Tag security systems and methods for articles of merchandise

• US 9,298,954 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2011
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synapse Wireless Incorporated (Mcwane Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Synapse Wireless Incorporated (Mcwane Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ewing, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Afrifa-Kyei, Anthony D
• Application Number:
  US13/019,840
• Time in Patent Office: 1,882 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 340 101- 106
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10128 the step consisting of detection of the presence of one or more record carriers in the vicinity of the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2465 Aspects related to the EAS system, e.g. system components other than tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A tag security system has a plurality of hubs positioned within a store. A security tag is attached to an article of merchandise and tracked, via the hubs, to determine when the security tag is moved to a predefined area, such as close to a store exit. An alarm is provided when the security tag is determined to be within the predefined area. In addition to providing merchandise security, the security tag is used for other purposes, such as taking inventory and marketing analysis. As an example, during a store-wide inventory, the approximate location of the article of merchandise may be determined via wireless communication with the security tag. Also, the security tag may be used to sense when consumers are handling the article of merchandise thereby providing marketing information indicative of consumer interest in such article. Further, unlocking of the security tag from the article of merchandise may be automatically controlled based on a message confirming that the article has been purchased thereby frustrating attempts to defeat the security provided by the system.

Claims

1. A tag security system, comprising:

a security tag attached to an article of merchandise;

a plurality of hubs operable to wirelessly communicate with the security tag, at least one of the hubs operable to provide an alarm when the security tag is moved to a predefined area, wherein the tag is operable to select one of the hubs as its primary hub based on a signal strength of a signal received from the selected hub, and wherein each of the hubs is allocated tag communication periods for communicating with security tags according to a time-division multiplexed algorithm such that tag communication periods allocated to the selected hub are non-overlapping with respect to tag communication periods allocated to other hubs of the system;

memory external to the security tag for storing product data indicative of the article of merchandise; and

logic operable to determine a location of the security tag based on wireless communication between the selected hub and the security tag, the logic further operable to store, in the memory, location data indicative of the determined location of the security tag and to correlate in the memory the location data and the product data,

wherein the security tag is operable to transition to a sleep state and to schedule an awakening from the sleep state, based on a timing of one of the tag communication periods allocated to the selected hub, for communicating during the one tag communication period.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is operable to correlate a tag identifier with the product data in the memory, the tag identifier identifying the security tag.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the security tag is operable to automatically unlock from the article of merchandise in response to a message confirming purchase of the article of merchandise.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the security tag is operable to sense movement of the security tag.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the security tag is operable to wirelessly transmit data indicative of the sensed movement to at least one of the hubs.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the logic is operable to correlate the product data with information indicating how often consumers have handled the article of merchandise based on the data indicative of the sensed movement.

16. The system of claim 2, wherein the logic is operable to remove a correlation between the product data and the tag identifier in the memory in response to a sale of the article of merchandise.

18. The system of claim 6, wherein the security tag comprises a sensor for sensing vibrations or tilt of the security tag, and wherein the security tag is operable to sense the movement based on the sensor.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the security tag is operable to sense handling events indicating that the article of merchandise is being handled by a respective user, and wherein the logic is operable to track a number of the handling events detected by the security tag over time.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is operable to determine a second location of the security tag based on wireless communication between the security tag and at least one of the hubs, and wherein the logic is operable to correlate in the memory the product data and a tag identifier identifying the security tag based on the second location.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the security tag is operable to sense movement of the security tag, and wherein the security tag is operable to schedule the awakening based on the sensed movement.

7. A method, comprising the steps of:

attaching a security tag to an article of merchandise for purchase within a store;

communicating wireless signals between the security tag and a plurality of hubs positioned within the store;

allocating tag communication periods to each of the hubs according to a time-division multiplexed algorithm such that tag communication periods allocated to at least one of the hubs are non-overlapping with respect to tag communication periods allocated to other hubs of the plurality of hubs, wherein the one hub is permitted to communicate with security tags during tag communication periods allocated to the one hub;

wirelessly tracking the security tag based on the communicating step;

providing, based on the tracking step, an alarm when the security tag is moved to a predefined area of the store;

storing, in memory external to the security tag, product data indicative of the article of merchandise;

determining a location of the security tag based on the tracking step;

storing, in the memory, location data indicative of the determined location;

correlating the location data with the product data in the memory;

receiving, at the security tag, a signal from the one hub;

measuring a signal strength of the signal from the one hub;

selecting the one hub for communication with the security tag based on the measured signal strength;

transmitting the location data from the security tag to the one hub based on the selecting step;

transitioning the security tag to a sleep state; and

scheduling an awakening from the sleep state based on a timing of one of the tag communication periods allocated to the one hub.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of taking an inventory of products in the store based on the correlating step.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of correlating a tag identifier with the product data in the memory, wherein the tag identifier identifies the security tag.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of preventing at least one hub within the store from communicating with security tags based on the allocating step.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of sensing, by the security tag, when a consumer handles the article of merchandise.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of wirelessly transmitting data from the security tag based on the sensing step.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of correlating the product data with information indicative of how often consumers have handled the article of merchandise based on the data wirelessly transmitted from the security tag based on the sensing step.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, at the security tag, a message confirming purchase of the article of merchandise; and

automatically unlocking the security tag from the article of merchandise based on the received message.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of counting a number of times that consumers handle the article of merchandise based on the sensing step.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensing step comprises the step of sensing vibrations or tilt of the security tag.

20. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

sensing, by the security tag, handling events indicating that the article of merchandise is being handled by a respective user; and

tracking a number of the handling events detected by the security tag over time.

21. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

determining a second location of the security tag based on the communicating step; and

correlating, in the memory, the product data and a tag identifier identifying the security tag based on the determining the second location.

22. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of sensing movement of the security tag, wherein the scheduling step is based on the sensing step.

17. The system of 4, wherein the security tag is operable to count a number of times that the security tag is moved and to transmit data indicative of the number to the logic.