Method and system for effecting a security system upon multiple portable information devices

• US 6,614,350 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2000
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valtrus Innovations Limited (f/k/a Dolya Holdco 9 Limited) (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Lunsford, Michael, Thomas, Nicholas A., Parker, Steve, Kammer, David, Moore, David
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US09/709,166
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/3.1, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/10.1, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.23
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1418 Removal detected by failure in electrical connection between the appliance and a control centre, home control panel or a power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation

Abstract

A method and system for effecting a security web upon multiple devices. In one embodiment of the invention, multiple devices are enabled to respond as authorized members of a security web such that each device acts as a co-monitoring device within the web. Further, each device transmits an identifiable RF signal at regular time intervals and is enabled to search for the transmitted RF signal from every other device within the security web. Next the invention determines a non-authorized loss of proximity from the web of any of the devices of the web. Upon determining a non-authorized loss of proximity of any device, the invention provides for at least one of the devices of the web to initiate an event.

Claims

1. A method for effecting a security web upon multiple devices comprising the steps of:

a) enabling multiple devices to respond as authorized members of a security web such that each device acts as a co-monitoring device within said web;

b) transmitting an identifiable RF signal at regular time intervals from each said device of said web;

c) searching for said transmitted RF signal from each said device by at least one said device of said web;

d) determining a non-authorized loss of proximity from said web of at least one said device of said web; and

e) upon said non-authorized loss of proximity, providing for at least one of said devices of said web to initiate an event.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step c) of searching for said transmitted RF signal is comprised of the step of:

searching for said transmitted RF signal from each said device by each said device of said web.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step a) of enabling further comprises:

providing for each device to communicatively connect to every other device, wherein each device has RF signal transmission, detection and reception capabilities; and

providing to each device of said web an encoded and identifiable RF transmission signal, and providing an accounting of all said devices and said encoded and identifiable transmission signals of said devices to each said device.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing for each said device to leave said security web in a web authorized fashion.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing for at least one additional device to join said security web in a web authorized fashion.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said step d) of determining a non-authorized loss of proximity further comprises determining a non-receipt of said RF signal of at least one said device by every other device of said web.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said step e) of providing for at least one device to initiate an event further comprises providing for the deactivation of user pre-determined devices.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing for the merger of said security web with at least one additional security web.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said steps of enabling, transmitting, and detecting incorporate the Bluetooth Protocol.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said devices are portable information devices inclusive of PDA'"'"'s, cellular phones, laptop computers, pagers and other personal electronic devices comprising gaming devices, digital cameras, mobile access devices, digital camcorders and mp3/walkman players.

11. A system for effecting a security web upon multiple devices comprising:

a first device having RF signal transmission, detection, and receiving capability; and

at least one additional device having RF signal transmission, detection, and receiving capability, wherein each said device is enabled to respond as an authorized member of a security web and act as a co-monitoring device within said web, transmits an identifiable RF signal at regular time intervals, determines a non-authorized loss of proximity from said web of at least one said device of said web, and upon said non-authorized loss of proximity, provides for the initiation of an event and wherein at least one said device searches for said transmitted RF signals from every other said device of said web and for signals from additional devices seeking to join said web.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein each said device searches for said transmitted RF signals from every other said device of said web and for signals from additional devices seeking to join said web.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein each said device is provided to communicatively connect to every other device, and wherein each device transmits an encoded and identifiable RF signal and maintains an accounting of all said devices and said encoded and identifiable transmission signals of said web.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein each said device is provided a method to leave said security web in a web authorized fashion.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein each device is provided a method to authorize additional devices to join said security web.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein each said device determines a non-authorized loss of proximity by determining a non-receipt of said RF signal of at least one said device.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein each device deactivates upon the non-authorized loss of proximity to the security web.

18. The system of claim 11 further comprising at least one additional security web communicatively linked with said security web.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein said devices incorporate the Bluetooth Protocol.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein said devices are portable information devices comprising PDA'"'"'s, cellular phones, laptop computers, pagers and other personal electronic devices comprising gaming devices, digital cameras, mobile access devices, digital camcorders and mp3/walkman players.

21. A computer-usable medium having computer-readable code embodied therein for causing multiple computers to perform the steps of:

a) enabling multiple devices to respond as authorized members of a security web such that each device acts as a co-monitoring device within said web;

b) transmitting an identifiable RF signal at regular time intervals from each said device of said web;

c) searching for said transmitted RF signal from each said device by at least one said device of said web;

d) determining a non-authorized loss of proximity from said web of at least one said device of said web; and

e) upon said non-authorized loss of proximity, providing for at least one of said devices of said web to initiate an event.

22. The computer-usable medium of claim 21 wherein said step c) of searching for said transmitted RF signal is comprised of the step of:

searching for said transmitted RF signal from each said device by each said device of said web.

23. The computer-usable medium of claim 21 wherein said step a) of enabling further comprises:

providing for each device to communicatively connect to every other device, wherein each device has RF signal transmission, detection and reception capabilities; and

providing to each device of said web an encoded and identifiable RF transmission signal, and providing an accounting of all said devices and said encoded and identifiable transmission signals of said devices to each said device.

24. The computer-usable medium of claim 21 further comprising the step of providing for each said device to leave said security web in a web authorized fashion.

25. The computer-usable medium of claim 21 further comprising the step of providing for at least one additional device to join said security web in a web authorized fashion.

26. The computer-usable medium of claim 21 wherein said step d) of determining a non-authorized loss of proximity further comprises determining a non-receipt of said RF signal of at least one said device by every other device of said web.

27. The computer-usable medium of claim 21 wherein said step e) of providing for at least one device to initiate an event further comprises providing for the deactivation of user pre-determined devices.

28. The computer-usable medium of claim 21 further comprising the step of providing for the merger of said security web with at least one additional security web.

29. The computer-usable medium of claim 21 wherein said steps of enabling, transmitting, and detecting incorporate the Bluetooth Protocol.

30. The computer-usable medium of claim 21 wherein said devices are portable information devices comprising PDA'"'"'s, cellular phones, laptop computers, pagers and other personal electronic devices comprising gaming devices, digital cameras, mobile access devices, digital camcorders and mp3/walkman players.