Method and apparatus to eliminate theft of electronic equipment using existing telephone jack

• US 20040230823A1
• Filed: 11/21/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ziad Zakaria
• Original Assignee: Ziad Zakaria
• Inventors: Zakaria, Ziad
• Granted Patent: US 7,510,580 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss

Abstract

This invention provides a method and apparatus to eliminate the theft of various types of electronic equipment through the use of an existing telephonic connection. The method includes steps of determining an apparent theft, contacting a local police or security authority and providing a means of discovering the location of the stolen equipment. The method further allows the apparatus to eliminate the need for excessive hardware components by utilizing pre-existing infrastructure. In utilizing preexisting infrastructure, the invention allows operation in a plurality of locations through its stand-alone capabilities and location identification capabilities.

Claims

1. An antitheft device for portable electronic equipment comprising a microprocessor and a communication module for connection to an external communication network, said microprocessor including data indicative of a location of a device, an output to provide said information to said communication module and a comparator to compare a response from said communication module to a predetermined response and thereby determine whether said equipment is in a desired location.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said data is a telephone number of a location and said predetermined response is a busy signal from an external communication network.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein upon receipt of a response other than said predetermined response said microprocessor utilizes additional data with said external communication network to indicate a theft of said equipment.