SYSTEMS, METHODS AND ARTICLES TO PREVENT UNAUTHORIZED REMOVAL OF MOBILE PROCESSOR-BASED DEVICES FROM DESIGNATED AREAS

• US 20180137729A1
• Filed: 11/14/2016
• Published: 05/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Datalogic IP Tech S.r.l. (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Datalogic IP Tech S.r.l. (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Bottazzi, Marco
• Granted Patent: US 10,636,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• 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: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/046 prevention of tampering with detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Systems and methods for preventing the unauthorized removal of mobile processor-based devices from designated areas (e.g., inside of a shopping area). The system may utilize a beacon technology based on a low energy protocol to prevent unauthorized removal of the devices. An anti-theft beacon system which includes an RF beacon transmitter may be positioned proximate an exit of a designated area. Mobile processor-based devices detect beacon signals from the anti-theft beacon system. Responsive to such detection, a device determines that it has been removed from the designated area. The device may then perform one or more anti-theft actions, including operating as a beacon once removed from the designated area. An auxiliary power source may power a beacon of the mobile processor-based device when the mobile processor-based device has been removed from the designated area so that the beacon may still broadcast signals even when a primary power source is disabled.

Claims

1. A system to detect unauthorized removal of a mobile processor-based device from a designated area, the system comprising:

an anti-theft beacon system disposed proximate an exit of the designated area, the anti-theft beacon system comprising;

a radio frequency (RF) transmitter which broadcasts RF beacon signals;

a mobile processor-based device, comprising;

a beacon network interface which includes an RF receiver;

at least one nontransitory processor-readable storage medium that stores at least one of processor-executable instructions or data; and

at least one processor communicably coupled to the at least one nontransitory processor-readable storage medium and communicatively coupled to the beacon network interface, in operation the at least one processor;

receives, via the RF receiver of the beacon network interface, the RF beacon signals from the RF transmitter of the anti-theft beacon system;

determines, by the at least one processor, at least one signal characteristic of the received RF beacon signals;

determines that the mobile processor-based device has been removed from the designated area based at least in part on the determined at least one signal characteristic; and

performs at least one anti-theft action based at least in part on the determination that the mobile processor-based device has been removed from the designated area.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the RF beacon signals include reference signal strength information, and the at least one processor of the mobile processor-based device:

determines at least one signal strength of the received RF beacons signals based at least in part on the received reference signal strength information.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the beacon network interface of the mobile processor-based device comprises a Bluetooth®

Low Energy (BLE) interface.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one processor of the mobile processor-based device:

monitors a trend in received signal strength indicators (RSSI) of a plurality of RF beacon signals received from the RF transmitter of the anti-theft beacon system.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the at least one processor of the mobile processor-based device:

detects an improved signal strength trend as the mobile processor-based device is moved toward the beacon system; and

determines that the mobile processor-based device has been removed from the designated area based at least in part on the detected improved signal strength trend.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile processor-based device comprises:

a primary power source which provides power to the beacon network interface, the at least one processor and the at least one nontransitory processor-readable storage medium; and

an auxiliary power source operative to provide power to at least the beacon network interface for a period of time when the primary power source does not provide power to the beacon network interface.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the auxiliary power source comprises a supercapacitor.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the auxiliary power source comprises at least one of a non-removable capacitor or a non-removable battery.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile processor-based device comprises an input interface, and the anti-theft action comprises disabling at least a portion of the input interface.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile processor-based device comprises:

a visual output, wherein the at least one processor causes a visual notification to be generated by the visual output based at least in part on the determination that the mobile processor-based device has been removed from the designated area;

or

an audio output, wherein the at least one processor causes an audio notification to be generated by the audio output based at least in part on the determination that the mobile processor-based device has been removed from the designated area.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile processor-based device comprises at least one wireless communications interface communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, and the at least one processor of the mobile processor-based device:

causes the at least one wireless communications interface to transmit data based at least in part on the determination that the mobile processor-based device has been removed from the designated area.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the at least one processor of the mobile processor-based device causes the at least one wireless communications interface to transmit data indicative of a location of the mobile processor-based device.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile processor-based device comprises at least one wireless communications interface communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, and the at least one processor of the mobile processor-based device:

disables an application based at least in part on the determination that the mobile processor-based device has been removed from the designated area.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the beacon network interface of the mobile processor-based device comprises an RF beacon transmitter, and the at least one processor of the mobile processor-based device:

causes the RF beacon transmitter to transmit RF beacon signals responsive to the determination that the mobile processor-based device has been removed from the designated area.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the mobile processor-based device comprises:

a primary power source which provides power to the beacon network interface, the at least one processor and the at least one nontransitory processor-readable storage medium; and

an auxiliary power source operative to provide power to at least the beacon network interface for a period of time when the primary power source does not provide power to the beacon network interface.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the auxiliary power source is operative to provide power to only the beacon network interface for a period of time when the primary power source does not provide power to the beacon network interface.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the auxiliary power source is a non-removable power source, and comprises at least one of a supercapacitor, a capacitor, or a battery.

18. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a beacon reader disposed outside of the designated area, the beacon reader comprising;

a radio frequency (RF) beacon receiver;

at least one nontransitory processor-readable storage medium that stores at least one of processor-executable instructions or data; and

at least one processor communicably coupled to the at least one nontransitory processor-readable storage medium and communicatively coupled to the RF transmitter, in operation the at least one processor;

causes the RF beacon receiver to receive RF beacon signals from the mobile processor-based device when the RF beacon transmitter of the mobile processor-based device transmits RF beacon signals responsive to the determination that the mobile processor-based device has been removed from the designated area; and

provides an indication of a location of the mobile processor-based device based on the RF beacon signals received from the mobile processor-based device.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the at least one processor of the beacon reader:

provides an indication of distance between the mobile processor-based device and the beacon reader.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the beacon reader comprises at least one of a smartphone, tablet computer, laptop computer, or a stationary beacon reader.

21. A method of operation of an anti-theft beacon system to detect unauthorized removal of a mobile processor-based device from a designated area, the method comprising:

receiving, by an RF receiver of a beacon network interface of a mobile processor-based device, RF beacon signals from an RF transmitter of an anti-theft beacon system positioned proximate an exit of the designated area;

determining, by at least one processor of the mobile processor-based device, at least one signal characteristic of the received RF beacon signals;

determining, by the at least one processor of the mobile processor-based device, that the mobile processor-based device has been removed from the designated area based at least in part on the determined at least one signal characteristic; and

performing, by the at least one processor of the mobile processor-based device, at least one anti-theft action based at least in part on the determination that the mobile processor-based device has been removed from the designated area.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

positioning the anti-theft beacon system proximate the exit of the designated area.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein receiving RF beacon signals comprises receiving RF beacon signals by the RF receiver of the beacon network interface, and the beacon network interface of the mobile processor-based device comprises a Bluetooth®

Low Energy (BLE) interface.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein determining at least one signal characteristic of the received RF beacon signals comprises monitoring a trend in receives signal strength indicators (RSSI) of a plurality of RF beacon signals received from the RF transmitter of the anti-theft beacon system.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the mobile processor-based device comprises a primary battery source and an auxiliary power source, the method further comprising:

powering, by the auxiliary power source, at least the beacon network interface for a period of time when the primary power source does not provide power to the beacon network interface.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein powering at least the beacon network interface comprises powering at least the beacon network interface by the auxiliary power source, and the auxiliary power source comprises at least one of a supercapacitor, a capacitor, or a battery.

27. The method of claim 21 wherein performing at least one anti-theft action comprises at least one of:

disabling, by the at least one processor, at least a portion of an input interface of the mobile processor-based device;

causing, by the at least one processor, a visual notification to be generated by a visual output; and

causing, by the at least one processor, an audio notification to be generated by an audio output.

28. The method of claim 21 wherein performing at least one anti-theft action comprises:

causing, by the at least one processor, at least one wireless communications interface of the mobile processor-based device to transmit data based at least in part on the determination that the mobile processor-based device has been removed from the designated area.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein causing the at least one wireless communications interface to transmit data comprises causing the at least one wireless communications interface to transmit data indicative of a location of the mobile processor-based device.

30. The method of claim 21 wherein performing at least one anti-theft action comprises:

causing, by the at least one processor, an RF beacon transmitter of the mobile processor-based device to transmit RF beacon signals responsive to the determination that the mobile processor-based device has been removed from the designated area.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the mobile processor-based device comprises a primary battery source and an auxiliary power source, the method further comprising:

powering, by the auxiliary power source, at least the beacon network interface for a period of time when the primary power source does not provide power to the beacon network interface.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein powering at least the beacon network interface comprises powering at least the beacon network interface by the auxiliary power source, and the auxiliary power source comprises at least one of a supercapacitor, a capacitor, or a battery.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

receiving, by a beacon reader disposed outside of the designated area, RF beacon signals from the mobile processor-based device when the RF beacon transmitter of the mobile processor-based device transmits RF beacon signals responsive to the determination that the mobile processor-based device has been removed from the designated area; and

providing, by the beacon reader, an indication of a location of the mobile processor-based device based on the RF beacon signals received from the mobile processor-based device.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein receiving RF beacon signals from the mobile processor-based device comprises receiving RF beacon signals from the mobile processor-based device by at least one of a smartphone, tablet computer, laptop computer, or a stationary beacon reader.

35. A system to detect unauthorized removal of a mobile processor-based device from a designated area, the system comprising:

a mobile processor-based device, comprising;

a beacon network interface which includes an RF receiver;

at least one nontransitory processor-readable storage medium that stores at least one of processor-executable instructions or data; and

at least one processor communicably coupled to the at least one nontransitory processor-readable storage medium and communicatively coupled to the beacon network interface, in operation the at least one processor;

receives, via the RF receiver of the beacon network interface, RF beacon signals from an anti-theft beacon system positioned proximate an exit of the designated area;

determines, by the at least one processor, at least one signal characteristic of the received RF beacon signals;

determines that the mobile processor-based device has been removed from the designated area based at least in part on the determined at least one signal characteristic; and

performs at least one anti-theft action based at least in part on the determination that the mobile processor-based device has been removed from the designated area.