SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROTECTING RETAIL DISPLAY MERCHANDISE FROM THEFT

• US 20160371944A1
• Filed: 09/02/2016
• Published: 12/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Phillips, Jonathon D., Johnston, Michael R., Grant, Jeffrey A., Taylor, Gary A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,482,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1409 for removal detection of electrical appliances by detecting their physical disconnection from an electrical system, e.g. using a switch incorporated in the plug connector
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/149 with electric, magnetic, capacitive switch actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• 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 21/0277 Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth, piconet, zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]

Abstract

Security systems and methods for protecting retail display merchandise from theft are provided. For example, a security system includes a sensor configured to removably engage an input port of an item of merchandise, and a monitoring component configured to wirelessly communicate with the sensor and to removably support the sensor thereon, wherein the monitoring component and the sensor are configured to communicate with one another to determine a proximity of the item of merchandise relative to the monitoring component, wherein the monitoring component and/or the sensor is configured to initiate a security signal when the proximity between the monitoring component and the sensor is not within a predetermined range, and wherein the monitoring component and/or the sensor is configured to initiate a security signal in response to the sensor being removed from the input port of the item of merchandise.

Claims

1. A security system configured for securing a portable electronic device from theft, the security system comprising:

a sensor configured to be in electrical communication with the portable electronic device; and

a monitoring component configured to wirelessly communicate with the sensor,

wherein the monitoring component and the sensor are configured to communicate with one another to determine a proximity of the portable electronic device relative to the monitoring component,

wherein the monitoring component and/or the sensor is configured to initiate a security signal based on the proximity between the monitoring component and the sensor, and

wherein the monitoring component and/or the sensor is configured to initiate a security signal in response to the sensor being removed from the portable electronic device.

2. The security system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a cable and a connector at the end of the cable, and wherein the connector is configured to removably engage an input port of the portable electronic device.

3. The security system of claim 2, wherein the monitoring component and/or the sensor is configured to initiate a security signal in response to the sensor being removed from the input port of the portable electronic device.

4. The security system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring component is configured to be coupled to a remote power source for providing power to the portable electronic device when the sensor is supported on the monitoring component.

5. The security system of claim 4, wherein the sensor and the monitoring component each comprises one or more electrical contacts configured to establish electrical communication with one another for transferring power to the portable electronic device when the sensor is supported on the monitoring component.

6. The security system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring component and the sensor are each configured to initiate a security signal based on the proximity between the display stand and the sensor.

7. The security system of claim 1, wherein the sensor and the monitoring component are configured to wirelessly communicate via received signal strength indictor (RSSI) communication.

8. The security system of claim 1, wherein the sensor and the monitoring component are configured to wirelessly communicate via ultra-wideband time of flight communication.

9. The security system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring component and the sensor are each configured to communicate with a key for arming or disarming the monitoring component and/or the sensor.

10. The security system of claim 1, wherein the sensor and the monitoring component are configured to be paired to one another in response to the sensor being positioned on the monitoring component.

11. The security system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring component and the sensor are configured to communicate with one another to exchange data in predetermined increments of time, and wherein the monitoring component and/or the sensor are configured to initiate a security signal in response to data provided by the monitoring component and/or the sensor.

12. The security system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring component comprises a display stand.

13. The security system of claim 12, wherein the display stand comprises an alarm component configured to generate a security signal in response to communication with the monitoring component.

14. A method for securing a portable electronic device from theft, the method comprising:

wirelessly communicating between a monitoring component and a sensor, the sensor being in electrical communication with the portable electronic device;

determining a proximity of the portable electronic device relative to the monitoring component;

initiating a first security signal at the monitoring component and/or sensor based on the proximity between the monitoring component and the sensor; and

initiating a second security signal at the monitoring component and/or sensor in response to the sensor being removed from portable electronic device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising pairing the sensor and the monitoring component in response to the sensor being positioned on the monitoring component.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein initiating the first security signal comprises generating the first security signal at each of the monitoring component and the sensor.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein initiating the second security signal comprises generating the second security signal at each of the monitoring component and the sensor.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein initiating the first security signal comprises generating a warning signal based on the proximity between the monitoring component and the sensor.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein determining comprises determining proximity using ultra-wideband time of flight communication.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein initiating comprises initiating the first security signal at the monitoring component and/or sensor when the proximity between the monitoring component and the sensor is not within a predetermined range.