Theft detection system

• US 9,035,771 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2013
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores Texas LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Argue, Stuart, Marcar, Anthony Emile
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Application Number:
  US13/756,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20140210621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/5.53, 340/572.1, 340/539.31, 340/10.1, 340/286.06, 340/539.13, 340/540, 340/541, 455/550.1, 455/404.1, 348/152, 348/150
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19678 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/22 Electrical actuation

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of receiving, at a processing device of a monitoring server, a theft detection signal from a first augmented reality device worn by a first employee of a retail store. The method also includes the step of linking, with the processing device, the first augmented reality device in communication with an electronic computing device operated by a second employee in response to said step of receiving the theft detection signal. The second employee can assist the first employee in assessing whether a theft is occurring.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

providing a body mounted first augmented reality electronic device capable of transmitting a media signal consisting of at least one of an audio and a video signal to a first employee of a retail store whereby the augmented reality device is worn on the first employee in the retail store;

receiving, at a processing device of a store monitoring server, a media signal from the first augmented reality device when the first augmented reality device is worn on the body of the first employee of a retail store;

the processing device of the store monitoring server identifying a theft detection signal communicated by the first employee in the media signal; and

linking, with the store monitoring server processing device, the first augmented reality device to an electronic computing device operated by a second store employee to facilitate communication between the augmented reality device and the electronic computing device in response to said step of identifying the theft detection signal, such that the second employee can assist the first employee in assessing whether a theft is occurring.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said identifying step comprises:

the processing device analyzing an audio signal from the augmented reality device and identifying a theft detection signal in the audio signal by identifying sound which is likely to represent an audible theft detection signal from the first employee.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein said identifying step comprises:

the processing device identifying a theft detection signal from a voice of the first employee.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said identifying step comprises:

the processing device analyzing an audio signal from the augmented reality device to identify words spoken by the first employee from the audio signal, and identifying words spoken by the first employee which are likely to be a theft detection signal spoken by the first employee.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said identifying step comprises:

the processing device analyzing a video signal from the augmented reality device and identifying a theft detection signal in the video signal by identifying motion in images in the video signal which is likely to represent a visual theft detection signal from the first employee.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 wherein said identifying step comprises:

the processing device identifying, in images in the video signal, hand gestures made by the first employee which are likely to be a theft detection signal made by the first employee.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 wherein said identifying step comprises:

the processing device identifying motion which is indicative of a theft in images of the video signal.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said linking step further comprises:

receiving, with the processing device, a monitoring communication signal distinct from the theft detection signal from the first augmented reality device containing audio data; and

transmitting, with the processing device, the monitoring communication signal to the electronic computing device.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 wherein said step of receiving the monitoring communication signal further comprises:

receiving, with the processing device, the monitoring communication signal from the first augmented reality device, wherein the monitoring communication signal contains a voice of the first employee.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 further comprising the step of:

storing the data contained in the monitoring communication signal in a theft incident database.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said linking step further comprises:

receiving, with the processing device, a monitoring communication signal distinct from the theft detection signal from the first augmented reality device containing video data; and

transmitting, with the processing device, the monitoring communication signal to the electronic computing device.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein said step of receiving the monitoring communication signal further comprises:

receiving, with the processing device, the monitoring communication signal from the first augmented reality device, wherein the monitoring communication signal contains at least part of a field of view the first employee.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

storing the data contained in the monitoring communication signal in a theft incident database.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, with the processing device of the store monitoring server, a directing communication signal from the electronic computing device operated by a second store employee, the directing communication signal indicating a change in the media signal transmitted by the augmented reality device; and

transmitting, with the processing device, the directing communication signal to the first augmented reality device.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 wherein said directing communication signal comprises an audible speech signal.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

storing the data contained in the directing communication signal in a theft incident database.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the directing communication signal comprises a visual signal, and wherein the method further comprises the augmented reality device visually displaying the directing communication signal to the first employee.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 further comprising the step of:

storing the data contained in the directing communication signal in a theft incident database.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said linking step is further defined as:

facilitating, with the processing device, real-time communication between the first augmented reality device worn by the first employee and the electronic computing device operated by the second employee as a theft incident is occurring.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19 further comprising:

storing substantially all of the real-time communication between the first augmented reality device worn by the first employee and the electronic computing device operated by the second employee as a theft incident is occurring in a theft incident database.