System for preventing theft of articles from an enclosure
First Claim
1. Apparatus for preventing theft of articles from an enclosure of the type having a lockable access opening, the apparatus comprising:
- means for sensing the presence of each of the articles within the enclosure;
means for controlling access to the enclosure to permit removal of an article;
means for identifying an individual attempting to access the enclosure;
means for determining whether the identified individual is authorized to access the enclosure;
means for recording the identity of the authorized individual, the identity of an article removed from the enclosure, and the time that the article was removed from the enclosure;
means for detecting the sale of the removed article, if the removed article is sold; and
means for generating a security alert signal if the removed article is not sold or returned to the enclosure within a given time period after the article was removed from the enclosure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The security system prevents theft of articles from an enclosure having a lockable access opening. Using RFID technology, a transponder periodically scans the enclosed display area to interrogate RFID tags associated with each of the articles within the enclosure. Access to the enclosure is controlled by an electronically activated retrofit lock associated with the access opening. Biometric technology is used to identify an individual attempting to access the enclosure and to determine whether the identified individual is authorized to access the enclosure. If the individual is authorized, the identity of the authorized individual, the identity of an article removed from the enclosure, and the time that the article was removed from the enclosure are recorded. A POS/inventory control system notes the sale of the removed article. A security alert signal is generated if the removed article is not sold or returned to the enclosure within a given time period after the article was removed from the enclosure. Images of the area proximate the enclosure may be captured by a closed circuit video camera and stored.
187 Citations
22 Claims
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1. Apparatus for preventing theft of articles from an enclosure of the type having a lockable access opening, the apparatus comprising:
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means for sensing the presence of each of the articles within the enclosure; means for controlling access to the enclosure to permit removal of an article; means for identifying an individual attempting to access the enclosure; means for determining whether the identified individual is authorized to access the enclosure; means for recording the identity of the authorized individual, the identity of an article removed from the enclosure, and the time that the article was removed from the enclosure; means for detecting the sale of the removed article, if the removed article is sold; and means for generating a security alert signal if the removed article is not sold or returned to the enclosure within a given time period after the article was removed from the enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 21)
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12. A method for preventing theft of articles from an enclosure of the type having a lockable access opening, the method comprising the following steps:
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sensing the presence of each of the articles within the enclosure; controlling access to the enclosure; identifying an individual attempting to access the enclosure; determining whether the individual is authorized to access the enclosure; recording the identity of the authorized individual, the identity of an article removed from the enclosure, and the time that the article was removed from the enclosure; recording the sale of the removed article, if the removed article is sold; and generating a security alert signal if the removed article is not sold or returned to the enclosure within a given time period after the article was removed from the enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22)
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Specification