System, method and apparatus for avoiding loss of portable devices

• US 20090167525A1
• Filed: 01/02/2008
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gilboy, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US12/006,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20090167525A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.320
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

In a system for monitoring a location of a polled unit, a limitation arises where a polling unit becomes lost or stolen, and a user remains unaware of this loss for an extended time period. In an embodiment of the current invention, a system, apparatus, and method are disclosed for automatically and quickly determining that a polling unit in a polling setup has become lost or stolen. This determination is accomplished by adapting a polled unit to automatically detect an absence of a polling signal within a given time period when a polling signal was expected. After determining that no polling signal was received in the given time period, the polled unit is adapted to perform a function—such as issuing a notification to a user, to a service provider, or to another party.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first unit adapted to a) transmit a polling signal, over a given distance, to a second unit, and b) receive back an indication from the second unit that the second unit received the said polling signal; and

,

the second unit adapted to a) detect whether it has received the said polling signal within a given time period, and b) perform a function upon failure to receive the said polling signal within the said time period.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the second unit is adapted to issue a notification upon failure to receive the said polling signal within the said time period.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the second unit is adapted to broadcast an alarm if the said notification is issued.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the second unit is adapted to send a transmission to at least one other unit if the said notification is issued.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first unit is adapted to transmit the polling signal as a wireless signal.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein:

the first unit is adapted to transmit a wireless signal as a radio frequency (RF) wireless signal.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein:

the second unit is adapted to alter the polling signal and to transmit the altered polling signal.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the second unit is adapted to use energy from the polling signal to transmit the altered polling signal.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said given distance may be adjusted, even after an initial setting.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said given time period may be adjusted, even after an initial setting.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory, said memory communicatively connected to the processor;

an input/output, said input/output communicatively connected to the processor and to the memory,

said input and output comprising of a receiver; and

,

said processor adapted to a) detect whether the apparatus has received a polling signal in a given time period, and b) perform a function upon failure of the apparatus to receive the said polling signal within the given time period.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

said apparatus adapted to a) receive the polling signal, said polling signal comprising a radio frequency (RF) wireless signal, and b) return a response signal, said response signal comprising an RF wireless signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

said processor being an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said input/output further comprises:

a notifier, said notifier comprising an alarm.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

said processor adapted to perform a function of activating the alarm in the absence of a detected polling signal in the given time period.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said input/output further comprises:

a notifier, said notifier comprising a transmitter.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

said processor adapted to perform a function of transmitting an alert in the absence of a detected polling signal in the given time period.

18. A method comprising:

receiving a notification from a polled unit,

said polled unit adapted to receive a polling signal from a polling unit; and

,

said notification indicating a failure to receive the said polling signal by the polled unit within a given time period.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining a location of the polling unit.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

causing the polling unit to broadcast an alarm.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

terminating a service for the polling unit.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

disabling, remotely, the polling unit.