Personal property security device

• US 20020070856A1
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Sky Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Red Sky Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Wolfe, Daniel G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,864,789 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence

Abstract

A security device for monitoring personal property using a wireless interface to a communication network is presented. The device is comprised of a security module that interfaces with a wireless transceiver such as a cellular telephone. The security module includes a detection monitor the alarms upon a condition and initiates a dialing command to the wireless telephone. The wireless telephone includes a preprogrammed number of a user and is readily reprogrammable to other numbers. Once the communication link is established, the user may listen to the audible conditions around the security device and determine the legitimacy of the alarm. Optional enhanced interrogation of the security device is also contemplated. The security device further includes a location identifier, an example of which is a tracking transmitter that emits a beacon signal for tracking by the user or others.

Claims

1. A security device for attaching to personal property for monitoring by a user, comprising:

a. a security module capable of initiating a dialing command in response to an alarm generated by a detection sensor capable of monitoring a condition; and

b. an integrated transceiver electrically coupled to said security module including a programmed dialing string corresponding with a user transceiver for notification of said alarm, said integrated transceiver capable of establishing a communication link with said user transceiver upon receipt of said dialing command.

2. The security device for attaching to personal property, as recited in claim 1, wherein said integrated transceiver further includes:

a. a microphone to couple audible condition information characteristic of conditions surrounding said security device to said communication link for delivery to said user transceiver over said communication link in response to said alarm.

3. The security device for attaching to personal property, as recited in claim 1, wherein said programmed dialing string within said integrated transceiver is reprogrammable by said user.

4. The security device for attaching to personal property, as recited in claim 1, wherein said security module further includes:

a. an interrogation sensor to accumulate additional condition information surrounding said security device and forwarding said additional condition information to said user transceiver via said integrated transceiver of said security device.

5. The security device for attaching to personal property, as recited in claim 1, wherein said security module further includes:

a. a location identifier to identify to said user a location of said security device.

6. The security device for attaching to personal property, as recited in claim 5, wherein said location identifier is a tracking transmitter to transmit a tracking signal locatable by said user.

7. The security device for attaching to personal property, as recited in claim 5, wherein said location identifier is a receiver to interpret location coordinates of said security device and forward said coordinates to said user transceiver via said integrated transceiver of said security device.

8. The security device for attaching to personal property, as recited in claim 5, wherein said location identifier remains inactive until activated by said user transceiver.

9. The security device for attaching to personal property, as recited in claim 5, wherein said location identifier remains inactive following said alarm generated by said detection sensor until a predetermined period of time.

10. A system for securing personal property, comprising:

a. a security device for associating with said personal property, including;

i. a security module capable of initiating a dialing command in response to an alarm generated by a detection sensor capable of monitoring a condition;

ii. a security device transceiver electrically coupled to said security module including a programmed dialing string to be initiated upon receipt of said dialing command from said security module, said security device transceiver capable of establishing a communication link according to said programmed dialing string; and

b. a user transceiver responsive to said programmed dialing string to cooperatively form said communication link with said security device transceiver in response to said alarm.

11. The system, as recited in claim 10, wherein said security module further includes:

a. a location identifier to identify to said user a location of said security device.

12. The system, as recited in claim 11, wherein said location identifier is a tracking transmitter to transmit a tracking signal locatable by said user.

13. The system, as recited in claim 12, firther comprising:

a. a tracking receiver configured to receive said tracking signal allowing said user to locate said security device.

14. The system, as recited in claim 11, wherein said location identifier is a receiver to interpret location coordinates of said security device and forward said coordinates to said user transceiver via said security device transceiver.

15. The system, as recited in claim 10, wherein said security module further includes:

a. an interrogation sensor to accumulate additional condition information surrounding said security device and forwarding said additional condition information to said user transceiver via said integrated transceiver of said security device.

17. The security module, as recited in claim 16, further including:

a. an interrogation sensor to accumulate additional condition information surrounding said security module, said controller to forward said additional condition information to said user telephone via said cellular telephone.

18. The security module, as recited in claim 16, further including:

a. a location identifier to identify to said user telephone a location of said security module.

20. In a security system, the method, as recited in claim 19, further comprising the step of:

a. communicating audible conditions at said security device to said user telephone over said communication link.

21. In a security system, the method, as recited in claim 20, further comprising the step of:

a. activating a location identifier at said security module to enable said user to locate said security device associated with said personal property.

16. A security module for coupling with a cellular telephone, comprising:

a. a detection sensor capable of monitoring a condition and generating an alarm upon detection of a specific state of said condition; and

b. a controller in electrical communication with said detection circuit, said controller including a cellular telephone interface for initiating a dialing command to said cellular telephone in response to said alarm from said detection sensor to establish a communication link with a user telephone, said security module for coupling with said cellular telephone to associate with personal property for monitoring.

19. In a security system, a method for monitoring personal property comprising the steps of:

a. programming a programmed dialing string into a cellular telephone;

b. associating a security module, having a detection sensor capable of monitoring a condition relating to said personal property, with said cellular telephone together forming a security device;

c. attaching said security device to said personal property to be monitored; and

d. upon detection of an alarm of said condition being monitored by said detection sensor, establishing a communication link according to said programmed dialing string with a user telephone.

22. A property security device, comprising:

a. a detection sensor capable of monitoring a condition and generating an alarm upon detection of a specific state of said condition;

b. a controller in electrical communication with said detection circuit for initiating a dialing command in response to said alarm from said detection sensor; and

c. a wireless transceiver in electrical communication with said controller having a programmed dialing string corresponding with a user transceiver for notification of said alarm, said wireless transceiver capable of establishing a communication link with said user transceiver upon receipt of said dialing command from said controller.