SECURE CHARGING STATIONS AND METHODS FOR OPERATING THE SAME
First Claim
1. A secure charging station for charging portable electronic devices in a public location, having at least one charging sub-station comprising:
- at least one sensing area associated with each charging sub-station and having a sensing area sensing surface for sensing the presence of a respective portable electronic device on the sensing surface;
an authentication device associated with each charging sub-station for permitting a user to input authenticating information;
a processing logic for activating the at least one sensing area sensing surface to sense removal or tampering of the at least one portable electronic device in response to an owner entering authenticating information via the authentication device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A secure charging station for portable electronic devices (PEDs) may include plurality of individual charging sub-stations, each with an associated charging port, PED sensing area and authentication system. The PED sensing area includes one or more sensors sensing the presence and/or absence of the PED. The authentication system permits a PED owner to enter authentication information, such as a four-digit code via keypad, or information on a credit card, to initiate a secure mode in which unauthorized removal of the PED will trigger an alarm. When in the secure mode, the charging station may display a signal to notify unauthorized persons that tampering or removal of a corresponding PED from the sensing area will trigger an alarm. When charging is complete, or when the owner desires to remove the PED from the secure sensing area, he or she again enters authentication information via the authentication system to cause the PED sensing area to assume an unsecure mode, which permits removal of the PED without the sounding of an alarm.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A secure charging station for charging portable electronic devices in a public location, having at least one charging sub-station comprising:
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at least one sensing area associated with each charging sub-station and having a sensing area sensing surface for sensing the presence of a respective portable electronic device on the sensing surface; an authentication device associated with each charging sub-station for permitting a user to input authenticating information; a processing logic for activating the at least one sensing area sensing surface to sense removal or tampering of the at least one portable electronic device in response to an owner entering authenticating information via the authentication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. (canceled)
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8. (canceled)
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9. (canceled)
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10. A process for operating a secure charging station comprising;
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receiving authentication information from an owner of a portable electronic device; activating a sensing area having a sensing surface on the secure charging station in response to receiving the authentication information; sensing the presence of the portable electronic device using the sensing area sensing surface to secure the portable electronic device relative to the charging station; and monitoring the sensing area sensing surface to detect movement or tampering with the portable electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A secure charging station for charging portable electronic devices in a public location comprising:
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at least one respective sensing area sensing surface defined on the charging station and having a secure mode in which the at least one sensing area sensing surface detects a portable electronic device; a respective authentication device cooperatively associated with the at least one respective sensing area sensing surface for receiving authentication information from an owner of the portable electronic device; a secure mode indicator associated with the at least one sensing area sensing surface for indicating that the at least one sensing area sensing surface is in a respective secure mode; an alarm associated with the at least one respective sensing area sensing surface; and processing logic operable to; a) activate the secure mode and the secure mode indicator of the at least one sensing area sensing surface in response to the authentication device receiving authentication information from the owner; b) selectively trigger the alarm associated with the at least one sensing area sensing surface if removal of the portable electronic device from the sensing area sensing surface is detected while the sensing area sensing surface is in the secure mode. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification