Retail System Signal Receiver Unit

• US 20130142494A1
• Filed: 12/06/2011
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fasteners for Retail Incorporated (FFR DSI Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Southern Imperial Incorporated (FFR DSI Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Valiulis, Thomas E., Valiulis, Peter T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,803,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/225
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1672 using sonic detecting means, e.g. a microphone operating in the audio frequency range
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera

Abstract

A signal receiver unit for retail systems is provided. The signal receiver unit may include a receiver, a processor, and an output transmitter, and may be configured to receive and process an alarm signal and to transmit an output signal in response. The output signal may be configured to be received by an output receiving device such that store personnel may be alerted to a possible theft.

Claims

1. An audible anti-theft alarm receiver unit for retail anti-theft systems, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the ambient noise of a retail environment;

a processor, coupled with the receiver wherein the processor is configured to recognize a preset audible alarm tone and generate an output signal upon the occurrence of a preset condition of the preset audible alarm; and

an output transmitter electrically connected to the processor for transmitting the output signal to an output device.

2. The audible anti-theft alarm receiver unit of claim 1, wherein the output device is one of a computer and a cellular telephone and the output signal is configured to be received by the one of the computer and the cellular telephone for the purpose of displaying a textual message on the one of the computer and the cellular telephone.

3. The audible anti-theft alarm receiver unit of claim 1, wherein the output device is a public address system and the output signal is configured to be received by the public address system for the purpose of initiating a preset recording that is transmitted through the public address system.

4. The audible anti-theft alarm receiver unit of claim 1, wherein the output signal device is a camera and the output signal is configured to initiate one of the recording of video footage or the taking of still photographs by the camera.

5. The audible anti-theft alarm receiver unit of claim 1, further comprising a memory storage unit electrically connected to the processor, wherein information regarding the preset audible alarm tone recognized by the processor may be stored in the memory storage unit.

6. The audible anti-theft alarm receiver unit of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to access the memory storage unit and compile a report of data collected over a period of time.

7. The audible anti-theft alarm receiver unit of claim 1, wherein the preset condition is at least one of a decibel level of the preset audible alarm, a frequency of occurrence of the preset audible alarm, and a pitch of the preset audible alarm.

8. The audible anti-theft receiver unit of claim 1, wherein the output device is a second audible anti-theft receiver unit, and the output signal is adapted to be received by the second audible anti-theft receiver unit for the purpose of activating a local indicating device proximate the second audible anti-theft receiver unit.

9. A method for receiving and processing audible alarms with an audible anti-theft alarm receiver unit, comprising the steps:

monitoring the ambient noise of a retail environment;

recognizing a preset audible alarm within the ambient noise; and

transmitting an output signal in response to the recognition of the preset audible alarm to perform the function of communicating the possibility of a theft.

10. The method for receiving and processing audible alarms of claim 9, wherein the step of transmitting an output signal comprises at least one of transmitting a textual message to an output receiving device, commanding a public address system to play a pre-recorded announcement, commanding a camera to begin one of recording video footage or taking still photos.

11. A signal receiver unit for retail systems comprising:

a control unit including a receiver and a control circuit,

the receiver being configured to receive a first signal from a retail display device, including an emitter, indicative of a merchandise dispensing event at the retail display device and a second signal from a retail display device, including an emitter, indicating a potential theft condition;

the control circuit being configured to determine whether a received signal is a first signal or a second signal and to produce an output indicative of a merchandise dispensing event if a received signal is a first signal and to produce an output indicative of a potential theft condition if a received signal is a second signal.

12. The signal receiver unit of claim 11, wherein the control unit further comprises an output transmitter;

wherein the control circuit comprises a microprocessor and wherein the microprocessor is configured based on programmed logic to generate an output indicative of a signal received and to transmit the output via the output transmitter to at least one of a pager system, a text system, a memory, a computer, a public address system, a telephone, a cellular telephone, a camera, a video camera, and an alarm.

13. The signal receiver unit of claim 11, wherein the first and second signals each comprise at least one of an audible sound, infrared light, visible light, radio waves, and microwaves.

14. The signal receiver unit of claim 11, wherein the first and second signals each comprise audible sound waves;

wherein the first and second signals each have at least one of unique frequencies, wavelengths, frequencies of occurrence, pitches, and volumes; and

wherein the control circuit is configured to identify each of the first and second signals based on the at least one of the unique frequencies, wavelengths, frequencies of occurrence, pitches, and volumes.

15. The signal receiver unit of claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to recognize the source of received first and second signals from unique characteristics of the first and second signals emitted from a plurality of retail display devices.

16. The signal receiver unit of claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to output a report comprising at least one of an amount of first signals received, a frequency of first signals received, times at which first signals have been received, an amount of second signals received, a frequency of second signals received, and times at which second signals have been received;

and

wherein the report is configured to be received and read by an external software program.

17. A theft deterrent system comprising:

a sensor operatively associated with an emitter, the sensor configured to sense a potential theft condition at a retail display unit and the emitter configured to emit an alarm signal when a potential theft condition is sensed by the sensor;

a signal receiver unit including a receiver in operative communication with a control circuit, and an output transmitter in operative communication with the control circuit, the receiver unit configured to receive an alarm signal, the control circuit configured to recognize an alarm signal received by the receiver and to output a signal indicating that the emitter has emitted an alarm signal indicating that a potential theft condition has occurred at the retail display unit via the output transmitter to an output device.

18. The theft deterrent system of claim 17, comprising a plurality of emitters each operatively associated with one of a plurality of sensors, each sensor configured to monitor a retail display device each of the emitters configured to emit an alarm signal having a unique identifier;

wherein the control circuit is configured to identify the source of alarm signals received by the receiver.

19. The theft deterrent system of claim 18, wherein the emitters are configured to emit alarm signals comprising audible sound waves, and wherein the control circuit is configured to identify the one of the emitters that emitted each alarm signal by at least one of the volume, frequency, pitch, and wavelength of the audible sound waves.

20. The theft deterrent system of claim 17, wherein an alarm signal emitted by the emitter travels wirelessly to the receiver and wherein an alarm signal emitted by the emitter comprises at least one of audible sound waves, infrared light, visible light, radio waves, and microwaves.

21. The theft deterrent system of claim 18, wherein the sensors are configured to sense at least one of when a retail display device has been actuated to allow removal of merchandise from the retail display device and when merchandise has been removed from the retail display device;

wherein each of the emitters are configured to emit a removal signal when its associated sensor senses at least one of when its associated retail display device has been actuated to allow removal of merchandise from the retail display device and when merchandise has been removed from its associated retail display device;

wherein the receiver is configured to receive removal signals; and

wherein the control circuit is configured to recognize removal signals and produce an output indicative of a received removal signal upon recognition of the removal signal.

22. The theft deterrent system of claim 21, wherein the signal receiver unit further comprises a memory, and wherein, upon recognition of alarm and removal signals by the control circuit, at least one of the type of signal received, the time of reception, and the emitter from which the signal was received is stored in the memory;

and

wherein the signal receiving unit is configured to selectively output the contents of the memory.