Patent Application
20080309389
The present invention pertains generally to a system and to a method for preventing the loss of inventory items from the premises of a commercial enterprise. More particularly, the present invention pertains to systems and methods that are employed to prevent the unauthorized removal of inventory items after they have been loaded into a shopping cart (i.e. “push out” theft). The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, useful as a system and a method that selectively activates and deactivates a locking mechanism pursuant to an electronic permit for the egress of a shopping cart from a defined shopping area.
Inventory “shrink” is a significant source of loss for retail operators, totaling as much as four percent of total sales, depending on the retail channel. One substantial component of “shrink” for retailers that provide shopping carts for customers is frequently referred to as “push-out”. Specifically, “push-out” occurs when a customer loads a cart or trolley with valuable goods and exits the store without paying. Retailers report that push-out is a growing concern and is becoming increasingly organized and costly.
Along with the need for preventing push-out theft, it is also extremely important that good, honest customers not be unnecessarily inconvenienced while shopping. In particular, customers should not be somehow prevented from performing their shopping activities because of an electronic or mechanical malfunction in a security system. On balance, the risk of experiencing a push-out theft during a security system malfunction may be acceptable, when compared with the aggravation that will most certainly be caused by an unfounded interruption of normal activity in a shopping area.
In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for preventing unauthorized removal of a shopping cart from a defined area. Another object of the present invention is to provide a network for preventing push-out theft that defaults to a safe mode wherein all shopping carts have unfettered movement within a shopping area whenever an electronic component (device) of the network is inoperable. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for preventing an unauthorized removal of a shopping cart from a shopping area that is easy to install, is simple to use and is comparatively cost effective.
The present invention provides a two-tier system for the purpose of preventing “push-out” theft of inventory items as they are being carried from a shopping area in a shopping cart. The first tier involves the installation and employment of electronic devices that will selectively prevent movement of individual shopping carts in egress from the premises of a commercial enterprise. The second tier provides for system oversight and involves monitoring and management of the first tier either on-site or off-site.
A plurality of electronic devices is employed in the first tier of the system to create an electronic environment (i.e. a network). As envisioned for the present invention, the network will be installed in a shopping area on the premises of a commercial enterprise to provide for the selective activation of locking devices that are individually mounted on respective shopping carts. This activation and deactivation involves the issuance and revocation of egress permits for each shopping cart. And, in accordance with the present invention, the activation of a locking device occurs only when the shopping cart is being removed from the premises, without an egress permit (e.g. without payment for items that have been collected and are being carried in the shopping cart).
In the second tier, the operation of the network in the first tier is monitored. This is done by a central operator (i.e. a computer) that can be located either on-site or off-site. Further, shopping cart activity that is detected by the network may also be monitored by the central operator. For the present invention, a plurality of networks (i.e. electronic environments) can be connected to the same central operator at the second tier. Stated differently, although the system includes only one central operator, each commercial enterprise in the system will have its own separate first tier network.
The network that is created for the first tier of the present invention includes a network integrator. This network integrator provides security for the network and establishes the logic for the network of the electronic environment. It is centrally located, and is a so-called Full Function Device (FFD). For purposes of the present invention, an FFD is a device that is capable of routing data packets over-the-air (OTA) to a recipient device. Importantly, the network integrator gives the network its network identification (ID), and it stores information that is received from every other device in the network. This is done in a “network information table” on a non-volatile memory. In addition to the network integrator, other FFDs (i.e. “routers” or “repeaters”) can be installed on the premises as required. Each FFD, however, must be within communicating distance of at least one other FFD, and each FFD must be able to communicate (albeit sometimes indirectly through another FFD) with the network integrator.
In addition to the FFDs, the present invention envisions also using Reduced Function Devices (RFDs). Like FFDs, the RFDs are electronic devices capable of transmitting data packets OTA to the network integrator (either directly or through FFDs). Unlike the FFDs, however, RFDs do not have a routing capability. Thus, it will be appreciated that FFDs establish the network's operational backbone. In any event, it is important for the present invention that all devices must communicate with the network integrator, regardless whether such communication is direct, or through an FFD.
As indicated above, each first tier network is connected to the second tier. Specifically, this is accomplished by either an Ethernet or phone modem connection via a web portal. For the present invention, it is the web portal that connects the first tier with the central operator at the second tier. Through the web portal, the central operator at the second tier is able to monitor the first tier and prepare appropriate reports.
For the implementation of the present invention, the entire network will operate in either of two modes that are selected by the network integrator. One is a “safe restart” mode and the other is an “operational” mode. Further, depending on the particular network mode that is in effect, the FFDs and RFDs in the network may be configured to perform different beacon functions. In the “safe restart” mode, however, all beacons default to a permit issuing function. On the other hand, when the system is in its “operational” mode, the beacons can become functionally distinct. Specifically, in the operational mode some beacons will function as permit issue beacons. These permit issue beacons are typically located at cashier locations in the shopping area, and they issue permits to shopping carts that pass the cashier location. Other beacons will function as permit remover beacons in the network operational mode. These beacons are selectively located in the shopping area and are used to remove permits from shopping carts. Still other beacons will function as sentry beacons that will activate a caster lock on a shopping cart. Specifically, this is done when the cart has no issued egress permit, and is operated in the vicinity of the sentry beacon with the intent of removing the cart from the shopping area.
In overview, during an operation of a network in the system and method of the present invention, the network issues permits for the egress of shopping carts from the premises. Specifically, in the “safe restart” mode, all beacons in the network perform the permit issuing function. In the “operational mode”, however, certain beacons change their function to become permit removal beacons and the network can then selectively remove egress permits from shopping carts. Subsequently, a shopping cart without an egress permit will be disabled by a sentry beacon and cannot be removed from the premises until it has been issued another permit. An important safety feature of the present invention is that the “safe restart” mode is the “default” mode for the entire system. Stated differently, whenever any device in the network becomes inoperable (i.e. cannot communicate with the network integrator) the network defaults and every beacon gives every shopping cart an egress permit.
By way of example, consider the ingress and egress of a single shopping cart into and out of a shopping area that is serviced by a system of the present invention. As a shopping cart is retrieved from a shopping cart collection point it will have an egress permit. Subsequently, as the shopping cart enters selected sections of the shopping area, a permit removal beacon may remove the egress permit from the cart. Nevertheless, within the shopping area, the cart is still free to move about as the consumer picks up items and places them into the shopping cart for subsequent purchase. At a check out stand, once items in the shopping cart have been properly purchased, a permit issue beacon issues a new egress permit to the shopping cart. The shopping cart can then be removed from the shopping area and past sentry beacons, without incident. Once unloaded, the shopping cart is returned to the shopping cart collection point. On the other hand, if a cart does not pass a cashier location to receive an egress permit, a strategically located sentry beacon will then interact with a locking caster on the shopping cart. Specifically, after the shopping cart has left the shopping area, the sentry beacon will cause the locking caster to activate, and thereby prevent further movement of the shopping cart. Recall, the shopping cart will normally have an issued egress permit that was issued either while the network was in its “safe restart” mode (e.g. as a “default”), or at a cashier location after the contents of the shopping cart have been paid for.
The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:
Referring initially to
Still referring to
In accordance with the present invention, individual beacons 24 may be required to perform different functions. Accordingly, some beacons 24 must be capable of switching between either of two different functions. Switching of beacon functions is controlled by the network integrator 20, and is required to regulate the issuance and removal of permits for movement of individual shopping carts 28 through the shopping area 22. For the system 10, this involves the issue and removal of egress permits that can be electronically placed on the locking device 26 of a shopping cart 28. With this in mind, it will be appreciated that some of the beacons 24 need to function as permit issue beacons 30. Others will selectively function as permit removal beacons 32. And, other beacons 24 will selectively function as sentry beacons 34. Importantly, the permit removal beacons 32 and the sentry beacons 34 can sometimes also function as permit issue beacons 30.
For the system 10, the installation of a network 12 in a shopping area 22 on the premises of a commercial enterprise can be configured in several ways.
Operationally, under the control of the network integrator 20, the network 12 can be placed in either a “safe restart” mode, or an “operational” mode. Importantly, when the network 12 is placed in the “safe restart” mode, all beacons 24 function as a permit issue beacon 30. On the other hand, in the “operational” mode, each beacon 24 reverts to a special status and, depending on how it is programmed, may function as a permit issue beacon 30, a permit removal beacon 32, or a sentry beacon 34. In “default”, the network 12 will go into its “safe restart” mode.
By way of example, refer to
With the permit removed from its locking device 26, the shopping cart 28 is free to move within the shopping area 40. While in the shopping area 40 the customer is able to place items for purchase in the shopping cart 28 as desired. The shopping cart 28 is then moved to a cashier location 42 where the items can be purchased (i.e. the location for cart 28' shown in
While the particular System for Preventing Shopping Cart Push-Out Theft as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.
