Using radio frequency identification with transaction-specific correlator values written on transaction receipts to detect and/or prevent theft and shoplifting
First Claim
1. A method of preparing information usable in theft detection using radio frequency identification (“
- RFID”
) technology, comprising steps of;
creating a unique correlator value, for a current transaction, as a function of one or more values;
storing the unique correlator value in an RFID tag affixed to each of one or more items presented for purchase in the current transaction; and
storing the unique correlator value on a receipt prepared for the current transaction.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are disclosed for detecting shoplifting or theft, particularly in a retail environment, using radio-frequency identification (“RFID”). Preferred embodiments leverage RFID tags on merchandise and RFID data that is written at the point of sale on the merchandise-borne RFID tags themselves, on the customer'"'"'s receipt, or both. Some embodiments also leverage RFID tags on customer identification or “loyalty” cards. After writing RFID data on the merchandise-borne tags and/or receipt, a matching operation is performed at an RFID reader when the shopper and his merchandise exit the premises, in order to determine whether the shopper has paid for the items in his possession.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A method of preparing information usable in theft detection using radio frequency identification (“
- RFID”
) technology, comprising steps of;creating a unique correlator value, for a current transaction, as a function of one or more values; storing the unique correlator value in an RFID tag affixed to each of one or more items presented for purchase in the current transaction; and storing the unique correlator value on a receipt prepared for the current transaction. - View Dependent Claims (2)
- RFID”
-
3. A method of detecting potential theft using radio frequency identification (“
- RFID”
) technology, comprising steps of;reading, from a transaction receipt, a correlator value;
searching, in an RFID tag affixed to each of one or more items possessed by a shopper who also possesses the transaction receipt, for the correlator value; andconcluding that at least some of the one or more items possessed by the shopper were not paid for if the correlator value is not located in the searching step. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- RFID”
-
10. A system for preparing information usable in theft detection using radio frequency identification (“
- RFID”
) technology, comprising;means for creating a unique correlator value, for a current transaction, as a function of one or more values; means for storing the unique correlator value in an RFID tag affixed to each of one or more items presented for purchase in the current transaction; and means for storing the unique correlator value on a receipt prepared for the current transaction. - View Dependent Claims (11)
- RFID”
-
12. A system for detecting potential theft using radio frequency identification (“
- RFID”
) technology, comprising;means for reading, from a transaction receipt, a correlator value; means for searching, in an RFID tag affixed to each of one or more items possessed by a shopper who also possesses the transaction receipt, for the conelator value; and means for concluding that at least some of the one or more items possessed by the shopper were not paid for if the correlator value is not located by the means for searching. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- RFID”
-
19. A computer program product for preparing information usable in theft detection using radio frequency identification (“
- RFID”
) technology, the computer program product embodied on one or more computer-readable media and comprising;computer-readable program code means for creating a unique correlator value, for a current transaction, as a function of one or more values; computer-readable program code means for storing the unique correlator value in an RFID tag affixed to each of one or more items presented for purchase in the current transaction; and computer-readable program code means for storing the unique correlator value on a receipt prepared for the current transaction. - View Dependent Claims (20)
- RFID”
-
21. A computer program product for detecting potential theft using radio frequency identification (“
- RFID”
) technology, the computer program product embodied on one or more computer-readable media and comprising;computer-readable program code means for reading, from a transaction receipt, a correlator value; computer-readable program code means for searching, in an RFID tag affixed to each of one or more items possessed by a shopper who also possesses the transaction receipt, for the correlator value; and computer-readable program code means for concluding that at least some of the one or more items possessed by the shopper were not paid for if the correlator value is not located by the computer-readable program code means for searching. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
- RFID”
Specification