EP1792500A1

EP1792500A1 - Method and system for restoring lost property to its rightful owner

Info

Publication number: EP1792500A1
Application number: EP05777304A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Joonas Pekkanen
Original assignee: Returnmeorg Oy
Current assignee: Returnmeorg Oy
Priority date: 2004-08-31
Filing date: 2005-08-31
Publication date: 2007-06-06
Also published as: EP1792500A4; WO2006024692A1; FI116861B; FI20041136A0

Abstract

The invention relates to enhanced restoration of lost property (102) to its rightful owner (112). The invention relates specifically to a method for restoring lost property to its rightful owner utilising mobile station and data network technology, in which an identifier (200) is affixed to the property (102) for guiding the finder (302) of the property in restoring the property. The identifier comprises an individual code (206) and the service provider's (108) contact data (208). The finder (302) sends said code (206) to said service provider (108) in a text message using the contact data (208) and the service provider (108) compares the code with codes in his database that relate unambiguously to the property owners (112) and sends the finder's (302) contact data in a text message to the mobile station (118) relating to the primary number of the property owner (112) corresponding to said code (206).

Description

Method and system for restoring lost property to its rightful owner

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to enhanced restoration of lost property to its rightful owner. The invention relates specifically to a method and a system for restoring lost property to its right owner by utilising mobile station and data network technology.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People nowadays carry a lot of varied movable property, such as keys, a mobile phone, a laptop, a PDA, a bag, a camera and a bike, and possibly also pets. Due to people's increased mobility and busy lifestyle, movable property is increasingly misplaced to a remarkable extent, the misplacements often causing the owner economical losses and waste of time in the recovery and search for the lost property.

Several types of solutions have been used for restoring movable property to its right owner, comprising e.g. affixing an identifier to the property, providing instructions for the person's actions who finds the lost movables.

A very commonly used solution e.g. in the case of lost keys is an identifier asking the finder (a) to drop the keys into the nearest post box, (b) to take the keys to the nearest police station, or (c) to restore the keys to the rightful owner of the lost property via a service point of a provider of return services.

Optionally, prior art solutions involve asking the person who finds the property to call a toll-free service number indicated in the identifier, after which the service adviser makes arrangements with the finder about delivering the property to the service provider by courier. US patent specification 2002/0181667 A1 also discloses a solution implemented by means of phone calls and e-mail contacts, in which keys or other objects that should be restored to the owner are equipped with an individual identifier number and phone number or website address for the finder to contact. As the finder has entered the identifier number occurring on the object either by phone or e-mail in the system, the owner receives automatically a report of the object having been found either by a phone call or by e-mail. As the owner has contacted the system and entered said identifier number, he will receive the finder's contact data (phone number or e mail address) with a view to contacting him/her.

However, the prior art solutions involve a number of problems, such as slow performance, for instance. If a customer loses say, his bunch of keys, it will not be particularly useful for him to retrieve them after a week, for instance. In the meantime, the customer has had time to get a spare key or to have a locksmith make new keys, or to get a new number sequence for his lock. In addition, prior art solutions involve quite costly services, because they require a considerable amount of work by the service provider (stand-by telephone service, mailing, and similar services) and also services purchased from others (courier, mail and similar services). Too high a price may restrain a potential clientele notably. What is more, most conventional services have been geographically restricted, so that they have offered returning services in a given country alone, the services being subject to agreements with specific partners, such as the post and the police.

Some known solutions further enable the finder to indicate e.g. an anonymous e-mail address as his contact data, or optionally the finder may acquire the owner's contact data over the internet, thus risking abuse, such as blackmailing attempts, for instance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention has the purpose of allowing the return of lost property to its owner as soon as possible while safeguarding the anonymity of the owner of the lost property and thus also minimising and even totally eliminating the risk of abuse (such as e.g. blackmail).

The objectives of the invention are achieved by providing the movable property with an identifier fixed to the object, the identifier advising the finder to send an individual code included in the identifier to the service provider's number in the form of a text message. The service provider identifies the owner by comparing the individual code he has received with codes in his register, the codes being unambiguously associable with the property owner corresponding to the code. The service provider also identifies the finder on the basis of the finder's identifier data (preferably a mobile phone number) included in the text message sent by the finder, after which the service provider further transmits the finder's mobile phone number to the property owner in the form of a text message, for the parties to subsequently agree about details in connection with the return of the property.

The method of the invention for restoring lost property to its right owner, in which an identifier is affixed to the property in order to guide the finder of the property in restoring the property, is characterised by the identifier comprising an individual code and the service provider's contact data and in the finder sending said code to said service provider in a text message utilising the contact data, and in the service provider comparing the code with codes in his database that are unambiguously associated with the property owners and sending the finder's contact data by a text message to the mobile station relating to the primary number of the property owner corresponding to said code.

The system of the invention for restoring lost property to its rightful owner, which comprises an identifier affixed to the property for guiding the finder in returning the property, is characterised by the identifier comprising an individual code and the service provider's contact data and in that, as the finder follows the identifier instructions, the text message including said code sent by the finder is adapted to be sent to said service provider, and in that the service provider is adapted to compare the code with codes in his database that are unambiguously associated with the property owners and to deliver the finder's contact data by a text message to the mobile station relating to the primary number of the property owner corresponding to said code.

The identifier of the invention for use in the method defined in any of the method claims is characterised by the identifier being and identifier plate, adhesive label, plaque, tag or engraving that can be affixed to the property.

A number of preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims. In a first embodiment of the invention, the property intended in this document, most advantageously movable effects, is provided with an identifier. The identifier can be affixed e.g. to a bunch of keys in the form of a key chain. Optionally, the identifier can be affixed to any movable property, such as e.g. luggage, pets or bikes, by means of identifier plates, adhesive labels or similar identifiers, such as an engraving, for instance.

The identifier comprises a code that can be unambiguously associated with the property and/or owner of the property, the code being in one embodiment any individual code consisting of letters, numbers and/or special signs, which is either a) invented by the property owner himself, b) generated by the service provider, or c) previously affixed to the article by the manufacturer, for instance.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the property owner may register said property most advantageously on the service provider's website by means of the code, the code being identified most advantageously by comparing the code with codes previously generated by the service provider and/or existing in his database. If the code already exists or has been registered, this code can no longer be registered. In one embodiment, one and the same service user may nonetheless register several movables by means of one single code, however, registering a particular code for different service users is prohibited to avoid confusion.

In addition to an individual identifier, the property owner also registers his own contact data, most advantageously at least the number of his primary mobile station, so that said code associable with the property and the mobile station number indicated by the owner are unambiguously associated with each other in the service provider's database. In addition, a secondary mobile station number of the property owner can also be registered, such as e.g. the number of a family member's mobile station, this being useful e.g. in a situation where the lost property is the service user's mobile station, to which the primary mobile station number stored in the service provider's database relates. Other data relating to the property and/or property owner can also be registered in the database, such as an address, name, line telephone number, etc. In a third embodiment of the invention, the capacity of the connection relating to the primary number of receiving (sending) SMS i.e. text messages (message) from (to) the service is ascertained by a test message in conjunction with the registration. Text messages are transmitted from the mobile phone network over the internet to the service via a SMS Gateway. The service user may update his data over the internet at any time, say, when his phone number changes. In one embodiment of the invention, the service user may register the code by means of a single text message, either permanently, or at least temporarily, until the registering can be completed e.g. over the internet. Consequently, the service user is mainly in contact with the service over a mobile phone and a computer.

In a fourth embodiment of the invention, a person who finds a lost property and an affixed code sends the code relating to the property mentioned in the identifier in a text message to the service provider's number mentioned in the identifier, and then the service provider searches in his database the data of the property owner unambiguously associated with the code (at least the primary mobile phone number) and notes the finder's phone number from the text message he has received, the phone number being transmitted with the message even though the subscription was secret, and then he sends a report about the lost property and the finder's phone number in a text message to the primary phone number indicated by the property owner.

In a fifth embodiment of the invention, a message is sent to the property owner also to a secondary number he has indicated, for the eventuality that the message sent to the primary number would not arrive, or in one embodiment, that the property owner does not acknowledge receipt of his message. The secondary number is used e.g. in a situation where the service user has misplaced the mobile station to which the primary number relates and where the secondary number has been entered in the service provider's database.

In one embodiment of the invention, the property owner is advised to call the finder from a secret number or to hide his own number before the call for the duration of the call in order to avoid any abuse. The request is most advantageously sent by a text message. In addition, in one embodiment of the invention, a text message is sent to the finder as well, saying that the owner of the property found by the finder has been informed of the matter and that the owner is likely to contact the finder shortly.

Compared to the arrangements of prior art solutions, the present invention offers appreciable advantages. The present invention is very economical compared to known solutions, given the totally automatic functions of the invention. The services in accordance with the invention do not require stand-by telephone service or mailing services or any similar administrative and logistic arrangements for the movable property to be restored. In addition, the different parties and the service communicate by text messages and the parties get the property returned by a mutual arrangement. What is more, the finder can be identified and individualised immediately on the basis of the identifier data included in the text message (the mobile phone number) once he has reported the found property by a text message.

Unlike most known solutions, the present invention is operative in all countries where mobile phone operators transmit messages to and from a service. Consequently, the invention is not dependent on agreements with individual external quarters (e.g. the post and police of a particular country, etc.), because the owner of the movable property and its finder organise the matters relating to returning the property between them. Further, the method and arrangement of the invention are safe compared to known solutions, in which the finder of the property may keep his own identity secret by using e.g. an anonymous e-mail address in communications, or compared to solutions in which the finder may learn the owner's contact data directly from the identifier, because in the present invention, the anonymity of the owner of the property can be preserved, and he can contact the finder without revealing his own identity at any stage. In accordance with the invention, the finder is preferably identified on the basis of his mobile phone data.

It should be specifically noted that the present invention is above all rapid compared to other known solutions. In the case of many movables, such as e.g. home keys, pets and luggage, it is of paramount importance that the object be rapidly restored. By means of the invention, the property may be found even before the owner has noticed that it is missing. The parties can arrange the return of the property at the same time as it is found, thus ensuring a clearly more rapid restoring means than known solutions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following section explains preferred embodiments of the invention in greater detail and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 illustrates an exemplifying arrangement for returning lost property to its right owner in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 2 illustrates an exemplifying identifier affixed to the property in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 3 illustrates an exemplifying data communication scheme for transmitting data in connection with the return of lost property in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 4 illustrates some optional articles and/or movables to which embodiments of the present invention are applicable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 illustrates an exemplifying arrangement 100 for restoring lost property to its right owner in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, in which the product of property 102 intended by the invention can be purchased e.g. over the internet 104 or from a physical outlet 106. However, in terms of the fundamental idea of the invention, the path or manner of acquiring the property has no impact, yet in one embodiment of the invention, the suppliers of specific articles 102, such as stores 106, may make an agreement with the service provider 108 about affixing in advance individual codes to the articles they sell.

In accordance with the invention, the code associated with a product or a property 102 is most advantageously registered on the internet on the service provider's website 110, the data of the property owner 112 being stored in the service provider's database 114. A primary and optionally a secondary mobile phone number is registered for each code associated with the product or property.

The capacity of the primary connection to receive (send) SMS i.e. text messages (message) or MMS messages from (to) the service is ascertained by a test message in connection with the registration. The text messages are transmitted from the mobile phone network over the internet to the service via a SMS Gateway 116. The service user, i.e. the property owner, may update his data any time over the internet, when his phone number changes, for instance. Consequently, communication with the service takes primarily place via a mobile phone 118 and a data processing device, such as a computer 120.

Figure 2 illustrates an exemplifying identifier 200 to be affixed to a property object in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the property object being e.g. in the form of a key chain or affixable in any other way 202 to any property. The identifier 200 comprises preferably instructions 204 for the finder, asking the finder to send the individual code 206 in the identifier by a text message, such as e.g. a number series, to the service number 208 indicated in the identifier.

Figure 3 illustrates an exemplifying data communication scheme 300 used in transmitting data for returning lost property 102 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. If the finder 302 follows the instructions in the identifier affixed to the property, the finder's text message

310 is directed to the service provider. The phone number of the finder's mobile station 303 is retrieved from the message, the phone number being transmitted with the message sent by the finder even though the subscription was secret. The individual code included in the identifier and sent by the finder is compared with the codes registered in the service provider's 108 database 114. Unless the code included in the message is found in the database 114, a request 311 is sent in a text message to the finder, asking him to check the code in the identifier and to resend it to the indicated number. However, step 311 is optional. If the code included in the message corresponds to the property owner 112 registered in the database 114, a message 312 is sent to the finder, e.g. thanking him for the communication and saying that the property owner 112 will contact him shortly.

If the code sent by the finder corresponds to the code registered by the property owner 112, a message 313 is sent to the number 118 registered as the property owner's primary number, saying that the property has been found and indicating the finder's 302 phone number. At the same time, the property owner can be advised to call the finder 302 from a secret number or to hide his own mobile phone number for the duration of the call (e.g. dialling the prefix "#31 #" before the phone number). The property owner is also warned not to reveal his personal data in order not to allow any abuse even in theory.

Unless the service provider receives transmission data 314 (transmission data ascertaining that the message has been received) about the message sent to the primary number 188 of the property owner within a determined period, the service automatically sends a corresponding message 315 to the number 316 registered as secondary number. This is useful e.g. in situations where the property owner's mobile phone 108 has disappeared at the same time as the marked property was lost (it may have been necessary to interrupt the subscription) or if the property owner's number has changed, and the property owner has forgotten or has had no time to update his register data in the service. The secondary number may be e.g. the phone number of the mobile station 316 of a steady partner or a family member.

In the last step, the property owner 112 contacts 317 the finder 302 according to the instructions, for the parties to agree between them about the return of the property (place, time and manner) and also about any finder's reward. In connection with registration (and possibly once more as the property is found), the property owner can be informed about the amount of a reasonable finder's reward (e.g. 10% of the value of the property in Finland). However, the details are agreed between the parties.

Figure 4 illustrates a number of optional products and/or properties 102, to which the embodiments of the present invention are applicable. The identifier 200 shown in figure 2 can be fixed e.g. to keys 402, to a suitcase 404, to a pet 406, to a camera 408, to a mobile station 410 and/or to a bike 412. Thus, for instance, an identifier 200 affixed to a pet is preferably an identifier plate 403, an identifier 200 affixed to suitcases 404 is a plaque, adhesive label or tag 401 , and an identifier affixed to mobile phones, cameras and bikes is an engraving 405. However, it should be noted that these are but examples and that it is obvious to those skilled in the art to affix or connect also other kinds of identifiers to the products or property effects mentioned here. Thus, for instance, an adhesive label or tag or say, an ornamental plate can optionally be affixed to a camera or a mobile phone, and the identifier of a pet can even consist of a tattoo.

The products and/or properties illustrated in figure 4 are only exemplifying, and they should not be interpreted as in any way restricting for the invention, the inventive idea being applicable also to any other movable property. In addition, the invention should be construed as relating to similar identifiers affixed to persons (children, elderly), allowing e.g. the family of persons who have lost their way or are unconscious to be contacted. The identifier can be carried out e.g. by means of identifier plates, adhesive labels, engravings or any similar identifiers.

This document does not take a stand to the aspect of the physical identifier (key chain, identifier plate, engraving) to be affixed to a product or property, but only defines the essential data included in the identifier and its purpose of use. In fact, a great variety of modifications are conceivable, depending on the property owner's preferences and the nature of the movable property.

Only a number of the embodiments of the solution of the invention have been set forth above. However, the principle of the invention can naturally be varied within the scope of protection defined by the claims e.g. with respect to the details and fields of application of the embodiment.

Claims

1. A method for restoring lost property (102) to its rightful owner (112), in which an identifier (200) is affixed to the property (102) for guiding the finder (302) of the property in restoring the property, the identifier comprising an individual code (206) and the service provider's contact data (208), the finder (302) sending said code to said service provider (108) by means of the contact data, the service provider comparing the code with codes in his database (114) that relate unambiguously to the property owners, characterised in that said code is delivered in the form of a text message and that the service provider additionally sends the finder's contact data in a text message to the mobile station (118) relating to the primary number of the property owner corresponding to said code.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 , in which the finder (302) is identified on the basis of the finder's identifier data, such as a mobile station (303) number, included in the text message sent by the finder to the service provider.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 , in which a code (206) comprising the identifier (200) to be affixed to the property (102) is registered in the service provider's (108) database (114) for unambiguous association with the property owner.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 , in which, in addition to the number of the property owner's primary mobile station, secondary contact data (316) are also registered in the service provider's database.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 , in which the capacity of receiving text messages of the mobile station (118) relating to said primary number is ascertained during the registration of the property owner's primary number by sending a test message to said mobile station.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 , in which, unless arrival of the message sent to the mobile station (118) relating to said primary number is ascertained within a predetermined period, the finder's data are delivered also to a mobile station (316) relating to a secondary number corresponding to a code registered in the service provider's (108) database (114).

7. A system (108, 300) for restoring lost property (102) to its rightful owner (112), the system comprising an identifier (200) to be affixed to the property for guiding the finder (302) of the property in restoring the property, the identifier (200) comprising an individual code (206) and the service provider's (108) contact data (208), and if the finder (302) follows the instructions in the identifier, a message containing said code sent by the finder has been adapted to be delivered to said service provider, the service provider having been adapted to compare the code with codes in his database (114) that relate unambiguously to the property owners, characterised in that said message containing the code is a text message and that the service provider is additionally adapted to deliver the finder's contact data in a text message to the mobile station (118) relating to the primary number of the property owner corresponding to said code.

8. A system as defined in claim 7, in which the service provider (108) has been adapted to identify the finder (302) on the basis of the finder's identifier data, such as a mobile station (303) number, included in the text message sent by the finder to the service provider.

9. A system as defined in claim 7, in which the service provider (108) is adapted to register a code comprising an identifier to be affixed to the property for unambiguous association with the property owner in his database.

10. A system as defined in claim 7, in which, in addition to the number of the property owner's primary mobile station (118) number, also secondary contact data (316) are registered in the service provider's database.

11. A system as defined in claim 7, in which the service provider (108) is adapted to ascertain the capacity of receiving text messages of the mobile station (118) relating to said primary number by delivering a test message to said mobile station during the registration of the primary number of the property owner.

12. A system as defined in claim 7, in which the service provider is adapted to deliver the finder's (302) data also to a mobile station (316) relating to a secondary number corresponding to a code registered in the service provider's database unless the arrival of the message sent to the mobile station relating to said primary number has been ascertained within a predetermined period.

13. An identifier (200) used in a method as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the identifier (200) is an identifier plate (403), adhesive label, plaque, tag (401), engraving (405) and/or tattoo that can be affixed to the property.