Portable loss prevention system

• US 20070042714A1
• Filed: 08/17/2005
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optima Direct, LLC (2S Ventures, LLC), Mourad Ben Ayed
• Original Assignee: Mourad Ayed
• Inventors: Ayed, Mourad
• Granted Patent: US 7,664,463 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/025 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses absence of reply signal after an elapsed time
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0277 Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth, piconet, zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A loss prevention system containing a Bluetooth transceiver and a motion detection system monitors the presence of a portable electronic device such as a cell phone in the vicinity and alerts when that device leaves its vicinity. The system transceiver is activated upon detecting a movement and turned off after a check is done in order to conserve battery.

Claims

1. A unitary remotely configurable portable electronic loss prevention system comprising:

Bluetooth transceiver means for discovering Bluetooth devices in the vicinity,

a motion detection system for detection of movement,

a memory for storing the Bluetooth ID of a monitored portable electronic device,

one or more batteries,

a processor for turning on the Bluetooth transceiver on detection of movement, comparing the Bluetooth ID of Bluetooth devices in the vicinity with the Bluetooth ID of said monitored portable electronic device, and turning off said Bluetooth transceiver,

an alert system to inform a user in the event said portable electronic device is not in the vicinity.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said monitored portable electronic device is a wireless communication device.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said motion detection system comprises one or more motion detectors.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said motion detection system comprises one or more sensors selected from the set comprised of switches, tilt sensors, vibration sensors, accelerometers and gyros.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said alert system comprises a buzzer.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said alert system comprises an audio system.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said one or more batteries are rechargeable.

8. The device of claim 1 comprising means for attaching said loss prevention system selected from the set containing:

clip, ring, fastening mechanism.

9. A method for monitoring proximity to a Bluetooth portable electronic device using a remotely configurable unitary portable detection system comprising:

on detecting a motion using a motion detector,

a Bluetooth transceiver is turned on,

said Bluetooth transceiver automatically discovers Bluetooth devices in the vicinity,

a processor compares the Bluetooth IDs of said Bluetooth devices in the vicinity with the Bluetooth ID of said portable electronic device stored in memory,

if a match is not found, an alert is issued,

if a match is found, said Bluetooth transceiver is turned off.

10. The method of claim 9 comprising a configuration procedure whereby, on user activation of a switch onboard said portable detection system,

a Bluetooth transceiver onboard said portable detection system is turned on,

said Bluetooth transceiver discovers the Bluetooth ID of said portable electronic device in the vicinity,

said Bluetooth ID is stored in memory onboard said portable detection system.

11. The method of claim 9 comprising,

starting a second monitoring application onboard said portable electronic device,

periodically and automatically,

said Bluetooth transceiver of said portable electronic device discovers Bluetooth devices in the vicinity,

a processor compares the Bluetooth IDs of said Bluetooth devices in the vicinity with the Bluetooth ID of said portable detection system stored in memory,

if a match is not found, an alert is issued.

12. A method for monitoring proximity to a portable electronic device using a unitary portable detection system comprising:

on detecting a motion using a motion detector,

a transceiver is turned on,

said transceiver discovers compatible transceiver devices in the vicinity,

a processor compares the IDs of said compatible transceivers in the vicinity with the ID of said portable electronic device stored in memory,

if a match is not found, an alert is issued,

if a match is found, said transceiver is turned off.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said transceiver is a Bluetooth transceiver.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said transceiver is a WIFI transceiver.

15. The method of claim 12 comprising,

on activation of a switch onboard said portable detection system,

a transceiver is turned on,

said transceiver discovers the ID of said portable electronic device in the vicinity,

said ID is stored in memory onboard said portable detection system.

16. The method of claim 12 comprising,

starting a second monitoring application onboard said portable electronic device,

periodically and automatically,

said transceiver of said portable electronic device discovers compatible devices in the vicinity,

a processor compares the IDs of said devices in the vicinity with the ID of said portable detection system stored in memory,

if a match is not found, an alert is issued.

17. The method of claim 12 comprising,

starting a configuration application onboard said portable electronic device,

establishing a temporary two-way wireless data connection with said portable detection system,

sending configuration parameters to said portable detection system,

said configuration parameters are stored onboard said portable detection system.

18. The method of claim 17 whereby said configuration parameters comprise parameters selected from the set containing:

operation hours, operation days, buzzer type, buzzer volume, buzzer duration, alarm type, alert message.

19. The method of claim 12 whereby said alert is an audible warning message.