Gateway-based anti-theft security system and method

• US 10,540,872 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2018
• Issued: 01/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobile Tech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mobile Tech, Inc.
• Inventors: Blaser, Robert Logan, Schatz, Kristopher Wendell, Wylie, Hunter Anderson
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Laura N
• Application Number:
  US15/883,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20180174411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2225/00 Means indicating the functioning state of the alarm system, e.g. indicating arming, using leds
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 3/01 for controlling, signalling, or supervising the conveyance of a product
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/04 Programme control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers G05B19/418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/45 Structures or tools for the administration of authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/06 by tampering with fastening
• 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 13/1454 Circuit arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2431 Tag circuit details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 : Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 : Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 : Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 : Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 : Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0471 : Key exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 : using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/00 : Access restriction access security to prevent unauthorised access H04W12/08; Network selection; Access point selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 : Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 : Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

Improved systems and techniques are disclosed for controlling the security states of anti-theft security systems such as product display assemblies using security fobs. The tasks relating to fob authentication are offloaded to a computer system, and these authentications can be based on identifiers for the different security fobs. The computer system can maintain a list of identifiers for authorized security fobs that is easily updated when new security fobs are added to or existing security fobs are de-authorized from the system.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a product display assembly adapted to receive a product for display to a consumer;

a security fob; and

a computer system;

wherein the product display assembly comprises a security sensor, security circuitry, and a wireless transceiver;

wherein the security fob and the product display assembly are configured to cooperate with each other such that the security fob communicates an identifier for the security fob to the product display assembly;

wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to wirelessly communicate the security fob identifier to the computer system;

wherein the computer system is configured to (1) receive the wirelessly communicated security fob identifier, (2) authenticate the security fob as being authorized to control the security circuitry based on the received security fob identifier as compared to a list of one or more identifiers for one or more authorized security fobs, and (3) wirelessly communicate an authorization signal to the product display assembly in response to the security fob being authenticated;

wherein the security circuitry, when in an armed state, is further configured to generate a security condition signal for generating an alarm in response to a detection by the security sensor of a removal of the product from the product display assembly;

wherein the security circuitry is further configured to control whether the security circuitry is in the armed state based on receipt of the authorization signal from the computer system via the wireless transceiver;

wherein the security fob further comprises a memory and at least one override token stored within the memory, wherein the override token provides for failsafe control of the security circuitry in an event of a wireless link between the product display assembly and the computer system being unavailable; and

wherein the security fob is configured to decrement a count of the at least one override token in the security fob memory each time the override token is used to control the security circuitry.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the security fob comprises an RFID chip, wherein the product display assembly further comprises an RFID reader, and wherein the RFID reader is configured to read the security fob identifier based on an energization of the RFID chip by the RFID reader.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the security fob identifiers are unique identifiers for each security fob.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the security fob further comprises an interface, wherein the product display assembly further comprises an interface, wherein the security fob interface and the product display assembly interface are adapted to permit a connection between the security fob and the product display assembly.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the security fob interface and the product display assembly interface comprise wireless interfaces that are adapted to permit a wireless connection between the security fob and the product display assembly.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the security fob interface and the product display assembly interface comprise connectors that are adapted to permit a detachable physical connection between the security fob and the product display assembly.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the product display assembly is configured to provide operating power to the security fob through the detachable physical connection.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the product display assembly comprises:

a puck assembly adapted to receive an electronic device; and

a base assembly;

wherein the puck assembly is adapted to be moveable between (1) a rest position in which the puck assembly engages with the base assembly and (2) a lift position in which the puck assembly disengages from the base assembly;

wherein the base assembly further comprises a base assembly electrical contact, the base assembly electrical contact configured to receive power from a power source;

wherein the puck assembly comprises (1) a puck assembly electrical contact, (2) a cable that is connectable to the electronic device, (3) puck assembly circuitry connected to the puck assembly electrical contact and the cable, wherein the puck assembly circuitry includes the security circuitry, (4) the security sensor, and (5) the wireless transceiver;

wherein the base assembly electrical contact and the puck assembly electrical contact are adapted to contact each other when the puck assembly is in the rest position to form an electrical connection between the puck assembly circuitry and the power source through which power is provided to the puck assembly;

wherein the puck assembly circuitry is configured to, when the puck assembly is in the rest position, draw power from the power source through the electrical connection and provide the drawn power to the cable for charging the electronic device; and

wherein the base assembly electrical contact and the puck assembly electrical contact are adapted to lose contact with each other when the puck assembly is in the lift position to thereby break the electrical connection.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the product display assembly further comprises:

a tether assembly adapted to connect the puck assembly with the base assembly.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer system is further configured to manage the list of identifiers for authorized security fobs.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the computer system is further configured to add a security fob identifier to the list in response to user input.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the computer system is further configured to remove a security fob identifier from the list in response to user input.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the computer system is further configured to add an identifier for a security fob to the authorization list based on a timed sequence of interactions between a plurality security fobs and the computer system.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein, when the count is depleted to zero, the security fob is rendered inactive unless authorized via the computer system.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer system has a user management program to manage the at least one override token on the security fob.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the security fob is connectable to the computer system for adjusting the count in the memory via a management portal that includes an override token setting.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one override token authorizes communication of a security code by the security fob to the product display assembly to control the security circuitry.