Method and apparatus for reducing the likelihood of losing a portable electronic device
First Claim
1. A method for reducing the likelihood of losing a portable electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining that the portable electronic device has been removed from a retaining device;
determining whether said removal was intentional; and
alerting the user in the event that said removal was unintentional.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A loss prevention system (e.g., 200) employs a method and apparatus for reducing the likelihood of losing a portable electronic device (100, 201) that has been inadvertently removed from its retaining device (e.g., 203, 300, 400). The loss prevention system includes the electronic device and its retaining device. The electronic device includes a proximity detector (103) that operates to detect the absence or removal of the device from the retaining device. The electronic device further includes a lost device detection circuit (102) that determines whether the removal was intentional and, if unintentional, alerts the user of the removal. By so alerting the user, the loss prevention system provides rapid feedback to the user after the user'"'"'s electronic device has inadvertently fallen out of its retaining device, thereby enabling the user to quickly retrieve the device before it gets damaged or taken by someone else.
42 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for reducing the likelihood of losing a portable electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining that the portable electronic device has been removed from a retaining device;
determining whether said removal was intentional; and
alerting the user in the event that said removal was unintentional. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A portable electronic device comprising:
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a proximity detector that detects removal of the portable electronic device from a retaining device;
a housing having an external surface;
an external capacitance sensor arranged to detect a change in capacitance originating from the external surface of the housing; and
a lost device detection circuit operably coupled to the external capacitance sensor and the proximity detector, the lost device detection circuit determining whether removal of the portable electronic device from the retaining device was intentional based at least on an output of the external capacitance sensor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A retaining device for a portable electronic device comprising:
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a fastening mechanism for attaching the retaining device to personal property of a user of the portable electronic device;
a support mechanism for retaining the portable electronic device; and
means for enabling the portable electronic device to determine whether the portable electronic device was removed from the support mechanism, thereby facilitating a determination of whether the portable electronic device was removed from the retaining device inadvertently. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A loss prevention system comprising:
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a wireless communication device that includes;
a proximity detector that detects the removal of the wireless communication device from a retaining device;
a housing having an external surface;
an external capacitance sensor arranged to detect a change in capacitance originating from the external surface of the housing; and
a lost device detection circuit operably coupled to the external capacitance sensor and the proximity detector, the lost device detection circuit determining whether removal of the wireless communication device from the retaining device was intentional based at least on an output of the external capacitance sensor; and
a retaining device for retaining the wireless communication device proximate to a user of the wireless communication device, the retaining device including;
a fastening mechanism for attaching the retaining device to personal property of the user;
a support mechanism for retaining the wireless communication device; and
means for enabling the proximity detector to determine whether the wireless communication device was removed from the support mechanism.
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Specification