Programmable security system and method for protecting merchandise

• US 10,062,266 B1
• Filed: 04/16/2018
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Fawcett, Christopher J., Grant, Jeffrey A., Belden, Jr., Dennis D., Marsilio, Ronald M., Scott, Ian R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US15/954,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20180233024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 134 Days
• Field of Search: 3405681, 3405682, 340571, 34053931
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00539 anti-theft
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/12 by the breaking or disturbance of stretched cords or wires
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1445 with detection of interference with a cable tethering an article, e.g. alarm activated by detecting detachment of article, breaking or stretching of cable furniture, e.g. shelves for displaying merchandise, incorporating tethers to prevent theft A47F7/024, A47F5/0861
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1463 Physical arrangements, e.g. housings devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags A45C13/18
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2465 Aspects related to the EAS system, e.g. system components other than tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system

Abstract

A programmable security system and method for protecting an item of merchandise includes a programming station, a programmable key and a security system. The programming station generates a security code and communicates the security code to a memory of the programmable key. The programmable key initially communicates the security code to a memory of the security device and subsequently operates the security device upon a matching of the security code in the memory of the security device with the security code in the memory of the programmable key. The programmable key may also transfer power via electrical contacts or inductive transfer from an internal battery to the security device to operate a lock mechanism. The security code may be communicated by wireless infrared (IR) systems, electrical contacts or inductive transfer. A timer inactivates the programmable key and/or the security device after a predetermined period of time. A counter inactivates the programmable key after a predetermined maximum number of activations.

Claims

1. A security system for protecting items of merchandise from theft, the security system comprising:

a programming station comprising a memory;

a programmable key comprising a memory configured to store a security code; and

a security device comprising an alarm and configured to be attached to an item of merchandise, the security device further configured to activate the alarm in response to the integrity of the security device being compromised,

wherein the programmable key is configured to provide the security code to the programming station to be stored in the memory of the programming station;

wherein the programmable key is configured to wirelessly communicate with the programming station for authorizing the programmable key to control the security device if the security code of the programmable key matches the security code of the programming station.

2. The security system of claim 1, wherein the memory of the programmable key is configured to store a predetermined maximum number of activations, and wherein the programmable key is configured to control the security device if the programmable key has not exceeded the predetermined maximum number of activations.

3. The security system of claim 2, wherein an activation of the programmable key comprises disarming the security device.

4. The security system of claim 2, wherein the programmable key is configured to be permanently inactivated after the predetermined maximum number of activations.

5. The security system of claim 1, wherein the programmable key is configured to be inactivated, and wherein the programmable key is configured to be reactivated if the security code of the programmable key matches the security code of the programming station.

6. The security system of claim 5, wherein the programmable key is configured to be inactivated after a predetermined period of time to prevent subsequent controlling of the security device by the programmable key.

7. The security system of claim 6, wherein the programmable key is configured to be reactivated by the programming station after the predetermined period of time if the security code of the programmable key matches the security code of the programming station.

8. The security system of claim 1, wherein the programmable key is configured to wirelessly communicate with the security device.

9. The security system of claim 1, wherein the programmable key is configured to disarm the security device using the security code.

10. The security system of claim 1, wherein the security code of the programming station is configured to be erased, and wherein the programming station is configured to receive a new security code after the security code has been erased.

11. The security system of claim 1, wherein the programmable key is configured to communicate with the programming station for resetting the security code of the programmable key.

12. The security system of claim 1, wherein the programming station is configured to deny authorization of the programmable key to control the security device if the security code of the programmable key does not match the security code of the programming station.

13. The security system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of programmable keys, wherein each of the plurality of programmable keys is configured to wirelessly communicate with the programming station for authorizing the programmable key to control the security device if the security code of the programmable key matches the security code of the programming station.

14. The security system of claim 1, wherein the programmable key is configured to communicate with the programming station for resetting the programmable key.

15. The security system of claim 1, wherein the programmable key is configured to track a number of activations of the programmable key.

16. The security system of claim 15, wherein the programmable key comprises a counter for counting the number of activations of the programmable key.

17. The security system of claim 15, wherein an activation of the programmable key comprises disarming the security device.

18. The security system of claim 1, wherein the programming station is configured to deny authorization of the programmable key to control the security device if the security code of the programmable key does not match the security code of the programming station, wherein the programmable key is configured to communicate with the programming station for resetting the programmable key, wherein the programmable key is configured to track a number of activations of the programmable key, wherein the security code of the programming station is configured to be erased, and wherein the programming station is configured to receive a new security code after the security code has been erased.

19. The security system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of programmable keys, wherein the programming station is configured to authorize any one of the plurality of programmable keys to control the security device.

20. The security system of claim 1, wherein the programming station comprises a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the housing contains the memory of the programming station, wherein the housing comprises a port defined in the top surface for receiving an end of the programmable key therein, wherein the housing comprises a visual indicator on the top surface for providing a status of the programming station, and wherein the bottom surface is configured to be secured to a support structure.

21. The security system of claim 1, wherein the programming station is configured to be powered by a power source external to the programming station.

22. A security system for protecting items of merchandise from theft, the security system comprising:

an authorization station comprising a memory;

a programmable key comprising a memory configured to store a security code; and

a security device comprising an alarm and configured to be attached to an item of merchandise, the security device further configured to activate the alarm in response to the integrity of the security device being compromised,

wherein the programmable key is configured to provide the security code to the authorization station to be stored in the memory of the authorization station,

wherein the programmable key is configured to wirelessly communicate with the authorization station for authorizing the programmable key to disarm the security device if the security code of the programmable key matches the security code of the authorization station.

23. The security system of claim 22, wherein the memory of the programmable key is configured to store a predetermined maximum number of activations, and wherein the programmable key is configured to control the security device if the programmable key has not exceeded the predetermined maximum number of activations.

24. The security system of claim 23, wherein an activation of the programmable key comprises disarming the security device.

25. The security system of claim 23, wherein the programmable key is configured to be permanently inactivated after the predetermined maximum number of activations.

26. The security system of claim 22, wherein the programmable key is configured to be inactivated, and wherein the programmable key is configured to be reactivated if the security code of the programmable key matches the security code of the authorization station.

27. The security system of claim 26, wherein the programmable key is configured to be inactivated after a predetermined period of time to prevent subsequent controlling of the security device by the programmable key.

28. The security system of claim 27, wherein the programmable key is configured to be reactivated by the authorization station after the predetermined period of time if the security code of the programmable key matches the security code of the authorization station.

29. The security system of claim 22, wherein the programmable key is configured to wirelessly communicate with the security device.

30. The security system of claim 22, wherein the security code of the authorization station is configured to be erased, and wherein the authorization station is configured to receive a new security code after the security code has been erased.

31. The security system of claim 22, wherein the programmable key is configured to communicate with the authorization station for resetting the security code of the programmable key.

32. The security system of claim 22, wherein the authorization station is configured to deny authorization of the programmable key to control the security device if the security code of the programmable key does not match the security code of the authorization station.

33. The security system of claim 22, further comprising a plurality of programmable keys, wherein each of the plurality of programmable keys is configured wirelessly communicate with the authorization station for authorizing the programmable key to disarm the security device if the security code of the programmable key matches the security code of the authorization station.

34. The security system of claim 22, wherein the programmable key is configured to communicate with the authorization station for resetting the programmable key.

35. The security system of claim 22, wherein the programmable key is configured to track a number of activations of the programmable key.

36. The security system of claim 35, wherein the programmable key comprises a counter for counting the number of activations of the programmable key.

37. The security system of claim 35, wherein an activation of the programmable key comprises disarming the security device.

38. The security system of claim 22, further comprising a plurality of programmable keys, wherein the authorization station is configured to authorize any one of the plurality of programmable keys to control the security device.

39. The security system of claim 22, wherein the authorization station is configured to deny authorization of the programmable key to control the security device if the security code of the programmable key does not match the security code of the authorization station, wherein the programmable key is configured to communicate with the authorization station for resetting the programmable key, wherein the programmable key is configured to track a number of activations of the programmable key, wherein the security code of the authorization station is configured to be erased, and wherein the authorization station is configured to receive a new security code after the security code has been erased.

40. The security system of claim 22, wherein the authorization station comprises a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the housing contains the memory of the authorization station, wherein the housing comprises a port defined in the top surface for receiving an end of the programmable key therein, wherein the housing comprises a visual indicator on the top surface for providing a status of the authorization station, and wherein the bottom surface is configured to be secured to a support structure.

41. The security system of claim 22, wherein the authorization station is configured to be powered by a power source external to the authorization station.

42. A method for protecting items of merchandise from theft, the method comprising:

providing a security code stored in a memory of a programmable key to a programming station;

storing the security code in a memory of the programming station;

comparing the security code of the programmable key with the security code of the programming station; and

authorizing the programmable key to control a security device if the security code of the programmable key matches the security code of the programming station, the security device comprising an alarm and configured to be attached to an item of merchandise, the security device further configured to activate the alarm in response to the integrity of the security device being compromised.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the authorizing comprises wirelessly communicating between the programmable key and the programming station.

44. The method of claim 42, further comprising inactivating the programmable key after a predetermined period of time to prevent subsequent controlling of the security device by the programmable key.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising reactivating the programmable key after the predetermined period of time if the security code of the programmable key matches the security code of the programming station.

46. The method of claim 42, further comprising denying authorization of the programmable key if the security code of the programmable key does not match the security code of the programming station.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the denying authorization comprises disabling the programmable key.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the disabling the programmable key comprises disabling the security code of the programmable key.

49. The method of claim 42, wherein the authorizing comprises resetting the programmable key.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the resetting comprises resetting a timer of the programmable key.

51. The method of claim 42, wherein the controlling comprises disarming the security device.

52. The method of claim 42, further comprising storing a predetermined maximum number of activations in the memory of the programmable key;

and

controlling the security device if the programmable key has not exceeded the predetermined maximum number of activations.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising permanently inactivating the programmable key after the predetermined maximum number of activations of the programmable key have been exceeded.

54. The method of claim 52, further comprising inactivating the programmable key after the predetermined maximum number of activations to prevent subsequent controlling of the security device by the programmable key.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising reactivating the programmable key if the security code of the programmable key matches the security code of the programming station.

56. The method of claim 42, wherein the authorizing comprises authorizing any one of a plurality of programmable keys to control the security device.