System for inventory tracking and theft deterrence
First Claim
1. A system for tracking inventory and deterring theft when inventory is transferred from a first location to a second location within the premises of a food and beverage serving retail establishment comprising:
- a data management system having a data structure and a set of programmed mechanisms and connected to a set video surveillance cameras, where the set of video surveillance cameras are mounted to the first location and the second location;
a first rack system located at the first location and connected to the data management system;
a second rack system located at the second location and connected to the data management system;
a point of sale terminal connected to the data management system; and
, a set of RFID tags applied to the inventory.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention disclosed provides a system for theft deterrence in a retail establishment having an inventory control system, a set of transceiver enabled storage units, and a set of RFID tags placed on stocked items. A stream of system logs and system alarms is compiled by a centralized computer which executes inventory database updates under normal inventory movement through a typical business cycle. The inventory is tracked from reception, to storage areas, to service areas, to point of sales. The system alerts operations management when abnormal inventory removal is detected. As the inventory moves from storage areas to service areas, the items are associated to a person and tracked until the inventory is properly checked in at its intended destination. The items may be associated to employees via a continuously monitoring video surveillance system, smart card identification system, or RFID tags on each person containing identification and credential information.
98 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A system for tracking inventory and deterring theft when inventory is transferred from a first location to a second location within the premises of a food and beverage serving retail establishment comprising:
-
a data management system having a data structure and a set of programmed mechanisms and connected to a set video surveillance cameras, where the set of video surveillance cameras are mounted to the first location and the second location; a first rack system located at the first location and connected to the data management system; a second rack system located at the second location and connected to the data management system; a point of sale terminal connected to the data management system; and
, a set of RFID tags applied to the inventory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A system for inventory tracking and theft deterrence for when an employee transfers an item from a first location to a second location comprising:
-
a data management system resident on a computer and having a data structure and a set of programmed functions, where the computer is electronically connected to a first storage unit, a second storage unit, a first video camera, a second video camera, and a point of sale register; an RFID tag attached to the item located in the first location; wherein the first video camera is located at and continuously records the first location and the second video camera is located at and continuously records the second location; wherein the first storage unit is located in the first location and includes a first controller electronically connected to the computer, a first multiplexor electronically connected to the first controller, and a first transceiver electronically connected to the first multiplexor, where the first transceiver detects the RFID tag when the RFID tag is proximate the first storage unit; wherein the second storage unit is located in the second location and includes a second controller electronically connected to the computer, a second multiplexor electronically connected to the second controller, and a second transceiver electronically connected to the second multiplexor, where the second transceiver detects the RFID tag when the RFID tag is proximate the second storage unit; wherein the set of programmed functions checks out the item from the first location when the first storage unit no longer detects the RFID tag; wherein the set of programmed functions checks in the item to the second location when the second storage unit detects the RFID tag and records a transfer time; and
,wherein the set of programmed functions saves video captured by the first video camera when the transfer time is greater than a predetermined allowable transfer time.
-
-
7. A method of tracking inventory and deterring theft of inventory when an employee moves inventory from a first location to a second location, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a data management system resident on a computer and having a data structure and a set of programmed functions, where the computer is electronically connected to a first transceiver enabled storage unit located in the first location, a second transceiver enabled storage unit located in the second location, a first video camera mounted at the first location, a second video camera mounted at the second location, and a point of sale register; providing RFID tags implanted on the inventory; monitoring the first transceiver enabled storage unit to determine contents; removing the inventory from the first transceiver enabled storage unit; updating the inventory to CHECKED OUT status; delivering the inventory to second transceiver enabled storage unit; monitoring the second transceiver enabled storage unit to determine contents; updating the inventory to CHECKED IN status; and
,creating reports. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
-
-
10. A system for tracking inventory and deterring theft by assigning inventory to an employee when inventory is transferred from a first location to a second location within the premises of a food and beverage serving retail establishment comprising:
-
a data management system having a data structure and a set of programmed mechanisms and connected to a set of smart card readers, where the set of smart card readers are mounted to the first location and the second location; a first rack system located at the first location and connected to the data management system; a second rack system located at the second location and connected to the data management system; a smart card attached to the employee and when proximate the set of smart card readers is detectable by the set of smart card readers; a point of sale terminal connected to the data management system; and
,a set of RFID tags applied to the inventory. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A system for inventory tracking and theft deterrence when an employee with a smart card transfers an item from a first location to a second location comprising:
-
a data management system resident on a computer and having a data structure and a set of programmed functions, where the computer is electronically connected to a first storage unit, a second storage unit, a first card scanner, a second card scanner, and a point of sale register; an RFID tag attached to the item located in the first location; wherein the first card scanner is located proximate the first location and the second card scanner is located proximate the second location; wherein the first storage unit is located in the first location and includes a first controller electronically connected to the computer, a first multiplexor electronically connected to the first controller, and a first transceiver electronically connected to the first multiplexor, where the first transceiver detects the RFID tag when the RFID tag is proximate the first storage unit; wherein the second storage unit is located in the second location and includes a second controller electronically connected to the computer, a second multiplexor electronically connected to the second controller, and a second transceiver electronically connected to the second multiplexor, where the second transceiver detects the RFID tag when the RFID tag is proximate the second storage unit; wherein the set of programmed functions associates the item with the employee when the first card scanner reads the smart card and the first storage unit detects the RFID tag is missing; and
,wherein the set of programmed functions checks in the item to the second location when the second card scanner reads the smart card and the second storage unit detects the RFID tag. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
-
21. A method of tracking inventory and deterring theft of inventory when an employee moves inventory from a first location to a second location, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a data management system resident on a computer and having a data structure and a set of programmed functions, where the computer is electronically connected to a first transceiver enabled storage unit located in the first location, a second transceiver enabled storage unit located in the second location, a first card scanner mounted at the first location, a second card scanner mounted at the second location, and a point of sale register; providing RFID tags implanted on the inventory; providing a smart card containing identification information to the employee; swiping the smart card at the first card scanner; identifying the employee as SIGNED IN to the first location; monitoring the first transceiver enabled storage unit to determine contents; removing the inventory from the first transceiver enabled storage unit; updating the inventory to CHECKED OUT status; associating the CHECKED-OUT inventory to the employee; swiping the smart card at the first card scanner; identifying the employee as SIGNED OUT from the first location; delivering the inventory to second transceiver enabled storage unit; monitoring the second transceiver enabled storage unit to determine contents; updating the inventory to CHECKED IN status; and
,creating reports. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification