US 2011/0215926 A1Published application

Position change sensing anti-theft device

OwnerLior GOLDENBERGinventor

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Abstract

Position change sensing apparatus including at least one audio signal transducer for emitting audio signals and receiving audio signals and computer software embodied in a medium readable by the apparatus and having anti-theft functionality including learning functionality and theft-prevention functionality.

Claims20

Dependent claims

Position change sensing apparatus comprising:

at least one audio signal transducer for emitting audio signals and receiving audio signals;
and
computer software embodied in a medium readable by said apparatus and having anti-theft functionality, said anti-theft functionality including:
learning functionality operative:
to employ said at least one audio signal transducer to emit an audio signal and to receive an echo of said audio signal in a first mode of operation when said apparatus is not supported on a support surface;
to employ said at least one audio signal transducer to emit an audio signal and to receive an echo of said audio signal in a second mode of operation when said apparatus is supported on said support surface;
to perform a learning analysis of differences in magnitudes between said echo in said first mode of operation and said echo in said second mode of operation;
to ascertain, based on said learning analysis, at least one frequency at which a difference in magnitudes between said echoes of said first and second modes of operation is significant;
and
to employ said at least one audio signal transducer to emit an audio signal at said at least one frequency at which the difference in magnitudes between said echoes of said first and second modes of operation is significant and to receive an echo of said audio signal at said at least one frequency where said echo is a reference echo;
and
theft-prevention functionality operative:
to cause said apparatus to employ said at least one audio signal transducer to repeatedly emit an audio signal at said at least one frequency at which the difference in magnitudes between said echoes of said first and second modes of operation is significant and to receive an echo of said audio signal at said at least one frequency;
repeatedly to perform a theft-prevention analysis of a difference in magnitudes between said echo and said reference echo at said at least one frequency at which the difference in magnitudes between said echoes of said first and second modes of operation is significant;
to ascertain, based on said theft-prevention analysis, when the position of said apparatus is changed from being in said second mode of operation when said apparatus is supported on said support surface to being in said first mode of operation when said apparatus is not supported on said support surface;
and
to provide an indication when the position of said apparatus is changed from being in second mode of operation when said apparatus is supported on said support surface to being in said first mode of operation when said apparatus is not supported on said support surface.

14 more elements

A portable electronic device including at least one audio signal transducer for emitting audio signals and receiving audio signals and comprising:

computer software embodied in a medium readable by said portable electronic device and having anti-theft functionality, said anti-theft functionality including:
learning functionality operative:
to cause said portable electronic device to employ said at least one audio signal transducer to emit an audio signal and to receive an echo of said audio signal in a first mode of operation when said portable electronic device is not supported on a support surface;
to cause said portable electronic device to employ said at least one audio signal transducer to emit an audio signal and to receive an echo of said audio signal in a second mode of operation when said portable electronic device is supported on said support surface;
to perform a learning analysis of differences in magnitudes between said echo in said first mode of operation and said echo in said second mode of operation;
to ascertain, based on said learning analysis, at least one frequency at which the difference in magnitudes between said echoes of said first and second modes of operation is significant;
and
to employ said at least one audio signal transducer to emit an audio signal at said at least one frequency at which the difference in magnitudes between said echoes of said first and second modes of operation is significant and to receive an echo of said audio signal at said at least one frequency where said echo is a reference echo;
and
theft-prevention functionality operative:
to cause said portable electronic device to employ said at least one audio signal transducer to repeatedly emit an audio signal at said at least one frequency at which the difference in magnitudes between said echoes of said first and second modes of operation is significant and to receive an echo of said audio signal at said at least one frequency;
repeatedly to perform a theft-prevention analysis of a difference in magnitudes between said echo and said reference echo at said at least one frequency at which the difference in magnitudes between said echoes of said first and second modes of operation is significant;
to ascertain, based on said theft-prevention analysis, when the position of said portable electronic device is changed from being in said second mode of operation when said portable electronic device is supported on said support surface to being in said first mode of operation when said portable electronic device is not supported on said support surface;
and
to provide an alarm indication when the position of said portable electronic device is changed from being in said second mode of operation when said portable electronic device is supported on said support surface to being in said first mode of operation when said portable electronic device is not supported on said support surface.

12 more elements

A method for preventing theft of an article, the method comprising;

fixedly associating with said article an electronic device including at least one audio signal transducer for emitting audio signals and receiving audio signals and including computer software embodied in a medium readable by said electronic device and having anti-theft functionality;
operating said anti-theft functionality in a learning mode including:
causing said electronic device to employ said at least one audio signal transducer to emit an audio signal and to receive an echo of said audio signal in a first mode of operation when said electronic device is not supported on a support surface;
causing said electronic device to employ said at least one audio signal transducer to emit an audio signal and to receive an echo of said audio signal in a second mode of operation when said electronic device is supported on said support surface;
causing said electronic device to perform a learning analysis of differences in magnitudes between said echo in said first mode of operation and said echo in said second mode of operation;
causing said electronic device to ascertain, based on said learning analysis, at least one frequency at which a difference in magnitudes between said echoes of said first and second modes of operation is significant;
and
causing said electronic device to employ said at least one audio signal transducer to emit an audio signal at said at least one frequency at which the difference in magnitudes between said echoes of said first and second modes of operation is significant and to receive an echo of said audio signal at said at least one frequency where said echo is a reference echo;
and
operating said theft-prevention functionality in an anti-theft mode including:
causing said electronic device to employ said at least one audio signal transducer to repeatedly emit an audio signal at said at least one frequency at which the difference in magnitudes between said echoes of said first and second modes of operation is significant and to receive an echo of said audio signal at said at least one frequency;
causing said electronic device repeatedly to perform a theft-prevention analysis of a difference in magnitudes between said echo and said reference echo at said at least one frequency at which the difference in magnitudes between said echoes of said first and second modes of operation is significant;
causing said electronic device to ascertain, based on said theft-prevention analysis, when the position of said electronic device is changed from being in said second mode of operation when said electronic device is supported on said support surface to being in said first mode of operation when said electronic device is not supported on said support surface;
and
causing said electronic device to provide an alarm indication when the position of said electronic device is changed from being in said second mode of operation when said electronic device is supported on said support surface to being in said first mode of operation when said electronic device is not supported on said support surface.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

Position change sensing apparatus comprising:

at least one audio signal transducer for emitting audio signals and receiving audio signals;
and
computer software embodied in a medium readable by said apparatus and having anti-theft functionality, said anti-theft functionality including:
learning functionality operative:
to employ said at least one audio signal transducer to emit an audio signal and to receive an echo of said audio signal in a first mode of operation when said apparatus is not supported on a support surface;
to employ said at least one audio signal transducer to emit an audio signal and to receive an echo of said audio signal in a second mode of operation when said apparatus is supported on said support surface;
to perform a learning analysis of differences in magnitudes between said echo in said first mode of operation and said echo in said second mode of operation;
to ascertain, based on said learning analysis, at least one frequency at which a difference in magnitudes between said echoes of said first and second modes of operation is significant;
and
to employ said at least one audio signal transducer to emit an audio signal at said at least one frequency at which the difference in magnitudes between said echoes of said first and second modes of operation is significant and to receive an echo of said audio signal at said at least one frequency where said echo is a reference echo;
and
theft-prevention functionality operative:
to cause said apparatus to employ said at least one audio signal transducer to repeatedly emit an audio signal at said at least one frequency at which the difference in magnitudes between said echoes of said first and second modes of operation is significant and to receive an echo of said audio signal at said at least one frequency;
repeatedly to perform a theft-prevention analysis of a difference in magnitudes between said echo and said reference echo at said at least one frequency at which the difference in magnitudes between said echoes of said first and second modes of operation is significant;
to ascertain, based on said theft-prevention analysis, when the position of said apparatus is changed from being in said second mode of operation when said apparatus is supported on said support surface to being in said first mode of operation when said apparatus is not supported on said support surface;
and
to provide an indication when the position of said apparatus is changed from being in second mode of operation when said apparatus is supported on said support surface to being in said first mode of operation when said apparatus is not supported on said support surface.

14 more elements