Patent ID: 7674298

Claim:
A handheld security system, comprising: a Bluetooth-enabled control unit having a range of communications; and a Bluetooth-enabled device, wherein the device is registered with the control unit such that the device cooperates with the control unit using Bluetooth communications to determine when the device is within the range of communications of the control unit, wherein when it is determined that the device is within the range of communications of the control unit, the device is functional, and when it is determined that the device is not within the range of communications of the control unit, the device is at least partially non-functional; wherein the device is configured to periodically send an identifying signal to the control unit and the control unit is configured to send a return signal to the device when the identifying signal is received by the control unit; wherein when the device is at least partially non-functional in a situation where it is determined that the device is not within the range of communications of the control unit, the device is configured to continue periodically sending the identifying signal to the control unit; wherein the control unit is configured to produce an alert when it is determined that the device is not within the range of communications of the control unit; wherein the control unit includes a control unit display, the control unit display being configured to display information associated with the device when it is determined that the device is not within the range of communications of the control unit; wherein the device includes a device display, the device display being configured to display information associated with the control unit when it is determined that the device is not within the range of communications of the control unit; wherein the device is configured to periodically send the identifying signal utilizing a period of time which is configured based on movements of an owner; wherein the identifying signal includes information pertaining to a battery status of the device; wherein the handheld security system is operable such that a range of communications of the device is set to match the range of communications of the control unit for avoiding signals of a first range from being received by the control unit from the device when the range of communications of the control unit is not large enough to enable a return signal to be sent from the control unit to the device; wherein the handheld security system is operable such that, in response to the alert, the device is added to a list of lost or stolen devices; wherein the handheld security system is operable such that the list of lost or stolen devices is maintained on a website for allowing a potential buyer of the device to determine whether the device is included in the list of lost or stolen devices.