Location-based anti-theft and security system and method

• US 7,567,176 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2005
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Custos Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Custos Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Stephens, Randy
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lu; Shirley
• Application Number:
  US11/130,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20050253714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,534 Days
• Field of Search: 340500-580, 340/57, 340/2, 340/426, 340/5.2, 726/9, 726/20
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• 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 21/025 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses absence of reply signal after an elapsed time

Abstract

An anti-theft and file security system for a portable electronic device that uses a wireless transceiver coupled to the electronic device, which detects an identifying RF signal produced by a wireless access point. In the preferred embodiment, the access point is connected to a local or wide area network within a geographical area in which the portable electronic device is operated. During use, the RF signal from the access point is detected by a wireless transceiver. Loaded into the memory of the electronic device is a software program that determines if the RF signal is produced by a recognized access point. If the RF signal produced by the access point is recognized, then the electronic device continues to operate and allows full access to secured files loaded thereon. If no RF signal is detected or if the detected RF signal is from a non-recognizable access point, then operation of the electronic device is terminated and/or access to the secured file is blocked.

Claims

1. An anti-theft and file security system for a portable electronic device, comprising:

a. a computer network in a designated geographic region;

b. a portable electronic device that moves into and out of said designated geographic region, said portable electronic device includes working memory;

c. at least one private file executable or accessible by said portable electronic device;

d. a wireless signal detecting means coupled to said portable electronic device;

e. a remote signal generating means that produces an identifiable signal within said designated geographic region, said identifiable signal from said remote signal generating means being detected by said signal detecting means coupled to said portable electronic device only when said portable electronic device is moved into said designated geographic region, each said identifiable signal being associated with an identification code that identifies said remote signal generating means;

f. a software program loaded into the working memory of said electronic device, said software program generates a table that enables a user to selectively associate said private file with an identification code associated with an identification signal from a remote signal generating means within a designated geographic region, said software program enabling execution or access to said private file listed in said table when said signal generating means on said electronic device detects an identifiable signal from a remote signal generating means that is assigned to an identifiable code that matches said identifiable code in said table.

2. The anti-theft and file security system for a portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said table is stored within said electronic device.

3. The anti-theft and file security system for a portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said table is stored in a peripheral device connected to said electronic device.

4. The anti-theft and file security system for a portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said private file is stored in a peripheral device connected to said electronic device.

5. The anti-theft and file security system for a portable electronic device as recited in claim 4, wherein said table is stored in a peripheral device connected to said electronic device.

6. An anti-theft and file security method for an electronic device is also provided comprising the following steps:

a. selecting a geographic region;

b. installing at least one wireless signal generating means within said geographic region, said wireless signal generating means produces a wireless identifiable signal, said wireless identifiable signal being associated with a unique identification code;

c. selecting a portable electronic device that includes a wireless signal detection means that detects said wireless identifiable signal from said wireless signal generating means, said portable electronic device executes or accesses a protected file, said electronic device includes a software program that creates a table that associates said protected file with said identification code associated with an identification signal from a wireless signal generating means, whereby when no identifiable signal is detected or when an identifiable signal is detected by said wireless signal detecting means, but the identification code associated with said wireless identifiable signal does not match the identification code in said table, the execution or access to said private file is denied, but when the identification code associated with said wireless identification signal matches the identification code in said table, execution or access to said private file is permitted;

d. operating an electronic device within the geographic region; and

,

e. attempting to execute or access said private file.

7. An anti-theft and file security method for an electronic device comprising the following steps:

a. selecting a portable electronic device temporarily moved and operated in a designated region, said electronic device includes a wireless signal detecting means for detecting an identification signal and an identification code associated therewith from a wireless signal generating means located in said designated region, said electronic device includes a software program that generates a table that enables a user to selectively associate a protected file with the identification code associated with a identification signal, said software program enables the execution or access to said private file listed in said table when said wireless signal generating means on said electronic device detects an identifiable signal from a remote signal generating means that is assigned to an identifiable code that matches said identifiable code in said table;

b. moving said portable electronic device to the designated region;

c. activating said signal detecting means to receive a wireless identification signal from a remote signal generation means operating in said designated region;

d. requesting execution or access to said private file;

e. determining if said identification signal is received and whether the identification code assigned to said identification signal is assigned to said private file in said table; and

,

f. permitting execution or access to said private file if the identification code associated with the identification signal received by said electronic device matches the identification code in said table and denying execution or access to said protected file if said identification code associated with the identification signal received by said electronic does not matches the identification code in said table.