Method and system for identifying lost or stolen devices

• US 6,609,656 B1
• Filed: 03/27/1998
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Elledge, Dennis D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US09/049,687
• Time in Patent Office: 1,978 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.54, 340/572, 235/375, 235/385, 235/382, 235/382.5, 364/478.14, 342/42, 342/44, 342/51
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10059 transponder driven
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03
• 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 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A method and system for identifying a lost or stolen device is disclosed herein. The system includes: a transmitter, coupled to said device, for transmitting identification information; a receiver for receiving the identification information transmitted by the transmitter, when the transmitter is within a defined distance from the receiver; and a computer, coupled to the receiver for receiving the information from the receiver, and having a database for storing data associated with lost or stolen devices; wherein the computer compares the information with the data, and generates an alarm if the information indicates that the device is lost or stolen. The method includes: receiving information transmitted by a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, coupled to an item, when the item comes within a defined range of a receiver which receives the information; storing data associated with lost or stolen goods in a database coupled to the receiver; comparing the information to the data and determining if the information matches the data associated with the lost or stolen goods; and generating an alarm, if the information matches the data.

Claims

1. A system for identifying a lost or stolen device, comprising:

a first transceiver, comprising a radio frequency transceiver, a microcontroller, and a memory, said first transceiver coupled to a device, and which transmits identification information according to a communications protocol upon receipt by the first transceiver of a signal having a predetermined security parameter associated therewith, the identification information within the first transceiver being secured from unauthorized access thereto;

a second transceiver, capable of recognizing said communications protocol, which transmits the signal having the predetermined security parameter associated therewith and receives the identification information transmitted by the first transceiver, when the first transceiver is within a defined distance from the second transceiver; and

a computer, coupled to the second transceiver so as to receive the identification information therefrom, said computer having a first secure database which stores data identifying a plurality of lost or stolen devices and which prevents unauthorized access to the data stored therein, wherein said computer compares the identification information with the stored data, and generates an alarm if the identification information matches at least some of the stored data.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said second transceiver comprises a spread spectrum transmitter, and said predetermined security parameter is a pseudo-noise (PN) code.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said second transceiver is located near an airport checkpoint such that as the device is transported through the airport checkpoint, the second transceiver interrogates the first transceiver, said first transceiver authenticates the receiver, and said computer identifies the lost or stolen device and generates said alarm to alert personnel located near the checkpoint.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said information includes a serial number associated with said device.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a central server, coupled to said computer, wherein the central server includes a central database for storing a master list of lost or stolen devices, and wherein the central server communicates with the computer so as to periodically update said first database which stores said data associated with said lost or stolen devices.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter and receiver comprise a spread spectrum communication system, and the communications protocol is a direct sequence protocol using a spreading code.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a secure link between the first transceiver and a source of the identification information, said source providing the information to the first transceiver prior to transmission of the identification information to the second transceiver.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the secure link is encrypted.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification information within the first transceiver is password protected.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said second transceiver comprises a spread spectrum transmitter, and said predetermined security parameter is a frequency hopping sequence.

11. A system for identifying a lost or stolen item, comprising:

a radio frequency identification device, comprising a radio frequency transceiver, a microcontroller, a battery and a memory, said radio frequency identification device connected to the item so as to frustrate removal therefrom, and which transmits a second signal after decoding a first coded signal received thereby, said second signal having information related to the item associated therewith, the radio frequency identification device being capable of restricting access to the information;

a reader which transmits the first coded signal and receives the second signal transmitted by the radio frequency identification device when the radio frequency identification device is within a defined distance from the reader, the reader further extracting the information related to the item from the received second signal; and

a computer, coupled to the reader so as to receive the information related to the item from the reader, said computer having a secure database with restricted access for storing a list identifying a plurality of lost or stolen items, wherein the computer compares the information with the list of lost or stolen devices, and generates an alarm if the comparison produces a match.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said authenticating said first signal comprises decoding said first signal using a pseudo-noise (PN) code.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising a central server, coupled to said computer, wherein the central server includes a central database for storing a master list of lost or stolen items, and wherein the central server communicates with the computer so as to periodically update said list of lost or stolen items stored in said database of the computer.

14. A system for identifying lost or stolen goods, comprising:

a radio frequency identification device coupled to an item, the radio frequency identification device including identification information, the device further including;

means for restricting access to the identification information;

means for supplying power to the device independent of the item to which the device is coupled;

means for transmitting an interrogation signal to the radio frequency identification device;

means, associated with the radio frequency identification device, for authenticating the interrogation signal independent of the operation of the item;

means for transmitting the identification information upon proper authentication of the interrogation signal, with said means for transmitting the identification information independent of the item to which the device is coupled;

means for securely receiving the identification information transmitted by the means for transmitting the identification information when the item comes within a defined distance of the means for securely receiving;

means for storing a list identifying a plurality of lost or stolen goods, the means for storing including means for restricting access to the list of lost or stolen goods to prevent tampering therewith;

means for comparing the identification information to the list of lost or stolen goods and determining if the identification information matches information contained in the list of lost or stolen goods; and

means for generating an alarm at the means for securely receiving, if the identification information matches the information contained in the list.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

means for reporting when said item is lost or stolen; and

means for updating said list of lost or stolen goods so as to include the item in the list.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein:

said means for reporting includes means for entering identification information related to said item into a central database of a central server; and

said means for updating includes means for communicating between the central server and a local computer, coupled to said means for receiving, wherein said list of lost or stolen goods is stored within a local database of the local computer and the identification information contained within the central database is transmitted and stored in the local database so as to update the list stored in the local database.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising means for securely transferring said identification information to the radio frequency identification device, and means for storing the transferred identification information in a memory of said radio frequency identification device, wherein the means for securely transferring comprises a spread spectrum transmitter and receiver.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein said means for generating an alarm comprises means for displaying a message on a display screen so as to alert personnel stationed near the display screen of a lost or stolen status of said item.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein said means for generating an alarm signal comprises means for generating an auditory signal which alerts personnel stationed near said receiving means of a lost or stolen status of said item.

20. A method of identifying lost or stolen goods, comprising:

storing information within a radio frequency identification (RFID) device coupled to an item, said device being capable of restricting access to said information, said device being a self-contained package independent of said item, and comprising a radio frequency transceiver, a microcontroller, a power source and a memory;

transmitting an encoded interrogation signal to said RFID device when the item comes within a defined range of a receiver;

decoding said encoded interrogation signal;

transmitting said information according to a predetermined communications protocol when said encoded interrogation signal has been decoded;

receiving said information transmitted by said RFID device;

storing data identifying a plurality of lost or stolen goods in a database coupled to the receiver, said database having restricted access so as to prevent tampering with said data;

comparing the information to the data and determining if the information matches the data identifying the plurality of lost or stolen goods; and

generating an alarm at the receiving end of the information transmitted by said RFID device, if the information matches the data.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

reporting when said item is lost or stolen; and

updating said data identifying said lost or stolen goods so as to indicate a lost or stolen status of said item.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein:

said act of reporting includes entering identification information related to said item into a central database of a central server; and

said act of updating includes transmitting data between the central server and a computer, coupled to said receiver, wherein said data identifying said lost or stolen goods is stored within a database of the computer and said identification information contained within the central database is transmitted and stored in the database of the computer so as to update the database.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the act of storing said information in said RFID device comprises transmitting said information from said receiver to said RFID device using a secure communications link when the device is within a defined distance from said receiver.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein said act of generating an alarm comprises displaying a message on a display screen so as to inform personnel stationed near the display screen of a lost or stolen status of said item.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein said act of generating an alarm comprises generating an auditory signal which informs personnel stationed near said receiving means of a lost or stolen status of said item.

26. A method of identifying lost or stolen items, comprising:

securely storing identification information in a memory of a radio frequency identification (RFID) device contained within an item and comprising a radio frequency transceiver, a microcontroller, a battery and a memory, said RFID device being securely disposed within said item so as to frustrate unauthorized removal thereof and said device comprising a self-contained package independent of said item;

transmitting an interrogation signal to said RFID device;

authenticating said interrogation signal;

transmitting said identification information from said RFID device upon authentication of said interrogation signal;

maintaining a list identifying a plurality of lost or stolen items in a secure database of a computer, said database having security features associated therewith so as to prevent unauthorized access to said list of lost or stolen items;

receiving the identification information transmitted by the RFID device;

transferring the received identification information to said computer;

comparing the received identification information to the list of lost or stolen items and determining if the identification information indicates that the item is included in the list of lost or stolen items; and

generating an alarm, if the identification information indicates the item is lost or stolen.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

reporting when said item is lost or stolen; and

updating said list of lost or stolen items so as to include said item in the list.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said item is a computer.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein:

said act of securely storing identification information includes restricting access to said information contained within said RFID device using at least one security measure;

said act of reporting includes entering said identification information into a central database of a central server; and

said act of updating includes transmitting said identification information contained within said central database to said database of said computer so as to update said list stored in the database of the computer to include said item.

30. A system for identifying a lost or stolen device, comprising:

a first transceiver, comprising a radio frequency transceiver, a microcontroller, and a memory, said first transceiver coupled to the device, and which transmits identification information according to a communications protocol upon receipt by the first transceiver of a signal having a predetermined security parameter associated therewith, the identification information within the first transceiver being secured from unauthorized access thereto;

a second transceiver, capable of recognizing said communications protocol, which transmits the signal having the predetermined security parameter associated therewith and receives the identification information transmitted by the first transceiver, when the first transceiver is within a defined distance from the second transceiver;

a first secure database configured to store data identifying a plurality of lost or stolen devices and which prevents unauthorized access to the data stored therein;

a computer, directly coupled to the second transceiver so as to receive the identification information therefrom, said computer further coupled to said first secure database so as to receive the stored data, wherein said computer compares the identification information with the stored data, and generates an alarm if the identification information matches at least some of the stored data; and

a central server, coupled to said computer, wherein the central server includes a central database for storing a master list of lost or stolen devices, and wherein the central server communicates with the computer so as to periodically update said first database which stores said data associated with said lost or stolen devices.