Patent ID: 6809645
Filing Date: 2004-10-26
Classification: G08B

Abstract:
A system for modifying a database in response to detection of surveillance tags at a checkout station comprising:a product database for storing product records corresponding to articles sold in a store, the product records including a surveillance tag indicator; a surveillance tag interrogator at the checkout station for generating a surveillance tag present signal during a transaction in response to detection of a surveillance tag attached to an article submitted for processing at the checkout station; and a database modifier communicatively coupled to the database and interrogator for sending a query containing product identification data associated with the article, if a record is returned by the database, for determining whether a surveillance tag indicator in the record is active, indicating that the surveillance tag should be attached to the article and deactivation is required, or inactive, indicating that the surveillance tag should not be attached to the article, but that deactivation is still required; and if no record is returned from the database, for generating a new data record for the database, and for setting an active surveillance tag indicator in the new data record during the transaction, indicating that deactivation is required.