System and method for securing and displaying items for merchandising
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- displaying a plurality of merchandise items at a merchandise display allowing a consumer to handle the merchandise items;
playing audio video information at the merchandise display, wherein the audio video information is based on one or more of the plurality of merchandise items, wherein the audio video information is stored in a memory at the merchandise display, wherein a first audio video information associated to a first merchandise item is stored in a first portion of the memory and a second audio video information is stored in a second portion of the memory, wherein the first audio video information can be played without playing the second audio video information and wherein the second audio video information can be played without playing the first audio video information;
detecting a possible theft when one of the merchandise items is removed from the display;
generating an alarm when the possible theft is detected; and
updating the audio video information from a location remote to the merchandise display, wherein the first audio video information can be updated without updating the second audio video information.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for automatically advertising items put on display, as well as protecting those items against theft. The system and method include an event sensor associated with the item and connected to a monitoring and alarm transmitter for initiating an advertising experience on an associated and local graphic display whenever the item is manipulated or approached by a patron. Should the item be removed or taken from its display stand, a wireless alarm is automatically transmitted to a receiver of an authorized person. The system and method also perform a logging function when a patron approaches the item or removes it without taking it away. The system and method also include the ability to provide power to electronic items that are on display.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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displaying a plurality of merchandise items at a merchandise display allowing a consumer to handle the merchandise items; playing audio video information at the merchandise display, wherein the audio video information is based on one or more of the plurality of merchandise items, wherein the audio video information is stored in a memory at the merchandise display, wherein a first audio video information associated to a first merchandise item is stored in a first portion of the memory and a second audio video information is stored in a second portion of the memory, wherein the first audio video information can be played without playing the second audio video information and wherein the second audio video information can be played without playing the first audio video information; detecting a possible theft when one of the merchandise items is removed from the display; generating an alarm when the possible theft is detected; and updating the audio video information from a location remote to the merchandise display, wherein the first audio video information can be updated without updating the second audio video information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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4. A method comprising:
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displaying a plurality of merchandise items at a merchandise display allowing a consumer to handle the merchandise items; providing audio video information at the merchandise display, wherein the audio video information is based on one or more of the plurality of merchandise items; detecting a possible theft when one of the merchandise items is removed from the display; generating an alarm when the possible theft is detected; and updating the audio video information from a location remote to the merchandise display; wherein the updating the audio video information further comprises; receiving at the merchandise display update information that was entered in a web browser at the location remote to the merchandise display; and updating the audio video information based, at least in part, on the update information.
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10. A method comprising:
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displaying a plurality of merchandise items at a merchandise display allowing a consumer to handle the merchandise items; providing audio video information at the merchandise display, wherein the audio video information is based on one or more of the plurality of merchandise items; detecting a possible theft when one of the merchandise items is removed from the display; generating an alarm when the possible theft is detected; updating the audio video information from a location remote to the merchandise display; attaching each of the plurality of merchandise items to a corresponding tether to prevent the theft of a corresponding merchandise item; and
wherein the updating the audio video information further comprises;removing a first merchandise item from a first tether; attaching a second merchandise item to the first tether; and replacing audio visual information of the first merchandise item with a different updated audio visual information of the second merchandise item.
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11. A merchandise display comprising:
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a display area for displaying a plurality of merchandise items, wherein the display area is configured to allow customer handling of the merchandise items; detection logic configured to detect the removal of one of the merchandise items from the merchandise display; alarm logic configured to generate an alarm responsive to the detection logic detecting the removal of one of the merchandise items from the merchandise display; an audio visual display device; display logic configured to retrieve initial audio data and initial image data corresponding to one or more of the merchandise items from a database of audio data and image data, wherein the display logic is configured to play the initial audio data and initial image data on the audio visual display device; and update logic configured to receive updated audio data and updated image data from a remote location and to update the database with the updated audio data and updated image data, wherein the database contains a first set of audio data and image data associated with a first merchandise item and a second set of audio data and image data associated with a second merchandise item, wherein the update logic is configured to receive a third set of audio data and updated image data associated with the first merchandise item from the remote location, wherein the update logic is configured to update the database by replacing the first set of audio data and image data with the third set of audio data and image data without modifying the second set of audio data and image data. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19)
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16. A merchandise display comprising:
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a display area for displaying a plurality of merchandise items, wherein the display area is configured to allow customer handling of the merchandise items; detection logic configured to detect the removal of one of the merchandise items from the merchandise display; alarm logic configured to generate an alarm responsive to the detection logic detecting the removal of one of the merchandise items from the merchandise display; an audio visual display device; display logic configured to retrieve initial audio data and initial image data corresponding to one or more of the merchandise items from a database of audio data and image data, wherein the display logic is configured to play the initial audio data and initial image data on the audio visual display device; and update logic configured to receive updated audio data and updated image data from a remote location and to update the database with the updated audio data and updated image data; wherein the update logic is configured to receive the updated audio data and updated image data from a web browser running on a remote device at the remote location.
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Specification