Anti-theft device and method for use in products with electric or electronic components therein

• US 20040036577A1
• Filed: 07/14/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Manaris Corp.
• Original Assignee: Manaris Corp.
• Inventors: Simoneau, Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/333,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20040036577A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.51
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1418 Removal detected by failure in electrical connection between the appliance and a control centre, home control panel or a power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00344 with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus monitoring H04N1/00002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00832 Recording use, e.g. counting number of pages copied
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00925 Inhibiting an operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015

Abstract

The anti-theft device (12) and method are for use in products (10) provided with electric and electronic components therein. The device (12) in embedded, or other wise unreachable, in the product (10) to be protected. The device (12) is able to wirelessly interact with detectors (14) located at checkpoints of a secured area in order to generate and alarm event whenever someone is attempting to take the product (10) out without the security feature being turned off. Moreover, the device (12) denies benefit of use of some or even all the features of the products (10) if proper authorization is not released by or from someone holding rights to the product (10). The device (12) also allows a product (10) to be disabled from a distance, for instance if a client fails to pay fees for leasing the product (10).

Claims

1. An anti-theft device (12) for use in a product (10) having an electric or electronic component therein, the device (12) comprising:

first means for receiving a first activation signal from an electronic article surveillance system and transmitting a response signal upon receiving the first activation signal;

the device (12) being characterized in that it also comprises;

second means for selectively enabling and disabling normal operation of the product (10); and

third means for receiving a second activation signal, the third means being coupled to the second means so that normal operation of the product (10) is enabled upon receiving the second activation signal.

2. An anti-theft device (12) in accordance to claim 1, characterized in that the first means comprise a transponder (26).

3. An anti-theft device (12) in accordance to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second means comprise a processor (20) having an output terminal (30) through which the processor (20) enables and disables at least part the product (10).

4. An anti-theft device (12) in accordance to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises a switch (31) coupled to the output terminal (30).

5. A method of protecting a product (10) having an electric or electronic component therein, the method comprising:

receiving a first activation signal from an electronic article surveillance system and transmitting a response signal upon receiving the first activation signal;

the method being characterized in that it also comprises;

providing a product (10) in an at least partially disabled state;

receiving at the product (10) a second activation signal from a wireless activation system (18);

validating the second activation signal; and

enabling normal operation of the product (10) upon determining that the second activation signal is valid.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5, characterized in that enabling normal operation of the product (10) comprises issuing an enabling command to a processor that is part of the product (10) itself.

7. A method in accordance with claim 5, characterized in that enabling normal operation of the product (10) comprises issuing an enabling command to a switch (31).

8. A method in accordance with any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that it further comprises:

determining that the product (10) needs to be disabled;

receiving at the product (10) a deactivation signal from a wireless activation system (18);

validating the deactivation signal; and

disabling normal operation of the product (10) upon determining that the deactivation signal is valid.

9. A method in accordance with any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the response signal comprises data to identify the product (10).

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the data comprises a serial number.