Product display security system and method

Abstract

To provide merchandise security systems and methods.SOLUTION: A merchandise security system includes a plurality of security devices arranged in a wireless network, wherein the plurality of security devices are arranged in a planogram, each of the plurality of security devices is configured to protect one or more items from theft, and each of the plurality of security devices is configured to wirelessly communicate data with a remote device. The system also includes a plurality of electronic keys arranged in the wireless network and configured to wirelessly communicate data with the plurality of security devices and / or the remote device. Each of the plurality of electronic keys is configured to operate the plurality of security devices. The system also includes a gateway configured to receive the data from the plurality of security devices and the plurality of electronic keys via wireless communication, wherein the gateway is configured to communicate the data to the remote computing device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Claims

[Claim 1] A plurality of security devices located within a wireless network in a retail store, wherein the plurality of security devices are arranged according to the layout of the plurality of security devices within the retail store, and each of the plurality of security devices is configured to protect one or more items from theft; A plurality of electronic keys, which are arranged within the wireless network and configured to wirelessly transmit data to the plurality of security devices and remote computing devices, wherein each of the plurality of electronic keys is configured to operate the plurality of security devices, A hub configured to receive the data from the plurality of security devices and the electronic key using a first private wireless communication protocol, and to communicate the data with the remote computing device using a second wireless communication protocol different from the first private wireless communication protocol, wherein the first private wireless communication protocol is separate from other private or public networks operated by the retail store and is dedicated to the plurality of security devices deployed within the retail store. A security system equipped with [specific features / features]. [Claim 2] The security system according to claim 1, wherein the hub is configured to communicate with the remote computing device via a cloud network. [Claim 3] The security system according to claim 1, wherein the data further includes an identifier for the item. [Claim 4] The security system according to claim 1, wherein the item is a product located in the retail store. [Claim 5] The security system according to claim 1, further comprising the system health of any or all of the items, the electronic key, and the security device. [Claim 6] The security system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of security devices are either or both a lock and an alarm security display. [Claim 7] The security system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of security devices are composed of different types. [Claim 8] The security system according to claim 1, wherein the data for each of the plurality of security devices is a serial number. [Claim 9] The security system according to claim 1, wherein the hub is configured to communicate to the remote computing device any or all of the following data: the date and time of activation of each electronic key, the user of each electronic key, the serial number of each electronic key, the number of times each electronic key has been activated, and the events resulting from the activation of each electronic key. [Claim 10] The security system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a plurality of electronic keys is configured to allow one or more security devices, distinct from at least one other electronic key, to be locked, unlocked, armed, and dearmed, or any of these. [Claim 11] The security system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electronic keys is configured to receive commands for controlling the electronic key from the remote computing device. [Claim 12] The security system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electronic keys includes a serial number. [Claim 13] The security system according to claim 12, wherein the hub is configured to communicate the serial number to the remote computing device. [Claim 14] The security system according to claim 12, wherein one of the plurality of electronic keys is configured to communicate with one of the plurality of security devices for any or all of the following purposes: locking and unlocking the security device, and setting and de-alarming the security device, based on the serial number. [Claim 15] The security system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of security devices is configured to receive commands for controlling the security device from the remote computing device. [Claim 16] The security system according to claim 1, wherein the hub is configured to communicate the data to the remote computing device automatically or in real time. [Claim 17] The security system according to claim 1, wherein the remote computing device is a tablet or a computer. [Claim 18] The security system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one alarm node configured to communicate wirelessly with each of the plurality of security devices. [Claim 19] The security system according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of security devices are configured to communicate with the hub using a first wireless communication protocol and to communicate with the alarm node using a second wireless communication protocol different from the first wireless communication protocol. [Claim 20] The security system according to claim 19, wherein the second wireless communication protocol is a direct inter-node communication scheme between the plurality of security devices and the alarm node which does not need to communicate with the hub. [Claim 21] The security system according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the alarm nodes is configured to communicate wirelessly with the hub using the first wireless communication protocol. [Claim 22] The security system according to claim 18, further comprising a plurality of alarm nodes, one of the plurality of alarm nodes being associated with the plurality of security devices, and configured to trigger an alarm only when it receives a signal from any one of the plurality of security devices. [Claim 23] The security system according to claim 1, wherein the first private wireless communication protocol is a sub-GHz wireless communication protocol, and the second wireless communication protocol is configured to occur on a cloud-based network. [Claim 24] The security system according to claim 1, wherein the first private wireless communication protocol is not a public network. [Claim 25] The security system according to claim 1, wherein the first private wireless communication protocol is a LoRa communication protocol. [Claim 26] The security system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electronic keys is configured to communicate with each of the plurality of security devices using a third wireless communication protocol different from the first private wireless communication protocol and the second wireless communication protocol in order to determine whether the electronic key has the authority to operate the security device. [Claim 27] ​​The security system according to claim 26, wherein the third wireless communication protocol is NFC. [Claim 28] The security system according to claim 26, wherein the third wireless communication protocol is infrared wireless communication. [Claim 29] A step of arranging a plurality of security devices that communicate wirelessly over a wireless network within a retail store according to the layout of the plurality of security devices within the retail store, wherein each of the plurality of security devices is configured to protect one or more items from theft; A step of arranging a plurality of electronic keys within the wireless network, wherein the plurality of electronic keys are configured to wirelessly transmit data to the plurality of security devices and remote computing devices, and each of the plurality of electronic keys is configured to operate the plurality of security devices. The steps include each of the aforementioned multiple security devices and the aforementioned multiple electronic keys wirelessly transmitting data, A hub receives the data from the plurality of security devices and the electronic key using a first private wireless communication protocol, and communicates the data with the remote computing device using a second wireless communication protocol different from the first private wireless communication protocol, wherein the first private wireless communication protocol is separate from other private or public networks operated by the retail store and is dedicated to the plurality of security devices deployed within the retail store. A method to protect items from theft, including [this]. [Claim 30] A plurality of security devices arranged within a wireless network in a retail store, wherein the plurality of security devices are arranged according to the layout of the plurality of security devices in the retail store, and each of the plurality of security devices is configured to protect one or more items from theft, A plurality of electronic keys, which are arranged within the wireless network and configured to wirelessly transmit data to the plurality of security devices and remote computing devices, wherein each of the plurality of electronic keys is configured to operate the plurality of security devices, A hub configured to receive the data wirelessly from the plurality of security devices and the electronic key, and to communicate the data with the remote computing device, At least one alarm node configured to communicate wirelessly with each of the aforementioned multiple security devices, Equipped with, A security system in which the plurality of security devices and the alarm node and the hub are configured to communicate wirelessly using a first wireless communication protocol, and the plurality of security devices and the alarm node are configured to communicate wirelessly using a second wireless communication protocol different from the first wireless communication protocol. [Claim 31] The security system according to claim 30, wherein the second wireless communication protocol is a direct inter-node communication scheme between the plurality of security devices and the alarm node which does not need to communicate with the hub. [Claim 32] The security system according to claim 30, further comprising a plurality of alarm nodes, one of the plurality of alarm nodes being associated with the plurality of security devices, and configured to sound an alarm only when it receives a signal from any one of the plurality of security devices.

Images