Distributed point of sale, electronic article surveillance, and product information system, apparatus and method

• US 9,892,398 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2013
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Inventors: Forster, Ian James
• Primary Examiner(s): Zare, Scott A
• Application Number:
  US14/100,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20140100978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,527 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices

Abstract

A distributed point of sale, electronic article surveillance, and product information system. The system can include a central database and at least one integrated POS/EAS/information terminal adapted to communicate with NFC-enabled devices, RFID and EAS tags, and the database, wherein, when a customer places an NFC-enabled device and a product having an RFID and EAS tag and proximate the terminal, the terminal facilitates a transaction for purchasing the product. The terminal can include a processor, an NFC transceiver, a UHF RFID reader, and a Bluetooth transceiver. The transaction for purchasing the product can be performed via the NFC-enabled device.

Claims

1. A distributed point of sale, electronic article surveillance, and product information system, comprising:

a central database; and

at least one integrated POS/EAS/information terminal comprising a processor, a NFC transceiver, a UHF RFID reader, and a Bluetooth transceiver,

wherein the integrated POS/EAS/information terminal is;

adapted to communicate with NFC enabled devices, RFID and EAS tags, and the central database, where a RFID and EAS tag may be deactivated, or may change status, to permit removal of the product from an EAS-controlled area of a retail location without an alarm; and

configured such that when a customer places an NFC-enabled device and a product having an RFID and EAS tag that comprises a secondary antenna, within the field area of NFC transmissions between the NFC-enabled device and the integrated POS/EAS/information terminal, the integrated POS/EAS/information terminal facilitates a transaction for purchasing the product, wherein the integrated POS/EAS/information terminal is adapted to prioritize receiving modulated UHF signals from RFID tags, the modulated UHF signals being modulated by an NFC transmission.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is communicatively coupled to the NFC transceiver, the reader and the Bluetooth transceiver.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the terminal includes an enclosure containing the processor, the NFC transceiver the reader and the Bluetooth transceiver.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transaction for purchasing the product is performed via the NFC-enabled device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the terminal provides the customer with information pertaining to the product.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the information is displayed on the NFC-enabled device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second antenna is tuned to 13.56 MHz.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further includes a power source.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one terminal includes LEDS and/or displays that are LC, LED or OLED based.

10. A terminal for a distributed point of sale, electronic article surveillance, and product information system, comprising:

a processor;

an NFC transponder;

a UHF RFID reader;

a Bluetooth transponder; and

an 802.11-compliant antenna;

wherein, upon receiving an NFC signal from an NFC-compliant device, the terminal;

establishes an NFC link with the NFC-compliant device;

interrogates an RFID and EAS tag having a secondary antenna when a product having the RFID and EAS is placed within a field area of NFC transmissions between the NFC-compliant device and the terminal, wherein the terminal is adapted to prioritize receiving modulated UHF signals from RFID tags, the modulated UHF signals being modulated by an NFC transmission;

facilitates a secure transaction for purchase of a product having the RFID and EAS tag;

deactivates or changes the status of the RFID and EAS tag to permit removal of the product from an EAS-controlled area without an alarm.

11. The terminal of claim 10, wherein the terminal transmits information to the NFC-enabled device, the information pertaining to the product on which the RFID and EAS tag is disposed.

12. The terminal of claim 10, wherein the secondary antenna is tuned to 13.56 MHz.

13. The terminal of claim 10, wherein the processor, the NFC transponder, the UHF RFID reader, the Bluetooth transponder, and the 802.11-compliant antenna are contained within an enclosure.

14. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the enclosure conforms to a trade dress of a particular location.

15. The terminal of claim 10, wherein the terminal is initially in a low-power “

sleep mode”

but exits the low-power, “

sleep mode”

when the NFC transponder receives a signal and induces the processor to exit the “

sleep mode”

.

16. The terminal of claim 10, wherein the terminal provides the customer with information pertaining to the product.

17. The terminal of claim 10, wherein the terminal presents a customer on a customer'"'"'s NFC enabled device with a list of options that include to obtain information, specification and videos about a product, options to locate a desired size, color or other feature of product, options to purchase product directly or by delivery, and/or options to cancel the transaction.