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, said electronic components, except for said motion detector and said microprocessor, being dormant when said anti-theft tag is not in motion, wherein;
when said motion detector determines said anti-theft tag is being moved, the rest of said electronic components become active and said microprocessor determines whether said radio frequency circuit detects a field at said predetermined frequency.
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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.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An asset protection system comprising;
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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, said electronic components, except for said motion detector and said microprocessor, being dormant when said anti-theft tag is not in motion, wherein; when said motion detector determines said anti-theft tag is being moved, the rest of said electronic components become active and said microprocessor determines whether said radio frequency circuit 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)
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Specification