Abstract:
The invention provides an improved inventory management and theft detection system whereby by a security tag is placed on an article for sale. The security tag is affixed to the article so that the article cannot be opened when the security tag is in place. A device to remove the security tag is controlled by the cash register of the store. The security tag removal device is controlled by the cash register and does not operate unless a sales transaction has occurred.

Description:
CROSS-RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U. K. Patent Application No. 00275537, (&#39;537 application) filed Nov. 10, 2000, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/328,193 filed Oct. 11, 2001, the entire disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to an apparatus and system for securing and managing inventory, such as an article security tag and security tag release device, and point of sale terminal.  
           [0003]    Various types of containers are known for holding products such as in a retail store. Numerous security and inventory management systems have been developed such as theft detection tags, physical objects to be removed by the sales clerk, and bar codes. One exemplary product to be managed is information storage media, such as compact discs (CD&#39;s) and digital video discs (DVD&#39;s). An exemplary state of the art container for storage media is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,068 and WO97/ 41563 , the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.  
           [0004]    An exemplary problem with prior art containers for storage media is the theft of the storage media, e.g. the CD or DVD, from the container inside the retail store. Conventionally, containers are provided with an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) tag that triggers an alarm if the container is taken out of the store without the EAS tag either being removed or rendered inactive by the store sales staff. One way to counter an EAS tag is simply to remove the storage media from the container. One method of countering this theft technique is to wrap the container in a clear plastic wrapper. The wrapper must be at least partially removed before the container can be opened. However, thieves have been known to slit the wrapper along an edge of the container and removed the storage media by manipulating the container. Moreover, thieves have developed additional techniques to include removing the EAS tag from the container or product.  
           [0005]    U. K. Patent Application No. 00275537 (&#39;537) describes an improved security tag that secures storage media inside the container. The security tag described in this application secures the storage media in the container and prevents the container from opening while the security tag is in place. However one potential problem with the &#39;537 application is that an employee or thief with access to a security tag removal system can circumvent this feature.  
           [0006]    What is needed is an improved inventory management and theft deterrent system whereby a security tag, such as described in the &#39;537 application cannot be removed unless a sales transaction has occurred.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The invention provides an improved inventory management system whereby by a security tag is placed on an article for sale. The security tag is affixed to the article so that a packaging cannot be opened with the security tag in place. A device to remove the security tag is controlled by the point of sale terminal. The tag removal device will not operate unless a sales transaction takes place.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE  
       [0008]    The above and other features of the present invention which will become more apparent in the description below and can be understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying FIGURE. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an inventory management system according to the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an inventory management system  100 . An exemplary inventory item  70  is shown. In an exemplary embodiment, item  70  is a storage media container (not shown) with an information storage media, such as a CD or DVD located inside the container. The storage media is secured inside the container by a security tag  72  such as described in the &#39;537 application tat uses a RFID tags for preventing theft. In an exemplary embodiment, the security tag  72  has a Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) attached to it. It is to be understood that the invention covers a wide range of security tags  72  and is not limited to the security tag described in the referenced &#39;537 application.  
         [0010]    The inventory system  100  consists of at least a storage database  10 , a cash register or sales terminal  30 , an inventory item  70 , a security tag  72  secured to the inventory item  70  or a container for the item  70 , a security tag reader  40 , and an unlocking system  60 . FIG. 1, also shows an optional remote database  20  and an alarm system  50 , such as an audible alarm located near the exits of a facility.  
         [0011]    The inventory system  100  is designed so that security tag  72  is only released from an item  70  after a cash register  30  has recorded the sale of the item  70 . In an exemplary system, the security tag  72  contains at least a serial number or some identification information that can be read by an optical or other type of scanner. Additional information could be stored on the tag, such as item type, item identification number, tag number, item description, item cost, date of manufacture, shipping date and reorder information. A serial number allows each item  70  and security tag  72  to be uniquely identified by the cash register or computer system  30 . The security tag  72  is exemplary placed in the item  70  at the factory or by the retailer, distributor, or owner, preferably prior to arrival at the store or in a secure location. An optional remote database  20  could be used to cross-reference the information stored on the tag  72 .  
         [0012]    In an exemplary embodiment, during a sales transaction, the cash register  30  or other suitable reading device will read the security tag  72  identification information. In an exemplary system a handheld or stationary security tag reader  40 , such as an electronic or optical scanner is used to read the security tag  72 . The tag reader  40  transfers the information to the cash register  30 . The cash register  30  then communicates with a storage database  10 . The storage base  10  transmits to the cash register  30  information on the item  70 , such as product cost and other information desired. In addition, a remote product database  20  may be desirable to prevent an employee or thieve from altering the store database  10 .  
         [0013]    After the security tag  72  information is read by the tag reader  40 , the cash register  30  will authorize the removal of or disarming of the security tag  72 . A sales clerk can then use an exemplary tag unlocking system  60  to remove the security tag  72  from the item  70 . The tag unlocking system  60  is controlled by the cash register  30 . In an exemplary embodiment the tag unlocking system  60  comprises a security tag reader  62 , a microprocessor  64 , and an unlocking device  66 .  
         [0014]    The unlocking system tag reader  62  reads the security tag  72 . The tag&#39;s identification number is transferred via a microprocessor  64  to the cash register  30  to confirm or verify the sale. If a sale is confirmed, the unlocking device  66  is made operational and the sales clerk can proceed with disarming and removing the security tag  72 . If a sale is not confirmed then the unlocking device  66  will not operate. In an exemplary embodiment, an attempt to unlock a security tag  72  when a sale is not recorded would result in an exemplary alarm system  50  activating.  
         [0015]    Thus employees as well as thieves could not remove the security tag  72  from the item  70  without a sales transaction. It is to be understood that the unlocking device  66  can be configured and controlled in many different ways, including electromagnetic controls or other suitable electromechanical means.  
         [0016]    As previously mentioned, the system  100  could also have an alarm system  50 . An exemplary alarm system  50  would be placed near the store exit or tag unlocking device  661 . The alarm  50  would make a noise or flash a light if a thief or employee attempts to remove the item  70  from the store without a sales transaction occurring.  
         [0017]    One potential problem is that an employee could authorize a cash transaction with the cash register  30 , without placing the money in the cash register. However, a password system can also be used with the cash register  30  to identify which sales clerk handled a particular transaction.  
         [0018]    Once given the above disclosure, many other features, modifications or improvements will become apparent to the skilled artisan. Such features, modifications or improvements are, therefore, considered to be a part of this invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the following claims.