Patent ID: 6201469
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: G08B

Abstract:
A method for wireless synchronization of first and second magnetic electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems arranged for operation in close proximity to one another, comprising the steps of:programming each of said first and second EAS systems for transmitting using a respective marker interrogation transmitter at least one unique signal into respective and partially overlapping interrogation zones of said first and second EAS systems and for receiving any signal from said interrogation zones using a respective marker detection receiver at respective and predetermined transmit and receive phases relative to a common reference;transmitting said at least one unique signal from said first EAS system using said marker interrogation transmitter of said first EAS system;receiving said at least one unique signal at said second EAS system using said marker detection receiver of said second EAS system during one of said phases otherwise predetermined for receiving signals;recognizing phase information conveyed by said at least one unique signal; and,transmitting using said marker interrogation transmitter from said second EAS system synchronously with said transmitting using said marker interrogation transmitter from said first EAS system, responsive to said conveyed phase information.