Bluetooth theft control

• US 7,075,433 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Terrace Licensing LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Singer, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walk, Samuel J
• Application Number:
  US10/351,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20040032325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/539.15, 340/539.23, 340/539.11, 340/539.21, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• 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: G08B 21/0277 Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth, piconet, zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]

Abstract

The present invention relates to computerized theft and displacement control and observation, dedicated to objects which represent a certain value or importance for its owner and shall thus be observed. In particular, it relates to a wireless, particular Bluetooth-based method and system. A tight, customizable Bluetooth communication involving a positive feedback control signal from the Guardian to the observed device is established (210,220,230) reflecting the usual case. This status is left when the observed device leaves the reception area of the Guardian as the positive feedback signal misses (220,240). Then the observed device sends out (260) standardized “I am stolen” signals which can be received and evaluated fully automatically at multiple locations by respective Theft Monitors. Thus, respective measures can be undertaken to seize the device, e.g., by issuing a selective quiet alarm.

Claims

1. A process for monitoring an observed device, the process comprising:

transmitting from the observed device a wireless normal signal indicating a normal operating status;

waiting for a determined time period to receive a wireless acknowledgement signal from a guardian device in response to the transmitted normal signal;

transmitting from the observed device a wireless alarm signal indicating an alarm status in response to not receiving an acknowledgement signal from the guardian device within the determined time period; and

receiving the alarm signal at a monitor device separate and distinct from the guardian device.

2. The process of claim 1, further comprising protecting the observed device against deactivation of the transmission of the alarm signal.

3. The process of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a wireless reset signal from a guardian device to an observed device.

4. The process of claim 3, further comprising resetting the observed device to the normal operating status in response to receiving the reset signal from the guardian device.

5. The process of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the wireless acknowledgement signal from the guardian device to the observed device in response to receiving the normal signal from the observed device.

6. The process of claim 1, further comprising communicating the alarm status from the monitor device to a monitoring party.

7. The process of claim 1, further comprising triggering a predetermined action in response to the monitor device receiving the alarm signal.

8. An observed device that can be monitored, the observed device comprising:

a normal transmission module configured to transmit a wireless normal signal indicating a normal operating status;

a time delay module configured to wait for a determined time period; and

an alarm transmission module configured to transmit a wireless alarm signal indicating an alarm status in response to an alarm event, the alarm signal configured for receipt by a monitor device separate and distinct from the guardian device.

9. The observed device of claim 8, wherein the time delay module is further configured to transmit an alarm event signal to the alarm transmission module if the time delay module does not receive notification of receipt of an acknowledgement signal during the determined time period.

10. The observed device of claim 8, further comprising a protection module configured to protect the alarm transmission module against deactivation of the alarm signal.

11. The observed device of claim 8, further comprising a reset module configured to reset the observed device to the normal operation status in response to receiving a reset signal.

12. A guardian device for monitoring an observed device, the guardian device comprising:

a normal transmission module configured to receive a wireless normal signal from the observed device, the normal signal indicating a normal operating status; and

an acknowledgement transmission module configured to transmit a wireless acknowledgement signal in response to receiving a normal signal from the observed device, the observed device configured to transmit an alarm signal in response to not receiving the acknowledgement signal within a determined time period, the alarm signal configured for receipt by a monitor device separate and distinct from the guardian device.

13. The guardian device of claim 12, further comprising a reset transmission module configured to transmit a wireless reset signal to the observed device.

14. A process for monitoring an observed device, the process comprising:

transmitting from the observed device a wireless normal signal indicating a normal operating status;

waiting for a determined time period to receive a wireless acknowledgement signal from a guardian device in response to the transmitted normal signal;

transmitting the wireless acknowledgement signal from the guardian device to the observed device in response to receiving the normal signal from the observed device; and

receiving an alarm signal at a monitor device separate and distinct from the guardian device in response to the observed device not receiving the acknowledgement signal within the determined time period, the alarm signal transmitted by the observed device.

15. A process for monitoring an observed device, the process comprising:

transmitting from the observed device a wireless normal signal indicating a normal operating status;

waiting for a determined time period to receive a wireless acknowledgement signal from a guardian device in response to the transmitted normal signal;

transmitting an alarm event signal if the observed device does not receive the acknowledgement signal during the determined time period;

transmitting from the observed device a wireless alarm signal indicating an alarm status in response to an alarm event;

communicating the alarm status to a monitoring party by way of a monitor device configured to receive the alarm signal;

transmitting a wireless reset signal from the guardian device to the observed device;

resetting the observed device to the normal operating status in response to receiving the reset signal from the guardian device; and

protecting the observed device against deactivation of the transmission of the alarm signal.

16. A system for monitoring an observed device, the system comprising:

an observed device configured to transmit a wireless normal signal indicating a normal operating status;

a guardian device configured to transmit a wireless acknowledgement signal to the observed device in response to receiving the normal signal from the observed device; and

the observed device further configured to send a wireless alarm signal based on non-receipt of the acknowledgement signal from the guardian device to a monitor device in response to an alarm event, the monitor device separate and distinct from the guardian device and configured to trigger a predetermined action in response to receiving the alarm signal.

17. A system for monitoring an observed device, the system comprising:

an observed device comprising;

a normal transmission module configured to transmit a wireless normal signal indicating a normal operating status;

a time delay module configured to wait for a determined time period and transmit an alarm event signal to the alarm transmission module if the time delay module does not receive notification of receipt of an acknowledgement signal during the determined time period;

an alarm transmission module configured to transmit a wireless alarm signal indicating an alarm status in response to an alarm event;

a guardian device comprising;

a normal transmission module configured to receive a wireless normal signal from the observed device, the normal signal indicating a normal operating status;

an acknowledgement transmission module configured to transmit a wireless acknowledgement signal in response to receiving a normal signal from the observed device;

a monitor device comprising;

an alarm transmission module configured to receive a wireless alarm signal from the observed device, the alarm signal indicating an alarm event; and

an alarm communication module configured to communicate an alarm status to a monitor party and trigger a predetermined action in response to receiving the alarm signal.

18. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable code configured to carry out a process for monitoring an observed device, the process comprising:

transmitting from the observed device a wireless normal signal indicating a normal operating status;

waiting for a determined time period to receive a wireless acknowledgement signal from a guardian device in response to the transmitted normal signal;

transmitting the wireless acknowledgement signal from the guardian device to the observed device in response to receiving the normal signal from the observed device;

transmitting from the observed device a wireless alarm signal indicating an alarm status in response to not receiving an acknowledgement signal from the guardian device within the determined time period;

receiving the alarm signal at one or more monitor devices each separate and distinct from the guardian device.

19. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable code configured to carry out a process for monitoring an observed device, the process comprising:

transmitting from the observed device a wireless normal signal indicating a normal operating status;

waiting for a determined time period to receive a wireless acknowledgement signal from a guardian device in response to the transmitted normal signal;

transmitting an alarm event signal if the observed device does not receive the acknowledgement signal during the determined time period;

transmitting from the observed device a wireless alarm signal indicating an alarm status in response to an alarm event;

communicating the alarm status to a monitoring party by way of a monitor device separate and distinct from the guardian device;

transmitting a wireless reset signal from the guardian device to the observed device;

resetting the observed device to the normal operating status in response to receiving the reset signal from the guardian device; and

protecting the observed device against deactivation of the transmission of the alarm signal.

20. A system for monitoring an observed device, the system comprising:

means for transmitting from the observed device a wireless normal signal indicating a normal operating status;

means for waiting for a determined time period to receive a wireless acknowledgement signal from a guardian device in response to the transmitted normal signal;

means for transmitting the wireless acknowledgement signal from the guardian device to the observed device in response to receiving the normal signal from the observed device

means for transmitting from the observed device a wireless alarm signal indicating an alarm status in response to not receiving an acknowledgement signal from the guardian device within the determined time period;

means for receiving the alarm signal at a monitor device separate and distinct from the guardian device.

21. A system for monitoring an observed device, the system comprising:

means for transmitting from the observed device a wireless normal signal indicating a normal operating status;

means for waiting for a determined time period to receive a wireless acknowledgement signal from a guardian device in response to the transmitted normal signal;

means for transmitting an alarm event signal if the observed device does not receive the acknowledgement signal during the determined time period;

means for transmitting from the observed device a wireless alarm signal indicating an alarm status in response to an alarm event;

means for communicating the alarm status to a monitoring party by way of a monitor device separate and distinct from the guardian device;

means for transmitting a wireless reset signal from the guardian device to the observed device;

means for resetting the observed device to the normal operating status in response to receiving the reset signal from the guardian device; and

means for protecting the observed device against deactivation of the transmission of the alarm signal.