Inventory and anti-theft alarm system

• US 8,947,235 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2014
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMTP Associates, LLC
• Original Assignee: Joseph Joseph
• Inventors: Joseph, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US14/181,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20140159900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 340/10.1, 235/487
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure

Abstract

An inventory and anti-theft alarm tag system that has (1) one or more RFID tags and (2) a master database. The RFID tags can include an RFID transmitter and an RFID inlay having a unique item number encoded therein. The RFID transmitter allows communication between the RFID tags and the master database. The master database can compare information from the RFID tags with information stored in the master database to determine if the RFID tags are authentic and have been opened or closed a defined number of times indicated in the master database, and if not, a message can be sent for investigation.

Claims

1. An inventory and anti-theft alarm tag system, comprising:

at least one RFID tag including an RFID transmitter and an RFID inlay having an item number encoded therein; and

a master database for communication between the at least one RFID tag and the master database via the RFID transmitter, the master database comparing information from the at least one RFID tag with information stored in the master database to determine if the at least one RFID tag is authentic and has been opened or closed a defined number of times indicated in the master database, and if not, a message is sent for investigation, the defined number of times being each recorded insertion and removal of a tag pin into an opening of the at least one RFID tag.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein each insertion and removal of the tag pin into the opening of the at least one RFID tag is written directly into a memory of the at least one RFID tag and transmitted to and recorded in the master database.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein when the at least one RFID tag is attached to a merchandise item, (1) an operator ID, a date and time, the RFID inlay and a first sequential event is recorded, (2) the at least one RFID tag is activated and (3) the merchandise item is added to an inventory in the master database.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the first sequential event is an attachment of the merchandise item to the at least one RFID by inserting the tag pin into the opening of the at least one RFID tag.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the tag pin is inserted into the opening of the at least one RFID tag and is locked in place by a clutch mechanism to affix the at least one RFID tag to the merchandise item.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein when the tag pin is inserted into the clutch mechanism, a circuit is completed notifying the RFID transmitter and the master database that the at least one RFID tag pin is locked in place and a time and date for each lock/unlock event and a sequence of events is recorded.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the tag pin and the clutch mechanism are unlocked at point of sale.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the information is provided to the master database using a unique RFID-encoded item number showing that a merchandise item is locked and in inventory, and includes a lock/unlock sequence number.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein at a point of sale, the master database is interrogated and compares information from the at least one RFID with the master database and if the number of openings and closings recorded on the at least one RFID tag is determined to be out of sequence with the number of openings and closings recorded on the master database, a signal is sent to investigate.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one RFID tag includes a smart chip.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system periodically scans the at least one RFID tag to capture an operator ID, a date and time, the RFID inlay and a sequence events for the at least one RFID tag.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein if no RFID tag is found, a signal is sent for investigation.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system, at a point of sale, (1) scans and captures an operator ID, a date and time, the RFID inlay and a next sequential event, (2) removes the at least one RFID tag from inventory and (3) marks the at least one RFID tag for re-commissioning.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein re-commissioning is attaching the at least one RFID tag to a next merchandise item.

15. An inventory and anti-theft alarm tag system, comprising:

at least one RFID tag including an RFID transmitter and an RFID inlay having a RFID item number encoded therein; and

a master database for communication between the at least one RFID tag and the master database via the RFID transmitter, the master database comparing information from the at least one RFID tag with information stored in the master database to determine if the at least one RFID tag is authentic and has been opened or closed a defined number of times indicated in the master database,

wherein, when the at least one RFID tag is attached or affixed to a merchandise item, (1) an operator ID, a date and time, the RFID inlay and a first sequential event is recorded, (2) the at least one RFID tag is activated and (3) the merchandise item is added to an inventory in the master database, and

wherein a validation is performed by the master database when a sale of the merchandise item is made and a signal is sent to investigate if a number of openings and closings recorded on the at least one REID tag is determined to be out of sequence with the number of openings and closings recorded on the master database.

16. An inventory and anti-theft alarm tag system, comprising:

at least one REID tag including an RFID transmitter, an RFID inlay having an RFID item number encoded therein and a pin, the pin is inserted into an opening of the at least one RFID tag and is locked in place by a clutch mechanism to affix the at least one RFID tag to a merchandise item, the pin and the clutch mechanism are unlocked and relocked at point of sale by removing or inserting the pin into the clutch mechanism thereby completing or breaking a circuit; and

a master database for communication between the at least one RFID tag and the master database via the REID transmitter, the master database comparing information from the at least one RFID tag with information stored in the master database to determine if the at least one RFID tag is authentic and has been opened or closed a defined number of times indicated in the master database, and if not, a message is sent for investigation,

wherein the completing of the circuit notifies the at least one RFID tag and the master database that the at least one RFID tag is locked and a time and date of each lock/unlock event is recorded and wherein if the pin is cut an unlock event is transmitted to the master database.

17. An inventory and/or anti-theft alarm tag method, the steps comprising:

affixing at least one RFID tag to an item of merchandise, the at least one RFID tag adapted to communicate with a master database via an RFID transmitter in the at least one RFID tag;

providing the at least one RFID tag with an RFID inlay having a unique RFID item number encoded therein; and

communicating between the at least one RFID tag and the master database via the RFID transmitter

comparing information from the at least one RFID tag with information stored in the master database to determine if the at least one RFID tag is authentic and has been opened or closed a defined number of times indicated in the master database, and if not, a message is sent to a store manager to investigate, the defined number of times being each insertion and removal of a tag pin into an opening of the at least one RFID tag.

18. An inventory and anti-theft alarm tag system, comprising:

at least one RFID tag including an RFID transmitter, a counting chip and a locking mechanism, the counting chip being activated when the locking mechanism is in a locked position; and

a master database for communication between the at least one RFID tag and the master database via the RFID transmitter, the at least one RFID tag transmitting counting chip information to the master database, the master database tracking a logical sequence of the counting chip information for the at least one RFID tag, and, if the counting chip information is out of logical sequence, the master database sends an alert.

19. The inventory and anti-theft alarm tag system of claim 18 further comprising:

an on-board power supply for supplying power to the at least one RFID tag.

20. The inventory and anti-theft alarm tag system of claim 18 wherein the alert notifies store personnel of a potential theft.

21. The inventory and anti-theft alarm tag system of claim 18 wherein the locking mechanism is a pin being inserted into a clutch mechanism.

22. The inventory and anti-theft alarm tag system of claim 18 wherein the counting chip information includes each lock/unlock event of the locking mechanism.