Security system for a portable article
First Claim
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1. A security system for portable articles, the security system comprising:
- one or more remote units, each comprising a tethering system adapted to connect one or more portable articles to the remote unit, an alarm circuit which can operate to generate a remote alarm signal if one or more of the portable articles is disconnected from the remote unit, and a RF transmitter which receives the remote alarm signal and responds by generating a RF transmission; and
a central unit, comprising a RF receiver which receives the RF transmission and outputs a central alarm signal, and a dialer which responds to the central alarm signal by initiating one or more telephone connections via a telephone line, whereby the disconnection of the portable article from the remote unit can be reported via the telephone connection,wherein the central unit causes a first predetermined message from a plurality of different available messages to be transmitted over the telephone lines,the first predetermined message selected based upon at least one of;
a) a recipient associated with the telephone line connection;
b) an identity of at least one remote unit at which a remote alarm signal is generated; and
c) an identity of a portable article disconnected from the at least one remote unit.
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Abstract
A security system for portable articles is provided. The security system includes a central unit and one or more remote units. Each remote unit has a tethering system which attaches one or more portable articles to the remote unit. When a portable article is detached from the remote unit, a remote alarm signal is generated, which is conveyed to the central unit via a radiofrequency transmission. The central unit confirms receipt of an alarm transmission, and activates a dialer, which contacts one or more individuals via telephone.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A security system for portable articles, the security system comprising:
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one or more remote units, each comprising a tethering system adapted to connect one or more portable articles to the remote unit, an alarm circuit which can operate to generate a remote alarm signal if one or more of the portable articles is disconnected from the remote unit, and a RF transmitter which receives the remote alarm signal and responds by generating a RF transmission; and a central unit, comprising a RF receiver which receives the RF transmission and outputs a central alarm signal, and a dialer which responds to the central alarm signal by initiating one or more telephone connections via a telephone line, whereby the disconnection of the portable article from the remote unit can be reported via the telephone connection, wherein the central unit causes a first predetermined message from a plurality of different available messages to be transmitted over the telephone lines, the first predetermined message selected based upon at least one of;
a) a recipient associated with the telephone line connection;
b) an identity of at least one remote unit at which a remote alarm signal is generated; and
c) an identity of a portable article disconnected from the at least one remote unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A security system for portable articles, the security system comprising:
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one or more remote units comprising one or more sensors connected to and for monitoring the condition of one or more portable articles as secure or unsecure with the one or more portable articles at its respective remote unit, each remote unit further comprising an alarm circuit which can operate to generate a remote alarm signal if one or more of the sensors detects an unsecure condition for one or more of the portable articles with the one or more portable articles at its respective remote unit, and a RF transmitter which receives the remote alarm signal and responds by generating a RF transmission; and a central unit, comprising a RF receiver which receives the RF transmission and outputs a central alarm signal, and a dialer which responds to the central alarm signal by initiating one or more telephone connections via a telephone line, the dialer having a telephone line through-connection to which a local telephone handset can access the telephone line for general usage, whereby the unsecure condition of a portable article at the remote unit can be reported via the telephone connection, wherein upon receipt of an RF transmission indicative of an alarm condition, the dialer deactivates the through-connection and seizes the telephone line, wherein the security system further comprises a line tamper circuit to monitor connection to the telephone line, the line tamper circuit causing the generation of a detectable alarm in the event an abnormal telephone line condition is detected. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for reporting the security status of a portable article by a security system having one or more remote units and a central unit, the method comprising the steps of:
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monitoring the status of one or more sensors associated with a remote unit, each of the one or more sensors monitoring the status of a portable article as secured or unsecured; generating a first remote alarm signal in response to detection of a first sensor as having an unsecured status; generating a second remote alarm signal in response to continued detection of the first sensor as having the unsecured status; transmitting first and second RF alarm signals by the remote unit in response to the first and second remote alarm signals; receiving the first and second RF alarm signals by the central unit; and
indicating an alarm condition by the central unit only upon receiving both the first and second RF alarm signals either consecutively or within a predetermined period of time,wherein the central unit causes a first predetermined message from a plurality of different available messages to be transmitted over the telephone lines, the first predetermined message selected based upon at least one of;
a) a recipient associated with the telephone line connection;
b) an identity of at least one remote unit at which a remote alarm signal is generated; and
c) an identity of a portable article disconnected from the at least one remote unit.wherein the central unit causes a first predetermined message from a plurality of different available messages to be transmitted over the telephone lines, the first predetermined message selected based upon at least one of;
a) a recipient associated with the telephone line connection;
b) an identity of at least one remote unit at which a remote alarm signal is generated; and
c) an identity of a portable article disconnected from the at least one remote unit. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification