Loss prevention system for portable electronic devices

• US 20030043036A1
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ACCO Brands Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ACCO Brands Incorporated
• Inventors: Cavacuiti, John, Merrem, Ralph
• Application Number:
  US09/946,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20030043036A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0216 Alarm cancellation after generation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article

Abstract

A PDA protection system alerts a user of a PDA that the PDA is spaced apart from the user by distance exceeding a predetermined threshold. The PDA protection system contains a transmitting apparatus that provides a signal, and a receiving apparatus that receives the signal, to determine whether the PDA has been forgotten.

Claims

1. A PDA protection system for alerting a user of a PDA that the PDA is more than a predetermined distance from the user, comprising:

a transmitting apparatus operative to provide a signal;

a receiving apparatus operative to receive the signal, and to determine whether the PDA is more than the predetermined distance away from the user; and

an indicator system, coupled to said receiving apparatus, for notifying the user that the PDA is more than the predetermined distance away from the user.

2. The PDA protection system of claim 1, wherein:

the transmitting apparatus has a housing adapted for insertion into, and housed within, an expansion slot of the PDA.

3. The PDA protection system of claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus is specifically designed to be interoperable with a Haindspring Visor.

4. The PDA protection system of claim 1, wherein:

expansion slot is a Springboard expansion slot.

5. The PDA protection system of claim 1, wherein:

the transmitter unit is operative to generate and transmit radio-frequency signals.

6. The PDA protection system of claim 1, wherein:

the transmitter unit is powered by a battery unit.

7. The PDA protection system of claim 6, wherein:

the battery unit contains non-rechargeable alkaline batteries.

8. The PDA protection system of claim 6, wherein:

the battery unit has sufficient power to allow the a transmitter unit to transmit signals for at least 480 hours.

9. The PDA protection system of claim 6, wherein:

the battery unit contains a small watch battery.

10. The PDA protection system of claim 6, wherein:

the battery unit contains two small watch batteries.

11. The PDA protection system of claim 6, wherein:

the alarm unit is operative to determine whether the battery unit has at least a threshold level of energy stored therein, and in response to a determination that the battery unit does not have at least the threshold level of energy stored therein, to generate a second alarm.

12. The PDA protection system of claim 9, wherein:

the first alarm is observably different from the second alarm.

13. The PDA protection system of claim 9, wherein:

the alarm unit is operative to generate the second alarm by generating a periodic beeping sound.

14. The PDA protection system of claim 1, wherein:

the receiving apparatus for alerting a user of a PDA that the PDA has been separated from the transmitter, the receiving apparatus comprising;

a receiver unit operative to receive signals from a remote transmitter unit;

a comparator operative to determine whether a distance between the receiver unit and the remote transmitter unit is greater than a predetermined threshold distance; and

an alarm unit operative to generate an first alarm and set a flag in response to the distance between the receiver unit and the remote transmitter unit becoming greater than a predetermined threshold distance while the flag is clear, the alarm unit being operative to clear the flag and stop the first alarm in response at least one off-turning event, the off-turning event being selected from a group consisting of;

(1) the distance between the receiver unit and the remote transmitter unit being not greater than a predetermined threshold distance, (2) the receiver has been turned off, and (3) a new battery inserted being inserted into the receiver unit.

15. The receiving apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

an on/off control, such that the receiver unit is only operative to receive signals from the remote transmitter unit when the on/off control is on.

16. The receiving apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the alarm unit is operative to generate the first alarm by generating a a periodic beeping sound.

17. The receiving apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the predetermined threshold distance is between 8 feet and 20 feet.

18. The receiving apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the receiver is powered by non-rechargeable alkaline batteries.

19. The receiving apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the receiving apparatus is small enough to fit in a person'"'"'s pocket, and is carried by the user.

20. The receiving apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

the receiving apparatus is mounted on a key chain.

21. The receiving apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

the receiver unit operative to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from the remote transmitter unit.

22. A mislocation inhibitor for a personal digital assistant (PDA) having a transmitter, comprising:

a portable detector having a receiver tuned for receipt of a periodic link signal transmitted from the transmitter;

a comparator, coupled to said portable detector, for asserting an alarm signal when said periodic link signal has not been received within a predetermined time window; and

an indicator, coupled to said comparator, for issuing an indication when said alarm signal is asserted.

23. A mislocation inhibiting system, comprising:

a personal digital assistant (PDA) having a transmitter that transmits a periodic link signal;

a portable detector having a receiver tuned for receipt of said periodic link signal;

a comparator, coupled to said portable detector, for asserting an alarm signal when said a received strength of said periodic link signal is less than a predetermined threshold due to said PDA and said detector physically separating; and

an indicator, coupled to said comparator, for issuing an indication when said alarm signal is asserted.

24. A mislocation inhibiting system, comprising:

a personal digital assistant (PDA) having a transceiver that transmits a link signal in response to a received issued query signal;

a transmitter for issuing a query signal;

a portable detector having a receiver tuned for receipt of said link signal;

a comparator, coupled to said portable detector, for asserting an alarm signal when said a received strength of said periodic link signal is less than a predetermined threshold due to said PDA and said detector physically separating; and

an indicator, coupled to said comparator, for issuing an indication when said alarm signal is asserted.