Patent Description:
Computing systems may include a lock port into which a cable-lock unit, such as a Kensington-type lock, can be inserted to physically lock the computing systems. The computing systems may include laptops, tablets, mobile phones, etc. The lock port of the computing system may be a physical port to which one end of the cable-lock unit is secured. The other end of the cable-lock unit is attached to a rigid immovable surface such that, when secured to the computing system, the cable-lock unit tethers or locks the computing system to the rigid immovable surface. The cable-lock unit coupled to the computing systems protect or prevent the computing systems from being stolen.

While a physically locked computing system, locked using a cable-lock unit, may not be stolen, an unauthorized user or a user with a mala fide intention may still be able to access the computing system which may compromise the security of the computing system. An unauthorized user may access the computing system for an illicit activity or for accessing or stealing data.

The present subject matter describes computing systems with a lock port for a cable-lock unit, such as, a Kensington-type lock. The lock port may receive the cable-lock unit to lock the computing system at a location. In an example, a computing system of the present subject matter may include a control unit and a receptacle electrically coupled to the control unit. The computing system may also include a lock engagement member and a plug coupled to the lock engagement member. The lock engagement member and the plug of the computing system may translate and form an electrical connection between the plug and the receptacle in response to receiving the cable-lock unit in the lock port, and the control unit of the computing system may determine presence of the cable-lock unit in the lock port in response to formation of the electrical connection between the plug and the receptacle. Further, the control unit of the computing system operates the computing system in a first mode in response determining the presence of the cable-lock unit in the lock port. The first mode is a secure mode. The first mode may be a demo mode, a guest user mode, or such, in which the computing system may work in a restricted environment such that no user can use the computing system for an illicit activity or for accessing or stealing data.

The lock engagement member and the plug will translate and break the electrical connection between the plug and the receptacle in response to removing the cable-lock unit from the lock port, and the control unit may determine absence of the cable-lock unit in the lock port in response to break in the electrical connection between the plug and the receptacle. Further, the control unit will operate the computing system in a second mode in response determining the absence of the cable-lock unit in the lock port. The second mode may be a normal mode in which the computing system may work unrestrictedly for any user to access the computing system. Determining the presence or absence of the cable-lock unit in the lock port of the computing system and operating the computing system in the first mode or the second mode, as described above, depending on the determination of the presence or absence of the cable-lock unit in the lock port, enhances the security and privacy of the computing system and the date therein from an unauthorized user. The computing system can be protected against physical theft, data theft, and unauthorized access simultaneously.

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar parts. While several examples are described in the description, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the disclosed examples. Instead, the proper scope of the disclosed examples may be defined by the appended claims.

<FIG> illustrates a computing system <NUM>, according to an example. The computing system <NUM> may include, but is not restricted to, a laptop, a tablet, a mobile phone, a desktop, a docking station, and a printer. As shown in <FIG>, the computing system <NUM> includes a lock port <NUM>. The lock port <NUM> is to receive a cable-lock unit <NUM> to lock the computing system <NUM> at a location <NUM>, such as a rigid immovable surface. The cable-lock unit <NUM> may be a Kensington-type lock. The cable-lock unit <NUM> has a cable <NUM> and a hook element <NUM>. The cable <NUM> at one end is rigidly affixed to the location <NUM> and at the other end is connected to the hook element <NUM>. The lock port <NUM> is such that the hook element <NUM> of the cable-lock unit <NUM> can be inserted into the lock port <NUM> to secure the computing system <NUM> to the location <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the computing system <NUM> includes a lock engagement member <NUM> and a plug <NUM> coupled to the lock engagement member <NUM>. The lock engagement member <NUM> may be a movable rod-like element. The lock engagement member <NUM> is positioned close to an opening of the lock port <NUM> through which the hook element <NUM> of the cable-lock unit <NUM> is inserted. The hook element <NUM> of the cable-lock unit <NUM> interacts with the lock engagement member <NUM> when the hook element <NUM> is inserted in the lock port <NUM>. The plug <NUM> may be metallic. In an example, the plug <NUM> is a metallic pin. The lock engagement member <NUM> and the plug <NUM>, together, can translate, for example in a direction indicated by arrow A, in response to receiving the cable-lock unit <NUM>, or the hook element <NUM>, in the lock port <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the computing system <NUM> also includes a control unit <NUM> and a receptacle <NUM> electrically coupled to the control unit <NUM>. The receptacle <NUM> may be metallic. In an example, the receptacle <NUM> may include a metallic slot for receiving the plug <NUM>. As described above, the lock engagement member <NUM> and the plug <NUM> translate and form an electrical connection between the plug <NUM> and the receptacle <NUM> in response to receiving the cable-lock unit <NUM> in the lock port <NUM>. The movement of the plug <NUM> in the direction indicated by arrow A causes the plug <NUM> to slide into the receptacle <NUM> to form the electrical connection. <FIG> illustrates the computing system <NUM> of <FIG> with the plug <NUM> slid into the receptacle <NUM>, when the cable-lock unit <NUM> is present in the lock port <NUM>. In response to formation of the electrical connection between the plug <NUM> and the receptacle <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> is to determine presence of the cable-lock unit <NUM> in the lock port <NUM>. In an example, in response determining the presence of the cable-lock unit <NUM> in the lock port <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> may operate the computing system <NUM> is a secure mode, a demo mode, a guest user mode, or such, in which the computing system <NUM> may work in a restricted environment which does not allow the user of the computing system <NUM> access the computing system <NUM> for an illicit activity or access data.

The lock engagement member <NUM> and the plug <NUM> are to translate, in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by arrow A, and break the electrical connection between the plug <NUM> and the receptacle <NUM> in response to removing the cable-lock unit <NUM> from the lock port <NUM>. Accordingly, the control unit <NUM> is to determine absence of the cable-lock unit <NUM> in the lock port <NUM> in response to break in the electrical connection between the plug <NUM> and the receptacle <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the computing system <NUM> of <FIG> with the plug <NUM> out of the receptacle <NUM>, when the cable-lock unit <NUM> is removed from the lock port <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the lock engagement member <NUM> is coupled to a spring member <NUM>. One end of the spring member <NUM> is coupled to the lock engagement member <NUM> and the other end of the spring member <NUM> is coupled to a surface of the lock port <NUM>. Movement of the lock engagement member <NUM> in the direction indicated by arrow A in response to receiving the cable-lock unit <NUM> in the lock port <NUM>, compressed the spring member <NUM>. When the cable-lock unit <NUM> is removed from the lock port <NUM>, the spring member <NUM> decompresses to move the lock engagement member <NUM> in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by arrow A and break in the electrical connection between the plug <NUM> and the receptacle <NUM>.

In an example, the control unit <NUM> may operate the computing system <NUM> in a specific mode depending on whether the cable-lock unit <NUM> is present or absent in the lock port <NUM> of the computing system <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> is to operate the computing system <NUM> in a first mode in response determining the presence of the cable-lock unit <NUM> in the lock port <NUM>, and the control unit <NUM> is to operate the computing system <NUM> in a second mode in response determining the absence of the cable-lock unit <NUM> in the lock port <NUM>. The first mode may be a secure mode, a demo mode, a guest user mode, or such, as described earlier. In an example, the second mode may be a normal mode in which the computing system <NUM> may work unrestrictedly for any user accessing the computing system <NUM>.

Further, in an example, the control unit <NUM> may actively determine the presence or the absence of the cable-lock unit <NUM> in the lock port <NUM> of the computing system <NUM>. For active determination, the control unit <NUM> is to periodically check the electrical connection between the plug <NUM> and the receptacle <NUM> to determine the presence of the cable-lock unit <NUM> in the lock port <NUM> of the computing system <NUM>. In an example, the control unit <NUM> may periodically check the electrical connection between the plug <NUM> and the receptacle <NUM> after some time period. The time period may be <NUM> second (sec), or <NUM> sec, or <NUM> sec, or so on. In an example, the time period may be defined by a user.

Further, in an example, the control unit <NUM> of the computing system <NUM> is to provide a lock signal to a basic input-output system (BIOS) of the computing system <NUM> in response determining the presence of the cable-lock unit <NUM> in the lock port <NUM>, and wherein, in response to receiving the lock signal, the BIOS generates a user password request to boot the computing system <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the computing system <NUM> of <FIG> with a lock signal <NUM> to a BIOS <NUM> of the computing system <NUM>, according to an example. The control unit <NUM> determines the presence of the cable-lock unit <NUM> in the lock port <NUM>, and in response provides the lock signal <NUM> to the BIOS <NUM>. The BIOS <NUM>, in response to receiving the lock signal <NUM> from the control unit <NUM>, generates a user password request to boot the computing system <NUM>. As a result, the user is prompted to enter a user password before the computing system <NUM> can be booted up. The user password request for booting up the computing system <NUM> in response to determining the presence of the cable-lock unit <NUM> in the lock port <NUM> prevent booting up of the computing system <NUM> by an unauthorized user.

The control unit <NUM> may be implemented through a combination of any suitable hardware and computer-readable instructions. The control unit <NUM> may be implemented in a number of different ways to perform various functions for the purposes of determining presence of a cable-lock unit in a lock port of the computing system <NUM> and accordingly operating the computing system <NUM> in a secure manner. For example, the computer-readable instructions for the control unit <NUM> may be processor-executable instructions stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, and the hardware for the control unit <NUM> may include a processing resource to execute such instructions for determining presence of a cable-lock unit in a lock port of the computing system <NUM> and accordingly operating the computing system <NUM> in a secure manner. In some examples, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may store instructions which, when executed by the processing resource, implement the control unit <NUM>. The processing resource may be implemented as microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, state machines, logic circuitries, or any devices that manipulate signals based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the processing resource may fetch and execute computer-readable instructions stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may include, for example, volatile memory (e.g., random-access memory (RAM)), or non-volatile memory (e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM), memristor, etc.). In an example, the control unit <NUM> may be implemented by electronic circuitry.

<FIG> illustrates a computing system <NUM>, according to an example. Similar to the computing system <NUM>, the computing system <NUM> may also include, but is not restricted to, a laptop, a tablet, a mobile phone, a desktop, a docking station, and a printer. As shown, the computing system <NUM> includes a control unit <NUM>, a jumper circuit unit <NUM> coupled to the control unit <NUM>, a receptacle <NUM> electrically coupled to the jumper circuit unit <NUM>, a lock port <NUM> to receive a cable-lock unit (not shown in <FIG>) to lock the computing system <NUM> at a location, a lock engagement member <NUM>, and a plug <NUM> coupled to the lock engagement member <NUM>. The receptacle <NUM>, the lock port <NUM>, the lock engagement member <NUM>, and the plug <NUM>, of the computing system <NUM> may be similar to those of the computing system <NUM>.

In an example, in response to receiving the cable-lock unit in the lock port <NUM>, the lock engagement member <NUM> and the plug <NUM> translate, for example in a direction indicated by arrow B, and establish an electrical connection between the plug <NUM> and the receptacle <NUM>. Further, in response to the electrical connection between the plug <NUM> and the receptacle <NUM>, the jumper circuit unit <NUM> provides a first signal <NUM> to the control unit <NUM>. Further, in response to receiving the first signal <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> determines presence of the cable-lock unit in the lock port <NUM>.

In the computing system <NUM>, the lock engagement member <NUM> and the plug <NUM> are to translate, in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by arrow B, and break the electrical connection between the plug <NUM> and the receptacle <NUM> in response to removing the cable-lock unit from the lock port <NUM>. In response to break of the electrical connection between the plug <NUM> and the receptacle <NUM>, the jumper circuit unit <NUM> is to provide a second signal (not shown in <FIG>) to the control unit <NUM>. In response to receiving the second signal, the control unit <NUM> is to determine absence of the cable-lock unit in the lock port <NUM>.

The computing system <NUM> includes an elastic element (not shown in <FIG>) coupled to the lock engagement member <NUM> to retract the lock engagement member <NUM> and plug <NUM> and break the electrical connection between the plug <NUM> and the receptacle <NUM> when the cable-lock unit is removed from the lock port <NUM> of the computing system <NUM>. The elastic element may be similar to the spring member <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The elastic element is compressed when the cable-lock unit is inserted in the lock port <NUM>. The elastic element is decompressed when the cable-lock unit is removed from the lock port <NUM>.

Further, the control unit <NUM> is to operate the computing system <NUM> in a first mode in response determining the presence of the cable-lock unit in the lock port <NUM>, and the control unit <NUM> is to operate the computing system <NUM> in a second mode in response determining the absence of the cable-lock unit in the lock port <NUM>. As described earlier, the first mode may be a secure mode, a demo mode, a guest user mode, or such, in which the computing system <NUM> may work in a restricted environment that does not allow the user of the computing system <NUM> to access the computing system <NUM> for an illicit activity or for accessing or stealing data, and the second mode may be a normal mode in which the computing system <NUM> may work unrestrictedly for any user accessing the computing system <NUM>.

In an example, the jumper circuit unit <NUM> is to periodically check the electrical connection between the plug <NUM> and the receptacle <NUM>. In an example, the jumper circuit unit <NUM> may periodically check the electrical connection between the plug <NUM> and the receptacle <NUM> after some time period. The time period may be <NUM> second (sec), or <NUM> sec, or <NUM> sec, or so on. In an example, the time period may be defined by a user. In an example, the control unit <NUM> is to provide a lock signal to a BIOS (not shown in <FIG>) of the computing system <NUM>. In response to receiving the lock signal, the BIOS generates a user password request to boot the computing system <NUM>, in a similar manner as described earlier with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates a computing system <NUM>, according to an example. Similar to the computing systems <NUM> and <NUM>, the computing system <NUM> may also include, but is not restricted to, a laptop, a tablet, a mobile phone, a desktop, a docking station, and a printer. As shown in <FIG>, the computing system <NUM> includes a control unit <NUM>, a receptacle <NUM> electrically coupled to the control unit <NUM>, a lock port <NUM> to receive a cable-lock unit (not shown in <FIG>) to lock the computing system <NUM> at a location, a lock engagement member <NUM>, and a plug <NUM> coupled to the lock engagement member <NUM>. The receptacle <NUM>, the lock port <NUM>, the lock engagement member <NUM>, and the plug <NUM>, of the computing system <NUM> may be similar to those of the computing system <NUM> or <NUM>.

In the computing system <NUM>, the lock engagement member <NUM> and the plug <NUM> are to translate, for example in a direction indicated by arrow C, and establish an electrical connection between the plug <NUM> and the receptacle <NUM> in response to receiving the cable-lock unit in the lock port <NUM> to close an electrical circuit <NUM> with the control unit <NUM>. Further, in response to closure of the electrical circuit <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> is to determine presence of the cable-lock unit in the lock port <NUM> and operate the computing system <NUM> in a first mode in response. As described earlier, the first mode may be a secure mode, a demo mode, a guest user mode, or such, in which the computing system <NUM> may work in a restricted environment that does not allow the user of the computing system <NUM> to access the computing system <NUM> for an illicit activity or for accessing or stealing data.

Further, the lock engagement member <NUM> and the plug <NUM> are to translate, in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by arrow C, and break the electrical connection between the plug <NUM> and the receptacle <NUM> in response to removing the cable-lock unit from the lock port <NUM> to open the electrical circuit <NUM> with the control unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> is to determine absence of the cable-lock unit in the lock port <NUM> and operate the computing system <NUM> in a second mode, when the electrical circuit <NUM> is open. As described earlier, the second mode may be a normal mode in which the computing system <NUM> may work unrestrictedly for any user accessing the computing system <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A computing system comprising:
a control unit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
a receptacle (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) electrically coupled to the control unit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
a lock port (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to receive a cable-lock unit (<NUM>) to lock the computing system at a location;
a lock engagement member (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>); and
a plug (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) coupled to the lock engagement member (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), wherein
the lock engagement member (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and the plug (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) are to translate and form an electrical connection between the plug (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and the receptacle (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) in response to receiving the cable-lock unit (<NUM>) in the lock port (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), and
wherein the lock engagement member (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and the plug (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) are to translate and break the electrical connection between the plug (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and the receptacle (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) in response to removing the cable-lock unit (<NUM>) from the lock port (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), and wherein the control unit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is to determine absence of the cable-lock unit (<NUM>) in the lock port (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) in response to break in the electrical connection between the plug (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and the receptacle (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>); and
wherein the control unit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is to:
determine presence of the cable-lock unit (<NUM>) in the lock port (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) in response to formation of the electrical connection between the plug (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and the receptacle (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
operate the computing system in a secure mode in response determining the presence of the cable-lock unit (<NUM>) in the lock port (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>); and
operate the computing system in a second mode in response to determining the absence of the cable-lock unit (<NUM>) in the lock port (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>).