Patent ID: 8182549

Claim:
A process for protection against theft of electronic payment terminals utilized in a group comprising more than two electronic payment terminals organized as a network, wherein the process includes the following steps: transmitting, by a first of said electronic payment terminals, at least one first request to check on the presence of at least one other terminal of said group, called a terminal to be detected, to said terminal to be detected; waiting for at least one response to said first request, from said terminal to be detected; broadcasting, to all the other terminals of said group, an alert of a potential detected absence of said terminal to be detected if there is no response or an invalid response by said terminal to be detected; verifying the absence of said terminal to be detected, by each of said terminals that received said alert of absence, by transmitting to the terminal to be detected at least one second request to check on the presence of said terminal to be detected; waiting for at least one response to the second request from said terminal to be detected; and transmitting, by each of said terminals that transmitted said second request: information confirming the absence of said terminal to be detected, if there is no response or an invalid response to the second request the terminal to be detected; or alert cancellation information if the terminal to be detected provides a valid response, providing validated information on the absence of said terminal to be detected when no cancellation information has been received.