Patent Application
20080204239
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, a system and/or a method for wirelessly securing and/or for wirelessly monitoring an article. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus, a system and/or a method that may operate as an alarm system that may prevent a theft and/or a removal of the article from a defined perimeter and/or defined perimeters. The apparatus, the system and/or the method may have one or more alarm boxes that may monitor one or more heads attached to the article. One or more of the heads may be electronically connected to one or more of the articles, such as, for example, portable electronic equipment. The articles may be on display and/or may be used, manipulated, tested and/or transported by consumers in a store environment, such as a retail store.
The alarm box may be installed in proximity to a display stand of the article. The alarm box may charge components of the head and/or the article while the head and/or the article are located on the display stand of the article. The head may power the article while the article is located away from the display stand and/or away from the alarm box. The alarm box and/or the retail store environment may have one or more fence drivers. The fence driver may create one or more zones. The head may have a fence detector that may detect whether or not the head and/or the article is located within one or more of the zones. The fence drivers and/or one or more of the zones may be configured to control locations at which the head and/or the article may be used without entering an alarm mode.
It is generally known that retailers of articles provide samples of the articles that allow consumers to interact with the articles. The samples may be located on or near a display for the article wherein pricing information and product availability may be displayed. Further, power connections, data connections and/or security tethers for the article may be provided at the display. Of course, the samples may be expensive to replace if removed, stolen or otherwise damaged. Further, the presence of samples may be essential to sales of the article. Therefore, it is important for retailers to maintain an availability of the samples and/or to control a location of the samples to allow consumers to have exposure to the articles.
As a result, known security systems have been provided and/or are used by retailers to secure a sample to its display and/or to alert security personnel of theft, of destruction and/or of tampering of the sample. The known security systems are typically electronically connected by means of wires to sensors attached to the samples. The connections may be used to power the samples and/or to communicate with a main box at or near the display. However, the known security systems may be difficult to install, cosmetically unappealing the consumers and/or may be difficult to modify to accommodate and/or to secure additional samples. Moreover, while using samples secured by the known security systems, the samples remain tethered to the display, and the consumers have little freedom to manipulate, to transport, to use, to test and/or to enjoy the sample.
A need, therefore, exists for an apparatus, a system and/or a method for wirelessly securing and/or for wirelessly monitoring an article. Additionally, a need exists for an apparatus, a system and/or a method that operate as an alarm system that may prevent a theft and/or a removal of the article from a defined perimeter and/or defined perimeters. Further, a need exists for an apparatus, a system and/or a method that provide an alarm box that may wirelessly monitor a head attached to the article. Still further, a need exists for an apparatus, a system and/or a method that may provide an audible indication and/or a visual indication on the alarm box and/or on the head that an alarm event has been triggered. Still further, a need exists for an apparatus, a system and/or a method that may provide different audible tones and/or visual indicators on the alarm box and/or the head before, during and/or after the alarm event. Still further, a need exists for an apparatus, a system and/or a method that may use the alarm box to power and/or to charge the head and/or the article when the head and/or the article are located on a display stand for the article. Still further, a need exists for an apparatus, a system and/or a method that may use the head to power the article when the article is located away from the display stand for the article. Still further, a need exists for an apparatus, a system and/or a method that may alert a user of the article and/or security personnel of movement of the head and/or the article into and/or out of one or more zones.
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, a system and/or a method for wirelessly securing and/or for wirelessly monitoring an article. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus, a system and/or a method that operate as an alarm system that may prevent a theft and/or a removal of the article from a defined perimeter and/or defined perimeters. The apparatus, the system and/or the method may have one or more alarm boxes that may monitor one or more heads. One or more of the heads may be attached to and/or may be electronically connected to one or more of the articles. The articles may be portable electronic equipment, such as, for example, cellular telephones, mp3 players, cameras, camcorders, PDAs, gaming devices and/or the like. Further, the articles may be on display and/or may be used, manipulated tested and/or transported by consumers in a retail store environment.
The alarm box may have a power management system, a horn, a visual alert, a reset key, a code modifier, a power distribution system, a fence driver and/or a radio receiver. The alarm box may be installed in proximity to a display stand of the article. The head may have a power management system, a horn, a visual alert, a radio transmitter, a reset key, a code modifier, a fence detector, a sensor control and/or a senor. The power management system and/or the power distribution system of the alarm box may charge components of the head and/or the article while the head and/or the article are located on the display stand of the article. The display stand of the article may provide one or more electrical connections, data connections and/or the like between the alarm box and the head and/or the article. The power management system of the head may power the article while the article is located away from the display stand and/or away from the alarm box. Further, the article may power itself while the article is located away from the display stand.
The fence driver of the alarm box may be located inside the alarm box. Further, the fence driver may be provided at a position separate from the alarm box. The fence driver may create one or more zones. The zones may be defined by a transmitting medium such as, for example, electromagnetic energy, infrared light, ultrasonics, infrasonics, visible light and/or the like. The fence driver may be configured to control the size of the zone. The fence driver may be, for example, a tape conductor, an antenna, an infrared light transmitter and/or the like. The fence detector of the head may detect a presence of and/or an absence of the transmitting medium that defines the zone while the head is located at a position inside of and/or outside of the zone. The fence detector may detect electromagnetic radiation, infrared light, sound and/or the like. The zone may be, for example, planar, hemispherical and/or spherical in shape. The fence detector of the head may be programmed to enter an alarm mode when the head is located in a position outside of one or more of the zones and/or when the head is located in a position inside of one or more of the zones. The fence drivers and/or one or more of the zones may be configured to control locations where the head and/or the article may be used without entering an alarm mode.
Upon entering an alarm mode, an alarm of the head may sound, the horn of the head may be activated and/or the visual alert of the head may be activated to notify a user of the article and/or security personnel that the article and/or the head is located in an undesirable position defined as being in a position outside one or more of the zones and/or in a position inside one or more of the zones. Further, the radio transmitter of the head may be activated to communicate with the radio receiver of the alarm box. After the alarm box receives a communication from the radio transmitter of the head, an alarm of the alarm box, the horn of the alarm box and/or the visual alert of the alarm box may be activated to notify the user of the article and/or the security personnel that the article and/or the head is located in the undesirable position. The reset key and/or the code modifier of the alarm box and/or of the head may be activated to disable the alarm, the horn and/or the visual alert of the main box and/or of the peripheral box.
A frequency of the transmitting medium and/or of an electromagnetic signal communicated between the head and the alarm box may be modified with frequency hopping to secure the communications used by the apparatus, the system and/or the method. Further, the frequency of the transmitting medium may be modified to activate the reset key and/or the code modifier of the head.
To this end, in an embodiment of the present invention, a system for wirelessly securing an article is provided. The system has an alarm box having a fence driver, a receiver, a first alerting means, a reset key and a power distribution system wherein the fence driver creates a zone defined by a transmitting medium having a carrier signal wherein the zone extends to a perimeter around the fence driver wherein the receiver receives a communication relating to an alarm event wherein the first alerting means provides a signal indicative of the alarm event to the system. Further, the system has a head having a fence detector, a transmitter, a second alerting means, a sensor and a power management system wherein the head is attached to the article wherein the fence detector detects a presence of the carrier signal of the transmitting medium wherein the sensor detects a detachment of the head from the article wherein a detection of an absence of the carrier signal of the transmitting medium by the fence detector initiates the alarm event wherein a detection of the detachment of the head from the article by the sensor initiates the alarm event wherein the transmitter of the head communicates the alarm event to the receiver of the alarm box wherein the second alerting means of the head provides a signal indicative of the alarm event.
In an embodiment, the system has a battery connected to the power management system wherein the battery provides power to the head.
In an embodiment, the system has a visual indicator associated with the alarm box wherein the visual indicator provides a visual signal indicative of the alarm event.
In an embodiment, the system has an audible indicator associated with the head wherein the audible indicator provides an audio signal indicative of the alarm event.
In an embodiment, the reset key of the alarm box is modified by a code modification.
In an embodiment, the carrier signal of the transmitting medium is modified with frequency hopping.
In an embodiment, the system has means for adjusting a distance between the fence driver of the alarm box and the perimeter of the zone.
In an embodiment, the system has a reset key associated with the head wherein the reset key terminates the alarm event.
In an embodiment, the system has a wired bypass associated with the alarm box wherein the wired bypass terminates the alarm event.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a system for wirelessly monitoring an article is provided. The system has an alarm box having a radio transceiver, a first alerting means and a computer interface wherein the radio transceiver communicates information relating to an alarm event wherein the first alerting means provides a signal indicative of the alarm event to the system via the computer interface. Further, the system has a head having a radio transceiver, a second alerting means and a sensor wherein the head is attached to the article wherein the sensor detects a detachment of the head from the article wherein detection of the detachment of the head from the article by the sensor triggers the alarm event wherein the radio transceiver of the head communicates the alarm event with the radio transceiver of the alarm box wherein the second alerting means provides a signal indicative of the alarm event. Further, the system has a computer connected to the computer interface of the alarm box.
In an embodiment, the system has control software associated with the computer wherein the control software monitors the alarm event.
In an embodiment, the system has a sensor control associated with the head wherein the sensor control adjusts a sensitivity of the sensor.
In an embodiment, the system has a power management system associated with the head wherein the power management system powers the head.
In an embodiment, the system has an inventory code associated with the alarm box wherein the inventory code corresponds with the head.
In an embodiment, the system has a data management system associated with the head that manages information communicated between the radio transceiver of the alarm box and the radio transceiver of the head.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for wirelessly securing an article is provided. The method has the step of providing a fence driver that creates a zone defined by a transmitting medium having a carrier signal wherein the zone extends to a perimeter around the fence driver. Further, the method has the step of attaching a head to the article wherein the head has a fence detector, an alerting means and a sensor wherein the fence detector detects a presence of the carrier signal of the transmitting medium and the sensor detects an attachment of the head to the article wherein a detection of the presence of the carrier signal of the transmitting medium by the fence detector initiates an alarm event wherein a detection of a detachment of the head from the article by the sensor initiates the alarm event. Further, the method has the step of activating the fence detector and the sensor.
In an embodiment, the method has the step of adjusting a distance between the fence driver and the perimeter of the zone.
In an embodiment, the has the step of terminating the alarm event with a reset key associated with the head.
In an embodiment, the method has the step of providing power to the article with a battery associated with the head.
In an embodiment, the method has the step of modifying a frequency of the carrier signal.
It is, therefore, an advantage of the present invention to provide an apparatus, a system and/or a method for wirelessly securing and/or for wirelessly monitoring an article.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a system and/or a method for wirelessly securing and/or for wirelessly monitoring an article that operate as an alarm system that may prevent a theft and/or a removal of the article from a defined perimeter and/or defined perimeters.
And, another advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a system and/or a method for wirelessly securing and/or for wirelessly monitoring an article that has one or more alarm boxes that may monitor one or more heads. The heads may be attached to and/or may be electronically connected to one or more articles, such as, for example, clothing, sporting goods, toys, groceries, cellular telephones, mp3 players, cameras, camcorders, PDAs, gaming devices, automobiles, heavy equipment, vehicles, and/or the like.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a system and/or a method for wirelessly securing and/or for wirelessly monitoring an article wherein the article may be on display in and/or may be used, manipulated and/or transported by consumers in a retail store environment.
A further advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a system and/or a method for wirelessly securing and/or for wirelessly monitoring an article that may provide audible and visual indication on the alarm box and/or on the head that an alarm event has been triggered.
Moreover, an advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a system and/or a method that may provide different audible tones and visual indicators on the alarm box and/or the head before, during and/or after the alarm event.
And, another advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a system and/or a method for wirelessly securing and/or for wirelessly monitoring an article that may use the alarm box to power and/or to charge the head and/or the article when the head and/or the article are located on a display stand for the article.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a system and/or a method for wirelessly securing and/or for wirelessly monitoring an article that may use the head to power the article when the article is located away from the display stand for the article.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a system and/or a method for wirelessly securing and/or for wirelessly monitoring an article that may alert a user of the article and/or security personnel of movement of the head and/or the article into and/or out of one or more zones.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a system and/or a method for wirelessly securing and/or for wirelessly monitoring an article having an alarm box that may have a power management system, a horn, a visual alert, a reset key, a code modifier, a power distribution system, a fence driver and/or a radio receiver.
A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a system and/or a method for wirelessly securing and/or for wirelessly monitoring an article having a head that may have a power management system, a horn, a visual alert, a radio transmitter, a reset key, a code modifier, a fence detector, a sensor control and/or a senor.
Moreover, an advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a system and/or a method for wirelessly securing and/or for wirelessly monitoring an article wherein the power management system and/or the power distribution system of the alarm box may charge components of the head and/or the article while the head and/or the article are located on the display stand of the article.
And, another advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a system and/or a method for wirelessly securing and/or for wirelessly monitoring an article wherein the display stand of the article may provide one or more electrical connections, data connections and/or the like between the alarm box and the head and/or the article.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a system and/or a method for wirelessly securing and/or for wirelessly monitoring an article wherein the power management system of the head may power the article while the article is located away from the display stand and/or away from the alarm box.
Moreover, an advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a system and/or a method for wirelessly securing and/or for wirelessly monitoring an article that upon entering an alarm mode, the horn and/or the visual alert of the head may be activated to notify a user of the article and/or security personnel that the article and/or the head is in an undesirable location defined as being outside one or more of the zones and/or inside one or more of the zones.
And, another advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a system and/or a method for wirelessly securing and/or for wirelessly monitoring an article wherein the reset key and/or the code modifier of the alarm box and/or of the head may be activated to disable the horn and/or the visual alert of the main box and/or of the peripheral box.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a system and/or a method for wirelessly securing and/or for wirelessly monitoring an article wherein the article may be any item and/or items of any size displayed in any store environment, such as, for example, a retail store, a grocery store, a car dealership, a wholesale warehouse, a department store, a jewelry store, an electronics store and/or the like.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and from the drawings.
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, a system and/or a method for wirelessly securing and/or for wirelessly monitoring an article. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus, a system and/or a method that operate as an alarm system that may prevent a theft and/or a removal of the article from a defined perimeter and/or defined perimeters. The apparatus, the system and/or the method may have one or more alarm boxes that may monitor one or more heads. One or more of the heads may be attached to and/or may be electronically connected to one or more articles. The articles may be portable electronic equipment. Further, the articles may be on display in and/or may be used, manipulated and/or transported by consumers in a store environment, such as a retail store.
Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts,
The alarm box 12 may have a power management system 20 and/or a power distribution system 22 as shown in
The alarm box 12 may have a fence driver 24 as shown in
The alarm box 12 may have an alarm having a horn 26, a visual alert 28, a reset key 30 and/or a code modification 32 as shown in
The reset key 30 of the alarm box 12 may be used to disarm an alarm event in both the alarm box 12 and/or in the head 14. A user of the alarm box 12 may enter the reset key 30 into the alarm box 12 to disarm an alarm event in the alarm box 12 and/or in the head 14. The reset key 30 may be, for example, an electronic key. The reset key 12 may be used to arm the alarm box 12 and/or to arm the head 14. The reset key 30 may be activated remotely by a user of the alarm box 12 to arm and/or to disarm the alarm box 12 and/or the head 14. The code modification 32 may be used to reprogram the reset key 30 in an event, such as, for example, if the reset key 30 is compromised. It should be understood that the reset key 30 of the alarm box 12 and/or the code modification 32 of the alarm box 12 may be any electronic key for arming and/or for disarming the alarm box 12 and/or the head 14 and/or any means for modifying the electronic key as known to one having ordinary skill in, the art. The present invention should not be deemed as limited to a specific embodiment of the reset key 30 and/or of the code modification 32.
The alarm box 12 may have a radio receiver 34 as shown in
The alarm box 12 may have a radio transceiver 38 as shown in
The alarm box 12 may have inventory codes 40 and/or a computer interface 42 as shown in
The alarm box 12 may also be connected to the computer 82 via a network, such as, for example a local area network (LAN), the Internet and/or the like. It should be understood that the inventory codes 40, the computer interface 42, the data connection 86, the computer 82 and/or the control software 84 may be any code or codes, interface, connection, computer and/or software for monitoring, for securing and/or for tracking one or more of the heads 14, one or more of the articles and/or the inventory as known to one having ordinary skill in the art. The present invention should not be deemed as limited to a specific embodiment of the inventory codes 40, the computer interface 42, the data connection 86, the computer 82 and/or the control software 84.
The alarm box 12 may have a wired bypass 36 for resetting and/or disarming the alarm event. The wired bypass 36 may be an electrical wire that may transmit the reset key 30 and/or the code modification 32 to the head 14. The wired bypass 36 may extend from the alarm box 12 to the display and/or to the head 14. The wired bypass 36 may be inserted into a wired bypass connection 70 in the head 14 to disable and/or to disarm the alarm event. Further, the wired bypass 36 may be inserted into the wired bypass connection 70 in the head 14 to transmit the reset key 30 and/or the code modification 32 to the head 14. It should be understood that the wired bypass 36 and/or the wired bypass connection 70 may be any means for transmitting the reset code 30 and/or the code modification 32 to the head 14 as known to one having ordinary skill in the art. The present invention should not be deemed as limited to a specific embodiment of the wired bypass 36.
The head 14 may have a power management system 52 as shown in
The head 14 may have a fence detector 54 as shown in
The head 14 may have an alarm, a horn 56 and/or a visual alert 58 as shown in
The head 14 may have a reset key 60 and/or a code modification 62 as shown in
The head 14 may have a sensor 64 and/or a sensor control 66 as shown in
The head 14 may have a radio transmitter 68 as shown in
The head 14 may have a radio transceiver 76 as shown in
The head 14 may have a reset decoder 72 as shown in
The head 14 may have a data management system 78 as shown in
In an embodiment, as shown in
A consumer may remove the head 14 and/or the article and/or may transport the head 14 and/or the article away from the display stand. While in the zone, the fence detector 54 of the head 14 may detect the presence of the transmitting medium being transmitted by the alarm box 12. While outside the zone, the fence detector 54 may detect the absence of the transmitting medium triggering the alarm event and the alarm, sounding the horn 56 and/or enabling the visual alert 58. The alarm of the head 14, the horn 56 and/or the visual alert 58 may convey to the consumer that the article and/or the head 14 is located in a restricted area of the store. The reset key 60 may be input into the head to deactivate the alarm event and/or to re-arm the head and/or the system 2. Alternatively, the consumer may keep the article and/or the head 14 within the zone but may attempt to remove the head 14 from the article. The attempted removal of the head 14 from the article may trigger the alarm event, may trigger the alarm, may sound the horn 56 and/or may activate the visual alert 58. The reset key 60 may be input into the head to deactivate the alarm event and/or to re-arm the head 14 and/or the system 2.
In an embodiment, as shown in
In an embodiment as shown in
In an embodiment, as shown in
In an embodiment, as shown in
It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is, therefore, intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.
