Communication device, system, and control method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9760717-B2
Application number	US-201414459387-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2014
Priority date	Feb 20, 2012
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

A communication device includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to, when a first vibration is detected in the communication device, set a certain state that protects information stored in the memory, and cancel the certain state based on receiving from another communication device a notification indicating that the other communication device detected a second vibration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A communication device comprising:
a memory; and
a processor coupled to the memory which are installed in a power meter and configured to:
when a first vibration is detected in the communication device indicating a likelihood of theft, set the communication device to an alert state, the alert state including engaging a countermeasure to protect designated information stored in the memory, and
measure an amount of time elapsed after the first vibration is detected until either a threshold is exceeded or a control command is received,
wherein when the measured amount of time exceeds the threshold, the designated information is deleted,
wherein when a control command is received from another communication device, installed in a second power meter, providing a notification that the another communication device detected a second vibration and when the measured amount of time from after the first vibration is detected until the control command is received is less than the threshold, the alert state is cancelled, and the designated information is not deleted;
wherein the first vibration is determined to have been caused by an earthquake when the notification and a number of times of receiving additional notifications from additional communication devices in power meters detecting additional vibrations is equal to or greater than a second threshold value.

2. The communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the first vibration is detected when an output value from a sensor exceeds a third threshold value, the sensor being installed in the communication device.

3. A system comprising:
a plurality of communication devices installed in power meters included in a communication network; and
a management device that manages the plurality of communication devices, wherein the management device includes a first processor configured to:
when an occurrence of an earthquake is detected, generate a control command that controls a state of certain communication devices from among the plurality of communication devices, the certain communication devices being in an area where the earthquake occurred, and
output the control command to the certain communication devices, and
wherein the plurality of communication devices respectively include a memory and a second processor configured to:
when a first vibration indicating a likelihood of theft is detected in a first communication device of the plurality of communication devices, set the first communication device to an alert state, the alert state including engaging a countermeasure to protect designated information stored in the memory, and
measure an amount of time elapsed after the first vibration is detected until either a threshold is exceeded or a control command is received,
wherein when the measured amount of time exceeds the threshold, the designated information is deleted, and
wherein when the measured amount of time from after the first vibration is detected until the control command is received is less than the threshold, the alert state is cancelled, and the designated information is not deleted; and

wherein the first processor is further configured to:
receive, from at least one of the plurality of communication devices, the control command providing a notification indicating that a second vibration has been sensed, and
determine that the earthquake has occurred when the notification and a number of times of receiving additional notifications from additional communication devices from the plurality of communication devices detecting additional vibrations is equal to or greater than a second threshold value.

4. The control method according to claim 3 , wherein the first vibration is detected when an output value from a sensor exceeds a third threshold value, the sensor being installed in the first communication device.

Assignees

• Fujitsu Ltd

Inventors

• Sakemi Yumi
• Izu Tetsuya
• Shimokawa Yoshinobu
• Iwao Tadashige

Classifications

• G06F21/78 Primary

  to assure secure storage of data (address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00) · CPC title

• H04W84/00

  Network topologies · CPC title

• G06F21/00

  Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity · CPC title

• G08B21/10

  responsive to calamitous events, e.g. tornados or earthquakes · CPC title

• G06F21/60 Primary

  Protecting data · CPC title