Electronic inventory label and security apparatus
First Claim
1. A security and inventory control device comprising:
- a tag device;
means for attaching said tag device to a piece of merchandise;
identification means on said tag device for identifying the piece of merchandise;
means, located on said tag device, for sounding an alarm if said tag device is removed from the piece of merchandise;
means, located on said tag device, for receiving a sold signal, said sold signal being issued when said identification means has been read to purchase said piece of merchandise;
means, in communication with said alarm sounding means and said receiving means, for disarming said alarm sounding means after the sold signal has been received; and
means, coupled to said receiving means, for releasing said means for attaching after the sold signal has been received so that said tag device may be removed from said piece of merchandise.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A self-contained, reusable, electronic security label device and system wherein a tag device is attached to merchandise for the purpose of security, surveillance, pricing, tracking, accounting and inventory control. The device includes a programmable display for identifying the merchandise and displaying a price. A connector attaches the device to a piece of merchandise and an alarm is sounded in the event a device is tampered with or damaged, or upon unauthorized removal of the connector. The alarm is disarmed and the connector is detached upon receipt of a signal indicating the merchandise has been sold. The system includes read/write apparatus to electronically program, read and monitor devices attached to merchandise.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A security and inventory control device comprising:
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a tag device; means for attaching said tag device to a piece of merchandise; identification means on said tag device for identifying the piece of merchandise; means, located on said tag device, for sounding an alarm if said tag device is removed from the piece of merchandise; means, located on said tag device, for receiving a sold signal, said sold signal being issued when said identification means has been read to purchase said piece of merchandise; means, in communication with said alarm sounding means and said receiving means, for disarming said alarm sounding means after the sold signal has been received; and means, coupled to said receiving means, for releasing said means for attaching after the sold signal has been received so that said tag device may be removed from said piece of merchandise. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A price tag security device comprising:
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a housing; a programmable display mounted on said housing; processor means coupled to said programmable display; means for attaching said housing to a piece of merchandise; means, coupled to said processor means, for detecting detachment of said housing from said piece of merchandise; communication means, coupled to said processor means, for receiving wireless communications; and means, coupled to said processor means, for releasing said attaching means in response to receipt of a signal indicating said piece of merchandise has been purchased and said programmable display has been scanned. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A security and tracking device comprising:
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a tag device; communication means on said tag device for transmitting and receiving wireless communications; processor means coupled to said communication means; means for attaching said tag device to a piece of merchandise; means, coupled to said processor means, for detecting detachment of said tag device from said piece of merchandise; and means, coupled to said processor means, for releasing said attaching means, wherein said processor means operates said releasing means in response to a signal received by said communication means, said signal indicating that said piece of merchandise has been purchased. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A reusable product label comprising:
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a programmable display mounted on a tag device; communication means, in said tag device, for receiving wireless communications; processor means coupled to said communication means; means for attaching said tag device to a product; said programmable display including means for displaying a machine-readable bar code corresponding to the product; and means, coupled to said processor means, for releasing said attaching means wherein said processor means operates said releasing means in response to a sold signal received by said communication means, said sold signal being indicative that the bar code on said programmable display has been read to purchase said product. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A protection method for securely handling merchandise comprising the steps of:
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attaching an electronic label to a piece of merchandise; programming a unique identification code for said piece of merchandise into said electronic label; addressing said electronic label with an employee identification code for an employee receiving said merchandise; communicating with said label to give said label a price to display for said piece of merchandise if said employee identification code has authority to do so; setting off an alarm on said label if said label is detached from said piece of merchandise before purchase; reading said electronic label to register a purchase of said piece of merchandise; issuing a sold signal to said electronic label upon said reading of said electronic label; receiving said sold signal in said electronic label; disarming said alarm after receiving said sold signal; and said electronic label automatically releasing its attachment to said piece of merchandise after receiving said sold signal.
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34. A method of inventory control comprising the steps of:
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writing a unique identification code into a programmable, processor-controlled tag device; attaching said tag device to a piece of merchandise; inputting an employee identification code into a read/write scanner; reading the unique identification code from said programmable, processor-controlled tag device using the read/write scanner; and writing a retail price into said programmable, processor-controlled tag device using the read/write scanner upon authorization of said employee identification code; reading said programmable, processor-controlled tag device at a point-of-sale device; issuing a sold signal to said programmable, processor-controlled tag device after said step of reading; and said tag device automatically releasing its attachment to said piece of merchandise in response to receiving said sold signal.
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35. A security method for handling merchandise purchases comprising the steps of:
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attaching a programmable, processor-controlled tag device to a piece of merchandise; programming a unique identification code for said piece of merchandise into said tag device; setting off an alarm on said tag device if said tag device is removed from said piece of merchandise before purchase; reading the identification code off said tag device to register a purchase of said piece of merchandise; transmitting a sold signal upon said reading of said tag device; receiving the sold signal in said tag device; disarming said alarm after receiving the sold signal; and said tag device automatically releasing its attachment to said piece of merchandise in response to receiving the sold signal.
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Specification