Asset protection system
First Claim
1. An asset protection system comprising;
- at least one monitoring field transmitter, said at least one monitoring field transmitter maintaining a monitoring field of a predetermined radio frequency in an area to be monitored, and;
at least one anti-theft tag, said at least one anti-theft tag comprising an attaching mechanism for attaching said at least one anti-theft tag to an item to be protected, said at least one anti-theft tag further comprising electronic components located in the body of said at least one anti-theft tag, said electronic components comprising a microprocessor, a motion detector, an audible alarm generator, a battery, and radio frequency circuitry, said radio frequency circuitry being capable of transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals and detecting said monitoring field, wherein;
an item to be protected is initially placed in said area to be monitored with an anti-theft tag attached to said item by said attaching mechanism, excepting said motion detector and said microprocessor operating in a minimized mode, said electronic components being dormant when said anti-theft tag is not in motion, wherein;
when said motion detector determines said anti-theft tag is being moved, said microprocessor switches to an active mode, said electronic components become active, and said microprocessor determines whether said radio frequency circuitry detects a field at said predetermined frequency.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An asset protection system maintains a radio frequency field or signal in a monitored area. Assets have tags attached to them and are placed in the monitored area. The tags have a mechanism to attach them to the objects and have electronic components on board including a microprocessor, motion detector, radio frequency circuitry, audible alarm generator and in some cases, a passive EAS element. The tags are normally idle in the monitored area, but when the motion detector indicates that a tag is being moved, the RF circuitry checks for a signal or field at an expected frequency. If the tag does not detect a signal, the tag electronics determine that the tag has left the monitored area and generate an audible alarm. If a signal is detected, the tag returns to an idle state once it stops moving. The tags may also alarm if tampered with.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. An asset protection system comprising;
-
at least one monitoring field transmitter, said at least one monitoring field transmitter maintaining a monitoring field of a predetermined radio frequency in an area to be monitored, and; at least one anti-theft tag, said at least one anti-theft tag comprising an attaching mechanism for attaching said at least one anti-theft tag to an item to be protected, said at least one anti-theft tag further comprising electronic components located in the body of said at least one anti-theft tag, said electronic components comprising a microprocessor, a motion detector, an audible alarm generator, a battery, and radio frequency circuitry, said radio frequency circuitry being capable of transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals and detecting said monitoring field, wherein; an item to be protected is initially placed in said area to be monitored with an anti-theft tag attached to said item by said attaching mechanism, excepting said motion detector and said microprocessor operating in a minimized mode, said electronic components being dormant when said anti-theft tag is not in motion, wherein; when said motion detector determines said anti-theft tag is being moved, said microprocessor switches to an active mode, said electronic components become active, and said microprocessor determines whether said radio frequency circuitry detects a field at said predetermined frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification