Electronic Device Memory Theft Prevention via Power Shutdown Inhibition
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices in retail shops face theft of external memory media by criminals who turn off the device to prevent an alarming sound from triggering, allowing them to remove the memory without restriction.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a monitoring system that checks for the presence of an external memory medium while displaying content data, generates an alarm if removed, and inhibits power shutdown unless the correct password is entered, preventing unauthorized removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an alarming sound is generated when the external memory medium is removed, then theft prevention is improved, but criminals can turn off the power to prevent the alarm from triggering
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of the external memory medium's presence before allowing power shutdown. The monitoring portion continuously checks whether the medium is installed, and only permits power shutdown when the medium is confirmed to be installed, preventing criminals from turning off the alarm by shutting down power first
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control where the monitoring portion continuously provides information about the external memory medium's installation status to the power supply control portion. This feedback loop ensures that power shutdown is only permitted when the medium is present, dynamically adjusting power control based on real-time monitoring status
2Reliability
If the power supply is continuously supplied to monitor the external memory medium, then theft detection is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring portion operates periodically rather than continuously, checking for the external memory medium at regular intervals when the device is in operation. This periodic monitoring maintains theft detection capability while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the monitoring status based on operational conditions. Monitoring is actively performed when the device is operating and content is being displayed, but can be reduced or suspended during idle periods, making the power consumption adaptable to actual operational needs
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device including an external-memory-medium installing portion in which an external memory medium storing contents data, a display portion for displaying the contents data, a sound generating portion for generating a sound, a power-shut-down-requirement receiving portion for receiving a requirement for shutting-down a power supply to the electronic device, a monitoring portion for determining whether the external memory medium is installed in the external-memory-medium installing portion, a sound-generation commanding portion for commanding command the sound generating portion to generate an alarming sound when the monitoring portion has determined that the external memory medium is not installed in the external-memory-medium installing portion while the contents data are displayed, and a power supply control portion for inhibiting an operation to shut down the power supply to the electronic device when the power-shut-down-requirement receiving portion has received the requirement for shutting down the power supply while the contents data are displayed.