System and method for calibrating a wireless security range

• US 10,223,881 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2016
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Burtness, Kevin A., Phillips, Jonathon D., Johnston, Michael R., Grant, Jeffrey A., Taylor, Gary A., Howell, William B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garcia, Santiago
• Application Number:
  US15/551,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20180047263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 3405682
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/12 by the breaking or disturbance of stretched cords or wires
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1409 for removal detection of electrical appliances by detecting their physical disconnection from an electrical system, e.g. using a switch incorporated in the plug connector
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/149 with electric, magnetic, capacitive switch actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system

Abstract

Security systems and methods for protecting portable electronic devices from theft are provided. For example, a security system includes a sensor configured to be secured to a portable electronic device, and a monitoring component configured to wirelessly communicate with the sensor and to removably support the sensor thereon, wherein the monitoring component and the sensor are configured to communicate with one another to determine a proximity of the portable electronic device relative to the monitoring component, wherein the monitoring component and/or the sensor is configured to initiate a security signal when the proximity between the monitoring component and the sensor is not within a predetermined range. The sensor and the monitoring component are configured to communicate with one another for initially setting the predetermined range.

Claims

1. A security system configured for securing a portable electronic device from theft, the security system comprising:

a sensor configured to be coupled to a portable electronic device; and

a monitoring component configured to wirelessly communicate with the sensor,

wherein the sensor and the monitoring component are configured to communicate with one another for initially setting a predetermined range between the sensor and the monitoring component,

wherein the monitoring component and the sensor are configured to communicate with one another after initially setting the predetermined range to determine a proximity of the portable electronic device relative to the monitoring component, and

wherein the monitoring component and/or the sensor is configured to initiate a security signal when the proximity between the monitoring component and the sensor is not within the predetermined range.

2. The security system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a cable and a connector at the end of the cable, wherein the connector is configured to removably engage an input port of the portable electronic device, and wherein the monitoring component and/or the sensor is configured to initiate a security signal in response to the connector being removed from the input port of the portable electronic device.

3. The security system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring component is configured to be coupled to a remote power source for providing power to the portable electronic device when the sensor is supported on the monitoring component.

4. The security system of claim 3, wherein the sensor and the monitoring component each comprises one or more electrical contacts configured to establish electrical communication with one another for transferring power to the portable electronic device when the sensor is supported on the monitoring component.

5. The security system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring component and the sensor are each configured to initiate a security signal when the proximity between the monitoring component and the sensor is not within the predetermined range.

6. The security system of claim 1, wherein the sensor and the monitoring component are configured to wirelessly communicate via ultra-wideband time of flight communication.

7. The security system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring component and the sensor are each configured to communicate with a key for arming or disarming the monitoring component and/or the sensor.

8. The security system of claim 1, wherein the sensor and the monitoring component are configured to be paired to one another in response to the sensor being positioned on the monitoring component.

9. The security system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring component comprises a display stand having an alarm component configured to generate a security signal in response to communication with the sensor.

10. The security system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined range is a distance range.

11. The security system of claim 1, wherein the sensor and the monitoring component are configured to communicate with one another for initially setting the predetermined range in response to communication with a key.

12. The security system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is integrated with the portable electronic device.

13. A method for securing a portable electronic device from theft, the method comprising:

wirelessly communicating between a monitoring component and a sensor, the sensor configured to be coupled to a portable electronic device;

initially setting a predetermined range in response to communication between the sensor and the monitoring component;

subsequent to initially setting the predetermined range, determining a proximity of the portable electronic device relative to the monitoring component; and

initiating a security signal at the monitoring component and/or sensor when the proximity between the monitoring component and the sensor is not within the predetermined range.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein initiating the security signal comprises generating the security signal at each of the monitoring component and the sensor.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein initiating the security signal comprises generating a warning signal when the proximity between the monitoring component and the sensor is not within the predetermined range.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein determining a proximity comprises communicating via ultra-wideband time of flight communication.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein initially setting comprises initially setting the predetermined range in response to communication with a key.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving a signal from the key at the sensor.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising communicating a message from the sensor to the monitoring component indicating that the predetermined range is to be determined.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining the predetermined range with the monitoring component.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein determining comprising determining a distance between the monitoring component and the sensor based on a location where the sensor received the signal from the key.

22. A security system configured for securing a portable electronic device from theft, the security system comprising:

a sensor configured to be coupled to a portable electronic device;

a key configured to communicate with the sensor; and

a monitoring component configured to communicate with the sensor,

wherein the sensor and the key are configured to communicate with one another to initiate a calibration routine, and

wherein the sensor and the monitoring component are configured to communicate with one another in response to initiating the calibration routine for initially setting a predetermined range between the sensor and the monitoring component, and

wherein the monitoring component and the sensor are configured to communicate with one another after completing the calibration routine to determine whether a proximity of the portable electronic device relative to the monitoring component is within the predetermined range.

23. The security system of claim 22, wherein the monitoring component and the sensor are configured to communicate with one another to determine a proximity of the portable electronic device relative to the monitoring component.

24. The security system of claim 23, wherein the monitoring component and/or the sensor is configured to initiate a security signal when the proximity between the monitoring component and the sensor is not within the predetermined range.

25. The security system of claim 22, wherein the key is configured to wirelessly communicate with the sensor, and wherein the monitoring component is configured to wirelessly communicate with the sensor.