초록 ▼

An electronic article security system monitors articles sold by a retail store to detect shrinkage. The articles are tagged with RF-ID security tags. Each security tag has a unique or semi-unique serial number for identifying individual products. Transaction records generated from point-of-sale term

An electronic article security system monitors articles sold by a retail store to detect shrinkage. The articles are tagged with RF-ID security tags. Each security tag has a unique or semi-unique serial number for identifying individual products. Transaction records generated from point-of-sale terminals in the store are sent to a remote computer. An interrogator and surveillance camera are positioned near the store exit. When an article having the RF-ID security tag is detected as passing through the store exit, the interrogator outputs a signal derived from the security tag. The output signal includes the security tag serial number. Also, the camera takes an image of the person moving the tagged article through the exit. The interrogator output signal is sent to the remote computer. The remote computer periodically compares the transaction records with the interrogator output signals to detect any discrepancies therebetween. The discrepancies are investigated by viewing the captured video images near the time of the discrepancies.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] An electronic article security system for use in conjunction with articles having a security tag attached thereto, the security tag including a resonant circuit for use in detecting the presence of the article by receiving an interrogation signal and returning a response signal, and

[ I claim:] [1.] An electronic article security system for use in conjunction with articles having a security tag attached thereto, the security tag including a resonant circuit for use in detecting the presence of the article by receiving an interrogation signal and returning a response signal, and an integrated circuit connected to the resonant circuit for storing article identification information and for outputting the article identification information with the response signal upon interrogation of the security tag, the system comprising:(a) one or more point-of-sale terminals for recording article transactions including article purchases, the transaction records including specific product identification information;(b) an interrogator for monitoring a detection zone for disturbances in the form of a response signal caused by the presence of a security tag within the zoned the interrogator outputting an interrogator output signal when a security tag is detected in the zone, each interrogator output signal including the article identification information stored in the integrated circuit, the interrogator output signal bring obtained at a location and time which is different than the location and time that the article transaction are recorded; and(c) a computer for receiving and storing the transaction records and the interrogator output signals, the computer including a comparator for comparing the transaction records and the interrogator output signals, including the product and article identification information, and detecting any discrepancies which occur therebetween.