Using radio frequency identification with transaction-specific correlator values to detect and/or prevent theft and shoplifting
First Claim
1. A method of preparing information usable in theft detection using radio frequency identification (“
- RFID”
) technology, comprising steps of;
creating a unique correlator value, for a current transaction, as a function of one or more values; and
storing the unique correlator value in an RFID tag affixed to each of one or more items presented for purchase in the current transaction.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are disclosed for detecting shoplifting or theft, particularly in a retail environment, using radio-frequency identification (“RFID”). Preferred embodiments leverage RFID tags on merchandise and RFID data that is written at the point of sale on the merchandise-borne RFID tags themselves, on the customer'"'"'s receipt, or both. Some embodiments also leverage RFID tags on customer identification or “loyalty” cards. After writing RFID data on the merchandise-borne tags and/or receipt, a matching operation is performed at an RFID reader when the shopper and his merchandise exit the premises, in order to determine whether the shopper has paid for the items in his possession.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of preparing information usable in theft detection using radio frequency identification (“
- RFID”
) technology, comprising steps of;
creating a unique correlator value, for a current transaction, as a function of one or more values; and
storing the unique correlator value in an RFID tag affixed to each of one or more items presented for purchase in the current transaction. - View Dependent Claims (2)
- RFID”
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3. A method of detecting potential theft using radio frequency identification (“
- RFID”
) technology, comprising steps of;
searching, in an RFID tag affixed to each or one or more items possessed by a shopper, for a correlator value; and
concluding that selected ones of the items possessed by the shopper were not paid for if the selected items do not have an identical correlator value to the other possessed items. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
- RFID”
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8. A system for preparing information usable in theft detection using radio frequency identification (“
- RFID”
) technology, comprising;
means for creating a unique correlator value, for a current transaction, as a function of one or more values; and
means for storing the unique correlator value in an RFID tag affixed to each of one or more items presented for purchase in the current transaction. - View Dependent Claims (9)
- RFID”
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10. A system for detecting potential theft using radio frequency identification (“
- RFID”
) technology, comprising;
means for searching, in an RFID tag affixed to each or one or more items possessed by a shopper, for a correlator value; and
means for concluding that selected ones of the items possessed by the shopper were not paid for if the selected items do not have an identical correlator value to the other possessed items. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
- RFID”
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15. A computer program product for preparing information usable in theft detection using radio frequency identification (“
- RFID”
) technology, the computer program product embodied on one or more computer-readable media and comprising;
computer-readable program code means for creating a unique correlator value, for a current transaction, as a function of one or more values; and
computer-readable program code means for storing the unique correlator value in an RFID tag affixed to each of one or more items presented for purchase in the current transaction. - View Dependent Claims (16)
- RFID”
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17. A computer program product for detecting potential theft using radio frequency identification (“
- RFID”
) technology, the computer program product embodied on one or more computer-readable media and comprising;
computer-readable program code means for searching, in an RFID tag affixed to each or one or more items possessed by a shopper, for a correlator value; and
computer-readable program code means for concluding that selected ones of the items possessed by the shopper were not paid for if the selected items do not have an identical correlator value to the other possessed items. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
- RFID”
Specification