Patent ID: 7619528
Filing Date: 2009-11-17
Classification: G07G,G08B

Abstract:
1. A retail checkout terminal, comprising: a security tag deactivation device for deactivating a security tag affixed to a product presented for entry into a transaction; a deactivation detector for detecting a deactivation of the security tag; and a processor for receiving a deactivation detection indication from the deactivation detector that a security tag has been deactivated and evaluating the deactivation detection indication in light of information associated with the product to determine if deactivation of a security tag is to be expected for a transaction involving the product, wherein the processor is operative to access a repository for product information, the product information including an entry for each product that may be submitted for entry into a transaction, the processor being operative to examine each entry for information indicating whether a deactivation of a security tag is to be expected for a transaction involving the product, and wherein one or more product entries may include a deactivation count indicating a number of times a deactivation has been detected in association with a transaction entry associated with the product, wherein the processor is operative to evaluate a deactivation associated with a product as expected if the deactivation count for the product meets a predefined threshold and wherein the processor is operative to evaluate the deactivation associated with the product as unexpected if the deactivation count for the product does not meet the predefined threshold.