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Acceleration-based theft detection system for portable electronic devices

  • US 8,217,792 B2
  • Filed: 06/02/2011
  • Issued: 07/10/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2004
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for providing theft protection for a portable device by a theft protection sub-system, comprising:

  • operating the theft protection sub-system independently of a processor controlling the portable device;

    by the theft detection sub-system independent of the processor,detecting an acceleration of the portable device;

    generating an acceleration signal in response to the detecting, the acceleration signal having a spectrum of frequencies characteristic of accelerated movement of the portable device;

    processing the acceleration signal by analyzing at least one metric indicative of a degree to which the acceleration signal matches a known theft condition;

    generating a theft detection signal only when the analysis of the metric indicates that the degree to which the acceleration signal matches the known theft condition is greater than a pre-determined threshold value;

    sending the theft detection signal to the processor in order for the processor to initiate the production of an alarm based upon the theft detection signal; and

    disabling operations of the portable device other than the theft detection sub-system and alarm by the processor, wherein the processor is arranged to enter a sleep mode to conserve electrical power consumption by the portable device and the theft protection system is operable when the processor is in the sleep mode.

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