Fusion Splicer Theft Tracking via Wireless AP Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fusion splicers used in optical fiber laying sites are vulnerable to theft, and existing security measures such as password-based locks are ineffective in preventing theft and can be compromised, leading to potential resale of stolen devices.
Innovation Solution
A theft tracking system utilizing wireless communication functions in fusion splicers, which includes a management server and information communication terminals to register and track stolen devices by matching unique identifiers of wireless access points, allowing for efficient location and notification of stolen splicers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a password-based lock mechanism is provided in the fusion splicer, then security against unauthorized use is improved, but theft prevention is insufficient as the device can still be stolen and potentially resold if the password is deciphered
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary registration of the fusion splicer's identification information and wireless access point identifier before theft occurs. This pre-registration enables immediate tracking capability once theft is detected, eliminating the need for reactive measures and ensuring the device can be quickly located and recovered.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a management server as an intermediary between the fusion splicer and the tracking system. The management server receives identification information from the splicer, stores it in a database, and facilitates communication between the splicer, information communication terminals, and other system components, enabling centralized tracking and management.
2Ease of operation
If wireless communication functions are installed in fusion splicers for software updates, then ease of operation and maintenance is improved, but the device becomes trackable and vulnerable to theft
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless communication function in the fusion splicer serves multiple purposes: it enables software updates for ease of maintenance and simultaneously provides tracking capability for theft prevention. The same wireless interface and identifier system are used for both legitimate software update communication and for transmitting location information to the tracking system, eliminating the need for separate hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The fusion splicer automatically transmits its identification information and wireless access point identifier to the management server without requiring manual intervention. The device autonomously registers itself in the tracking system and continuously provides location data through its wireless communication function, enabling self-tracking and reducing the need for external configuration.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If identification information is registered in advance for tracking, then theft detection capability is improved, but system complexity increases due to registration and database management requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The fusion splicer automatically generates and transmits its own identification information and wireless access point identifier to the management server without requiring manual registration. The device self-registers in the tracking system by autonomously providing its unique identifiers, eliminating the need for complex manual registration processes and reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing wireless access point identifier that is already assigned to the fusion splicer for wireless communication purposes. This identifier is copied and used as the tracking identifier in the theft prevention system, eliminating the need to create and manage separate identification systems and reducing database management complexity.
4Productivity
If real-time tracking of stolen devices is implemented, then recovery efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases due to continuous wireless communication
Solution Approach 1:
The fusion splicer transmits its location information periodically rather than continuously, reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective tracking capability. The device sends updates at intervals through its wireless communication function, allowing the management server to monitor the device's location over time without requiring constant communication and energy expenditure.
Solution Approach 2:
The management server acts as an intermediary that receives periodic location data from the fusion splicer and manages the tracking information centrally. This architecture allows the splicer to transmit minimal location data periodically while the server handles the complex tasks of data storage, analysis, and coordination with information communication terminals, reducing the energy burden on the mobile device.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a theft tracking system for tracking at least one stolen fusion splicer of a plurality of fusion splicers each of which is wirelessly accessible. The theft tracking system includes a registration reception unit to receive registration of identification information of the stolen fusion splicer, a communication unit to transmit an identifier of a wireless access point allocated to the stolen fusion splicer in advance to a plurality of information communication terminals as a stolen article identifier based on the received identification information, an acquisition unit to acquire identifiers of wireless access points around the respective information communication terminals in a predetermined cycle for each of the plurality of information communication terminals, a determining unit to determine whether or not there is any identifier matching the stolen article identifier in the identifiers of the acquired wireless access points and to transmit positional information of the information communication terminal together with the stolen article identifier when it is determined that there is an identifier matching the stolen article identifier, and a notification unit to issue a notification of the transmitted positional information as the positional information of the stolen fusion splicer.