IP Library Granted Patent US 8,533,776
Granted Patent B2
US 8,533,776 · App. 09/952,493 · Granted Sep 10, 2013

Method and system for binding a device to a planar

Inventors: Scott T. Elliott (Rolesville, NC); James P. Hoff (Wake Forest, NC); Scott Long (Chapel, NC); James P. Ward (Raleigh, NC)
Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,533,776
App. No.
09/952,493
Granted
Sep 10, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and system for binding a device to a planar is disclosed. According to the preferred embodiment of the method and system of the present invention, a programmable memory chip is provided on the planar and the device is detachably attached to the planar. The method and system further includes using the programmable memory chip to bind the device to the planar. Through the aspects of the present invention, the programmable memory chip transmits a message associated with the planar to the device, which is programmed to receive the message associated with the planar. If the message received by the device is not the message associated with the planar, the device is disabled.

Claims (18)

1. A method for binding a device to a planar comprising:

providing a programmable memory chip on the planar, wherein the providing further includes:

programming the memory chip to transmit a message associated with the planar;

detachably attaching the device to the planar, wherein the detachably attaching further includes providing a connector on the planar for receiving the device, wherein the connector is coupled to the memory chip via a serial interface; and

binding the device to the planar using the memory chip, wherein the binding further includes transmitting the message associated with the planar by the memory chip to the device via the serial interface; and verifying the message by the device, wherein the device is programmed to accept only the message associated with the planar, wherein the bound device can only be used in the planar and no other planar.

2. The method of claim 1 further including:

disabling the device if the message is not associated with the planar.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting further includes:

transmitting the message periodically.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the message associated with the planar is a unique serial number associated with the planar.

5. A system for binding a device to a planar comprising:

a programmable memory chip on the planar, wherein the programmable memory chip is programmed to transmit a message associated with the planar; and

a connector coupled to the memory chip for detachably attaching the device to the planar, wherein the connector is coupled to the memory chip via a serial interface, wherein the memory chip binds the device to the planar and the bound device can only be used in the planar and no other planar, wherein the message associated with the planar by the memory chip is transmitted to the device via the serial interface; and wherein the message is verified by the device, wherein the device is programmed to accept only the message associated with the planar.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the device is programmed to accept only the message associated with the planar.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the connector provides a serial interface between the memory chip and the device.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the memory chip transmits the message associated with the planar to the device via the serial interface.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the device is disabled if the device receives a message not associated with the planar.

10. The system 5 , wherein the message associated with the planar is a unique serial number associated with the planar.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 069870/0670 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 049678/0824 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Dec 4, 2015
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD.
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 037211/0173 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2005
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD.
Reel/Frame 016891/0507 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2001
From: ELLIOTT, SCOTT THOMAS; HOFF, JAMES PATRICK; LONG, CHRISTOPHER SCOTT; WARD, JAMES PETER
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP.
Reel/Frame 012181/0202 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20030056109A1 · Mar 20, 2003