THEFT DETECTION SYSTEM

• US 20140210621A1
• Filed: 01/31/2013
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores Texas LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Argue, Stuart, Marcar, Anthony Emile
• Granted Patent: US 9,035,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19678 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/22 Electrical actuation

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of receiving, at a processing device of a monitoring server, a theft detection signal from a first augmented reality device worn by a first employee of a retail store. The method also includes the step of linking, with the processing device, the first augmented reality device in communication with an electronic computing device operated by a second employee in response to said step of receiving the theft detection signal. The second employee can assist the first employee in assessing whether a theft is occurring.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a processing device of a monitoring server, a theft detection signal from a first augmented reality device worn by a first employee of a retail store; and

linking, with the processing device, the first augmented reality device in communication with an electronic computing device operated by a second employee in response to said step of receiving the theft detection signal, such that the second employee can assist the first employee in assessing whether a theft is occurring.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said receiving step further comprises:

receiving, at the processing device, the theft detection signal containing audio data from the first augmented reality device worn by the first employee of the retail store.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein said receiving step further comprises:

receiving, at the processing device, the theft detection signal containing a voice of the first employee.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 wherein said linking step further comprises:

recognizing, with the processing device, data indicative of a theft in the voice of the first employee.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said receiving step further comprises:

receiving, at the processing device, the theft detection signal containing video data from the first augmented reality device worn by the first employee of the retail store.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 wherein said receiving step further comprises:

receiving, at the processing device, the theft detection signal containing a field of view of the first employee.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 wherein said linking step further comprises:

recognizing, with the processing device, data indicative of a theft in images of the video signal containing a field of view of the first employee.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said linking step further comprises:

receiving, with the processing device, a monitoring communication signal distinct from the theft detection signal from the first augmented reality device containing audio data; and

transmitting, with the processing device, the monitoring communication signal to the electronic computing device.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 wherein said step of receiving the monitoring communication signal further comprises:

receiving, with the processing device, the monitoring communication signal from the first augmented reality device, wherein the monitoring communication signal contains a voice of the first employee.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 further comprising the step of:

storing the data contained in the monitoring communication signal in a theft incident database.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said linking step further comprises:

receiving, with the processing device, a monitoring communication signal distinct from the theft detection signal from the first augmented reality device containing video data; and

transmitting, with the processing device, the monitoring communication signal to the electronic computing device.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein said step of receiving the monitoring communication signal further comprises:

receiving, with the processing device, the monitoring communication signal from the first augmented reality device, wherein the monitoring communication signal contains at least part of a field of view the first employee.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

storing the data contained in the monitoring communication signal in a theft incident database.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said linking step further comprises:

receiving, with the processing device, a directing communication signal from the electronic computing device containing audio data; and

transmitting, with the processing device, the directing communication signal to the first augmented reality device.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 wherein said step of receiving the directing communication signal further comprises:

receiving, with the processing device, the directing communication signal from the electronic computing device, wherein the directing communication signal contains a voice.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

storing the data contained in the directing communication signal in a theft incident database.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said linking step further comprises:

receiving, with the processing device, a directing communication signal from the electronic computing device containing audio data; and

transmitting, with the processing device, the directing communication signal to the first augmented reality device.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 further comprising the step of:

storing the data contained in the directing communication signal in a theft incident database.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said linking step is further defined as:

facilitating, with the processing device, real-time communication between the first augmented reality device worn by the first employee and the electronic computing device operated by the second employee as a theft incident is occurring.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19 further comprising:

storing substantially all of the real-time communication between the first augmented reality device worn by the first employee and the electronic computing device operated by the second employee as a theft incident is occurring in a theft incident database.