CN116964606A

CN116964606A - Contactless and automatic operation of retail stores

Info

Publication number: CN116964606A
Application number: CN202280019129.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: A·沙克德; L·沙克德; G·罗茨坦; A·费尔德曼; R·波拉格
Original assignee: Nexit
Current assignee: Nexit
Priority date: 2021-01-11
Filing date: 2022-01-11
Publication date: 2023-10-27

Abstract

Consistent with the disclosed embodiments, systems, methods, and computer-readable media for an electronic security system for a retail location may be provided. Embodiments may include an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) door and at least one receiver configured to receive transmissions from a wireless tag associated with a product provided by a retail location. Embodiments may also include at least one processor configured to: receiving, from a device operated by a prospective purchaser, a tag ID associated with a particular product for the prospective purchase; performing a lookup in a data structure on the tag ID to identify the particular product; initiating an electronic purchase transaction to debit an account associated with the prospective purchaser for purchase of the particular product; and disabling the ability to initiate an alarm when the at least one receiver receives a transmission from a tag associated with the particular product proximate to the EAS door.

Description

Contactless and automatic operation of retail stores

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. provisional patent application number 63/135,963 filed on day 1, month 11 of 2021 and U.S. provisional patent application number 63/145,735 filed on day 2, month 4 of 2021, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The disclosed embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for wireless identification tags associated with products and electronic security systems including wireless identification tags.

Background

The ability to transmit data over a network provides many opportunities for various electronic devices to connect with other devices and networks, perform increasingly autonomous operations, and provide users with an interactive experience. However, conventional systems and methods for providing digital communications may use a certain amount of hardware, energy consumption, cost, and other technical limitations that may prevent such conventional systems and methods from being implemented in certain products, systems, and industries. Further, there are a number of security and privacy issues associated with data transmission that may make implementation of such techniques impractical in certain areas.

Thus, there is a need for a cost-effective and non-conventional method that efficiently, effectively and safely enables the digital self-presentation of various products and/or the management of these products.

Disclosure of Invention

Embodiments according to the present disclosure provide systems and methods generally related to wireless identification tags for association with products. The disclosed systems and methods may be implemented using conventional hardware and software, as well as combinations of special purpose hardware and software (e.g., machines constructed and/or programmed to perform the functions associated with the disclosed method steps). Consistent with other disclosed embodiments, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium may store program instructions that are executable by at least one processing device and perform any of the steps and/or methods described herein.

Consistent with the disclosed embodiments, systems, methods, and computer-readable media for providing an electronic security system for a venue of a product having an associated wireless transmission tag are disclosed. Embodiments may include at least one Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) door. Embodiments may further include at least one receiver configured to receive transmissions from the wireless transmission tag. Embodiments may further include at least one processor configured to: receiving a specific tag ID of a specific tag from a device operated by a prospective purchaser, the specific tag being associated with a specific product for a prospective purchase from the venue; accessing a data structure, the data structure containing a plurality of tag IDs associated with a plurality of products in the venue; performing a lookup in the data structure for the particular tag ID, thereby identifying the particular product; initiating an electronic purchase transaction to debit an account associated with the prospective purchaser for electronic purchase of the particular product; and disabling the ability to initiate an alarm when the at least one receiver receives a transmission from the particular tag proximate to the EAS door after the electronic purchase of the particular product.

Consistent with the additional disclosed embodiments, systems, methods, and computer-readable media for an electronic security system for inventory control operations are also disclosed. Embodiments may include receiving transmissions from a plurality of wireless transmission tags. Embodiments may further include receiving a particular tag ID for a particular tag associated with a particular product for a desired purchase from a venue from a device operated by a desired purchaser. Embodiments may further include accessing a data structure containing a plurality of tag IDs associated with a plurality of products in the venue. Embodiments may further include performing a lookup in the data structure for the particular tag ID, thereby identifying the particular product. Embodiments may further include initiating an electronic purchase transaction to debit an account associated with the prospective buyer for electronic purchase of the particular product. Embodiments may further include disabling the ability to initiate an alarm upon receipt of a transmission from the particular tag proximate to an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) door associated with the venue after the electronic purchase of the particular product.

In accordance with the disclosed embodiments, a system, method, and computer-readable medium for an electronic security system for a venue that provides in-store pickup of previously purchased products are further disclosed. Embodiments may include products having associated wireless transmission tags. Embodiments may further include at least one Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) door. Embodiments may further include at least one receiver configured to receive transmissions from the wireless transmission tag. Embodiments may further include at least one processor. Embodiments may further include accessing a purchase transaction record for an off-store product purchase, the purchase transaction record including an identification of at least one purchased product and purchaser identification information of a purchaser associated with the at least one purchased product. Embodiments may further include receiving a unique tag ID for a particular tag associated with at least one particular product in the inventory corresponding to the at least one purchased product. Embodiments may further include assigning the at least one particular product to a record associated with the purchase transaction. Embodiments may further include receiving a notification from a mobile communication device associated with the purchaser that the at least one purchased product is being picked up at the venue. Embodiments may further include authorizing pickup of the at least one particular product based on information received from the mobile communication device associated with the purchaser. Embodiments may further include disabling the ability to initiate an alarm when the at least one receiver receives a transmission from the particular tag proximate to the EAS door after authorizing pickup of the at least one particular product.

In accordance with additional disclosed embodiments, systems, methods, and computer-readable media for in-store pick-up of products are additionally disclosed. Embodiments may include previously purchased products. Embodiments may further include products associated with wireless transmission tags. Embodiments may further include receiving a transmission from at least one of the wireless transmission tags. Embodiments may further include accessing a purchase transaction record from an off-store product purchase at the venue, the purchase transaction record including an identification of at least one purchased product and purchaser identification information of a purchaser associated with the at least one purchased product. Embodiments may further include receiving a unique tag ID for a particular tag associated with at least one particular product in the inventory corresponding to the at least one purchased product. Embodiments may further include assigning the at least one particular product to a record associated with the purchase transaction. Embodiments may further include receiving a notification from a mobile communication device associated with the purchaser that the at least one purchased product is being picked up at the venue. Embodiments may further include authorizing pickup of the at least one particular product based on information received from the mobile communication device associated with the purchaser. Embodiments may further include disabling the ability to initiate an alarm upon receipt of a transmission from the particular tag proximate to an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) door associated with the venue after authorizing pickup of the at least one particular product.

Consistent with the disclosed embodiments, systems, methods, and computer-readable media for an electronic security system for preventing theft of returned goods are disclosed. Embodiments may include at least one Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) door in a venue. Embodiments may further include at least one receiver configured to receive transmissions from the wireless transmission tag. Embodiments may further include at least one processor. Embodiments may further include receiving a notification from a mobile communication device associated with the previous purchaser that the previously purchased product is intended to be returned to the venue. Embodiments may further include identifying, in a data structure, a unique tag ID of a particular wireless transmission tag associated with the previously purchased product upon receipt of the notification. Embodiments may further include updating the data structure to indicate that the previously purchased product was returned to the venue. Embodiments may further include enabling the ability to initiate an alarm when the at least one receiver receives a transmission from the particular tag associated with the previously purchased product proximate to the EAS door when updating the data structure.

Consistent with the additional disclosed embodiments, systems, methods, and computer-readable media for preventing theft of returned items with wireless tags are also disclosed. Embodiments may include receiving a transmission from a wireless transmission tag. Embodiments may further include receiving a notification from a mobile communication device associated with the previous purchaser that the previously purchased product is intended to be returned to the venue. Embodiments may further include identifying, in a data structure, a unique tag ID of a particular wireless transmission tag associated with the previously purchased product upon receipt of the notification. Embodiments may further include updating the data structure to indicate that the previously purchased product was returned to the venue. Embodiments may further include enabling the ability to initiate an alarm when at least one receiver associated with the venue receives a transmission from the particular tag associated with the previously purchased product proximate to at least one Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) door in the venue upon updating the data structure.

In accordance with the disclosed embodiments, systems, methods, and computer-readable media for wireless transactions and wireless transaction communications are further disclosed. Embodiments may include at least one processor. Embodiments may further include accessing at least one data structure containing an identification of a plurality of display areas and an identification of a plurality of products associated with the plurality of display areas. Embodiments may further include receiving a request from a mobile communication device for information related to a particular presentation area in proximity to the mobile communication device. Embodiments may further include receiving location information associated with a location of the mobile communication device. Embodiments may further include performing a lookup in the at least one data structure to identify the particular presentation area in the vicinity of the mobile communication device in response to the location information. Embodiments may further include retrieving product-related information for a product associated with the particular display area from the at least one data structure based on the identification of the particular display area. Embodiments may further include transmitting the product-related information to the mobile communication device.

In accordance with the disclosed embodiments, a system, method, and computer-readable medium for wireless transmission of tags in a venue containing a plurality of wireless tagged products and for automatically generating a product distribution planogram are additionally disclosed. Embodiments may further include at least one processor configured to: receiving wireless signals from a plurality of receivers in the venue from the plurality of wireless tagged products, wherein the wireless signals include an ID associated with each of the plurality of wireless tagged products; accessing a data structure that associates each ID of each wireless tagged product with classification information; determining from the wireless signals the location of each of the wireless tagged products in the venue; performing a lookup in the data structure for each ID of each of the wireless tagged products to determine product classification information associated with each of the wireless tagged products; and generating a planogram for the venue using the determined location and the determined product classification information for each wireless tagged product, wherein the planogram indicates the locations of wireless tagged product groups sharing common classification information on a map of the venue.

Consistent with the additional disclosed embodiments, systems, methods, and computer-readable media for performing operations for generating a planogram based on information collected from wireless tags are disclosed. Embodiments may include receiving wireless signals from a plurality of receivers in a venue from the plurality of wireless tagged products, wherein the wireless signals include an ID associated with each of the plurality of wireless tagged products. Embodiments may further include accessing a data structure that associates each ID of each wireless tagged product with classification information. Embodiments may further include determining a location of each of the wireless tagged products in the venue from the wireless signals. Further, embodiments may include performing a lookup in the data structure for each ID of each of the wireless tagged products to determine product classification information associated with each of the wireless tagged products. Embodiments may also include generating the planogram for the venue using the determined location and the determined product classification information for each wireless tagged product, wherein the planogram indicates locations of wireless tagged product groups sharing common classification information on a map of the venue.

Consistent with the disclosed embodiments, systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed that relate to reading wireless transmission tags in a venue containing a plurality of wireless tagged products and for automatically generating restocking warnings. Embodiments may include at least one processor configured to: receiving wireless signals from a plurality of receivers in the venue from the plurality of wireless tagged products, wherein the wireless signals reflect an ID associated with each of the plurality of wireless tagged products; accessing at least one data structure that associates each ID of each wireless tagged product with one of a plurality of product models; performing a lookup in the data structure for a product model associated with at least one ID of at least one wireless tagged product; determining a total unit quantity for each product model detected in the venue based on the lookup; accessing, in the at least one data structure, a target unit threshold associated with each product model in the venue; comparing the determined total unit number for each product model to the target threshold to determine when a particular product model falls below an associated threshold; and outputting a restocking notification for the particular product model.

Consistent with additional disclosed embodiments, systems, methods, and computer-readable media for reading wireless transmission tags in a venue containing a plurality of wireless tagged products and for automatically generating restocking warnings are disclosed. Embodiments may include receiving wireless signals from a plurality of receivers in a venue from the plurality of wireless tagged products, wherein the wireless signals reflect an ID associated with each of the plurality of wireless tagged products. Embodiments may further include accessing at least one data structure that associates each ID of each wireless tagged product with one of a plurality of product models. Embodiments may further include performing a lookup in the data structure for a product model associated with at least one ID of at least one wireless tagged product. Embodiments may include determining a total unit quantity for each product model detected in the venue based on the lookup. Embodiments may further include accessing, in the at least one data structure, a target unit threshold associated with each product model in the venue. Embodiments may include comparing the determined total unit number for each product model to the target threshold to determine when a particular product model falls below an associated threshold. Further, embodiments may include outputting a restocking notification for the particular product model.

The foregoing summary provides some examples of the disclosed embodiments to provide features to the present disclosure and is not intended to summarize all aspects of the disclosed embodiments. Additional features and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosed embodiments. The features and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosed embodiments as claimed.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification. The accompanying drawings illustrate several embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosed embodiments as set forth in the appended claims.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various disclosed embodiments. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary wireless identification system consistent with the disclosed embodiments, the system including a door, a wireless identification tag incorporated into an article worn by a user, and a wireless identification tag incorporated into an article held by a user.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary wireless identification tag of the system of fig. 1 consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

Fig. 3 depicts the example wireless identification tag of fig. 2 enclosed within a fabric pocket consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

Fig. 4 depicts the exemplary wireless identification tag of fig. 2 attached to a laundry tag consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

Fig. 5 depicts the example wireless identification tag of fig. 2 sewn into an article consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

Fig. 6 depicts the exemplary wireless identification tag of fig. 2 mounted to a hang tag consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

Fig. 7 depicts the example wireless identification tag of fig. 2 embedded in an article of apparel consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

Fig. 8 depicts the exemplary wireless identification tag of fig. 2 adhered to a container consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

Fig. 9 is a block diagram of an exemplary system architecture for a wireless identification tag consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 10 is another block diagram of the exemplary system architecture of FIG. 9, showing details of an exemplary controller architecture, consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a network diagram of an exemplary system for monitoring the location of items within a venue consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an exemplary system for harvesting and storing environmental energy consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

Fig. 13A is a perspective view of a retail location incorporating an exemplary wireless identification system consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

Fig. 13B depicts an example of a wireless identification tag operating in an exemplary infrastructure activatable mode consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

Fig. 13C depicts an example of a wireless identification tag operating in an exemplary user-actuatable mode consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

Fig. 13D depicts an example of a wireless identification tag operating in an exemplary door mode consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 14A illustrates a user device displaying an inventory search graphical user interface consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 14B illustrates a user device displaying a product graphical user interface consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 14C illustrates a user device displaying a product size search graphical user interface consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of inventory control operations consistent with some disclosed embodiments.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of an exemplary retail location incorporating an exemplary wireless identification system consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

Fig. 17 is a diagram of an exemplary Wide Area Network (WAN) for communication between sites consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 18 is a network diagram of an exemplary wireless identification system for in-store pickup of previously purchased products consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

Fig. 19 depicts an exemplary package containing at least one product purchased from a venue consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 20A depicts a mobile communication device displaying a first graphical user interface for generating a return notification consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 20B depicts a mobile communication device displaying a second graphical user interface for generating a return notification consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary retail location having multiple display areas for displaying provided products consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 22 depicts a mobile communication device displaying a graphical user interface with product-related information consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

Fig. 23 illustrates an exemplary planogram representing a planomap of a venue in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment illustrating one aspect of planogram generation consistent with an embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment illustrating one aspect of restocking notification generation consistent with the embodiments.

FIG. 26 is a flow chart illustrating an example of in-store pickup of previously purchased products consistent with some disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 27 is a flow chart illustrating an example of preventing theft of a returned item with a wireless tag consistent with some disclosed embodiments.

Fig. 28 is a flow chart illustrating an example of performing a wireless transaction consistent with some disclosed embodiments.

Detailed Description

Exemplary embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, the leftmost digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears. Wherever convenient, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. Although examples and features of the disclosed principles are described herein, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments. Moreover, the terms "comprising," "having," "containing," and "including," and other similar forms, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended, as the term "comprising" or "including" following any one of these terms is not intended to be an exhaustive list of the term or terms, or to be limited to only the term or terms listed. It should also be noted that, as used in this disclosure and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specification discussions utilizing terms such as "processing," "computing," "calculating," "determining," "generating," "setting," "configuring," "selecting," "defining," "applying," "obtaining," "monitoring," "providing," "identifying," "segmenting," "classifying," "analyzing," "associating," "extracting," "storing," "receiving," "transmitting," or the like, include the action and/or processes of a computer, that manipulates and/or transforms data into other data represented as physical quantities, such as electronic quantities, and/or data representing physical objects. The terms "computer," "processor," "controller," "processing unit," "computing unit," and "processing module" are to be construed broadly to cover any kind of electronic device, component, or unit having data processing capabilities, including by way of non-limiting example, personal computers, wearable computers, smart glasses, tablet computers, smart phones, servers, computing systems, cloud computing platforms, communication devices, processors (e.g., digital Signal Processors (DSPs), image signal processors (ISRs), microcontrollers, field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), central processing units (CPAs), graphics Processing Units (GPUs), vision Processing Units (VPUs), etc.), possibly with embedded memory, single-core processors, multi-core processors, cores within processors, any other electronic computing device, or any combination of the above.

Operations according to the teachings herein may be performed by a computer specifically constructed or programmed to perform the functions described.

As used herein, the phrase "for example," "such as," "example," and variations thereof describe non-limiting embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter. Reference in the specification to "an embodiment," "one instance," "some instances," "other instances," or features of a variant thereof, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described may be included in at least one embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter. Thus, the appearances of such terms are not necessarily referring to one or more of the same embodiments. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

For the sake of brevity, features of the presently disclosed subject matter are described in the context of a particular embodiment. However, it should be understood that features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to other embodiments as well. Likewise, features described in the context of a particular combination may be considered as separate embodiments whether present independently or in a different context than the particular combination.

In embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter, one or more of the stages shown in the figures may be performed in a different order, and/or one or more groups of stages may be performed concurrently, and vice versa. The accompanying drawings illustrate a general schematic of a system architecture according to an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter. Each module in the figures may be comprised of any combination of software, hardware, and/or firmware that performs the functions as defined and explained herein. The modules in the figures may be concentrated in one location or dispersed in more than one location.

Examples of the presently disclosed subject matter are not limited in application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The subject matter may be practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

In this document, elements of the drawings that are not depicted in the drawings and that are labeled with numbers that have been depicted in the previous drawings may have the same uses and descriptions as in the previous drawings.

The drawings in this document may not be to any scale. Different figures may use different scales and even in the same figure, e.g. different views of the same object may use different scales or two adjacent objects may use different scales.

Consistent with the disclosed embodiments, the "at least one processor" may constitute any physical device or group of devices having circuitry to perform logical operations on one or more inputs. For example, the at least one processor may include one or more Integrated Circuits (ICs) including an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a microchip, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, all or part of a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a server, a virtual server, or other circuitry suitable for executing instructions or performing logic operations. The instructions executed by the at least one processor may, for example, be preloaded into a memory integrated with the controller or embedded in the controller, or may be stored in a separate memory. The memory may include Random Access Memory (RAM), read Only Memory (ROM), hard disk, optical disk, magnetic media, flash memory, other permanent, fixed, or volatile memory, or any other mechanism that enables instructions to be stored. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may comprise more than one processor. Each processor may have a similar configuration, or the processors may have different configurations electrically connected to or separated from each other. For example, the processor may be a separate circuit or integrated in a single circuit. When more than one processor is used, the processors may be configured to operate independently or cooperatively. The processors may be electrically, magnetically, optically, acoustically, mechanically, or by other means permitting their interaction.

The disclosed embodiments may include and/or access data structures. A data structure consistent with the present disclosure may include any collection of data values and relationships therebetween. The data may be stored linearly, horizontally, hierarchically, relational, non-relational, shan Weide, multidimensional, operatively, in an orderly manner, in an unordered manner, in an object-oriented manner, in a centralized manner, in a decentralized manner, in a distributed manner, in a custom manner, or in any manner that enables data access. By way of non-limiting example, the data structures may include arrays, associative arrays, linked lists, binary trees, balanced trees, stacks, queues, sets, hash tables, records, tag combinations, ER models, and graphs. For example, the data structures may include XML databases, RDBMS databases, SQL databases, or NoSQL alternatives for data storage/searching, such as MongoDB, redis, couchbase, datastax Enterprise Graph, elastic Search, splunk, solr, cassandra, amazon DynamoDB, scyla, HBase, and Neo4J. The data structures may be components of the disclosed systems or remote computing components (e.g., cloud-based data structures). The data in the data structure may be stored in contiguous or non-contiguous memory. Furthermore, a data structure, as used herein, does not require that the information be co-located. It may be distributed over multiple servers, which may be owned or operated by the same or different entities, for example. Thus, as used herein, the singular term "data structure" encompasses plural data structures.

Exemplary embodiments relate generally to wireless communication tags configured to be embedded in, attached to, or otherwise associated with physical items in order to digitally represent each item on an exemplary digital platform. In some embodiments, an exemplary tag may be configured to collect environmental energy and transmit an identification signal to a receiver using the collected energy. The identification signal may include various types of data including product, location, history, status, ownership, and/or characteristic data. Depending on the intended use, such data may be transmitted to receivers associated with various types of platforms. The platform may be, for example, a software program running on one or more servers for implementing one or more types of product tracking and/or authentication. Examples of platforms that may employ the disclosed embodiments include, but are not limited to: inventory management systems in businesses (such as stores and warehouses); a kitchen management system for tracking supplies and/or tools; the electrical appliance management system is used for tracking the labeled materials in the electrical appliance or used in connection with the electrical appliance; a manufacturing system for tracking components used in the manufacturing process of a product; a transportation and delivery system for tracking packages and other deliverables through transportation and delivery; other supply chain management; a wardrobe management system for tracking items of apparel stored in the wardrobe and closet; a garment washing system for tracking the cleaning of articles of apparel and/or the receipt of garments to be washed, and the return of garments to a customer or designated location (such as a closet or wardrobe); a food delivery system; a system for managing ownership of goods transferred to different owners; a system for authenticating goods to prevent counterfeiting; a vehicle tracking system; a system for tracking materials and/or personnel in vehicles and/or in public and private areas; a waste management system; and all other systems in which tracking and/or authenticating a person, animal or object may be beneficial.

In some embodiments, an exemplary tag may be configured to harvest energy without a designated battery and operate in an active transmission state and an idle state while consuming a minimum amount of power. Advantageously, the configuration of the exemplary tag may achieve radio performance comparable to commercial battery powered devices at a power envelope comparable to passive RFID devices.

Fig. 1 illustrates a non-limiting embodiment of exemplary wireless tags 1100a and 1100b in the context of a security gate, such as Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) gates 1110, 1112. In some embodiments, one or both of tags 1100a and 1100b may be wireless identification tags. The tag 1100a may be embedded, sewn, clipped, attached, or otherwise incorporated into an object such as an article of apparel 1106. The tag 1100b may be attached to or otherwise coupled to an item purchased or otherwise acquired by the user 1104 and contained within the bag 1122. Tags 1100a and 1100b may be configured to receive wireless signals, such as signal 1118. The signal 1118 may be generated by an external system or device (such as an EAS transmitter 1116) that may form part of the EAS gates 1110, 1112. In some embodiments, one or both of tags 1100a and 1100b may be configured to receive gate signal 1118 and, in response, generate and output a signal having a frequency different from gate signal 1118. For example, tag 1100a may output signal 1102a when gate signal 1118 is received, and tag 1100b may output signal 1102b when gate signal 1118 is received. In some embodiments, one or both of signals 1102a and 1102b may have frequencies within a frequency band of approximately 2.4GHz, such that signals 1102a and 1102b are not detected by EAS sensor 1120 and thus do not trigger alarm 1114 of EAS gates 1110, 1112.

In some embodiments, the exemplary system of fig. 1 may include at least one receiver/exciter device 1124 configured to receive signal broadcasts from a plurality of wireless tags (such as signals 1102a and 1102 b) and also configured to deliver energy to be collected and stored by the wireless tags in order to power the wireless tags, as discussed in detail below. For example, device 1124 may include a transceiver, router, diplexer, or any other device configured to transmit and receive signals. In some alternative embodiments, such as the exemplary clothing retail location depicted in fig. 13A, the system may include a plurality of receivers 11300a-h configured to receive signal broadcasts from wireless tags, and an exciter 13400 configured to deliver energy to be collected and stored by the wireless tags. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the exemplary systems described herein may include only receiver/exciter devices (such as device 1124), only receiver devices and exciter devices (such as receiver 11300 and exciter 13400), or any desired combination thereof. Additionally, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the example actuators and receivers described herein (such as the receiver 11300 and the actuator 13400) may be implemented as separate devices and/or as a combined receiver/actuator device (such as the receiver/actuator device 1124), and vice versa.

In some embodiments, an exemplary wireless tag may include at least one antenna, at least one transmitter, and at least one circuit. The at least one antenna, the at least one transmitter, and the at least one circuit may be disposed on a flexible substrate. The substrate may be a structure on or in which components such as the at least one antenna, the at least one transmitter, and the at least one circuit may be disposed. The substrate may be flexible such that when a force is encountered, the substrate may be configured to be deformable in one or more directions. For example, the flexible substrate may be a substrate that allows components attached thereto to conform to a desired shape or to flex during use thereof. Materials suitable for the flexible substrate may include, but are not limited to, various types of paper, various types of fabrics, various types of plastics, including, but not limited to, polyester (PET), polyimide (PI), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyetherimide (PEI), polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and various Fluoropolymers (FEP) and copolymers and/or any other substrate capable of at least partially conforming to a desired shape or deflection during use.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary wireless communication tag 1100 that may include an EAS coil 2110, a 900MHz antenna 2112, a 2.4GHz antenna 2114, a multi-source collector 2102, a transmitter 2104, a gate detection circuit 2106, and an energy storage circuit 2108, some or all of which may be formed on a substrate 2120. The base 2120 may be flexible so that the tag may function without being affected by flexing or movement that may occur, for example, when the tag is attached and/or embedded in a piece of apparel (such as the various products illustrated in fig. 4-8), as will be discussed below.

Various embodiments of the wireless tag may include an adhesive layer for attachment to a product. In some embodiments, the wireless tag may be attached or otherwise disposed on the product or product packaging. Such attachment may be aided by one or more adhesive layers. Embodiments of the adhesive layer may include various types of glues, tapes, cements, waxes, mucilages, pastes, epoxies, sealants, elastomers, and other suitable materials that may promote adhesion between surfaces. By way of example, referring to fig. 2, the tag 1100 may include a substrate 2120 supporting its electronic components, and may further include an adhesive layer 2122, which may be located on a side of the substrate layer opposite the electronic components, or on either side of the multilayer substrate in the case where the electronic components are packaged between two or more layers of the substrate. The adhesive layer 2120 may enable the label to be bonded to some item, such as hanging label 6100 in fig. 6 or product 8000 in fig. 8.

The disclosed embodiments may also include at least one layer of material (such as a fabric layer) that at least partially encapsulates the wireless tag, the material layer configured to be attached by stitching. Alternatively, the tag may be attached to the fabric by bonding or incorporation into the pocket. The fabric may comprise any material that may be used in clothing, accessories or any other object in which the fabric is used. The fabric may be woven, nonwoven, fibrous or non-fibrous. It may comprise any suitable material including, but not limited to, silk, wool, flax, cotton, rayon, nylon, polyester, or inorganic materials, rubber, plastic, synthetic or natural materials, spunbond/hydroentangled, dry scrim, wet scrim, vinyl, sheet, or any other layer. In some embodiments, the fabric may be flexible or deformable.

In some embodiments, the wireless tag may be incorporated into the material layer. The wireless tag may be partially bonded, wherein a portion of the wireless tag may be exposed or uncovered. Alternatively, the wireless tag may be fully incorporated, wherein the wireless tag may be fully surrounded by the fabric. In some embodiments, the wireless tag may be partially or fully incorporated into the fabric by stitching. Fig. 3 shows a non-limiting embodiment of a wireless tag encapsulated in a fabric. For example, as depicted, the tag 1100 is packaged in a fabric pocket 3000. Fig. 5 further illustrates placement of a fabric pocket 3000 containing a tag 1100 on a product 5000, such as clothing.

As used herein, partially encapsulating the wireless tag may include positioning at least one layer of material around the wireless tag such that the wireless tag is fixed at a particular point or region relative to the layer of material. The layer of material may comprise a fabric, other textile, or any other material that may be suitably attached to another material by stitching, such as leather, rubber, paper materials, or the like. By way of example, fig. 3 shows a tag 1100 enclosed within a fabric pocket 3000. The fabric pocket 3000 may then be stitched into the jacket 5000 depicted in fig. 5 such that the wireless tag is attached to the jacket 5000.

Fig. 4-8 illustrate a non-limiting embodiment of a product incorporating a tag 1100. For example, fig. 4 depicts a garment, such as a dress 4000 with a garment tag 4100; the clothing label 4100 may be a care label (e.g., with instructions to clean the dress 4000) and/or a label indicating the size and brand of the dress 4000. In the example of fig. 4, the tag 1100 may be stitched or otherwise attached to the clothing tag 4100. For example, the tag 1100 may be enclosed within a fabric pocket 3000 that may be sewn to the garment tag 4100.

Fig. 5 depicts an embodiment of an exemplary tag 1100 enclosed within a fabric pocket 3000 sewn into an article of apparel 5000 (e.g., a jacket). Fig. 6 depicts an exemplary tag 1100 on a hanging label 6100 that may be attached to a product such as a pair of pants 6000. In another non-limiting embodiment as depicted in fig. 7, tag 1100 may be attached to a product such as T-shirt 7000 by being placed between layers of the T-shirt such that tag 1100 may be hidden from view. As another example, as depicted in fig. 8, a label 1100 may be adhered to a product package (such as container 8000). The garment and container are shown for illustrative purposes only. As previously described, the tag may be associated with virtually any item in virtually any manner. For example, as described above, the label may be adhered to the product package on the outside or inside of the package. In some embodiments, the label may be adhered to the packaging material or another interior portion of the package adjacent to the product placed inside the package.

Fig. 9 and 10 depict block diagrams of exemplary system architectures for wireless identification tags 1100. In some embodiments, the exemplary tag 1100 may be configured to harvest energy in multiple frequency bands and use the harvested energy to power its operation. For example, tag 1100 may include one antenna for harvesting energy, two antennas for harvesting energy, three antennas for harvesting energy, or any other number of antennas for harvesting energy in a desired number of frequency bands. In some embodiments, tag 1100 may be configured to harvest energy in a frequency band of about 900MHz WW ISM (e.g., an ultra high frequency RFID frequency band between 860MHz and 960 MHz). For example, fig. 9 illustrates an embodiment of a tag architecture of a tag 1100 in which an antenna 2112 is tuned to receive energy at frequencies below 1GHz (e.g., energy in a frequency band of about 900 MHz) and transmit the received energy to a 900MHz harvester 9012. Additionally or alternatively, the exemplary tag may be configured to harvest energy in a frequency band of about 2.4GHz WW ISM (e.g., about 2.45GHz environment and intentional energy sources such as bluetooth and Wi-Fi). For example, the exemplary tag architecture depicted in fig. 9 may additionally include an antenna 2114 tuned to receive energy in the frequency band of about 2.4GHz and transmit the received energy to the 2.4GHz harvester 9014. In some embodiments, the harvested energy may be transferred to the power manager 9010, which may store the energy in the energy storage circuit 2108 or provide the harvested energy to power signal transmissions from the tag to one or more receivers.

In some embodiments, the exemplary wireless communication tag 1100 may include at least one transmitter configured to transmit signals from the tag to one or more receivers. For example, tag 1100 may transmit a unique ID signal (optionally along with a status indicator and/or other data) in a frequency band of about 2.4GHz wwism. In some embodiments, the antenna configured to collect energy may additionally be configured to transmit signals of the tag. For example, the transmitter 2104 depicted in fig. 9 may be configured to transmit signals having a frequency of about 2.4GHz using the antenna 2114; thus, antenna 2114 may be configured to both collect energy and transmit tag signals. The exemplary tag 1100 may additionally include a switch 9034 configured to control the behavior of the antenna 2114 and cause the antenna 2114 to switch between a transmission mode and an energy harvesting mode (e.g., under the control of the beacon controller 9030 of the transmitter 2104). In some alternative embodiments, the exemplary tag 1100 may include a signal transmitter connected to an additional antenna separate from the energy harvesting antenna.

In some embodiments, the example wireless communication tag 1100 may include at least one antenna configured to detect an electromagnetic field (including a field generated by an EAS system). In some embodiments, the antenna for detecting an electromagnetic field may include at least one coil. For example, as depicted in fig. 2 and 9, tag 1100 may include an EAS coil 2110. Additionally or alternatively, other types of antennas for detecting electromagnetic fields may be incorporated into tag 1100. Tag 1100 may include one antenna for detecting an electromagnetic field, two antennas for detecting an electromagnetic field, three antennas for detecting an electromagnetic field, or any other number of antennas for detecting a desired number of electromagnetic fields.

In some embodiments, the EAS coil 2110 may be configured to detect electromagnetic fields operating in one or more predetermined frequency bands. For example, the EAS coil 2110 may be configured to detect fields in the frequency band between 7-13MHz and fields in the frequency band between 58-60 kHz. As illustrated in fig. 10, the EAS coil 2110 may include a tuning capacitor 10200 controlled by the controller 9020 to tune the coil 2110 between a mode for detecting a field in a first frequency band (e.g., 7-13 MHz) and a mode for detecting a field in a second frequency band (e.g., 58-60 kHz). In some embodiments, the EAS coil 2110 may be configured to deactivate nearby EAS gates even when the coil 2110 detects an incident EAS field. That is, unlike conventional EAS tags that emit a detectable signal (or produce a detectable disturbance) when an incident EAS field is received, the coil 2110 may be configured to detect the EAS field without emitting a signal that would trigger an EAS door alarm. In some embodiments, the EAS coil 2110 may detect an incident electromagnetic field and the gate detection circuit 2106 may determine whether the field is received from an EAS gate (e.g., whether the field is in a frequency band between 7-13MHz or 58-60 kHz). When an EAS field is detected, the circuit 2106 may output an EAS detection signal to the controller 9020, which may change one or more signal transmission parameters of the transmitter 2104 in response to detecting the EAS field, as described below.

As described above, harvesting energy from multiple sources in multiple frequency bands may provide several benefits to an exemplary tag. First, different frequency bands may have different regulatory restrictions in different jurisdictions, allowing a tag to supplement its energy harvesting in a second frequency band if there is insufficient power to harvest in the first frequency band. Furthermore, harvesting energy from multiple sources may also enable an exemplary tag to adjust its behavior based on the environment in which the tag is operating, including the ID signal transmitted by the transmitter 2104. In some embodiments, the top level controller 9020 of the tag may be configured to determine the type of energy received by the tag and control the operation of the transmitter 2104 based on the type of energy received. For example, the controller 9020 may be configured to determine when the antenna 2112 receives energy in at least one predetermined frequency band (e.g., energy in a frequency below 1GHz or energy in a frequency band of about 900 MHz), and based on the determination, control the transmitter 2104 to operate in the first transmission mode. Additionally or alternatively, the controller 9020 may be configured to determine when the antenna 2114 receives energy in at least one predetermined frequency band (e.g., energy in a frequency band of about 2.4 GHz), and based on the determination, control the transmitter 2104 to operate in the second transmission mode. Additionally or alternatively, the controller 9020 may be configured to determine when the EAS coil 2110 receives energy in at least one predetermined frequency band (e.g., energy in a frequency band between 7-13MHz and/or energy in a frequency band between 58-60 kHz), and based on the determination, control the transmitter 2104 to operate in the third transmission mode. Advantageously, the tag may be configured to identify its environment based on the frequency of the incident energy and adjust its behavior, including control parameters of the transmitter 2104, according to the identified environment.

In some embodiments, the exemplary tag may be configured to store energy locally (e.g., in the energy storage circuit 2108), and in some embodiments transmit only its unique ID signal (rather than, for example, a signal having a large amount of data). This can reduce the amount of power required to operate the transmitter, as well as the overall digital content of the tag, to a much lower level than existing battery-operated devices. For example, an exemplary tag may consume approximately 500 μa or less in an active state (e.g., when the transmitter 2104 transmits one or more signals), and may only require idle current on the order of nanoamperes. Additionally or alternatively, the exemplary tag may be configured to power the transmitter 2104 to actively transmit an unsynchronized Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signal at about-10 dBm using only the harvested energy without requiring a battery or other power source. The foregoing examples are for non-limiting illustration only. It is also within the scope of the present disclosure to use significantly more or less energy in the device.

Advantageously, the low level of required power may enable the transmitter 2104 of the tag to achieve a transmission range of 10 meters or more, and in embodiments where the tag transmits an asynchronous BLE signal, the tag's transmission signal may be received more reliably than the signal transmitted by the RFID device. This is mainly because backscatter receiving technology is used in RFID protocols, which is more sensitive to environmental interference, reflection and blocking than other communication protocols such as BLE. For example, in some embodiments, a reader receiving transmissions of an exemplary wireless communication tag may achieve a receiver sensitivity level between-93 and-96 dBm, which is about 10dB better than existing RFID reader chips.

Fig. 11 is a network diagram of an exemplary wireless identification system 11000 configured to be used with wireless identification tag 1100. By way of example, the wireless identification system 11000 may be established within, or otherwise associated with, at least one retail location. The system 11000 can include a network 11002 that can enable data and/or information exchange between elements of the system (such as one or more processors 11004, one or more data structures 11006, one or more user devices 11008, and one or more receivers 11300 a-g). The network 11002 may include any type of wired and/or wireless computer network arrangement configured to exchange data.

In some embodiments, the system 11000 can include at least one processor 11004 configured to: receive, store, and process information related to wireless identification tag 1100; receiving and executing queries and searches; in communication with a database (e.g., one or more data structures 11006) and/or a network; relaying information to the user (e.g., via one or more user devices 11008); providing a notification; and/or provide a warning, etc. The at least one processor 11004 may include any physical device or group of devices having circuitry to perform logical operations on one or more inputs, such as an Integrated Circuit (IC), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a microchip, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, all or part of a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a server, a virtual server, or other circuitry suitable for performing instructions or performing logical operations. The instructions executed by the at least one processor 11004 may, for example, be preloaded into memory integrated with or embedded in the controller, or may be stored in a separate memory, such as one or more data structures 11006.

The wireless identification system 11000 may include at least one data structure 11006. In some disclosed embodiments, the data structure 11006 may include at least one database, such as a local database, regional database, or global database for storing local information related to a particular facility or store. The data structure 11006 may be configured to store data including, but not limited to: information related to an electronic tag (such as wireless tag 1100), an encrypted tag ID, information of a product corresponding to or associated with the particular tag 1100, a product location, ownership history, transaction history, owner information, manufacturer information, a decrypted tag ID of the particular tag 1100, an encryption key associated with the particular tag 1100, an inventory of a plurality of wireless tags 1100, a tag ID of a plurality of wireless tags 1100, or a product ID associated with each tag ID. The information stored in the data structures 11006 may be accessed by the one or more processors 11004 directly or indirectly through the network 11002.

The wireless identification system 11000 can include a plurality of receivers 11300a-h configured to receive broadcasts of signals from the wireless tag 1100 and exchange data and/or information with the network 11002. The receivers 11300a-h can be configured to receive one or more identification signals from the tag 1100 and transmit data of the received identification signals (e.g., a tag ID specified by the identification signal and/or a strength or power level of the signal) to the network 11002. In some embodiments, and as discussed above, the receivers 11300a-h may also be configured as actuators for delivering energy to be collected and stored by the wireless tag 1100. However, one of ordinary skill will appreciate that the exemplary system 11000 may include a receiver/exciter device (such as device 1124), a separate receiver device and exciter device, or any desired combination thereof.

The wireless identification system 11000 can include at least one user device 11008 configured for wired and/or wireless communication with the network 11002. The user device 11008 may include a cellular telephone, smart phone, tablet, desktop, laptop, PDA, handheld scanner, wearable device, or other mobile computing device with a computer program (an example of an application) for controlling the operation of the device 11008. The user device 11008 may be configured to receive user input and transmit a corresponding signal to the network 11002. Additionally or alternatively, the user device 11008 may include at least one user interface 11010 configured to output a notification signal (such as an audible signal, a visual signal, a haptic signal, or another sensory signal) to the user; examples of the user interface 11010 may include a display screen or a speaker.

For example, a user may create a query about a particular product in a retail location by scanning wireless tag 1100 associated with the product using device 11008. The user device 11008 may transmit a query to the processor 11004 via the network 11002. The processor 11004 may then perform a lookup and locate information related to the scanned tag 1100 in the data structure 11006; the information may include, for example, the size and color of the product, price data, location within the retail location, manufacturing history, washing instructions, product images, or any other characteristics of the product. Information related to the scanned tag 1100 may be transmitted to the user device 11008 via the network 11002 and output to the user via the user interface 11010.

Fig. 12 is a block diagram of components in a wireless identification tag 1100 for harvesting and storing environmental energy. As discussed above, the wireless tag 1100 may include an energy storage circuit 2108 having a storage capacitor 10300 configured to store ambient energy harvested by the tag 1100. Tag 1100 may also include 900MHz harvester 9012 configured to harvest energy in a frequency band of about 900MHz WW ISM (e.g., an ultra high frequency RFID frequency band between 860MHz and 960 MHz). Additionally or alternatively, tag 1100 may include a 2.4GHz harvester 9014 configured to harvest energy in a frequency band of about 2.4GHz WW ISM (e.g., about 2.45GHz environment and intentional energy sources such as bluetooth and Wi-Fi). The storage capacitor 10300 can be electrically connected to the 900MHz harvester 9012 and the 2.4GHz harvester 9014 through the circuitry illustrated in fig. 12 in order to store the environmental energy received by those harvesters. Although shown as a single capacitor in fig. 12, there may be multiple storage capacitors for storing ambient energy.

Tag 1100 may additionally include transfer capacitors 12100 and 12102 disposed between 900MHz collector 9012 and energy storage circuitry 2108, and transfer capacitors 12104 and 12106 disposed between 2.4GHz collector 9014 and energy storage circuitry 2108. Transfer capacitors 12100-12106 may also be configured to collect and store environmental energy captured by tag 1100. At least one of the transfer capacitors 12100-12106 may have a lower capacitance than the storage capacitor 10300: in some embodiments, the capacitance of at least one of transfer capacitors 12100-12106 may be less than 1nF (e.g., less than 100 pF), while storage capacitor 10300 may be configured to have a capacitance of at least 10nF (e.g., at least 100 nF).

In various embodiments, the circuitry depicted in fig. 12 may interconnect collectors 9012 and 9014, storage capacitor 10300, and transfer capacitors 12100-12106 in such a way that ambient energy collected by either of collectors 9012 and 9014 may be initially stored in at least one of transfer capacitors 12100-12106, and subsequently transferred to and stored in storage capacitor 10300. In some embodiments, about 900MHz of ambient energy may be collected by collector 9012 and initially stored in one or both of transfer capacitors 12100 and 12102. For example, transfer capacitor 12100 may collect ambient energy until it is full, and then transfer capacitor 12102 may begin collecting ambient energy. Alternatively, transfer capacitors 12100 and 12102 may take turns collecting ambient energy. The operation of transfer capacitors 12104 and 12106 may be substantially similar to the operation of transfer capacitors 12100 and 12102, and may also take turns to collect ambient energy. Thus, in various embodiments, transfer capacitors 12100-12106 can be configured to temporarily store ambient energy harvested in the form of electrical energy, and storage capacitor 10300 can be configured as a main memory of the ambient energy harvested in the form of electrical energy.

In some embodiments, tag 1100 may include an inductor 12140 interconnecting storage capacitor 10300 and transfer capacitors 12100-12106. The inductor 12140, storage capacitor 10300, and transfer capacitors 12100-12106 may be interconnected by a series of switches configured to connect/disconnect these components from one another. As illustrated in fig. 12, the tag 1100 may include: switches 12120 and 12122 configured to connect the 900MHz collector 9012 to one of the transfer capacitors 12100 and 12102; switches 12124 and 12126 configured to connect the 2.4GHz collector 9014 to one of the transfer capacitors 12104 and 12106; switches 12130 and 12132 configured to connect the inductor 12140 to one of transfer capacitors 12100, 12102, 12104, and 12106; and a switch 12134 configured to connect/disconnect the inductor 12140 to/from the storage capacitor 10300.

Switches 12130 and 12132 may connect transfer capacitors 12100-12106 and inductor 12140 during the period in which ambient energy collected in the transfer capacitors is being transferred for storage in storage capacitor 10300. At the end of the transfer period, switches 12130 and 12132 may disconnect the transfer capacitor from inductor 12140 to prevent energy from flowing back to the transfer capacitor. The end of the transfer period may be based on the LC characteristics of the transfer capacitors 12100-12106 and the inductor 12140, timed such that when the transfer period ends, most of the energy from the transfer capacitors 12100-12106 has already flowed to the inductor 12140.

Including the inductor 12140 connected by the aforementioned switch as a medium between the transfer capacitors 12100-12106 and the storage capacitor 10300, can alleviate the problem of unwanted energy discharge by helping to isolate the storage capacitor 10300. For example, in the absence of inductor 12140, energy from one capacitor (e.g., storage capacitor 10300) would flow to another capacitor (e.g., at least one of transfer capacitors 12100-12106) until the voltage of the capacitors equalizes. This situation results in inefficient energy storage because the voltage of the storage capacitor 10300 will be limited by the voltage of at least one of the transfer capacitors 12100-12106, which in turn will limit the amount of energy that the storage capacitor 10300 can store (because if the voltage of the storage capacitor is higher than the transfer capacitor, energy will flow from the storage capacitor and into the transfer capacitor to equalize the voltage). By providing an inductor 12140, different energy transfer mechanisms may occur.

In some embodiments, the inductor 12140 and the storage capacitor 10300, when connected together, may form a harmonic oscillator such that energy of the storage capacitor 10300 may flow as oscillations between the inductor and the capacitor when the switch 12134 is closed. With oscillation, switch 12134 can be timed to disconnect inductor 12140 from storage capacitor 10300 when a majority of the energy has flowed from inductor 12140 to storage capacitor 10300, thereby capturing a majority of the energy in the storage capacitor.

With this configuration, energy can be continuously transferred from the transfer capacitors 12100-12106 to the storage capacitor 10300 even though the storage capacitor has a higher voltage level than the transfer capacitor. The inductor 12130 may be connected to a storage capacitor 10300 via a switch 12134. When switches 12130 and 12132 connect inductor 12140 to any of transfer capacitors 12100-12106, the energy stored in these capacitors can be transferred to inductor 12140 through careful switching timing via oscillation as previously described. Similarly, inductor 12140 may then transfer its energy to storage capacitor 10300 via oscillation.

According to some embodiments, wireless identification tag 1100 may include at least one circuit configured to generate control signals to command the switching operations of switches 12120-12126, 12130/12132, and 12134. The foregoing circuit may be designed to generate control signals with specific timing such that ambient energy may be transferred from collectors 9012 and 9014 to transfer capacitors 12100-12106, then to inductor 12140, and then to storage capacitor 10300.

Fig. 13A is a perspective view of a retail location that may contain a plurality of items 13210, each of which may be secured to or otherwise associated with a wireless tag 1100. Within this exemplary venue, there may be one or more locations designated for a particular purpose, such as the storage and/or display of a particular item or the convenience of other activities related to venue operation. For example, a venue may include shelves 13250 and shelves 13240 that are designated for storing and/or displaying particular items, such as particular items of apparel. The venue may also include other locations, such as fitting room 13230, that are not associated with the storage and/or display of items, but that enable the customer to perform certain activities within the venue, such as fitting different clothing items. The disclosed embodiments may provide systems (such as wireless identification system 11000 in fig. 11) and methods that enable, for example, identification and purchase of a particular item 13210.

Fig. 13B-13D depict exemplary modes of operation of the wireless communication tag within the retail space illustrated in fig. 13A. It should be understood that the subject matter discussed below is merely exemplary and should not be considered limiting. The principles discussed below apply to many of the other platforms listed above. Fig. 13B illustrates a tag 1100 operating in a first mode (examples of which may include a store mode) referred to herein as an "infrastructure energizable mode". Fig. 13C illustrates a tag 1100 operating in a second mode referred to herein as a "user-actuatable mode," an example of which may include an internet of things (IoT) mode. Fig. 13D illustrates a tag 1100 operating in a third mode, referred to herein as a "door mode".

The tag 1100 may be configured to operate in the infrastructure-energizable mode of fig. 13B when the tag is energized by an ambient exciter, such as exciter 13400 disposed throughout the venue. For example, in this mode, the location of goods stored or presented for sale may track their inventory. Each tag on each item may broadcast an ID to let the system know that it is still present in the venue. Position tracking may also enhance such systems to track not only the presence of items, but also their position. For example, the intensity of the received ID signal may indicate the approximate location of the item relative to a particular receiver, or multiple receptions may be used to identify a more accurate location based on, for example, triangulation. Additional information stored in the system database may provide additional value to the user. For example, a history of movement or ownership of the item may be stored in a database along with characteristics of the item. Thus, the transmission of a single ID from a tag may provide a user with rich information when combined with pre-stored data about the item. In some embodiments, additional characteristic data may be stored on the tag for transmission.

Although fig. 13B shows only a single exciter, the tag 1100 may be powered by multiple exciters simultaneously. The exciter 13400 (including, for example, exciter 13400 d) can be configured to deliver energy 13118a to the tag in an RFID band between 860-960 MHz. Additionally or alternatively, the tag 1100 may receive energy from other sources having a frequency of about 900 MHz. Energy 13118a may be received by antenna 2112 and may be stored in energy storage circuitry 2108 to power operation of the tag.

When the infrastructure activatable mode is triggered, the tag 1100 may control the transmitter 2104 to broadcast the tag's ID signal 13102 in a frequency band of about 2.4GHz at a low repetition period. For example, the tag may transmit the ID signal 13102 with a minimum repetition period of 10 minutes, plus a random period of up to five minutes, resulting in an average of broadcasting once every 12.5 minutes. Alternatively, the repetition period of the tag may be longer or shorter (e.g., less than five minutes, hours, or days). In some cases, the transmission of the ID signal 13102 may have a duration of about 300 μs; however, in alternative embodiments, the transmission duration may be longer or shorter.

In the example illustrated in fig. 13A-13D, a plurality of receivers 11300a-h may be disposed throughout the venue and configured to receive broadcasts of the ID signal 13102 from all wireless communication tags within or proximate to the venue. Because the transmitter 2104 may have a broadcast range of 10 meters or more (e.g., 15 meters or more in some cases), the transmitted ID signal 13102 may be received by multiple receivers 11300e and 11300f in some cases, thereby reducing the probability of signal false detection. In other cases, one receiver may receive a broadcast of the ID signal 13102. When the receiver receives the ID signal 13102 from the tag, the signal may be relayed to one or more processors (such as an on-premise processor and/or remote platform server) for processing, analysis, and/or storage. As discussed above, the exemplary system may additionally or alternatively include one or more receiver/exciter devices, such as device 1124, which may be configured to deliver energy 13118a (similar to exciter 13400) to the wireless communication tag and receive a broadcast of ID signal 13102 (similar to receiver 11300) from the wireless communication tag; that is, device 1124 can act as both an exciter and a receiver. In some alternative embodiments (such as the embodiment illustrated in fig. 13A), the exciter 13400 and the receiver 11300 may be configured as separate devices.

In embodiments where multiple wireless identification tags are used within the same venue, three or more channels (between 2.400-2.4835GHz WW ISM) in the BLE standard may be used for the tags to broadcast their respective ID signals to the receivers. For example, each tag may randomly select one of the three advertisement channels in each transmission, or two of the three advertisement channels in each transmission, or between one and three of the three advertisement channels in each transmission. This use of multiple channels, combined with the short duration and low repetition period of each signal transmission, may minimize the possibility of collisions between different tag transmissions. Furthermore, each tag can conserve harvested energy in infrastructure-excitable mode due to the infrequent signal transmissions and the small amount of power required for each transmission.

The tag 1100 may be configured to operate in the user-actuatable mode of fig. 13C when the tag receives energy from an ambient and intentional 2.4GHz source, such as bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices. In some embodiments, a user may trigger a user-actuatable mode in the tag 1100 associated with the tagged article 13210 by scanning the tag with a 2.4GHz device, such as a smart phone, tablet, or any other user device 11008 configured to transmit a 2.4GHz trigger signal 13118b to the tag. This may permit a user to receive information about the item 13210 based on a scan of the item tag. For example, when a scan occurs, the ID may be transmitted to a server (e.g., via a network infrastructure or via a receiver/transmitter in a user-controlled device). The server may then perform a lookup of the information and transmit it to the user's device. The user may be able to define the type of information requested to customize the output according to the user's needs. In alternative embodiments, the relevant data may already be stored on the user's device and the lookup may occur on the user's device rather than being sent to a server for analysis.

In the example shown in fig. 13C, a user may activate a user-actuatable mode in tag 1100 within a retail location (e.g., using user device 11008); however, the user-actuatable mode may be triggered in other locations and environments, such as when a user scans items (or item shelves in their closet) at home using their smart phone, or during a manual inventory scan (e.g., in a warehouse or other storage facility).

When the user-actuatable mode is triggered, tag 1100 may collect incident 2.4GHz energy to charge energy storage circuit 2108. Additionally, when the tag 1100 determines that 2.4GHz energy is received by the antenna 2114, the transmitter 2104 may transmit the ID signal 13102 in a frequency band of about 2.4 GHz. However, the beacon controller 9030 may adjust the repetition period of the ID signal to be much faster than the repetition period of the ID signal in the infrastructure activatable mode. For example, the transmitter 2104 may broadcast the ID signal 13102 (signal duration approximately 300 μs) less than 10 seconds after the antenna 2114 receives the 2.4GHz signal 13118 b. Alternatively, longer or shorter repetition periods may be implemented in the user-actuatable mode. By implementing a shorter response period in the user-actuatable mode, the tag may provide a prompt response to the user when the user-actuatable mode is triggered; in contrast, in infrastructure energizable mode, such hint responses may not be required. In some embodiments, the beacon controller 9030 may also reduce transmission power when the tag enters the user-actuatable mode from the infrastructure-actuatable mode in order to minimize interference opportunities with other devices concurrently operating in the 2.4GHz frequency band.

In some embodiments, the tag may broadcast the ID signal 13102 back to the user device 11008 in a user-actuatable mode. Additionally or alternatively, the tag may broadcast the ID signal 13102 to one or more receivers around the venue (e.g., receiver 11300C in fig. 13C). In some embodiments, tag transmissions in user-actuatable mode may be broadcast over one of the three or more BLE channels discussed above, wherein each tag randomly selects one or more of the three channels in each transmission.

The tag 1100 may be configured to operate in the gate mode of fig. 13D when the EAS coil 2110 receives an EAS signal 13118c from the EAS gates 1112, 1114. In some embodiments, the EAS signal 13118c may have a frequency within a frequency range between 7-13MHz or within a frequency range between 58-60 kHz. EAS doors 1112, 1114 may be mounted near the exits of the venue and may emit a signal 13118c that is more localized than RFID, wi-Fi, bluetooth, or other radio frequency transmission, providing an accurate indication of when the tagged item passes the door (rather than just walking near the door). For example, instead of requiring the customer to go to a cash register or cash register, the user may be permitted to exit the store with the tagged item. The door may then read the tag and the identity of the user (such as through the user's mobile device) and send an inventory of items to be purchased to a server that looks up the price of the items and automatically charges the user's credit or debit account, or automatically transfers funds from the user's electronic wallet to the seller.

When the door mode is triggered, the beacon controller 9030 may control the transmitter 2104 to transmit a short, powerful burst of the ID signal 13102. For example, the transmitter 2104 may transmit the ID signal at its maximum output power in a period of about 200ms, with a repetition period of between 10-80ms, such that multiple transmissions occur in a very short time frame. The ID signal 13102 may be received by a dedicated receiver 11300h proximate to the EAS gate; however, due to the configuration of the EAS coil 2110 and its associated circuitry, the EAS gate itself may not be triggered by the tag 1100. In some embodiments, the tag 1100 may be configured to operate in the door mode for a predetermined length of time or for a predetermined number of transmissions of the ID signal 13102, after which it may revert to a previous mode of operation of the tag or to a default mode (which may be an infrastructure energizable mode, for example).

Fig. 14A, 14B and 14C illustrate several non-limiting examples of graphical user interfaces displayed on a user device 11008, which may be, for example, a cellular telephone. As a general example, fig. 14A is provided for discussion purposes and illustrates a user device 11008 displaying a Graphical User Interface (GUI) 14100 for conducting an inventory search by enabling a user to enter data into the GUI 14100 and activate elements such as a search button 14006. The search query may be initiated in a number of ways, such as by typing search text in a field, by scanning the wireless tag 1100 or related product with a scanner in the user device 11008, or by using a drop down menu 14200. The drop down menu may provide the user with selection options for the user to define and/or refine the search. Once the search is defined, a search button 14006 may be touched on the touch screen of the user device 11008 to initiate the search via wireless transmission to the receiver, as will be described in more detail later.

Fig. 14B illustrates a user device 11008 displaying a product search GUI 14100. A drop down menu 14200 may be provided to a user searching for a particular product or product category. Drop down menu 14200 may provide the user with various ways to search for a product by entering a brand, SKU, stock number, or model number. A submenu may appear after the initial selection. For example, if a brand drop down menu is selected, the successive submenus may include categories, products, sizes, colors, or any other product distinguishing characteristics. Product images may appear in the GUI enabling the user to select a product of interest. After the product is identified, the search button 14006 may be activated by touching.

FIG. 14C provides yet another example of a GUI having an activatable button for searching. This example addresses one common scenario: the customer physically finds a product of interest, such as an article of apparel, but the article does not conform to the customer's size. The GUI 14100 may prompt the user to enter information about the product of interest rather than searching for the correct size product endlessly. In this example, the customer (or an employee of the venue) may be prompted to take a photograph of the associated wireless tag 1100 or bar code or QR code on the product identified by the customer. The user may then be prompted via a drop down menu 14200 to enter a desired size, color, or other change in the product. After defining the search, a search button 14006 may be touched to initiate the search.

After the lookup, user device 11008 may return an alternative information source depending on the nature of the query, system design, and/or user permissions. For example, the GUI may be caused to display that the requested product is out of stock or in stock. If the product is out of stock, the GUI may identify the inventory location of the product, or may provide the ability to order the product for shipment to the customer. If the product is available, the GUI may indicate the name of another area in which the product is located. It may provide a map of the location, indicating the approximate location of the product. The GUI may provide walking directions that guide the user to the product area. In some cases, when a user approaches the location of a product, the tag 1100 associated with the product may transmit a signal directly to the user device 11008 or via an infrastructure transmitter in the venue to enable the user to lock the location of the product.

Depending on the nature of the query and the system design, the protocol used to retrieve the information may vary in response to activation of the GUI element. In various embodiments, the user device 11008 may broadcast a signal to the nearby tag 1100, and the tag 1100 may transmit its response to the user device 11008. In other embodiments, the user device 11008 may initially transmit a query to the inventory management system for initial lookup. The inventory management system may return the ID of the product that matches the query. Alternatively, if the item is out of stock, the inventory management system may provide the information for display via the GUI. If the product is in stock and a list of matching tag IDs is sent to handheld device 11008, a transmitter in device 11008, such as a 2.4GHz transmitter, may send a trigger signal to cause nearby wireless tag 1100 to send back its unique tag ID. A comparison may occur on the user device or on a remote system to identify matches and alert the user. Alternatively, the inventory management system may already have a record of where each product is located, and instead of having the user device 11008 trigger a response from the tag 1100, the user device 11008 may be alerted to the previously known location. Alternatively or additionally, the user device 11008 may transmit a signal to the inventory management system so that the system can determine the location of the user device 11008 (in the same manner as used to determine the location of the tag 1100) so that the inventory management system can more accurately direct the user to a particular location of a desired product. If the first step is unsuccessful in locating the physical product, the user device 11008 can only detect nearby tags 1100.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may relate to systems, methods, devices, and computer-readable media for electronic security and performing inventory control operations. For ease of discussion, in some cases related embodiments are described below in connection with systems or methods, it being understood that the disclosed aspects of the systems and methods apply equally to each other as well as to the devices and computer-readable media. Some aspects of the related methods may occur electronically via a wired network, a wireless network, or a network that is both. Other aspects of this method may be implemented using non-electronic means. In the broadest sense, the systems, methods, and computer-readable media disclosed herein are not limited to specific physical and/or electronic means, but may be implemented using a number of different means.

The disclosed embodiments may include an electronic security system for protecting products for sale from theft while also managing sales and inventory levels of the products. In retail establishments, such as shops and shopping centers, there is an increasing demand for "contactless" purchases, wherein customers can purchase products remotely and visit the venue to pick up the products, or wherein customers can complete the purchase in the venue without interacting with sales personnel (e.g., by completing the purchase on a smart phone, on a mobile device provided by the store, or on a stationary kiosk) and then leave the venue with the purchased products. Methods for contactless shopping are particularly popular because of the need to maintain social distance, as these methods can reduce the number of customers and employees permitted within a venue at a given time and limit interactions between customers and employees. Unfortunately, touchless shopping may also result in increased incidence of attempted theft from retail locations, as thieves may be non-terrible due to reduced sales staff and store security, and due to their normal nature of carrying goods away from the store without a conventional checkout team or cash register.

The disclosed embodiments may relate to systems, methods, and computer-readable media for protecting retail locations from theft while also enabling efficient contactless shopping practices. Embodiments may include an electronic security system for venues selling products having wireless transmission tags attached to or otherwise associated with them. Customers may purchase tagged products by interacting with wireless transmission tags using a device (such as a smart phone or store kiosk), looking up products associated therewith, accessing information about the associated products, and electronically purchasing the products. No contact with store personnel is required as the transaction can be completed using the customer's equipment. Further, completion of the transaction may result in deactivation of the burglar alarm or other burglar protection so that the customer may smoothly leave the venue with the purchased product. However, burglar alarms and other safeguards can remain active for all tagged products that have not yet been purchased. If a thief attempts to remove the product from the venue without purchasing, an attempted theft may be detected and a burglar alarm and other safeguards may be triggered accordingly. Advantageously, the disclosed embodiments may protect non-purchased products from theft while also providing a user friendly and secure device for contactless shopping.

The disclosed embodiments may include an electronic security system. As used herein, an electronic security system may refer to any arrangement of hardware and software components for detecting and/or signaling an unauthorized intrusion into an area or attempted robbery, theft, or other loss at a designated location. In some embodiments, the electronic security system may be configured to detect the concurrent signal informing a person, animal, object, or material of entry into, exit from, or entry and/or exit relative to a designated location. For example, the electronic security system may include at least one device for detecting movement of a person and/or an object, which may indicate an attempted intrusion or attempted theft of the object. Examples of devices for detecting movement may include imaging devices, microphones, passive infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors, electromagnetic or radio frequency detectors (e.g., EAS devices, RFID devices, microwave sensors, etc.), GPS, or any other suitable means for detecting movement of humans, animals, objects, or materials. The device for detecting movement may be located at one or more locations within or around the area to be protected, such as: at entrances or exits, doors, gates, windows, stairwells or elevators, storage spaces; at or near a safe, or lockbox; in the corridor; in the passage between rooms or in the door frame; at the periphery of the area to be protected; or at any other location where it is desirable to detect movement of a person and/or object to defend an area.

Additionally or alternatively, the example electronic security system may be configured to control movement of persons and objects into and/or out of a designated area in order to protect the area and persons and objects therein. For example, the electronic security system may include components for controlling movement of people and objects through the entryway and other control points; examples of such components may include an Identity (ID) reader, a door controller, a turnstile, an exit Request (REX) device, a door position switch/sensor, a locking mechanism, a password or pin code input device, or any other suitable component for controlling a person or object to pass through or enter a designated location.

In some embodiments, the electronic security system may be configured to distinguish between unauthorized or unexpected movement of a person or object (which may indicate attempted intrusion or theft) and movement that is authorized and therefore does not require warning or remedial action. For example, the electronic security system may detect movement of a person or object to an unauthorized location (e.g., through a security gate at the exit of a retail location, or into a restricted area that is not open to the public) or at an unauthorized or unplanned time (e.g., when the retail location is closed), or by an unauthorized person occupying the object. In some embodiments, the electronic security system may be configured to perform one or more actions when an attempted intrusion or theft is detected, such as initiating an alarm, contacting law enforcement or security personnel, recording an event (e.g., by recording a video or photograph), or restricting access to a designated location (e.g., by automatically closing a door, engaging a railing or other obstacle, or disabling an elevator). The electronic security system may be further configured to include other information in the alert, notification, or document related to the attempted intrusion or theft, such as the identity or inferred identity of one or more persons identified or inferred to be involved in the event, or the identification or inferred identification of one or more objects involved in the event (including but not limited to objects that are attempting to be stolen, or other objects identified or inferred to be identified during the event as not subjects of the attempted or unauthorized intrusion). The electronic security system may additionally include other elements, circuitry, circuit components, and systems that may be useful in detecting and/or signaling unauthorized intrusion or attempted robbery, theft, or theft. The electronic security system may include one or more of the foregoing elements.

In the disclosed embodiments, an electronic security system may be provided for a location where a product is provided. As used herein, a venue may include any area, building, or structure that may store or maintain an inventory of objects or materials, such as a retail venue, store, warehouse, distribution center, logistics center, fulfillment center, manufacturing area, shipping area, storage area, home, medical facility, eating location, kitchen, or any other area where tracking items may benefit. As used herein, a product may include any object or material stored or maintained within a venue, as discussed above. By way of non-limiting example, a product may include a food, a garment, footwear, an electronic product, a consumer product, equipment, a vehicle, a consumable product, a package, an accessory, a supply, a material, an artwork, an animal, an instrument, a pallet, a container, a pharmaceutical, a cosmetic, a trade product, an article, an apparatus, a machine, an appliance, a work, a tool, furniture, or any other object that may be present in a venue. In some embodiments, the venue may provide the product for sale, exchange, or exchange of goods, for display, for custody, for storage, for distribution, and/or for free gifting.

In the disclosed embodiments, the provided products may have associated wireless transmission tags. As used herein, a wireless transmission tag may include any wirelessly detectable device, such as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacon device, a device including a microcontroller powered by radio frequency energy, or any other structure configured to transmit a signal that is capable of detection. In the disclosed embodiments, the wireless transmission tag may include at least one antenna or any other component, circuit, and/or device configured to receive and/or output energy from air or from any other medium. For example, a wireless transmission tag may be configured to receive and/or output electromagnetic radiation, an electric field, a magnetic field, an acoustic signal (such as in sonar applications), or an optical signal (such as in laser applications).

As described above, the provided product may be associated with a wireless transmission tag. As used herein, "associated with …" may refer to a wireless transmission tag that may be assigned to or otherwise paired or associated with a product provided in a venue for the purpose of uniquely identifying the product. For example, the association between the wireless transmission tag and the associated product may be stored in a data structure. Information of the wireless transmission tag (e.g., a unique tag identifier such as a serial number or bar code) may be searched in the data structure and, via association between the tag and the associated product, may be used to access the information of the associated product from the data structure; the information of the associated product may include, for example, the size and color of the product, price data, location within the venue, product images, ownership information, care instructions, manufacturing time and location, or any other characteristic of the product.

In some embodiments, the wireless transmission tag may be attached to the associated product by adhesive, embedding, stitching, mounting, adhesive, friction fit, pocket-in, strapping, wrapping, fastening, or any other type of physical connection. For example, if the product is made of a fabric, the tag may be sewn into the fabric, embedded between fabric layers, adhered to the fabric, attached to the fabric via a hanging tag, or connected to the fabric in any other manner that enables physical attachment. In alternative embodiments, such as when the tag is placed in the same package as the product, an association between the wireless transmission tag and the product may be established and optionally stored in a data structure without requiring physical attachment between the tag and the product. In some embodiments, the wireless transmission tag may not require a battery, but may operate using harvested energy (as disclosed herein). In some embodiments, the wireless transmission tag may include a device small enough to be embedded in a product (e.g., a garment) during manufacturing. In some embodiments, the embedded tag may not be easily detected by the wearer. Other embodiments may remain embedded or attached to the product for extended periods of time (e.g., many years). Some embodiments of the wireless transmission tag may be resistant to dust and water, such as reaching IP67 standards. Other embodiments may be resistant to laundering, drying, dry cleaning and ironing.

By way of example, fig. 1 illustrates an electronic security system for a venue. The electronic security system of fig. 1 may include electronic transmission tags 1100a, 1100b associated with products provided for sale in a venue (such as jacket 1106 and bag 1122), and means for detecting an attempted theft of the product, which is signaled concurrently. For example, the electronic security system of fig. 1 may include: a security gate 1110, 1112 having a transmitter 1116 configured to transmit a wireless signal 1118 to the tag 1100a, 1100 b; at least one receiver/exciter device 1124 configured to receive broadcasts of signals 1102a, 1102b from tags 1100a, 1100 b; and an alarm 1114 that may be triggered upon detection of an attempted theft of at least one of the products 1106 and 1122.

As another example, fig. 13A-13D depict an electronic security system for a venue providing a product (such as shirt 13210). In the example depicted in fig. 1 and 13A-13D, products 1106, 1122, and 13210 may be provided for sale and may include articles of apparel or bags; however, one of ordinary skill will appreciate that products 1106 and 13210 may include any of the products discussed above. As shown in fig. 13A, products 13210 and other products within the venue may be associated with wireless transmission tag 1100. For example, each tagged product may be associated with a different wireless transmission tag 1100, so as to provide a unique identification of each tagged product. In some embodiments, the wireless transmission tag 1100 may be configured to receive wireless signals (such as signals 13118 a-c) and, in response, output or transmit signals (such as an ID signal 13102). The electronic security system may include: a plurality of receivers 11300a-h configured to receive broadcasts of the ID signal 13102 and other signals from the wireless transmission tag 1100; and an exciter 13400a-e configured to deliver energy to be collected and stored by the wireless transmission tag 1100. In some embodiments, the electronic security system of fig. 13A-13D may include an alarm (e.g., an alarm at or near security gates 1110, 1112) when an attempted theft of a product (e.g., product 13210) associated with electronic transmission tag 1100 is detected.

The disclosed embodiments may include inventory control operations. As used herein, inventory control operations may include systems, methods, techniques, and activities for tracking and controlling products held, stored, handled, or provided by a venue. For example, inventory control operations may include monitoring the inflow and outflow of products from a venue, as well as monitoring the location in the venue where a particular product is stored or presented for sale. Inventory control operations may also include detecting robbery or theft of unauthorized intrusion or attempts of products from the venue, and in some embodiments, taking corresponding actions, such as initiating an alarm or contacting law enforcement personnel.

The disclosed embodiments may include at least one Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) door. As used herein, an EAS door may include a surveillance or anti-theft system having at least one antenna or transmitter configured to transmit wireless signals to a security tag attached to or otherwise associated with a product brought in proximity to the EAS door. In some embodiments, and in response to receiving a wireless signal from the EAS gate, the security tag may be configured to output a second wireless signal, which may be used to trigger a burglar alarm; in some embodiments, the second wireless signal may be detected by a receiver of the EAS door or a receiver proximate to but separate from the EAS door. In some embodiments, the EAS door may include electromagnetic EAS components, acousto-magnetic (AM) components, radio Frequency (RF) components, or Microwave (MW) components, among other detection components.

In some embodiments, the antenna or transmitter of the EAS door may be incorporated within one or more pedestals located near the entrance or exit of the venue or at another designated location. For example, an EAS door may include one pedestal, two pedestals, three pedestals, or any number of pedestals based on factors including, but not limited to, distance range, space availability, customer traffic, or the type of EAS system used. If the EAS door includes more than one pedestal, the pedestals may be spaced apart a distance to allow a customer to enter and exit the venue with minimal obstruction between the pedestals while the pedestals are within close enough proximity to each other to be triggered by the passing tagged product. Additionally or alternatively, the EAS door may comprise a concealed EAS door, or an EAS door having one or more pedestals that are mounted such that they are not visible and cause minimal obstruction to the customer. For example, the base may be mounted under the floor, over the ceiling, as part of a door frame, or behind a wall. Concealed EAS systems may be used, for example, to enhance the effectiveness of surveillance, enhance the shopping experience of a customer, or enhance any other facility where it is desirable to monitor objects.

By way of example, fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary EAS gate that includes a first pedestal 1110 and a second pedestal 1112, each having a transmitter 1116 configured to transmit an EAS signal 1118 within a predetermined frequency band. The EAS signal 1118 may include electromagnetic energy having a frequency, for example, within a frequency band of 58-60kHz (AM-EAS wave) or 7-13MHz (RF-EAS wave). The EAS gates 1110, 1112 may also include an EAS receiver 1120 configured to receive wireless signals within the same frequency band as the EAS signal 1118. For example, the EAS receiver 1120 may receive a signal transmitted by an EAS security tag that is brought into proximity with the EAS gates 1110, 1112 and triggered by the EAS signal 1118. Upon receiving a wireless signal in the same frequency band as the EAS signal 1118, the EAS receiver 1120 may trigger an alarm 1114, thereby indicating that the tagged product is passing through the EAS gates 1110, 1112.

In some embodiments, an exemplary wireless transmission tag 1100 (such as tags 1100a and 1100 b) may be configured to receive an EAS signal 1118 when a product associated with the tag passes through EAS gates 1110, 1112. For example, electromagnetic energy of the EAS signal 1118 may be received by the coil 2110 of the wireless transmission tag 1100, thereby activating or triggering the tag. Once activated, the wireless transmission tag 1100 may transmit an ID signal 1102 with the transmitter 2104. The ID signal 1102 may have a different frequency than the EAS signal 1118 (e.g., the ID signal 1102 may have a frequency of about 2.4GHz, while the EAS signal may be in the frequency band between 58-60kHz or 7-13 MHz). In some embodiments, the EAS receiver 1120 may not be triggered by the ID signal 1102 because the ID signal 1102 may be outside of the designated frequency band of the EAS receiver 1120. In some embodiments, the wireless transmission tag 1100 may not generate any signal or interfere with any signal generated by the EAS gate 1110, 1120 such that the tag is not detectable by the EAS gate receiver 1120. Alternatively, another receiver 1124 may be provided that is configured to receive the ID signal 1102 and take one or more corresponding actions, such as activating an alarm or transmitting a signal to at least one processor to complete an electronic purchase of the tagged product 1106 or 1122.

The disclosed embodiments may include at least one receiver. As used herein, a receiver may include circuitry configured to receive signals transmitted over a communication medium. The signals may carry data (as in the case of a communication system such as Wi-Fi, bluetooth, cellular communication, ethernet communication or any other standard or proprietary protocol based) or just energy (as in the case of an exciter for RFID, X-ray imaging or radar). The term "receiver" may refer to a receiver in the context of wireless communications such that a signal may comprise an electrical, magnetic or electromagnetic signal; the medium may be over-the-air wireless communication; and the signals may carry some form of data in accordance with an agreed upon communication protocol. The receiver may include a stationary receiver in an environment, a wireless user device (e.g., a cellular telephone, a tablet, dedicated hardware, etc.), a handheld receiver (e.g., a handheld scanner provided by a venue to an employee or customer for use during a work routine or shopping session), or any other circuit or component that receives signals.

In some embodiments, at least one receiver may include an antenna tuned to receive electromagnetic energy within a specified frequency band. Additionally, the at least one receiver may be configured to transmit electromagnetic energy within a specified frequency band. For example, the at least one receiver may include a transceiver, a router, a diplexer, or any other device configured to transmit and receive signals. In the disclosed embodiments, at least one receiver may be configured to receive transmissions from a wireless transmission tag as well as from other devices configured to transmit wireless or wired signals. The disclosed embodiments may include one or more receivers secured at designated locations within the venue; for example, the receivers may be distributed throughout the venue such that signals transmitted from any point within the venue may be received by at least one of the receivers. Additionally or alternatively, embodiments may include one or more mobile receivers (e.g., wireless user devices or handheld receivers) that may be placed by a user at a desired location within a venue.

For example, fig. 13A-13D depict an exemplary electronic security system that includes multiple receivers 11300a-h distributed throughout a venue to receive broadcasts of signals from wireless tags 1100 and other transmitting devices. The receivers 11300a-h can be attached or otherwise attached to a wall, ceiling, shelf, display, or any other fixture or component within the venue capable of supporting the receivers. As shown in fig. 13B, the receivers 11300a-h may be configured to receive transmissions of the ID signal 13102 from the wireless transmission tag 1100. Each receiver 11300a-h can include at least one of a first antenna 2112 tuned to receive energy (e.g., RFID signals) at a frequency of about 900MHz and a second antenna 2114 tuned to receive energy (e.g., wi-Fi, bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), or classical bluetooth) at a frequency of about 2.4 GHz. As shown in fig. 11, the receivers 11300a-h can be configured to receive data transmissions from the wireless transmission tag 1100 and transmit the data to other components of the wireless identification system 11000 via the network 11002.

The disclosed embodiments may include at least one processor as described elsewhere in this disclosure. The disclosed embodiments may include receiving transmissions from a plurality of wireless transmission tags. As discussed above, transmissions from a wireless transmission tag may be received by at least one receiver. Additionally or alternatively, the transmission may be received by another component of the electronic security system.

The disclosed embodiments may include receiving a particular tag ID for a particular tag. For example, the at least one processor may be configured to receive a particular tag ID of a particular tag. The tag ID may include information of a given one of the wireless transmission tags that identifies the tag to the user and/or to other devices or device components. The tag ID may include numbers, letters, characters, codes, strings, or other forms of data that may identify the wireless transmission tag to other devices or device components that receive the tag ID. In some embodiments, the tag ID may be unique to a particular tag, and the particular tag may have only one tag ID. Alternatively, the same tag may have a plurality of tag IDs. In some embodiments, multiple tags may share the same tag ID or ID group. Examples of tag IDs may include serial numbers, part numbers, bar codes, UUIDs, EPCs, and/or other data.

In some embodiments, a particular label may be associated with a particular product for intended purchase from a venue. That is, a particular tag ID may be associated with a particular one of the wireless transmission tags, which in turn is associated with a particular product that is expected to be purchased from the venue. As discussed above, "associated with …" may mean that a particular one of the wireless transmission tags (hereinafter referred to as a "particular tag") may be assigned to or otherwise paired with a particular product provided in the venue. The association between the particular tag and the particular product may be stored in a data structure such that information of one of the particular tag and the particular product may be used to access information of the other from the data structure. In some embodiments, the particular product may be a product offered by a venue to purchase, rent, or otherwise borrow (free or charged). Additionally or alternatively, the particular product may be a product that the customer has decided to purchase and for which the customer is transacting to purchase, rent, or otherwise borrow the particular product from the venue.

The disclosed embodiments may include receiving a particular tag ID from a device operated by a prospective purchaser. For example, the at least one processor may be configured to receive a particular tag ID from a device operated by a prospective purchaser. As used herein, a prospective purchaser may include a customer initiating or executing a transaction to purchase, rent, or otherwise borrow a particular product from a venue. Additionally or alternatively, the prospective purchaser may include a venue employee who may perform transactions on behalf of the purchaser, in whole or in part; examples may include in-store buyers or cashiers. Additionally or alternatively, the prospective purchaser may include any individual authorized to perform the transaction on behalf of the purchaser, in whole or in part; examples may include a buyer hired via a service or application such as Instacart, shipt and Stitch Fix. In some embodiments, the particular tag ID may be received from a device operated by the prospective purchaser after the particular tag ID is detected by the device. For example, the prospective purchaser may use the device to capture or scan the tag ID or a portion thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the prospective purchaser may enter the particular tag ID, or portion thereof, into the device via a keyboard, microphone, mouse, or other user input mechanism. Additionally or alternatively, the prospective purchaser can select a tag ID on a website or application associated with the venue using the device. Additionally or alternatively, the prospective purchaser may use the device to trigger the particular tag to transmit its ID, and the ID transmission is received by the device or by other means, such as receivers 11300a-h, which then relay the ID of the particular tag to the device. After obtaining the particular tag ID, the device may transmit the particular tag ID to the at least one processor.

Fig. 13C illustrates an example in which a prospective purchaser operates a user device 11008 to detect a tag ID of a wireless transmission tag 1100 attached to a product provided for purchase from a venue. In this example, the user device 11008 may include a smart phone or another device with a camera that the purchaser may use to detect (e.g., photograph or scan) the tag ID. As shown in fig. 11, the user device 11008 may transmit a tag ID to the at least one processor 11004 via the network 11002.

In some embodiments, the device operated by the prospective purchaser may comprise a personal mobile communications device of the prospective purchaser. Exemplary personal mobile communication devices may include cellular telephones, smart phones, tablets, desktops, laptops, PDAs, handheld scanners, wearable devices, or other mobile communication devices. For example, fig. 13C illustrates an embodiment in which a prospective purchaser operates a user device 11008 (e.g., a smart phone) to detect a particular tag ID.

Additionally or alternatively, the device operated by the prospective purchaser may be associated with a kiosk in the venue. As used herein, a kiosk may include a small, self-contained structure with a computer terminal or another input device that a customer may use to access information and make purchases from a venue. In some embodiments, the kiosk may include a structure that is fixed to prevent movement, such as a terminal connected to the floor or a touch screen mounted on a wall. Additionally or alternatively, the kiosks may be configured to move about the venue such that the kiosks may be placed, for example, in a high traffic area, near an exit or customer service desk, outside a fitting room, or at any other desired location. In some embodiments, the kiosk may be fully automated such that customers may use the kiosk without input or assistance from employees at the venue. For example, FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary venue having a kiosk 16010 that includes a computer terminal with a touch screen or other user input mechanism that a customer can use to access information about the venue and products sold therein and complete a purchase transaction. Other examples of kiosks may include self-checkout counters, fully or partially enclosed booths, cubicles, workstations, or any other device operable by customers to access information from a venue or purchase products.

The disclosed embodiments may include receiving (e.g., by at least one processor) a particular tag ID and other data from a device operated by a prospective purchaser via one or more communication protocols or techniques. For example, the particular tag ID may be received from a device operated by the prospective purchaser via a local Wi-Fi connection in the venue or by any other standard or proprietary based communication protocol. In some embodiments, both the at least one processor and the device operated by the prospective purchaser (hereinafter referred to as the purchaser's device) may be connected to a local Wi-Fi network in the venue such that data such as a particular tag ID may be transmitted between the device and the at least one processor via the Wi-Fi network. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one processor and the purchaser's device may be connected and configured for data transmission via other protocols, such as bluetooth, cellular communication, ethernet, ADSL/VDSL/SDSL wired protocols, GSM, 3G, LTE, 5G, zigBee, Z-wave wireless protocols, proprietary protocols agreed upon by the transmitter and receiver, or any other suitable medium for transmitting data, such as a specific tag ID, between the purchaser's device and the at least one processor.

In the disclosed embodiments, the particular tag ID may be received from a device operated by a prospective purchaser via a wired Local Area Network (LAN) connection. As used herein, a wired LAN may include a network of processors and peripherals within a local area that are physically linked together via, for example, ethernet cables and switches. In some embodiments, both the at least one processor and the purchaser's device may have a hardwired connection to the LAN (e.g., an ethernet or other network cable may be plugged into both devices). Additionally or alternatively, the at least one processor may have a wired connection to an access point or router that may establish a wireless connection with the purchaser's device. The purchaser's device may transmit the particular tag ID and other data to at least one processor via an access point or router. Additionally or alternatively, both the at least one processor and the purchaser's device may be configured to access the wired LAN via a wireless connection to an access point or router of the wired LAN. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may include an on-premise processor, such as a computing device, kiosk, or handheld device or scanner provided by the premise to an employee or customer at a cash register or cash register for use during a work routine or in a shopping session. Thus, the at least one processor may be configured to connect to the purchaser's device via the LAN, as both devices are located within or near the venue.

In the example shown in fig. 11, the network 11002 may include a Local Area Network (LAN) that provides a connection between the processor 11004 and the user device 11008. In some embodiments, both the processor 11004 and the user device 11008 may have a hardwired connection (e.g., an ethernet or other network cable connection) to the network 11002. Additionally or alternatively, the network 11002 may include a wired access point or router to which the processor 11004 may have a hardwired connection and with which the user device 11008 may establish a wireless connection. The user device 11008 may thus transmit data (e.g., a particular tag ID) to the processor 11004 via the access point or router.

Additionally or alternatively, the particular tag ID may be received from a device operated by the prospective purchaser via a Wide Area Network (WAN) connection. As used herein, a WAN may include a communication network formed of a collection of local area networks and/or other networks such that the WAN is not tied to a particular geographic area, but rather extends over a large geographic area, or in some embodiments is a global network. The WAN may be implemented using any suitable communications or networking technology including ATM, cable modem, dial-up internet, DSL, fiber optic, frame relay, ISDN, leased line, wireless network, cellular network, virtual Private Network (VPN), SONET/SDH, and x.25.

By way of example, fig. 17 depicts a Wide Area Network (WAN) 17310 for connecting to Local Area Networks (LANs) in different geographic regions. In this example, the WAN 17310 may connect multiple sites 17312, 17314, and 17316, each of which may have a wired or wireless LAN for local communication, as discussed above. For example, in some embodiments, each of sites 17312, 17314, and 17316 may have its own local network configured as network 11002 of fig. 11; as shown in fig. 11, each network 11002 may include, for example, at least one processor 11004, one or more data structures 11006, receivers 11300a-11300g, and user device 11008 (see fig. 11). In some embodiments, a company or other entity having multiple locations may use the WAN 17310 to provide communications between various sites 17312, 17314, and 17316, as well as additional sites, such as business offices 17318, banks or digital wallet platforms 17320, remote or cloud data storage structures 17322, and other locations 17324, such as customers' homes or companies, schools, universities, libraries, government buildings, or any other location from which access to a business network may be sought. In various embodiments, the at least one processor and the purchaser's device may be located in different locations (as a non-limiting example, the purchaser's device may operate within the venue 17312, and the at least one processor may be located within the business office 17318). Data including a particular tag ID may be transmitted between the purchaser's device and the at least one processor via the WAN 17310.

The disclosed embodiments may include accessing a data structure containing a plurality of tag IDs associated with a plurality of products in a venue. For example, the at least one processor may be configured to access a data structure containing a plurality of tag IDs associated with a plurality of products in the venue. As used herein, a data structure may include an ordered or unordered storage of information stored in a computer-accessible form on a readable and writable medium. Some non-limiting examples include databases, spreadsheets, directories, tables, and other data types. The data structure may be designed to enable targeted retrieval of data portions or individual records according to various criteria and at different aggregation levels. Such a search or query may include searching a single stored information, searching for specific information associated with known information in a data structure, searching for pieces of information sharing some characteristics, and so forth. Data structures designed to allow querying and retrieving information may define standard interfaces including media, tunnels, or protocols through which query and return responses are received, as well as languages, formats, applications, or other definitions of the structure and content of the query and the structure and content of the response. Such interfaces (e.g., APIs) enable a person, entity, or device that has access to the interface and knowledge of the format of the query and response to retrieve information from the data structure. Such a person, entity or device, referred to as a requestor, may need to provide some form of credentials, login, certificate or identification in order to determine whether the requestor is authorized to access information stored in the data structure. Such authorization data may be generic to the entire data structure, or it may be specific to each and every piece of stored information, or specific to specific characteristics and properties of the entire data structure, but not to other specific characteristics and properties.

In some embodiments, the data structure may maintain a record including: products provided in the venue, wireless transmission tags associated with the venue, tag IDs of the wireless transmission tags, associations between the products and the tags, and location data for the products and/or the tags. Each tag ID (and corresponding wireless transmission tag) may be associated with at least one of the products provided in the venue. In some embodiments, each tag ID of the plurality of tag IDs in the data structure may be different from each other tag ID in the data structure. Additionally or alternatively, each tag ID of the plurality of tag IDs in the data structure may be associated with a single product, and vice versa. Thus, each tag ID may uniquely identify both the corresponding wireless transmission tag and the associated product within the venue. In some embodiments, additional information may also be stored in the data structure. For example, information of a wireless transmission tag (e.g., power level of tag, manufacturing information, etc.) and information of a plurality of products in a venue (e.g., size and color of each product, price data, serial number or unique identifier of each product, lot number, manufacturing and/or shipping history, or any other information about the product) associated with each tag ID of the plurality of tag IDs may also be stored within and accessed from the data structure. The association (i.e., pairing or correlation) between the tag ID and the associated product may be stored in a data structure such that the tag ID may be used to access information of the associated product from the data structure and vice versa.

As an example, fig. 11 depicts a processor 11004 that may access a data structure 11006 via a network 11002; multiple tag IDs (and optionally additional information as discussed above) may be stored in data structure 11006. As another example, fig. 17 illustrates a remote data storage structure 17322 that can be accessed via the WAN 17310; multiple tag IDs (and optionally additional information as discussed above) may be stored in the data structure 17322. Thus, a processor configured to access the WAN 17310 (e.g., a processor within the venue 17312 or business office 17318) may access the tag ID from the data structure 17322 via the WAN 17310.

The disclosed embodiments may include performing a lookup in a data structure for a particular tag ID. For example, the at least one processor may be configured to perform a lookup for a particular tag ID in the data structure, and the data structure may be configured to receive, process, and respond to such lookup requests. The at least one processor may initiate a search for a particular tag ID from among the tag IDs stored in the data structure. Once a particular tag ID is found in the data structure, embodiments may include identifying the particular product. For example, the processor may use the stored association between the product and the tag to identify the particular product associated with the particular tag ID. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may access stored information for a particular product from a data structure. In various embodiments, the at least one processor may transmit information of the particular tag ID and/or information of the particular product to the purchaser's device.

The disclosed embodiments may include initiating an electronic purchase transaction. For example, the at least one processor may be configured to initiate an electronic purchase transaction. As used herein, an electronic purchase transaction may include an economic transaction in which a party (seller) provides a product or service (purchased product) to a second party (buyer) and the second party provides compensation (currency, a currency equivalent asset, another product or service, or a promise to provide such compensation at some future time) in return. Electronic purchase transactions may also include transferring ownership, possession, or any other benefit of physical, personal, tangible, or intangible properties between parties in exchange for monetary payments or other valuations, the transactions being performed by a processor such as a computer, tablet, smart phone, cloud computing platform, or any other suitable electronic processing device, component, or unit. In the disclosed embodiments, an electronic purchase transaction may be initiated (e.g., by at least one processor) for electronic purchase of a particular product. For example, an electronic purchase transaction may be performed between a prospective purchaser and a venue: the prospective purchaser may obtain the particular product from the venue by sales, rentals, negotiations, mortgage, stay, gift, or any voluntary transaction in exchange for a monetary payment or other price for the particular product to the venue.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor may be configured to initiate an electronic purchase transaction for the particular product based on receiving the particular tag ID from the purchaser's device. That is, the electronic purchase transaction may be triggered (i.e., initiated) by the receipt of the particular tag ID and subsequent lookup of the particular tag ID in the data structure. Alternatively, the at least one processor may receive a separate authorization to initiate the electronic purchase transaction before or after receiving the particular tag ID from the device. For example, the purchaser's device may prompt the intended purchaser to authorize the purchase via a user interface. When a prospective purchaser authorizes a purchase, the purchaser's device may transmit an authorization signal to the processor, causing the processor to initiate an electronic purchase transaction. However, the at least one processor may be configured not to initiate the electronic purchase transaction when authorization of the purchaser is not received.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor may be configured to access a financial account or instrument associated with the prospective purchaser in order to obtain funds to complete the electronic purchase transaction. As used herein, an account or instrument "associated" with a prospective buyer may include an account or instrument from which the prospective buyer is an account holder or an agent of the account holder, custodian, celebrity, signer, investment consultant or guardian, or from which the prospective buyer is authorized to make an electronic purchase of a particular product. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may be configured to debit an account associated with the prospective purchaser for electronic purchase of the particular product. For example, at least one processor may be linked to a bank account or digital wallet account held by a prospective purchaser (e.g., payPal, venmo, apple payment, and Zelle), such that the processor may debit funds from the account to complete the electronic purchase transaction. In alternative embodiments, the electronic purchase transaction may include an electronic credit card transaction. For example, the at least one processor may be configured to charge for the electronic purchase transaction on a credit card, debit card, or other instrument held by the prospective purchaser or for which the prospective purchaser has been authorized to complete the transaction. In some embodiments, upon completion of the electronic purchase transaction, the at least one processor may be configured to update the data structure to reflect, for example: the prospective purchaser is the owner of the particular product and the venue is not the owner or holder of the particular product.

By way of example, fig. 17 depicts a Wide Area Network (WAN) 17310 for communicating with a bank or digital wallet platform 17320. In some embodiments, a processor (e.g., a processor within venue 17312) executing the electronic purchase transaction may be configured to access a bank or digital wallet platform 17320 associated with the prospective purchaser to access funds for completing the electronic purchase transaction. For example, the processor may be configured to transfer funds from an account of a prospective purchaser to an account associated with a venue.

The disclosed embodiments may include causing, such as by at least one processor, an alarm to be initiated. As used herein, an alert may refer to an alert or notification generated by a component of an electronic security system for notifying another component, another system, and/or person that the electronic security system has detected an unauthorized intrusion into a venue or an attempted robbery or theft from the venue. The alert may include at least one of an audible alert, a visual alert, a tactile alert, a digital message, or any other transmission conveying the desired information. In some embodiments, the electronic security system may include a fixed infrastructure configured to initiate an alert; examples may include speakers, lights, and/or graphic displays disposed at strategic locations within the venue, such as at entrances and/or exits, near check-out counters or self-checkout servers, in storage areas, or next to fitting rooms. Additionally or alternatively, the electronic security system may include other components for initiating an alert including a notification on an employee's mobile device, updating data structures for attempted theft, instant messaging, and/or automatic transmission to local security.

The at least one processor may cause an alarm to be initiated by causing an alarm initiating component of the electronic security system to be activated. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may cause an alarm to be initiated when an unauthorized intrusion into the venue is detected or in the event of an attempted robbery, theft, or other loss of product from the venue. For example, an EAS door may be disposed near an entrance or exit of a venue and/or at another designated location, and may be configured to transmit an activation signal (i.e., an EAS signal) to a wireless transmission tag proximate to the EAS door, such as a tag attached to a product carried through the EAS door. In embodiments where the particular tag receives an EAS signal from an EAS gate, the particular tag may be configured to output the signal in a different frequency band than the EAS signal. The particular tag may be further configured to include information regarding the status of the tag in the transmission, such as information indicating that the tag is transmitting a signal in response to receiving an EAS signal from an EAS gate. The at least one receiver of the electronic security system may be configured to receive a transmission when an EAS gate is detected by a particular tag (i.e., a signal transmitted by the particular tag after the particular tag receives an EAS signal from the EAS gate). However, the EAS gate may not detect the signal transmitted by the particular tag because the signal may be outside of the frequency range detected by the EAS gate. For example, the EAS gate may be tuned to detect signals in a frequency range of about 7-13MHz and/or in a frequency range of about 58-60kHz, while a particular tag may be configured to transmit signals in a frequency band of about 900MHz and/or in a frequency band of about 2.4 GHz. Thus, a particular tag (and other wireless transmission tags disclosed herein) may be configured to be proximate to (including through) an EAS door without activating an EAS door alarm.

Once the at least one receiver of the electronic security system detects the wireless transmission tag, the at least one processor may be configured to determine whether the detected tag is associated with a product that has not yet been paid for or is otherwise not permitted to leave the venue. For example, the at least one processor may perform a lookup on the ID of the detected tag to determine whether the tag is associated with a product that has been purchased or is still included in the inventory list of the venue (which may indicate that the product still belongs to the venue and has not yet been purchased). If at least one processor determines that the detected tag and associated product are not permitted to leave the venue, the processor may cause an alarm to be activated to indicate that, for example, a person is attempting to leave the venue with the product without paying for it.

For example, fig. 1 depicts a customer 1104 exiting through EAS doors 1110, 1112 with a first product 1106 having a first tag 1100a and also with a second product 1122 having a second tag 1100 b. As discussed above, tags 1100a and 1100b may receive EAS signal 1118 and, in response, output tag ID signals 1102a and 1102b. The receiver 1124 of the electronic security system may detect the tag ID signals 1102a and 1102b and the processor of the electronic security system (e.g., the processor 11004 of FIG. 11) may determine whether the detected ID signals 1102a and 1102b are associated with a product authorized to pass through the EAS gates 1110, 1112 (e.g., a product that has been purchased or designated a return location). In some embodiments, the processor may cause an alert mechanism (such as an audible alert or flashing light) to be activated to signal that the customer 1104 is not authorized to leave the venue with the products 1106 and 1122 (e.g., the customer 1104 may fail to pay for the product).

In the disclosed embodiments, the at least one processor may be configured to disable the ability to initiate an alert after the electronic purchase of a particular product. For example, the at least one processor may cause some or all of the alert initiating components of the electronic security system to be temporarily turned off after the electronic purchase. Thus, a product with a wireless transmission tag may pass through an EAS door (and optionally through other security points) without initiating an alarm.

Additionally or alternatively, the at least one processor may be configured to control an alarm initiating component of the electronic security system to forego initiating an alarm when a pre-approved event occurs, even when the event would otherwise trigger an alarm. For example, a particular tag and/or product in the data structure may be designated as authorized to pass through an EAS gate without initiating an alarm. Products that are designated to pass without initiating an alarm may include, for example, products that have been sold, products that are being returned, products that are being shipped to another location, or products that are being brought by an employee for storage at the location. Thus, when a designated tag (e.g., a tag of a previously purchased product) passes through the EAS door, the at least one processor may control at least some of the alarm initiating components of the electronic security system to forgo initiating an alarm, thereby allowing a customer to remove the tagged product through the EAS door without interruption. However, when a non-designated tag passes through the EAS door, the alarm may still be activated because the alarm initiating component remains active.

After completing the electronic purchase of the particular product, the prospective purchaser owns the particular product and is free to leave the venue with the product without interruption by the alarm. Thus, in some embodiments, the at least one processor may update the data structure to include a designation that a particular tag is associated with a purchased product, and thus may pass through an EAS gate (or another checkpoint) without triggering an alarm. Thus, when the receiver of the electronic security system receives a transmission from a particular tag proximate to the EAS gate, the at least one processor may determine that the particular tag is passing through the EAS gate and may perform a lookup for the particular tag ID. Upon determining that the particular tag ID is associated with a previously purchased product, the at least one processor may disable the ability to initiate an alarm (e.g., the ability of an alarm component near the EAS door) so that the particular product may pass through the EAS door without interruption.

Referring again to fig. 1, at least one processor (e.g., processor 11004) of the electronic security system may initiate an electronic purchase transaction for the customer 1104 to electronically purchase the tagged products 1106 and 1122. After the electronic purchase, the processor may update the data structure 11006 and/or another data structure to designate the products 1106 and 1122 as authorized to pass through the EAS gates 1110, 1112 without triggering an alarm. When a customer 1104 approaches EAS gates 1110, 1112 with products 1106 and 1122, receiver 1124 may receive signals 1102a, 1102b transmitted by tags 1100a, 1100 b. The processor may perform a lookup of the detected tag IDs and determine that the tags 1100a and 1100b are associated with the designated (i.e., purchased) product and may disable alarms near the EAS gates 1110, 1112 accordingly. Thus, the customer 1104 may exit through the EAS door with the tagged products 1106 and 1122 without being stopped or interrupted by an alarm.

In the disclosed embodiments, disabling the ability to initiate an alert may include performing a lookup on a particular tag ID to determine that the associated particular product has been purchased. For example, a data structure may be provided that contains information for sales and other transactions conducted by the venue, including tag IDs and/or other identifiers for the products sold. The at least one processor may perform a lookup in the data structure for the particular tag ID to access information of the electronic purchase transaction to determine that the particular product associated with the particular tag ID has been purchased and is therefore authorized to pass through the EAS gate without initiating an alarm. Upon determining that the associated particular product has been purchased, the at least one processor may update the data structure to designate the particular tag ID and/or the particular product as authorized to pass through the EAS gate without initiating an alarm. For example, the at least one processor may update the data structure to include instructions to not initiate an alarm when the at least one receiver receives a transmission from a particular tag proximate to the EAS gate, which may indicate that the particular tag is passing through the EAS gate. In some embodiments, updating the data structure to include instructions that do not initiate an alert may include removing an indication from the data structure that a particular product is available for purchase. For example, the at least one processor may change a status indicator and/or a particular tag in a data structure of a particular product to indicate that the particular product has been purchased (and is therefore no longer available for purchase). Additionally or alternatively, the at least one processor may remove the particular product from a list in a data structure of available inventory in the venue. In some embodiments, updating the data structure may, for example, include: changing ownership status of the product from the venue to the purchaser, changing authorization of the alert initiating component in response to a particular tag, or deleting the tag entirely from the data structure.

In the disclosed embodiments, the at least one processor may be configured to determine a tag location at the time of transmission based on the transmission received by the at least one receiver. For example, a wireless transmission tag within a venue may transmit a signal that may be received by at least one receiver in the venue. However, the power level of the signal received by each receiver may differ in amplitude depending on proximity to at least one receiver. The at least one processor may use this amplitude data to calculate certain properties of the signal propagating through the communication medium, establishing parameters such as the range in which the signal can be detected, values representing the relative or actual distance the signal has been transmitted, signal-to-noise ratio, interference characteristics, etc. In the context of wireless communications, this amplitude may be measured in units of power, typically in watts or dBW (decibel watts or dB watts), which is a logarithmic unit associated with watts (or sometimes in dBm, which is associated with milliwatts in the same manner as dBW is associated with watts). In this sense, the power level of a signal may refer to, for example, a power measurement made immediately at a signal input at a receiver when the receiver is actively receiving one or more signals.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor may determine the tag location at transmission (i.e., at the time of tag transmission of the signal) by comparing the power levels of the signals received at each receiver and determining the location of the wireless transmission tag at transmission based on the comparison. For example, the power level of the first signal transmitted by the wireless transmission tag and received by the first receiver may be higher than the power level of other signals from the tag received by other receivers in the venue because the tag is closer to the first receiver than to the other receivers. The first receiver may be associated with a given location and, thus, based on the first receiver receiving the strongest signal and its association with the given location, it may be determined that the tag is located at that location. Similarly, multiple signal strengths detected by different receivers may be used to estimate the location of the tag. For example, using three signal strengths detected by three receivers, at least one processor may triangulate the signal to estimate or determine a transmission source, which may correspond to a tag location at the time of transmission.

By way of example, fig. 13A and 13C depict a product 13210 hanging on a shelf that may contain a wireless transmission tag 1100 configured to transmit an ID signal 13102. Because the tag 1100 is proximate to the receiver 11300C (see fig. 13C), the power level of the signal 13102 received by the receiver 11300C may be higher than the power level of the signal 13102 received by other receivers located remotely from the tag 1100 (e.g., the receivers 11300b and 11300 d). Thus, the at least one processor of the electronic security system may determine that the product 13210 is located on or near the shelf of fig. 13C, as the location of the receiver 11300C and the shelf may be known in advance.

In some embodiments, the signal strength pattern may be predetermined for positioning purposes. For example, measurements made by multiple receivers in the area of a signal transmitted by a wireless transmission tag (e.g., multiple receivers near an EAS gate) may result in an identifiable pattern that may be matched to determine future tag locations. Tag readings may be collected from the entire venue to correlate the signal strength pattern with the actual location. The dependencies may be stored in a data structure. Then, in the future, a look-up may be performed on the signal from the wireless transmission tag to identify the location of the tag based on the stored data. Similarly, the at least one processor may learn over time using artificial intelligence.

In the disclosed embodiments, the at least one processor may be configured to determine a tag proximity to the EAS door based at least in part on the determined tag location. For example, the location of the EAS door and/or the receiver near the EAS door may be known in advance. Thus, the at least one processor may compare the determined tag location to one or more locations of the EAS door and/or a receiver near the EAS door to determine the proximity of the tag to the EAS door. For example, if the distance between the location of the particular tag and the EAS door is less than a predetermined threshold (e.g., 1 meter), the at least one processor may determine that the particular tag is being transported through the EAS door. Thus, the at least one processor may perform a lookup for a particular tag ID and disable the ability of components near the EAS door to initiate an alarm if appropriate. Additionally or alternatively, the proximity of the tag to the EAS gate may be determined by the at least one processor based on a transmission range of the EAS gate signal outside of which a particular tag will not receive the EAS gate signal and therefore will not transmit.

For example, FIG. 13D shows a customer approaching an EAS gate 1110, 1112 with a product having a wireless transmission tag 1100. A receiver, such as receiver 11300h, may receive the signal 13102 transmitted by the tag so that at least one processor may determine the location of the tag. The processor may compare the determined location of the tag with the known locations of the EAS gates 1110, 1112 and/or another reference point to determine the proximity of the tag 1100 to the EAS gate. If the tag 1100 is sufficiently close to the EAS gates 1110, 1112 (e.g., if the distance between the tag and the gate is less than a predetermined threshold), the at least one processor may infer that the tag 1100 is being transported through the EAS gates 1110, 1112.

In the disclosed embodiments, at least one processor may be configured to process data associated with a plurality of locales. As used herein, data "associated with" a plurality of locales may include data pertaining to or collected from a plurality of locales, data received from a processor in a plurality of locales, data contained in a data structure of a plurality of locales, or data otherwise related to or derived from a plurality of locales. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may be configured to connect to the plurality of sites (and networks and/or processors therein) via a Wi-Fi connection, a Wide Area Network (WAN) connection, a wired and/or wireless Local Area Network (LAN) connection, or any other means of communication. Additionally or alternatively, at least some of the plurality of sites may be connected to separate LANs. For example, each location may be connected to a separate LAN, or alternatively, two or more locations may be connected to the same LAN. In such embodiments, the at least one processor may be configured to connect to the LAN of each venue (e.g., via a WAN or another networking configuration) such that the at least one processor may access and process data associated with each venue, such as data transmitted from the processor associated with each individual venue to the at least one processor. In some embodiments, all venues may be of the same type (e.g., all venues may be retail venues owned by the same entity). Alternatively, the plurality of sites may comprise different types of sites, as defined above.

In the disclosed embodiments, the at least one processor may be configured to access a plurality of data structures, each of the plurality of data structures being uniquely associated with one of the plurality of locales. As used herein, "uniquely associated with" a venue may mean that each data structure has a networking connection (e.g., via LAN, wi-Fi, etc.) with components of a single one of the venues, and optionally, that the physical components of each data structure are located within the corresponding venue. Additionally or alternatively, "uniquely associated with a venue" may mean that each data structure is used to store data related thereto collected from items or products associated with or otherwise uniquely associated with the corresponding venue. Additionally or alternatively, "uniquely associated with" a venue may mean that access to the data structure may be limited to persons working for the corresponding venue or may otherwise have a relationship with the venue that must access the data structure. The persons that are permitted to access the data structure may include, for example, employees of the venue, persons that supervise or supervise those employees (e.g., corporate high-rise), and/or persons that are permitted to access the data structure for other reasons. In some embodiments, each venue may have its own LAN including at least one data structure. The at least one processor of the electronic security system may be configured to connect to the LAN of each venue such that the at least one processor may access, change, add, copy, or remove data from each data structure. Additionally or alternatively, the data structures uniquely associated with each locale may reside together in a single location, not adjacent to, within, or associated with multiple locales, and the association between each of the multiple data structures and each of the multiple locales may be a purely logical association.

In the example shown in fig. 17, the electronic security system may include a WAN 17310 interconnecting a plurality of sites 17312, 17314, and 17316. Each locale 17312, 17314 and 17316 may be connected to its own data structure (e.g., data structure 11006 of fig. 11); the data structures, in turn, may be uniquely associated with the corresponding locale, as discussed above. In some embodiments, at least one processor may be associated with the same venue as the data structure, and thus may access the data structure using a local network device (e.g., wi-Fi, bluetooth, cellular communication, ethernet, etc.). Alternatively, at least one processor and data structure may be located in a different location (as a non-limiting example, the data structure may be associated with venue 17312, and at least one processor may be located within business office 17318 or a different venue 17314). At least one processor may be connected to the data structures via the WAN 17310 and may access, change, add, copy, or remove data from the data structures.

In the disclosed embodiments, the electronic security system may include a plurality of transmitters for wirelessly transmitting power to the wireless transmission tags. As used herein, a transmitter may include any component, group of components, or circuitry capable of transmitting signals over a wired and/or wireless medium. The signal may be, for example, a Wi-Fi signal, a bluetooth signal, a cellular communication, an ethernet communication, a radio signal, a magnetic or electric field, an audible or ultrasonic signal, an optical signal, a mechanical vibration, or any other means of transmitting energy and/or information. The signal transmitted by the transmitter may be received by a second device, which in various embodiments may be triggered to perform a predefined action upon receipt of the signal.

Consistent with the present disclosure, the plurality of transmitters may be configured to wirelessly transmit power to the wireless transmission tag in the form of a radio signal, a magnetic or electric field, an audible or ultrasonic signal, an optical signal, mechanical vibration, or any other form of energy that may be wirelessly transmitted to the tag. The wireless transmission tag may in turn include an antenna or other receiver for receiving the transmitted power. The plurality of transmitters may transmit a constant, intermittent, or periodic signal to energize the tag, and in some embodiments, the plurality of transmitters may be designed with an adjustable transmission frequency and/or an adjustable transmission power level. In some embodiments, the plurality of transmitters may include a dedicated exciter configured to wirelessly transmit power to the tag according to the received control signal and/or a dedicated programming. Additionally or alternatively, the plurality of emitters may include environmental energy sources such as sunlight, wind, vibration, sound, heat, and radio frequency signals. In some embodiments, the transmitter may be positioned within or around the venue to transmit the power signal throughout the venue; the transmitter may be attached to some structure in the venue (e.g., a wall, ceiling, shelf, display, or other fixture or component), located on or above the ceiling, on or below the floor, on or behind a wall, disposed on a mobile or mobile device (e.g., a smart phone or handheld scanner), or attached to any other fixed or mobile structure. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may be configured to transmit a trigger command to the transmitter, which may cause the transmitter to transmit a power signal to the tag.

For example, fig. 13A-13D depict a plurality of transmitters 13400a-13400e configured to wirelessly transmit a power signal 13118 to a wireless transmission tag 1100. In this example, the transmitters 13400a-13400e can be configured as exciters mounted to the ceiling or wall surrounding a building. The wireless tags 1100 may receive and collect energy from the signal 13118 and may use the collected energy to power their operation, including transmitting an ID signal 13102. In some embodiments, the transmitters 13400a-13400e can receive a trigger signal from the processor 11004 of the venue and, in response, transmit a power signal 13118 to the tag. Additionally or alternatively, the transmitters 13400a-13400e can be preprogrammed to transmit the power signal 13118, such as on a predetermined schedule or when it is determined that one of the wireless tags in the venue is low.

In some embodiments, the plurality of transmitters may be configured to wirelessly transmit power to the wireless transmission tag in a frequency band of about 900 MHz. As used herein, a frequency band of about 900MHz may refer to any one or more portions of the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band that is typically reserved for RFID purposes in any region or jurisdiction. Examples may include the UHF RFID band of 902-928MHz (used in the United states), 865-868MHz (used in the European Union), and 952-956.4MHz and 952-957.6MHz, both of which are outside of the standard UHF RFID range, but were previously used for UHF RFID in Japan, and in this disclosure and context, they are within the band of approximately 900 MHz.

Additionally or alternatively, the plurality of transmitters may be configured to wirelessly transmit power to the wireless transmission tag in a frequency band of about 2.4 GHz. As used herein, a frequency band of about 2.4GHz may refer to any one or more portions of the UHF frequency band that are designated for radio frequency energy in a variety of scientific, medical, and industrial applications. Services and users in the frequency band of about 2.4GHz may use certain radio communication technologies, such as Wi-Fi, bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and classical bluetooth, for wireless local area networks and personal area networks. Many jurisdictions may reserve one or more of a plurality of frequency bands in the standard 2.4GHz range for these technologies; however, some jurisdictions may employ multiple frequency bands outside of this standard and/or other unique frequency bands. As with the frequency band typically designated for UHD RFID, the frequency band of about 2.4GHz designated for similar purposes may vary from region to region and jurisdiction to jurisdiction and may vary. For example, according to Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11, a set of Local Area Network (LAN) protocols specify a set of Media Access Control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) protocols for implementing WLAN Wi-Fi communication in frequencies including a frequency band of about 2.4GHz, and are the most widely used wireless computer network standard worldwide. Over time, IEEE has modified 802.11 to designate frequency bands outside the 2.4GHz range as similar uses, such as 5GHz and even 60GHz. Thus, it is contemplated that the standard frequency range of a wireless computer network may change in the future. Accordingly, it should be understood that, consistent with the present disclosure, a "frequency band of about 2.4 GHz" may refer to a wide range of potential frequency bands.

In some embodiments, a wireless transmission tag may be configured to collect energy transmitted from multiple transmitters and use the collected energy to power operation of the tag. For example, energy may be harvested by harvesting circuitry and stored by the energy storage component of the tag or any element or circuit capable of accumulating energy. By way of example, the exemplary wireless transmission tag 1100 illustrated in fig. 9 may include an antenna 2112 tuned to receive energy from a transmitter at frequencies below 1GHz (e.g., energy in the frequency band of about 900 MHz) and to transmit the acquired energy to a 900MHz acquisition 9012. Additionally or alternatively, tag 1100 can include antenna 2114 tuned to receive energy in a frequency band of about 2.4GHz from a transmitter and transmit the harvested energy to 2.4GHz harvester 9014. The harvested energy may be stored in the energy storage circuit 2108 and subsequently used to power the operation of the wireless transmission tag 1100, including the transmission by the transmitter 2104.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process 15110 for inventory control operations consistent with the disclosed embodiments. Process 15110 is provided by way of example and one of ordinary skill will recognize various other processes for inventory control consistent with the present disclosure. At step 15112, process 15110 may include receiving transmissions from a plurality of wireless transmission tags. In some embodiments, the transmission may be received by at least one receiver of the exemplary electronic security system. At step 15114, the process 15110 can include receiving the particular tag ID from a device operated by the prospective purchaser. The particular tag ID may be associated with a particular one of the plurality of wireless transmission tags (e.g., a particular tag), which may in turn be associated with a particular product intended for purchase from the venue. At step 15116, process 15110 may include accessing a data structure containing a plurality of tag IDs. Tag IDs may be associated with multiple products in a venue. For example, each tag ID may be associated with a single product and may uniquely identify the product. At step 15118, process 15110 may include performing a lookup in the data structure for the particular tag ID. At step 15120, performing a lookup for the particular tag ID may identify the particular product and enable access to information of the particular product from the data structure due to the association between the particular tag and the particular product. At step 15122, the process 15110 may include initiating an electronic purchase transaction for the particular product. The electronic purchase transaction may be performed for electronic purchases of the particular product, and an account associated with a prospective purchaser of the particular product may be debited. At step 15124, process 15110 may include disabling the ability to initiate an alarm when a transmission is received from a particular tag proximate to an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) door associated with the venue.

The disclosed embodiments may include an electronic security system for verifying online purchases, in-store pick-up (BOPIS) transactions, and protecting previously purchased products from theft. In one exemplary mode, a customer may purchase desired items (such as food, electronic products, and household goods) remotely, for example, through a website associated with a store, through a telephone order, or via other means, without having to order them in the store. Once the store completes the order, the customer can go to the store and pick up the purchased item without waiting in line or interacting with store personnel. One example of such a mode (known as BOPIS) avoids the adverse aspects of delivery services such as delivery charges, order completion errors, and long delivery latency.

A disadvantage of BOPIS mode is the risk of theft and confusion of orders. In many cases, a location using BOPIS mode places completed orders in a dedicated storage area, which is only accessible to staff. This requires that a customer desiring to use BOPIS mode need to find staff members (possibly after queuing and waiting) that have access to the dedicated BOPIS storage, indicate his own identity to that person, and then wait for that person to go to the dedicated BOPIS storage and retrieve their packaging. This implementation results in a suboptimal user experience for the customer and increases employee burden, thereby reducing the benefits of BOPIS. In some cases, the venue using BOPIS mode has a designated area (e.g., a shelf or table) where store personnel leave a completed order for pick up by the purchaser. A thief may impersonate a purchaser and take away items from a designated area that others have paid for. Moreover, customers may inadvertently pick up orders from other customers, resulting in multiple customers not being able to obtain items they have paid for. Thus, such as for BOPIS mode, there is a need to protect completed orders from theft while also streamlining the pick-up process to minimize the occurrence of order confusion.

The disclosed embodiments may relate to systems, methods, and computer-readable media for verifying and controlling in-store pickup of purchased products. Embodiments may include an electronic security system for providing a location for in-store pickup of a product attached to or otherwise associated with a wireless transmission tag. The customer may purchase the product via an off-store transaction (such as online or via telephone). When a customer arrives at a store to retrieve her order, she may notify the electronic security system via a mobile device (such as a smart phone or tablet computer). Based on the notification, burglar alarms and other safeguards in the store may be deactivated so that the customer may smoothly retrieve the purchased product and leave. However, burglar alarms and other safeguards may remain active for all tagged products that have not yet been purchased or for which the system has not yet received a pick-up notice from the purchaser. Thus, when a thief attempts to remove a product from a store without purchasing the product or when a customer retrieves a false order, the electronic security system may detect a tag associated with the product and initiate a burglar alarm and other protective measures. Advantageously, the disclosed embodiments may provide efficient and contactless BOPIS transactions while also preventing theft or confusion of customer orders.

The disclosed embodiments may include an electronic security system as described elsewhere in this disclosure. The electronic security system may be further configured to include other information in the alert, notification, or document related to the attempted intrusion or theft, such as the identity or inferred identity of one or more persons identified or inferred to be involved in the event, or the identification or inferred identification of one or more objects involved in the event (including but not limited to objects that are attempting to be stolen, or other objects identified or inferred to be identified during the event as not subjects of the attempted or unauthorized intrusion). The electronic security system may additionally include other elements, circuitry, circuit components, and systems that may be useful in detecting and/or signaling unauthorized intrusion, attempted robbery, theft or theft, or other loss at a designated location. The electronic security system may include one or more of the foregoing elements.

In the disclosed embodiments, an electronic security system may be provided for providing in-store pick-up locations for previously purchased products. In some embodiments, in-store pickup of previously purchased products may refer to the practice of: through such practice, a customer or other person authorized to act on behalf of the customer purchases, rents, or otherwise obtains one or more products from the venue while not actually present at the venue, and at a later time obtains physical ownership of the products from the venue. Thus, between the time of purchase and the time of customer retrieval of the product, the product may be held or controlled by the venue (e.g., kept within the venue), but may be owned or legally owned by the customer. In some embodiments, the customer may purchase the product remotely, such as via telephone or on a website or application associated with the venue. In some cases, such remote purchases (e.g., via an app or website) may occur when the purchaser is actually in or near the venue, but hopefully not immediately taking the purchased product, but rather leaving them ready for pick-up at some later time. Employees of the venue can then collect and package the products purchased by the customer and leave the products in a designated pick-up area where the customer can retrieve the products; an example pick-up area may include a designated shelf or table within the venue. Additionally or alternatively, the customer may purchase the product at the venue and leave the product at the venue for retrieval at a later time. In some embodiments, a customer (or other person authorized to act on behalf of the customer) may enter the venue to retrieve the product and may leave with its holder with the product. Additionally or alternatively, the customer may stay outside of the vicinity of the venue (e.g., in their car), and employees of the venue may take the product out to the customer (i.e., roadside pick-up). In some embodiments, the electronic security system may notify the customer, such as via a text message, email, telephone call, or pager: when its order is ready to be picked up.

In some disclosed embodiments, previously purchased products may have an associated wireless transmission tag. As disclosed herein, a wireless transmission tag may include any wirelessly detectable device, such as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacon device, a Near Field Communication (NFC) device, a device including a microcontroller powered by radio frequency energy, or any other structure configured to transmit a signal that is detectable. In the disclosed embodiments, the wireless transmission tag may include at least one antenna or any other component, circuit, and/or device configured to receive and/or output energy from air or from any other medium. For example, a wireless transmission tag may be configured to receive and/or output electromagnetic radiation, an electric field, a magnetic field, an acoustic signal (such as in sonar applications), or an optical signal (such as in laser applications). In some disclosed embodiments, the wireless transmission tag may be configured to transmit signals in one or more predetermined frequency bands. Some non-limiting examples of the predetermined frequency band may include a frequency band of about 900MHz (which may include, for example, ultra-high frequency RFID signals), a frequency band of about 2.4GHz (which may include, for example, bluetooth and Wi-Fi), and a frequency band of about 13.6MHz (which may include, for example, high frequency RFID and NFC). In some embodiments, the wireless transmission tag may not require a battery, but may operate using harvested energy (as disclosed herein).

The disclosed embodiments may include in-store pickup of the product. For example, in-store pickup of a product may refer to transferring possession or control of one or more products (and optionally transferring ownership) from a venue to another person or entity, such as a purchaser of the product. In some embodiments, the person picking up the product may purchase, rent, lease, or otherwise acquire the product in advance or upon taking possession (e.g., the product may be a previously purchased product). In some embodiments, a person picking up a product may enter the venue to retrieve the product and may leave with their holder with the product. Additionally or alternatively, the person picking up the product may stay outside of the vicinity of the venue (e.g., in their car), and employees of the venue may bring the product to them. In some embodiments, the electronic security system may notify the person picking up the product, such as via a text message, email, telephone call, or pager: when the product is ready to be picked up. In the disclosed embodiments, the product may be associated with a wireless transmission tag, as discussed above.

By way of example, fig. 16 shows an electronic security system for a venue that provides in-store pickup of previously purchased products. Products sold in the venue shown in fig. 16 can have an associated wireless transmission tag, such as tag 1100. The electronic security system depicted in fig. 16 may include EAS doors (discussed below) 1110, 1112 at each entrance, transmitters 13400a-13400e configured to deliver energy to tag 1100, and receivers 11300a-11300h configured to detect transmissions from tag 1100. In some embodiments, the customer may purchase the product within the venue, such as at a checkout counter via a kiosk 16010 or by completing the purchase on a mobile device (e.g., user device 11008 of fig. 11). Once purchase of the tagged product is completed, the electronic security system may be configured to disable the alarm 1114 so that the customer may leave the venue without interruption. Additionally or alternatively, the customer may purchase the product remotely (e.g., online, on an application, or via telephone) and come to the venue to pick up the product that he purchased. The venue may include a designated pick-up area, such as shelf 13240, where the staff of the venue may leave orders that have been placed in packages 16012 and are ready to be picked up. As discussed in detail below, the electronic security system may be configured to deactivate the alarm 1114 to pick up products she purchased when a customer arrives at the venue so that the customer can leave the venue without interruption.

The disclosed embodiments may include at least one Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) door. As disclosed herein, an EAS door may include a surveillance or anti-theft system having at least one antenna or transmitter configured to transmit wireless signals to a security tag attached to or otherwise associated with a product brought in proximity to the EAS door. In response to receiving the wireless signal from the EAS gate, the security tag may be configured to output a second wireless signal, which may be used to trigger the burglar alarm. In some embodiments, the antenna or transmitter of the EAS door may be incorporated within one or more pedestals located near the entrance or exit of the venue or at another designated location. Additionally or alternatively, the EAS door may comprise a concealed EAS door.

By way of example, fig. 13D illustrates an exemplary EAS gate including a first pedestal 1110 and a second pedestal 1112, each having a transmitter configured to transmit an EAS signal 13118c within a predetermined frequency band, such as a frequency band of 58-60kHz (AM-EAS wave) and/or a frequency band of 7-13MHz (RF-EAS wave). The EAS gates 1110, 1112 may also include EAS receivers configured to receive wireless signals within the same frequency band as the EAS signal 13118 c. For example, an EAS receiver may receive a signal transmitted by an EAS security tag that is brought into proximity with EAS gates 1110, 1112 and triggered by EAS signal 13118 c. Upon receiving a wireless signal in the same frequency band as the EAS signal 1118, the EAS receiver may trigger an alarm, thereby indicating that the tagged product is passing through the EAS gates 1110, 1112.

In some embodiments, the exemplary wireless transmission tag 1100 may be configured to detect an EAS signal 13118c when a product associated with the tag passes through the EAS gates 1110, 1112. For example, electromagnetic energy of the EAS signal 13118c may be received by the coil 2110 of the wireless transmission tag 1100, thereby activating or triggering the tag. Once activated, the wireless transmission tag 1100 may transmit an ID signal 13102 (e.g., with the transmitter 2104 depicted in fig. 2 and 9). The ID signal 13102 may have a different frequency than the EAS signal 13118c (e.g., the ID signal 13102 may have a frequency of about 2.4GHz, while the EAS signal 13118c may be in the frequency band between 58-60kHz or 7-13 MHz). In some embodiments, the EAS receiver of gates 1110, 1112 may not be triggered by ID signal 13102 because ID signal 13102 may be outside of the designated frequency band of the EAS receiver. In some embodiments, the wireless transmission tag 1100 may not generate any signal or interfere with any signal generated by the EAS gate 1110, 1120 such that the tag is not detectable by the EAS gate receiver 1120. Alternatively, the electronic security system may include another receiver 11300h configured to receive the ID signal 13102 and take one or more corresponding actions, such as activating an alarm or transmitting a signal to at least one processor to complete an electronic purchase of a product associated with the tag 1100.

The disclosed embodiments may include at least one receiver configured to receive transmissions from a wireless transmission tag. For example, fig. 13A-13D depict an exemplary electronic security system that includes multiple receivers 11300a-h distributed throughout a venue to receive broadcasts of signals from wireless tags 1100 and other transmitting devices. The receivers 11300a-h can be attached or otherwise attached to a wall, ceiling, shelf, display, or any other fixture or component within the venue capable of supporting the receivers. As shown in fig. 13B, the receivers 11300a-h may be configured to receive transmissions of the ID signal 13102 from the wireless transmission tag 1100. Each receiver 11300a-h can include at least one of a first antenna 2112 tuned to receive energy (e.g., RFID signals) at a frequency of about 900MHz and a second antenna 2114 tuned to receive energy (e.g., wi-Fi, bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), or classical bluetooth) at a frequency of about 2.4 GHz. As shown in fig. 11, the receivers 11300a-h can be configured to receive data transmissions from the wireless transmission tag 1100 and transmit the data to other components of the wireless identification system 11000 via the network 11002.

The disclosed embodiments may include at least one processor. As discussed above, the at least one processor may include any kind of electronic device, component, or unit having data processing capabilities, including by way of non-limiting example, a personal computer, a wearable computer, a tablet, a smart phone, a server, a computing system, a cloud computing platform, a communication device, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an image signal processor (ISR), a microcontroller, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a central processing unit (CPA), a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), a Vision Processing Unit (VPU), any other electronic computing device, or any combination of the above. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may comprise more than one processor. Each processor may have a similar configuration, or the processors may have different configurations electrically connected to or separated from each other. As non-limiting examples, the at least one processor may include one or more processors 11004 of fig. 11 and/or one or more processors of Wide Area Network (WAN) 17310 of fig. 17.

The disclosed embodiments may relate to receiving a transmission from at least one of the wireless transmission tags. As discussed above, transmissions from a wireless transmission tag may be received by at least one receiver. Additionally or alternatively, the transmission may be received by another component of the electronic security system. In the disclosed embodiments, receiving transmissions from at least one wireless transmission tag may include receiving transmissions from one tag, from multiple tags, or from all tags. In some embodiments, the transmission may be received from the at least one wireless transmission tag in response to receiving an external stimulus by the at least one tag. For example, the at least one wireless transmission tag may broadcast transmissions in response to receiving energy from an exciter (such as transmitters 13400a-134000e of fig. 13 and 16), when triggered by a user device (such as user device 11008), and/or in response to an EAS signal from EAS gates 1110, 1112. Additionally or alternatively, at least one wireless transmission tag may include an internal timing circuit configured to trigger transmission of the tag according to a desired timing sequence (such as after a predetermined period of time has elapsed between transmissions, after a predetermined sequence of events has been detected, or according to a randomized timing sequence). For example, and as illustrated in fig. 10, an exemplary wireless transmission tag 1100 may include a crystal oscillator 10022 (an example of a timing circuit) that may provide a reference clock signal to the top-level controller 9020 of the tag to control the timing of transmissions by the transmitter 2104. Additionally or alternatively, the tag 1100 may include a real time clock 10024 (another example of a timing circuit) that may provide a slow clock signal to the top level controller 9020 to control the timing of transmissions by the transmitter 2104.

The disclosed embodiments may include off-store product purchases. As used herein, an off-store product purchase may refer to a transaction in which a purchaser purchases, rents, or otherwise obtains a product from a venue, wherein the purchaser initiates or performs the transaction from a location other than the venue. The purchaser may be located at any desired location at the time of the transaction, such as at home, business, vehicle, school, university, government building, religious building, or outdoors. In some embodiments, the purchaser may perform the off-store product purchase via a website or application associated with the venue, through an email (e.g., email, text message or messaging service (such as WhatsApp, facebook Messenger, and Skype)), by telephone, in writing (e.g., via written orders or letters), or by any other method for remotely purchasing a product from the venue.

In the disclosed embodiments, the out-of-store product purchase may include an electronic credit card transaction. For example, once the purchaser initiates or performs an off-store product purchase, the processor performing the off-store product purchase may be configured to charge the purchase on a credit card, debit card, or other instrument held by the purchaser or that the purchaser has been authorized to use, thereby completing the off-store product purchase. As another example, a website or application on which the purchaser performs out-of-store product purchases may prompt the purchaser to enter her credit card information to complete the transaction. As another example, the website or application may prompt the purchaser to select a credit card, debit card, or other instrument from the digital wallet information to complete the transaction. Additionally or alternatively, the off-store product purchase may include debiting an account owned by or otherwise associated with the purchaser. For example, the processor performing the off-store product purchase may be linked to a bank account or digital wallet account held by the purchaser (e.g., payPal, venmo, apple payment, zelle) such that the processor may debit funds from the account to complete the off-store product purchase.

By way of example, fig. 17 depicts a Wide Area Network (WAN) 17310 for communicating with a bank or digital wallet platform 17320. In some embodiments, a processor executing the off-store product purchase (e.g., a computer or mobile communication device in another location 17324, such as the purchaser's home, or a processor within venue 17312) may be configured to access a bank or digital wallet platform 17320 associated with the purchaser to access funds for completing the off-store product purchase. For example, the processor may be configured to access a bank or digital wallet platform 17320 to initiate an electronic credit card transaction or transfer funds from a purchaser's account to an account associated with a venue.

The disclosed embodiments may include a purchase transaction record that accesses the purchase of an off-store product. For example, the one or more processors may be configured to access a purchase transaction record for an out-of-store product purchase. The purchase (or purchase transaction) may include an economic transaction in which a party (seller) provides a product or service (purchased product) to a second party (buyer) and the second party provides compensation (currency, a currency equivalent asset, another product or service, or promise to provide such compensation at some future time) in return. The purchase (or purchase transaction) may be performed in the seller's business (e.g., store) where the product or service is provided to the buyer immediately, or remotely, such as through a telephone call or internet connection, where the product or service is committed to be provided to the buyer at some future time (e.g., by delivery, or by the buyer coming to the seller's business location or to some other agreed-upon location to receive the product or service). In the disclosed embodiments, the purchase transaction record may include an entry in the data structure containing information describing the need for a particular purchase, including the seller, the buyer, the product or service offered, the compensation, the time the product or service was offered to the buyer, and/or the time the compensation was offered to the seller. The purchase transaction record may include data associated with transactions involving the venue as a party (including purchase, sale, transfer of products), and/or any other interactions between the venue and another person or entity that result in transfer of ownership or possession of the product from one party to another. In the disclosed embodiments, the purchase transaction records may include information related to the purchased product. For example, the purchase transaction record may include an identification of at least one purchased product. In some embodiments, the identification of the at least one purchased product may include a unique identifier of the purchased product, such as a serial number, a unique EPC code, a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU), a Universal Product Code (UPC), a bar code, a QR code, a unique database entry, or any other identifying information of the at least one purchased product. The identification may additionally or alternatively be associated with a set of purchased products. For example, a set of purchased products purchased in the same transaction may be bundled together and share a common ID. Additionally or alternatively, the identification of the at least one purchased product may include descriptive information of the product, such as a style, price, size, weight, color, purchase history, and/or location of the product. Additionally or alternatively, the identification of the at least one purchased product may include information of the purchase of the product outside the store, such as an order number, a time stamp, and/or price information.

Additionally or alternatively, the purchase transaction record may include information related to a purchaser of the product from the venue. For example, the purchase transaction record may include purchaser identifying information for purchasers associated with at least one purchased product. In some embodiments, the purchaser associated with at least one purchased product may include an owner or legal holder of the purchased product, an individual performing an off-store product purchase, an owner of a device (e.g., computer or smart phone) on which the off-store product purchase is performed, or an individual authorized to pick up the purchased product from the venue. As used herein, purchaser identifying information may include information sufficient to identify a person (e.g., purchaser, buyer) engaged in a particular purchase transaction. For example, the purchaser identifying information may include a purchaser's unique identifier, such as their name, physical address, email address, date of birth, customer number, loyalty program number, account number, credit or debit card information, unique password or passcode, social security number, government issued ID information (e.g., driver's license number), and/or any other information that is unique to the purchaser or that may be used to link the purchaser with a particular purchase transaction. Additionally or alternatively, the purchaser identifying information may include information of an electronic device owned or used by the purchaser, such as a phone number, a mobile device identifier, a Unique Device Identifier (UDID), an android ID, an international mobile device identity (IMEI), a SIM card number, a Media Access Control (MAC) address, a serial number, or any other information unique to the purchaser's device. In some embodiments, the purchase transaction record may include a purchase history of the individual customer (including purchasers associated with at least one purchased product). Additionally or alternatively, the purchaser identifying information may be unique to the transaction. For example, the system may assign a unique identifier to a particular transaction involving one or more items.

Additionally or alternatively, the purchase transaction record may include information for individual transactions, including off-store product purchase transactions. For example, the purchase transaction record may include the location from which the product was purchased, the date and time of the transaction, the employee who completed the transaction, the cash register or self-checkout device number, the quantity, type, style, or other information related to the product in the transaction, pricing information (e.g., total retail price, price of each product, tax, promotional amount (e.g., coupons), discounted price, and reduced amount), bid type and amount (e.g., cash, credit card, check, charge, or coupon), specific information about each bid (e.g., credit card number, coupon identifier, and check number), and/or a unique identifier (such as a order number) assigned to the transaction.

In some embodiments, the purchase transaction records may be stored in at least one data structure that is accessible by at least one processor and other authorized users and that may be configured to enable query and information retrieval therefrom. For example, the data structure may include at least one of a local data structure and a remote storage component (e.g., a cloud-based data structure). In some embodiments, the data included in the purchase transaction record may be received from a device or processor for conducting a given transaction and added to the purchase transaction record. For example, purchase transaction information may be received from a mobile communication device, cash register, desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet computer, handheld scanner, computer terminal, or any other device configured to perform a transaction and communicate information to a purchase transaction record. Additionally or alternatively, information associated with the transaction may be manually entered into the purchase transaction record. The at least one processor may be configured to access the purchase transaction records directly (e.g., via a local area network connection) or indirectly (e.g., via a wide area network connection). In some embodiments, the purchase transaction record may be stored in the same data structure as the information associated with the wireless transmission tags (e.g., a unique tag ID for each wireless transmission tag). In alternative embodiments, the purchase transaction record and the information associated with the tag may be stored in different data structures, all of which may be accessed by the at least one processor.

FIG. 18 is a network diagram of an exemplary wireless identification system 18110 for in-store pickup of previously purchased products. In some implementations, the system 18110 may be established within or otherwise associated with at least one venue as defined herein. The system 18110 may include a network 18112 that enables data and/or information to be exchanged between elements of the system, such as one or more processors 18114, mobile communication devices 18116, one or more receivers 18118, alert mechanisms 18120, data structures 18122, and purchase transaction records 18124. The network 18112 may include any type of wired and/or wireless computer network arrangement configured to exchange data. As non-limiting examples, the network 18112 may include a local Wi-Fi connection, a wired or wireless Local Area Network (LAN) connection, or a Wide Area Network (WAN) connection in at least one venue.

The system 18110 may include at least one alert mechanism 18120 configured to initiate an alert upon, for example, detection of an unauthorized intrusion, attempted robbery, or theft or other loss to a venue. Alert mechanism 18120 may include an audible alert (such as a speaker or siren), a visual alert (such as a light or graphical display), a tactile alert, a digital message, or any other transmission conveying desired information. In some embodiments, alert mechanism 18120 may include a fixed infrastructure (such as an alert 1114, which may include speakers, lights, and/or a graphical display) within the venue, which may include components arranged at strategic locations around the venue, such as at an entrance and/or exit, near a checkout counter or self-checkout server, in a storage area, or next to a fitting room.

The system 18110 may include at least one mobile communication device 18116 configured for wired and/or wireless communication with the network 18112. In some embodiments, the mobile communication device 18116 may include a user device, such as a cellular telephone, smart phone, tablet, desktop, laptop, PDA, handheld scanner, wearable device, or other mobile computing device having a computer program (an example of an application) for controlling the operation of the device 18116. For example, the mobile communication device 18116 can include a user device 11008. In some embodiments, the device 18116 may be configured to receive user input and transmit corresponding signals to the network 18112. For example, the user input may be received via a user interface (e.g., a touch screen, keypad, or microphone), by collecting at least one image with a camera of the device 18116 (e.g., capturing an image of the wireless transmission tag 1100 or a bar code or QR code associated with the product or package containing the product), by transmitting the user input to the device 18116 either by wire or wirelessly, or by any other means of communicating the user input to the device 18116. Additionally or alternatively, the device 18116 may include at least one user interface configured to output a notification signal (such as an audible signal, a visual signal, a haptic signal, or another sensory signal) to the user; examples of user interfaces may include a display screen or a speaker.

The wireless identification system 18110 may include one or more receivers 18118 configured to receive broadcasts of signals from the wireless tag 1100 and exchange data and/or information with the network 18112. The receiver 18118 may be configured to receive one or more identification signals 13102 from the tag 1100 and transmit data of the received identification signals (e.g., a tag ID specified by the identification signal 13102 and/or a strength or power level of the signal) to the network 18112. In some embodiments, the receiver 18118 may also be configured as an actuator for delivering energy 18126 to be collected and stored by the wireless tag 1100. However, one of ordinary skill will appreciate that the example wireless identification system 18110 may include a receiver/exciter device (such as device 1124), a separate receiver device and exciter device, or any desired combination thereof.

The wireless identification system 18110 may include at least one data structure 18122 for storing inventory information for a venue. In the disclosed embodiment, the at least one data structure 18122 may include at least one database, such as a local database, regional database, or global database for storing local information related to a particular facility or store. The at least one data structure 18122 may contain data including, but not limited to, inventory of products provided by the venue, product IDs of particular products, information of particular products (e.g., product style, size, color, material, location, manufacturing and/or shipping history and/or ownership information), purchase status of particular products (e.g., whether particular products have been purchased, picked up from the venue, or designated for return to the venue), information of the wireless transmission tag 1100, tag IDs of the wireless transmission tag 1100, associations between particular tags and particular products, encryption keys of the tag 1100, and/or information of purchasers of particular products. Information stored in the at least one data structure 18122 may be accessed by the one or more processors 18114 directly or indirectly through the network 18112.

The wireless identification system 18110 may include a data structure containing a purchase transaction record 18124. As discussed above, purchase transaction record 18124 may include data of transactions with the venue as a party (including purchase, sale, transfer of products), and/or any other interactions between the venue and another person or entity that result in transfer of ownership or possession of the product from one party to another. The purchase transaction record 18124 may include information related to the purchased product (e.g., an identification of the purchased product), information related to a purchaser of the product from the venue (e.g., purchaser identification information of the purchaser associated with the purchased product), and/or information of a personal transaction. In the disclosed embodiment, the data structure containing the purchase transaction records 18124 may include at least one database, such as a local database, regional database, or global database for storing local information related to a particular facility or store. The information contained in the purchase transaction records 18124 may be accessed by the one or more processors 18114 directly or indirectly through the network 18112. In some embodiments, the purchase transaction record 18124 may be stored in at least one data structure 18122. In alternative embodiments, the purchase transaction record 18124 may be stored in a data structure separate from the at least one data structure 18122.

The wireless identification system 18110 may include at least one processor 18114 configured to receive, store, and process information from components of the system 18110. For example, the processor 18114 may receive and process information related to the wireless identification tag 1100 (via the receiver 18118), receive and transmit data from and to the mobile communication device 18116 and other processing devices, control the ability of the alert mechanism 18120 to initiate an alert, and access, find, read, add, change, delete, and share data contained in the at least one data structure 18122 and the purchase transaction record 18124.

The disclosed embodiments may include receiving a unique tag ID for a particular one of the wireless transmission tags. For example, the at least one processor may be configured to receive a unique tag ID for a particular tag. The tag ID may include information of a given one of the wireless transmission tags that uniquely identifies the tag to the user and/or to other devices or device components so that a particular tag may be distinguished from other wireless transmission tags. In some embodiments, the tag ID may be unique to a particular tag, and the particular tag may have only one unique tag ID. Alternatively, the same tag may have multiple unique tag IDs. Examples of unique tag IDs may include serial numbers, part numbers, bar codes, UUIDs, EPCs, or other forms of data that may uniquely identify corresponding tags to users and/or other devices.

In the disclosed embodiments, the received tag ID may be a unique tag ID of a particular tag associated with at least one particular product in inventory. That is, the unique tag ID may be associated with a particular one of the wireless transmission tags, which may in turn be associated with a particular product in the venue inventory. As used herein, inventory may include listings, tables, databases, spreadsheets, or any other data structure containing information about products (e.g., products provided for sale, exchange, object exchange, or gifting) provided by or otherwise owned or owned by a venue. The inventory may include an identifier of a particular product, such as a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU), universal Product Code (UPC), or serial number. For example, in a retail store, inventory may include all products displayed for sale, stored in a storage area, or in the hands of a customer but not yet purchased. In some embodiments, the inventory may not include damaged items returned by customers or identified by staff, or items that have been purchased but are awaiting shipment or pickup. In some embodiments, the inventory may also include a tag ID of a particular one of the wireless transmission tags associated with a particular product in the inventory.

In the disclosed embodiments, the at least one particular product associated with the received tag ID may correspond to at least one purchased product in a purchase transaction record. Some embodiments may include finding a purchased product in inventory of a venue and retrieving from inventory a unique tag ID associated with the purchased product; in such embodiments, the purchased product (included in the purchase transaction record) may be the same item as the particular product in the inventory of the venue. These embodiments may include the sale of a unique product or a customized product for which it is important for the purchaser to receive the exact item she has paid. For example, the at least one processor may obtain an identification of the purchased product from the purchase transaction record, search for inventory of the venue for the purchased product (e.g., perform a search for SKU, UPC, or serial number of the purchased product), and obtain information for the purchased product based on the search, the information including a unique tag ID of the associated wireless transmission tag.

Alternative embodiments may include finding a particular product in the inventory of the venue that is similar to or the same as the purchased product in the purchase transaction record. When a particular product is found in inventory, a unique tag ID for the wireless transmission tag associated with the particular product may also be received. For example, the at least one processor may obtain an identification of the purchased product from the purchase transaction record, determine characteristics of the purchased product (e.g., style, size, color, and price of the product), and search for a particular product in inventory at the venue that has the same characteristics as the purchased product. The at least one processor may then obtain information for the particular product having the same characteristics, the information including a unique tag ID of the wireless transmission tag associated with the particular product.

The disclosed embodiments may include assigning the at least one particular product to a record associated with the purchase transaction. In some embodiments, the record associated with the purchase transaction may include data in the purchase transaction record related to the purchase of the off-store product (which may include the identity of the purchased product and purchaser identification information, as discussed above). In some embodiments, assigning at least one particular product to a record associated with the purchase transaction may include updating the purchase transaction record to include an association between the purchased product and a corresponding particular product in inventory. For example, the association may designate a particular product as an item for shipment in an out-of-store product purchase, and thus may also designate a particular product as belonging to a purchaser. Additionally or alternatively, assigning at least one particular product to a record associated with the purchase transaction may include updating the purchase transaction record to include information of the associated particular product in inventory, such as an identifier of the particular product (e.g., stock Keeping Unit (SKU), universal Product Code (UPC), or serial number) and a unique tag ID of a wireless transmission tag associated with the particular product.

In the example shown in fig. 18, the processor 18114 may receive an identification of the purchased product from the purchase transaction record 18124. The processor 18114 may perform a search in the data structure 18122 to find the purchased product in the inventory of the venue. Alternatively, the processor 18114 may perform a search in the data structure 18122 to find a particular product in inventory that is similar or identical to the purchased product. Because the data structure 18122 may also contain associations between individual products and the wireless transmission tags 1100, the processor 18114 may also receive a unique tag ID for the tag 1100 associated with a particular product. In some implementations, the processor 18114 can assign a particular product to a record associated with a purchase transaction by updating the purchase transaction record 18124 to include an association between the purchased product and the particular product in inventory. Additionally or alternatively, the processor 18114 may assign a particular product to a record associated with a purchase transaction by updating the purchase transaction record 18124 to include information of the associated particular product in inventory, such as a unique tag ID of the tag 1100 associated with the particular product.

The disclosed embodiments may include receiving a notification from a mobile communication device associated with a purchaser. In some embodiments, a mobile communication device may include any removable or non-fixed device, structure, or combination of devices configured to receive and transmit wired and/or wireless communication signals. Examples of mobile communication devices may include cellular telephones, smart phones, tablets, personal computers, PDAs, smart glasses, handheld scanners, wearable devices, any combination of the foregoing, or any other mobile electronic device configured to send and/or receive data. By way of non-limiting example, fig. 18 illustrates an embodiment in which a mobile communication device 18116 (e.g., a smart phone) may be configured for communication with the network 18112. As used herein, a mobile communication device "associated" with a purchaser may include: a device owned or otherwise owned by the purchaser; devices owned or otherwise owned by individuals authorized to pick up purchased products from the venue; a device authorized to receive and transmit communications on behalf of the purchaser; a device that communicates via a purchaser's telephone number, email address, screen name, or other unique means of communication; or a device that logs into the purchaser's account.

In the disclosed embodiments, the received notification may include a notification that at least one purchased product is being picked up at the venue. For example, upon receiving a notification from a mobile communication device, a particular product in inventory corresponding to the purchased product may be authorized to be picked up (e.g., authorized to leave the venue). Referring again to the example shown in fig. 18, the mobile communication device 18116 can transmit (and in some embodiments can generate) a notification that the purchased product is being picked up at the venue. The device 18116 may transmit the notification to the processor 18114 directly or via the network 18112.

In some embodiments, the notification that the purchased product is being picked up may include an email from the mobile communication device, such as an email, a telephone call, a text message, or a message via a messaging service. Additionally or alternatively, the mobile communication device may be used to access a website or application associated with the venue; the website or application may include user prompts or selection options (e.g., buttons, drop down menus, or text fields) that may be used to generate notifications.

Additionally or alternatively, a notification that the purchased product is being picked up may be generated based on interaction between the mobile communication device and at least one of the particular product, a wireless transmission tag of the particular product, or a package containing the particular product (discussed in detail below). For example, when a purchaser arrives at a venue to pick up a particular product, she may use a camera of the mobile communication device to scan a wireless transmission tag of the particular product or a tag or label on a package containing the particular product. Based on the scanning, the mobile communication device can generate and transmit a notification to the at least one processor.

Additionally or alternatively, a notification that the purchased product is being picked up may be generated based on location information of the mobile communication device. For example, the mobile communication device or another processor may use location information (e.g., GPS data) of the device to determine whether the location of the device corresponds to a venue or whether the device is within a predetermined distance of a venue or a particular product. The notification may be generated when the device is determined to be within a venue or within a predetermined distance from a venue or a particular product based on location information of the mobile communication device. As another example, the electronic security system may include at least one receiver or detector configured to detect the mobile communication device and determine whether the device is located within the venue. In the disclosed embodiments, a notification may be generated when it is determined that the mobile communication device is located within a venue.

In the disclosed embodiments, the notification that the at least one purchased product is being picked up may include location identification information indicating that a mobile communication device associated with the purchaser is located within the venue. For example, the location identification information may include GPS data, data of a device tracking program (e.g., "find my iPhone" for apple, "find my device" for google, and "find my mobile product" for samsung), or other data indicating the location of the mobile communication device. In some embodiments, the notification that the purchased product is being picked up may include a communication that the mobile communication device is located within the venue. Additionally or alternatively, the notification that the purchased product is being picked up may include a designation of a location of the device within the venue. For example, the notification may include a map specifying a location of the device or a name of a reference location within the venue near the location of the device (e.g., a designation of a mobile communication device near a fitting room, pickup area, or venue entrance).

In the disclosed embodiments, the purchase transaction record may include identification information of the package containing at least one particular product during a pick-up wait time at the venue. As used herein, packaging may refer to a container, covering, or other structure that partially or completely encloses a particular product. For example, a package containing at least one particular product may include a box, bag, cup, bottle or other vessel, wrapper or plastic, bubble wrap, envelope, crate, container (e.g., shipping container), tub, can, jug, or any other structure that partially or completely encloses a particular product by a bag. In the disclosed embodiments, an employee or another person of the venue may retrieve one or more particular products from inventory corresponding to the one or more purchased products, package the one or more particular products within a package, and prepare the package to be picked from the venue. Once ready, during the pick-up latency of the venue, the package may be placed in a storage area or designated pick-up area so that the package may be retrieved by the purchaser or other person authorized to pick up the package. As used herein, a pick-up wait time at a venue may include a period of time between when a package is ready to be picked up and when the package is picked up. Alternatively, the pick-up latency at the venue may include a period of time between when the package is authorized to be picked up and when the package is picked up. Alternatively, the pick-up wait time may also include a period of time during the day during which the package is placed in the pick-up area and is waiting to be picked up.

By way of non-limiting example, FIG. 16 depicts a venue having a shelf 13240 designated as a pickup area for purchased products (including packages 16012 containing the purchased products). The purchaser 1104, who previously completed the purchase of the off-store product, may enter the venue, identify the package 16012 on the shelf 13240 where she purchased one or more products, and leave the venue with her package 16012. Advantageously, this configuration may allow the purchaser to save time (as she is not required to search the store for her desired product or wait in a checkout team) and also minimize interactions with store personnel and others.

To distinguish the individual packages, each package may include identification information that may be included in the purchase transaction record. Thus, the purchaser may access the purchase transaction record to obtain identifying information for the package in which she purchased the product. The identification information of the package may be automatically added to the purchase transaction record, such as by at least one processor of the electronic security system, by a mobile communication device associated with the purchaser, by a device for performing off-store product purchases, by a device associated with the venue (e.g., a handheld scanner, a cash register, or a cash register), or by another processor or program. Additionally or alternatively, the identifying information of the package may be manually added to the purchase transaction record, such as by the purchaser or by an individual who packages the purchased product within the package or places the package at a pick-up area within the venue.

In some embodiments, the identifying information of the package may be indicated with text, an image, or a machine-readable printed code, which may be included on the package, on a label or sign attached to or otherwise associated with the package, on an item included inside the package, or may otherwise be provided in a manner that identifies the package. For example, the identification information of the package may include an identifier of the purchaser (e.g., the purchaser's name or ID), an identifier of the purchased product (e.g., a description of the product, a SKU, UPC, serial number or bar code of the product, or tag ID of a wireless transmission tag associated with the product), or an identifier of a purchase transaction of the product (e.g., an order number, bar code assigned to the transaction, or number or ID of the package).

Additionally or alternatively, the identification information of the package may include information readable by the mobile communication device. For example, the identification information of the wrapper may include information organized in a machine-readable format such as Comma Separated Variables (CSV), resource Description Framework (RDF), javaScript object notation (JSON), extensible markup language (XML), bar code, QR code, or other machine-readable format. In some embodiments, the mobile communication device may receive the identification information of the package from another device or network. Additionally or alternatively, the mobile communication device may receive the identification information of the package by scanning a bar code or QR code (which may be provided on, for example, the package, a label or tag of the package, or a specific product contained in the package). In some embodiments, the package may be associated with a wireless transmission tag attached to or placed inside the package that has been associated with the package at the time of packaging or placed in the pick-up area, or during a remote purchase transaction or any other time prior to picking up the package. The mobile communication device may then scan the wireless transmission tag, receive its tag ID transmission (either directly or through a receiver, such as receivers 11300a-h in fig. 16), and use the tag ID as information uniquely identifying the particular package. In some embodiments, the notification from the mobile communication device that the at least one purchased product is being picked up at the venue may include identification information of the package containing the at least one particular product. For example, upon receiving the identification information of the package, the mobile communication device may transmit a notification (which may include the identification information of the package) to the at least one processor. In some implementations, this may enable the processor to identify the package to which the notification refers.

Fig. 19 illustrates an example of a package 16012 configured to hold a product purchased from a venue. The package 16012 may include identification information, such as a printed identifier 19012 of the purchaser and a machine readable code 19014 (e.g., QR code) that may be included in the purchase transaction record 18124. The mobile communication device 18116 associated with the purchaser may be configured to read the package identifying information; for example, the device 18116 may be configured to capture an image of the machine-readable code 19014 and obtain package identification information from the image. The mobile communication device 18116 can transmit the notification signal 19016 to the network 18112 and a processor (e.g., the processor 18114) connected thereto. In some embodiments, notification signal 19016 may include some or all of the identifying information of package 16012 and may indicate that at least one purchased product is being picked up at the venue.

In some embodiments, the package containing the purchased product may have an associated wireless transmission tag. For example, a wireless transmission tag may be assigned to, or otherwise paired with, a package at a venue. For example, the association between the wireless transmission tag and the corresponding package may be stored in a data structure. Additionally or alternatively, the wireless transmission tag may be attached to the corresponding package by adhesive, one or more mechanical connectors (e.g., clips or staples), strapping, wrapping, fastening, or any other type of physical connection. Additionally or alternatively, the wireless transmission tag may be incorporated into the package without physical attachment, such as when the tag is freely placed inside the package along with the product contained therein, or when the tag is connected to or within a shelf, box, drawer, or other fixture on which the package may be placed. The wireless transmission tag associated with the package may be of the same type as or a different type than the wireless transmission tag associated with the product provided by the venue. Due to the association between the wireless transmission tag at the venue and the package, the identification information of the package may include an identifier (i.e., tag ID) of the associated wireless transmission tag.

In some embodiments, a wireless transmission tag associated with a package may be configured for Near Field Communication (NFC). For example, a tag associated with the package may be configured to communicate with a mobile communication device or other receiver via NFC signals. In such embodiments, the identification information of the package may include a near field communication tag ID.

Additionally or alternatively, a wireless transmission tag associated with the package (hereinafter referred to as a wireless transmission package tag) may be configured similarly to a wireless transmission tag associated with a product provided by the venue. In such embodiments, the identification information of the package may include a package tag ID of a wireless transmission package tag associated with the package. The packaging label may be unassociated with any product in the venue. For example, the packaging label may not have a physical connection to the product in the venue (e.g., the packaging label may be physically connected to the package but not to any product). Additionally or alternatively, the data structure of the venue may not include an association or pairing between the wireless transmission packaging tag and the product of the venue.

Fig. 19 shows an example of a package 16012 having an associated wireless transmission package tag 19018. In the example shown, the package label 19018 may be adhered or otherwise attached to the outer surface of the package 16012. However, one of ordinary skill will appreciate that any suitable means may be employed to connect the package tag 19018 with the package 16012. Packaging label 19018 may not have an association and physical connection with the product of the venue; conversely, the package tag 19018 may be uniquely associated with the package 16012. In some embodiments, the packaging tag 19018 may be configured to transmit a signal (e.g., a product tag ID signal) to a receiver 18118 of the venue. Additionally or alternatively, the packaging tag 19018 may be configured to collect and store power transmitted from the receiver 18118 (or the receivers 1300a-11300 h) (which may be configured as exciters) and use the stored power to power operation of the packaging tag 19018.

In the disclosed embodiments, a wireless transmission wrap-tag may be configured to detect an activation signal (e.g., an EAS signal) transmitted by an EAS door when the wrap-tag is brought into proximity with the EAS door (e.g., when a wrap associated with the wrap-tag is carried through the EAS door). For example, when the wrap-tag receives an EAS signal from an EAS gate, the wrap-tag may be configured to output the signal in a different frequency band than the EAS signal. The particular tag may be further configured to include information regarding the status of the tag in the transmission, such as information indicating that the tag is transmitting a signal in response to receiving an EAS signal from an EAS gate. At least one receiver of the electronic security system may receive the signal transmitted by the packaging tag after the packaging tag receives the EAS signal from the EAS door. However, the EAS gate may not detect the signal transmitted by the packaging tag because the signal may be outside of the frequency range detected by the EAS gate. For example, the EAS gate may be tuned to detect signals in a frequency range of about 7-13MHz and/or in a frequency range of about 58-60kHz, while the wrapper tag may be configured to transmit signals in a frequency band of about 900MHz and/or in a frequency band of about 2.4 GHz. Thus, the packaging tag (and other wireless transmission tags disclosed herein) may be configured to be proximate to (including through) an EAS door without activating an EAS door alarm.

The disclosed embodiments may include packages at a venue, each package containing at least one particular product purchased from the venue. The package may have an associated wireless transmission package tag, while the particular product (and optionally other products provided by the venue) packaged by the package may not have an associated wireless transmission tag. In such embodiments, the wireless transmission packaging tag associated with the package may be configured to include all aspects of the wireless transmission tag and perform all functions of the wireless transmission tag disclosed herein. Further, in such embodiments, the data structure may store an ID associated with a wireless transmission packaging tag associated with information (e.g., model number, SKU number, price, or other product information) identifying one or more products included in the package. For example, in some embodiments, a wireless transmission packaging tag (rather than a wireless transmission tag associated with a product) may be implemented with the electronic security system disclosed herein. Additionally or alternatively, the disclosed embodiments may include the ability to disable the initiation of an alarm when a transmission is received from a particular packaging tag proximate to an EAS door (rather than a particular tag associated with a product).

The disclosed embodiments may relate to authorizing pickup of at least one particular product based on information received from a mobile communication device associated with a purchaser. The information received from the mobile communication device may include a notification that the purchased product is being picked up (which may include, in some embodiments, identification information of the package containing the particular product) and/or other information received from the mobile communication device. In some embodiments, authorizing pickup of at least one particular product may include permitting removal of the particular product from the venue. For example, authorizing the pick-up may include disabling the ability to initiate an alert (discussed in detail below), updating a data structure to include an indication that the particular product is authorized to be picked up, and/or sending a notification to a device (e.g., an employee device or computer) associated with the venue to move the particular product from the storage area to the designated pick-up area so that the purchaser may retrieve the particular product from the pick-up area without any obstruction. Additionally or alternatively, authorizing pickup of the at least one particular product may include sending a notification to a mobile communication device associated with the purchaser. For example, the notification may include pickup information such as a pickup location, an identifier of the package containing the particular product, or a photograph or other image of the particular product and/or the package containing the particular product. Other information that may be included in the pick-up notice may be: copies of the invoice are purchased (including, for example, the time and place of remote purchase, details of the product purchased, details of the payment means, and whether the payment was received and processed in sequence); information about the buyer's loyalty account or other membership to the venue (specifically, for example, discounts received with the purchase, or points, mileage, cashback, or other benefits realized with the purchase); or future purchase recommendations that supplement the product purchased in this transaction, or a product previously purchased by the same purchaser, or any other product recommended by the venue.

In the disclosed embodiments, the purchase transaction record may include information of a period of time that at least one particular product is authorized to be picked up. For example, the purchaser may specify the time period while performing the out-of-store product purchase, while sending a notification that the purchased product is being picked up, or at some other time. Alternatively or additionally, the venue may specify the time period during an out-of-store purchase, when an order is sent to the purchaser ready to be picked up, as a venue-wide policy available for review by the purchaser, or at some other time. In some embodiments, the pickup of a particular product may be authorized or denied based on whether the pickup was attempted during a period of time that the particular product was authorized to be picked.

For example, the disclosed embodiments may include, upon receipt of a notification that at least one purchased product is being picked, checking whether the notification was received within a period of time that at least one particular product was authorized for pickup. As an illustrative example, the processor 18114 illustrated in fig. 18 may receive a notification from the mobile communication device 18116 that at least one purchased product is being picked up. Upon receiving the notification, the processor 18114 may access the purchase transaction record 18124 to obtain information stored therein indicating a period of time for which at least one particular product is authorized to be picked. The processor 18114 may then determine whether the notification was received from the device 18116 within the period of time. For example, the processor 18114 may receive a timestamp indicating when the notification was received from the device 18116 (or when the notification was generated by the device 18116) and may determine whether the timestamp falls within the time period.

The disclosed embodiments may include authorizing the pick if the notification is received within a period of time that at least one particular product is authorized to pick. For example, as discussed above, authorizing pickup may include permitting removal of a particular product from the venue and/or sending a notification to a mobile communication device associated with the purchaser. The disclosed embodiments may additionally or alternatively include denying the pick if the notification is received outside of a period of time that at least one particular product is authorized to pick. For example, rejecting the pick-up may include sending a reject notification to a mobile communication device associated with the purchaser, enabling the ability to initiate an alert, and updating a data structure to include an indication that pick-up for the particular product is requested and rejected.

The disclosed embodiments may include disabling the ability to initiate an alarm. As used herein, an alert may refer to an alert or notification generated by a component of an electronic security system for notifying another component, another system, and/or person that the electronic security system has detected unauthorized pickup of a particular product or other intrusion into or loss of venue. In some embodiments, the electronic security system may include a fixed infrastructure configured to initiate an alert; examples may include speakers, lights, and/or graphic displays disposed at strategic locations within the venue, such as at entrances and/or exits, near a checkout counter or self-checkout server, in a storage area, or near a pick-up area. The at least one processor may cause an alarm to be initiated by causing an alarm initiating component of the electronic security system to be activated. Additionally, the at least one processor may disable the ability of the alert initiating component to initiate an alert. Thus, the alarm initiating component may be controlled to forego initiating an alarm when a particular event occurs (e.g., when a tagged product is carried through an EAS door), even when the event would otherwise trigger an alarm.

The disclosed embodiments may relate to disabling the ability to initiate an alarm when at least one receiver receives a transmission from a particular tag proximate to an EAS gate. In the disclosed embodiments, disabling of the ability to initiate an alert may occur after a pick-up authorization of at least one particular product. For example, if the product is not authorized for pickup, an alarm initiating component of the electronic security system may initiate an alarm when the receiver detects that the wireless transmission tag of the product is attempting to pass through an EAS door (or another security point) of the venue. However, after the pick-up authorization of at least one particular product, the at least one processor may update the data structure to include the following designations: a particular tag associated with a particular product is authorized to be picked up and left the venue without triggering an alarm. Thus, when the receiver of the electronic security system receives a transmission from a particular tag proximate to the EAS gate, the at least one processor may determine that the particular tag is passing through the EAS gate and may perform a lookup for the particular tag ID. Upon determining that the particular tag ID is associated with a product authorized for pickup, the at least one processor may disable the ability to initiate an alarm (e.g., the ability of an alarm component near the EAS door) so that the particular product may pass through the EAS door without interruption.

As an example, fig. 16 depicts a purchaser 1104 using a mobile communication device (e.g., device 18116 of fig. 18) to transmit a notification that a purchased product is being picked up from the pick-up area 13240. For example, the purchaser 1104 can use the mobile communication device to scan a bar code or other machine readable code on the purchased product and/or on the package 16012 containing the purchased product; based on the scanned information, the mobile communication device can generate and transmit a notification to a processor of the venue (e.g., processor 18114 of fig. 18). Based on receiving the notification, the processor may authorize pickup of the purchased product and disable the ability of the alarm 1114 to sound when the purchased product approaches the EAS doors 1110, 1112. When the purchaser 1104 approaches the EAS doors 1110, 1112 with the purchased product, the receiver 11300 may receive signals transmitted from the wireless transmission tag of the purchased product. The processor may perform a lookup of the detected tag ID and determine that the tag is associated with a product authorized for pick-up. The processor may disable the alarm 1114 in the vicinity of the EAS doors 1110, 1112 so that the purchaser 1104 may exit through the EAS doors with her purchased product without being stopped or interrupted by the alarm.

In the disclosed embodiments, disabling the ability to initiate an alert may include performing a lookup on the unique tag ID to determine that the associated at least one particular product is authorized to be picked. As non-limiting examples, the data structures may include data structure 18122, purchase transaction record 18124, and/or another data structure. The at least one processor may perform a lookup in the data structure for the unique tag ID to access information of the particular product associated with the unique tag ID. The at least one processor may determine whether the information for the particular product includes a designation that the product is authorized to be picked up.

Upon determining that the particular product is authorized for pick-up, the at least one processor may update the data structure to designate at least one of the particular product, the associated particular tag, or the package containing the particular product as authorized to pass through the EAS door without initiating an alarm. For example, the at least one processor may update the data structure to include instructions to not initiate an alarm when the at least one receiver receives a transmission from a particular tag proximate to the EAS gate, which may indicate that the particular tag is passing through the EAS gate. In some embodiments, the data structure to be updated may include inventory information for the venue. As non-limiting examples, the update data structure may include at least one of an update data structure 18122, a purchase transaction record 18124, or another data structure. In some embodiments, updating the data structure to include instructions that do not initiate an alert may include removing the unique tag ID and the product ID of the associated at least one particular product from the data structure. Thus, the unique tag ID and product ID may no longer be counted as part of the inventory of venues available for sale. In an alternative embodiment, updating the data structure to include instructions that do not initiate an alarm may include changing a status indicator of a particular product and/or a particular tag in the data structure to indicate that the particular product is authorized to be picked up and thus also authorized to pass through the EAS gate without initiating an alarm.

The disclosed embodiments may include a plurality of transmitters for wirelessly transmitting power to a wireless transmission tag. In the disclosed embodiments, the at least one receiver may be configured to receive transmissions when an EAS door is detected by a particular tag. The particular tag may be further configured to include information regarding the status of the tag in the transmission, such as information indicating that the tag is transmitting a signal in response to receiving an EAS signal from an EAS gate.

In the disclosed embodiments, the wireless transmission tag may be configured to transmit immediately upon sensing an EAS gate (e.g., upon receiving an EAS signal from the EAS gate). As used herein, "immediate" transmission may mean that the wireless transmission tag is configured to transmit a signal as soon as possible upon sensing an EAS gate, and the tag may not be programmed to wait a specified delay period after sensing the EAS gate before transmitting the signal. Sensing the EAS gate may include receiving a signal transmitted by the EAS gate via a dedicated device. Sensing the EAS gate may also include identifying that the received signal attribute matches an attribute expected from the signal of the EAS gate if a threshold sensitivity level is exceeded. Sensing the EAS gate may further include generating an internal signal in the tag, the internal signal indicating that the signal of the EAS gate is identified. Additionally or alternatively, the wireless transmission tag may be configured to transmit an ID transmission indicating proximity to the EAS gate upon sensing the EAS gate. For example, after a wireless transmission tag receives an EAS signal from an EAS gate, the tag may be configured to transmit a signal indicating the unique tag ID of the tag. Thus, the source of the signal can be determined based on the tag ID specified by the signal. In some embodiments, the signal transmitted by the tag based on sensing the EAS gate may be different from the signal transmitted by the tag based on other trigger events. For example, the transmitted signal may differ in at least one aspect, such as a transmit power level, a phase, a duration, a frequency, a length of a delay period before transmission begins, and/or information contained within the signal. In some embodiments, the tag may only sense the EAS door when the tag is close enough to detect an EAS signal. Thus, a signal transmitted by a tag based on sensing an EAS gate may indicate the proximity of the tag to the EAS gate because the signal is different from a signal transmitted by the tag in other cases.

For example, fig. 1 depicts a purchaser 1104 exiting through EAS gates 1110, 1112 with a first product 1106 having a first wireless transmission tag 1100a and also with a second product 1122 having a second wireless transmission tag 1100 b. Tags 1100a and 1100b may be configured to detect EAS gates 1110, 1112 based on receiving EAS signal 1118. In response, the tags 1100a and 1100b may immediately transmit the tag ID signals 1102a and 1102b without including a delay period before starting transmission. The receiver 1124 of the electronic security system may detect the tag ID signals 1102a and 1102b and the processor of the electronic security system (e.g., the processor 11004 of fig. 11 or the processor 18114 of fig. 18) may determine whether the detected ID signals 1102a and 1102b are associated with a product authorized to pass through the EAS gates 1110, 1112 (e.g., a product authorized to be picked up from a venue). In some embodiments, the processor may cause an alert mechanism (such as an audible alert or flashing light) to be activated to signal that the products 1106 and 1122 are not authorized to leave the venue. However, if the products 1106 and 1122 are authorized to leave the venue, the processor may disable activation of the warning mechanism when the purchaser 1104 passes through the EAS door with the product.

In the disclosed embodiments, the at least one processor may be configured to determine a tag location at the time of transmission based on the transmission received by the at least one receiver, thereby determining a tag proximity to the EAS door. For example, the proximity of a tag to an EAS gate may be determined by at least one processor based on a transmission range of EAS gate signals outside of which a particular tag will not receive an EAS gate signal and therefore will not transmit. By way of example, fig. 13A and 13C depict a product 13210 hanging on a shelf that may contain a wireless transmission tag 1100 configured to transmit an ID signal 13102. Because the tag 1100 is proximate to the receiver 11300C (see fig. 13C), the power level of the signal 13102 received by the receiver 11300C may be higher than the power level of the signal 13102 received by other receivers located remotely from the tag 1100 (e.g., the receivers 11300b and 11300 d). Thus, the at least one processor of the electronic security system may determine that the product 13210 is located on or near the shelf of fig. 13C, as the location of the receiver 11300C and the shelf may be known in advance.

The disclosed embodiments may include an electronic security system for facilitating return of purchased items to the location where they were purchased, and for preventing theft of the returned items. As the number of online purchases increases, the number of returned items also increases. It is estimated that the return rate for remote purchases (including online transactions) is nearly four times that for products purchased in the store, and can reach 50% or more of all online purchases in some markets and segments. This results in a significant increase in the number of return transactions within the store, particularly because some retailers charge return shipping fees, and many consumers prefer to avoid paying such fees. Currently, most in-store return transactions require customers to wait in line to reach a point of sale (POS) terminal where staff members can complete the return. Since many customers do not make other purchases when returning items in the store, an increased number of store returns may be undesirable to the retailer; this increases the flow of retail locations, potentially resulting in longer waiting times for customers making new purchases, and also makes it more difficult for customers to locate desired items within the store. Further, maintaining social distance may become difficult as the number of people in a store increases over a given time. Thus, there is a need for a return mode that allows for quick and contactless return of items within a store while protecting the returned items from theft and other losses.

The disclosed embodiments may relate to systems, methods, and computer-readable media for facilitating and protecting in-store returns of previously purchased products. Embodiments may include an electronic security system for a venue providing a product that is attached to or otherwise associated with a wireless transmission tag. When the purchaser wishes to return the purchased product to the venue, she can bring the product into the venue, place the product at the designated drop location, and notify the electronic security system that the product has been returned (such as by scanning the product, its wireless transmission tag, or package containing the product using her mobile device). The electronic security system can verify that the correct product is returned to the venue (such as by confirming the identity of the attached wireless transmission tag) and can control the venue's security gate and other burglar alarms: if anyone tries to remove the returned product from the venue without paying for it, a warning is initiated. In addition, once the condition of the returned product is approved, the electronic security system may automatically reimburse the purchaser for the returned product. Advantageously, the disclosed embodiments may enable quick and low contact return of items while also preventing theft and other loss of returned items from the store.

The disclosed embodiments may include an electronic security system as defined elsewhere in this disclosure. In some embodiments, the electronic security system may be configured to prevent theft of returned goods or items. As used herein, a returned good and a returned item may include any object or material that was previously sold, given, distributed, or otherwise transferred from a first party (e.g., a seller) to a second party (e.g., a buyer) and subsequently transferred back to the first party or a third party associated with the first party. In some embodiments, the purchaser may return (e.g., transfer) the goods or items back to the seller in exchange for some or all of the purchase price of the goods or items. By way of non-limiting example, the returned good or article may include food, clothing, footwear, electronics, consumer goods, equipment, vehicles, consumables, packaging, accessories, supplies, materials, artwork, animals, instruments, pallets, containers, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, trade products, articles, equipment, machines, appliances, parts, tools, furniture, or any other object that may be transferred between two or more parties.

The disclosed embodiments may include preventing theft of returned goods and/or returned items. Embodiments for preventing theft of returned goods and items may include any arrangement of hardware and software components for detecting, signaling, and/or blocking any access or removal of returned goods or items without the permission or consent of the owner or legitimate holder of the goods or items. The disclosed embodiments may be configured to enable return of goods and items to a store or other location and to prevent theft, or illegal removal of the returned goods or items from the location; for example, embodiments may permit removal of the returned goods and items from the venue when the returned goods or items have been purchased again or authorized for removal (e.g., when the returned goods or items are to be sent to offsite inventory or donated to a charity). The disclosed embodiments may be configured to detect removal of returned goods or items from a store or other location (such as removal of returned goods or items from a designated shelf, table, or other storage location) or delivery of returned goods or items through an entrance, exit, security door, window, doorway, or another checkpoint in the location. Additionally or alternatively, the disclosed embodiments may be configured to determine when access or removal of returned goods or items is unauthorized. For example, embodiments may determine when returned goods or items have not been paid for, are not authorized to be taken from the venue, or are being taken by the wrong person.

In the disclosed embodiments, the returned items may include wireless tagged returned items. As used herein, a wireless tagged return item may include any return item having at least one wireless tag. In some embodiments, the wireless tag may include any device or structure configured to identify the returned item or otherwise communicate information about the returned item via the wireless means. As a non-limiting example, the wireless tag may include a wireless transmission tag, as discussed in detail herein. As another non-limiting example, the wireless tag may include a non-transmitting device or structure that carries an identifier or other information corresponding to the returned item. Examples of wireless tags may include stickers, adhesive labels or tags, hang tags, buttons, sewn-on tags, adhesive tape, clip-on tags, and any other structure for identifying returned items without the use of wires. In some embodiments, the wireless tag may be attached or connected to the corresponding returned item by adhesive, embedding, stitching, mounting, bonding, friction fit, pocket-in, strapping, wrapping, fastening, or any other type of physical connection. Additionally or alternatively, an association (e.g., an assigned pairing or correlation) between the returned item and the wireless tag may be established and stored in a data structure, such as when the tag is placed in the same package as the product, without requiring a physical attachment between the tag and the returned item.

By way of example, fig. 16 illustrates an electronic security system for a venue that provides a product with an associated wireless tag (e.g., wireless transmission tag 1100). The customer may purchase the product from within the venue store or remotely (e.g., online or by telephone), and may pick up the purchased product at the venue or may have the purchased product delivered (e.g., via mail, UPS, fedEx, or express) to the customer's home or another delivery location. To return the purchased item to the venue, the customer may take the purchased product 16016 to the venue and complete the return transaction via a smart phone or another mobile communication device. For example, the previous purchaser 1104a may return the purchased product 16016 by taking the product into the venue and leaving it at the designated drop zone 16014 (such as a shelf, box, or table). The product 16016 may be withdrawn alone or in a bag or package. In some embodiments, the previous purchaser 1104a may complete the return by indicating to the electronic security system which products she wishes to return. In the depicted example, the previous purchaser 1104a may use her mobile device (e.g., mobile communication device 18116) to scan a QR code or bar code on the product or package containing the product, and the processor of the mobile device and/or venue may determine the product associated with the scanned code and indicate that the product has been returned to the venue. Once the venue confirms the return transaction (e.g., once the store employee confirms the status of the return product 16016), the electronic security system can automatically reimburse the previous purchaser 1104a for the return product.

In some embodiments, the return product 16016 may have an associated wireless transmission tag 1100. In some embodiments, the alert component 1114 (e.g., siren or flashing light) can be controlled to forego initiating an alert when the previous purchaser 1104a brings the tagged product 16016 into the venue. However, after the products are returned, the alarm component 1114 may be re-activated with respect to the returned products 16016 such that an alarm may be triggered if any of the returned products are detected to pass through the safety gates 1110, 1112. Advantageously, such reactivation may prevent a thief from taking the returned product 16016 from the return area 16014 and removing it from the venue. Further, the disclosed embodiments may enable a customer to return a product to a venue without having to interact with a store associate or wait for access to a point of sale (POS) terminal.

The disclosed embodiments may include at least one Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) door, as discussed throughout this disclosure. The at least one EAS door may include an acousto-magnetic EAS (AM-EAS) door that may generate a time-varying magnetic field configured to interact with a mechanically vibrating magnetic element in a security tag attached to a product in the store. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one EAS gate may include a radio frequency EAS (RF-EAS) gate that may generate a swept magnetic field configured to interact with a fine-tuned resonant circuit in the security tag. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one EAS gate may comprise a microwave EAS (MW-EAS) gate that may transmit and receive RFID transmissions to and from the security tag.

In the disclosed embodiments, at least one EAS door may be disposed in a venue. In some embodiments, at least one EAS door may be located at or near an entrance and/or exit of a venue within a venue, within a doorway between rooms of a venue, or at any other location within a venue. If the EAS door includes more than one pedestal, the pedestals may be spaced apart a distance to allow a customer to enter and exit the venue between the pedestals with minimal obstruction while the pedestals are within close enough proximity to each other to be triggered by passing EAS tags or wireless transmission tags. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one EAS door may include a concealed EAS door having a pedestal mounted under a floor, above a ceiling, or behind a wall within the venue.

By way of example, fig. 16 shows an exemplary venue having EAS doors 1110, 1112 at an entrance 16018 and an exit 16010. In some embodiments, EAS doors 1110, 1112 may be located within the doorways of entrance 16018 and exit 16020, or alternatively, within the venue at a short distance from the entrance and exit (e.g., proximate entrance 16018 and/or exit 16020). In some embodiments, EAS gates 1110, 1112 may each include a transmitter configured to transmit EAS signals within a predetermined frequency band; for example, the transmitted EAS signal may include electromagnetic energy having a frequency, for example, within the frequency band of 58-60kHz (AM-EAS wave) or 7-13MHz (RF-EAS wave). The EAS gates 1110, 1112 may also include EAS receivers configured to receive wireless signals within the same frequency band as the transmitted EAS signals. For example, an EAS security tag carried near the EAS gate 1110, 1112 may detect the transmitted EAS signal and, in response, may transmit or reflect a second signal back to the EAS gate 1110, 1112 at the same frequency. Upon receiving this second signal from the security tag, the EAS doors 1110, 1112 may trigger an alarm 1114, thereby indicating the passage of the tagged product through the EAS doors. As another example, a wireless transmission tag 1100 in the vicinity of EAS gates 1110, 1112 may detect the transmitted EAS signal and, in response, transmit a second signal having a different frequency than the EAS signal. In some embodiments, the EAS gates 1110, 1112 may not be triggered by the tag 1100 because the signal transmitted by the tag 1100 may be outside of the designated frequency band of the EAS receiver. Thus, the wireless transmission tag 1100 may remain "invisible" to the EAS gates 1110, 1112 (i.e., the signal transmitted by the tag 1100 may not trigger the EAS gate's response).

The disclosed embodiments may include a wireless transmission tag. In the disclosed embodiments, the wireless transmission tag may include at least one antenna or any other component and/or device configured to transmit and optionally also receive information and/or energy from air or from any other medium. In the disclosed embodiments, the wireless transmission tag may be configured to transmit and receive signals in one or more predetermined frequency bands.

In some embodiments, the wireless transmission tag may be attached to a product provided in or previously purchased from a venue. For example, the tag may be attached to the product by adhesive, embedding, stitching, mounting, adhesive, friction fit, pocket-in, strapping, wrapping, fastening, or any other type of physical connection. Additionally or alternatively, the wireless transmission tag may be assigned to or otherwise paired with or associated with a product or package containing the product, without a physical attachment therebetween. For example, a pairing or association between a wireless transmission tag and an associated product may be pre-established and stored in a data structure.

The disclosed embodiments may include receiving a transmission from a wireless transmission tag. In some embodiments, the signal transmitted from the wireless transmission tag may include information (e.g., an alphanumeric ID or serial number) of the tag's identity; thus, the identity of the tag transmitted may be determined by evaluating the ID information in the signal transmitted by the tag.

The disclosed embodiments may include at least one receiver configured to receive transmissions from a wireless transmission tag. In the disclosed embodiments, the receiver may include a stationary receiver in an environment, a wireless user device (e.g., a cellular telephone, a tablet, dedicated hardware, etc.), a handheld receiver (e.g., a handheld scanner provided by a venue to an employee or customer for use during a work routine or shopping session), or any other circuit or component that receives signals. The disclosed embodiments may include one or more receivers secured at designated locations within the venue; for example, the receivers may be distributed throughout the venue such that signals transmitted from any point within the venue may be received by at least one of the receivers. Additionally or alternatively, embodiments may include one or more mobile receivers (e.g., wireless user devices or handheld receivers) that may be placed or held by a user at a desired location within a venue.

Fig. 16 depicts another example of an electronic security system that includes multiple receivers 11300a-h distributed throughout a venue to receive broadcasts of signals from wireless transmission tags 1100 and other transmission devices. The receivers 11300a-h can be attached or otherwise attached to a wall, ceiling, shelf, display, or any other fixture or component within the venue capable of supporting the receivers. In some embodiments, the wireless transmission tag 1100 may be attached to a product provided in a venue (including previously purchased products). Additionally or alternatively, the wireless transmission tag 1100 may be attached to a package containing a product, such as the package 16012 depicted in fig. 19.

The disclosed embodiments may include at least one processor as described elsewhere in this disclosure. In the disclosed embodiments, the at least one processor may be configured to receive and transmit information via the at least one communication interface. As used herein, a communication interface may include any type of physical or wireless networking arrangement that enables information to be exchanged between two or more entities conforming to an agreed-upon protocol. For example, the communication interface may include a wired or wireless network, such as the internet, a private data network, a virtual private network using a public network, a Wi-Fi network, a LAN or WAN network, and/or other suitable connections that may enable information exchange between the various components of the embodiments disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the communication interface may include one or more physical links for exchanging data, such as telephone lines, ethernet, USB, thunderbolt, coaxial cable, twisted pairCable, optical fiber, or any other suitable physical medium for exchanging data. The communication interface may also include a public switched telephone network ("PSTN"), a wireless cellular network, and/or logical connections (such as TCP-IP and UDP) overlaid on another interface. Some embodiments of the communication interface may include direct communication over a dedicated communication network. The direct communication may use any suitable technology including, for example, bluetooth ^TM 、Bluetooth Low Energy ^TM (BLE), zigbee, wi-Fi, near Field Communication (NFC), or other suitable communication methods that provide a medium for exchanging data and/or information between separate entities.

The disclosed embodiments may include receiving a notification from a mobile communication device. For example, the at least one processor may be configured to receive a notification from the mobile communication device. As used herein, a notification may include a communication signal generated by a first component of a system to alert at least one of a second component of the system, another system, or a user of the occurrence of a particular event. In some embodiments, the notification may be generated and transmitted by an electronic device, component, or unit having data processing capabilities, including by way of non-limiting example, a personal computer, wearable computer, tablet computer, smart phone, server, computing system or terminal, cloud computing platform, communication device, any other electronic computing device, or any combination of the above. The notification may be received by a second electronic device, component or unit having data processing capabilities and/or by a human user; for example, the notification may include a digital signal transmitted from the first electronic device to the second electronic device. In some embodiments, the notification may be used to control the user interface to output at least one of an audible signal (e.g., siren or voice recording), a visual signal (e.g., a flashing light or digital display), a tactile output (e.g., vibration of the user device), or any other output perceptible to the user to convey the notified information to the user.

In some embodiments, a mobile communication device may include any removable or unfixed device or structure configured to receive and transmit wired and/or wireless communication signals, including the exemplary notification signals discussed above. In some embodiments, the mobile communication device may be configured to detect the occurrence of a particular event (e.g., receipt of a particular user input) and transmit a corresponding notification to a processor, another device, and/or a user of the electronic security system.

In the disclosed embodiments, the mobile communication device may be associated with a previous purchaser. In various embodiments, the previous purchaser may include: a person or entity buying, renting, borrowing, gifting, or otherwise obtaining a particular product from a venue; a person or entity (e.g., a downstream purchaser) purchasing or otherwise acquiring a particular product from another person or entity, which in turn purchases or otherwise acquires a particular product from a venue; legal owners or owners of particular products; or individuals or entities authorized to return a particular product to the venue on behalf of the owner or legal holder of the product. As used herein, a mobile communication device "associated" with a previous purchaser may include: devices owned or otherwise owned by the previous purchaser; devices that are authorized to return to the venue, on behalf of the owner or legal holder of the product, the possession or otherwise possession of the individual of the product; devices authorized to receive and transmit communications on behalf of a previous purchaser; a device that communicates via a telephone number, email address, screen name, or other unique means of communication of the previous purchaser; or a device that logs into the previous purchaser's account.

In the disclosed embodiments, the notification received may include a notification intended to return the previously purchased product to the venue. For example, the notification may include an identification of the product that was previously purchased (by the previous purchaser or other person) from the venue and that the previous purchaser wishes to return or transfer back to the venue. In some embodiments, the previous purchaser may return (or intend to return) the previously purchased product to the venue for refund of some or all of the purchase price, to exchange the previously purchased product for another product, or for other types of reimbursement. In some embodiments, a previous purchaser may use a mobile communication device to access a website or run an application associated with a venue, which may contain a history of transactions by the previous purchaser and/or a record of products owned or held by the previous purchaser. The previous purchaser may generate a notification by selecting one or more products to return to the venue on a website or application, and the mobile communication device may transmit information of the selected products (e.g., products to return) to the at least one processor. In some implementations, the previous purchaser may receive an estimated refund amount, return indication, or other information during or after generating the notification.

In an alternative embodiment, a previous purchaser may interact with the product to be returned using a mobile communication device to obtain information about the product. The mobile communication device may then transmit information about the product to the at least one processor. For example, a previous purchaser may use a mobile communication device to scan or capture an image of a QR code, bar code, serial number, or other unique identifier for each product she wishes to return. In some embodiments, the mobile communication device may identify a product associated with the scanned code (e.g., by accessing a data structure containing an association between a particular product and a unique product identifier (e.g., a bar code or serial number)) and transmit information of the identified product to at least one processor. Alternatively, the mobile communication device may transmit the scanned code to at least one processor, which may use the code to identify the product to be returned.

As another example, the mobile communication device may be configured to receive transmissions from a wireless transmission tag associated with a product to be returned; the transmission may be sent via a communication protocol such as bluetooth or NFC. In some embodiments, the signal transmitted by a particular tag may include identification information about the tag, such as a unique identifier (tag ID) of the tag. In some embodiments, the mobile communication device may receive the transmitted signal from the wireless identification tag, identify the product associated with the tag (e.g., by accessing a data structure containing an association between the particular product and the unique tag ID), and transmit information of the identified product to the at least one processor. Alternatively, the mobile communication device may send tag ID information received from the wireless transmission tag to at least one processor, which may identify the product to be returned using the tag ID.

For example, fig. 18 depicts a network diagram of an exemplary wireless identification system 18110 for a venue that provides a product with an associated wireless transmission tag 1100. As discussed elsewhere in this disclosure, the system 18110 may include a network 18112 that enables data to be exchanged between elements of the system including one or more processors 18114, mobile communication devices 18116, data structures 18122, and purchase transaction records 18124. In some embodiments, at least one data structure 18122 may be provided for storing inventory information for a venue, including information for a particular product provided in the venue. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one data structure 18122 may contain information of the wireless transmission tags 1100, such as a tag ID of each tag 1100 and an association between a particular tag and a particular product. In some embodiments, the system 18110 may include a data structure containing a purchase transaction record 18124. As discussed elsewhere in this disclosure, the purchase transaction record 18124 may include data for individual transactions (e.g., one or more particular products sold in a given transaction) and data for purchasers (e.g., unique purchaser identifiers and purchase histories).

In some embodiments, a customer desiring to return a previously purchased product to a venue may use the mobile communication device 18116 to transmit a notification of the intent to return the product to the one or more processors 18114. For example, a customer may use the device 18116 to access a website or run an application to generate a notification. As a non-limiting example, fig. 20A and 20B depict an exemplary Graphical User Interface (GUI) for generating a notification of an intent to return one or more previously purchased products. In some embodiments, a customer may use the mobile communication device 18116 to access a website or run an application associated with a venue; the website or application may include GUIs 20110 and 20210 for generating notifications of the intent to return the product to the venue.

Fig. 20A illustrates a non-limiting example of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) 20110 displayed on the mobile communication device 18116 for accessing information of products previously purchased or otherwise obtained by a customer. For example, the GUI 20110 may include a first field 20112 in which a customer may enter his unique purchaser identifier ("user ID"), which may include, for example, a user name, email address, or telephone number. The GUI 20110 may also include a second field 20114 in which the customer may enter an order or transaction number for one or more products to be returned. The mobile communication device 18116 may perform a search for the user ID in the purchase transaction record 18124 to access the transaction history of the customer. The device 18116 can identify a particular transaction in the customer's transaction history using the order or transaction number from the second field 20114 and can display the second GUI 20210 with information for the products purchased in the identified transaction. As discussed in more detail below, the customer may use the second GUI 20210 to select a product to return to the venue.

In an alternative embodiment, the mobile communication device 18116 may receive her unique user ID from the user and may perform a search for the user ID in the purchase transaction record 18124 to access the transaction history of the customer without the need for an order number or transaction number. In some embodiments, the device 18116 may prompt the user to select a particular transaction from the transaction history, and may then display the second GUI 20210 with information for the products purchased in the identified transaction. In an alternative embodiment, the mobile communication device 18116 can access the transaction history of the customer to generate a list of all products previously purchased by the customer from the venue. The device 18116 can then display a second GUI 20210 with information of the product purchased from the venue.

Fig. 20B illustrates a non-limiting example of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) 20210 displayed on the mobile communication device 18116 for selecting one or more previously purchased products to be returned to the venue. The GUI 20210 may include an identifier 20212 of the transaction or order and/or the customer generating the notification. The GUI 20210 may also include a description 20214 of the purchased product, an image 20216 of the purchased product, and a field 20218 (e.g., checkbox) that the user may select to specify the individual products for return. Based on the selection in field 20218, the mobile communication device 18116 can generate a notification of the intent to return the selected product and transmit the notification to the at least one processor 18114.

In the disclosed embodiments, the at least one processor of the electronic security system may be configured to communicate with a mobile communication device of a previous purchaser via one or more communication protocols or techniques; the at least one processor may receive, among other things, a notification from the mobile communication device via one or more communication protocols or techniques, that the previously purchased product is intended to be returned. For example, the mobile communication device may communicate with the at least one processor via one or more protocols, as discussed elsewhere in this disclosure.

The disclosed embodiments may include at least a second receiver in the venue configured to receive wireless transmissions from a mobile communication device associated with a previous purchaser. For example, the second receiver may comprise an access point or wireless router in the venue that may establish a wireless connection with the mobile communication device. The at least one processor may have a wired (e.g., ethernet) and/or wireless connection to the second receiver to enable data transfer between the mobile communication device and the at least one processor. In some embodiments, at least one receiver configured to receive transmissions from a wireless transmission tag (e.g., the receivers 11300a-11300g of fig. 11 or the receiver 18118 of fig. 18) may comprise a second receiver. Alternatively, the second receiver may be different from the at least one receiver configured to receive transmissions from the tag. In some embodiments, the second receiver may be configured to receive a notification from the mobile communication device that the previously purchased product is intended to be returned to the venue; for example, a previous purchaser may send a notification via a Wi-Fi connection using a mobile communication device while in the venue. The second receiver may also be configured to receive wireless transmissions of other information from the mobile communication device.

The disclosed embodiments may additionally or alternatively include receiving transmissions from a mobile communication device associated with a previous purchaser over a cellular network or any other network connection. For example, the at least one processor may be configured to receive transmissions from the mobile communication device over the cellular network. In some embodiments, the transmission received from the mobile communication device over the cellular network may include a notification intended to return the previously purchased product to the venue; thus, previous purchasers may use mobile communication devices to remotely generate notifications (e.g., when the purchaser is at home or in his vehicle). The transmissions received over the cellular network may also include other information transmitted from the mobile communication device. By way of example, in various embodiments, the network 18112 shown in fig. 18 may be configured as a cellular network. Information including a notification of an intent to return a previously purchased product to the venue may be transmitted between the mobile communication device 18116 and the one or more processors 18114 via the network 18112.

The disclosed embodiments may include a unique tag ID for a particular wireless transmission tag. As used herein, a unique tag ID may refer to data assigned to or otherwise associated with a particular one of the wireless transmission tags that is unique to the particular tag and identifies the tag to a user and/or to other devices or device components. The unique tag ID may include numbers, letters, characters, codes, strings, or other data forms that may allow identification of corresponding tags in addition to other wireless transmission tags. In some embodiments, the unique tag ID may be unique to a particular tag, and the particular tag may have only one tag ID. Alternatively, the same tag may have multiple unique tag IDs. Examples of tag IDs may include serial numbers, part numbers, bar codes, UUIDs, EPCs, and other data unique to a particular wireless transmission tag. In some embodiments, the unique tag ID may be paired with or assigned to a particular tag when the particular tag is manufactured or programmed. For example, the wireless transmission tag may be from a tag vendor preprogrammed with a tag ID, or the tag ID may be programmed by an entity upstream of the venue or the venue on the tag distribution chain.

In some embodiments, a particular wireless transmission tag may be associated with a previously purchased product. That is, the unique tag ID may correspond to a particular wireless transmission tag, which in turn may be associated with a previously purchased product. As used herein, "associated with …" may mean that a particular wireless transmission tag (hereinafter referred to as a "particular tag") may be assigned to or otherwise paired with a previously purchased product or related thereto. The pairing or association between a particular tag and a previously purchased product may be stored in a data structure such that information of the particular tag (e.g., a unique tag ID of the particular tag) may be used to access information of the previously purchased product from the data structure, and vice versa.

In some embodiments, "associated with …" may additionally or alternatively mean that a particular tag is physically attached to a previously purchased product. For example, a particular label may be attached to a previously purchased product by adhesive, embedding, stitching, mounting, bonding, friction fit, pocket-in, strapping, wrapping, fastening, or any other type of physical connection. In some embodiments, the particular label may be attached to a previously purchased product in a permanent or semi-permanent manner such that it may be difficult to remove the particular label from the product or such that removing the particular label from the product may damage the product.

The disclosed embodiments may include at least one data structure as defined elsewhere herein. In some embodiments, the at least one processor of the electronic security system may be configured to access, search, retrieve, add, modify, overwrite, and/or remove data from the at least one data structure. In some embodiments, other communication devices (such as mobile communication devices associated with previous purchasers) may be configured to access some or all of the data stored in the at least one data structure. In some embodiments, the data structure associated with the electronic security system may contain information for the wireless transmission tags (including a unique tag ID for each tag) and information for products previously sold and/or currently provided by the venue (including a unique product identifier or "product ID" for each product, such as a serial number, a unique EPC code, a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU), a Universal Product Code (UPC), a bar code, or a QR code). The data structure may also contain pairing information between the tag ID and the product ID, including pairing information between the unique tag ID and the product ID of a previously purchased product. In some embodiments, at least one data structure associated with the electronic security system may contain a purchase transaction record as defined herein. As a non-limiting example, the data structure may include a purchase transaction record 18124 depicted in fig. 18. Additionally or alternatively, a data structure associated with the electronic security system may contain inventory information for the venue. As a non-limiting example, the data structure may include data structure 18122 depicted in fig. 18.

The disclosed embodiments may include a unique tag ID that identifies a particular wireless transmission tag in a data structure. For example, identifying the unique tag ID of the particular tag may include performing a lookup in a data structure that may contain at least one of a purchase transaction record (as defined herein) and inventory information for the venue. In some embodiments, identifying the unique tag ID in the data structure may include receiving a product ID of a particular product (e.g., a previously purchased product) and performing a lookup on the product ID in the data structure. Because of the association between the product ID of the previously purchased product and the unique tag ID of the particular wireless transmission tag, the product ID may be used to access information of the corresponding wireless transmission tag, including the unique tag ID of the tag, from the data structure.

The disclosed embodiments may include identifying a unique tag ID in the data structure after receiving a notification that an intent to return a previously purchased product to the venue. In some embodiments, the information included in the notification may be used to identify a unique tag ID in the data structure. For example, the notification may include the product ID of the previously purchased product that the previous purchaser intended to return to the venue. As discussed above, the product ID may be used to perform a lookup in a data structure to identify a unique tag ID for a particular tag.

In an alternative embodiment, identifying the unique tag ID of the particular tag associated with the previously purchased product may include receiving the unique tag ID from the mobile communication device of the previous purchaser. For example, the mobile communication device may provide the unique tag ID to the at least one processor as information included in a notification intended to return a previously purchased product or in another data transmission. In this case, it may not be necessary to perform a lookup in the data structure to identify the unique tag ID.

As an illustrative example, fig. 18 depicts the processor 18114 configured to receive a product ID of a previously purchased product from the mobile communication device 18116. For example, the product ID may be included in a notification intended to return a previously purchased product, which may be transmitted from the device 18116 to the processor 18114. Alternatively, the product ID may be included in a different transmission from the device 18116 to the processor 18114. The processor 18114 may perform a lookup for the product ID in a data structure containing pairing information between the wireless transmission tag 1100 and the particular product; the data structures may include one or both of data structures 18122 and purchase transaction records 18124. Based on the lookup, the processor 18114 may access information for a particular tag associated with a previously purchased product, including the unique tag ID of the tag.

In some embodiments, the mobile communication device 18116 can be configured to obtain the unique tag ID and send the unique tag ID to the processor 18114. For example, the device 18116 may receive the unique tag ID by scanning or capturing an image of a barcode, QR code, or another identifier of a previously purchased product, and may perform a lookup (e.g., in the data structure 18122 or in the purchase transaction record 18124) on the product identifier to access the corresponding unique tag ID. As another example, a particular wireless transmission tag 1100 associated with a previously purchased product may transmit a signal containing information of a unique tag ID to the device 18116 via a communication medium such as NFC. The device 18116 may then send the unique tag ID to the processor 18114.

In the disclosed embodiments, the data structure may include information of the time period for which the previously purchased product was authorized to be returned. In some embodiments, the period of time that the previously purchased product is authorized to be returned (hereinafter referred to as an authorized return period) may be determined by the venue, the manufacturer of the previously purchased product, the distributor of the previously purchased product, the previous purchaser, or by another person or entity. Alternatively, the authorized return period may be automatically determined by a processor (e.g., at least one processor of the electronic security system) and stored in a data structure. In some embodiments, the authorized return period for the previously purchased product may be a length of time (e.g., 30 days, 90 days, or any other period of time) determined by the venue and may correspond to a length of time that the venue plans to hold an inventory of the previously purchased product and provide the product for sale. Thus, the end of the authorized return period may coincide with the time at which the venue ceases to offer the previously purchased product for sale. In some embodiments, the authorized return period may be specified by regulations governing the venue (such as a minimum period for return specified by law). In some embodiments, after the authorized return period has ended, the previously purchased product may not be eligible to return to the venue.

The disclosed embodiments may include, upon receipt of a notification intended to return a previous product to a venue, checking whether the notification was received within a period of time that the previously purchased product was authorized to return (i.e., within an authorized return period). As an illustrative example, the processor 18114 shown in fig. 18 may receive a notification from the mobile communication device 18116 that a previous product is intended to be returned. Upon receiving the notification, the processor 18114 may access information of the authorized return period from at least one of the data structure 18122 and the purchase transaction record 18124. The processor 18114 may then determine whether the notification was received from the device 18116 within an authorized back period. For example, the processor 18114 may receive a timestamp indicating when the notification was received from the device 18116 (or when the notification was generated by the device 18116) and may determine whether the timestamp falls within an authorized backoff period.

The disclosed embodiments may include authorizing the return of the previously purchased product to the venue if the notification is received within the period of time. For example, authorizing return of the previously purchased product may include sending a notification with a description of the impression to a mobile communication device associated with the purchaser. Authorizing the return of the previously purchased product may also include updating the data structure to include an indication that the return of the previously purchased product was requested and authorized. The disclosed embodiments may further include refusing to return the previously purchased product to the venue if the notification is received outside of the time period. For example, rejecting the return of the previously purchased product may include sending a rejection notification to a mobile communication device associated with the purchaser and updating the data structure to include an indication that the return of the previously purchased product was requested and rejected.

The disclosed embodiments may include verifying that a particular product identified by a unique tag ID of a particular tag was purchased by a previous purchaser. In some embodiments, the verification may be performed upon receiving notification of an intent to return to a previously purchased product. For example, verifying that a particular product identified by a unique tag ID was purchased by a previous purchaser ("the verification") may include confirming that the previous purchaser is the owner or legitimate holder of the product she intended to return to the venue; this may allow identifying situations where a customer intends to return a product owned by another person. In some embodiments, the verification may include accessing a purchase history of one or more particular products that a previous purchaser intended to return to the venue. For example, a purchase history for a particular product may be contained in a data structure and may include information of individuals currently or previously in possession of one or more particular products. From the purchase history, the at least one processor may receive identification information of a person currently in possession of one or more particular products; the identification information may include a unique identifier of the current owner, such as their name, email address, or unique customer number. The identification information of the current owner may be compared with the identification information of the previous purchaser to determine whether the previous purchaser is the current owner. Additionally or alternatively, if a previous purchaser purchased an item as a gift and received a gift certificate or redemption ticket with the product, based on the fact that the gift certificate or redemption ticket was included in the purchase transaction record as part of the purchase, the person receiving the product as a gift (along with the gift certificate or redemption ticket) may use the gift certificate or redemption ticket to identify themselves as the current owner of the product eligible for return, although their identification is not included in the purchase transaction record.

If it is determined that the previous purchaser is the current owner, the previously purchased product may be verified as having been purchased by the previous purchaser. The disclosed embodiments may include updating the data structure when a previously purchased product is verified as having been purchased by a previous purchaser. Updating the data structure may include adding a verification designation to information of previously purchased products in the data structure. However, if it cannot be determined that the previous purchaser is the current owner (e.g., if the previous purchaser is not included in the purchase history or if the previous purchaser is not the most current owner in the purchase history), the previously purchased product may not be verified as having been purchased by the previous purchaser. The disclosed embodiments may include avoiding updating the data structure if a previously purchased product is not verified as having been purchased by a particular previous purchaser. In some embodiments, avoiding updating the data structure may include forgoing adding a validation designation to information of previously purchased products in the data structure. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may require verification of the previously purchased product prior to authorizing the previously purchased product to return to the venue or prior to initiating a refund to the previous purchaser. Thus, the previous purchaser can be prevented from returning the product owned by the other person.

In some embodiments, the previous purchaser may complete the return by placing the product at the venue. For example, when a previous purchaser is ready to return a previously purchased product to the venue, she may place the product in a bag or package (e.g., with the original label of the product), take the product into the venue, and place the product in a designated drop zone. The previous purchaser may then use the mobile communication device to send a notification to the electronic security system indicating that the product has been returned and may leave the venue without the need to complete the transaction at the POS terminal. In some embodiments, the electronic security system may send a confirmation to the mobile communication device that the previously purchased product was received.

In some embodiments, the previous purchaser may use the mobile communication device to notify the electronic security system that the previously purchased product has been returned to the venue (e.g., send a return completion notification to the venue). The return completion notification may include identification information of the particular product ("returned product") returned to the venue. For example, a previous purchaser may use a mobile communication device to access a website or run an application associated with a venue, which may include a user interface or other mechanism for generating a return completion notification. The return completion notification may be generated, for example, based on a scan of a bar code or QR code of the returned product with the mobile communication device or based on a user selection of the returned product on a Graphical User Interface (GUI) displayed on the mobile communication device. Alternatively, the retract completion notification may be generated by other methods.

For example, fig. 16 shows a previous purchaser 1104a returning a previously purchased product 16016 to a drop zone 16014 in the venue. In the example shown, the returned product 16016 may be returned in a box or other package. Once she has placed the product 16016 in the area 16014, the previous purchaser 1104a may use the mobile communication device 18116 to scan a bar code or QR code on the product 16016 or on a label or package of the product. The device 18116 may use the scanned bar code or QR code to generate a return completion notification and may send the notification to the processor of the venue. In some embodiments, the return completion notification may include identification information for the return product 16016.

The disclosed embodiments may include updating a data structure to indicate that a previously purchased product was returned to the venue. For example, the at least one processor may receive an identifier of the returned product based on the return completion notification, and may use the identifier of the returned product to confirm that the previous purchaser returned the correct product to the venue (e.g., by comparing the identifier of the returned product to a product ID specified in the notification that the previous purchased product was intended to be returned to the venue). Upon confirming that the previously purchased product (e.g., the product specified in the notification intended to return the previously purchased product) was returned to the venue, the at least one processor may update the information of the previously purchased product in the data structure to indicate that the product has been returned. After the previously purchased product is returned to the venue (and optionally after the data structure is updated to indicate that the previously purchased product was returned), the at least one processor may perform one or more actions to complete the return, such as notifying store personnel of the return, reimbursement of the previous purchaser, adding the returned product to inventory of the venue, and reactivating a warning mechanism for the returned product. These exemplary actions are discussed below.

The disclosed embodiments may include initiating a refund transaction. For example, the at least one processor may be configured to initiate a refund transaction. As used herein, a refund transaction may include transferring money or other valuations from a venue to a previous purchaser in exchange for return of a previously purchased product. In some embodiments, the previous purchaser may be refunded a portion or all of the purchase price of the previously purchased product, or alternatively be refunded a different amount. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may be configured to initiate a refund transaction based on the data structure being updated to indicate that a previously purchased product was returned to the venue. Alternatively, the refund transaction may be initiated based on a different trigger event, such as adding the returned product to the inventory of the venue, confirming by store personnel that the returned product is in a satisfactory return condition, or receiving a refund authorization from the mobile communication device of the previous purchaser.

In some embodiments, funds for refund transactions may be accessed from a financial account or instrument (e.g., a bank account or digital wallet) held by the venue or by a subsidiary, parent, affiliated, corporate high-level, owner, or any other individual or entity associated with the venue. The at least one processor may be configured to access this account or instrument to retrieve funds for completing the refund transaction. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may be configured to access a financial account or instrument held by or otherwise associated with a previous purchaser to refund the previous purchaser for return. Examples of the previous purchaser's financial account or instrument may include a bank account or digital wallet account held by the previous purchaser (e.g., payPal, venmo, apple payment, or Zelle), a credit card, debit card, or any other instrument held by the previous purchaser or authorized for return of the previously purchased product. In some embodiments, upon completion of the refund transaction, the at least one processor may be configured to update the data structure to reflect, for example, that the previous purchaser has been reimbursed for the returned product and that the previous purchaser is no longer the owner of the returned product.

By way of example, fig. 17 depicts a Wide Area Network (WAN) 17310 for communicating with one or more banks or digital wallet platforms 17320. In some embodiments, the processor executing the refund transaction may be configured to access a first bank or digital wallet platform 17320 associated with the venue to retrieve funds for the refund transaction. The processor may transfer funds to a second bank or digital wallet platform 17320 associated with the previous purchaser. In some embodiments, when the refund transaction is completed, the processor may send a notification to the previous purchaser (e.g., to the mobile communication device 18116).

The disclosed embodiments may include delaying refunds to previous purchasers until employees at the venue have verified previously purchased products that were returned and considered the previously purchased products eligible for return. For example, once the data structure is updated to indicate that a previously purchased product was returned to the venue, the at least one processor may send an alert to the communication device of one or more employees of the venue. The communication device may include, for example, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, a handheld scanner, a smart phone, a cellular phone, a tablet, a pager, or any other device configured to receive signals from at least one processor and output notifications to venue employees. In some embodiments, the notification sent to the venue employee may include an identifier of the returned product (e.g., product ID or a description of the product's style, size, color, etc.) and additional information (such as the time the product was returned to the venue and the location information of the product). Upon sending a notification to the venue employee, the at least one processor may refrain from initiating and/or completing the refund transaction (e.g., may delay transferring the refund amount to the previous purchaser's bank account or digital wallet) until the refund product is deemed eligible for refund.

In some embodiments, the notification sent to the venue employee may indicate that the returned product should be checked by the venue employee member to confirm that the product is in a good enough condition to qualify for return. The venue employee may examine the returned product and send an indication to at least one processor (e.g., via a communication device) of whether the returned product (e.g., a previously purchased product) is eligible for return. If the returned product is indicated as eligible for return, a refund transaction may be completed, the returned product may be added to the inventory of the venue, and/or the data structure may be updated to include an indication that the returned product was found to be eligible for return. Additionally or alternatively, if the returned product is indicated as not eligible for return (e.g., due to a poor condition of the product), the at least one processor may send a notification to a mobile communication device associated with the previous purchaser, may send a notification to a venue employee member (e.g., a notification with instructions to handle the returned product), and/or may update the data structure to include an indication that the returned product was found to be ineligible for return and/or to include an indication of a condition of the returned product.

The disclosed embodiments may include enabling the ability to initiate an alarm. As described elsewhere in this disclosure, an alert may refer to an alert or notification generated by a component of an electronic security system that another component, another system, and/or person has detected an attempted theft, unauthorized removal or removal of a product from a venue, an attempt to tamper with the product such that the product does not trigger a theft alarm (e.g., an attempt to remove a security tag from the product), an attempt to shut down or deactivate the electronic security system (e.g., by transmitting a strong radio signal beyond the capabilities of at least one receiver of the system), or other intrusion into the venue or loss of venue. In some embodiments, the electronic security system may include a fixed infrastructure configured to initiate an alert; examples may include speakers, lights, and/or graphic displays disposed at strategic locations within the venue, such as at entrances and/or exits, near a checkout counter or self-checkout server, in a storage area, near a pick-up area, or near a drop-in area.

The at least one processor may be configured to cause an alarm to be initiated by causing an alarm initiating component to be activated when a particular event occurs. The at least one processor may be further configured to disable the ability of the alert initiating component to initiate an alert. Thus, the alarm initiating component may be controlled to forego initiating an alarm when a particular event occurs (e.g., when a tagged product is carried through an EAS door), even when the event would otherwise trigger an alarm. As used herein, enabling the ability to initiate an alarm may include controlling an alarm initiating component to change from a disabled state (e.g., a state in which the alarm initiating component foregoes initiating an alarm when a triggering event occurs) to an enabled state (e.g., a state in which the alarm initiating component initiates an alarm when a triggering event occurs). Additionally or alternatively, enabling the capability to initiate an alarm may include controlling the alarm initiating component to change from a first enabled state to a different second enabled state, wherein at least one characteristic of the alarm is changed.

The disclosed embodiments may include the ability to initiate an alarm when at least one receiver receives a transmission from a particular tag associated with a previously purchased product proximate to an EAS door. In the disclosed embodiments, enabling the ability to initiate an alert may occur when the data structure is updated to indicate that a previously purchased product was returned to the venue (e.g., may occur after or based on updating the data structure). For example, the alarm initiating component of the electronic security system may be controlled to forgo initiating an alarm when the receiver detects that a previously purchased product (or its associated wireless transmission tag) passes through an EAS door of the venue prior to the data structure update. This may allow the previous purchaser to take the product into the venue so that a return transaction is made without initiating an alarm. However, after the data structure update, the at least one processor may control the alert initiating component to initiate an alert when the at least one receiver of the electronic security system detects a particular tag associated with a previously purchased product proximate to the EAS door (e.g., receives a transmission from the particular tag). As a non-limiting example, an alarm may be initiated when a particular tag is determined to be within one meter of the space between pedestals of an EAS door. Thus, an alarm may be initiated when a thief attempts to steal a previously purchased product or when another customer inadvertently attempts to leave the venue with the previously purchased product instead of a different product that they have purchased (e.g., in the event of product confusion).

As an example, fig. 16 depicts a previous purchaser 1104a leaving a previously purchased product 16016 at a designated drop zone 16014 and using a mobile communication device (e.g., device 18116 of fig. 18) to transmit a notification that the previously purchased product 16016 was returned to the venue. For example, the previous purchaser 1104a may use a mobile communication device to scan a bar code or other machine readable code on the previously purchased product 16016 and/or on the package containing the product. Based on the scanned information, the mobile communication device may generate a notification that the previously purchased product was returned and transmit the notification to a processor of the venue (e.g., processor 18114 of fig. 18).

The processor may disable the ability of the alarm 1114 to sound when the product 16016 is detected as being proximate to the EAS gate 1110, 1112 prior to receiving the notification; this may allow the previous purchaser 1104a to successfully bring the product 16016 to the venue. Upon receiving a notification from the device 18116, the processor can update a data structure (e.g., data structure 18122 and/or purchase transaction record 18124) to indicate that the previously purchased product 16016 was returned to the venue. The processor may also enable the ability of the alarm 1114 to sound when the product 16016 is detected as being proximate to the EAS gates 1110, 1112. Thus, when a product 16016 is brought into proximity with EAS gates 1110, 1112 (e.g., within one meter of the gates), receiver 11300 may receive signals transmitted from the wireless transmission tags of the product. The processor may perform a lookup in the data structure for the unique tag ID of the tag and determine that the tag is associated with a product that is not authorized to leave the venue. Thus, the processor may cause the activation of the alarm 1114 to signal and prevent attempted theft of the previously purchased product 16016.

In the disclosed embodiments, the data structure may be configured to maintain the following indications prior to receiving notification of an intent to return to a previously purchased product: the ability to initiate an alarm is disabled when at least one receiver receives a transmission from a particular tag associated with a previously purchased product proximate to an EAS door. As used herein, the indication may include instructions for causing the at least one processor to perform a particular action upon occurrence of a particular trigger event. For example, prior to receiving notification from the mobile communication device that an intention is to return a previously purchased product, the data structure may include an indication or instruction for the at least one processor to control an alarm initiating component in the venue to forgo initiating an alarm when the previously purchased product (or a tag of the product) is detected as being proximate to an EAS door. This may allow a previous purchaser to bring the product into the venue without triggering an alarm. In the disclosed embodiments, enabling the capability to initiate an alert may include: when at least one receiver receives a transmission from a particular tag associated with a previously purchased product proximate to an EAS gate, the data structure is updated to enable initiation of an alarm. For example, after the data structure is updated to indicate that a previously purchased product was returned to the venue, the at least one processor may further update the data structure by changing or removing the foregoing indication, thereby disabling the ability to initiate an alert. Alternatively, the data structure may be updated to include an indication that enables initiation of the alarm (e.g., when a previously purchased product (or a tag of a product) is detected as being proximate to an EAS door, the at least one processor is instructed to cause activation of the alarm initiating component).

The disclosed embodiments may include sending a notification to a mobile communication device associated with a previous purchaser indicating completion of a return process for a previously purchased product. For example, the at least one processor may be configured to send a notification (hereinafter referred to as a "return completion notification") to the mobile communication device indicating that the return process of the previously purchased product is complete based on the data structure being updated to indicate that the previously purchased product was returned to the venue, based on completion of the refund transaction, based on receipt of a confirmation from the venue employee that the previously purchased product is eligible for return, or based on some other triggering event.

The disclosed embodiments may include receiving an indication that the returned previously purchased product was purchased again by another purchaser. For example, the at least one processor may receive an indication that the returned product was re-purchased based on an electronic purchase transaction initiated for other purchasers to purchase the returned product, based on information that the product was purchased in a store to which it was returned, an off-store product purchase of the returned product, or by other means of informing the at least one processor that the returned product was re-purchased. In some embodiments, upon receiving an indication that the returned previously purchased product was purchased again by another purchaser, the at least one processor may disable the ability to initiate an alert upon detecting a particular tag associated with the returned previously purchased product. Thus, other purchasers may leave the venue with the product without initiating an alarm.

The disclosed embodiments may include determining a tag location at the time of transmission based on the transmissions received by the at least one receiver, thereby determining tag proximity to the EAS door. In some embodiments, the proximity of the tag to the EAS gate may be determined by the at least one processor based on a transmission range of the EAS gate signal outside of which a particular tag will not receive the EAS gate signal and therefore will not transmit.

The disclosed embodiments may include receiving location identification information. The location identification information may indicate the location of a previous purchaser, mobile communication device, or another subject. For example, the location identification information may include GPS data, data of a device tracking program (e.g., "find my iPhone" for apples, "find my device" for google, and "find my mobile product" for samsung), data transmitted from the mobile communication device to a receiver associated with the venue and/or at least one processor, or other data indicative of the location of the mobile communication device. The disclosed embodiments may include determining that a mobile communication device associated with a previous purchaser is located within a venue based on location identification information. For example, the location of the device may be determined and compared to the known location of the venue. A determination may be made based on the comparison as to whether the mobile communication device is located within the venue. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may authorize return of a previously purchased product only if the mobile communication device is determined to be within the venue. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one processor may send a notification to the mobile communication device that the return transaction can only be completed within the venue, or if the mobile communication device is determined to be outside the venue, the mobile communication device is prevented from accessing a portion of the website or application that can initiate the return transaction.

In the disclosed embodiments, at least one receiver may be configured to receive a tag signal reflecting sensing of an EAS door; the tag signal may be transmitted by a wireless transmission tag. As used herein, a tag signal may include a transmission sent by one of the wireless transmission tags. The tag signal may include, for example, identification information of the tag (e.g., a unique tag ID of the tag) and/or an indication of a transmitted trigger event. For example, and as discussed above, an EAS door may be disposed near an entrance or exit of a venue and/or at another designated location, and may be configured to transmit an activation signal (e.g., an EAS signal) to a wireless transmission tag proximate to the EAS door, such as a tag associated with a product or with a package carried through the EAS door. In response to sensing (e.g., detecting or receiving) an EAS signal from an EAS gate, the wireless transmission tag may be configured to output a signal in a different frequency band than the EAS signal. The at least one receiver may be configured to receive a signal transmitted by the tag (i.e., a tag signal reflecting the sensing of the EAS gate by the wireless transmission tag). However, the EAS gate may not detect the signal transmitted by the tag because the signal may be outside of the frequency range detected by the EAS gate. The particular tag may be further configured to include information regarding the status of the tag in the transmission, such as information indicating that the tag is transmitting a signal in response to receiving an EAS signal from an EAS gate.

In the disclosed embodiments, a particular tag associated with a previously purchased product may be configured to transmit immediately upon sensing an EAS door (e.g., upon receiving an EAS signal from the EAS door). Additionally or alternatively, the particular tag may be configured to transmit an ID transmission indicating that the particular tag is proximate to the EAS door when the EAS door is sensed. For example, after a particular tag receives an EAS signal from an EAS gate, the particular tag may be configured to transmit a signal indicating the unique tag ID of the tag. Thus, the source of the signal can be determined based on the tag ID specified by the transmitted signal. In some embodiments, the signal transmitted by a particular tag based on sensing an EAS gate may be different from the signal transmitted by the particular tag based on other trigger events. For example, the transmitted signal may differ in at least one aspect, such as a transmit power level, a phase, a duration, a frequency, a length of a delay period before transmission begins, and/or information contained within the signal. In some embodiments, a particular tag may only sense an EAS door when the tag is close enough to detect and be triggered by an EAS signal. Thus, a signal transmitted by a particular tag based on sensing an EAS gate may indicate the proximity of the particular tag to the EAS gate because the signal is different from a signal transmitted by the particular tag in other cases.

For example, fig. 1 depicts a purchaser 1104 exiting through EAS gates 1110, 1112 with a first product 1106 having a first wireless transmission tag 1100a and also with a second product 1122 having a second wireless transmission tag 1100 b. Tags 1100a and 1100b may be configured to sense EAS gates 1110, 1112 based on receiving EAS signal 1118. In response, the tags 1100a and 1100b may immediately transmit the tag ID signals 1102a and 1102b without including a delay period before starting transmission. The receiver 1124 of the electronic security system may detect the tag ID signals 1102a and 1102b and the processor of the electronic security system (e.g., the processor 11004 of FIG. 11 or the processor 18114 of FIG. 18) may determine whether the detected ID signals 1102a and 1102b are associated with a product authorized to pass through the EAS gates 1110, 1112. In some embodiments, the processor may cause an alert mechanism (such as an audible alert or flashing light) to be activated to signal that the products 1106 and 1122 are not authorized to leave the venue. However, if the products 1106 and 1122 are authorized to leave the venue, the processor may disable activation of the warning mechanism when the purchaser 1104 passes through the EAS door with the product.

The disclosed embodiments may relate to systems, methods, and computer-readable media for wirelessly purchasing items displayed in a store window or other display area. For example, when a customer is expected to pass through a display window of a store, she can see in the display an item that she wants to purchase or that she wants to receive additional information for it (such as price, size, and care instructions for the item). In the disclosed embodiments, a particular presentation window may be identified by detecting the location of a customer's mobile device (e.g., a cellular telephone, a smart phone, or a wearable computing device) and determining which presentation window is in the vicinity of the device. In the disclosed embodiments, the list of items currently being presented in the window (such as images and/or text descriptions with the respective items) may be relayed to the customer's device. The customer may use her device to select and purchase the desired items, and may also select a delivery method for each purchased item. In the disclosed embodiments, a customer's order may be received, a purchase transaction may be completed, and an arrangement may be made for the purchase item to be delivered via the customer's designated delivery method or methods.

Advantageously, the disclosed embodiments may improve the shopping experience of a customer by enabling the customer to obtain information about the displayed items and to complete the purchase even when the store is closed and even if the customer does not wish or have sufficient time to enter the store. Further, the disclosed embodiments may provide a more user-friendly alternative to traditional online shopping because the particular items being displayed may be quickly identified based on the location of the customer and information for those items may be sent to the customer's device. Thus, customers may avoid browsing long lists of items on the store's website and searching for specific items.

Further, the disclosed embodiments may also be beneficial to retailers, as the embodiments may allow retailers to complete sales to customers outside of the store and sell items even when the store is closed. Further, the disclosed embodiments may allow retailers to generate sales revenue from displays that are not directly affiliated with the store, such as "pop-up displays" in temporary locations (e.g., temporary displays at flea markets, concerts, and gatherings), and displays in high traffic areas near but not immediately adjacent to the retail store (e.g., in another area of the shopping mall or on a main street or large street several blocks away from the store).

The disclosed embodiments may include wireless transactions and wireless transaction operations. As used herein, a transaction may include an agreement or arrangement between two or more parties to exchange personal or actual property for monetary payment or other valuation. For example, the transaction may include an exchange between a commercial seller (such as a store or retail location) and a buyer, wherein the buyer purchases, rents, borrows, or otherwise obtains one or more items from the seller in exchange for monetary payments. In some embodiments, the wireless transaction may include a transaction performed in whole or in part via a wireless connection as defined above. For example, buyers and sellers may perform wireless transactions using electronic devices connected through wireless connections, such as Wi-Fi, bluetooth, near Field Communication (NFC), cellular networks, zigBee, Z-wave wireless protocols, LAN or WAN networks, or any other suitable wireless medium for transmitting data between the parties. As used herein, a wireless transaction operation may include any action, instance, step, procedure, or manner of functioning to initiate, perform, or complete a wireless transaction.

The disclosed embodiments may include a system for conducting wireless transaction communications. In some embodiments, the system for conducting wireless transaction communications may include any type of wireless networking arrangement that enables the exchange of information and/or data between parties to a wireless transaction. For example, a system for conducting wireless transaction communications may include an arrangement that enables wireless communications between sellers and buyers, such as communications regarding products for sale, offers for purchase, acceptance of offers, and money transfers.

By way of non-limiting example, fig. 18 depicts a system 18110 configured for wireless transaction communications. As discussed in detail elsewhere in this disclosure, the system 18110 may include a network 18112 that enables data and/or information to be exchanged between elements of the system, such as one or more processors 18114 and a mobile communication device 18116. In some embodiments, the network 18112 may include any type of wireless computer networking arrangement configured to exchange data. The system 18110 may also include at least one processor 18114 that may be associated with a seller, such as a retail store. For example, the processor 18114 may include a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a server, a virtual server, a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, a handheld scanner, a smart phone, a tablet, a pager, or any other wireless communication device. The processor 18114 may be located within a retail location and/or may be used by employees and other individuals associated with the retail location for business purposes, including performing wireless transaction operations. The system 18110 may also include a mobile communication device 18116, such as a cellular telephone, smart phone, tablet, desktop computer, laptop computer, PDA, handheld scanner, wearable device, or other mobile computing device. In some embodiments, the device 18116 may be associated with a buyer or customer at a retail location. In some embodiments, the buyer and seller may accordingly perform wireless transactions using the mobile communications device 18116 and the processor 18114, which may communicate wirelessly via the network 18112.

The disclosed embodiments may include at least one processor as defined elsewhere in this disclosure. By way of non-limiting example, fig. 18 depicts at least one processor 18114. The disclosed embodiments may include and/or access at least one data structure. As used herein, a data structure may include an ordered or unordered storage of information stored in a computer-accessible form on a readable and writable medium. A person, entity, or device, referred to as a requestor, may need to provide some form of credentials, login, certificate, or identification in order to determine whether the requestor is authorized to access information stored in a data structure. Such authorization data may be generic to the entire data structure, or it may be specific to each and every piece of stored information, or specific to specific characteristics and properties of the entire data structure, but not to other specific characteristics and properties.

In some embodiments, at least one processor of the disclosed system may be configured to access data contained in at least one data structure. Additionally, the at least one processor may be configured to search, retrieve, add, modify, overwrite, and/or remove data from the at least one data structure. As a non-limiting example, the at least one data structure may include data structure 18122 depicted in fig. 18 as being accessible by the one or more processors 18114.

In the disclosed embodiments, the at least one data structure may contain an identification of a plurality of presentation areas. As used herein, a presentation area may include any zone, section, room, or area in which a product for sale is presented to the public in order to facilitate the product and/or the venue in which the product is sold. In some embodiments, the display area may include structure or fixtures that arrange the product for viewing by intended customers and other members of the public; some examples of structures or fixtures in the display area may include cabinets, shelves, baskets, boxes, window displays, display boxes, or tables. Additionally or alternatively, such structures or fixtures may include mannequins or display dolls or any other similar structures designed to mimic the use of the displayed items in real life. The disclosed embodiments may include multiple display areas, i.e., multiple areas or regions for presenting products for sale to the public. In some embodiments, multiple display areas may be included within the same store or building. Additionally or alternatively, multiple presentation areas may be owned or used by the same individual or entity (e.g., by the same company). The multiple display areas may be located in the same geographic area or in different geographic areas (e.g., in different stores or buildings, at different addresses, in different cities or countries, etc.). In some embodiments, at least one data structure may contain additional information for the presentation area, such as location information for each presentation area.

By way of non-limiting example, FIG. 13A shows shelves 13240 and shelves 13250, which may both be considered display areas, as both shelves 13240 and shelves 13250 may display products (in this example, clothing) in a manner that encourages customers to view and purchase the products. As another non-limiting example, fig. 21 depicts a retail location 21010 including two display areas 21012 and 21014, each of which can display one or more items provided by the location for sale. In the example shown in FIG. 21, presentation areas 21012 and 21014 may be configured as a window presentation. As also illustrated in fig. 16, mannequin 16022 may be a display area.

As described above, the at least one data structure may contain an identification of a plurality of presentation areas. In some embodiments, the identification of the presentation area (hereinafter referred to as "presentation area ID") may include data assigned to or otherwise associated with a particular one of the presentation areas that is unique to the particular presentation area and identifies the presentation area for the user and/or device. The unique presentation area ID may include numbers, letters, characters, codes, strings, or other data forms that may allow identification of corresponding presentation areas in addition to other multiple presentation areas. In some embodiments, each presentation area ID may be unique to a particular presentation area, and the particular presentation area may have only one presentation area ID. Alternatively, the same presentation area may have multiple unique presentation area IDs. Examples of presentation area IDs may include serial numbers, part numbers, bar codes, QR codes, EPCs, and other data unique to a particular presentation area. Additionally or alternatively, the presentation area ID may include an identification of its location, such as a street address, GPS coordinates, or coordinates related to an indoor map of the shopping mall. Once a pairing or association between a given presentation area and a particular presentation area ID is established, the pairing or association may be stored in at least one data structure.

In some embodiments, the unique ID of the presentation area may be displayed within or near the presentation area such that the ID may be scanned or photographed by a device having an imaging component (e.g., by a camera on a smart phone or laptop). For example, the unique ID of the display area may be displayed on a sign, sticker, banner, flag, post, hang tag, or any other display mechanism where the unique ID is perceivable to the public. To illustrate, fig. 21 depicts a first presentation area 21012 having a corresponding presentation area ID 21016, which can be configured as a scannable graphic code (e.g., QR code). FIG. 21 also depicts a second presentation area 21014 having a corresponding different presentation area ID 21018. In some embodiments, a person desiring to receive additional information for a product shown in one of the display areas may scan the corresponding display area ID using the smart device and may in response receive the requested information on their smart device.

In the disclosed embodiments, the at least one data structure may contain an identification of a plurality of products associated with a plurality of display areas. The product may be displayed in or provided by a retail location for sale. In some embodiments, each product of the plurality of products may be associated with at least one display area of the plurality of display areas. As used herein, "associated with …" may refer to products being contained in, arranged for public viewing within, or otherwise assigned to or paired with a particular display area.

As described above, the at least one data structure may contain an identification of a plurality of products. In some embodiments, the identification of a product (hereinafter referred to as a "product ID") may include data assigned to or otherwise associated with a particular product for identification purposes. The product ID may include numbers, letters, characters, codes, strings, or other data forms that may allow identification of the corresponding product. Some non-limiting examples of product IDs include serial numbers, unique EPC codes, stock Keeping Units (SKUs), universal Product Codes (UPCs), bar codes, or QR codes. In some embodiments, the ID of a particular product may be unique to that particular product, such that the product may be distinguished from other multiple products. Once a pairing or association between a given product and a particular product ID is established, the pairing or association may be stored in at least one data structure.

The disclosed embodiments may include a request for information from a mobile communication device. For example, the at least one processor may be configured to receive a request for information from a mobile communication device. By way of non-limiting example, fig. 18 illustrates an embodiment in which a mobile communication device 18116 (e.g., a smart phone) may be configured to send communications (including requests for information) to other components via a network 18112. As used herein, a request for information may include a communication signal sent from a first device to a second device requesting a response communication signal from the second device and specifying particular information to be included in the response communication signal. In some embodiments, the mobile communication device may be operated by, for example, a customer within a retail location, a customer outside a retail location, or a passer-by seeking information for one or more products in a display area.

In the disclosed embodiments, the request received from the mobile communication device may include a request for information related to a particular presentation area in the vicinity of the mobile communication device. In some embodiments, the presentation area in the vicinity of the mobile communication device may include a presentation area within a viewing distance of a person holding or operating the mobile communication device. Additionally or alternatively, the presentation area in the vicinity of the mobile communication device may comprise a presentation area that is the shortest distance from the mobile communication device relative to other presentation areas.

In the disclosed embodiments, the request for information related to a particular presentation area may include a location ID entered into the mobile communication device. For example, a person requesting information about a particular presentation area may generate a request by entering a location identifier (or "location ID") specifying the particular presentation area into their mobile communication device. For example, the location ID may be derived from a scan of the graphic code using the mobile communication device or another device with a camera or imaging tool; the mobile communication device (and/or another processor) may derive a location ID from the scan and may generate and send a request for information to at least one processor, which may include the location ID. In some embodiments, the location ID may correspond to or may be identical to a display area ID of a particular display area. For example, in fig. 21, presentation area ID 21016 may include a scannable QR code that may be scanned to generate a request for information about presentation area 21012.

As another example, the location ID may be derived from a Near Field Communication (NFC) tag associated with a particular presentation area. That is, the NFC tag may be located near or may otherwise uniquely correspond to a particular display area. A person seeking information about a particular presentation area may receive a transmission from an NFC tag using their mobile communication device, and the mobile communication device may determine a location ID and generate a request for information using the information received from the NFC tag. Alternatively, the location ID of the particular presentation area may be received by other means, such as a geo-tagged picture taken by the mobile communication device or by a mobile device in communication with a bluetooth beacon or local WiFi network associated with the particular presentation area, in order to generate a request for information.

The disclosed embodiments may include receiving location information associated with a location of a mobile communication device. For example, the at least one processor may be configured to receive location information associated with a location of the mobile communication device. As used herein, the location of a mobile communication device may refer to a particular location, point or place where the mobile communication device is located. Furthermore, the location information associated with the location of the mobile communication device may comprise a set of numbers, character strings, coordinates, or digital bits representing numbers, character strings or coordinates, which may refer to or identify the physical position or location of the subject (here the mobile communication device) relative to a predetermined coordinate system or another reference. That is, the location information may include data that identifies or specifies the physical location of the mobile communication device in space. In some embodiments, receiving a request for information from the mobile communication device may trigger the at least one processor to request or access location information of the mobile communication device.

Some non-limiting examples of location information may include street addresses, points on a map or other Geographic Information System (GIS), global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates, indoor navigation system measurements, and any other data indicative of the location or physical position of a mobile communication device. For example, in the disclosed embodiments, the location information associated with the location of the mobile communication device may include at least one of a GPS location, a Global navigation satellite System (GLONASS) location, a Galileo location (i.e., location information derived from the Galileo satellite system), or other global navigation and positioning system location information associated with the mobile communication device. Additionally or alternatively, the location information associated with the location of the mobile communication device may include information received from at least one of an indoor navigation system or an indoor positioning system, such as a WiFi-based time of flight (ToF) or Round Trip Time (RTT) positioning system, or an Ultra Wideband (UWB) -based positioning system, which may use strategically placed relays and beacons throughout the area to determine the location of the subject (for the indoor positioning system) and/or to direct the subject to a target location (for the indoor navigation system).

The disclosed embodiments may include performing a lookup in at least one data structure to identify a particular presentation area in proximity to the mobile communication device in response to the location information. For example, it may be assumed that the mobile communication device is located at the same location as or within a short distance of a particular presentation area. Further, the at least one data structure may include location information for each presentation area, as discussed above. Thus, the at least one processor may perform a lookup in the at least one data structure to identify a presentation area having the same location as, or closest to, or within a predetermined distance of, the mobile communication device. This presentation area may be identified as a specific presentation area in the vicinity of the mobile communication device (i.e., a presentation area that is the subject of the information request).

In an alternative embodiment, the at least one processor may be configured to identify the particular presentation area based on a request for information received from the mobile communication device. For example, in some embodiments, the request for information may include a location ID of a particular display area, which may correspond to or may be equivalent to a display area ID of the particular display area. The at least one processor may be configured to determine an identity of the particular presentation area based on the received location ID (e.g., by performing a lookup on the received location ID in the at least one data structure to determine the corresponding presentation area).

In some embodiments, the particular presentation area may include a window presentation. For example, a window display may include a window in a retail location (typically a window on the front of a store) in which products may be displayed such that a customer may view the products from outside the location. By way of example, FIG. 21 depicts presentation areas 21012 and 21014 configured as window presentations. Additionally or alternatively, the particular display area may be adjacent to a sales location carrying a product associated with the particular display area. As used herein, a display area adjacent to a sales location may include a display area outside of the sales location but in close proximity to the sales location. This may include, for example, display areas along blocks or across streets from the sales location, display areas on the front of the building in which the sales location is also located, and display areas in a different area of the shopping mall than the sales location. As used herein, a sales location carrying a product associated with a particular display area may include a sales location that holds the product in inventory and/or provides the product for sale or lease.

In some embodiments, a particular display area may be in proximity to a storage location that maintains products associated with the particular display area as products that are available for shipment. As used herein, a storage location may include a location where a product is placed or maintained as an intermediate stage between different stages of a supply chain or a production chain. For example, the storage location may include a location to hold a product between manufacture and shipment, a location to hold a product between import to a country and delivery to a target location within a country, or a location to hold a product between reaching a destination country and shipment to an end customer. In some embodiments, a particular display area may be located within, adjacent to, or near a storage location such that potential customers may view the display area and purchase the displayed product. In this case, in some embodiments, the purchased product may be shipped from the venue to the purchaser.

In some embodiments, the particular display area may be associated with a remote location for at least one of product sales or product storage. For example, a particular display area may not be located adjacent to or within the viewing distance of the venue. This may include embodiments in which the temporary display area is provided in a high flow area (such as at flea markets and concerts) but the inventory of products remains at a location remote from the display area. This may also include embodiments in which the display area is set up in a country or region where the venue does not have a permanent residence (such as a store or storage facility) but still wishes to conduct business. In some embodiments, the remote location may provide products associated with a particular display area as products available for sale, shipment, or pickup. For example, products displayed in a particular display area may be provided for purchase in a venue. The venue can provide for shipping of the purchased products to customers who complete the purchase from the particular display area, such that the customers do not need to travel to the venue to retrieve the items they purchased. Additionally or alternatively, the venue may provide in-store pickup of products purchased from a particular display area, such that a customer making a purchase from a particular display may enter the venue to obtain the products they purchase.

The disclosed embodiments may include retrieving product-related information for a product associated with a particular display area from at least one data structure based on an identification of the particular display area. For example, when the identity of the particular presentation area (i.e., the particular presentation area ID) is known, the at least one processor may perform a lookup in the at least one data structure for the particular presentation area ID to access information for the particular presentation area. The accessed information may include a list of products and product-related information for products associated with the particular display area (i.e., products contained in, arranged for overt viewing within, or otherwise paired with the particular display area). In some embodiments, the product-related information may include data about a particular item or data about a type or category of a particular item. Examples of product-related information may include price information, MSRP, pictures of products, descriptions of products, care instructions, usage instructions, material composition, manufacturing time and location, shipping history, processing history, and ownership history. In some embodiments, the product-related information for the products associated with the particular display area may include an identification of at least some of the products associated with the particular display area (i.e., a unique product identifier or product ID for at least some of the products associated with the particular display area). Additionally or alternatively, the product-related information of the product associated with the particular display area may include information of a physical location at which the product associated with the particular display area is available for pickup. For example, the product-related information may include information of retail locations, storage facilities, and other locations in the display area where a particular product may be picked up. This may include, for example, a list of retail locations near the customer or near an address associated with the customer, such as a home address, office address, or hotel or other accommodation where the customer is currently staying, where a particular product is viable.

The disclosed embodiments may include transmitting product related information to a mobile communication device. For example, the at least one processor may be configured to transmit all or a selection of product-related information to the mobile communication device. Thus, an individual operating the mobile communication device may receive information about the product, which may facilitate making a purchase choice. In the disclosed embodiments, transmitting the product-related information to the mobile communication device may include transmitting a signal to cause the mobile communication device to display the product-related information on the graphical user interface. As used herein, a Graphical User Interface (GUI) may include an interface through which a user may interact with electronic devices such as computers, handheld devices, smart phones, tablets, touch screen devices, and other appliances. The GUI may display information and related user controls using icons, menus, and/or other visual indicator (graphical) representations. The GUI representation may be manipulated by a pointing device such as a mouse, a trackball, a stylus, or a finger on a touch screen. In some embodiments, the GUI may include a display on the mobile communication device, which in some embodiments may be configured as a touch screen. By way of example, fig. 11 illustrates an exemplary system 11000 that includes at least one processor 11004 configured to transmit information to a user device 11008 via a network 11002, which may include a user interface 11010 such as a GUI. In some embodiments, the processor 11004 may transmit a signal to the device 11008 that causes the device 11008 to display the product-related information on the GUI of the user interface 11010.

In some embodiments, the graphical user interface may be configured to display the product-related information in at least one of a text format or a graphical format. As used herein, a text format may refer to a display that includes alphanumeric information of a product (such as the name, type, price, color, size, or location of the product). Further, as used herein, a graphical format may refer to a display that includes at least one image, photograph, or graphical rendering of a product. In some embodiments, the display of product-related information may include information in a text format and information in a graphical format.

Fig. 22 illustrates a non-limiting example of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) 22010 displayed on a mobile communication device 18116. GUI 22010 may display product related information for a product associated with presentation area 21014 of fig. 21. In the example shown in FIG. 22, GUI 22010 may be configured to display an online purchase interface for product purchase in field 21014; however, in alternative embodiments, GUI 22010 may be configured to display product related information independently of an online purchase interface. GUI 22010 may include an identifier 22012 of a particular display area in which a product is being displayed. GUI 22010 may include text information 22014, such as a written description of each product provided in presentation area 21014. GUI 22010 may also include graphical information 22016, such as a photograph or image of each item. The GUI 22010 may also include a field 22018 (e.g., a checkbox) that a user may select to purchase a particular product.

The disclosed embodiments may additionally or alternatively include transmitting a signal to cause the mobile communication device to output the product-related information as audible information for presentation via the mobile communication device. For example, the mobile communication device may include a speaker or another audio output mechanism. The at least one processor may transmit a signal to the mobile communication device that causes the device to output product related information as audible information, such as verbal information related to the product in the particular display area, via the speaker.

The disclosed embodiments may include at least one receiver associated with a particular display area. In some embodiments, a receiver "associated" with a particular presentation area may comprise: a receiver located partially or entirely within a particular display area; a receiver configured to receive signals transmitted to or from a particular display area; and a receiver that receives a signal containing information related to the particular presentation area.

In the disclosed embodiments, the at least one receiver may be configured to receive wireless signals from the mobile communication device. For example, the receiver may include an access point or wireless router within or near a particular presentation area that may establish a wireless connection with the mobile communication device. The at least one processor may have a wired (e.g., ethernet) and/or wireless connection with the receiver, thereby enabling data transfer between the mobile communication device and the at least one processor even when the mobile communication device is operated by a user standing outside looking at the particular presentation area. By way of example, FIG. 21 shows a receiver 21020 associated with presentation area 21012 and a receiver 21022 associated with presentation area 21014; in the example shown, the receivers may be located within their respective presentation areas. The receivers 21020 and 21022 can be configured to receive wireless signals from a mobile communication device, such as device 18116.

The disclosed embodiments may include determining a location of the mobile communication device relative to the particular presentation area based on signals received via the at least one receiver. For example, the mobile communication device may transmit a signal receivable by the at least one receiver. However, depending on proximity to at least one receiver, the power level of the signal received by each receiver may differ in amplitude, phase, angle of arrival, or time of arrival. The at least one processor may use this signal data to calculate certain properties of the signal propagating through the communication medium, establishing parameters such as the range in which the signal can be detected, values representing the relative or actual distance the signal has been transmitted, signal-to-noise ratio, interference characteristics, etc. In the context of wireless communications, amplitude may be measured in units of power, typically in watts or dBW (decibel watts or dB watts), which is a logarithmic unit associated with watts (or sometimes in dBm, which is associated with milliwatts in the same manner as dBW is associated with watts). In this sense, the power level of a signal may refer to, for example, a power measurement made immediately at a signal input at a receiver when the receiver is actively receiving one or more signals.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor may determine the location of the mobile communication device by comparing the power levels of the signals received at each receiver and determining the location of the device based on the comparison. For example, the power level of the first signal transmitted by the mobile communication device and received by the first receiver may be higher than the power level of other signals from the device received by other receivers, because the device is closer to the first receiver than to the other receivers. The first receiver may be associated with a given location and, thus, based on the first receiver receiving the strongest signal and its association with the given location, it may be determined that the mobile communication device is located at that location. Similarly, multiple signal strengths detected by different receivers may be used to estimate the location of the device. For example, using three signal strengths detected by three receivers, at least one processor may triangulate the signal to estimate or determine a transmission source, which may correspond to the location of the mobile communication device. In the disclosed embodiments, the at least one processor may be configured to determine the location of the mobile communication device relative to the particular display area, as the location of the at least one receiver and/or the particular display area may be known in advance. The at least one processor may compare the determined location of the mobile communication device with one or more locations of the at least one receiver and/or the particular presentation area to determine a location of the mobile communication device relative to the particular presentation area.

The disclosed embodiments may include transmitting a signal to the mobile communication device to cause the mobile communication device to prioritize product related information based on proximity of a plurality of products associated with a particular presentation area to the mobile communication device. Prioritizing the product-related information may include controlling the mobile communication device to present at least one parameter of the product-related information, as discussed in detail below. In some embodiments, the proximity of a product to a mobile communication device may refer to the distance between a given product and the mobile communication device. Thus, in some embodiments, the mobile communication device may be caused to prioritize product related information based on the distance between a given product and the mobile communication device. In some embodiments, products closer to the mobile communication device may have a "higher" priority than more distant products. Alternatively, products closer to the mobile communication device may have a "lower" priority than more distant products.

In some embodiments, prioritizing the product-related information may include controlling an order in which the mobile communication device presents the product-related information based on a proximity of the product to the mobile communication device. For example, when product-related information is displayed on a graphical user interface, products determined to be closer to the mobile communication device may be displayed earlier or placed higher in the ordered list than more distant products. To illustrate, in the GUI 22010 depicted in fig. 22, the phone 22020 may be the product closest to the mobile communication device, and thus may be listed first in the GUI 22010. Instead, the chair 22022 may be the product furthest from the mobile communication device, and thus may be listed last in the GUI 22010.

Additionally or alternatively, prioritizing the product-related information may include controlling the mobile communication device to present a level of detail of the product-related information based on a proximity of the product to the mobile communication device. For example, when product related information is displayed on a graphical user interface, more information of products that are close to the mobile communication device may be shown, while less information of more distant products may be shown. As an illustrative example, GUI 22010 may include information fields (including manufacturer, material, date, and price) for the maximum number of telephones 22020 that are products closest to the mobile communication device. However, the interface may include fewer information fields for more distant products. For example, the GUI 22010 may include a minimum number of information fields (price only) for the chair 22022 because the chair 22022 is the product furthest from the mobile communication device in various embodiments.

Additionally or alternatively, prioritizing the product-related information may include controlling selection of the product-related information for presentation by the mobile communication device based on proximity of the product to the mobile communication device. For example, when product-related information is displayed on a graphical user interface, the interface may include only information for a predetermined number of products (e.g., five products); five products closest to the mobile communication device may be included in the display, while more distant products may not be included.

The disclosed embodiments may include receiving a selection of at least one particular product associated with a particular display area from a mobile communication device. For example, the mobile communication device may receive a selection from a user via a user interface, such as a touch screen or keyboard. The disclosed embodiments may also include initiating an activity associated with the selection. As used herein, an activity may include one or more functions performed by at least one processor based on a selection of at least one particular product.

In the disclosed embodiments, the selection may include a purchase request and the activity may include a purchase transaction. As used herein, a purchase request may include a communication signal generated by a mobile communication device indicating an order to purchase at least one particular product from a venue on behalf of a user of the mobile communication device or another person or entity. As disclosed elsewhere in this disclosure, a purchase transaction may include transferring ownership, possession, or any other benefit of at least one particular product from the venue to a user of the mobile communication device or another person or entity in exchange for a monetary payment or other price. In some embodiments, the target transaction may be electronically performed by at least one processor or by another processor. In embodiments in which the other processor performs the purchase transaction, the at least one processor may be configured to initiate the purchase transaction by transmitting information and/or instructions for the purchase transaction to the other processor. Alternatively, the purchase transaction may be performed manually, such as by an individual associated with a bank or clearing house. In such embodiments, the at least one processor may be configured to initiate the purchase transaction by sending information and/or instructions for the purchase transaction to a party (e.g., a bank or clearing house) that is to perform the transaction.

The disclosed embodiments may include transmitting an option for product delivery to a mobile communication device in connection with a purchase transaction. For example, the options for product delivery may include an option available for delivering at least one particular product (purchased in a purchase transaction) to a user of the mobile communication device or to a designated third party recipient. Some non-limiting examples of options for product delivery may include: picking up at least one particular product at a location near the particular display area (e.g., in-store picking up of the at least one particular product from a retail location to which the particular display area is attached by a purchaser or another person authorized to pick up the at least one particular product); picking up at least one particular product at a location other than a location near the particular display area (e.g., picking up at least one particular product from another branch or location associated with the same business or provider); and delivering the at least one particular product to a specified address (e.g., shipping the at least one particular product to a specified address (such as the recipient's home or business address), or shipping the at least one particular product to be retrieved from a central pick-up location (such as a post office, shipping company location, store, or collection cabinet). In some embodiments, a user of the mobile communication device may select an option for product delivery using the mobile communication device.

In the disclosed embodiments, the purchase request may include a request to ship at least one particular product associated with a particular display area to a location specified via the mobile communication device. For example, the delivery address may be entered into the mobile communication device and included with the purchase request sent to the at least one processor. In some embodiments, after completion of the purchase transaction, at least one particular product (i.e., one or more purchased products) may be delivered to an address or location designated via the mobile communication device.

In the disclosed embodiments, the selection may include a request for additional information and the activity may include transmitting the additional information to the mobile communication device. As used herein, the request for additional information may include a communication signal sent from the mobile communication device to the at least one processor requesting a response communication signal from the at least one processor and specifying the particular information included in the response communication signal. For example, the request for additional information may request information regarding at least one particular product (or a particular display area or any other product in another display area) that was not previously provided to the mobile communication device. In response to the request for the additional information, the at least one processor may transmit the additional information to the mobile communication device, or alternatively, may transmit an indication that the additional information is not available or not authorized to be sent to the mobile communication device.

The disclosed embodiments may include a system for reading wireless transmission tags in a venue containing a plurality of wireless tagged products and for automatically generating a product distribution planogram. The wireless transmission tag may include any wirelessly detectable device, such as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacon device, a device including a microcontroller powered by radio frequency energy, or any other structure configured to transmit a signal that is capable of detection. As used herein, a venue may include any area, building, or structure that may store or maintain an inventory of objects or materials, such as a retail venue, store, warehouse, distribution center, logistics center, fulfillment center, manufacturing area, shipping area, storage area, home, medical facility, eating location, kitchen, or any other area where tracking items may benefit. As used herein, a product may include any object or material stored or maintained within a venue, as discussed above. By way of non-limiting example, a product may include a food, a garment, footwear, an electronic product, a consumer product, equipment, a vehicle, a consumable product, a package, an accessory, a supply, a material, an artwork, an animal, an instrument, a pallet, a container, a pharmaceutical, a cosmetic, a trade product, an article, an apparatus, a machine, an appliance, a work, a tool, furniture, or any other object that may be present in a venue. In some embodiments, the venue may provide the product for sale, exchange, or exchange of goods, for display, for custody, for storage, for distribution, and/or for free gifting.

Embodiments of the system may receive signals by placing a receiver to read wireless transmission tags in the venue. The wireless transmission tag may continuously transmit a signal or may be activated when in proximity to the scanner. In some embodiments, the wireless transmission tag may be an RFID tag activated by the magnetic field of the scanner. In some embodiments, the wireless transmission tag may include a visual signal. By way of non-limiting example, the visual signal may include a bar code and a two-dimensional bar code, such as a QR code captured by a dedicated optical scanner or camera. Embodiments of the system may include a wireless transmission tag that may include a power source and a computing source and may transmit signals without any activation. In some embodiments, the system may incorporate multiple forms of wireless transmission tags that transmit different forms of signals.

A wireless transmission tag may be associated with a product to enable the product to provide self-identification via the tag. As discussed elsewhere in this disclosure, embodiments of the wireless transmission tag may include any device suitable for attachment to any object to visually, tactilely, audibly, or electronically identify the object without using externally connected cables or wires. Other embodiments may be embedded in the article as part of the manufacturing process or later, such as by a retailer.

The product distribution planogram may include any visual representation of the products in the venue. By way of non-limiting example, the visual representation may include an image of the product superimposed on a planar map of the venue. The planogram may include a detailed interior of the venue visually represented in a two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional image having a visual representation of the wireless tagged product placed in a location that matches the actual placement of the wireless tagged product in the venue. The planogram may include detailed visual representations of various aisles and/or shelves present in the venue. In some embodiments, the planogram may include a navigable interface that moves between different shelves and aisles of the venue. The product placement planogram may include an informational representation of the distribution and placement of the products in the venue. By way of non-limiting example, the information representation may include symbols, icons, pictograms, names, or images of products and/or product families or categories superimposed on a planar map or other graphical or schematic representation of the venue. The planogram may include a sketch of the interior of the venue, or a detailed schematic, diagram, drawing or other representation in two-dimensional or three-dimensional or perspective form overlaid with an informational representation of the placement and/or location of the wireless tagged product in the venue. The planogram may include: a rough representation of the level of detail of a ward, zone or department at a venue; or a more detailed representation at the level of detail of the respective fixtures; or at other sub-division levels of the respective shelves, bins, drawers, hangers or fixtures; or at any other level desired by the owner or operator of the venue. In some embodiments, the planogram may include a navigable interface that moves between different areas, regions, aisles, or fixtures of the venue.

For example, the planogram may include a map of the venue including superimposed layers of information detailing the designated locations of the various items in the venue. The planogram may include, for example, a map of the store including dividing the store into one or more departments, subdividing the one or more departments into one or more sub-departments, based on a desired hierarchy of store catalogs. The planogram may include an exact specified distribution (possibly including quantity and attributes) of items on fixtures (e.g., shelves), zones (e.g., aisles) or locations in the store. In some embodiments, the planogram may include a map of the work area, including designated placement of various tools and implements around the work area, possibly including dedicated workstations and/or locations where equipment is required to be present at each workstation. In some embodiments, the planogram may include a map of a warehouse or other storage location, including one or more items (possibly including a quantity or any other attribute associated with one or more items) to be located in each section, location, fixture, or shelf in the warehouse or other storage area.

The planogram may be viewed and interacted with using a desktop device, a mobile device, or any other type of computing device using one or more input devices (e.g., a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a pointing device, a touch screen, or another input mechanism). Alternatively or additionally, the planogram may be printed for use by staff, customers or visitors in the venue. In some embodiments of the system, a head mounted display (such as an Occulus VR head mounted device, microsoft Holo lens, HTC Vive) may be used to view the planogram. The planogram may be generated using image processing techniques, such as Matterport, to create an immersive three-dimensional planogram. Embodiments of the system may present the planogram in different ways based on the device used to interact with the planogram. For example, a planogram may be presented in three dimensions when interacting with the planogram using an AR/VR headset, and a planogram may be presented in a two-dimensional planar map when interacting with the planogram using a tablet or mobile phone.

The disclosed embodiments may include at least one processor as described elsewhere in this disclosure. In some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to receive wireless signals from a plurality of wireless tagged products from a plurality of receivers in the venue, wherein the wireless signals include an ID associated with each of the plurality of wireless tagged products. In some embodiments, the wireless signal includes an ID associated with each of the plurality of wireless tagged products. In some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to access a data structure that associates each ID of each wireless tagged product with classification information. By way of example, as illustrated in fig. 11, the data structure 11006 may include an association between a wireless tagged product and additional information, such as classification information.

As used herein, classification information may include one or more items of data describing one or more characteristics of one or more wireless tagged products, which may allow for organization and/or placement of one or more products by category or hierarchy. The classification information associated with the wireless tagged products may be used to group the wireless tagged products into one or more groups or subgroups in a hierarchical manner such that any product is assigned a single group at each hierarchical level. The resulting classifications may be arranged in the form of a catalog listing all products according to their hierarchical association, down to a final hierarchical level, where each product is assigned a unique code, number, or other identifier. By way of non-limiting example, the classification information may include one or more of the following: the name of the product, the size of the product, the type of product (e.g., solid, liquid, gel, paste), the description of the product (e.g., oil, detergent, garment), the brand name of the product, the name of the manufacturer of the product, invisible meta-information (such as a serial name, spring or autumn series), the use of the wireless tagged product, or any other information associated with the wireless tagged product. The classification information may also include combinations of different characteristics of the product, including size, shape, color, and other information as described above. The classification information may be used to help determine the location of the actual product placed in the venue. By way of example, the classification information may be based on inventory in the clothing store arranged to a first level hierarchy, such as "men", "women", "children" and "accessories". The "lady's wear" hierarchy may be further divided into a second level hierarchy such as "shirt", "bustier", "dress", "pants", "underwear", "footwear" and "coat". The "pants" level may be further divided into third level levels, such as "jeans", "western pants", "shorts", and "home pants". Additional hierarchical levels may also be included. As another example, the classification information may be based on a catalog of work areas arranged to a first level hierarchy, etc., such as "power tools", "non-power tools", "nuts and bolts", "screws and nails", "consumables" and "liquids and cartridges". The "non-powered tools" hierarchy may be further divided into second level hierarchies such as "hammers", "screwdrivers", "sharp tools", "forceps and pliers" and "fine tools". The "screwdriver" hierarchy may be further divided into third hierarchy levels such as "cross-head", "flat head", "hex head" and "others". Additional hierarchical levels may also be included. The classification information for a product may include all hierarchical levels with which the product is associated in a given catalog.

The disclosed embodiments may use the classification information to provide recommendations regarding where new products may be placed in the venue. For example, a new clothing item belonging to a certain brand may be placed with other clothing items of the same brand. In another example, a new extra-small size clothing item may be placed in a small section of a venue along with all other extra-small clothing items belonging to different brands and manufacturers. The classification information may be associated with locations in the venue using a mapping table between different classification information and locations in the venue. The mapping between the classification information and the location within the venue may be stored in a data structure. In some embodiments, the mapping between the classification information and the location within the venue may be determined using a machine learning model trained using past relationships between venue locations and classification information for the product, as well as other relevant information such as sales data, calendar data (such as holidays), trend data, manufacturing predictions, delivery predictions, and the like. The wireless tagged product may be part of a different group. For example, classification information based on product size and brand may result in a clothing venue considering that all small-size clothing is placed in a single location or that the same clothing matching the brand is placed in one location.

In some embodiments, the classification information includes a product type number, and wherein the planogram indicates a location of at least one product group sharing the product type number on the map. As used herein, a product type number may include a number, code, or other form of data uniquely associated with the type of product, object, material, or any other item that is part of an inventory management system, inventory holding system, or other such data management platform. Examples of product type numbers include SKU codes, EPC codes, bar codes, ISBN codes, product numbers, part numbers, catalog numbers, or any other identifying indicia. The product type number may include an identifier, such as a text, graphic, numeric, alphanumeric, or numeric representation describing a model number, brand name, manufacturer, or other classification information associated with the product. In some embodiments, the product type number may include a model number provided by a manufacturer of the wireless tagged product. In some embodiments, the product type number may include a subset of products within the matching characteristics used to determine the classification information. For example, a set of laptop computer products may have the same model code with some common hardware specifications, but may include different laptop computers with configurable memory (RAM). Alternatively or additionally, a group of laptop computers may have the same model code only if they share all hardware specifications, including the same configurable memory (RAM). The identifier for the product type number may include portions representing different characteristics of the product. For example, the product number of a laptop computer product may include processor characteristics (e.g., clock speed, L2 cache size), memory size (e.g., 16GB, 32 GB) and configuration (e.g., single card, dual card), hard disk type (e.g., magnetic disk, NAND flash, hybrid disk). In some embodiments, the product type number may use mnemonics to represent different characteristics. For example, the initials of the hard disk type may be used in the product type number (e.g., "M" for disk, "F" for flash memory).

In some embodiments, the planogram indicates the location of at least one product group sharing the product type number on a map of the venue. The location on the map may be an outline in the map of the venue (which indicates the total space occupied by the product group in the venue), an icon on the map (which indicates the area, zone, or fixture where the product group can be found), or a pointer generally pointing to the location in the venue where at least one product in the product group in the map of the venue is located. The indication in this manner may result in a location on the map that depicts a location where the product group may be found approximately in the venue or that exactly matches the location of the product group in the venue. In some embodiments, the location may be represented by a visual representation of the product presented as an image of the actual product, an image of the brand or manufacturer, an icon representing the product, text or other code representing the product, or some other indicia that may be interpreted in the legend of a planogram, or by accessing a database to interpret various indications of the approximate or exact location on the planogram for one or more groups of products. In some embodiments, the location may comprise a generic image of a class of products. For example, the soup product may be represented using a universal soup can. The indication of the location in the map may include highlighting an image of the product. For example, in addition to a product group, the system may gray out the product image superimposed on the map. Additional product details, such as a product type number, may help identify products that share other classification information and sharing locations. For example, a planogram representing a grocery store location may have several dairy products, such as milk cartons from different manufacturers, with milk cartons from the same manufacturer having shared categorization information. The shared classification information may be used to determine the aisle location of the product. A subset of those products sharing a product type number may be located on a common shelf within the shared aisle location. By way of example, as illustrated in fig. 23, a product group having shared classification information may include indicators in outline form as illustrated around groups 23002 and 23008. For example, vegetable products, fruit, and other products that are present in the venue represented by planogram 23001 may share a common product type number for vegetarian foods, and thus may have a profile 23002 indicating the location where all of these products are shared. Only the additional outline 23008 surrounding the vegetable product is shown in fig. 23 to indicate the vegetable product sharing the product type number of the vegetable.

In some embodiments, the classification information includes an associated product type number for each wireless tagged product, wherein the planogram indicates a location of multiple groups of wireless tagged products, wherein each group of wireless tagged products shares a common product type number. As discussed above, in some embodiments, the planogram may indicate the wireless tagged product groups sharing a common product type number with a visual representation. In some embodiments, the planogram may include a plurality of such visual representations, each representing a group of wireless tagged products sharing a common product type number. For example, in an electronics location, laptop computer products having the same hardware specifications may have different model codes for different amounts of memory. The planogram may include a visual representation indicating a subset of products such as laptop computers having the same memory size that share a product type number.

In some embodiments, the classification information includes an associated product family indicator for each wireless tagged product, and wherein the planogram divides the map of the venue by product family. As used herein, a product family may include a product group having matching functionality or purpose or some other matching characteristic. As used herein, the functionality of a product includes features required for operation, features that a user can use, or functions of a product when the user is powered on or operating. For example, various air purifier fans found in appliance store type locations may have the same function of cleaning various impurities in the air and will be considered part of the same product family. The purpose of the product is determined based on the purpose for which the user uses the product. For example, different gaming machines (e.g., sony gaming machine, microsoft Xbox, nintendo Switch) are intended to play the same purpose of a video game, although they function differently and will be considered part of the same product set. The product family may include different brands of products and different manufacturers. In some embodiments, a user may be allowed to configure which brands and manufacturer's products may be included under a product family. In some embodiments, a particular brand of product or a product manufactured by a particular manufacturer may be designated as belonging to a family of products separate from other brands or manufacturers, albeit with similar or common functionality or use. For example, a glasses store may only assign its display area to glasses belonging to a particular brand (e.g., capone), although there are other brands of sunglasses, reading glasses, and optical glasses in other areas of the store, and these glasses are arranged there according to purpose and functionality, not by brand. In some embodiments, the user may also be allowed to configure a definition of matching functionality, use, or any other feature that the user has an advantage in the product catalog. For example, a product family may be represented by one or more hierarchical levels in the catalog discussed above.

As used herein, a product family indicator may be a link to product family information. The indicator may be a visual code or sign superimposed on the planogram and issued to indicate the product group sharing functionality or use. In some embodiments, the product family indicator may be presented in a visual format in different colors and in a text format in different signage. The product family indicator is one of the forms of the indicator (described above) that may be used by the planogram generator to be included in the planogram to indicate a subset of the products that are to be considered a family for all of the products shown in the planogram. Product families may be defined based on the functionality and use of the product, and some of the products may be of different brands and manufactured by different manufacturers. By way of example, links and/or visual indicators depicting one or more hierarchical levels (e.g., product families) may be displayed on a planogram.

As discussed above, the classification information may include common characteristics between the various products, including common family information. The classification information may include or may be linked to product family information. In some embodiments, the classification information may be linked to an indicator of the product family. In some embodiments, the product family indicator may include an outline around the place of the planogram where products sharing different product details are placed. In some embodiments, the product family indicator may include, for example, a list of locations in text format, highlighting of different visual representations of the products in the planogram, highlighting of color coding of visual representations of the products, highlighting of color coding of location outlines based on product type numbers, product family or other shared classification information, or any other type of visual representation that may help distinguish product families.

The planogram may use classification information (such as product family indicators) to provide a visual representation of the different product families present in the venue. For example, a planogram at a supermarket venue may display all products in a vegetable product family in a different color or using a different graphical icon than all products in a seafood family. Thus, the planogram may provide a visual representation indicating different product families. By way of example, as illustrated in fig. 23, a planogram 23001 may include product family indicators 23012 and 23014, shown as rectangular bars, identifying product groups as part of a product family.

In some embodiments, the classification information includes product type numbers, and wherein the data structure contains information associating each product type number with a product family, wherein the at least one processor is configured to access the data structure and ascertain the associated product family from each determined model code associated with each wireless tag. In some embodiments, the product type number may be stored in the same data structure that stores the classification information. For example, the product type number may be in the same record as the classification information or linked to a record containing the classification information. The classification information stored in the data structure may additionally or alternatively include product family information in addition to the product type number and may include associated relationships. The product group forming a product family may be part of another product family in a hierarchical fashion, with the product family at the top having the least number of matching characteristics between products and the product at the bottom having the greatest number of matching characteristics. For example, electronic manufacturers of various computing devices may have various laptop computers with product type numbers belonging to the laptop computer product family. In some embodiments, the product family information may be hierarchical. For example, in the above examples of computing devices, the family of laptop computer products may be part of the family of computing device products. In some embodiments, the data structure may contain information associating each product type number with a product family. In some embodiments, the data structure may include a hash map that associates product IDs with various product details, including product type numbers. In some embodiments, the product type number may be a product ID. The data structure may include multiple hash maps for each product, with a mapping between product IDs and different levels of product details of the matching product family hierarchy. For example, the data structure may store a first mapping between a model number of a product and product details common across models. For example, a product number representing a laptop computer may include common product details such as screen size, number of keys in a keyboard, weight, camera resolution, CPU speed, but may not include a configurable network adapter MAC address. In some embodiments, the data structure may store a second mapping between each product serial number and product details specific to the product instance. In the above example, the second mapping may include a unique serial number of an instance of the laptop product that is mapped to a network MAC address of a network adapter included in the product instance or to a license key of an Operating System (OS) installed on a particular device having the unique serial number.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to access the data structure and ascertain the associated product family from each determined model code associated with each wireless tag. The system may access the data structure with a processor (e.g., processor 11004 of fig. 11) to ascertain the mapped product family based on the given product type number. As described above, the data structure (e.g., data structure 1106 of fig. 11) may include a hash map mapping between product IDs represented using product type numbers and product families. The processor may provide the product model code as an entered key to the hash map to find the product family. In some embodiments, the product type number may be provided by a user by selecting a product to search for product family details and thereby providing a product type number associated with the selected product. By providing a string of "product type numbers" as keys, product type numbers can be accessed from various product details associated with products stored in different hash maps.

Some disclosed embodiments may relate to determining a location of each of the wireless tagged products in a venue from a wireless signal. For example, the one or more processors may utilize characteristics of the wireless signal to determine the location of the wireless tagged product associated with the signal generating wireless transmission tag. Some embodiments may involve determining a location based on at least one of an amplitude, a phase, an angle of arrival, or a time of arrival of the received wireless signal. One or more receivers may provide a location of a wireless transmission tag associated with the wireless tagged product to the system based on an angle of a wireless signal received by the receiver. The one or more receivers may additionally or alternatively provide the amplitude, phase, angle, and time of arrival of the wireless signal at the one or more receivers. The at least one processor may determine the location of the wireless tagged product based on information about the wireless signal provided by the receiver. In some embodiments, characteristics of the wireless signal (such as angle of arrival and time) and associated locations in the venue may be stored in a data structure. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may retrieve location information associated with the newly received wireless signal using a mapping between stored wireless signal characteristics and location. By way of non-limiting example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, one or more tags 1100 attached to wireless tagged products may share wireless signals through one or more receivers 11300a-g via a network 11002. The one or more processors 11004 may determine location information associated with the wireless tagged product based on the received wireless signals. In some embodiments, a machine learning model may be trained to determine the location of wireless tagged products. For example, the known location of the wireless signal and associated characteristics (e.g., angle, amplitude, or other signal characteristics) may be used as training data to train a machine learning model. The trained machine learning model may then be executed by the at least one processor to determine the location of the wireless tagged product by providing one or more characteristics of the wireless signal as input to the trained machine learning model.

In some embodiments, the system may determine the location of the wireless tagged product upon receiving multiple instances of the wireless signal from each wireless transmission tag associated with the wireless tagged product belonging to the same product family or sharing the same product type number. In some embodiments, the system may determine the location of the wireless tagged product when a wireless signal is received from the wireless transmission tag over a period of time. For example, the at least one processor may determine a starting point location of the transmitted wireless signal based on characteristics (e.g., amplitude, phase, angle) of the wireless signal, and in turn determine a product location of the wireless tag, as described above. The processor may designate the determined location as a temporary location until a threshold number of wireless signals (including the ID of the wireless tagged product) are transmitted from the same location. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may receive characteristics of the wireless signal for a set period of time (e.g., an hour, a day, a week, or any other predetermined period of time) before association of the location with the wireless tagged product is completed. Embodiments of the system may allow for configuration of the number of instances and the amount of time to receive wireless signals associated with the wireless transmission tag. Embodiments may use signals collected over a period of time to determine a possible range of signal characteristics that may occur in a venue. For example, a clothing farm may stack multiple copies of the same clothing item into a pile. Multiple copies may each be associated with a wireless transmission tag. Wireless transmission tags for different articles of apparel may generate wireless signals having different characteristics based on their placement in a venue on multiple shelves of an aisle. In another scenario, wireless signals transmitted by wireless transmission tags associated with wireless tagged products may be received by different receivers, resulting in different characteristics associated with signals transmitted by different instances of the same product. In yet another scenario, other entities that transmit wireless signals (e.g., mobile phones, pagers, other radio frequency signal transmitting devices) or otherwise interfere with wireless signals (e.g., people moving around a venue and blocking different signals between different tags and different readers at different times) present in the venue may distort wireless signals originating from the wireless tagged products, resulting in signals having different characteristics being received over time. The processor of the disclosed system may store characteristics of various signals over a period of time to determine a range of values representative of signal characteristics of locations in the venue and identify the locations if new wireless signal characteristic values fall within the stored range of values.

Some embodiments may involve performing a lookup in a data structure for each ID of each of the wireless tagged products to determine product classification information associated with each of the wireless tagged products. The one or more processors may determine classification information associated with the wireless tagged product, for example, using identification information (such as a tag ID). For example, the one or more processors may search a data structure storing classification information associated with the tag ID. By way of example, the data structure utilized in locating the classification information may include a hash map that may have a key including an ID of the wireless tagged product and a value having one or more product details, such as a product name, size, technical specification, manufacturer name, brand name, classification information, and/or any other information or data associated with the product. In some embodiments, the data structure may include a key to a storage location (e.g., memory location) containing the product details or a categorization information portion of the product details. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may convert data or information included in a wireless signal transmitted by a wireless transmission tag associated with the wireless tagged product into a tag ID associated with the wireless tagged product. The conversion may include combining different data (e.g., product serial number, wireless signal reception time stamp, wireless signal characteristics such as amplitude and angle) to uniquely identify the product. For example, a unique tag ID associated with an item of apparel having a wireless transmission tag may include information such as a brand name, a product name, and a size. The processor of the system (e.g., processor 11004 of fig. 11) may be configured to convert data in the received wireless signal to generate a tag ID and use the tag ID to access the product classification information by using it to find the location of the product classification information in a hash map included in the data structure defined above. The processor may then access the identified storage locations to retrieve classification information.

Some embodiments may involve generating a planogram for a venue using the determined location and the determined product classification information for each wireless tagged product, wherein the planogram indicates the locations of groups of wireless tagged products sharing common classification information on a map of the venue. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may retrieve one or more visual, textual, iconic graphical, schematic, contextual, or other representations of the one or more wireless tagged products from a data store (e.g., data structure 11006 of fig. 11) based on the product classification information to generate a planogram. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may additionally or alternatively provide the planogram generator module with previously determined location information for one or more wireless tagged products. The at least one processor may execute a planogram generator module to insert one or more representations associated with one or more wireless tagged products into corresponding locations in the planogram. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may use the locations associated with each wireless tagged product to determine location boundaries defining the starting and ending locations of the product types in the venue. The type of product may refer to classification information, a product type number, and/or a product family. For example, the location boundary may determine coordinates within one or more shelves within the aisle and/or one or more shelves within which each wireless tagged product may be located. Thus, for example, in some embodiments, a planogram generated by a planogram generator may indicate on a map a venue location for a wireless tagged product group sharing common classification information.

In some embodiments, when placing a representation of a wireless tagged product in a planogram, the planogram generator may use the location information of the wireless tagged product to determine the order in which the products are located in the venue. The planogram generator may retrieve an image of the product from a data store (e.g., data structure 11006) or search a visual representation via a search engine using product classification information, or use data stored in a data structure to match a product or family of products with a desired representation on the planogram. The product image based on the product classification information may be a generic image of a class of products. For example, soup products may be represented in a planogram using universal soup cans. The planogram generator may use additional product details such as brand names to place an accurate image of the product in the planogram by image searching using product identification data such as a brand number, brand name, product name, and manufacturer name. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may use the classification information and the location information to correctly place a representation of the product in the planogram that matches the location information of the actual product in the venue. In some embodiments, a venue may have a particular location of a product designated for a particular product type, product family, or classification information. For example, a grocery store location may store products with a dairy category that are placed at one end of the store. The planogram generator uses this information with the default location of a class of products in the venue to generate a visual representation of the class of products without waiting for a wireless signal from the wireless tagged product to determine location. In some embodiments, the venue may not have a location designated for a particular product family congenital, and the planogram generator may use the transmitted wireless signals to create a planogram of the venue's actual status and product distribution based on the determined product location. The planogram generator may use the current location as a default location and track changes in the planogram of the venue so that venue personnel and customers can more easily find items in the venue and so that the processor can recommend changes in product placement that are beneficial to improving sales, reducing inventory, reducing costs, or improving productivity.

In some embodiments, the planogram generator may place the visual representation of the product in an approximate area within a predetermined distance of the actual product location in the venue. The general area may include any location within the positional boundary of the product. For example, a product having a location boundary defined to include the first three shelves of an aisle in a venue may be presented on a planogram by inserting a visual representation of the product on the top shelf of the planogram representing the venue.

Fig. 23 is an exemplary planogram 23001 representing a planar map of a building, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in fig. 23, a planogram 23001 includes representations of different sections of a venue having product groupings sharing classification information. For example, group 23002 corresponds to products such as vegetables, fruits, and agricultural products, while group 23004 corresponds to seafood products such as shellfish. The product groups may be grouped in a hierarchical manner, wherein the groups contain product subgroups with matching classification information. For example, in group 23002, vegetable products, fruit, and agricultural products are subgroups 23008, 23010, 23012 that share classification information.

In some embodiments, the map of the venue may include an area designated for storage and an area designated for display, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to include at least one common location in the storage area and at least one common location in the display area for each group of products sharing the classification information in the planogram. For example, the planogram may identify different areas of the venue associated with different functions or uses. As one example, some areas of the planogram may be identified as areas designated for storing one or more products, while other areas of the planogram may be identified as areas designated for displaying one or more products. These different regions of the planogram may be matched accordingly to portions of the venue designated for storing products for preservation and displaying products for sale. The storage area may include a back room or warehouse portion of the venue where additional copies of the product displayed for sale may be stored as there is no display space. The storage area may also include an area of a venue in which the product can be stored to preserve it and increase its shelf life. For example, the venue may include a refrigerated storage area so that vegetables are not stored in the display area to avoid spoilage. In some embodiments, the storage area may include an area of a warehouse in which large packages of products may be placed, and which may need to be divided into small packages for presentation in a display area for sale. For example, the storage area of the venue may include products that are tightly packed together on pallets. The display area may include products organized in different aisles and shelves for visitors to the venue to view and purchase the products.

As used herein, a common location is a location in a venue that would be considered to be the place where a certain type of product would be found if searching were performed in a display or storage area, and may also be the place where an instance of any misplaced location of that type of product returns. For example, in a grocery store type of venue, the dairy product may be located at the back of the store, and this would be a common location for the dairy product. The storage location may have a common location for a group of products sharing the classification information so that staff members of the venue can easily find the product based on their knowledge of another product of the same category. Similarly, a venue visitor purchasing a product in a display area may want to efficiently find the product without having to examine the complete display area. The usual location for product groups in the display area can also help staff members to quickly put back misplaced products without having to guess their correct location. In some embodiments, a venue may designate a portion of the venue as a common location for placing a group of products with common classification information. For example, in a department store location, classification information associated with different brands may be used to place products belonging to the same brand in a common location, even though the products may include different models and product types. Alternatively, in an electronic store location, products with the same functionality (e.g., speakers, televisions, laptop computers, mobile phones, etc.) may share common locations regardless of product brands. In some embodiments, the planogram may have multiple common locations for the same product collection. For example, a venue and its planogram can place products and their representations in common locations through both branding and functionality, forming multiple common locations.

In some embodiments, the system may allow a user interacting with the planogram to switch between different areas. For example, a user may use one or more input devices associated with a display device displaying a planogram to switch between views of a storage area and a presentation area. Different areas of the planogram (e.g., storage area and display area) may present different types of information related to the wireless tagged product. For example, the region of the warehouse designated by the planogram may present information associated with one or more pallets on which one or more wireless tagged products may be stored. As another example, an area designated as a front store may present information associated with the location of aisles and/or shelves, the price and available size of wireless tagged products, the number of wireless tagged products present in the area, and/or any other information associated with the location or configuration of wireless tagged products located in the front store area. In some embodiments, depending on the role and permission level of the user, some information may be trapped or hidden from the user interacting with the planogram, for example, when the user is an employee member of the venue or a visiting customer.

The visual representation of the wireless tagged product in the planogram may be matched in count to the actual wireless tagged product present in the venue. In some embodiments, the visual representation of the wireless tagged product may indicate multiple instances of the actual wireless tagged product present in the venue. For example, a predetermined number of instances (e.g., one, two, ten, or any other number) of display drawings for an actual product may include a single visual representation of the wireless tagged product. The visual representation of the wireless tagged product may include a signage including additional information. By way of non-limiting example, the sign may include a total count of wireless tagged products in the venue, a price, an available discount coupon, or any other information associated with the wireless tagged products. The planogram may also allow the user to switch views between different storage or retail locations belonging to the same venue.

Some disclosed embodiments may relate to indicating at least two locations where products in at least one product group are clustered for at least one product group sharing product classification information and identifying the at least two locations on a planogram. A clustered product group may include two or more products placed together or in a common section or area of a venue. In some embodiments, the planogram generator may divide a product group having shared classification information into a plurality of clusters in different locations based on a product family. The planogram generator may do so because the space available in a particular portion of the venue is insufficient to accommodate all products sharing product classification information. For example, products sharing the classification "seafood" may include products in the "shellfish" product family and "fish" product family. The planogram generator may identify more than one location for placement of products having a common classification of "seafood" because a single location may not have enough space available to accommodate all of the products in the seafood family. Thus, for example, a planogram may include seafood classifications of products presented in two clusters, one for the shellfish product family and one for the fish product family. The planogram generator may include an indicator on the planogram to indicate the plurality of locations. In some embodiments, the planogram may allow a user to search the planogram for all locations that present product clusters that share certain classification information (e.g., seafood). When a user performs such a search, the planogram may highlight or otherwise identify all locations associated with common classification information (e.g., seafood). By way of example, as illustrated in fig. 23, a product group may form clusters 23004 of shellfish products and clusters 23006 of fish products, as illustrated in fig. 23, interspersed in multiple locations in a planogram. Alternatively or additionally, the venue may choose to place the same product with the same product type number in more than one location in the venue (e.g., in a clothing store, one sock rack is placed near a footwear section and another sock rack is placed near a pants section, where both racks carry the same kind of sock). Thus, in some embodiments, when a user performs a search for a particular product, the planogram may indicate two locations on a map of the venue as common locations for the product (e.g., socks of a particular type, color, and size).

Some embodiments may involve tracking the planogram over time, wherein tracking the planogram includes: comparing the current common location of the at least one product group with a common location history of the at least one product group; determining whether the current common location deviates from the common location history; and if the degree of deviation is greater than a predefined threshold, updating the planogram to indicate a new common location. As used herein, a common location is a location in a venue that would be considered to be the place where a product would be found if a search were made, and is where any instance of misplaced locations of the product returned. For example, in a grocery store type of location, the dairy product may be located at the back of the store, and this would be a common location for dairy products (such as milk, yogurt, and cheese). Such common locations of a product group may be considered default locations in a planogram where visual representations of the product group are presented.

As used herein, tracking a planogram over time may include determining changes to the planogram, including additions, deletions, and/or updates to the product and/or its location within the planogram. Tracking the planogram over time may additionally or alternatively include determining changes in product groupings in the planogram. By way of non-limiting example, embodiments of the system may automatically update the planogram at predetermined time intervals or may be configured to determine planogram changes that may be caused by the occurrence of certain events over time. Such events may include storing the product in the venue and/or comparing the location of the product.

In some embodiments, tracking the planogram may include: comparing the current common location of the at least one product group with a common location history of the same product group; determining whether the current common location deviates from the common location history; and if the degree of deviation is greater than a predefined threshold, updating the planogram to indicate the new location. As used herein, a common location history may include a range of locations over a period of time where a product group is defaulted to exist in a venue. The common location history may be determined by manually providing a previously defined common location of the product by the user or using a wireless signal transmitted by a wireless transmission tag attached to the wireless tagged product. For example, the processor may determine a distance between a current common location and a common location history for one or more products. Products may be considered to deviate from the common location history when the group of products moves away from the location range of the common location history or when the location size of the products is reduced or increased in size compared to the size of the common location history. By way of example, a product group may be considered to deviate from a common location history when one or more distances determined by the processor exceeds a predetermined threshold distance. The processor may keep track of common locations by storing aisles, shelves, number of aisles, number of shelves, and coordinates within each aisle and shelf where the product groups are present in the venue. The processor (e.g., processor 11004 of fig. 11) may note the change in these locations of the product group based on the change in the characteristics of the wireless signal transmitted by the wireless transmission tag associated with the wireless tagged product. The processor may calculate the degree of deviation (i.e., the change in position) by determining the product position based on the set of recently received wireless signals and a history of previously stored common positions stored in a data storage device, such as a data structure (e.g., data structure 11006 of fig. 11). The processor may determine whether the degree of deviation is greater than a predetermined threshold and may update the common locations of the product groups stored in the data structure. For example, a planogram may be tracked to see if a product group has moved beyond a certain number of feet, and then updating the limits that may exist between product groups in a venue. By way of non-limiting example, a planogram update may include updating a location of a visual representation of a product, a number of copies of a visual representation of a product indicating a change in product count in a venue, or modifying or changing any other information associated with the planogram. In some embodiments, the planogram may be updated when a tracked event changes a value (such as a location) or when the total count reaches some value. For example, if the degree of deviation is greater than a predefined threshold, the planogram may be updated to indicate a new common location. In some embodiments, the threshold amount may be defined individually for each type of venue, product, or group of products. The threshold amount may be automatically adapted based on several factors related to the venue and the wireless tagged products present in the venue.

Some disclosed embodiments may involve adapting the predefined threshold based on at least one of: the type of venue, the owner of the venue, a history of planogram updates in the venue, classification information for products in the venue, or user input. Adapting the threshold may include, but is not limited to, raising or lowering the threshold (where raising the threshold would require a greater degree of future deviation in order to generate an update to the planogram, and lowering the threshold would result in a lesser degree of future deviation in order to generate an update to the planogram). Adapting the threshold may include changing a rate of adapting the threshold, changing a rate of measuring a deviation from the threshold, or changing one or more parameters that cause the adapting the threshold. By way of example, a grocery type location may be expected to place dairy products farther away from the store, and thus may have a degree of deviation from a common location that is low by a predetermined threshold. In some embodiments, the common location of the product in the venue may be determined based on ownership. For example, if the venue is a franchise, the common locations of products in the venue may tend to match the common locations in other venues associated with the franchise, regardless of the owners of the other venues. In this case, the predetermined threshold value of the degree of deviation of the usual position of the product may be lower.

In some embodiments, updating the planogram further includes sending an alert that the planogram is updated. In some embodiments, when a change is made to the planogram, one or more alerts may be transmitted to one or more devices associated with the user. In some embodiments, one or more alerts may be sent to employees in the venue, to a manager supervising the venue, or to a role in the organization responsible for compliance checking of the organization's membership in terms of location and placement criteria. The user device may include, for example, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet, a smart phone, a smart watch, smart glasses, or any other type of electronic or computing device associated with the user. An alert may refer to an indication that an event has occurred, requiring action to be taken and/or a response to be made. The alert may refer to one or more textual or graphical symbols, sounds, or tactile outputs (e.g., vibrations) provided on one or more devices associated with the one or more users. For example, the alert may include a telephone notification, such as a text message or a smart phone notification. As another example, the reminder may include text or graphical information provided via other communication channels, such as email. A user viewing the planogram may receive alerts by selecting and subscribing to one or more alerts. The user may subscribe to a smartphone application or a planogram update alert in a website for viewing the planogram by checking a box for each alert in the settings portion of the planogram. The user may subscribe to the alert using a web browser or smart phone. In some embodiments, the alert may be provided in real-time or based on certain update events. For example, the at least one processor may cause a real-time alert to be provided in response to an event such as an out-of-stock or change in location of one or more wireless tagged products. In some embodiments, the user may update the time of the configuration alert notification for the planogram. For example, the user may request that the alarm notifications of the planogram updates be received in the form of summaries of hourly, 8-hour, daily, or weekly, or according to other desired times or frequencies.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor is further configured to: receiving a request identifying a location of a particular product in a venue through a communication interface; and responding to the request by sending back at least one common location of the product sharing the classification information with the product identified in the request. As used herein, a communication interface may be a hardware interface for a system that communicates with nearby wireless transmission tags using technologies such as bluetooth, near Field Communication (NFC), and the like. The communication interface may include circuitry configured to receive signals transmitted over a communication medium. The signals may carry data (as in the case of a communication system such as Wi-Fi, bluetooth, cellular communication, ethernet communication, or any other standards-based or proprietary protocol). The medium may be over-the-air wireless communication; and the signals may carry some form of data in accordance with an agreed upon communication protocol. The communication interface may include a fixed interface in an environment, a wireless user device (e.g., a cellular telephone, a tablet, dedicated hardware, etc.), a handheld device (e.g., a handheld scanner provided by a venue to an employee or customer for use during a work routine or shopping session), or any other circuit or component that receives wireless signals.

As used herein, a request may include a wireless signal with an embedded opcode to perform a task and determine information to display. The system may receive a request from a receiver (e.g., the receiver 11300a-g of fig. 11) via a wireless signal over a network (e.g., the network 11002 of fig. 11) to perform an operation associated with the product, such as determining a location of the wireless tagged product, determining an available inventory of the wireless tagged product, or determining any other information associated with the wireless tagged product. In some embodiments, a user may request to receive a wireless signal from a wireless tagged product. For example, a user of a smart phone having NFC capability may request to receive a wireless signal by bringing the smart phone in proximity to a wireless-tagged product having an NFC tag to activate the wireless transmission tag and transmit the wireless signal. The user may select an operation (e.g., location of the product) to activate the RFID tag.

In some embodiments, the user may request the receiver device to receive the wireless signal by bringing the receiver device into close proximity to a wireless transmission tag associated with the wireless tagged product. For example, a smart phone with NFC capability may be in proximity to a product with an NFC tag to activate a wireless transmission tag and transmit a wireless signal that includes information about the product. In some embodiments, a wireless receiver device may be used to relay wireless signals to a processor to identify a location through a network. By way of non-limiting example, as illustrated in FIG. 11, one or more receivers 11300a-g receive wireless signals from one or more tags 1100 over a network 11002 using a processor 11004 to identify the location of the one or more tags 1100.

Embodiments of the system may respond to the request by retrieving the data requested in the received wireless signal and displaying the retrieved data. For example, a received request for a location of a wireless tagged product may cause the received wireless signal to be processed by a processor to retrieve a tag ID associated with the wireless tagged product. The processor may use the tag ID to retrieve location information associated with the wireless tagged product from a data storage device (e.g., data structure 11006).

In some embodiments, the request to identify the location of the particular product includes identification information of the requestor that indicates whether the requestor is an authorized venue employee member. As used herein, the identification information of the requestor may be information for uniquely identifying the individual (e.g., employee number in the venue, employee name) or its role in the venue (e.g., employee title). The at least one processor may extract from the received request an identification of the user that generated the request. In some embodiments, the identity of the user may be retrieved based on data in the received location request. For example, information identifying the user may be used as part of a cache file stored on the user device. In another scenario, the user request for location may be a network request submitted as a form, where the user identification information is included in a hidden field of the form. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may retrieve the identification information based on authentication information associated with software for generating the location request. For example, the user identification information may be part of a session generated when a user logs into an application to view a planogram of a venue and requests a location of a product in the planogram. A user access token generated as part of user authentication and stored on a server associated with the venue or on the user device may be used as user identification information. In some embodiments, the identification information may be based on an identification of the hardware used to generate the location request, such as a network IP address, MAC ID, IMEI of the device, serial number, or other hardware identification information. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may look up information associated with the retrieved identification information in a data structure and use the information to determine whether the request is authorized. For example, a location request for availability of a product in a warehouse may result in evaluating a user title (e.g., an administrator) to determine whether a person with a certain title has access to location information in the warehouse to decide whether to provide location details of the searched product within the venue.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor may determine whether the identification information of the requestor indicates whether the requestor is an authorized employee member. The authorized venue employee members may be individuals associated with the venue who have authorization to access certain information about the venue and/or wireless tagged products in the venue. Authorization (in the context of user roles in a data system) may include one or more permissions from an entity that manages the data system to access certain data types, aspects, or categories stored in the data system. For example, different employees of a venue may require different authorizations or different permission levels to access sensitive personal data (such as a birthday or address) as opposed to less sensitive personal data (such as a full name, email address, or telephone number). As another example, in contrast to less sensitive business information (such as price or product pictures), employees of a venue (e.g., a retail store) may require different authorizations or different permission levels to access sensitive business information, such as inventory levels and future orders. For example, staff members in a retail location may be allowed access to location information for products present in certain areas (e.g., warehouse, storefront) and certain types of products (e.g., clothing, dairy, groceries).

As discussed above, the at least one processor may receive a request to identify the location of a particular wireless tagged product. In some embodiments, the wireless signal including the request may include identification data of a user seeking information of the wireless tagged product and an ID of the product. In some embodiments, the user identification data may be provided manually by a user of a device that sends a request to identify the location of a particular wireless tagged product. Additionally or alternatively, the user identification data may be provided by the device for requesting the location. For example, the device may provide identification data such as a phone number, address, employee ID, authentication credentials used by the user to log in to the device used to generate the request.

In some embodiments, user identification data may be used to control access to location information associated with a particular product. In some embodiments, the location identification request may be denied if the user is not an authorized user of the requested search operation. Based on the identification information associated with the user, the user may be considered unauthorized access to the location data related to the product. For example, a location lookup request as part of an inventory search may be authorized only for staff members of the venue who have access to the backroom store of products. By way of non-limiting example, as illustrated in fig. 14A-14C, the device 11008 may transmit the user's identification information and the product's tag ID along with a search request generated using the search button 14006. The user search request for identifying a product location may include a search for inventory availability with a location or a search for product details (as depicted in fig. 14A), including a location of a given model and other details (as depicted in fig. 14B).

In some embodiments, additional information associated with the location request (such as time of day, latency between requests, or number of repeated requests) may be used to determine whether the user is authorized to access the location information. For example, location requests made outside business hours may be considered unauthorized unless requested by an administrator. In another scenario, a location request that is made in very rapid succession may be understood to be made by automated software rather than humans and is considered unauthorized. In yet another scenario, repeated requests for more than a threshold number of location requests may be considered unauthorized.

Access to location information may be configured to certain users or devices. The user may be allowed to configure and store the access control restriction rules in a data store, such as data structure 11006. The processor 11004 may receive the user configuration and may store it in different formats, including flat files, databases, and the like. Embodiments may allow for configuration to control access to the classification information and determination of the location information.

In some embodiments, when the request originates from an entity other than an authorized venue employee member, products located in the storage area may be excluded from the corresponding response. An unauthorized person may be any person that is not authorized to access the product location in the planogram and therefore may not use this feature when viewing the planogram of the venue. In some embodiments, an unauthorized person may be a person who is a non-venue member (such as a customer visiting a venue), or a person who is a delivery of a new inventory of products, use an unauthorized device (such as a personal phone rather than a kiosk provided by a venue), or access a product location in a planogram in a non-normal manner (such as accessing information too frequently, accessing information outside of business hours). Based on the employee's title, the employee may be considered as unauthorised requesting location information. For example, staff members with a title "manager" may be allowed to request and access location information. But another employee member having a title "gatekeeper" or "checkout" may be considered an unauthorized employee member and may reject requests for such employee member to access location information.

Fig. 24 is a flowchart illustrating operation of an exemplary method 24000 for planogram generation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In step 24002, at least one processor receives a wireless signal from a receiver from a wireless tagged product. In some embodiments, the wireless signal may include an ID associated with each of the plurality of wireless tagged products. In step 24004, the at least one processor may access a data structure that associates an ID received in the wireless signal with the classification information. In step 24006, at least one processor determines a location of the wireless tagged product in the venue. In step 24008, the at least one processor determines product classification information from the received ID. In step 24010, at least one processor generates a planogram using the determined location and classification information of the wireless tagged product.

In step 24002, at least one processor may receive wireless signals associated with wireless tagged products in the venue from a plurality of wireless receivers. By way of example, as illustrated in fig. 11, one or more processors 11004 belonging to system 11000 may receive, via one or more receivers 11300a-g, wireless signals of one or more tags 1100 associated with wireless tagged products such as 1106 (as illustrated in fig. 1) and 1122 (as illustrated in fig. 1).

In step 24004, in response to the wireless signal received in step 24002 (including the ID of the wireless tagged product), the at least one processor may access a data structure that associates the ID of the wireless tagged product with the classification information. By way of example, as illustrated in FIG. 11, one or more processors 11004 may access one or more data structures 11006 upon receiving a wireless signal having an ID via one or more receivers 11300 a-g.

In step 24006, the at least one processor may utilize the received wireless signal to determine a location of the wireless tagged product transmitting the wireless signal in the venue. By way of example, as illustrated in fig. 13A, a retail location may include tags 1100 associated with items moving between different sections of the location and transmitting signals received by receivers in those sections.

In step 24008, the at least one processor may use the data structure retrieved in step 24004 to find classification information associated with the wireless tagged product. The at least one processor may also use the ID data in the wireless signal received in step 24002 to find classification information. By way of example, as illustrated in fig. 14B, the device 11008 may be configured to look up product information based on received information (such as brand, SKU number, inventory number, or model number).

In step 24010, the at least one processor may generate a planogram for the venue using the location of the wireless tagged product determined in step 21006 in the venue and the classification information determined in step 24008. Embodiments of the system may utilize the location information to place a visual representation of wireless tagged products present in the venue. Embodiments of the system may utilize the classification information to determine a visual representation of the wireless tagged product. In some embodiments, the system may utilize the classification and location information to verify the authenticity of the wireless signal associated with the wireless tagged product. For example, the classification information may be used to determine whether the wireless product is placed in the correct location. In some embodiments, the system may utilize the classification information to verify whether a user accessing information related to the product is an authorized user. Upon completion of step 24010, embodiments of the system complete execution method 24000 (steps 24002-99).

The disclosed embodiments may include a system for reading wireless transmission tags in a venue containing a plurality of wireless tagged products and for automatically generating restocking alerts. A wireless tagged product may include any item that may be associated with a tag. The product may include any object or material stored or maintained within the venue. By way of non-limiting example, a product may include a food, a garment, footwear, an electronic product, a consumer product, equipment, a vehicle, a consumable product, a package, an accessory, a supply, a material, an artwork, an animal, an instrument, a pallet, a container, a pharmaceutical, a cosmetic, a trade product, an article, an apparatus, a machine, an appliance, a work, a tool, furniture, or any other object that may be present in a venue. In some embodiments, the venue may provide the product for sale, exchange, or exchange of goods, for display, for custody, for storage, for distribution, and/or for free gifting. A wireless transmission tag may be associated with a product to enable the product to provide self-identification via the tag.

Embodiments of the wireless transmission tag may include any device suitable for attachment to any object to visually, tactilely, audibly, or electronically identify the object without using externally connected cables or wires. Other embodiments may be embedded in the article as part of the manufacturing process or later, such as by a retailer. The restocking alert may include an alert signal for indicating a need to restock the item based on the occurrence of the event. In some embodiments, a user may configure an event for generating an alert and the type of alert generated when the event occurs. Restocking warnings may also include certain types of warnings suggesting restocking of certain products.

In the context of inventory management at a venue, the warning signal may indicate that certain inventory items or products are below (or are about to be below) a desired minimum inventory level, or alternatively that they are above a desired maximum inventory level. Other warning signals may indicate that certain inventory items or products have an expiration date that is close to or has passed, or that a time period threshold for the presence of certain items or products in the venue has passed (or will pass).

The wireless tagged product may energize the wireless transmission tag to activate the tag to provide information. The power source of the wireless transmission tag may be a continuous power source from an AC or DC circuit or stored energy such as a battery. In some embodiments, the tag of the wireless tagged product has no battery. When the wireless tagged product has no energy source, the wireless transmission tag associated with the wireless tagged product may be activated by an external device. For example, a user of a smart phone having NFC capability may request activation of a wireless tag by bringing the smart phone in proximity to a wireless tagged product having an RFID tag to activate the wireless transmission tag.

In some embodiments, the tag of the wireless tagged product is powered by a capacitor. The energy provided by the external device may be stored briefly in a capacitor to activate the wireless transmission tag to transmit a wireless signal sharing information about the associated wireless tagged product. The capacitor may be a hardware component for storing energy in the wireless transmission tag. As discussed above, the wireless transmission tag may include an energy storage circuit having a storage capacitor configured to store ambient energy shared by external devices. Additionally or alternatively, the tag may include a 2.4GHz harvester configured to harvest energy in a frequency band of about 900MHz (e.g., an environment of about 900MHz and an intentional energy source such as an RFID or cellular signal in such a frequency band). The storage capacitor may be electrically connected to the wireless energy harvester to store ambient energy received by the harvester and to power the wireless tagged product with the harvester. In some embodiments, the wireless transmission tag may include a transfer capacitor configured to collect and store environmental energy harvested by the wireless transmission tag. In some embodiments, ambient energy may be collected by the harvester and initially stored in the transfer capacitor. The transfer capacitor may be configured to temporarily store ambient energy harvested in the form of electrical energy, and the storage capacitor may be configured as a main memory of the ambient energy harvested in the form of electrical energy. The energy collected, collected and stored in the capacitor may be used to power the circuitry of the wireless transmission tag.

In some embodiments, the system includes at least one transmitter for wirelessly powering a tag of a wireless tagged product. The transmitter may include any circuitry configured to transmit, send, radiate, deliver, or output a signal. The signal may contain energy such that, once received, the energy is used by the receiving tag to energize the tag. The transmitter may thus comprise one or more antennas for transmitting the energy-containing signals, and the tags may each comprise one or more antennas for receiving the energy-containing signals. The transmitter may transfer energy obtained directly from a power source or pre-stored in a capacitor or other energy storage component to power circuitry in a wireless transmission tag of the wireless tagged product.

The disclosed embodiments may include at least one processor as described elsewhere in this disclosure. In some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to receive wireless signals from a plurality of wireless tagged products from a plurality of receivers in the venue, wherein the wireless signals reflect an ID associated with each of the plurality of wireless tagged products. In some embodiments, the wireless signal includes an ID associated with each of the plurality of wireless tagged products. The ID (e.g., tag ID) may include information of a given one of the wireless transmission tags that identifies the tag to the user and/or to other devices or device components. The ID may include numbers, letters, characters, codes, strings, or other forms of data that may identify the wireless transmission tag to other devices or device components that receive the ID. In some embodiments, the ID may be unique to a particular tag, and the particular tag may have only one ID. Alternatively, the same tag may have multiple IDs. In some embodiments, multiple tags may share the same ID or set of IDs. Examples of IDs may include serial numbers, part numbers, bar codes, UUIDs, EPCs, and/or other data.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to access at least one data structure that associates each ID of each wireless tagged product with one of a plurality of product models. In some embodiments, each product model of the plurality of product models is associated with a SKU. As used herein, a product model may include an instance of a product having common attributes that are identified using numbers, codes, or other forms of data uniquely associated with the type of product, item, object, material, etc. that is part of an inventory management system, inventory maintenance system, or other such data management platform. Examples of codes representing product models include SKU codes, EPC codes, bar codes, ISBN codes, product numbers, part numbers, catalog numbers, and the like. The product model may be identified and managed using a product model number that virtually represents a physical instance of the product model.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to perform a lookup in the data structure for a product model associated with at least one ID of the at least one wireless tagged product. The at least one processor may use the identification information (such as the tag ID) to determine a product associated with the wireless tagged product. For example, the at least one processor may search a data structure storing product model details associated with the tag ID. By way of example, the data structure utilized in finding a product model may include a hash map that may have a key that includes an ID of the wireless tagged product and a value having one or more product model details, such as a product name, a size, a technical specification, a manufacturer name, a brand name, and/or any other information or data associated with the product model. In some embodiments, the data structure may include a key to a storage location (e.g., memory location) containing product details. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may convert data or information included in a wireless signal transmitted by a wireless transmission tag associated with the wireless tagged product into a tag ID associated with the wireless tagged product. The conversion may include combining different data (e.g., product serial number, wireless signal reception time stamp, wireless signal characteristics such as amplitude and angle) to uniquely identify the product model. The conversion may further include decrypting, descrambling, reordering, or other predefined mathematical operations on the transmitted data. For example, a unique tag ID associated with an item of apparel having a wireless transmission tag may include information such as a brand name, a product name, and a size. The processor of the system (e.g., processor 11004 of fig. 11) may be configured to convert data in the received wireless signal to generate a tag ID and use the tag ID to access the product model by using it to find the location of the product model in a hash map included in the data structure defined above. The processor may then access the identified storage location to retrieve the product model.

In some embodiments, the one or more processors may be configured to determine a total unit number for each product model detected in the venue based on the lookup. For example, the processor may count the number of lookup operations performed to determine the total unit number of product models. The processor may track the individual count for each product model by saving the tag IDs present in the wireless signal associated with each product model in the list and counting the number of unique tag IDs in the list. In some embodiments, the processor may create a new list to add the tag ID when no other list exists or when the processor has not previously looked up the product model in the data structure. The processor may store a list of all unique tag IDs present in the venue in a data structure and update the list from time to time based on reports from other parts of the system and use the list to count the number of units of the product model. The product model associated with the tag ID in the data structure that was previously accessed or looked up by the processor may point to each list of tag IDs for lookup in the data structure. In some embodiments, the processor may maintain an array of counters, one counter for each product model, and increment the value of the corresponding array element upon identifying the product model in the data structure.

The processor may look up the product model associated with the tag ID for a predetermined period of time to determine the unit number of product models in the venue. The user may configure a predetermined amount of time associated with each product model. In some embodiments, the user may configure the processor to look up the time of the product model associated with the tag ID in the received wireless signal. For example, a user may configure a processor (e.g., processor 11003 of fig. 11) to look up a tag ID of a product model ID in a data structure (e.g., data structure 11006 of fig. 11) after business hours to see how many units of product remain in the venue. In some embodiments, the system may be configured to calculate the total unit count for each product model multiple times per day based on a time of year. For example, a user may configure the processor of the system to determine the total unit count present in the venue multiple times during the day of the week, where the venue may have more visitors than the workday.

In some embodiments, the determined total unit number for each product model in the venue may be an estimate. The processor (e.g., processor 11004 of fig. 11) may confirm the total unit number of the product model number when collecting the wireless signal transmitted by the wireless tagged product for a predetermined period of time and using the tag ID in the wireless signal to find the product model number. The processor may not receive wireless signals from each wireless tagged product associated with a product model in the venue during the predetermined period of time. Thus, the total unit count of the product model may not represent the exact unit count present in the venue. The unit count determined by the processor may then be considered an estimate of the actual unit count in the venue. Alternatively or additionally, the processor may use the count of units from which the wireless signal was received during the time period and information about the transmission rate of the wireless identification tag to generate an estimate of the actual number of units present in the venue.

In some embodiments, an estimate of the total unit number of product models in the venue may be determined by processing the unit number of product models identified by collecting and processing the tag IDs and their associated product models present in the wireless signals transmitted by the wireless transmission tags. The processor of the system may calculate an average, mean, or median of the total number of units of the product model as calculated from the different sets of wireless signals received and processed to identify the product model from the tag ID in the wireless signals and use it as an estimate. Different sets of wireless signals used in calculating the average, mean and median of the unit numbers of product models may have overlapping signals shared between at least two sets. In some embodiments, the set of signals used to calculate the total unit count of the product model may be a subset of the signals. In some embodiments, individual unit counts of a product model may be used as a discrete set of estimates. In some embodiments, the individual counts may be ordered (e.g., in ascending or descending order) to determine a range of values and use the determined range as an estimate of the total unit number of product models.

In some embodiments, the estimate may be based on data from some remote sensing system (e.g., computer vision system, tag reading system, imaging radar system, LIDAR detection system, etc.), or it may be based on historical data regarding inventory movement in the store, or it may be based on a combination of previous inventory count and sales data, or any combination of the above.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to access, in the at least one data structure, a target unit threshold associated with each product model in the venue. The target threshold may be a value stored in a data storage device. The value of the target threshold may be the actual or estimated number of units needed or expected in inventory. By way of example, the disclosed embodiments may include an arrangement similar to data structure 11006 (as shown in fig. 1) and may indicate a minimum number of units of a product model that a venue needs to have in inventory or be displayed in the venue. In some embodiments, the threshold is at least one of a number or a range of numbers. The threshold may include a plurality of discrete values based on various factors, such as a size of the venue, a time of year, a time to restock inventory in the venue, or any other factor that may affect the receipt or sales of products in the venue. For example, the threshold number of units of a product model may vary based on venue size, with a higher threshold number of units of a product model in a larger venue (such as a super store) and a lower threshold in a smaller venue (such as a neighborhood store). In another scenario, the threshold for the product model may be higher during periods of the year associated with higher sales such as thanksgiving, christmas, and/or other holidays. The user may be allowed to use the processor to configure a threshold number of units associated with the product model and store the threshold in the data structure. In some embodiments, the user may be allowed to identify periods of higher sales and thresholds associated with each such period.

In some embodiments, the threshold may be a range of numbers. For example, the threshold may represent a number of conditions that need to be met in order to pass through the threshold. For example, a threshold number range of 3 to 5 may be associated with a condition such as "less than three items, or less than five items if inventory is below that level for more than twelve hours. As another example, a threshold number range of 2 to 3 may be associated with a condition such as "less than two items" unless on friday, in this case "less than three items".

The processor of the system may retrieve the threshold number of units of the product model from the data structure by using the code associated with the product model code. The data structure may include a hash map in which a code representing a product model is keyed as a value pointing to a unit threshold number of product models. The processor may access the data structure by providing a code identifying the product model to find a threshold for the product model. In some embodiments, the hash map may point to a memory location in a list having various thresholds associated with the product model for different environments and times of the year.

Some embodiments may involve comparing the determined total unit number for each product model to a target threshold to determine when a particular product model falls below an associated threshold. For example, the processor may compare the total unit count of the product model in the venue to a threshold associated with the product model and/or the venue. The comparison of the total available units to the threshold may be used to take one or more actions, such as determining whether the product model is low in number and needs to be restocked or whether the number is too high and needs to be moved to a warehouse. The processor of the system (e.g., processor 11004 of fig. 11) may compare the total units of the product model to their thresholds one or more times during the day, week, month, or any other desired period of time. The total number and frequency of comparing the total available units of product models in the venue with their thresholds may vary for each product model. In some embodiments, the comparison plan for the product model may be based on various factors, such as the size of the venue, the time of day, or the time of year. For example, the frequency of comparing the total unit number of product models in a venue to its threshold may vary based on venue size, with lower frequencies in larger venues (such as super stores with a unit number of product models available) and higher frequencies in smaller venues (such as neighborhood stores with a low unit number of product models). In another scenario, the comparison plan for the product model may include a higher frequency during periods of higher sales such as thanksgiving, christmas, or other holidays. The user may be allowed to use the processor to configure the comparison plan frequency for the product model and store the frequency in a data structure. In some embodiments, the user may be allowed to identify periods of higher sales and comparison frequencies associated with each configured period.

The disclosed comparison may include a simple comparison of a unit threshold number of product models to a unit number of products present in the venue. In some embodiments, the comparing may include comparing whether the total unit number of the product model falls within a threshold range of the product model and/or how close the total unit number is to a minimum or maximum threshold. The processor may take different actions based on where the total unit number of product models in the venue falls within a threshold range of values for the product models. For example, if the total number of units available for a product model in a venue approaches a minimum of a threshold range of values for the product model, then the product model may need to be restocked immediately. In another scenario, if the total number of units available for a product model in the venue approaches a maximum of a threshold range of values, the processor may provide a timeline for restocking the product model in the venue.

Some embodiments may involve outputting a restocking notification for a particular product model. A notification is a signal generated by a component of one system that is used to alert another component of the system, or a different system or person (or any combination of the above) of the occurrence of an event. The notification signal may be audible (such as a beep from a heavy truck when driving in reverse), visual (such as a flashing light of an ambulance alerting other drivers to clear the road), another sensory signal (such as a telephone vibration set to "mute" when a call is in), or a digital signal (such as a notification signal to an application on the mobile device, an interrupt signal to a CPU in the circuit board, or an entry in a system warning log), among other forms.

The restocking notification is a notification indicating that a restocking action needs to be performed. This notification may be sent to store employees instructing them that the product needs to be brought from the store's storage area to the store's display area so that the product will be available for sale. In some embodiments, a notification may be sent to store employees instructing them that they need to order a product from a warehouse because it is no longer available in the store (or is expected to be no longer available at some future point in time) and needs to be restocked. As another example, a notification may be sent from an inventory management system in the venue to a central ordering system of the organization, thereby generating an automatic order for restocking inventory at the venue.

When the total unit number of a particular product model in the venue falls below a unit threshold number associated with the product model, a separate restocking notification may be sent to the user device for each product model. The restocking notification for a particular product model may be sent in real-time or may be delayed and sent in a batch fashion with other product model notifications. The timing of the restocking notification may be based on the total unit number of a particular product model differing by an amount from a threshold associated with the product model. The timing of the restocking notification may indicate the urgency of unit restocking for a particular product model in the venue.

In some embodiments, the notification may include a message that the total number of units for a particular model is below a threshold. The replenishment notice may include a message displayed in text format on the user device to take an action. The message may include a reason for the notification (e.g., the total unit number of a particular model of product is below a threshold) and a description of the action suggested or required to be taken. In some embodiments, the restocking notification may include a code for the reason and the action, and the user device (e.g., user device 11008) may look up the text message to determine the reason for the restocking notification and the action to be taken.

In some embodiments, the data structure may store a plurality of restocking rules, and in response to the restocking notification, the at least one processor may be configured to access an associated restocking rule from the plurality of restocking rules and submit an order for restocking the particular product. In some embodiments, the at least one processor may be configured to access restocking rules to prevent restocking order submittal for a particular product.

As used herein, a restocking rule may include a set of algorithms, conditions, or requirements that determine whether restocking needs to be performed based on an array of inputs that may be broad. The restocking rules may also provide requirements associated with restocking. By way of example, restocking rules may specify that when a product is not purchased within the past N days, the product model may not be restocked or restocked. As another example, the restocking rules may specify that product models may be restocked based on the day of the week and/or the time of day. By way of another example, the restocking rules may specify that a product model may be restocked if an upcoming week includes a holiday, special event, or a planned sales or planned new series to market. Various other conditions for restocking a product model may be specified in the form of one or more restocking rules. Inputs to the algorithm may include, for example, sales history, inventory history, participation history, inventory information, price change information, date and time information, personnel inventory information, organizational process information (e.g., setting replenishment time or setting order requirements), or any other information indicating the amount or rate of product model entry into the venue (e.g., due to restocking or return of customers) or departure from the venue (e.g., due to sales). The requirements for restocking may include, for example, a minimum or maximum number of items in an order, a minimum or maximum number of combinations over several consolidated orders over a defined period of time, an association between product information and a facility, organization, or entity to which the order is directed.

The restocking rules may include instructions that require an action to be performed when the total number of units of a particular product model differs from a threshold associated with the product model. The restocking rules may be generated by a user and stored in a data store, such as data structure 11006 (shown in fig. 11). When the difference between the total unit number and the unit threshold number is greater than a predetermined difference, the two values may be considered to be different. In some embodiments, the predetermined difference may include a percentage of error associated with estimating a total unit number of the product model. In some embodiments, the total unit number may be considered different from the threshold number when the total unit number is below a range of values included in a threshold associated with a particular model. In some embodiments, the user may be allowed to configure different predetermined differences to be associated with different product models, different venues, and/or different time periods. The user may be permitted to use the processor to configure and store predetermined differences associated with the product model in a data structure (e.g., data structure 11006 of fig. 11). The processor may send a restocking notification when the total number of units for a particular model is different than the threshold number of units for a product model.

The user device may access one or more restocking rules upon receiving a restocking notification generated based on a difference between a total unit number of product models and a threshold unit number. The user device may access one or more restocking rules by searching the data structure using a code representing the product model. In some embodiments, the restocking notification received by the user device may include a code representing the product model. The data structure may include a hash map with the product model as a key to the restocking rules. The user device may provide the product model as input to the hash map to find one or more restocking rules. The accessed one or more restocking rules may include instructions presented to the user in the form of a display on the user device. The restocking instructions may include actions associated with restocking the product model in the venue. The actions may include restocking units of the product model in different areas of the venue (e.g., front display area, rear warehouse area) or moving units of the product model from one area of the venue to another. Restocking units may include placing orders from suppliers for units of the product model to ship to the venue.

As used herein, an order may include a shopping cart order to ship a requested product. In some embodiments, the order may be sent to a remote system to bring units of the product model from the storage facility to the venue. Shopping cart orders may result in automatic addition of items to the shopping cart and presentation of links to the shopping cart to the user for authorization and/or placing of the order.

Some embodiments may involve accessing restocking rules to delay submitting orders for restocking a particular product based on at least one of: the particular product in the restocking order, the plurality of other restocking orders submitted within the recent time period, the particular product for which other restocking orders were submitted within the recent time period, the sales history of the particular product in the restocking order, the sales history of the particular product for which other restocking orders were submitted within the recent time period, or the time at which the restocking order was submitted. For example, the processor may execute one or more restocking rules to determine where and when to place a restocking order. The one or more restocking rules may include various conditions for determining the location and time at which units of a product model are ordered. The location of units for ordering a product model may represent one or more sources from which the venue may obtain one or more units of the product model. Such sources may include, for example, an e-commerce store and associated website, a product manufacturer's website, a wholesaler's website, or an actual or electronic address associated with an entity or person supplying one or more products to the venue. Placing the order may be immediate or may be delayed based on various factors. Factors that may be delaying the placement of orders for product models restocking may include orders for other product models that require restocking, venue size, time of year, or other conditions that may determine whether one or more product models need to be present in the venue. For example, a restocking order request made during autumn for a product model representing a summer clothing series may be delayed until the upcoming spring immediately following the summer season. In another scenario, products with a shorter shelf life (such as agricultural products, dairy products, or other time sensitive items, such as certain popular clothing) may be prioritized over other restock order requests for restock orders. One or more restocking rules for determining when to process restocking orders for products may be based on the particular products for which other restocking orders were submitted during the most recent time period and meta-information associated with those restocking orders. Such meta-information may include, for example, the number of other restocking orders submitted during the most recent time period (e.g., a total count), the sales history of the particular products in the restocking orders, the sales history of the particular products for which other restocking orders were submitted during the most recent time period, or the time at which the restocking orders were submitted. For example, when the sales history for a product indicates that the sales volume of the product is relatively small for a long period of time (e.g., only 1 or 2 units are sold for a week or for a month), the submission of a restock order for the product may be delayed. As another example, when several other restocking orders for the same product have been previously submitted, the submission of the restocking order for the product may be delayed. Various other criteria may be used to define rules for delaying the submission of restocking orders for particular products.

Fig. 25 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an exemplary method 25000 for generating restocking notifications, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In step 25002, at least one processor receives a wireless signal from a receiver from a wireless tagged product. In some embodiments, the wireless signal may include an ID associated with each of the plurality of wireless tagged products. In step 25004, at least one processor may access a data structure associating an ID received in the wireless signal with the product model. In step 23008, the at least one processor performs a lookup in the data structure using the tag ID. In step 25008, at least one processor determines a total unit number of product models in a venue. In step 25010, at least one processor accesses a threshold unit of a product model in a place in a data structure. In step 25012, the at least one processor compares a total unit number of product models to a unit threshold number of the same product model. In step 25014, at least one processor outputs a restocking notification for the product model.

In step 25002, at least one processor may receive wireless signals associated with wireless tagged products in a venue from a plurality of wireless receivers. By way of example, as illustrated in fig. 11, one or more processors 11004 belonging to system 11000 may receive, via one or more receivers 11300a-g, wireless signals of one or more tags 1100 associated with wireless tagged products such as 1106 (as illustrated in fig. 1) and 1122 (as illustrated in fig. 1).

In step 25004, in response to the wireless signal received in step 25002 (including the ID of the wireless tagged product), the at least one processor may access a data structure associating the ID of the wireless tagged product with the product model. By way of example, as illustrated in FIG. 11, one or more processors 11004 may access one or more data structures 11006 upon receiving a wireless signal having an ID via one or more receivers 11300 a-g.

In step 25006, the at least one processor may perform a lookup of the product model using the accessed data structure. By way of example, as illustrated in fig. 14B, device 11008 may be configured to find a product model based on received ID information associated with a wireless transmission tag associated with a wireless tagged product.

In step 25008, the at least one processor may determine a total unit number of product models in the venue using the found product model associated with the ID in step 25006. By way of example, as illustrated in fig. 14A, the device 11008 may be configured to determine a total unit number of product models based on received ID information associated with wireless transmission tags associated with wireless tagged products.

In step 25010, at least one processor may access a threshold unit of a product model in a data structure. By way of example, as illustrated in fig. 11, the processor 11004 may access the data structure 11006 directly or through the network 11002 to access the threshold unit value of the product model.

In step 25012, the at least one processor compares the total unit number of product models obtained in step 25008 to a unit threshold number of the same product model obtained in step 25010. Embodiments of the system may compare to determine whether the total number of units for a particular product model is less than a threshold number of units for the particular product model.

In step 25014, the at least one processor outputs a restocking notification of the product model based on the comparison in step 25012. By way of example, as illustrated in fig. 14A, the device 11008 may be used to notify restocking of a product model. Embodiments of the system share restocking notifications that request restocking or avoid restocking items. Embodiments of the system share replenishment notices to move units of product model between different areas of the venue.

Fig. 26 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process 26110 for in-store pickup of previously purchased products consistent with the disclosed embodiments. Process 26110 is provided by way of example and one of ordinary skill will recognize various other processes for inventory control consistent with the present disclosure. At step 26112, the process 26110 may include receiving a transmission from at least one wireless transmission tag. In some embodiments, at least one wireless transmission tag may be associated with a previously purchased product. At step 26114, the process 26110 may include accessing a purchase transaction record from an off-store product purchase at the venue. In some embodiments, the purchase transaction record may include an identification of at least one purchased product and purchaser identification information of a purchaser associated with the at least one purchased product. At step 26116, the process 26110 may include receiving a unique tag ID of a particular wireless transmission tag associated with at least one particular product in an inventory, which in turn may correspond to the at least one purchased product. At step 26118, the process 26110 may include assigning at least one particular product to a record associated with the purchase transaction. In some embodiments, the record associated with the purchase transaction may include data in the purchase transaction record relating to the purchase of the off-store product of the at least one purchased product. At step 26120, process 26110 may include receiving a notification from a mobile communication device associated with the purchaser that at least one purchased product is being picked up at the venue. At step 26122, the process 26110 can include authorizing pickup of at least one particular product based on information received from a mobile communication device associated with the purchaser. In some embodiments, the information received from the mobile communication device may include a notification that the purchased product is being picked up and/or other information received from the mobile communication device. At step 26124, process 26110 may include disabling the ability to initiate an alarm when a transmission is received from a particular tag proximate to an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) door associated with the venue.

Fig. 27 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process 27110 for preventing theft of a wireless tagged item returned consistent with the disclosed embodiments. Process 27110 is provided by way of example, and one of ordinary skill will recognize various other processes for inventory control consistent with the present disclosure. At step 27112, process 27110 may include receiving a transmission from a wireless transmission tag. In some embodiments, at least one of the wireless transmission tags may be associated with a product previously purchased from the venue. At step 27114, the process 27110 can include receiving a notification from the mobile communication device that an intent to return a previously purchased product to the venue. In some embodiments, the mobile communication device may be associated with a previous purchaser of a previously purchased product. At step 27116, process 27110 can include identifying in the data structure a unique tag ID of a particular wireless transmission tag associated with a previously purchased product. At step 27118, process 27110 can include updating a data structure to indicate that a previously purchased product was returned to the venue. For example, the data structure may be updated based on receiving a notification that a previously purchased product was returned to the venue. At step 27120, process 27110 can include enabling the ability to initiate an alarm when a transmission is received from a particular tag associated with a previously purchased product proximate to an EAS door in a venue.

Fig. 28 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary process 28110 for performing a wireless transaction consistent with the disclosed embodiments. Process 28110 is provided by way of example, and one of ordinary skill will recognize various other processes for inventory control consistent with the present disclosure. At step 28112, process 28110 may include accessing at least one data structure containing an identification of a plurality of display areas (display area IDs) and an identification of a plurality of products associated with the plurality of display areas (product IDs). At step 28114, process 28110 can include receiving a request from a mobile communication device for information related to a particular presentation area. In some embodiments, the particular presentation area may be in the vicinity of the mobile communication device. At step 28116, process 28110 may include receiving location information associated with a location of a mobile communication device. At step 28118, the process 28110 may include performing a lookup in at least one data structure to identify a particular presentation area in the location of the mobile communication device. In some embodiments, the lookup may be performed in response to or based on the received location information. At step 28120, process 28110 may include retrieving product related information for a product associated with a particular display area from at least one data structure. In some embodiments, retrieving product-related information may be based on the identity of a particular display area. At step 28122, process 28110 can include transmitting product related information for a product associated with a particular display area to a mobile communication device.

The disclosed embodiments may include any one of the features listed below as solid dots, alone or in combination with one or more other features listed below, whether implemented by at least one processor as a system and/or method, or stored as executable instructions on a non-transitory computer readable medium.

Electronic security system

Location for providing product

Product with associated wireless transmission tag

At least one Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) door

At least one receiver configured to receive transmissions from a wireless transmission tag

At least one processor

Receiving a specific tag ID of a specific tag associated with a specific product for a desired purchase from a venue from a device operated by a desired purchaser

Accessing a data structure containing a plurality of tag IDs associated with a plurality of products in a venue

Performing a lookup in the data structure for a particular tag ID, thereby identifying a particular product

Initiating an electronic purchase transaction to debit an account associated with a prospective purchaser for an electronic purchase of a particular product

Disabling the ability to initiate an alarm when at least one receiver receives a transmission from a particular tag in proximity to an EAS gate

Personal mobile communication device for prospective buyers

Perform a lookup on a particular tag ID to determine that the associated particular product has been purchased

Update the data structure to include instructions to not initiate an alarm when at least one receiver receives a transmission from a particular tag proximate to the EAS gate

Removing from the data structure an indication that a particular product is available for purchase

Electronic credit card transaction

Receiving a specific tag ID from a device operated by a prospective purchaser after the specific tag ID is detected by the device

Receiving a particular tag ID from a device operated by a prospective purchaser via a local Wi-Fi connection in a venue

Receiving a particular tag ID from a device operated by a prospective purchaser via a Wide Area Network (WAN) connection

Receiving a specific tag ID from a device operated by a prospective purchaser via a wired Local Area Network (LAN) connection

Each tag ID of the plurality of tag IDs in the data structure is different from each other tag ID in the data structure

Determining a tag position at the time of transmission based on the transmission received by the at least one receiver

Determining tag proximity to EAS door

Self-service machine in place

Processing data associated with multiple locales

Accessing a plurality of data structures, each data structure of the plurality of data structures being uniquely associated with one of a plurality of locales

Multiple transmitters for wirelessly transmitting power to a wireless transmission tag

At least one receiver configured to receive transmissions when an EAS gate is detected by a particular tag

Inventory control operations

Receiving transmissions from a plurality of wireless transmission tags

Inventory control operations for multiple products equipped with multiple wireless transmission tags

In-store pick-up location providing access to previously purchased products

Purchase transaction record for accessing out-of-store product purchases

Identification of at least one purchased product and purchaser identification information of a purchaser associated with the at least one purchased product

Receiving a unique tag ID of a particular tag associated with at least one particular product in inventory corresponding to at least one purchased product

Assigning at least one specific product to a record associated with a purchase transaction

Receiving a notification from a mobile communication device associated with the purchaser that at least one purchased product is being picked up at the venue

Authorizing the pick-up of at least one specific product based on information received from a mobile communication device associated with the purchaser

Disabling the ability to initiate an alarm when at least one receiver receives a transmission from a particular tag proximate to an EAS door after authorizing pickup of at least one particular product

Perform a lookup on the unique tag ID to determine that the associated at least one particular product is authorized for pick-up

Removing the unique tag ID and the product ID of the associated at least one particular product from the data structure such that the unique tag ID and the product ID are no longer counted as part of the venues inventory available for sale

Identification information of packages containing at least one specific product during pick-up waiting time of the place

Information readable by a mobile communication device

The notification from the mobile communication device that the at least one purchased product is being picked up at the venue comprises identification information of the package containing the at least one specific product

Machine-readable printed code

Near field communication tag ID

Package tag ID of a wireless transmitted package tag associated with a package, the package tag not being associated with any product in the venue

Purchase transaction record comprising information of the period of time during which at least one specific product is authorized to be picked up

Upon receipt of a notification that at least one purchased product is being picked up, checking whether the notification was received within a certain period of time

Authorizing pickup if the notification is received within a certain period of time

Refusing to pick up if the notification is received outside a certain period of time

Location identification information indicating that a mobile communication device associated with a purchaser is located within a venue

Sending a notification to a mobile communication device associated with a previous purchaser

Wireless transmission tag configured to transmit immediately upon sensing an EAS door

Wireless transmission tag configured to transmit an ID transmission indicating proximity to an EAS gate upon sensing the EAS gate

Determining a tag location at the time of transmission based on transmissions received by at least one receiver, thereby determining tag proximity to an EAS gate

Operation for enabling in-store pick-up of products associated with wireless transmission tags

Receiving a transmission from at least one wireless transmission tag

Electronic security system for preventing theft of returned goods

At least one Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) door in a venue

Receiving notification from a mobile communication device associated with a previous purchaser that an intent to return a previously purchased product to a venue

Unique tag ID identifying in the data structure the particular wireless transmission tag associated with the previously purchased product after receiving the notification

Updating a data structure to indicate that a previously purchased product was returned to the venue

When updating the data structure, enabling the capability to initiate an alarm when at least one receiver receives a transmission from a particular tag associated with a previously purchased product proximate to the EAS door

A data structure configured to hold the following indications until a notification is received: disabling the ability to initiate an alarm when at least one receiver receives a transmission from a particular tag associated with a previously purchased product proximate to an EAS door

Updating the data structure to permit initiation of an alarm when at least one receiver receives a transmission from a particular tag associated with a previously purchased product proximate to an EAS door

At least a second receiver in the venue configured to receive wireless transmissions from a mobile communication device associated with a previous purchaser

Receiving a transmission over a cellular network from a mobile communication device associated with a previous purchaser

Performing a lookup in a data structure containing a purchase transaction record

Upon receipt of a notification of an intent to return a previously purchased product, verifying that the particular product identified by the unique tag ID of the particular tag was purchased by a previous purchaser associated with the mobile communication device

Updating the data structure when a previously purchased product is verified as having been purchased by a previous purchaser

Avoiding updating the data structure if the previously purchased product is not verified as having been purchased by the previous purchaser

Receiving a unique tag ID from a previous purchaser's mobile communication device

Receiving an indication that the returned previously purchased product was purchased again by another purchaser

Upon receipt of the indication, disabling the ability to initiate an alarm upon detection of a particular tag

Initiating a refund transaction

Delaying refund to previous buyers until staff at the venue has verified the previously purchased products returned and considered the previously purchased products eligible for return

At least one receiver configured to receive a tag signal reflecting sensing of an EAS gate

Specific tag configured to transmit immediately upon sensing an EAS door

Transmitting a particular tag indicating that the particular tag is proximate to an ID transmission of the EAS door upon sensing the EAS door

Sending a notification to the mobile communication device indicating completion of the return process for the previously purchased product

Data structure comprising information of the period of time during which a previously purchased product is authorized to be returned

Upon receiving notification of an intent to return a previously purchased product to the venue, checking whether the notification was received within a period of time that the previously purchased product was authorized to return

Authorizing the return of the previously purchased product to the venue if a notification is received within a certain period of time

Refusing to return the previously purchased product to the venue if the notification is received outside of a certain period of time

Receiving location identification information

Determining that a mobile communication device associated with a previous purchaser is located within a venue based on location identification information

Theft prevention of returned items with wireless tags

Receiving transmissions from wireless transmission tags

System for conducting wireless transaction communications

Identification of multiple display areas

Identification of multiple products associated with multiple display areas

Reception from a mobile communication device

Request for information related to a specific presentation area in the vicinity of a mobile communication device

Receiving location information associated with a location of a mobile communication device

Performing a lookup in at least one data structure in response to the location information

Identifying a specific presentation area in the vicinity of a mobile communication device

Retrieving from at least one data structure based on the identification of the particular presentation area

Product-related information for products associated with a particular display area

Transmitting product-related information to a mobile communication device

Selection of at least one particular product associated with a particular display area

Initiate an activity associated with the selection

Transmitting options for product delivery in connection with a purchase transaction

Picking up at least one specific product at a location near a specific display area

Picking up at least one specific product at a location other than a location near a specific display area

Delivering at least one specific product to a specified address

Selecting a request comprising additional information

Activity includes transmitting additional information to a mobile communication device

The location information associated with the location of the mobile communication device includes at least one of a GPS location, a GLONASS location, a Galileo location or other global navigation and positioning system location information associated with the mobile communication device

The request for information relating to a specific presentation area comprises a location ID entered into the mobile communication device

The location ID originates from a scan of a graphical code or Near Field Communication (NFC) tag associated with a particular presentation area

Specific display areas including window displays

Product-related information for products associated with a particular display area includes identification of at least some of the products associated with the particular display area

The purchase request includes a request to ship at least one particular product associated with the particular display area to a location specified via the mobile communication device

Transmitting the product-related information includes transmitting a signal to cause the mobile communication device to display the product-related information on the graphical user interface

The graphical user interface is configured to display the product-related information in at least one of a text format or a graphical format

Transmitting a signal to cause the mobile communication device to output the product-related information as audible information for presentation via the mobile communication device

At least one receiver associated with a particular display area

Receiver configured to receive wireless signals from a mobile communication device

System for reading wireless transmission tags in a venue

Multiple wireless tagged products

Automatically generating a product distribution planogram

Receiving wireless signals from multiple receivers in a venue

Wireless signals from multiple wireless tagged products

The wireless signal includes an ID associated with each of the plurality of wireless tagged products

Data structure associating each ID of each wireless tagged product with classification information

Accessing a data structure

Determining a position in a venue from a wireless signal

Performing a lookup in a data structure for each ID of each wireless tagged product

Determining product classification information associated with each of the wireless tagged products

Generating a planogram for the venue using the determined location and the determined product classification information for each wireless tagged product

Classification information includes product number

The planogram indicates on the map the location of at least one product group sharing a product type number

The display indicates the location of groups of wireless tagged products

Classification information includes an associated product family indicator for each wireless tagged product

Map of display map dividing places by product family

The data structure contains information associating each product type number with a product family

Ascertaining an associated product family from each determined model code associated with each wireless tag

At least one product group indication for sharing product classification information

At least two locations where the products in the most recent group are clustered

Identifying at least two locations on the planogram

Tracking planograms over time

Tracking the display map includes: comparing the common location of at least one product group with the common location history

Determining whether the current common location deviates from the common location history

Updating the planogram to indicate a new common location if the degree of deviation is greater than a predefined threshold

Updating the planogram further includes sending a warning that the planogram is updated

Adapting a predefined threshold

A predefined threshold based on at least one of: the type of venue, the owner of the venue, a history of planogram updates in the venue, classification information for products in the venue, or user input

Determining a position based on at least one of an amplitude, a phase, an angle of arrival or a time of arrival of the received wireless signal

The map of the venue comprises an area designated for storage and an area designated for display

For each group of products sharing classification information in the display, including at least one common location in the storage area and at least one common location in the display area

Receiving a request identifying a location of a particular product in a venue via a communication interface

The request to identify the location of a particular product includes identification information of the requester, the identification information indicating whether the requester is an authorized venue employee member

When the request originates from an entity that is not a member of an authorized venue employee

Excluding products located in the storage area from the corresponding response

Non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions

Perform operations for generating a planogram based on information collected from wireless tags

Method for generating a planogram based on information collected from wireless tags

Location

Wireless item tag in a venue

Multiple wireless tagged products

Replenishment warning

Reception from multiple receivers in a venue

Wireless signals from multiple wireless tagged products

Wireless signal reflecting ID

ID associated with each wireless tagged product of a plurality of wireless tagged products

Data structure associated with each id of each wireless tagged product having one of a plurality of product models

Accessing at least one data structure associated with each ID of each wireless tagged product

Performing a lookup in the data structure for the product model

Product model detected in the venue

Determining the total unit quantity for each product model based on the lookup

Target unit threshold associated with each product model

Accessing a target unit threshold in at least one data structure

Comparing the determined total unit quantity of each product with a target threshold

Product model falls below the associated threshold

Output replenishment notice

Multiple product models associated with SKU

The determined total unit quantity for each product model in the venue is an estimate

The threshold value is at least one of a number or a range of numbers

At least one data structure stores a plurality of restocking rules

In response to the restocking notification, the at least one processor is configured to access an associated restocking rule from the plurality of restocking rules

Submitting an order for restocking a particular product

At least one processor configured to access restocking rules to prevent restocking order submission for a particular product

At least one processor configured to access restocking rules to delay submitting orders for restocking a particular product

Delaying the submission of an order for restocking a particular product based on at least one of the particular products in the restocking order

Multiple other restocking orders submitted in the most recent time period

Specific products for which other restocking orders were submitted in the latest time period

Sales history of specific products in restock order

Sales history of specific products for which other restocking orders were submitted in the latest time period

Time to submit restock order

Label of product with wireless label without battery

The tag of the product with the wireless tag is powered by a capacitor

Comprising at least one transmitter for wireless powering of a tag of a wireless tagged product

Non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions

Perform operations to automatically generate restocking alerts

Method for automatically generating replenishment alerts based on signals from a plurality of wireless tagged products

The systems and methods disclosed herein relate to non-conventional improvements over conventional methods. The description of the disclosed embodiments is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form or embodiments disclosed. Modifications and adaptations to the embodiments will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed embodiments. Additionally, the disclosed embodiments are not limited to the examples discussed herein.

The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form or embodiment disclosed. Modifications and adaptations to the embodiments will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed embodiments. For example, the described implementations include hardware and software, but the systems and methods according to the present disclosure may be implemented solely as hardware.

The features and advantages of the present disclosure are apparent from the detailed description, and thus, the appended claims are intended to cover all such systems and methods that fall within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure. As used herein, the indefinite articles "a" and "an" mean "one or more". Similarly, the use of plural terms does not necessarily denote a plural unless otherwise clear in a given context. Words such as "and" or "mean" and/or "unless specifically indicated otherwise. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon a study of the disclosure, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.

Computer programs based on the written description and methods of this specification are within the skill of the software developer. Various programming techniques may be used to create various functions, scripts, programs, or modules. For example, programs, scripts, functions, program segments, or program modules may be designed in or by means of languages, including JAVASCRIPT, C, C ++, JAVA, PHP, PYTHON, RUBY, PERL, BASH, or other programming or scripting languages. One or more such software blocks or modules may be integrated into a computer system, a non-transitory computer readable medium, or existing communication software. Programs, modules or code may also be implemented or copied as firmware or circuit logic.

Furthermore, although illustrative embodiments have been described herein, the scope may include any and all embodiments having equivalent elements, modifications, omissions, combinations (e.g., of aspects across various embodiments), adaptations and alterations as per the present disclosure. Elements in the claims are to be construed broadly based on the language used in the claims and are not limited to examples described in the present specification or during the application, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive. Furthermore, the steps of the disclosed methods may be modified in any manner, including by reordering steps or inserting or deleting steps. Accordingly, the specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims and their full scope of equivalents.

Claims

1. An electronic security system for a venue providing a product, the product having an associated wireless transmission tag, the electronic security system comprising:

at least one Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) door;

at least one receiver configured to receive transmissions from the wireless transmission tag; and

at least one processor configured to:

receiving a specific tag ID of a specific tag from a device operated by a prospective purchaser, the specific tag being associated with a specific product for a prospective purchase from the venue;

accessing a data structure, the data structure containing a plurality of tag IDs associated with a plurality of products in the venue;

performing a lookup in the data structure for the particular tag ID, thereby identifying the particular product;

initiating an electronic purchase transaction to debit an account associated with the prospective purchaser for electronic purchase of the particular product; and is also provided with

After the electronic purchase of the particular product, the ability to initiate an alarm is disabled when the at least one receiver receives a transmission from the particular tag proximate to the EAS door.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is a personal mobile communication device of the prospective purchaser.

3. The electronic security system of claim 1, wherein disabling the capability to initiate an alarm comprises:

performing a lookup on the particular tag ID to determine that the associated particular product has been purchased; and

the data structure is updated to include instructions to not initiate the alarm when the at least one receiver receives a transmission from the particular tag proximate to the EAS door.

4. The electronic security system of claim 3, wherein the instructions to update the data structure to include not initiating the alert include an indication that the particular product is removed from the data structure for purchase.

5. The electronic security system of claim 1, wherein the electronic purchase transaction comprises an electronic credit card transaction.

6. The electronic security system of claim 1, wherein the particular tag ID is received from the device operated by the prospective purchaser after the particular tag ID is detected by the device.

7. The electronic security system of claim 1, wherein the particular tag ID is received from the device operated by the prospective purchaser via a local Wi-Fi connection in the venue.

8. The electronic security system of claim 1, wherein the particular tag ID is received from the device operated by the prospective purchaser via a Wide Area Network (WAN) connection.

9. The electronic security system of claim 1, wherein the particular tag ID is received from the device operated by the prospective purchaser via a wired Local Area Network (LAN) connection.

10. The electronic security system of claim 1, wherein each tag ID of the plurality of tag IDs in the data structure is different from each other tag ID in the data structure.

11. The electronic security system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine a tag location at the time of transmission based on the transmission received by the at least one receiver, thereby determining a tag proximity to the EAS door.

12. The electronic security system of claim 1, wherein the device is associated with a kiosk in the venue.

13. The electronic security system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to process data associated with a plurality of locales and to access a plurality of data structures, each data structure of the plurality of data structures being uniquely associated with one of the plurality of locales.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of transmitters for wirelessly transmitting power to the wireless transmission tag.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one receiver is configured to receive a transmission when the EAS gate is detected by the particular tag.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform inventory control operations, the operations comprising:

receiving a specific tag ID of a specific tag from a device operated by a prospective purchaser, the specific tag being associated with a specific product for a prospective purchase from a venue;

initiating an electronic purchase transaction to debit an account associated with the prospective purchaser for electronic purchase of the particular product; and

after the electronic purchase of the particular product, the ability to initiate an alarm is disabled when a transmission is received from the particular tag proximate to an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) door associated with the venue.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the device is a personal mobile communication device of the prospective purchaser.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein disabling the capability to initiate an alert comprises:

the data structure is updated to include instructions to not initiate the alarm when at least one receiver associated with the venue receives a transmission from the particular tag proximate to the EAS door.

19. A method for performing inventory control operations on a plurality of products equipped with a plurality of wireless transmission tags, the method comprising:

20. The method of claim 19, wherein disabling the capability to initiate an alert comprises:

21. An electronic security system for a venue providing in-store pickup of previously purchased products, wherein the products have associated wireless transmission tags, the electronic security system comprising:

at least one Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) door;

at least one processor configured to:

accessing a purchase transaction record for an off-store product purchase, the purchase transaction record including an identification of at least one purchased product and purchaser identification information of a purchaser associated with the at least one purchased product,

Receiving a unique tag ID for a particular tag associated with at least one particular product in inventory corresponding to the at least one purchased product, and assigning the at least one particular product to a record associated with the purchase transaction,

receiving a notification from a mobile communication device associated with the purchaser that the at least one purchased product is being picked up at the venue,

authorizing pick-up of the at least one particular product based on information received from the mobile communication device associated with the purchaser, and

after authorizing the pick-up of the at least one particular product, the ability to initiate an alarm is disabled when the at least one receiver receives a transmission from the particular tag proximate to the EAS door.

22. The electronic security system of claim 21, wherein disabling the capability to initiate an alarm comprises:

performing a lookup on the unique tag ID to determine that the associated at least one particular product is authorized to be picked up; and

the data structure is updated to include instructions to not initiate the alarm when the at least one receiver receives a transmission from the particular tag proximate to the EAS gate.

23. The electronic security system of claim 22, wherein the instructions to update the data structure to include not to initiate the alert comprise: the unique tag ID and the product ID of the associated at least one particular product are removed from the data structure such that the unique tag ID and the product ID are no longer counted as part of the inventory of venues available for sale.

24. The electronic security system of claim 21, wherein the off-store product purchase comprises an electronic credit card transaction.

25. The electronic security system of claim 21, wherein the purchase transaction record includes identification information of a package containing the at least one particular product during a pick-up wait time at the venue.

26. The electronic security system of claim 25, wherein the identification information of the package comprises information readable by the mobile communication device, and wherein the notification from the mobile communication device that the at least one purchased product is being picked up at the venue comprises the identification information of the package containing the at least one particular product.

27. The electronic security system of claim 25, wherein the identification information of the package comprises a machine-readable printed code.

28. The electronic security system of claim 25, wherein the identification information of the package comprises a near field communication tag ID.

29. The electronic security system of claim 25, wherein the identification information of the package comprises a package tag ID of a wirelessly transmitted package tag associated with the package, the package tag not associated with any product in the venue.

30. The electronic security system of claim 21, wherein the purchase transaction record includes information of a period of time that the at least one particular product is authorized to be picked up.

31. The electronic security system of claim 30, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

upon receiving the notification that the at least one purchased product is being picked up, checking whether the notification was received within the time period,

authorizing the pick-up if the notification is received within the period of time, and

if the notification is received outside of the time period, the pickup is rejected.

32. The electronic security system of claim 21, wherein the notification that the at least one purchased product is being picked up includes location identification information indicating that the mobile communication device associated with the purchaser is located within the venue.

33. The electronic security system of claim 21, wherein authorizing pickup of the at least one particular product comprises sending a notification to the mobile communication device associated with the purchaser.

34. The system of claim 21, further comprising a plurality of transmitters for wirelessly transmitting power to the wireless transmission tag.

35. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one receiver is configured to receive a transmission when the EAS gate is detected by the particular tag.

36. The system of claim 21, wherein the wireless transmission tag is configured to transmit immediately upon sensing the EAS door.

37. The system of claim 21, wherein the wireless transmission tag is configured to transmit an ID transmission indicating proximity to the EAS gate upon sensing the EAS gate.

38. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine a tag location at the time of transmission based on a transmission received by the at least one receiver, thereby determining a tag proximity to the EAS door.

39. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations for enabling in-store pickup of a product associated with a wireless transmission tag, the operations comprising:

Receiving a transmission from at least one of the wireless transmission tags;

accessing a purchase transaction record of an off-store product purchase from a venue, the purchase transaction record including an identification of at least one purchased product and purchaser identification information of a purchaser associated with the at least one purchased product;

receiving a unique tag ID for a particular tag associated with at least one particular product in inventory corresponding to the at least one purchased product, and assigning the at least one particular product to a record associated with the purchase transaction;

receiving a notification from a mobile communication device associated with the purchaser that the at least one purchased product is being picked up at the venue;

authorizing pickup of the at least one particular product based on information received from the mobile communication device associated with the purchaser; and

after authorizing pickup of the at least one particular product, the ability to initiate an alarm is disabled when a transmission is received from the particular tag proximate to an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) door associated with the venue.

40. A method for in-store pickup of a previously purchased product, wherein the product has an associated wireless transmission tag, the method comprising:

Receiving a transmission from at least one of the wireless transmission tags;

41. An electronic security system for preventing theft of returned goods, the electronic security system comprising:

At least one Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) door in the venue;

at least one receiver configured to receive transmissions from a wireless transmission tag; and

at least one processor configured to:

a notification is received from a mobile communication device associated with a previous purchaser that a previously purchased product is intended to be returned to the venue,

upon receipt of the notification, identifying in a data structure a unique tag ID for a particular wireless transmission tag associated with the previously purchased product,

updating the data structure to indicate that the previously purchased product was returned to the venue, and

upon updating the data structure, the capability to initiate an alarm is enabled when the at least one receiver receives a transmission from the particular tag associated with the previously purchased product proximate to the EAS door.

42. The electronic security system of claim 41, wherein the data structure is configured to maintain the following indications until the notification is received: the ability to initiate an alarm is disabled when the at least one receiver receives a transmission from the particular tag associated with the previously purchased product proximate to the EAS door.

43. The electronic security system of claim 41 wherein enabling the capability to initiate an alarm comprises: when the at least one receiver receives a transmission from the particular tag associated with the previously purchased product proximate to the EAS door, the data structure is updated to permit initiation of the alarm.

44. The electronic security system of claim 41 further comprising at least a second receiver in the venue configured to receive a wireless transmission from the mobile communication device associated with the previous purchaser.

45. The electronic security system of claim 41 wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive a transmission from the mobile communication device associated with the previous purchaser over a cellular network.

46. The electronic security system of claim 41, wherein identifying the unique tag ID of the particular tag associated with the previously purchased product comprises performing a lookup in a data structure containing a purchase transaction record.

47. The electronic security system of claim 41 wherein the at least one processor is configured to verify that a particular product identified by the unique tag ID of the particular tag was purchased by the previous purchaser associated with the mobile communication device upon receiving the notification of an intent to return the previously purchased product.

48. The electronic security system of claim 47, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

updating the data structure when the previously purchased product is verified as having been purchased by the previous purchaser; and is also provided with

If the previously purchased product is not verified as having been purchased by the previous purchaser, updating the data structure is avoided.

49. The electronic security system of claim 41 wherein identifying the unique tag ID of the particular tag associated with the previously purchased product comprises receiving the unique tag ID from the mobile communication device of the previous purchaser.

50. The electronic security system of claim 41 wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

receiving an indication that the returned previously purchased product was purchased again by another purchaser; and is also provided with

Upon receipt of the indication, the capability to initiate an alarm is disabled upon detection of the particular tag.

51. The electronic security system of claim 41 wherein the at least one processor is configured to initiate a refund transaction.

52. The electronic security system of claim 41 wherein the at least one processor is configured to delay refund to the previous purchaser until an employee at the venue has verified the previously purchased product that was returned and considered the previously purchased product eligible for return.

53. The electronic security system of claim 41, wherein the at least one receiver is configured to receive a tag signal reflecting sensing of the EAS door.

54. The electronic security system of claim 41, wherein the particular tag is configured to transmit immediately upon sensing the EAS door.

55. The electronic security system of claim 41, wherein the particular tag is configured to transmit an ID transmission indicating that the particular tag is proximate to the EAS door when the EAS door is sensed.

56. The electronic security system of claim 41, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine a tag location at the time of transmission based on the transmission received by the at least one receiver, thereby determining tag proximity to the EAS door.

57. The electronic security system of claim 41, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send a notification to the mobile communication device indicating completion of the return process for the previously purchased product.

58. The electronic security system of claim 41 wherein the data structure includes information of a period of time that the previously purchased product is authorized to be returned.

59. The electronic security system of claim 58, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

upon receiving the notification of an intent to return the previously purchased product to the venue, checking whether the notification was received within the period of time during which the previously purchased product was authorized to return;

authorizing to return the previously purchased product to the venue if the notification is received within the period of time; and is also provided with

If the notification is received outside of the time period, the previously purchased product is rejected for return to the venue.

60. The electronic security system of claim 41 wherein the at least one processor is configured to: receiving location identification information; and determining that the mobile communication device associated with the previous purchaser is located within the venue based on the location identification information.

61. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations for preventing theft of a wireless tagged item returned, the operations comprising:

Receiving a transmission from a wireless transmission tag;

receiving a notification from a mobile communication device associated with a previous purchaser that a previously purchased product is intended to be returned to the venue;

upon receiving the notification, identifying in a data structure a unique tag ID of a particular wireless transmission tag associated with the previously purchased product;

updating the data structure to indicate that the previously purchased product was returned to the venue; and

upon updating the data structure, the capability to initiate an alarm is enabled when at least one receiver associated with the venue receives a transmission from the particular tag associated with the previously purchased product proximate to at least one Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) door in the venue.

62. A method for preventing theft of a returned item with a wireless tag, the method comprising:

receiving a transmission from a wireless transmission tag;

63. A system for conducting wireless transaction communications, the system comprising:

at least one processor configured to:

accessing a data structure comprising an identification of a plurality of display areas and an identification of a plurality of products associated with the plurality of display areas;

receiving a request from a mobile communication device for information related to a particular presentation area in the vicinity of the mobile communication device;

receiving location information associated with a location of the mobile communication device;

performing a lookup in the data structure to identify the particular presentation area in the vicinity of the mobile communication device in response to the location information;

retrieving product-related information associated with products in the particular display area from the data structure based on the identification of the display area;

Transmitting the product-related information to the mobile communication device.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive a selection of at least one particular product in the presentation area from the mobile communication device and initiate an activity associated with the selection.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein the selection comprises a purchase request, and wherein the activity comprises a purchase transaction.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein in connection with the purchase transaction, the at least one processor is further configured to transmit an option to the mobile communication device for product delivery.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein the options for product delivery include: picking up the selection at a location near the display area; picking up the selection at a location other than the location near the display area; and delivering the selection to a specified address.

68. The system of claim 64, wherein the selection comprises a request for additional information, and wherein the activity comprises transmitting the additional information to the mobile communication device.

69. The system of claim 63, wherein the location information comprises GPS location, GLONASS location, galileo location, or other global navigation and positioning system location information associated with the mobile communication device.

70. The system of claim 63, wherein the location information includes a location ID entered into the mobile communication device.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein the location ID is derived from a scan of a graphical code or Near Field Communication (NFC) tag associated with the presentation area.

72. The system of claim 63, wherein the presentation area is a window presentation.

73. The system of claim 63, wherein the product-related information includes an identification of a plurality of products in the particular display area.

74. The system of claim 63, wherein the product-related information includes a physical location in the display area where a product is available for pickup.

75. The system of claim 65, wherein the purchase transaction includes a request to ship the product in the particular display area to a location specified via the mobile communication device.

76. The system of claim 63, wherein the at least one processor is configured to output the product-related information for presentation via a graphical user interface on the mobile communication device, and wherein the graphical user interface is configured to display the product-related information in at least one of a text format or a graphical format.

77. The system of claim 76, wherein the at least one processor is configured to output audible information for presentation via the mobile communication device.

78. The system of claim 63, further comprising at least one receiver located in the presentation area, the at least one receiver configured to receive wireless signals from the mobile communication device, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: determining a location of the mobile communication device relative to the presentation area based on the signals received via the at least one receiver; and prioritizing the product-related information transmitted to the mobile communication device based on the proximity of the plurality of products to the mobile communication device.

79. The system of claim 78, wherein prioritizing the product-related information includes changing at least one of an order in which product-related information is transmitted, a level of detail of the product-related information transmitted, or a selection of product-related information for transmission.

80. The system of claim 69, wherein the location information includes information received from an indoor navigation system or an indoor positioning system.

81. The system of claim 63, wherein the particular display area is adjacent to a sales location for carrying the product associated with the display area.

82. The system of claim 63, wherein the particular display area is near a storage location that maintains the product associated with the display area as a product that is available for shipment.

83. The system of claim 63, wherein the particular display area is associated with a remote sales location or a remote storage location that carries the product associated with the display area as a product that is available for sale, shipment, or pickup.

84. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform wireless transaction operations comprising:

85. A method of performing a wireless transaction, the method comprising:

86. A system for reading wireless transmission tags in a venue containing a plurality of wireless tagged products and for automatically generating a product distribution planogram, the system comprising:

at least one processor configured to:

receiving wireless signals from a plurality of receivers in the venue from the plurality of wireless tagged products, wherein the wireless signals include an ID associated with each of the plurality of wireless tagged products;

accessing a data structure that associates each ID of each wireless tagged product with classification information;

Determining from the wireless signals the location of each of the wireless tagged products in the venue;

performing a lookup in the data structure for each ID of each of the wireless tagged products to determine product classification information associated with each of the wireless tagged products; and is also provided with

A planogram for the venue is generated using the determined location and the determined product classification information for each wireless tagged product, wherein the planogram indicates the locations of wireless tagged product groups sharing common classification information on a map of the venue.

87. The system of claim 86, wherein the classification information includes a product type number, and wherein the planogram indicates a location on the map of at least one product group sharing the product type number.

88. The system of claim 87, wherein the classification information includes an associated product type number for each wireless tagged product, and wherein the planogram indicates a location of groups of wireless tagged products, wherein each group of wireless tagged products shares a common product type number.

89. The system of claim 86, wherein the classification information includes an associated product family indicator for each wireless tagged product, and wherein the planogram divides the map of the venue by product family.

90. The system of claim 86, wherein the classification information includes product type numbers, and wherein the data structure contains information associating each product type number with a product family, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to access the data structure and ascertain an associated product family from each determined model code associated with each wireless tag.

91. The system of claim 86, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to indicate, for at least one product group sharing product classification information, at least two locations at which products in the at least one group are clustered and to identify the at least two locations on the planogram.

92. The system of claim 86, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to track the planogram over time, wherein tracking the planogram comprises: comparing the current common location of at least one product group with a common location history of the at least one product group; determining whether the current common location deviates from the common location history; and if the degree of deviation is greater than a predefined threshold, updating the planogram to indicate a new common location.

93. The system of claim 86, wherein updating the planogram further comprises sending an alert that the planogram is updated.

94. The system of claim 86, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to adapt the predefined threshold based on at least one of: the type of the venue, the owner of the venue, a history of planogram updates in the venue, classification information for the products in the venue, or user input.

95. The system of claim 86, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine a location based on at least one of an amplitude, a phase, an angle of arrival, or a time of arrival of the received wireless signal.

96. The system of claim 86, wherein the map of the venue comprises an area designated for storage and an area designated for display, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to include at least one common location in the storage area and at least one common location in the display area for each product group sharing classification information in the planogram.

97. The system of claim 86, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: receiving a request identifying a location of a particular product in the venue through a communication interface; and responding to the request by sending back at least one common location of a product sharing classification information with the product identified in the request.

98. The system of claim 97, wherein the request to identify the location of a particular product includes identification information of a requestor, the identification information indicating whether the requestor is an authorized venue employee member.

99. The system of claim 98, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to exclude products located in the storage area from the corresponding response when the request originates from an entity that is not an authorized venue employee member.

100. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations for generating a planogram based on information collected from wireless tags, the operations comprising:

performing a lookup in the data structure for each ID of each of the wireless tagged products to determine product classification information associated with each of the wireless tagged products; and

generating the planogram for the venue using the determined location and the determined product classification information for each wireless tagged product, wherein the planogram indicates locations of wireless tagged product groups sharing common classification information on a map of the venue.

101. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 100, wherein the classification information includes a product type number, and wherein the planogram indicates a location on the map of at least one product group sharing the product type number.

102. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 101, wherein the classification information includes an associated product type number for each wireless tagged product, and wherein the planogram indicates a location of multiple sets of wireless tagged products, wherein each set of wireless tagged products shares a common product type number.

103. A method for generating a planogram based on information collected from wireless tags, the method comprising:

104. The method of claim 103, wherein the classification information includes a product type number, and wherein the planogram indicates a location on the map of at least one product group sharing the product type number.

105. The method of claim 103, wherein the classification information includes an associated product type number for each wireless tagged product, and wherein the planogram indicates a location of groups of wireless tagged products, wherein each group of wireless tagged products shares a common product type number.

106. A system for reading wireless item tags in a venue comprising a plurality of wireless tagged products and for automatically generating restocking alerts, the system comprising:

at least one processor configured to:

receiving wireless signals from a plurality of receivers in the venue from the plurality of wireless tagged products, wherein the wireless signals reflect an ID associated with each of the plurality of wireless tagged products;

accessing at least one data structure that associates each ID of each wireless tagged product with one of a plurality of product models;

Performing a lookup in the data structure for a product model associated with each ID of each wireless tagged product;

determining a total unit quantity for each product model detected in the venue based on the lookup;

accessing, in the at least one data structure, a target unit threshold associated with each product model in the venue;

comparing the determined total unit number for each product model to the target threshold to determine when a particular product model falls below an associated threshold; and is also provided with

And outputting a replenishment notice for the specific product model.

107. The system of claim 106, wherein each product model of the plurality of product models is associated with a SKU.

108. The system of claim 106, wherein the determined total unit quantity for each product model in the venue is an estimate.

109. The system of claim 106, wherein the threshold is at least one of a number or a range of numbers.

110. The system of claim 106, wherein the at least one data structure stores a plurality of restocking rules, and wherein in response to the restocking notification, the at least one processor is configured to access an associated restocking rule from the plurality of restocking rules and submit an order for restocking the particular product.

111. The system of claim 106, wherein the notification includes a message that a total number of units for a particular model is below a threshold.

112. The system of claim 110, wherein the at least one processor is configured to access restocking rules to prevent restocking order submittal for a particular product.

113. The system of claim 110, wherein the at least one processor is configured to access restocking rules to delay submitting orders for restocking a particular product based on at least one of: the particular product in the restocking order, a plurality of other restocking orders submitted within a recent time period, a particular product submitted with other restocking orders within a recent time period, a sales history of the particular product in the restocking order, a sales history of a particular product submitted with other restocking orders within a recent time period, or a time at which the restocking order was submitted.

114. The system of claim 106, wherein the tag of the wireless tagged product has no battery.

115. The system of claim 106, wherein the tag of the wireless tagged product is powered by a capacitor.

116. The system of claim 106, further comprising at least one transmitter for wirelessly powering a tag of the wireless tagged product.

117. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations for automatically generating restocking alerts based on signals from a plurality of wireless-tagged products, the operations comprising:

receiving wireless signals from a plurality of receivers in a venue from the plurality of wireless tagged products, wherein the wireless signals reflect an ID associated with each of the plurality of wireless tagged products;

Comparing the determined total unit number for each product model to the target threshold to determine when a particular product model falls below an associated threshold; and

and outputting a replenishment notice for the specific product model.

118. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 117, wherein each product model of the plurality of product models is associated with a SKU.

119. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 117, wherein the determined total unit quantity for each product model in the venue is an estimate.

120. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 117, wherein the threshold is at least one of a number or a range of numbers.

121. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 117, wherein the at least one data structure stores a plurality of restocking rules, and wherein in response to the restocking notification, the at least one processor is configured to access an associated restocking rule from the plurality of restocking rules and submit an order for restocking the particular product.

122. A method for automatically generating restocking alerts based on signals from a plurality of wireless tagged products, the method comprising:

and outputting a replenishment notice for the specific product model.

123. The method of claim 122, wherein each of the plurality of product models is associated with a SKU.

124. The method of claim 122, wherein the determined total unit quantity for each product model in the venue is an estimate.

125. The method of claim 122, wherein the threshold is at least one of a number or a range of numbers.