PROGRAMMABLE SECURITY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING MERCHANDISE

• US 20170116831A1
• Filed: 01/03/2017
• Published: 04/27/2017
• 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., Marsilio, Ronald M., Scott, Ian R., Belden, JR., Dennis D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,659,472 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 method for protecting items of merchandise from theft, the programmable method comprising:

providing a single security code with a programming station that is usable in only a single retail store;

storing the single security code at a programmable key; and

storing the single security code at a security device, the security device comprising an alarm and a memory for storing the single security code, the security device 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,

controlling the security device if the single security code stored by the security device matches the single security code stored by the programmable key.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises generating the single security code with the programming station.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the generating comprises randomly generating the single security code with the programming station.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing the single security code with the programming station to a new single security code.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling comprises disarming the security device if the single security code stored by the programmable key matches the single security code stored by the security device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating the single security code to the programmable key.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the communicating comprises wirelessly communicating the single security code to the programmable key.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the single security code at the programming station.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising invalidating the single security code in the programmable key after a period of time to prevent subsequent controlling of the security device by the programmable key unless the single security code is refreshed in the programmable key within the period of time.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising permanently inactivating the programmable key after a certain number of activations of the programmable key.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the single security code is unique to the single retail store.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising inserting an end of the programmable key within a port defined in a housing of the programming station.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising actuating a mechanical switch on the housing for programming the single security code in the programmable key with the programming station.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising inserting the end of the programmable key within a port defined in a housing of the security device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the storing the single security code at the programmable key comprises storing the single security code at each of a plurality of programmable keys usable in only the single retail store, and wherein the storing the single security code at the security device comprises storing the single security code at each of a plurality of security devices usable in only the single retail store.

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

a programming station configured to provide a single security code that is usable in only a single retail store;

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

a security device comprising an alarm and a memory for storing the single security code, the security device 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 control the security device if the single security code stored in the memory of the security device matches the single security code stored by the programmable key.

17. The programmable security system of claim 16, wherein the security device further comprises an attachment cable attached to the security device, and wherein the alarm is configured to be activated in response to cutting the attachment cable or detaching the attachment cable from the security device.

18. The programmable security system of claim 16, wherein the programmable key and the security device each comprises a visual indicator configured to indicate a status thereof.

19. The programmable security system of claim 16, wherein the programmable key is configured to wirelessly communicate with the security device.

20. The programmable security system of claim 16, wherein the programming station is configured to provide a new single security code.

21. The programmable security system of claim 16, wherein the programming station is configured to randomly generate the single security code.

22. The programmable security system of claim 16, wherein the single security code is unique to the single retail store.

23. The programmable security system of claim 16, wherein the programmable key is configured to provide the single security code to the security device for storing the single security code.

24. The programmable security system of claim 16, wherein the programming station cannot generate more than one single security code to be used by the programmable key and the security device at one time.

25. The programmable security system of claim 16, wherein the programmable key comprises an internal timer which automatically invalidates the single security code in the key after a period of time.

26. The programmable security system of claim 16, wherein the programming station comprises a housing having a port defined therein, and wherein an end of the programmable key is configured to be inserted within the port for programming the security code in the memory of the programmable key.

27. The programmable security system of claim 26, wherein the security device comprises a housing having a port defined therein, and wherein the end of the programmable key is configured to be inserted within the port of the security device to communicate with the security device.

28. The programmable security system of claim 26, wherein the port of the programming station is configured to encircle the end of the programmable key when inserted therein.

29. The programmable security system of claim 27, wherein the port of the security device is configured to encircle the end of the programmable key when inserted therein.

30. The programmable security system of claim 26, wherein the programming station further comprises a printed circuit board enclosed within the housing and containing a logic control circuit configured to provide the single security code, wherein the logic control circuit comprises a controller, a communication circuit, and a memory.