Apparatus and method for securing a portable electronic device

Abstract

Anti-theft protection systems and methods for portable devices, such as portable electronic devices, that are unattended during use. The anti-theft protection systems and methods use a combination of measures including mechanical aspects, such as tethering the device to an object that is difficult to move, and electronic aspects that detect unauthorized movement and or alarm the user or other responsible party if unauthorized movement occurs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for providing protection against unauthorized movement of an unattended camera control device, said apparatus comprising:
 a) a tripod connectable with the camera control device, said tripod having tripod legs, said tripod equipped with a device that prevents the tripod legs from being closed and wherein said device that prevents the tripod legs from being closed is lockable with a locking element, said locking element configured to be unlocked with a tool;   b) an anchoring element that comprises a surface piercing portion and a removable driving portion wherein said surface piercing portion and said removable driving portion are connected by way of a correspondingly-shaped lock-and-key connection; and   c) at least one tether with at least one locking mechanism, wherein said at least one tether connects the camera control device to said tripod and to said anchoring element and said at least one locking mechanism prevents removal of said at least one tether.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more intermediate tethers to interconnect additional devices. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tripod comprises a tripod mast and the device that prevents the tripod legs from being closed is attachable to the tripod mast. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for providing protection against unauthorized movement of an unattended electronic device comprising:
 a) at least one location sensor associated with the unattended device to detect the location of the associated unattended device, wherein said location sensor senses location based on signals received from a global positioning system;   b) an electronic control device that stores location information sensed by said location sensor; and   c) at least one first signaling device, wherein said at least one first signaling device is configured to provide an alarm signal when the location of the unattended device has substantially changed.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the alarm signal is provided when said location sensor detects location change from a stored location beyond the error bubble of said location sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a tether and a locking mechanism, wherein said tether connects the unattended electronic device to an object that is difficult to move, and said locking mechanism prevents removal of the tether connection between the unattended device and the object that is difficult to move. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the object that is difficult to move comprises a surface piercing element. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said surface piercing element comprises a surface piercing portion and a removable driving portion. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said surface piercing portion and said removable driving portion connect via a correspondingly-shaped lock-and-key connection. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the object that is difficult to move comprises a fillable bag, wherein said fillable bag is made heavy by filling said fillable bag with material or items adding weight to said fillable bag. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the object that is difficult to move comprises a fillable bag, wherein said fillable bag is difficult to move because it is filled with materials typically found on a beach, such material being water, sand, and/or pebbles. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the object that is difficult to move comprises a tripod having tripod legs, wherein the tripod legs are lockable in an open position. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one remote unit and wherein said at least one first signaling device is communicatively linked with said at least one remote unit; wherein said at least one remote unit comprises at least one second signaling device configured to provide an alarm signal upon receiving information that said at least one first signaling device is providing an alarm. 
     
     
         14 . A method of creating an alarm when an unattended device is moved, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a location sensor associated with the unattended device; wherein the location sensor is integrated with the unattended device and the location sensor detects location by receiving signals from a global positioning system;   b) detecting an initial location of the unattended device by the location sensor;   c) electronically storing the initial location;   d) periodically detecting current locations of the unattended device;   e) determining whether the current location of the unattended device is substantially different from the electronically stored initial location;   f) providing an alert when it is determined that the current location of the unattended device is substantially different from the electronically stored initial location.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of sending a signal to a receiver collocated with a user of the unattended device to alert the user of the location change of the unattended device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of tethering the unattended device to an object that is difficult to move. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of filling a bag with locally available material to add weight to the bag and tethering the filled bag to the unattended device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of filling a bag with locally available material to add weight to the bag, such material being water, sand, and/or pebbles, and tethering the filled bag to the unattended device.