Method and device for securing objects

• US 7,518,509 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2005
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Inventors: Pieper, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US11/293,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20060146133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/572.1, 340/572.2, 340/572.3, 340/539.13, 340/539.23, 340/539.32, 340/5.2, 340/5.92, 340/10.1, 235/385, 348/156
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2454 Checking of authorisation of a person accessing tagged items in an EAS system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2457 Lending systems using EAS tags wherein the tags are reusable, e.g. they can be activated and deactivated more than once, e.g. for a library
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

A method and a device for securing objects that are present in protected spatial areas, whereby the objects to be secured are provided with an identifier or linked with an identifier and said identifier is detected by a receiving unit when the object to be secured is displaced. For this purpose, the receiving unit detects the presence of the identifier and electronic data for proving the presence of the identifier are stored. The electronic data are adapted to allow an unambiguous assignment of the signal detected by the receiving unit to the identifier. Data are detected independently of the detection of the identifier that allow an identification of a person carrying an object to be secured.

Claims

1. A device for securing objects inside closed buildings, whereby the object to be secured has a transmitter that, in the presence of a receiving field, supplies an encoded signal, whereby the encoded signal is detected by a receiving unit and subsequently converted into electronically processable encoded data, the device comprising:

a receiving unit, whereby the receiving unit amplifies the electronic data, and,

an interface, whereby the interface is connected to the receiving unit by a first data transmission line, the interface being configured in such a way that the encoded data can be transmitted to a data transmission network, and whereby the data transmission network connects the interface to a data archive for purposes of processing and storing data, and whereby the data archive is configured in such a way that consequently the encoded data can be stored in the archive, wherein

the encoded data triggers a switching operation that activates a recording unit that is located in the immediate vicinity of the receiving field and that serves to process video data, whereby the video data taped by the recording unit is transmitted to the archive by means of a second data transmission line and then stored in the archive, whereby, after the expiration of a time interval during which no other receiving event occurs as a result of a signal of said encoding, the stored data of the object previously belonging to the encoded data as well as the video data is read by a computer.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein it is ascertained which of the objects taken out of the secure area have been brought back to the secure area.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit for receiving and amplifying the encoded signal can process at least one type of signal selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic waves, acoustic waves, and infrared radiation.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit allows the transmission of signals.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second data transmission lines are each capable of loss-free transfer of data.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first data transmission line is an RS 232 cable.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second data transmission line is a coaxial cable.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the interface is a gateway.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiver as well as the interface form a unit having a shared power supply.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the data transmission network comprises at least one RS 485 bus and at least one data transmission line.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the data transmission line is an RS 485 cable.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one data archive is connected to the data transmission network.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the data archive has at least one FBAS (BNC) video input and, at the maximum, four FBAS (BNC) video inputs.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the data archive is connected to a local network, as a result of which data from the archive is supplied for evaluation purposes to different places within the network.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the local network is an Ethernet.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein the data are evaluated by a computer capable of processing Internet standards.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the data archive is a digital data archive.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the digital data archive comprises a hard disk to store the data.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the data archive is an analog data archive.

20. The device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter for supplying the encoded signals supplies at least one type of signal selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic waves, acoustic waves and infrared radiation.

21. The device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter for supplying the encoded signals is a transponder.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein the transmitter is a semi-active transponder.

23. The device according to claim 1, wherein the objects belong to an office inventory.