Remotely sensed personal stylus

Claim 3

The method of controlling access to a computer as recited in Claim 1, wherein said activating step is initiated in response to said stylus receiving an electromagnetic signal of a predetermined strength from said radiating means.

Claim 4

The method of controlling access to a computer as recited in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said transmitting step is initiated in response to an identification interrogation signal received by said stylus.

Claim 5

The method of controlling access to a computer as recited in Claim 1,2 or 3, which further comprises the step of locating the position of said stylus if access to the computer has been granted.

Claim 6

The method of controlling access to a computer as recited in Claim 1,2,3 or 4, which further comprises the steps of: inputting data to said computer corresponding to the position of said stylus; and associating said security code with the data inputted.

Claim 7

The method of controlling access to a computer as recited in Claim 3,4 or 5, which further comprises the step of periodically interrogating said stylus with an identification interrogation signal to obtain a retransmission of said security code.

Claim 8

A data processing system having at least one workstation equipped with an input system which controls access to said data processing system by validating a security code transmitted by a remotely sensed personal stylus, especially adapted to perform the method as claimed in anyone of the claims 1 - 6 comprising: said input system comprising: radiating means having a control input for radiating electromagnetic signals in an area proximate to said input system; a remotely sensed personal stylus located separate from, but proximate to said workstation, for receiving electromagnetic signals radiated from said radiating means and for transmitting response signals and a security code signal in response thereto, said stylus including a receiving antenna, a means for providing a security code signal and a transmitter; receiving means having an output for receiving transmissions from said remotely sensed personal stylus; a control processor coupled to said control input of said radiating means for executing a sequence of stored program instructions to output control signals, said control processor coupled to said receiving means for sampling said stylus transmissions to determine stylus location and to receive said security code signal; program instructions including a log-on module which validates said unique coded signal to allow access to said data processing system; a central processing unit having a data input coupled to said receiving means which executes a sequence of program instructions in response to data supplied by said stylus transmissions; and, a workstation display device coupled to said central processing unit for displaying the results of said program instructions to the user.

Claim 9

An input system for controlling access to a data processing system by validating an authorized security code transmitted by a remotely sensed personal stylus, especially adapted to perform the method as claimed in anyone of the claims 1 - 6, comprising: radiating means having a control input for radiating electromagnetic signals in an area proximate to said input system; a remotely sensed personal stylus located separate from, but proximate to said workstation for receiving electromagnetic signals radiated from said radiating means and for transmitting response signals and a coded security signal in response thereto, said stylus having a receiving antenna, a means for providing a security code signal and a transmitter; receiving means having an output for receiving transmissions from said remotely sensed personal stylus; and a control processor coupled to said control input of said radiating means for executing a sequence of stored program instructions to output control signals and coupled to said receiving means for sampling said stylus transmissions to determine stylus location and to receive said coded security signal.

Claim 10

A remotely sensed personal stylus for use with an input system having radiating means for radiating electromagnetic signals and receiving means for receiving transmissions from said remotely sensed stylus, especially adapted to perform the method as claimed in anyone of the claims 1 - 6, comprising: an antenna for receiving electromagnetic signals radiated from said radiating means; means for providing a security code signal; a transmitter for sending response signals to said input system in response thereto; whereby access to a data processing system is controlled by said input system by validating said security code.

Claim 11

Data processing system, input system or stylus respectively as recited in Claim 7,8 or 9, wherein said radiating means comprises: an array of horizontal and vertical conductors for radiating electromagnetic signals; a radiative signal source coupled to said conductors, for driving said horizontal and vertical conductors; and, a selection means coupled to said conductors and said source and having a control input, for connecting selected patterns of said horizontal and vertical conductors to said radiative signal source.

Claim 12

The system or stylus as recited in Claim 7,8,9 or 10, where said input system further comprises a signal decoding means coupled to said receiver output for decoding said stylus transmissions, said signal decoding means output coupled to said control processor.

Claim 17

The data processing system as recited in claim 7 or claims 10 - 15 respectively, which further comprises: a plurality of workstations connected to said central processing unit each equipped with an input system which controls access to said data processing system; magnetic storage devices to provide permanent storage for program instructions executable by said central processing unit; and, a storage processor to coordinate the storage of information in said magnetic storage devices.

Claim 18

The data processing system as recited in claim 16 which further comprises optical storage devices to provide permanent storage for said data processing system, wherein said storage processor coordinates the storage of information in said optical devices.

Claim 19

The data processing system as recited in Claim 7, 16 or 17, wherein said log-on module is resident at said input system.

Claim 20

The input system as recited in claim 8 or 10 - 15 respectively, which further comprises program instructions including a log-on module which validates said unique coded signal to allow access to said data processing system.

Claim 21

The remotely sensed personal stylus as recited in Claim 9 or claims 10 - 15 respectively, which further comprises a signal amplifier for increasing the signal strength of electromagnetic signals received from said radiating means.

Claim 22

The remotely sensed personal stylus as recited in Claim 9 or 20, which further comprises a signal modulator for modulating electromagnetic signals received from said radiating means.

Claim 23

The remotely sensed personal stylus as recited in Claim 9, 20 or 21, which further comprises a battery power source and a switch which activates selected components when said electromagnetic signals received by said antenna are greater than a threshold level indicating that said stylus is within operating distance of said input system.