Device to prevent credit card loss

• US 20050184150A1
• Filed: 02/24/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gregory Anthony Welte, Mark Krull
• Original Assignee: Gregory Anthony Welte, Mark Krull
• Inventors: Welte, Gregory Anthony, Krull, Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/786,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20050184150A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3415 Cards acting autonomously as pay-media
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/352 Contactless payments by cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0833 Card having specific functional components
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0893 the card reader reading the card in a contactless manner
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A system for assuring that no credit cards are missing from a purse. Each credit card carries a tag, such as an RFID tag. An RFID reader, carried in the purse, periodically polls the tags. The RFID reader expects a given number of resposes, corresponding to the number of tags ordinarily present in the purse. If fewer than the expected number of responses is received, indicating that a tag and its associated credit card are missing, the reader issues a warning, such as a beeping sound.

Claims

1. A kit, comprising:

a) a number of tags, each attachable to an item;

b) a controller which has a scanning range and, when activated,

i) periodically inquires whether all tags are present within the scanning range and, if not,

ii) issues a warning.

8. Kit according to claim 1, wherein the tags are of the RFID type.

9. Kit according to claim 1, wherein controller comprises means to test whether all transponders are present, and issues a signal if they are not.

11. Kit according to claim 1, wherein the tags are not attached to items when contained in the kit.

12. Kit according to claim 1, wherein the controller and the tags, when within the kit, are all within the field-of-view of a person.

13. Kit according to claim 1, wherein the kit, in kit form, will fit into a brief case.

14. Kit according to claim 1, wherein the warning is detectable by a human.

15. Kit according to claim 1, wherein the warning comprises an audible sound.

16. Kit according to claim 1, wherein the tags are attachable to items ordinarily found in a handbag.

17. Kit according to claim 9, wherein the signal is audible.

18. Kit according to claim 9, wherein the means to test is selectively actuable by a user, and can be actuated while the controller periodically inquires as in paragraph (b).

19. Kit according to claim 1, wherein all components of the kit are contained in a single, portable package.

2. A method, comprising:

a) placing N remotely addressable tags into an item of luggage;

b) at intervals, using a controller to address the tags, to ascertain whether all N tags are present in the luggage; and

c) if one or more tags are found absent, causing the controller to issue a warning.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein some tags are attached to credit cards stored within the luggage.

4. Method according to claim 2, wherein the tags are non-self-powered.

5. Method according to claim 2, wherein the tags receive operating power from incoming rf energy.

10. Method according to claim 2, and further comprising:

d) receiving a test command;

e) polling all tags;

f) if a tag is found missing, issuing a missing signal; and

g) if all tags are present, issuing an all-present signal.

6. A method, comprising:

a) maintaining N remotely addressable tags in a purse, wherein each tag responds to an interrogation signal by returning an ID code, and

i) tag 1 returns ID code 1 after a time delay D1 following the interrogation signal;

ii) tag 2 returns ID code 2 after a time delay D2 following the interrogation signal;

iii) tag 3 returns ID code 3 after a time delay D3 following the interrogation signal, and so on, through

iv) tag N, which returns ID code N after a time delay DN following the interrogation signal.

7. Method according to claim 6, and further comprising:

b) if fewer than N ID codes are received, after an interrogation signal is issued, then issuing a warning.