Theft detection system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A theft detection and deterrence system comprising:
- an accelerometer attachable to an object, wherein the accelerometer measures the acceleration of the object and provides an acceleration signal in response to motion of the object;
a processor for processing the acceleration signal to determine if the motion of the object is a hostile motion and wherein the processor provides a corresponding output;
a hostility state machine responsive to the output of the processor comprising;
a non-hostility state and a hostility state, the hostility state comprising an initial hostility state level and at least a subsequent hostility state level, wherein the non-hostility state represents a not-stolen status and the hostility state represents a stolen status and wherein the hostility state machine determines a current hostility state level;
means for decreasing the current hostility state level when at the at least a subsequent hostility state level to the initial hostility state level; and
an alarm subsystem responsive to the control signal providing an alarm signal in response to hostile motion.
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Abstract
A theft detection system includes an accelerometer attachable to an object, the accelerometer providing an acceleration signal in response to movement of the object; an alarm mechanism for providing a signal in response to movement of the object; and for preventing false alarms, a filter programmed to determine the frequency of the acceleration signal and to provide an output to activate the alarm mechanism only when the frequency of the acceleration signal meets a predetermined criteria.
106 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A theft detection and deterrence system comprising:
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an accelerometer attachable to an object, wherein the accelerometer measures the acceleration of the object and provides an acceleration signal in response to motion of the object; a processor for processing the acceleration signal to determine if the motion of the object is a hostile motion and wherein the processor provides a corresponding output; a hostility state machine responsive to the output of the processor comprising; a non-hostility state and a hostility state, the hostility state comprising an initial hostility state level and at least a subsequent hostility state level, wherein the non-hostility state represents a not-stolen status and the hostility state represents a stolen status and wherein the hostility state machine determines a current hostility state level; means for decreasing the current hostility state level when at the at least a subsequent hostility state level to the initial hostility state level; and an alarm subsystem responsive to the control signal providing an alarm signal in response to hostile motion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A theft detection and deterrence system comprising:
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an accelerometer attachable to an object, wherein the accelerometer measures the acceleration of the object and provides an acceleration signal in response to motion of the object; a circuit for processing the acceleration signal to determine if the motion of the object is a hostile motion and wherein the circuit provides a corresponding output; a hostility state machine responsive to the output of the circuit comprising; a non-hostility state and a hostility state, the hostility state comprising an initial hostility state level and at least a subsequent hostility state level, wherein the non-hostility state represents a not-stolen status and the hostility state represents a stolen status and wherein the hostility state machine determines a current hostility state level; means for decreasing the current hostility state level when at the at least a subsequent hostility state level to the initial hostility state level; and an alarm subsystem responsive to the control signal for providing an alarm signal in response to hostile motion. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A theft detection and deterrence method comprising the steps of:
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attaching an accelerometer to an object, wherein the accelerometer measures the acceleration of the object and provides an acceleration signal in response to motion of the object; programming a processor for processing the acceleration signal to determine if the motion of the object is a hostile motion and wherein the processor provides a corresponding output; providing a hostility state machine responsive to the output of the processor, wherein the state machine comprises a non-hostility state and a hostility state, the hostility state comprising an initial hostility state level and at least a subsequent hostility state level, wherein the non-hostility state represents a not-stolen status and the hostility state represents a stolen status and wherein the hostility state machine determines a current hostility state level; means for decreasing the current hostility state level when at the at least a subsequent hostility state level to the initial hostility state level; and providing an alarm subsystem responsive to the control signal for providing an alarm signal in response to hostile motion. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A theft detection and deterrence method comprising the steps of:
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attaching an accelerometer to an object, wherein the accelerometer measures the acceleration of the object and provides an acceleration signal in response to motion of the object; configuring a circuit for processing the acceleration signal to determine if the motion of the object is a hostile motion and wherein the circuit provides a corresponding output; providing a hostility state machine responsive to the output of the circuit, wherein the state machine comprises a non-hostility state and a hostility state, the hostility state comprising an initial hostility state level and at least a subsequent hostility state level, wherein the non-hostility state represents a not-stolen status and the hostility state represents a stolen status and wherein the hostility state machine determines a current hostility state level; means for decreasing the current hostility state level when at the at least a subsequent hostility state level to the initial hostility state level; and providing an alarm subsystem responsive to the control signal for providing an alarm signal in response to hostile motion. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A theft detection and deterrence system comprising:
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a hostility state machine comprising; a non-hostility state and a hostility state, the hostility state comprising an initial hostility state level and at least a subsequent hostility state level, wherein the non-hostility state represents a not-stolen status and the hostility state represents a stolen status and wherein the hostility state machine determines a current hostility state level; and means for decreasing the current hostility state level when at the at least a subsequent hostility state level to the initial hostility state level.
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Specification