System including a portable storage device equipped with a user proximity detector and method of preventing the loss thereof

• US 20090182931A1
• Filed: 08/20/2006
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LPDP TECHNOLOGIES LTD
• Original Assignee: Olympus Soft Imaging Solutions GmbH (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Gill, Abraham, Hadad, Avi
• Granted Patent: US 9,177,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/2146 being detachable, e.g.. USB memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0213 System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded disabling electrical appliances in case of unplugging G08B13/1409
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds

Abstract

A portable storage system. The portable storage system comprises a portable storage device having a flash memory element and a loss-prevention unit. The portable storage system further comprises Master and Slave proximity elements. One of the proximity elements is physically connected with the portable storage device, while the other is physically connected with the loss-prevention unit. The Master proximity element is configured to wirelessly determine the presence of the Slave proximity element within a predefined range.

Claims

1. A portable storage system, comprising:

a portable storage device;

a loss-prevention unit; and

Master and Slave proximity elements, one of said proximity elements being physically connected with said portable storage device, the other of said proximity elements being physically connected with said loss-prevention unit, said Master proximity element being configured to wirelessly poll the proximity of said Slave proximity element within a predefined proximity threshold.

2. The portable storage system of claim 1, wherein said portable storage device having a flash memory element.

3. The portable storage system of claim 2, wherein said portable storage device further comprises a data-transferring interface electrically connected with said flash memory element, said data transferring interface being configured to be coupled to a hosting unit.

4. The portable storage system of claim 1, further comprising a user indication element electrically connected with said Master proximity element, said user indication element configured to activate an alarm when triggered.

5. The portable storage system of claim 4, wherein said Master proximity element is configured to trigger said user indication element when said Slave proximity element is not detected within said predefined proximity threshold.

6. The portable storage system of claim 4, wherein said user indication element comprises a timer element operable to delay said trigger for a predefined time interval, said predefined time interval starting when said Slave proximity element is not within said predefined proximity threshold.

7. The portable storage system of claim 4, wherein said alarm comprises at least one member of the following group:

an audible alarm, a visual alarm, and a tactile alarm.

8. The portable storage system of claim 4, wherein said alarm comprises a wireless communication transmitter configured to transmit an alarming message to a wireless communication receiver.

9. The portable storage system of claim 7, wherein said visual alarm is performed using a light emitting diode (LED).

10. The portable storage system of claim 7, wherein said tactile alarm is performed using a vibrating unit.

11. The portable storage system of claim 1, wherein said Master proximity element is a network of sensors being configured to wirelessly poll the proximity of said Slave proximity element within a predefined area.

12. The portable storage system of claim 1, wherein said Slave proximity element is a network of proximity elements, wherein said Master proximity element being configured to wirelessly poll the proximity of each one of said proximity elements within a predefined proximity threshold, thereby determining whether said Master proximity element is located within the boundaries of a predefined area.

13. The portable storage system of claim 2, further comprising a encrypting module electrically connected with said flash memory element and said Master proximity element, wherein said Master proximity element is configured to trigger said encrypting module when said Slave proximity element is not detected within said predefined proximity threshold, said encrypting module being configured to encrypt information stored on said flash memory element when triggered.

14. The portable storage system of claim 1, wherein said loss-prevention unit is adapted to be detachably coupled to said portable storage device.

15. The portable storage system of claim 3, wherein said data-transferring interface is a member of the following group:

a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, a wireless communication unit, an USB2 connector, and a FireWire™

connector.

16. The portable storage system of claim 15, wherein said portable storage device comprises a case within which said flash memory element and at least a portion of said data-transferring interface are mounted.

17. The portable storage system of claim 15, wherein said loss-prevention unit is shaped as a cover for a portion of said data transferring interface which projects from said portable storage device.

18. The portable storage system of claim 3, further comprising a communication module electrically connected with said data transferring interface and said Master proximity element, wherein said Master proximity element is configured to trigger said communication module when said Slave proximity element is not detected within said predefined proximity threshold, said communication module being configured to instruct said hosting computing unit to send a message to a predefined address.

19. The portable storage system of claim 18, wherein said predefined address is a member of the following group:

an email address, a phone number, and a pager number.

20. The portable storage system of claim 18, wherein said message address is a member of the following group:

a Short Message Service (SMS), pager message, an electronic message, a voice message, a visual message, and a tactile message.

21. The portable storage system of claim 18, wherein said communication module being configured to instruct said hosting computing unit to activate a designated protection application, said designated protection application being configured to protect information stored on the memory of said hosting computing unit.

22. The portable storage system of claim 18, wherein said protect address is a member of the following group:

encrypt, lock access, and delete.

23. The portable storage system of claim 1, wherein said Slave proximity element is connected to a battery.

24. The portable storage system of claim 1, wherein one of said Master and Slave proximity elements comprises a transmitter, and the other of said Master and Slave proximity elements comprises a receiver adapted for communication with said transmitter.

25. The portable storage system of claim 24, wherein said transmitter is configured for broadcasting an RF signal to said receiver, said receiver being configured for receiving said RF signal.

26. The portable storage system of claim 24, wherein said transmitter is a radio frequency identification (RFID) transmitter, and said receiver is an RFID receiver.

27. The portable storage system of claim 24, wherein said transmitter is a Infrared (IR) transmitter, and said receiver is an IR receiver.

28. The portable storage system of claim 24, wherein said transmitter and said receiver perform radio communication according to a Bluetooth®

communication protocol.

29. The portable storage system of claim 25, wherein said transmitter is a transponder and said receiver is a transceiver, said transmitter configured for broadcasting said RF signal as a reply signal to an interrogation signal of said transmitter.

30. A method for preventing the loss of a portable storage device, comprising:

a) determining whether said portable storage device is coupled to a loss-prevention unit;

b) if said portable storage device is not coupled to said loss-prevention unit, determining whether the distance between said portable storage device and said loss-prevention unit is within a predefined proximity threshold; and

c) activating an alarm if said portable storage device is not within said proximity threshold.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said activating is done a predefined time period after said portable storage device has been separated from said loss-prevention unit.

32. A portable storage device, comprising:

a main body including a flash memory element; and

a first proximity element configured to communicate with a second proximity element;

wherein one of said proximity elements is configured to wirelessly poll the presence of the other of said proximity elements within a predefined range.

33. The portable storage device of claim 32, wherein said second proximity element is coupled to a detachable cover which is adjusted to fit a portion projecting from said portable storage device.

34. The portable storage device of claim 32, further comprising a user indication element electrically connected with one of said first and second proximity elements, said user indication element configured to activate an alarm when triggered.

35. The portable storage device of claim 34, wherein said one of said proximity elements is configured to trigger said user indication unit when the other of said proximity elements is not detected within said predefined range.

36. The portable storage device of claim 35, wherein said user indication unit comprises a timer element operable to delay said trigger for a predefined time interval, said predefined time interval starting at when said other of said proximity elements is not detected within said predefined range.

37. The portable storage device of claim 34, wherein said alarm comprises at least one member of the following group:

an audible alarm, a visual alarm, and a tactile alarm.

38. A portable storage system, comprising:

a portable storage device having stored content;

a loss-prevention unit; and

Master and Slave proximity elements, said Master proximity element being physically connected with said portable storage device, said Slave proximity element being physically connected with said loss-prevention unit, said Master proximity element being configured to operate said portable storage device to protect said stored content when said Slave proximity element is outside a predefined proximity threshold.

39. A portable storage system, comprising:

a portable storage device having stored content;

a loss-prevention unit; and

Master and Slave proximity elements, said Master proximity element being physically connected with said portable storage device, said Slave proximity element being physically connected with said loss-prevention unit, said Master proximity element being configured to operate said portable storage device to issue a network communication to alert an owner when said Slave proximity element is outside a predefined proximity threshold.