Security system

• US 20050006462A1
• Filed: 07/10/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fintegraph, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Rouille Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Rouille, Catherine J., Rouille, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,267,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0213 System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded disabling electrical appliances in case of unplugging G08B13/1409

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus is provided wherein a device is disabled if the device is located more then a predetermined distance away from the owner. Accordingly, a lost or stolen device is rendered unusable. The device has coupled thereto a receiver or transceiver. A transmitter or transceiver is located separately from the device. When the receiver and transmitter can communicate, the device is usable, when the receiver and transmitter cannot communicate, the receiver disables the device, rendering the device unusable.

Claims

1. A security device for a card comprising:

a primary transceiver coupled to a card; and

a secondary transceiver wherein said primary transceiver attempts to communicate with said secondary transceiver and when said primary transceiver can communicate with said secondary transceiver said card is usable and wherein when said primary transceiver cannot communicate with said secondary transceiver said card is disabled.

2. The security device of claim 1 wherein said card comprises a credit card.

3. The security device of claim 1 wherein said card is selected from the group comprising an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card, a debit card, a gift card and a financial transaction card.

4. A security device for a card comprising:

a primary transceiver; and

a secondary transceiver coupled to a card wherein said primary transceiver attempts to communicate with said secondary transceiver and when said primary transceiver can communicate with said secondary transceiver said card is usable and wherein when said primary transceiver cannot communicate with said secondary transceiver said card is disabled.

5. The security device of claim 4 wherein said card comprises a credit card.

6. The security device of claim 4 wherein said card is selected from the group comprising an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card, a debit card, a gift card and a financial transaction card.

7. A security system for an electronic device comprising:

a primary transceiver coupled to the electronic device; and

a secondary transceiver wherein said primary transceiver attempts to communicate with said secondary transceiver and when said primary transceiver can communicate with said secondary transceiver said device is usable and wherein when said primary transceiver cannot communicate with said secondary transceiver said device is unusable.

8. The security system of claim 7 wherein said electronic device is selected from the group comprising a laptop computer, a cellular telephone, and a personal digital assistant.

9. A security system for an electronic device comprising:

a primary transceiver; and

a secondary transceiver coupled to the electronic device wherein said primary transceiver attempts to communicate with said secondary transceiver and when said primary transceiver can communicate with said secondary transceiver said device is usable and wherein when said primary transceiver cannot communicate with said secondary transceiver said device is unusable.

10. The security system of claim 9 wherein said electronic device is selected from the group comprising a laptop computer, a cellular telephone, and a personal digital assistant.