Key Device for Monitoring Systems

• US 20110084840A1
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shafer, Gary Mark, Wyatt, James Gordon JR., Eckert, Lee H., Mercier, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,378,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0258 System arrangements wherein both parent and child units can emit and receive
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

Exemplary systems, methods and other means for providing a key device that may be used with a monitoring system are discussed herein. The key device may be configured to communicate with one or more other devices, silence an alarm, commission a tag, decommission a tag, unlock a tag from an item, among other things. The key device may include rules that permit particular functionality based on, for example, time and/or location.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a wireless receiver configured to receive a wireless signal transmitted by a network entity of a monitoring system;

a wireless transmitter configured to transmit wireless signals to the network entity; and

a processor, wherein the processor is configured to;

receive an activation code;

generate activation data based on the activation code;

transmit the activation data using the wireless transmitter to the network entity;

receive, from the network entity, validation data indicating whether the activation data is valid; and

in response to receiving the validation data that authenticates the activation data, activate configuration data associated with the activation data.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the configuration data includes usage rules that are time-based rules.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the configuration data includes usage rules that are location-based rules.

4. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the location-based rules enable the mobile device to function when the mobile device is in a retail store.

5. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the location-based rules enable the mobile device to function when the mobile device is in a retail mall.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein:

the configuration data includes usage rules, and

the processor is further configured to determine that at least one usage rule was violated.

7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a signal for transmission in response to determining the at least one usage rule was violated, the signal including rule violation data that indicates the at least one usage rule was violated.

8. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to temporarily lock the device in response to determining at least one of the usage rules was violated.

9. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to permanently disable the device in response to determining at least one of the usage rules was violated.

10. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to provide reduced functionality in response to determining at least one of the usage rules was violated.

11. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to alarm in response to determining at least one of the usage rules was violated.

12. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a signal that indicates another key device has violated a usage rule associated with another key device.

13. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein:

the configuration data includes usage rules, and

the processor is further configured to determine that at least one of the usage rules is being satisfied.

14. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

receive a tote code; and

in response to receiving the tote code, unlock a tote tag.

15. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein:

the configuration data includes usage rules, and

the network entity is configured to determine that at least one of the usage rules is being satisfied.

16. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein:

the configuration data includes usage rules, and

the network entity is configured to determine that at least one of the usage rules is being violated.

17. A method implemented by a mobile device, comprising:

receiving an activation code;

generating activation data based on the activation code;

transmitting the activation data wirelessly to a network entity;

receiving, from the network entity, validation data indicating whether the activation data is valid; and

in response to receiving the validation data that authenticates the activation data, activating configuration data associated with the activation data.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein activating the configuration data includes activating usage rules that are time-based rules.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein activating the configuration data includes activating usage rules that are location-based rules.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein activating the location-based rules enables the mobile device to function when the mobile device is in a retail store.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein activating the location-based rules enable the mobile device to function when the mobile device is in a retail mall.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein activating the configuration data includes activating usage rules, the method further comprising determining that at least one usage rule was violated.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising generating a signal for transmission in response to determining the at least one usage rule was violated, the signal including rule violation data that indicates the at least one usage rule was violated.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising temporarily locking the mobile device in response to determining at least one of the usage rules was violated.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising permanently disabling the mobile device in response to determining at least one of the usage rules was violated.

26. The method of claim 22 further comprising providing reduced functionality in response to determining at least one of the usage rules was violated.

27. The method of claim 22 further comprising alarming in response to determining at least one of the usage rules was violated.

28. The method of claim 17 further comprising receiving a signal that indicates another key device has violated a usage rule associated with a key device.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein:

activating the configuration data includes activating usage rules, and

determining that at least one of the usage rules is being satisfied.

30. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

receiving a tote code; and

in response to receiving the tote code, unlocking a tote tag.

31. The method of claim 17, wherein:

activating the configuration data includes activating usage rules, and

determining, at the network entity, that at least one of the usage rules is being satisfied.

32. The method of claim 17, wherein:

activating the configuration data includes activating usage rules, and

determining, at the network entity, that at least one of the usage rules is being violated.

33. A method for decommissioning a tag, comprising:

receiving at the tag a decommissioning signal from a key device;

entering into a decommissioned state in response to receiving the decommissioning signal;

transmitting a message to a monitoring system entity, the message indicating the tag is decommissioned, wherein the monitoring system entity is not the key device; and

physically detaching from an item in response to the key device unlocking a mechanical lock included in the tag.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

prior to entering the decommissioned state, receiving barcode data from the key device; and

verifying the barcode data matches tag data uploaded when the tag was commissioned.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the entering into the decommissioned state is also in response to verifying the barcode data matches the tag data.

36. A method for decommissioning a tag, comprising:

receiving a decommissioning message from a key device, the decommissioning message indicating the tag is to be decommissioned;

generating a decommissioning command in response to receiving the decommissioning message;

sending the decommissioning command to the tag; and

receiving a confirmation of the tag'"'"'s decommissioning.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising:

receiving barcode data from the key device; and

verifying the barcode data matches tag data stored at a database located remote from the tag.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the generating the decommissioning command is also in response to verifying the barcode data matches the tag data.