIG. 2A a female phone jack  200  is shown. There are usually 6 wires  202  handled within the phone jack  200 . The male phone jack  201  is shown in FIG. 2B. The wire  203  can be a regular phone line or a DSL line.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 3 shows a double female plug  204 . Plug  204  has female cavities  205 ,  206 .  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 4 shows the male plug  201  outfitted with a quick release boot  207 , the combination labeled  2017 . The boot  207  has a pocket  208  which holds down the release tab  209  permanently in the release position.  
         [0043]    Referring next to FIGS. 5A, 5B an ethernet line  502  has a male plug  501  and a female plug  500 . These standard plugs can be substituted in the FIG. 8 and/or FIG. 17 and/or FIG. 20 embodiments.  
         [0044]    Referring next to FIGS. 6A, 6B a fiber optic line  602  has a male plug  600  and a female plug  601 . These standard plugs can be substituted in the FIG. 8 and/or FIGS. 17, 20 embodiments also. Thus, any data medium and plug type can be handled by the present invention switch box.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment, switch box  100 . An enclosure  105  supports a first double female plug  204 A and a second identical double female plug  204 B at opposite ends of the enclosure  105 . FIGS. 8, 9 show a push/pull mechanism  101  connecting and disconnecting the combo plug  2017  from the double female plug  204 A. The phone line  203  is permanently plugged into double female plug  204 B via male plug  201 .  
         [0046]    A rail  70  is permanently mounted inside the enclosure  105 . A shoe  71  slides along the rail  70 . The push/pull switch  101  connects to the shoe  71  via transition member  72 . A plug retainer  73  also is connected to the shoe  71 .  
         [0047]    Using standard plugs and simple parts and not requiring a locking key, a user can reliably disconnect his computer from a data line at will as shown in FIG. 8. He can easily re-connect his data line as shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 shows how simple plastic parts can be screwed and/or glued together to house the standard phone plugs.  
         [0048]    Referring next to FIG. 11 an alternate embodiment  1100  switch box is shown in cross sectional view. The switch box  1100  functions the same as switch box  100 . Here the wire  203  with any number of leads (normally 6) terminates inside a data transfer relay  1102  (nominally a C &amp; K Components, Inc., part number S1010315503Q). The prior art data transfer relay  1102  has 6 or more individual switches which simultaneously connect and disconnect by activation of the slider switch  1103 .  
         [0049]    Referring next to FIG. 12A a standard coaxial cable (RG 6 ) labeled  120  is connected to a standard male coaxial plug  121 . FIG. 12B shows the matching female plug  122 .  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 13 shows a double female bulkhead connector plug  133 .  
         [0051]    Referring next to FIGS. 14, 15,  16  the standard coaxial cable  137 , and standard plugs  133 A,  133 B function the same as like parts from FIGS. 8, 9,  10 . Switch box  1000  functions the same as switch box  100 . The slight hardware change from the FIGS. 8, 9 embodiment is a changed plug retainer  730 . Not shown is an equivalent switch box holding the plugs shown in FIGS. 12A, 12B.  
         [0052]    Referring next to FIG. 17 an alternate embodiment switch box  2000  handles two data lines simultaneously. More than two data lines are easily handled by expanding the plug retainer  7300  and adding double female plugs to the housing  1050 .  
         [0053]    The switch box  2000  uses the same push/pull handle  101  to open/close two data lines, the line  137  and the line  203 .  
         [0054]    Referring next to FIGS. 18, 19 a logic flow chart for an advanced alternate embodiment is shown, wherein the system is labeled  1929 . System  1929  may either replace a switch box or work in conjunction with a switch box.  
         [0055]    System  1929  may exist as a modem logic extension and/or within an I/O card in the computer  1  and/or in software/firmware in the computer  1 , and/or in the security switch  3  of FIG. 1.  
         [0056]    The functionality of system  1929  provides the user the capability to protect their privacy when utilizing the Internet for web browsing and downloading. The intent for this invention is to monitor all incoming data and “filter” out selected outgoing personal data. All outgoing data with personal data will be captured and sanitized. An unauthorized intruder or a service receiving the data will be provided with pre-determined data (called dummy data) with correct format but will be useless for the intruder.  
         [0057]    The numbered logic blocks function as follows:  
         [0058]    1. Power up (start).  
         [0059]    2. Constant I/O network data monitoring.  
         [0060]    3. Connected to Internet? 
         [0061]    3a. Answer NO . . . go to 2  
         [0062]    3b. Answer YES . . . go to 4  
         [0063]    4. Is computer configure to “auto” mode? 
         [0064]    4a. Answer NO . . . go to 21  
         [0065]    4b. Answer YES . . . go to 5  
         [0066]    5. Is there any I/O network data activity? 
         [0067]    5a. Answer NO . . . go to 4  
         [0068]    5b. Answer YES . . . go to 6  
         [0069]    6. Is data incoming? 
         [0070]    6a. Answer NO . . . go to 9  
         [0071]    6b. Answer YES . . . go to 7  
         [0072]    7. Process data accordingly and go to 8.  
         [0073]    8. Run.  
         [0074]    9. Is data outgoing? 
         [0075]    9a. Answer NO . . . go to 5  
         [0076]    9b. Answer YES . . . go to 10  
         [0077]    10. Is there any file(s) with personal data detected? 
         [0078]    10a. Answer NO . . . go to 11  
         [0079]    10b. Answer YES . . . go to 12  
         [0080]    11. Release file(s).  
         [0081]    12. Capture data and go to 13.  
         [0082]    13. Open and read file(s).  
         [0083]    13a. Answer NO . . . go to 16  
         [0084]    13b. Answer YES . . . go to 14  
         [0085]    14. Extract, replace, and install “predetermine” data without changing data packet format. Go to 15.  
         [0086]    15. Release data.  
         [0087]    16. Copy file(s) . . . go to 17.  
         [0088]    17. Open and read file(s).  
         [0089]    17a. Answer NO . . . go to 18  
         [0090]    17b. Answer YES . . . go to 19  
         [0091]    18. Dump original and copied file(s).  
         [0092]    19. Extract, replace and install “predetermine” data without changing data packet format. Go to 20.  
         [0093]    20. Release data.  
         [0094]    21. Is computer configure to “manual” mode? 
         [0095]    21a. Answer NO . . . go to 4  
         [0096]    21b. Answer YES . . . go to 22  
         [0097]    22. Is there any I/O network data activity? 
         [0098]    22a. Answer NO . . . go to 4  
         [0099]    22b. Answer YES . . . go to 23  
         [0100]    23. Is data incoming? 
         [0101]    23a. Answer NO . . . go to 26  
         [0102]    24b. Answer YES go to 24  
         [0103]    24. Process data accordingly and go to 25.  
         [0104]    25. Run.  
         [0105]    26. Is data outgoing? 
         [0106]    26a. Answer NO . . . go to 22  
         [0107]    26b. Answer YES . . . go to 27  
         [0108]    27. Do you want to release personal data? 
         [0109]    27a. Answer NO . . . go to 28  
         [0110]    28b. Answer YES . . . go to 29  
         [0111]    28. Dump data  
         [0112]    29. Run and release data.  
         [0113]    Referring next to FIG. 20 an alternate embodiment security switch  2020  has replaced the manual push/pull switch  101  with an electro mechanical assembly  2021 . Assembly  2021  comprises a linear motor  2022  (or a solenoid and the like), a linkage  2023 , and a motor controller  2024 . The motor controller  2024  may have a manual button  2025  to allow the user to activate the motor controller  2024  with the touch of a button.  
         [0114]    Additionally or in place of the button  2025  a control interface (wire, infra red, radio signal and the like)  2026  connects the computer  1  to the motor controller  2024 .  
         [0115]    The computer may contain a graphical user interface (GUI) to allow the user to configure his choices of how to switch the motor controller  2024  ON/OFF, and/or AUTO/Manual operation. An example could be to type a code word like “disconnect” to turn the switch OFF.  
         [0116]    The GUI could also configure and control the system  1929 &#39;s operational modes.  
         [0117]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.