Source: http://www.freshpatents.com/Client-computer-remote-control-system-and-remote-control-method-dt20080214ptan20080040786.php
Timestamp: 2013-05-25 23:45:30
Document Index: 771877028

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 101', 'art 102', 'art 101', 'art 102', 'art\n101', 'art 101', 'art 101', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 105', 'art 101', 'art 102', 'art 104', 'art 105', 'art 106', 'art 104', 'art 102', 'art 104', 'art 105', 'art 102', 'art 105', 'art 105', 'art 106', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art\n106', 'art 102', 'art 101', 'art 102', 'art 104', 'art 102', 'art 105', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 104', 'art 104', 'art 102', 'art\n101', 'art 104', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 106', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 105', 'art 102', 'art 104', 'art 104', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 104', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 106', 'art\n102', 'art 104', 'art\n102', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 104', 'art 102', 'art 101']

Client Computer, Remote Control System, And Remote Control Method 8 views for this patent on FreshPatents.comupdated 05/24/13
Patents sorted by company.	Monitor | RSS | Browse: Prev - Next Client computer, remote control system, and remote control method Abstract: A client computer that is connectable to a host computer by a network, includes a communication part to communicate with the host computer; a user input part; a system part to perform a function depending on an application; and a controller to control the system part to be put into a locking state to stop performing operations input by a user from the user input part if a locking signal is received from the host computer through the communication part, and to control the communication part to unlock the locking state if an unlocking signal is received from the host computer through the communication part. ...
Agent: Stein, Mcewen & Bui, LLP - Washington, DC, USInventor: Jeom-jin CHANGUSPTO Applicaton #: #20080040786 - Class: 726 10 (USPTO) - The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080040786, Client computer, remote control system, and remote control method.
2006-76878 filed on Aug. 14, 2006 in the Korean Intellectual Property
[0003]Aspects of the present invention relates to a client computer, a
remote control system, and a remote control method, and more
particularly, to a client computer, which can be controlled by being
connected to a host computer through a network, and systems and methods
[0005]Generally, a network, a plurality of computers and other apparatuses
physically connected to each other so that equipment and information can
be shared, is classified into a LAN (Local Area Network), a MAN
(Metropolitan Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), etc., according
to the distance between the devices on the network. Further, the network
is classified into a TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
Protocol) network, a SNA (System Network Architecture) network, etc.,
according to a data-transmitting format. Networks are generally located
in various computer rooms in companies, public agencies, educational
institutes, and other organizations. The network may be connectable to
other networks and may include related sub-networks.
[0006]As computing environments have changed from a centralized
(mainframe) environment to a client-server environment, the number of
local servers and communication equipment has increased. The local
servers and communication equipment needs to be monitored for various
reasons, such as errors occurring in software and hardware. Since there
are more local servers and communication equipment, monitoring and
controlling the local servers and the communication equipment becomes
more complicated. Accordingly, remote control systems have been developed
and used to efficiently monitor and control a client computer system that
is physically separated from a corresponding local server but is
connected to the local sever by the network.
[0007]A conventional remote control system connects a control system,
which can be a host computer or a server, to a plurality of client
computers through a network to perform functions like power cycle
management, system asset management, system management, update
management, bug recovery management, etc., by using an ASF (Alert
Standard Format) technology, an Intel.RTM.AMT (Active Management
Technology).TM., or other technologies.
[0008]The control system and the client system are authenticated by using
a password stored in a LAN controller or the client system. Accordingly,
if (for example) the password stored in the LAN controller or the client
system is illegally hacked or disclosed, the client system can be
accessed and abused from anywhere.
[0009]Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a
client computer connected to a corresponding host computer by a network,
which can prevent a corresponding client system from being abused by a
hacked or disclosed password by limiting operation of the client system
as necessary, to thereby prevent precious information and data from being
[0010]It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a remote
control system having the host computer and the client computer that are
connected to each other by the network.
[0011]Further, it is another aspect of the present invention to provide a
remote control method for the remote control system.
[0012]Accordingly, an unauthorized user and an authorized user,
respectively can be prevented from accessing or be permitted to access to
the client computer by transmitting a locking signal, an unlocking
signal, and a password generated in the host computer to the client
[0013]Additional aspects and/or advantages of the present invention will
[0014]The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention may be
achieved by providing a client computer that is connectable to a host
computer by a network, comprising: a communication part to communicate
with the host computer; a system part to perform operations depending on
an application; and a controller to put the system part into a locking
state if a locking signal is received from the host computer through the
communication part, and to control the communication part to end the
locking state if an unlocking signal is received from the host computer
through the communication part; wherein the system does not perform
operations in response to user input while the system part is in the
[0015]According to another aspect of the present invention, the client
computer further comprises a storing part to store passwords received by
the client computer; wherein the controller checks whether the locking
signal comprises a first password if the locking signal is received, and
controls the storing part to store the first password if the locking
signal comprises the first password, and checks whether the unlocking
signal comprises a second password if the unlocking signal is received,
compares the second password with the first password if the unlocking
signal comprises the second password, and releases the system part from
the locking state if the second password is identical to the first
[0016]According to another aspect of the present invention, the client
computer further comprises a power supplying part to supply power to the
system part; wherein the controller controls the power supplying part to
stop supplying power to the system part if the locking signal is
[0017]According to another aspect of the present invention, the controller
informs a user that the system part is in the locking state if the user
input is received through the user input part while the system part is in
the locking state.
[0018]According to another aspect of the present invention, the client
computer further comprises a display part; wherein the controller
displays information on the display part corresponding to an informing
signal to inform the user that the system part is put under the locking
state on the display part.
[0019]The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are also
achieved by providing a remote control system, comprising: a client
computer to be put into a locking state if a locking signal is received
from an outside, and to be released from the locking state if an
unlocking signal is received from the outside, and a host computer to
transmit the locking signal and the unlocking signal to the client
computer; wherein the client computer does not perform functions input by
a user while the client computer is in the locking state.
[0020]According to another aspect of the present invention, the host
computer transmits the locking signal comprising a first password and the
unlocking signal comprising a second password to the client computer; and
the client computer checks whether the locking signal comprises the first
password if the locking signal is received and stores the received first
password if the locking signal comprises the first password; and checks
whether the unlocking signal comprises the second password if the
unlocking signal is received, compares the second password with the first
password if the unlocking signal comprises the second password, and ends
[0021]According to another aspect of the present invention, the client
computer stops performing a function corresponding to a power supplying
signal if the power supplying signal is received while the client
computer is in the locking state.
[0022]According to another aspect of the present invention, the client
computer informs a user that the client computer is in the locking state
if a user input is received from the user while the client computer is in
[0023]According to another aspect of the present invention, the client
computer displays information corresponding to an informing signal on a
display part to inform the user that the client computer is in the
[0024]The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are also
achieved by providing a remote control method of a host computer and a
client computer, comprising: receiving a locking signal from the host
computer; putting the client computer into a locking state wherein the
client computer does not perform operations input by a user if the
locking signal is received; checking whether an unlocking signal is
received from the host computer; and ending the locking state of the
client computer if the client computer receives the unlocking signal.
[0025]According to another aspect of the present invention, the remote
control method further comprises generating a first password and
transmitting the locking signal comprising the first password to the
client computer; checking whether the locking signal comprises the first
password and storing the received first password; generating a second
password and transmitting the unlocking signal comprising the second
password to the client computer; checking whether the unlocking signal
comprises the second password and comparing the second password with the
stored first password; and ending the locking state if the second
password is identical to the stored first password.
[0026]According to another aspect of the present invention, the remote
control method further comprises ceasing an operation corresponding to a
power supply signal if the power supply signal is received from the user
while the client computer is put under the locking state.
[0027]According to another aspect of the present invention, the remote
control method further comprises allowing the client computer to inform
the user that the client computer is put under the locking state if a
predetermined user input is received from the user while the client
[0028]Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set
[0029]These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will
[0030]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a remote control system
[0031]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a remote control system
[0032]FIG. 3 is a control flowchart illustrating operations of a client
computer according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0033]FIG. 4 is a control flowchart illustrating operations of a remote
control system according to a first aspect of the present invention; and
[0034]FIG. 5 is a control flowchart illustrating the remote control system
according to a second aspect of the present invention.
[0035]Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of
[0036]As illustrated in FIG. 1, a remote control system according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a plurality of
client computers 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, and 150; and a host computer
200 to be connected to the plurality of client computers 100, 110, 120,
130, 140, and 150 through a LAN. The host computer 200 controls the
plural client computers 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, and 150 by employing an
ASF (Alert Standard Format) technology, an Intel.RTM.AMT(Active
Management Technology).TM., or other control technology. The host
computer 200 may control the plural client computers 100, 110, 120, 130,
140, and 150 by transmitting a power on or off signal, a reset signal, an
asset signal, a locking signal, an unlocking signal, or other signals.
Although reference will hereinafter be made solely to client computer
100, the other client computers 110, 120, 130, 140, and 150 may be
similarly configured and may perform similar operations. Further, other
aspects of the invention may use any type of device, such as a mobile
telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a videogame console, a DVD
or other media player, or a portable entertainment device such as the
Apple.TM. iPod.TM..
[0037]As illustrated in FIG. 2, the client computer 100 according to an
aspect of the present invention includes a communication part 101, a
system part 102, and a controller 103. The controller 103 controls the
communication part 101 and the system part 102. The communication part
101 communicates with the host computer 200. The client computer 100 may
receive various control signals from the host computer 200 through the
communication part 101. The communication part 101 may include a LAN
cable or other cables for a network communication. Other aspects of the
present invention may operate over wireless networks.
[0038]The system part 102 performs general applications of the client
computer 100. Here, the system part 102 is operated according to input
from a user via a user input part 105 (to be described later) or
according to a command of the host computer 200 received through the
communication part 101. For example, the system part 102 may perform a
power on or off operation depending on a power supplying signal, a data
input or output operation depending on the user input or a control
signal, or other operations according to other signals.
[0039]The client computer 100 may also include a storing part 104, the
user input part 105, a display part 106, or other components. The storing
part 104 stores a password as well as the locking signal to stop
operating the system part 102 among control signals received from the
host computer 200. The storing part 104 may include a flash memory or
other types of memory.
[0040]Through the user input part 105, a user may select or input a
command to control the system part 102 to perform predetermined
operations. The user input part 105 may include various input devices
having a plurality of input keys, buttons, etc., such as a keyboard or a
mouse. In a network system in which the host computer 200 and the client
computer 100 are connected to each other, the user input part 105 may
also include an input part of a remote system, such as client computers
110, 120, 130, 140, or 150, to control the client computer 100 remotely.
[0041]The display part 106, according to operations of the controller 103
to be described later, informs a user that the system part 102 is in a
locking state if the client computer 100 receives a user input from the
user while the system part 102 is in the locking state. The display part
106 may include a display to display an informing screen, a speaker to
output an informing sound, and an LED (Light Emitting Diode) provided at
one side of the client computer 100 to generate an informing light.
[0042]The controller 103 controls the system part 102 to operate according
to a control command received from the host computer 200 or according to
a user input. The controller 103 may include a microcomputer, a system
BIOS (Basic Input Output System), or other components. If a control
signal is received through the communication part 101, the controller 103
controls the system part 102 to be operated according to the received
[0043]In an embodiment of the present invention, the controller 103
controls the storing part 104 to store a locking signal to cease or limit
operation of the system part 102 if the locking signal is received from
the host computer 200 when the client computer 100, which is turned off,
is connected to the host computer 200 by a network.
[0044]If a power supplying signal is directly or remotely received from
the user input part 105, the controller 103 controls a BIOS (Basic Input
Output System) to perform a POST (Power On Self Test) to supply power to
the system part 102. The controller 103 may also use other components to
supply power to the system part 102. The controller 103 checks whether
the locking signal is stored in the storing part 104. If the locking
signal is stored in the storing part 104, the controller 103 stops
operating the BIOS and controls a power supplying part (not shown) to
stop supplying power to the system part 102.
[0045]When the locking signal is received through the communication part
101, the controller 103 checks whether the locking signal includes a
locking password. If the locking signal includes the locking password,
the controller 103 controls the storing part 104 to store the received
locking password.
[0046]If an unlocking signal to unlock the system part 102 is received,
the controller 103 checks whether the unlocking signal includes an
unlocking password. Further, if the unlocking signal does include the
unlocking password, the controller 103 checks whether the unlocking
password is identical to the stored locking password. If the unlocking
password is identical to the stored locking password, the controller 103
ends the locking state of the system part 102.
[0047]If the locking signal is received from the host computer 200 when
the system part 102 is operated, the controller 103 shuts down the system
part 102 via a directly or remotely received command. For example, the
controller 103 halts or limits operation of the system part 102 via a
command received when the system part 102 is put into the locking state.
The controller 103 may display an informing screen to inform a user that
the system part 102 is presently into the locking state, and then halts
or limits operation of the system part 102. The controller 103 may have
the display part 106 generate and display a user interface screen, a
speaker to output an informing sound, and an LED (Light Emitting Diode)
provided in the client computer 100 to generate an informing light, to
inform the user that the system part 102 is presently in the locking
state. If the locking signal is received from the host computer 200 when
the system part 102 is operated, the controller 103 may inform the user
that the locking signal is received, and then stop supplying power to the
system part 102.
[0048]An operation of the client computer 100 that is connected to the
host computer 200 by a network according to an embodiment of the present
invention will be described with reference to the accompanying diagrams.
FIG. 3 is a control flowchart illustrating the client computer 100
according to an aspect of the present invention. First, the client
computer 100 directly or remotely receives a user input through the user
input part 105 (S1). The controller 103 of the client computer 100 checks
whether the system part 102 has received a locking signal from the host
computer 200 and, if it has, the locking signal is stored in the storing
part 104 (S3). If the received locking signal is stored in the storing
part 104, the controller 103 puts the system part 102 into the locking
state and stops operation of the system part 102 based on user input
[0049]If an unlocking signal is received while the system part 102 is in
the locking state (S7), the controller 103 checks whether the locking
signal stored in the storing part 104 includes a first password, whether
the unlocking signal includes a second password, and whether the first
password is identical to the second password. If the first password is
identical to the second password, the controller 103 ends the locking
state of the system part 102 (S9), and allows the system part 102 to
operate in response to user input.
[0050]FIG. 4 is a control flowchart illustrating operations of a remote
control system according to a first aspect of the present invention. The
client computer 100, which is turned off, is connected to the host
computer 200 by the network. First, the client computer 100 receives a
power supplying signal to supply power to the system part 102 (S2). Next,
the controller 103 initializes the system part 102 by performing a POST
to supply power to the system part 102 (S4) and checks whether a locking
signal has been received (S6).
[0051]If the controller 103 determines that the locking signal has been
received, the controller 103 stops performing the POST and stops
supplying power to the system part 102 (S8). The controller 103 displays
information on the display part 106 to inform a user that the system part
102 is presently in the locking state.
[0052]If the controller 103 determines that the locking signal has not
been received, the controller 103 checks whether an unlocking signal has
been received (S10). If the unlocking signal is received, the controller
103 checks whether the locking signal stored in the storing part 104
includes a first password, whether the unlocking signal includes a second
password, and whether the stored first password is identical to the
second password. If the stored first password is identical to the second
password, the controller 103 ends the locking state of the system part
102 (S12). In operation S10, if the unlocking signal is not received, the
controller 102 checks whether the system part 102 is in the locking state
(S14). If the system part 102 is not in the locking state, the controller
103 allows the system part 102 to receive power (S16).
[0053]As illustrated in FIG. 5, in a second aspect of the present
invention, if a locking signal is received from the host computer 200
while the client computer is turned on (S11), the controller 103 of the
client computer 100 receives the locking signal, then displays
information to inform a user that the locking signal has been received
(S13). The controller 103 may generate and display a user interface
screen on a display, or output an informing sound to a speaker, to inform
the user that the locking signal has been received. Then, the controller
103 puts the system part 102 into the locking state (S15).
[0054]If the locking signal includes a first password, the controller 103
controls the storing part 104 to store the first password. Further, if an
unlocking signal is received from the host computer 200 (S17), the
controller 103 checks whether the unlocking signal includes a second
password. If the unlocking signal includes the second password, the
controller 103 checks whether the stored first password is identical to
the second password. If the stored first password is identical to the
second password, the controller 103 ends the locking state of the system
part 102 (S19).
[0055]As described above, aspects of the present invention have been
described with respect to the host computer 200 transmitting a locking
signal including a first password and an unlocking signal including a
second password to the client computer. However, the present invention is
not limited thereto. The host computer 200 may transmit a locking signal
and an unlocking signal to the client computer 100 without including any
passwords to control the client computer 100. The various components of
the system may implement any authentication technique to authenticate a
locking signal or an unlocking signal.
[0056]As is apparent from the above description, according to aspects of
the present invention, there is provided a client computer, a remote
control system, and a remote control method, which can prevent a client
system from being abused by a hacked or disclosed password by shutting
down the client system as necessary, to thereby prevent precious
information and data from being leaked. Other aspects of the invention
may use the locking signal to lock the client computer for any reason,
such as the presence of an error in the client computer or to prevent
unauthorized use of the client computer.
[0057]There is also provided a client computer, a remote control system,
and a remote control method, which can allow an unauthorized user or an
authorized user, respectively, to be denied access or to be granted
access to the client computer by transmitting a locking signal, an
unlocking signal, and a password generated in the host computer to the
[0058]Various components of the client computer 100, as shown in FIG. 2,
such as controller 130 or communication part 101, may be integrated into
a single control unit, or alternatively, can be implemented in software
or hardware, such as, for example, a field programmable gate array (FPGA)
and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). As such, it is
intended that the processes described herein to be broadly interpreted as
being equivalently performed by software, hardware, or a combination
thereof. Software modules can be written via a variety of software
languages, including C, C++, or Java. These software modules may include
data and instructions which can also be stored on one or more
machine-readable storage media, such as dynamic or static read-only
memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable and programmable read-only
memories (EEPROMs) and flash memories; magnetic disks such as fixed,
floppy, and removable disks; other magnetic media including tape; and
optical media such as compact discs (CDs) or digital video discs (DVDs).
For example, code segments including instructions stored on floppy disks,
CD or DVD media, a hard disk, or transported through a network interface
card, modem, or other interface device may be loaded into the system and
executed as corresponding software routines or modules. In the loading or
transport process, data signals that are embodied as carrier waves
(transmitted over telephone lines, network lines, wireless links, cables,
and the like) may communicate the code segments, including instructions,
to the network node or element. Such carrier waves may be in the form of
electrical, optical acoustical, electromagnetic, or other types of
[0059]In addition, aspects of the present invention can also be embodied
as computer readable codes on a computer readable recording medium. The
computer readable recording medium may be any data storage device that
can store data which can be thereafter read by a computer system.
Examples of a computer readable recording medium also include read-only
memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy
disks, optical data storage devices, and carrier waves (such as data
transmission through the Internet). The computer readable recording
fashion. Also, functional programs, codes, and code segments for
accomplishing the present invention can be easily construed by
programmers skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.
[0060]Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown
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