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A security system and method of providing security in a retail environment or the like, comprising shopping trolleys associated with the retail enviroment fitted with security devices having a receive-only wireless receiver and a processor. The receiver receiving wireless signals transmitted from on

A security system and method of providing security in a retail environment or the like, comprising shopping trolleys associated with the retail enviroment fitted with security devices having a receive-only wireless receiver and a processor. The receiver receiving wireless signals transmitted from one or more transmitters located at various locations around the retail enviroment. By analyzing the wireless signals as it passes thereby, the processor of the security device may determine a location and/or a direction of travel of a shopping trolley to which it is fitted. In addition, an alarm signal may be raised if a predetermined signal or sequence of signals is detected.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A security system for a retail environment including a merchandise display area, at least one exit or entrance, and at least one shopping trolley the system comprising a transmitter and a security device connected to the trolley, the security device comprising a receive

The invention claimed is: 1. A security system for a retail environment including a merchandise display area, at least one exit or entrance, and at least one shopping trolley the system comprising a transmitter and a security device connected to the trolley, the security device comprising a receive-only wireless receiver incorporating a processor, wherein the receiver is adapted to receive wireless signals from the transmitter, the transmitter being located in the retail environment and wherein the processor is adapted to analyze the received wireless signals so as to determine at least a location of the device within the retail environment and to count a number of times the device passes a given transmitter, and wherein the transmitter is located at a predetermined choke point within the retail environment past which the shopping trolley must travel before leaving through the exit or entrance. 2. A security system for a retail environment including a merchandise display area, at least one exit or entrance, and at least one shopping trolley the system comprising a transmitter and a security device connected to the trolley, the security device comprising a wireless receiver incorporating a processor, wherein the receiver is adapted to receive wireless signals from the transmitter located in the retail environment and the processor is adapted to analyze the received wireless signals so as to determine at least a direction of travel of the device relative to the transmitter and to count a number of times the device passes a given transmitter. 3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to issue an alarm signal when a predetermined signal or sequence of mutually identifiable signals is received from one or more transmitters. 4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the security device further includes a transmitter, the transmitter being adapted to transmit a signal to a wheel locking device provided on the shopping trolley when the alarm signal is issued. 5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the transmitter is a low frequency wireless transmitter. 6. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the processor is hard-wired to a wheel locking device provided on the shopping trolley and wherein the processor is adapted to transmit a signal to the wheel looking device when the alarm signal is issued. 7. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the alarm signal causes an audible, visual or other alarm device to be activated. 8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the alarm device is configured to be activated in response to the alarm signal prior to activation of the wheel locking device. 9. A system as claimed in claim 3, further including a timing device configured to suppress or delay issuance of the alarm signal for a predetermined time. 10. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to determine a direction of travel of the device past a given transmitter. 11. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retail environment includes at least one check out point located between the merchandise display area and the at least one exit or entrance, and wherein the choke point is located outside the merchandise display area in a region between the at least one check out point and the at least one exit or entrance. 12. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retail environment includes a canteen or a toilet facility located outside the merchandise display area, and wherein a choke point is provided at a boundary between the merchandise display area and the canteen or toilet facility. 13. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitter includes a pair of coils or antennas, each of the pair being adapted to transmit a mutually distinct signal so as to enable the processor to determine a direction of travel of the security device relative to the transmitter. 14. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitter located at the choke point is configured to transmit wireless signals to the wireless receiver that do not cause an alarm signal to be issued by the processor but instead provide location or direction of travel information. 15. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitter is provided with means to change characteristics of the transmitted signals in predetermined ways that are recognized by the processor. 16. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of transmitters located in the retail environment are networked to a central computer. 17. A system as claimed in claim 1, further provided with at least one hand-held remote control device adapted to issue wireless control signals to the security device or the transmitter. 18. A method of providing security in a retail environment including a merchandise display area, at least one exit or entrance, and at least one shopping trolley the system comprising a transmitter and a security device connected to the trolley, the security device comprising, a receive-only wireless receiver incorporating a processor, wherein the receiver receives wireless signals from a transmitter located in the retail environment and the processor analyses the received wireless signals and determines at least a location of the device within the retail environment and counts a number of times the device passes a given transmitter, and wherein a transmitter is located at a predetermined choke point within the retail environment past which the shopping trolley must travel before leaving through the exit or entrance. 19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the processor issues an alarm signal when a predetermined signal or sequence of mutually identifiable signals is received from one or more transmitters. 20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the security device further includes a transmitter, the transmitter transmitting a signal to a wheel locking device provided on the shopping trolley when the alarm signal is issued. 21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the transmitter is a low frequency wireless transmitter. 22. A method according to claim 19, wherein the processor is hard-wired to a wheel locking device provided on the shopping trolley and wherein the processor transmits a signal to the wheel locking device when the alarm signal is issued. 23. A method according to claim 19, wherein the alarm signal causes an audible, visual or other alarm device to be activated. 24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the alarm device is activated in response to the alarm signal prior to activation of the wheel locking device. 25. A method according to claim 19, wherein a timing device suppresses or delays issuance of the alarm signal for a predetermined time. 26. A method according to claim 18, wherein the processor determines a direction of travel of the device past a given transmitter. 27. A method according to claim 18, wherein the retail environment includes at least one check out point located between the merchandise display area and the at least one exit or entrance, and wherein the choke point is located outside the merchandise display area in a region between the at least one check out point and the at least one exit or entrance. 28. A method according to claim 18, wherein the retail environment includes a canteen or a toilet facility located outside the merchandise display area, and wherein a choke point is provided at a boundary between the merchandise display area and the canteen or toilet facility. 29. A method according to claim 18, wherein the transmitter includes a pair of coils or antennas, each of the pair being adapted transmitting a mutually distinct signal so as to enable the processor to determine a direction of travel of the security device relative to the transmitter. 30. A method according to claim 18, wherein the transmitter located at the choke point transmits wireless signals to the wireless receiver that do not cause an alarm signal to be issued by the processor but instead provide location or direction of travel information. 31. A method according to claim 18, wherein the transmitter is provided with means to change characteristics of the transmitted signals in predetermined ways that are recognized by the processor. 32. A method according to claim 18, wherein a plurality all or at least some of the transmitters located in the retail environment are networked to a central computer. 33. A method according to claim 18, wherein there is provided at least one hand-held remote control device that issues wireless control signals to the security device and or the transmitter. 34. A method of providing security in a retail environment including a merchandise display area, at least one exit or entrance, and at least one shopping trolley the system comprising a transmitter and a security device comprising a wireless receiver incorporating a processor, wherein the receiver receives wireless signals from a transmitter located in the retail environment and the processor analyses the received wireless signals so as to determine at least a direction of travel of the device relative to the transmitter and counts a number of times the device passes a given transmitter. 35. A security device for a shopping trolley, the device comprising a receive-only wireless receiver incorporating a processor, wherein the receiver is adapted to receive wireless signals from a transmitter and the processor is adapted to analyze the received wireless signals so as to determine at least a location of the device within a predetermined spatial area and to count a number of times the device passes a given transmitter. 36. A device as claimed in claim 35, wherein the processor is configured to issue an alarm signal when a predetermined signal or sequence of mutually identifiable signals is received from one or more transmitters. 37. A device as claimed in claim 36, further including a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit a signal to a wheel locking device provided on the shopping trolley when the alarm signal is issued. 38. A device as claimed in claim 37, wherein the transmitter is a low frequency wireless transmitter. 39. A device as claimed in claim 36, wherein the processor is hard-wired to a wheel looking device provided on the shopping trolley and wherein the processor is adapted to transmit a signal to the wheel locking device when the alarm signal is issued. 40. A device as claimed in claim 36, wherein the alarm signal causes an audible, visual or other alarm device to be activated. 41. A device as claimed in claim 40, wherein the alarm device is configured to be activated in response to the alarm signal prior to activation of the wheel locking device. 42. A device as claimed in claim 36, further including a timing device configured to suppress or delay issuance of the alarm signal for a predetermined time. 43. A device as claimed in claim 35, wherein the processor is adapted to determine a direction of travel of the device past a given transmitter.