Mobile Anti-theft device and method for protecting an object against theft using a mobile Anti-theft device

Abstract

Anti-theft device (10), comprising a lace (12) alternately in an open or closed loop with the rest of the anti-theft device, for linking an object to be protected against theft to a support, a lock (40) selectively in a locked and unlocked closed loop state, a controller (20) with a wireless telecommunications interface (51), which, in an initial pairing operation, obtains an identifier from a wireless telecommunications mobile device (60), via said wireless telecommunications interface, and then receives an identifier via said interface and only allows a lock unlock command if the received identifier is identical to the identifier initially obtained.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a mobile anti-theft device comprising: a connecting element adapted to be alternately in an open position in which the connecting element forms an open loop with the rest of the anti-theft device and in a closed position in which the connecting element forms a closed loop with the rest of the anti-theft device, a safety element adapted to be selectively in a locking and unlocking state of the closure of the closed loop formed by the connecting element with the rest of the anti-theft device; said linking device being adapted to link an object to be protected against theft to a support when the closed loop passes through said support and said object and the safety device is in the locked state.

[0002] Such examples, including key or combination locks, are used for example as anti-theft devices for bicycles.

[0003] US 2018 / 230713 A1 presents a mobile anti-theft device.

[0004] US 2019 / 347884 A1 presents a portable lock, which can be a padlock or loop lock, and which records an identifier of a mobile device during initial pairing so that this identifier can be used subsequently to authenticate the mobile device and control the lock.

[0005] The aim of the invention is therefore to offer a reliable, secure and easy-to-use mobile anti-theft device.

[0006] To this end, according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a mobile anti-theft device conforming to claim 1.

[0007] The invention thus makes it possible to offer a secure mobile anti-theft device, usable in many places and which requires neither possession of a physical key nor memorization of a code by the user.

[0008] In embodiments, the mobile anti-theft device according to the invention further comprises one or more of the features of claims 2 or 3.

[0009] According to a second aspect, the present invention proposes a method of protection against the theft of an object conforming to claim 4.

[0010] In embodiments, the process according to the invention further comprises one or more of the features of claims 5 or 6.

[0011] The object could, for example, be luggage or computer equipment.

[0012] These features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [ Fig 1 ] there figure 1 represents a mobile anti-theft device in one embodiment of the invention; [ Fig 2 ] there figure 2 is a functional view of a mobile anti-theft device in one embodiment of the invention; [ Fig 3 ] there figure 3 is a flowchart of steps implemented in an embodiment of the invention; [ Fig 4 ] there figure 4 schematically represents a distributor of mobile anti-theft devices in one embodiment of the invention.

[0013] There figure 1 represents a mobile anti-theft device 10 in an embodiment of the invention linking in a locked manner, in the example considered, a suitcase 1 to a luggage support bar 4 3 in a train.

[0014] The mobile anti-theft device 10 includes a case 13 and a lanyard 12.

[0015] The lace 12 includes two adapted ends 15 and 16 to be secured each with the housing 13 thus forming a closed loop.

[0016] In the present case, the lace 12 comprises a flexible steel cable 14 connected at its end 16, in this case permanently, for example by welding, to the housing 13.

[0017] The cable 14 is attached at its other end to a connecting appendage 15 adapted to, in a closed position of the anti-theft device 10, be manually engaged in a corresponding housing 11 in the housing 13, and to, in an open position of the anti-theft device 10, be manually disengaged from this housing and then present a free end.

[0018] In the open position of device 10, the assembly housing 13 - lace 12 forms an open loop and in the closed position of device 10, the assembly housing 13 - lace 12 forms a closed loop.

[0019] The anti-theft device 10 also includes a locking block for closure, here located in the housing 13.

[0020] When the anti-theft device 10 is in the closed position, it is also adapted to be locked or unlocked by the locking block, as described below. When locked, no user other than the authorized user(s) can unlock it, which is the only way to open the anti-theft device 10.

[0021] With reference to the figure 2 , the anti-theft device 10 includes, in the housing 13, a wireless telecommunications interface 50, a controller 20 comprising a microprocessor, a memory 30 and a locking block 40.

[0022] The anti-theft device 10 also includes a rechargeable power supply (not shown) in the housing 13.

[0023] In an embodiment illustrated in figure 4 The device is recharged when stored in a dedicated space 19 (for example, a dispenser-type space) which allows for the storage, recharging, and locking of the anti-theft devices 10 placed there. A battery charge indicator is, for example, located on the equipment: in one embodiment, it indicates the remaining usage time in hours or minutes.

[0024] In one embodiment, a user, once they no longer need the anti-theft device 10, simply inserts it vertically, from bottom to top, into a holder 25 of the dispenser 19. On the figure 4 A section 28 showing an exploded view of the bracket 25 is further shown. Once the device 10 is in the bracket 25, the device 10 is locked into the bracket 25 using a connecting appendage 27 similar to the connecting appendage 15 and integrated into the housing 25. Once the device 10 is inserted and locked, the bracket 25 supplies power to the device 10 via two power pins 26 of the bracket 25.

[0025] When a phone is then brought near the device 10 in the dispenser 19, the dispenser cuts off the power supply to the device 10 and unlocks it. In one embodiment, the locking and unlocking of the device 10 relative to the support 25 uses, for example, the same mechanism (e.g., a metal solenoid) as that for locking and unlocking the lanyard 12 described later.

[0026] In the case under consideration, the wireless telecommunications interface 50 includes a telecommunications interface 51 of type CCP (Near Field Communication, also called NFC for "Near Field communication" in English, as defined for example by the ISO / IEC, ECMA or ETSI organizations) and a wireless telecommunications interface 52 of other type, for example Bluetooth as standardized by the IEEE or GPRS.

[0027] Memory 30 contains software instructions for a program P. The microprocessor of controller 20 is adapted to execute the software instructions of program P. The operations of controller 20 are implemented as part of the execution of this program P.

[0028] Memory 30 also includes, in a memory area called the authorized users area, an emergency identifier ID urg.

[0029] With reference to the figure 3 In one embodiment, steps of a method for protecting an object against theft using a mobile anti-theft device, as shown in figures 1 And 2 .

[0030] The anti-theft device 10 is suitable for implementing the steps described below as being its responsibility.

[0031] Thus, consider a traveler on a train who wishes to protect his suitcase 1 against theft using the anti-theft device 10.

[0032] For example, the user of the anti-theft device 10 brings his mobile phone 60, also equipped with a CCP communication interface, within 4 centimeters of the dedicated space in order to unlock the device 10, or even places it on the surface 18 of the housing 13 of the device 10 housed in the dedicated space.

[0033] In a preliminary coupling step 101, the controller 20, via the CCP interface 51, detects the presence of the mobile phone 60 and obtains, via a CCP exchange with the latter, an ID 1 identifier of the mobile phone, for example the IMSI number (in English, "The International Mobile Subscriber Identity") stored in the SIM card of the phone 60. An application will allow, in one embodiment, if necessary, the user to be debited with a predetermined sum.

[0034] Controller 20 stores this ID 1 identifier in the authorized users area of ​​memory 30.

[0035] The anti-theft device 10 is then paired with the mobile phone 60. Device No. 10 is then released from its designated space. The user can then carry the device in the luggage compartment and lock it.

[0036] A positioning step is now described. If the device 10 is in the open position, the housing 13 - lace 12 assembly forms an open loop (if the device 10 is in the closed position, a step similar to step 103 described below will then be implemented before this positioning step) and in this open position, a user can then pass the cable 14 through the space between the handle 2 of a case 1 and the body of this case 1 placed on the bars 4, then pass the cable 14 under a bar 4 before engaging the end 15 in the housing 11 and thus close the loop, placing the device 10 in the closed position.

[0037] It should be noted that if the device 10 is in the open position, this positioning step can be carried out before or after the coupling step 101.

[0038] In a locking step 102, after the user has placed the mobile phone 60 on the surface 18 of the device's housing 13, the controller 20 detects the presence of the phone 60 via its CCP telecommunications interface 51. As soon as it detects this presence, the controller 20 communicates with the mobile phone 60 via its CCP interface 51 and obtains its identifier, in this case, the IMSI identifier. It then compares this received identifier with those stored in the authorized users area. If and only if the received identifier is identical to one of those stored, the controller 20 then commands the locking block 40 to switch from its current state to the other state: in this case, the current state is the unlocked state; thus, the controller 20 triggers the switch from the unlocked state to the locked state of the anti-theft device 10.

[0039] In this locked state of the anti-theft device 10, an individual of normal strength and without special tools will not be able to open the loop formed by the lace 12 and the case 13, even by pulling hard on both to try to separate them.

[0040] In another embodiment, the lock is triggered in step 102 only when the device 10 is determined by the controller 20 to be in the closed position and the user of a phone placed on the surface 18 and identified as authorized removes his phone from the surface 18 and takes it out of the range of CCP communication.

[0041] In another example, the lock is triggered in step 102 only when that user of an authorized phone placed on the surface 18 removes their phone from the surface 18 or moves it out of the NFC communication range.

[0042] In yet another embodiment, the locking is triggered in step 102 when the device 10 is determined by the controller 20 to be in the closed position, regardless of whether or not an authorized phone is nearby.

[0043] In the embodiment considered, the locking block 40 is, for example, a metal solenoid adapted to slide under the effect of a magnetic field, for example, generated by a coil whose current supply is triggered by the controller 20 when it commands a state change operation of the locking block 40 (the sign of the current being reversed at each change). Thus, when the device 10 is in the unlocked closed position and the controller 20 commands a change of state to lock, the solenoid slides in one direction and locks the end portion 15 engaged in the housing 11, for example, by engaging in a corresponding housing provided in this end portion 15, thereby locking the anti-theft device 10 in the closed position.When the device 10 is in the locked closed position and the controller 20 commands a change in the locking state, the solenoid slides in the opposite direction and releases the end portion 15 that was engaged in the housing 11, thus unlocking the anti-theft device 10 in the closed position. Of course, other locking devices can be used.

[0044] Later, in unlocking step 103, after the mobile phone 60 has been placed again by its user on the surface 18 of the device 10's housing 13, the controller 20 detects the presence of the phone 60 via its NFC interface. As soon as it detects this presence, it exchanges data with the mobile phone 60 via its NFC interface 51 and obtains its identifier, in this case, the IMSI identifier. It then compares this received identifier with those stored in the authorized users area. If and only if the received identifier is identical to one of those stored, the controller 20 then commands the locking block 40 to switch from its current state to the other state: in this case, the current state is the locked state; thus, the controller 20 triggers the unlocking mechanism to switch the locking mechanism of the anti-theft device 10.

[0045] To avoid successive untimely state changes of the lock block 40 when the user leaves their mobile phone 60 on the surface 18 for a long time, if a state change has been triggered following the detection of the presence of an authorized phone, a new state change can only be triggered if there is an interruption of the detection of the presence of the authorized phone (which means that the user, after placing their phone on the surface 18, removed it, then put it back).

[0046] Once the anti-theft device 10 is unlocked, the user can then disengage the end 15 from the housing 11, and release, if desired, their case 1, or the bar 4, from the cable 14. Later, they can relock the anti-theft device 10 if they wish, by repeating step 102. Or they can store the device in the dedicated space, which will allow the battery to recharge and the device to be made available to other users.

[0047] In one embodiment, authorized train personnel, for example train controllers, are further equipped with suitable telecommunication devices to exchange with the anti-theft device 10 via its CCP 51 communication interface and provide it with the emergency identifier ID urg, which will enable the unlocking of the device 10, during a step 103 implemented this time between the anti-theft device 10 and the telecommunication device of a train controller, in the event of a malfunction observed in a step 103 implemented by the user.

[0048] In another embodiment, the train controllers are further equipped with telecommunication devices adapted to exchange with the anti-theft device 10 via its bluetooth communication interface 52 and provide it with the identifier of the device 10 and the emergency identifier ID urg, the commanding controller 20, upon receipt and only after a comparison step verifying that one of the identifiers provided is indeed equal to the identifier stored in memory 30 and that the other identifier provided is indeed that of the anti-theft device 10, the unlocking of the locking block 40.

[0049] Following such an emergency unlocking, in one embodiment, an alert message will then be sent by the anti-theft device 10 to the user's mobile phone 60, via the telecommunications interface 52.

[0050] The present invention thus proposes a mobile (weighing, for example, between 100 and 300 grams), self-contained, rechargeable anti-theft device that allows for the easy securing of various types of luggage in existing storage areas on trains. It is designed to unlock only after successful identification with the mobile phone of the user who performed the initial pairing (or with strictly authorized personnel if their intervention is necessary).

[0051] In one embodiment, the anti-theft devices are obtained on board a train from a dispensing device, for example an automatic anti-theft device dispenser, to which they are also returned after use. While in the automatic dispenser, the user identifier ID 1 of the anti-theft devices is erased from the authorized user area in their memory, and the power supply is recharged if necessary.

[0052] In some embodiments, other wireless telecommunication devices are used instead of a mobile phone 60, comprising a CCP communication interface (or any other wireless telecommunication technology whose exchanges are permitted only at a short distance from the interlocutor, for example a distance of less than 1 cm, or 5 cm or 10 cm) for example a memory card etc.

[0053] The invention may relate to any one of the following items, considered alone or in combination with any of the attached claims.

[0054] Item 1. Mobile anti-theft device (10), comprising: a linking member (12, 13) adapted to be alternately in an open position in which the linking member forms an open loop with the rest of the anti-theft device and in a closed position in which the linking member forms a closed loop with the rest of the anti-theft device, and a safety member (40) adapted to be selectively in a locking and unlocking state of the closure of the closed loop formed by the linking member with the rest of the anti-theft device; said linking element being adapted to link an object to be protected against theft to a support when the closed loop passes through said support and said object and the security element is in the locked state; said mobile anti-theft device being characterized in that it comprises: a control block (20) comprising a wireless telecommunication interface (51), and adapted to: in an initial pairing operation, obtain an identifier from a wireless telecommunication mobile device (60), via said wireless telecommunication interface, and subsequent to said pairing operation, receive an identifier via said wireless telecommunication interface and only allow a command of the security element from its locked state to its unlocked state if the identifier received is identical to the identifier initially obtained;the control block being adapted to, subsequent to said pairing operation, receive an identifier via said wireless telecommunication interface and to allow a command of the safety device from its unlocked state to its locked state only if the received identifier is identical to the identifier initially obtained; the wireless telecommunication interface (51) being a Near Field Communication type interface.

[0055] Item 2. Mobile anti-theft device (10) according to item 1, in which the control block (20) is adapted to, upon receipt via said wireless telecommunication interface (51) of an identifier identical to the identifier initially obtained, command the security device to its unlocked state, if the security device is in the locked state.

[0056] Item 3. Mobile anti-theft device (10) according to item 1 or 2, in which the control block (20) is adapted to, upon receipt via said wireless telecommunication interface (51) of an identifier identical to the identifier initially obtained, command the security device to its locked state, if the security device is in the unlocked state.

[0057] Item 4. Method of protecting against theft of an object (1) by means of a mobile anti-theft device (10) comprising a connecting member (12, 13) adapted to be alternately in an open position in which the connecting member forms an open loop with the rest of the anti-theft device and in a closed position in which the connecting member forms a closed loop with the rest of the anti-theft device, said connecting member being adapted to link an object to be protected against theft to a support when the closed loop passes through said support and said object and the safety member is in the locked state, and a safety element (40) adapted to selectively be in a locked and unlocked state of the closed loop formed by the linking element with the rest of the anti-theft device, a control block (20) comprising a wireless telecommunications interface (51), said method being characterized in that it comprises the steps of: in an initial pairing operation, obtaining by the control block of the mobile anti-theft device (10) an identifier of a wireless mobile telecommunications device (60), via said wireless telecommunications interface, and - subsequent to said pairing operation, receiving, by the control block of the mobile anti-theft device (10), an identifier via said wireless telecommunications interface,said control block only allows the safety device to be commanded from its locked state to its unlocked state if the received identifier is identical to the identifier initially obtained; according to which the control block, subsequent to said pairing operation, receives an identifier via said wireless telecommunication interface and only allows the safety device to be commanded from its unlocked state to its locked state if the received identifier is identical to the identifier initially obtained; according to which the wireless telecommunication interface (51) is a Near Field Communication type interface.

[0058] Item 5. Method for protecting against theft of an object (1) according to item 4, according to which the control block (20), upon receiving via said wireless telecommunication interface (51) an identifier identical to the identifier initially obtained, commands the security device towards its unlocked state, if the security device is in the locked state.

[0059] Item 6. Method for protecting against theft of an object (1) according to item 4 or 5, according to which the control block (40), upon receiving via said wireless telecommunication interface (51) an identifier identical to the identifier initially obtained, commands the security device to its locked state, if the security device is in the unlocked state.

Claims

1. Mobile anti-theft device (10) for securing luggage in a vehicle, comprising: - a linking element (12, 13) adapted to be alternately in an open position in which the linking element forms an open loop with the rest of the anti-theft device and in a closed position in which the linking element forms a closed loop with the rest of the anti-theft device, the linking element (12, 13) comprising a housing (13) and a cord (12), the cord (12) comprising two ends (15, 16) adapted to be secured each with the housing (13) thus forming the closed loop, the anti-theft device (10) comprising, in the housing (13), a wireless telecommunications interface (50), a controller (20) comprising a microprocessor, a memory (30) and a locking block (40), the memory (30) comprising software instructions of a program (P),the microprocessor of the controller (20) being adapted to execute the software instructions of the program (P), the operations of the controller (20) being implemented within the framework of the execution of this program (P), and - the locking block (40) adapted to selectively be in the locked and unlocked state of the closed loop formed by the linking element with the rest of the anti-theft device; said linking element being adapted to link an object to be protected against theft to a support when the closed loop passes through said support and said object and the locking block is in the locked state; - the wireless telecommunications interface (50) comprising an NFC-type wireless telecommunications interface (51) and a Bluetooth or GPRS-type wireless telecommunications interface (52), the controller (20) being adapted to: - in an initial pairing operation,to obtain an identifier from a wireless mobile telecommunications device (60), via said NFC-type wireless telecommunications interface (51), and - subsequent to said pairing operation, to receive an identifier via said NFC-type wireless telecommunications interface (51) and to only allow a command of the locking block from its locked state to its unlocked state if the received identifier is identical to the identifier initially obtained; the controller (20) being adapted to, subsequent to said pairing operation, receive an identifier via said NFC-type wireless telecommunications interface (51) and to only allow a command of the locking block (40) from its unlocked state to its locked state if the received identifier is identical to the identifier initially obtained, the memory (30) having in a memory area called the authorized users area, an emergency identifier (ID, urg), the controller (20) being further configured to allow an emergency unlocking step: - to allow information exchange via the Bluetooth or GPRS type wireless telecommunications interface (52) with telecommunications devices carried by an authorized user, allowing the authorized user to provide the device with an identifier of said device and the emergency identifier (ID urg ), which will allow the unlocking of the locking block (40), after a comparison step verifying that one of the provided identifiers is indeed equal to an identifier stored in memory 30 and that the other provided identifier is indeed that of the device 10.

2. Mobile anti-theft device (10) according to claim 1, wherein, following an emergency unlocking, an alert message is sent by the anti-theft device (10) to the wireless mobile telecommunications device (60), via the wireless telecommunications interface (52) of the Bluetooth or GPRS type.

3. Train comprising anti-theft device dispensing equipment, at least one anti-theft device according to claim 1 or 2 being obtained from the anti-theft device dispensing equipment, to which it is also returned after use.

4. Train according to claim 3, wherein, during its stay in the vending machine, the identifier of the wireless mobile telecommunications device (60) is erased from the authorized users area of ​​the memory (30), and the power supply is recharged if necessary.

5. Method of protecting against the theft of an object (1) by means of a mobile anti-theft device (10) comprising a linking element (12, 13) adapted to be alternately in an open position in which the linking element forms an open loop with the rest of the anti-theft device and in a closed position in which the linking element forms a closed loop with the rest of the anti-theft device, the linking element (12, 13) comprising a housing (13) and a cord (12), the cord (12) comprising two ends (15, 16) adapted to be secured each with the housing (13) thus forming the closed loop, the anti-theft device (10) comprising, in the housing (13), a wireless telecommunications interface (50), a controller (20) comprising a microprocessor, a memory (30) and a locking block (40), the memory (30) comprising software instructions of a program (P),the microprocessor of the controller (20) being adapted to execute the software instructions of the program (P), the operations of the controller (20) being implemented within the framework of the execution of this program (P), said linking element being adapted to link an object to be protected against theft to a support when the closed loop passes through said support and said object and the locking block is in the locked state, and the locking block (40) being adapted to selectively be in the locked and unlocked state of the closure of the closed loop formed by the linking element with the rest of the anti-theft device, the wireless telecommunications interface (50) comprising an NFC-type wireless telecommunications interface (51) and a Bluetooth or GPRS-type wireless telecommunications interface (52), the memory (30) comprising in a memory area referred to as the authorized users area, an emergency identifier (ID, urg), said process being characterized in thatit includes the steps of: - in an initial pairing operation, obtaining by the controller (20) of the mobile anti-theft device (10), an identifier of a wireless mobile telecommunications device (60), via said NFC type wireless telecommunications interface (51), and - subsequent to said pairing operation, receiving, by the controller (20) of the mobile anti-theft device (10), an identifier via said NFC type wireless telecommunications interface (51), said controller (20) only allowing a command of the locking block from its locked state to its unlocked state if the received identifier is identical to the identifier initially obtained;according to which the controller (20), subsequent to said pairing operation, receives an identifier via said NFC type wireless telecommunication interface (51) and only allows a command of the locking block from its unlocked state to its locked state if the received identifier is identical to the identifier initially obtained;the process further comprising an emergency unlocking step consisting of: - exchanging information via the wireless telecommunications interface (52) of the Bluetooth or GPRS type with telecommunications devices with which an authorized user is equipped, allowing the authorized user to provide the device with an identifier of said device and the emergency identifier IDurg, which will allow the unlocking of the locking block (40), after a comparison step verifying that one of the identifiers provided is indeed equal to an identifier stored in memory 30 and that the other identifier provided is indeed that of the device 10; 6. Method of protection against theft of an object (1) according to claim 5, wherein, following an emergency unlocking, the anti-theft device (10) sends an alert message to the wireless mobile telecommunications device (60), via the wireless telecommunications interface (52) of the Bluetooth or GPRS type.

7. Method of protecting against theft of an object (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said anti-theft device is obtained on board a train from an anti-theft device dispensing equipment, to which it is also returned after use.

8. Method of protecting against theft of an object (1) according to claim 7, wherein, during its stay in the vending machine, the identifier of the wireless mobile telecommunications device (60) is erased from the authorized users area of ​​the memory (30), and the power supply is recharged if necessary.

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