WO2016131756A1

WO2016131756A1 - Theft protection device for an article

Info

Publication number: WO2016131756A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/053137
Authority: WO
Inventors: Janina Meier; Minelik Gebru; Andreas Eckel; Hans-Uwe Rempler
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2015-02-17
Filing date: 2016-02-15
Publication date: 2016-08-25

Abstract

The invention relates to a theft protection device for an article, comprising at least one inertial sensor and/or position sensor and a processing unit, said processing unit being adapted to sense a location change and/or position change of the device from sensor data of the at least one inertial sensor and/or position sensor and to identify a theft situation on the basis of said change.

Description

description

title

Anti-theft device for an article

State of the art

The invention relates to a device for theft protection for an article, in particular for a backpack.

As for theft protection used on backpacks (and such objects), most inventions revolve around a system based on protection against unnoticed thieves. Since the user usually packs a backpack on his back, it is out of the user's view, thus making the backpack vulnerable to unnoticed theft.

To remedy this, various developments came into play. A first approach involves preventing thieves from opening the backpack. There are developments in the art where a smart design, for example, passing the zippers, laying the zipper carriage in the interior of the

Backpacks, prevent thieves from opening the backpack while it is on the back of the user. The document EP 1615526 A4 shows a backpack with security feature. The document CN 202739052 U also discloses an anti-theft backpack.

A second approach involves quench systems with passive sensors.

Such devices rely on a system based on a simple sensor (pressure, Hall sensor or optical sensors) to detect if a theft occurs. This is followed by triggering a deterrent sound or reporting the incident via a near- or far-field radio communication module. The Document CN 203314323 U discloses a wireless monitoring and

Theft prevention device for suitcase and backpack. The publication CN

202774741 U discloses an anti-theft laptop backpack. The document CN 201898992 U also discloses an anti-theft backpack. The document US 20130169429 A1 discloses a multifunctional anti-theft device.

Disclosure of the invention

Advantages of the invention

The device according to the invention has at least one inertial sensor and / or position sensor and a processing unit, wherein the processing unit is configured to detect a change in location and / or position of the device from sensor data of the at least one inertial sensor and / or position sensor and to detect a theft situation therefrom.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the device has an acceleration sensor and is adapted to change after detection of an acceleration signal from an energy-saving first operating state to an active second operating state.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the device has an audible and / or visual alarm device and that the

Processing unit is configured to activate the acoustic and / or visual alarm device after detecting the theft situation.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the device comprises a GNSS receiver and a radio communication module and that the processing unit is configured to detect position data by detecting the theft situation by means of the GNSS receiver and the position data by means of the radio communication module to send.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the

Processing unit is adapted to a change of location of the device of a first place to capture a second place, with a defined

To compare security sphere and to recognize the theft situation, if the second place lies outside the defined security sphere. The invention revolutionizes backpack protection against theft. In contrast to existing systems, the device according to the invention offers the following novel features:

It uses various inertial or position sensors (e.g., gyroscopes, accelerometers or even magnetometers) whose data

(Angular velocity, acceleration and the Earth's magnetic field) are processed to detect a possible theft situation. False alarm scenarios can be avoided by processing the sensor data.

It provides passive protection (for other surrounding objects). She does that

Position tracking and remote configuration and situation notification possible. The system has multiple alarm state and status

Escalation schemes that enable energy optimization with different operating states. There are two alarm modes, loud and silent. The alarm can only be remotely disabled through a server or other owner-owned device, such as a smartphone.

The device according to the invention, the so-called "backpack buddy", is equipped with a processing unit, a microcontroller that evaluates the information from at least one sensor or a combination of MEMS sensors, and is supplied with power by a rechargeable battery. (eg Bluetooth, low power Bluetooth, NFC), far-field radio

(eg GSM, LoRa ...) communication and localization (eg GNSS and indoor localization) modules. For example, the device may be secured inside the backpack itself in a hidden manner. An advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention makes it possible to set up a safety sphere. The safety sphere defines a zone, a configurable radius, in which it is possible to move the inventive device or backpack equipped therewith without triggering an alarm. This prevents false alarm situations, for example, a backpack can be placed along with other luggage in a public transport and when a fellow passenger picks up his luggage and moves the rucksack and shakes slightly, the alarm should not be triggered. The

Configuration can be done advantageously via a smartphone app. Advantageously, the device according to the invention enables a passive protection of associated objects.

It allows, for example, a passive protection of other objects that are in direct contact with the backpack, which is equipped with the erfindungsbemäßen device.

An advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention enables a position tracking option and remote notification of their location. In case of a theft scenario, the incident is reported via a near field and / or far field radio communication protocol. The backpack position can be tracked and reported to a server and / or a mobile device.

An advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention allows multiple alarm levels and has a high energy efficiency. Theft protection can be guaranteed for a long period of time (for example, more than 6 months). In contrast to existing systems in the prior art, the system can advantageously several alarm levels (hibernation, potential and actual

Theft). According to these states is a complex one

Energy management algorithm implemented to increase battery autonomy. Absolute localization and communication is activated when a

Theft was detected.

drawing

Figure 1 illustrates a concept of security zones.

Figure 2 illustrates a concept of passive protection.

Description of exemplary embodiments

Configuration and user interface The theft feature may be activated by means of a smartphone communicating via near field radio communication (eg, Bluetooth, low power Bluetooth), or radio activated by a remote field radio such as GPRS or LoRa. Depending on the use case, the sensitivity and the safety zone can be configured. The notification of a theft could be configured to be loud (buzzer) with a visual alarm (LEDs) or silent vibrating alert. In both cases, the user receives a notification from the device itself about the incident on his smartphone, if the user is in the immediate vicinity, or forwarded by the server (via SMS, since the device is logged into a GSM network).

Measurement and theft detection

The gravitational vector, the relative orientation and the linear acceleration are measured. The sampling rate of the sensors adapts to the application defined above. Low pass filters and adaptive corrections (with Kalman filters) are used to make the system more accurate.

The safety sphere, anti-false alarm and passive protection

To prevent false alarms, the system defines a safety sphere within which the backpack can be moved without triggering an alarm. The total displacement is determined by integrating the acceleration twice. On the other hand, another object in direct contact with the backpack can benefit from this protection by reducing the safety sphere (passive protection). If the sensitivity is configured high enough and the safety sphere is small enough, placing the backpack on another object may make it difficult to move the object without triggering the backpack alarm.

Several operating modes (alarm states)

To reduce energy consumption, the system operates in different modes depending on the alarm condition:

• Hibernation (Sleep): In this state, the core and most of the components of the device are either off or in a sleep state. Hibernation represents an energy-saving first

Operating state of the device. If any movement occurs, the awakens Accelerometer partially opens the system and the device is in a warning state.

• The alert state: The device wakes up periodically to determine if the device is still moving or if the movement has stopped. The warning state represents an active second operating state of the device. If the movement was negligible, the system returns to the sleep state. By calculating the distance and duration of the movement, the invention can eliminate false alarm scenarios in which the backpack has been moved within a given "safety sphere" zone, however, if the backpack leaves the safety sphere, the device enters an alarm state. The device may be configured to report such an event, if desired.

• Alarm condition There are two alarm modes, loud and silent. In both cases, the user is notified immediately about the theft incident. The localization system of the device is activated; then it is possible to track the backpack. According mode

This mode is useful in a situation where the owner is near and able to intervene or in a crowded area where the device alarm would scare the thief away. The device is equipped with a loud buzzer, and glaring LEDs, which in such a situation would emit a loud noise to draw people's attention to the backpack. The alarm can only be remotely disabled through a server or other owner-owned device, such as a smartphone.

Still Mode

In a more isolated area, where deterrence methods would not be effective, a silent alarm is enough. If a theft occurs, the owner will be notified, who in turn can inform the authorities. The invention may be embedded in the backpack in a discrete manner. An advantageous embodiment of the invention includes a localization system (by means of a global navigation satellite system GNSS), which determines the current location and by means of a radio communication module to a server reports (via GPRS and other far-field communication protocols such as LoRa ...), it allows to track the backpack without the thief suspecting. Since device autonomy can last a few days in full-active mode, there is ample time to pinpoint the individual. Figure 1 illustrates a concept of security zones. Shown is a

Backpack 10 which is positioned at a first location A. The backpack 10 contains a device according to the invention for theft protection 100. In a first radius around the first location A, a first zone 1 is defined. In a second radius around the location A, a second zone 2 is defined, which includes the zone 1. If a safety sphere around the first location A is defined which coincides with the area bounded by the zone 1, moving the backpack 10 from position A to B will trigger an alarm. But if the zone 2 the

Limited safety margin, moving the backpack 10 from position A to B and then from B to C, the device for theft protection only in the

Set warning mode. However, if the backpack 10 is moved from position C to D, an alarm is triggered. Position D is outside the second zone 2.

Figure 2 illustrates a concept of passive protection. In this scenario, a security sphere 200 is defined small enough that moving an object 300 under the backpack 10 immediately alerts the device to the device

Theft protection 100 would trigger. As a result, the object 300 under the backpack 10 also benefits from the security device 100 of the backpack.

Claims

claims

1. A device for theft protection for an object, comprising at least one inertial sensor and / or position sensor and a processing unit, wherein the processing unit is adapted to detect from sensor data of the at least one inertial sensor and / or position sensor, a change in location and / or position of the device, and to recognize a theft situation from this.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the device comprises an acceleration sensor and is adapted to change after detection of an acceleration signal from an energy-saving first operating state to an active second operating state.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the

Device has an audible and / or visual alarm device and that the processing unit is adapted to activate the acoustic and / or visual alarm device after detecting the theft situation.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the

Device comprising a GNSS receiver and a radio communication module and that the processing unit is adapted to recognize the

Theft situation, using the GNSS receiver to determine position data and to send the position data by means of the radio communication module.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the processing unit is adapted to detect a change of location of the device from a first location (A) to a second location (B, C, D), with a defined security sphere (200) and to recognize the theft situation if the second location (B, C, D) lies outside the defined security sphere (200).