Dual mode security tags

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016180669-A1
Application number	US-201414575889-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 18, 2014
Priority date	Dec 18, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A tag controller is configured to interface with a tag on a product in a monitoring environment that includes first and second monitoring zones. The first monitoring zone includes first locator devices, and the second monitoring zone includes second locator devices. The tag controller includes processing circuitry configured to facilitate operation of the tag in a first mode to employ wireless communication with the first locator devices or the second locator devices to generate position information usable for locating the tag in the monitoring environment. The first mode defines communication parameters associated with the wireless communication. The processing circuitry may also be configured to determine whether mode switch criteria are met, and direct the tag to switch to operation in a second mode to employ different communication parameters relative to wireless communication with the first locator devices or the second locator devices responsive to the mode switch criteria being met.

First claim

1 . A tag controller configured to interface with a security tag adapted to be disposed on a product in a monitoring environment, the monitoring environment comprising a first monitoring zone and a second monitoring zone, the first monitoring zone including first locator devices associated with a first locating system, the second monitoring zone including second locator devices associated with a second locating system, the tag controller comprising processing circuitry configured to:
facilitate operation of the security tag in a first mode to employ wireless communication with the first locator devices or the second locator devices to generate position information usable for locating the security tag in the monitoring environment, the first mode defining communication parameters associated with the wireless communication; determine whether mode switch criteria are met, wherein determining whether the mode switch criteria are met comprises employing temporal mode switch criteria; and direct the security tag to switch to operation in a second mode to employ different communication parameters relative to wireless communication with the first locator devices or the second locator devices responsive to the mode switch criteria being met, wherein the tag controller is further configured to compare a current time to a mode schedule defining an operational mode for each of a plurality of ranges of time.

2 . The tag controller of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the mode switch criteria are met further comprises determining whether the mode switch criteria are met based on a determined location of the security tag.

3 . The tag controller of claim 2 , wherein determining whether the mode switch criteria are met based on the determined location of the security tag comprises determining whether the security tag has moved between the first monitoring zone and the second monitoring zone.

4 . The tag controller of claim 2 , wherein determining whether the mode switch criteria are met based on the determined location of the security tag comprises determining proximity of the security tag to a border between the first monitoring zone and the second monitoring zone and determining that the mode switch criteria are met in response to a motion vector of the security tag indicating that the security tag is likely to cross the border.

5 . (canceled)

6 . (canceled)

7 . A tag controller configured to interface with a security tag adapted to be disposed on a product in a monitoring environment, the monitoring environment comprising a first monitoring zone and a second monitoring zone, the first monitoring zone including first locator devices associated with a first locating system, the second monitoring zone including second locator devices associated with a second locating system, the tag controller comprising processing circuitry configured to:
facilitate operation of the security tag in a first mode to employ wireless communication with the first locator devices or the second locator devices to generate position information usable for locating the security tag in the monitoring environment, the first mode defining communication parameters associated with the wireless communication; determine whether mode switch criteria are met; and direct the security tag to switch to operation in a second mode to employ different communication parameters relative to wireless communication with the first locator devices or the second locator devices responsive to the mode switch criteria being met, wherein the first locating system includes first locators that transmit first beacon signals to the security tag such that tag position is determined based on signal strength measurements associated with detection of the security tag, and wherein the second locating system includes second locators that receive second beacon signals from the security tag such that tag position is determined based on an angle of arrival of the second beacon signals at the second locators.

8 . The tag controller of claim 7 , wherein the security tag is configured to receive beacon transmissions in the first mode and is configured to transmit beacon signals in the second mode.

9 . The tag controller of claim 7 , wherein the security tag is configured to transmit the second beacon signals to the second locator devices at a first rate in the first mode, and wherein the security tag is configured to transmit the second beacon signals to the second locator devices at a second rate in the second mode.

10 . The tag controller of claim 1 , wherein the tag controller is configured to lookup current security tag location in a location table and determine whether the mode switch criteria are met based on a correlation between predefined areas and a corresponding operational mode.

11 . A security system comprising:
a security tag disposed on a product in a monitoring environment; a first monitoring zone including first locator devices associated with a first locating system; a second monitoring zone including second locator devices associated with a second locating system; and a system controller configured to interface with the first locator devices and the second locator devices, wherein at least one of the security tag or the system controller includes a tag controller comprising processing circuitry configured to: facilitate operation of the security tag in a first mode to employ wireless communication with the first locator devices or the second locator devices to generate position information usable for locating the security tag in the monitoring environment, the first mode defining communication parameters associated with the wireless communication; determine whether mode switch criteria are met, wherein determining whether the mode switch criteria are met comprises employing temporal mode switch criteria; and direct the security tag to switch to operation in a second mode to employ different communication parameters relative to wireless communication with the first locator devices or the second locator devices responsive to the mode switch criteria being met, wherein the tag controller is configured to compare a current time to a mode schedule defining an operational mode for each of a plurality of ranges of time.

12 . The security system of claim 11 , wherein determining whether the mode switch criteria are met further comprises determining whether the mode switch criteria are met based on a determined location of the security tag.

13 . The security system of claim 12 , wherein determining whether the mode switch criteria are met based on the determined location of the security tag comprises determining whether the security tag has moved between the first monitoring zone and the second monitoring zone.

14 . The security system of claim 12 , wherein determining whether the mode switch criteria are met based on the determined location of the security tag comprises determining proximity of the security tag to a border between the first monitoring zone and the second monitoring zone and determining that the mode switch criteria are met in response to a motion vector of the security tag indicating that the security tag is likely to cross the border.

15 . (canceled)

16 . (canceled)

17 . A security system comprising:
a security tag disposed on a product in a monitoring environment; a first monitoring zone including first locator devices associated with a first locating system; a second monitoring zone including second locator devices associated with a second locating system; and a system controller configured to interf

Assignees

• Checkpoint Systems Inc

Inventors

• Bradshaw Merril F
• Hazelwood Zachary Cody
• Johnson Donald Matthew
• Dobeck Brian R

Classifications

• G08B13/2448 Primary

  Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag · CPC title

• G08B13/2462

  Asset location systems combined with EAS (inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00) · CPC title

• G06K17/00 Primary

  Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations · CPC title

• G08B13/2402 Primary

  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 title

• H04B5/77

  for interrogation · CPC title