Abstract: A method for controlling access to a computing device includes detecting one or more wireless devices configured as wireless access points. A handshake operation involving the computing device and a key device may then be performed. The method further includes receiving, at the computing device and during a calibration phase, wireless signals transmitted by the key device wherein during the calibration phase the computing device determines an approximate signal strength corresponding to a desired distance between the computing device and the key device. Subsequent to the calibration phase, other wireless signals transmitted by the key device are received at the computing device. The method further includes detecting, based upon a received signal strength of the other wireless signals, that the computing device and the key device are separated by at least the desired distance and, in response, electronically locking or otherwise inhibiting user access to the computing device.

Abstract: A method for controlling access to a computing device which involves detecting, at a key device, one or more wireless devices configured as wireless access points. A handshake operation involving the key device and the computing device is performed wherein the computing device is included among the one or more wireless devices. Wireless signals transmitted by the computing device are received, during a calibration phase, at the key device. During the calibration phase the key device determines an approximate signal strength corresponding to a desired distance between the key device and the computing device. Based upon a received signal strength of other wireless signals transmitted by the computing device, it may be detected that the key device and the computing device are separated by at least the desired distance. If so, the computing device may be electronically locked or user access to it otherwise inhibited.