Retail Device Security via Watchdog Trigger Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing security monitoring systems for electronic merchandise on retail display face challenges in maintaining persistent security monitoring despite non-persistent security applications and lack of access to firmware, making them vulnerable to theft attempts where devices can be easily reset or security applications terminated.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method and system that uses mobile device management (MDM) and supervised mode communications to ensure persistent security monitoring by re-initiating security instructions and re-downloading security applications if they are discontinued, and automatically locking devices upon detection of trigger events or time thresholds, without relying on firmware or persistent memory.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If security applications are installed on the device to monitor theft, then security monitoring capability is provided, but the applications can be easily terminated or the device reset, making security non-persistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a supervisory system as an intermediary between the device hardware and security applications. This supervisory system, implemented through MDM protocols, monitors the execution state of security instructions and can re-initiate them if terminated. The supervisory system acts as a mediator that ensures security persistence without requiring firmware modifications, solving the contradiction by adding a software-based supervision layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the device periodically reports its security instruction execution status to a remote server. The server monitors this feedback and can detect when security applications are terminated or the device is reset. Based on this feedback, the server can automatically re-provision security applications, ensuring continuous security monitoring without requiring permanent firmware changes.
2Ease of operation
If consumers are allowed to lift and inspect products for evaluation, then consumer assessment capability is improved, but security devices may restrict or inhibit this evaluation process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic security control where the device's locked state can change based on contextual factors. The device can be unlocked during authorized inspection periods and automatically locked when theft is detected or inspection time expires. This dynamic approach allows consumers to freely inspect products when authorized while maintaining security protection when not inspected, resolving the contradiction between ease of inspection and security effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic check-in mechanisms where the device periodically communicates its status and location to the retail system. During authorized display periods, the device remains unlocked for consumer inspection. The system periodically verifies the device's status and can automatically lock it if it detects unauthorized removal or exceeds inspection time limits, thus enabling both consumer inspection and security protection at different time periods.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of monitoring a device on retail display includes receiving, by a processor of a server computer, a message from the device indicative of whether security instructions stored in a memory of the device are being executed on the device, determining, by the processor, whether time elapsed since the message was received exceeds a threshold, and, if the time elapsed exceeds the threshold, sending, by the processor, a command to automatically cause the device to enter into a locked state.