WO2018134237A1

WO2018134237A1 - Method and system for signalling zone departure for electronic devices

Info

Publication number: WO2018134237A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/051086
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sebastien LEROUGE
Original assignee: Evalandgo
Priority date: 2017-01-17
Filing date: 2018-01-17
Publication date: 2018-07-26
Also published as: FR3061982A1; FR3061982B1; EP3571682B1; EP3571682A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (100) for signalling the departure of one or more electronic devices, called mobile devices, from a delimited space. The method comprises at least one iteration of a stage (108) of detecting departure from a zone, comprising the following steps: emitting, by an emitter device, a directional wave; and emitting (114) an alarm when a mobile device, previously paired with said emitter device, detects said wave. The invention further relates to a system implementing such a method.

Description

"Zone output signaling method and system for electronic devices"

Technical area

The present invention relates to a zone output signaling method for nomadic electronic devices. It relates to a system implementing such a method.

The field of the invention is more particularly, but without limitation, that of the zone exit detection for nomadic electronic devices intended to be used in a delimited space.

State of the art

The use of mobile devices is in full development in places such as restaurants, museums or libraries. These nomadic devices are intended to be used either by the users frequenting these places, or by people at the service of the users and working in these places.

Mobile devices can interact with users where they are and avoid having to move to a reception area for example to pay the bill in restaurants, or view information, etc.

There is a question of losing these mobile devices, which can be carried by users with them when they leave the place, for example because they forget to return the device. Other malicious users may be tempted to steal these devices.

However, to date, there is no way to detect and report that a nomadic device has just been removed from a zone or a place where it is supposed to be used, apart from anti-theft solutions. Conventional that are expensive and require equipment for each nomadic device.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a less expensive and more efficient area output signaling method and system. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method and an area output signaling system simpler and faster to deploy. Presentation of the invention

At least one of these objectives is achieved by an output signaling method of one or more electronic devices, called nomadic, of a delimited space.

The method according to the invention comprises a preliminary phase, called a configuration phase, carried out for each nomadic apparatus, and comprising:

a wireless pairing of said mobile device with a transmitting device, and

storing an identifier of said transmitting apparatus at said nomadic apparatus, and / or said nomadic apparatus at said transmitting apparatus;

said method further comprising at least one iteration of a zone output detection phase comprising the steps of:

transmitting, by said transmitting apparatus, a wave that can be detected by each of said nomadic devices previously paired;

- Issuing an alarm based on detection or not of said wave by at least one of said nomadic devices.

Thus, for a nomadic electronic device, the method according to the invention makes it possible to detect the output of said nomadic device from a delimited space, directly by using the functionalities provided in said device and without resorting to additional antitheft devices.

As a result, the zone output signaling method provided by the present invention is less expensive. In addition, the zone exit signaling is more effective because it does not depend on an anti-theft tablet fixed on said device and which could become detached as and when the mobile device is used deliberately. . In addition, the method according to the invention is simpler and faster to deploy because it is sufficient to activate the pairing functions provided in the mobile device. The preliminary configuration phase makes it possible to identify the transmitting apparatus used in the method according to the invention, and to prevent other wave-emitting devices, such as devices using users frequenting the delimited space or other devices devices in the delimited space, trigger an alarm.

Communication between each mobile device and the transmitting device can be achieved using any type of communication protocol.

Preferably, the communication between each mobile device and the transmitting device can be performed by Bluetooth®. In this case, the communication protocol used to pair the sending device with each mobile device is the Bluetooth® protocol.

Advantageously, the step of transmitting an alarm can be triggered by the mobile device.

In this case, the storage step may comprise a storage, particularly at the nomadic device, of an identifier of the transmitting device.

In particular, when the mobile device detects a wave, it compares the identifier of the transmitter of said detected wave with at least one identifier previously stored in said mobile device, during the configuration phase. If the identifier of the transmitter of the detected wave corresponds to an identifier stored in the mobile device, then the mobile device triggers the transmission of an alarm.

Alternatively, or in addition, the step of transmitting an alarm can be triggered by the sending device.

In this case, the storage step may include a storage, particularly at the transmitter device, of an identifier of the nomadic device.

In particular, when the transmitting device is detected by a mobile device, the latter can communicate its identifier to the transmitting device. The transmitting device then compares the identifier of the mobile device with at least one identifier previously stored in said transmitting device, during the configuration phase. If the identifier of the nomadic device corresponds to an identifier stored in the sending device, then the sending device triggers the transmission of an alarm.

According to a first configuration that is in no way limitative, the step of transmitting the wave can realize a directional emission of said wave, limited to an exit zone of the space.

In this case, the step of transmitting an alarm is performed when the mobile device detects said wave.

In particular, the emission being directional and confined to an output zone, the nomadic device does not detect the wave as long as it is in the limited space. When the nomadic device is out of the limited space, then it passes through the exit zone in which it detects the wave emitted by the transmitting device. This detection makes it possible to trigger the transmission of the alarm. According to a second configuration which is in no way limitative, the transmission step can realize a transmission, in particular omnidirectional, of the wave throughout the delimited space.

In this case, the step of transmitting an alarm can be performed when the mobile device no longer detects said wave.

In particular, the wave being emitted throughout the delimited space, the nomadic device detects said wave as long as it is in said limited space. When the nomadic device has left the limited space, then it no longer detects the transmitted wave only within the delimited space. This absence of detection of the wave emitted by the transmitting device makes it possible to trigger the emission of the alarm.

As described above, and to avoid nuisance alarms, the detection of the wave transmitted by the transmitting device may advantageously comprise a comparison of the identifier of said transmitter to at least one identifier previously stored.

Furthermore, the method according to the invention may further comprise an adjustment of a minimum power threshold, in reception, at the level of the nomadic device. In other words, a wave is considered as detected by the nomadic device when the level of said wave is greater than or equal to said power threshold. The alarm transmission step may preferably be performed by the mobile device.

Alternatively, or in addition, the alarm transmission step can be performed by the transmitting device or any other third device controlled / triggered by the mobile device or the transmitting device.

The alarm transmission step can comprise at least one of the following operations:

an emission of a light signal and / or an audible signal;

- sending a message to a remote device; and / or - triggering a remote alarm.

For example, the step of transmitting an alarm may comprise the transmission of a continuous or intermittent sound signal by the mobile device and / or the transmitting device.

The power, and / or frequency, of the sound signal may increase over time.

According to another example, alternative or cumulative, the step of transmitting an alarm can include the transmission of a message such as an SMS message, a notification or an e-mail to a previously registered destination.

According to another example, alternative or cumulative, the step of transmitting an alarm can comprise an activation of a vibration function within the nomadic device.

It can include a step of deactivation of the device (definitive or transient) or activation of a GPS type plot

Advantageously, for at least one nomadic device, the configuration phase may comprise:

storage of an authentication code for the connection at the nomadic device or the transmitting device, and / or a configuration of the mobile device so that the wireless functionality of the mobile device, used for the detection of the wave emitted by the transmitting device, can not be deactivated. According to an advantageous characteristic, the method according to the invention may comprise a step of blocking the nomadic device, performed after or at the same time as the triggering of the step of issuing an alarm.

This blocking step can be implemented immediately, or after a predetermined duration following the triggering of the alarm transmission step.

The blocking step may comprise a blocking of at least one, in particular of all, the user function (s) within the nomadic device. The blocking step may, for example, include blocking a user access to the mobile device, for example by an unlocking page requesting the entry of a password.

Alternatively, or in addition, the blocking step may comprise a deactivation of a button of the nomadic device, such as for example a sound adjustment button, a sleep button, an extinction button, and / or a touch interface of the nomadic device.

Alternatively or additionally, the method according to the invention may further comprise a step of activating a geolocation module within the nomadic device, performed after or at the same time as the triggering of the transmission step. an alarm.

This activation step can be implemented immediately, or after a predetermined duration following the triggering of the alarm transmission step.

Thus, it is possible to detect, and possibly follow, the position of the nomadic device to try to find it.

The method according to the invention may further include an activation of a power saving mode within the nomadic device to increase its autonomy.

Such a mode of energy autonomy can be preprogrammed within the nomadic device. It can also be programmed or modified to be adapted to the method according to the invention.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system comprising means for implementing all the steps of the method according to the invention.

According to one embodiment, the system according to the invention can comprise:

at least one transmitting apparatus;

at least one device, said nomadic, previously paired with said transmitting apparatus according to a predetermined communication protocol, and

configured to implement the steps of the method according to the invention.

The transmitting apparatus may be configured to provide a directional emission limited to an exit area of the delimited space.

Alternatively, the transmitting apparatus may be configured to transmit throughout the bounded space.

Of course, the system according to the invention may comprise several transmitter devices.

For example, each transmitting apparatus may be unidirectional and associated with a predetermined output area of the delimited space to detect an output of the nomadic device (s) by said output area.

The system according to the invention may comprise only transmitting devices for transmitting one or more waves within the delimited space, and not at the level of an exit zone.

According to a particular embodiment, and in no way limiting, the system according to the invention can comprise:

at least one unidirectional transmitter device associated with an exit zone of the delimited space and emitting a first wave; and at least one transmitting apparatus emitting a second wave within the delimited space, in particular throughout said delimited space;

the zone output detection for each nomadic device can then be performed by the following combination:

a detection by said mobile device of said first wave; and

a lack of detection, by said mobile device, of said second wave.

Description of the Figures and Embodiments

Other advantages and characteristics will appear on examining the detailed description of non-limitative examples, and the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a first nonlimiting exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a first nonlimiting exemplary embodiment of a system according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a second nonlimiting exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention; and

- FIGURE 4 is a schematic representation of a second non-limiting embodiment of a system according to the invention.

It is understood that the embodiments which will be described in the following are in no way limiting. In particular, it will be possible to imagine variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described, subsequently isolated from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention with respect to the state of the art. This selection comprises at least one characteristic of functional preference without structural detail, or with only a part of the structural details if this part alone is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art.

In particular, all the variants and all the embodiments described are combinable with each other if nothing stands in the way of this combination at the technical level.

In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention.

The method 100, shown in FIG. 1, can be used to detect and signal the zone output of a plurality of mobile electronic devices, such as for example electronic devices in the form of tablets and used in locations. , such as restaurants, to measure customer satisfaction while presenting addition and / or adjust addition. This application is however not limiting and the method 100, and more generally the method according to the invention, can be applied in other places (public or private) such as museums, libraries, theme parks, hotels, etc.

The method 100 comprises a preliminary phase 102, also called configuration phase, performed for each nomadic device.

The preliminary phase 102 comprises a step 104 performing a wireless pairing of the mobile device with at least one transmitting device. In the present example, this pairing is done by Bluetooth®. During this pairing step the identifier of each transmitting device is stored at the mobile device, so that the latter can recognize it as soon as it detects a wave emitted by the transmitting device.

In an optional step 106, the mobile device stores an authentication code to pair automatically when it detects the sending device.

This step 106 may comprise in addition or alternatively, a configuration of the mobile device for the wireless functionality of the mobile device, which will be used to detect the sending device and which has been used for pairing, can not be disabled.

This preliminary phase 102 is performed for each nomadic device. It is repeated each time a new mobile device is used.

The method 100 comprises, after the preliminary phase 102, at least one iteration of a zone output detection phase 108.

During this phase 108, the transmitting apparatus transmits a wave or a signal directionally and limited to an exit zone of a delimited space. In other words, apart from said output zone, the signal emitted by the transmitting device is not detected in the other zones of the delimited space.

When a nomadic device enters the exit zone in which the signal emitted by the transmitting apparatus can be detected, then the nomadic device detects the signal emitted by the transmitting apparatus, during a step 110.

This detection step 110 automatically triggers a step 112 of transmitting an alarm signal by the mobile device. This alarm signal may comprise an audible signal and / or a light signal emitted by the mobile device. It can also consist of, or understand, a vibration of the nomadic apparatus.

Alternatively, or in addition, the alarm signal may comprise a message or a notification sent by the nomadic device to a previously indicated destination, for example during the preliminary phase 102.

In addition, the detection phase 108 may comprise one or more optional steps, implemented immediately after the alarm transmission step 112, or after a predetermined duration following said alarm transmission step, such as any combination of the following steps:

an optional step 114 for blocking a user's functionality of the mobile device, and / or a request for entering a password;

an optional step 116 of deactivating a button of said mobile device; an optional step 118 for activating a geolocation module, such as a GPS module; and or

an optional step 120 of triggering a power saving mode within the nomadic device.

Of course, when the mobile device is found and returned to the defined space, there is a software or hardware possibility to put it back into a normal operating configuration, such as for example an alarm deactivation and a reset, by entering an unlock code.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic representation of an exemplary non-limiting embodiment of a system according to the invention.

The system 200, shown in FIG. 2, can be used to implement the method according to the invention, and in particular the method 100 of FIG.

The system 200 is implemented to signal the zone output of several electronic devices 202i-202 ₃ from a delimited space 208.

The delimited space 208 has an exit zone 204 used to exit the delimited space 208.

The system 200 includes a directional transmitter apparatus 206 disposed at the exit zone 204 and transmitting a wireless signal detectable by each of the mobile devices 202.

Each mobile device 202 is pre-paired with the transmitting apparatus 206 and configured to perform a signaling as described above in the method 100, as soon as the mobile device 202 detects the signal transmitted by the transmitting apparatus 206.

The mobile devices 202i-202 ₃ may be identical or different. Each mobile device 202 may, for example, be in the form of a tablet 202i or a smartphone 202 ₂ -202 ₃ .

Of course, the number of nomadic devices 202 is not limiting to the example given. FIGURE 3 is a schematic representation of another non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention.

The method 300, shown in FIGURE 3, includes all the steps of method 100 of FIGURE 1 except for the following differences.

In phase 108, the transmitting apparatus transmits a wave or signal omnidirectionally so that the transmitted wave can be detected within the delimited space. In other words, as long as a nomadic device is within the delimited space, it detects the wave emitted by the transmitting device.

Under these conditions, step 110 is replaced by a step 302 noting that the nomadic transmitter has not detected the signal emitted by the transmitting apparatus. In other words :

if a nomadic device detects the wave emitted by the transmitting apparatus, then it is in the delimited space; and

- if a nomadic device no longer detects the wave emitted by the transmitting device, then it is no longer in the delimited space.

Following step 302, and before step 112, the method 300 may further comprise an optional step 304 initiating a timer counting down a predetermined time, for example 10 seconds. In the case where the mobile device still does not detect the wave emitted by the transmitting device at the end of the predetermined time, then the process 300 continues with the step 112 of issuing an alarm.

The FIGU RE 4 is a schematic representation of another non-limiting exemplary embodiment of a system according to the invention.

The system 400, shown in FIG. 4, can be used to implement the method according to the invention, and in particular the method 300 of FIGU RE 3.

System 400, shown in FIGURE 4, includes all the means of system 200 of FIGURE 2, except for the following differences.

In the system 400, the directional transmitter apparatus 206 is replaced by an omnidirectional transmitter 402. Of course, it is possible to combine within the same system:

- one or more directional transmitters, arranged at one or more output areas, with one or more devices per output area; and

one or more omnidirectional transmitting apparatus disposed within the delimited space.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described and many adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Method (100; 300) of output signaling of one or more electronic devices (202i-202 ₃ ), so-called nomadic, of a delimited space (208) characterized in that it comprises a preliminary phase (102) , called configuration, performed for each nomadic device, and comprising:

a wireless pairing (104) of said mobile device (202i-202 ₃ ) with a transmitting apparatus (206; 402), and

storing an identifier of said transmitting apparatus (206; 402) at said nomadic apparatus (202i-202 ₃ ) and / or said nomadic apparatus (202i-202 ₃ ) at said transmitting apparatus

(206; 402);

said method (100; 300) further comprising at least one iteration of a zone output detecting phase (108) comprising the steps of:

transmitting, by said transmitting apparatus (206; 402), a wave that can be detected by each of said nomadic apparatuses (202i-202 ₃ ) previously paired;

- emission (112) of an alarm based on detection or not of said wave by at least one of said nomadic devices (202- 202 ₃ ).

characterized in that the wave-transmitting step performs a directional emission of said wave limited to an exit zone (204) of said delimited space (208), the step (112) of transmitting an alarm being performed when the mobile device (202i-202 ₃ ) detects said wave.

2. Method (100; 300) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the step (112) for transmitting an alarm is triggered by the mobile device (202i-202 ₃ ), the step (106). storage device comprising storing, at said mobile device (202i-202 ₃ ), an identifier of the transmitting apparatus (206; 402).

3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step of transmitting an alarm is triggered by the transmitting apparatus (206; 402), the storage step comprising a storage, at the level of said transmitting apparatus, an identifier of the nomadic apparatus (202- 202 ₃ ).

4. Method (100; 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection of the wave emitted by the transmitting apparatus

(206; 402) comprises a comparison of the identifier of said transmitter (206; 402) with at least one previously stored identifier.

5. Method (100; 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an adjustment of a minimum power threshold, in reception, at the level of the nomadic apparatus (202i-202 ₃ ). .

6. Method (100; 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step of issuing an alarm (112) is performed by:

- the nomadic apparatus (202i-202 ₃ );

the transmitting apparatus (206; 402); and or

- a third party device controlled or triggered by the mobile device (202i-202 ₃ ) or the transmitting device (206; 402).

The method (100; 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the alarm transmission step (112) comprises at least one of the following operations:

- emitting a light signal and / or an audible signal; - sending a message to a remote device; and or

- triggering a remote alarm.

8. Method (100; 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the configuration phase comprises:

storing an authentication code for the connection at the nomadic device (202i-202 ₃ ) or the sending device (206; 402), and / or

a configuration of the mobile device (202i-202 ₃ ) for the wireless functionality of the mobile device (202i-202 ₃ ), used to detect the wave emitted by the transmitting apparatus (206; 402), can not be deactivated.

9. Process (100; 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises at least one of at least the following steps:

a step (114) for blocking the nomadic apparatus (202i-202 ₃ ),

a step (118) of activation of a geolocation module within the mobile device (202i-202 ₃ );

after or at the same time as the triggering of the step of issuing an alarm

10. Method (100; 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication protocol used to pair the transmitting apparatus (206; 402) with each nomadic apparatus (202i-202 ₃ ) is the protocol Bluetooth®.

11. System (200; 400) comprising means configured to implement all the steps of the method (100; 300) according to any one of the preceding claims.

12. System according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises one or more nomadic devices and:

at least one unidirectional transmitter device, each associated with an exit zone of the delimited space and emitting a first wave; and

at least one transmitting apparatus emitting a second wave within the delimited space;

the nomadic device (s) being configured so that the zone exit detection for each nomadic device is performed by:

a detection by said mobile device of said first wave; and

a lack of detection by said mobile device of said second wave.