1. A system to maintain data stored on a portable computer secure, the system comprising:
an authorization client for use on the portable computer for making requests;
a security device to be associated with an authorized user of the portable computer and including an authorization server for supplying responses to the requests;
a communication subsystem for wirelessly communicating the requests and the responses to the server and the client, respectively, within a range; and
a cryptographic subsystem for use on the portable computer for encrypting the data to obtain corresponding encrypted data when the security device is outside the range of the communication subsystem and for decrypting the encrypted data when the security device is back within the range;
wherein the requests include cryptographic requests for cryptographic information and wherein the server supplies the cryptographic information in response to the cryptographic requests and wherein the cryptographic subsystem utilizes the cryptographic information to either encrypt or decrypt the data.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the requests include polling requests.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cryptographic information includes keys.
4. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the keys are encrypted.
5. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the keys include user and group keys.
6. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a mechanism for establishing a binding between the portable computer and the security device to ensure that the security device only responds to a portable computer with a valid binding.
7. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the security device is an authorization token.
8. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the computer has a low speed memory and high speed memory and wherein the data stored in the high speed memory is not encrypted and the data stored in the low speed memory is encrypted.
9. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cryptographic subsystem includes encrypted keys and wherein the cryptographic information includes keys for decrypting the encrypted keys.
10. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the requests including the polling requests are encrypted.
11. A method to maintain data stored on a portable computer secure, the method comprising:
providing an authorization client for use on the portable computer for making requests;
providing a security device to be associated with an authorized user of the portable computer and including an authorization server for supplying responses to the requests;
wirelessly communicating the requests and the responses to the server and the client, respectively, within a range;
encrypting the data to obtain corresponding encrypted data when the security device is outside the range; and
decrypting the encrypted data when the security device is back within the range;
wherein the requests include cryptographic requests for cryptographic information and wherein the server supplies the cryptographic information in response to the cryptographic requests and wherein the cryptographic information is used to either encrypt or decrypt the data.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11 further comprising establishing a binding between the portable computer and the security device to ensure that the security device only responds to a portable computer with a valid binding.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An actuating device for a lock mechanism (13) of an object which can be immobilized in a closed position by the lock mechanism and which can be moved when it is in the released state, particularly a window glass (1) or door, comprising:
a device for transmitting and receiving signals capable of being transmitted without contact and constituting a communication, said device comprising at least first and second transmission andor reception elements (5, 6) arranged separately from one another, the first element or control element (5) being intended to communicate the actuation command with a view to releasing the lock mechanism,
an actuating member (11) which can be slaved at least indirectly to the transmission and reception device according to the communication carried out between said elements (5, 6) so as to bring the lock mechanism into a release position,
at least one switching device (9) for connecting said communication,
at least one other switching device (4, 4) associated with said control element (5) and which connects said control element (5) in such a way that it is not able to make said communication unless the other switching device is in the activated state, said control element (5) being arranged beside the switching device (4, 4) associated with it, at least indirectly on, against or in the object which can be immobilized and, in its closed position, in close proximity to the second element (6) of the transmission and reception device.
2. The actuating device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the control element (5) is a passive transponder with no external power supply which can be connected by means of said switching device (4, 4) so as to be able to respond to an interrogation dialog transmitted from the second element (6) of the transmission and reception device connected by the switching device (9).
3. The actuating device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the control element is a transmitter with a local power supply which may be connected using said switching device (4, 4) to transmit a signal to the second element (6) of the transmission and reception device which is able to receive or to transform this signal by connecting it via the switching device (9).
4. The actuating device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, provided on the two sides of the object capable of being moved is a switching device associated with the control element (5), the switching devices being functionally connected to one another in parallel.
5. The actuating device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lock mechanism (13) is associated with a vehicle tailgate glass which needs to be opened from the outside independently of a bodywork hatch.
6. The actuating device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one switching device (4) associated with the control element (5) is a switch able to be actuated by mechanical means, and in particular, a microswitch.
7. The actuating device as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one switching device (4) associated with the control element (5) is a contactless switching element, particularly a switching element that operates by capacitance.
8. The actuating device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lock mechanism (13) is arranged in a vehicle and the switching device (9) associated with the second element (6) of the transmission and reception device is a switching device present in the vehicle, particularly an ignition switch andor a central locking mechanism.
9. The actuating device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switching devices (4, 9) can be activated to initiate the contactless communication upon the approaching of an object.
10. The actuating device as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the switching devices (4, 9) can be activated to initiate the contactless interrogation dialog, by the approaching of an object.
11. A moving window glass, particularly a vehicle window glass, provided with a lock mechanism (13) and with a switch (4) itself arranged at least indirectly on the window glass and able to be moved with it, for placing the lock mechanism in a release position which allows the window glass to be opened, a control element (5) of a switchable transmission and reception device without external power supply wires being secured to the window glass and, in its activated state, transmitting a command signal to a second element (6) of the transmission and reception device arranged in a fixed position with respect to the closed window glass.
12. The window glass as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the switch (4) is provided on a screen wiper fixed to the window glass.
13. The window glass as claimed in claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the control element (5) is arranged inside a window glass produced as a composite or laminated window glass.