Patent Publication Number: US-8970369-B2

Title: “Invisi wall” anti-theft system

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/382,122, filed Sep. 13, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present exemplary embodiments relate generally to theft deterrence. They find particular application in conjunction with product displays at retail stores, and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the present exemplary embodiments are also amenable to other like applications. 
     Retail stores often include floor layouts in which products are arranged in product displays so as to form aisles. A product display serves to emphasize a product and/or a class of products within a retail store and includes any structure holding products, such as a shelf and/or freezer bin, and/or grouping of like products. Typically, products disposed in product displays are freely accessible to customers. Customers desiring to purchase a product simply pick up the product and bring it to a store clerk, where they then pay for the product. 
     One problem with allowing customers to freely access products in a typical floor layout is that store clerks often lack an unobstructed view of the product displays. As such, products disposed in the product displays are prone to damage and/or vandalism from mischievous customers. Even more, products are prone to theft. Due to the large expense this conduct imposes upon retailers, they have been searching for ways to prevent and/or deter theft. 
     Known solutions to this problem often involve locking products in product displays. However, this places an increased burden upon store clerks, since a customer must call them whenever the customer wishes to purchase a product. Further, requiring that a customer seek assistance from a store clerk can dissuade the customer from purchasing a product. It adds an element of inconvenience to the customer&#39;s shopping experience. Even more, it can be costly to retrofit existing product displays and/or to buy new theft deterrent product displays. 
     The present disclosure contemplates new and improved systems and/or methods for remedying these, and other, problems. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     Various details of the present disclosure are hereinafter summarized to provide a basic understanding. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and is intended neither to identify certain elements of the disclosure, nor to delineate the scope thereof. Rather, the primary purpose of the summary is to present certain concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form prior to the more detailed description that is presented hereinafter. 
     According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a system for monitoring a display of products is provided. The system includes a motion detection unit. The motion detection unit is configured to receive an electromagnetic signal from a sensor concerning a portion of a plane disposed between at least one associated product held in an associated display and an associated individual. Further, the motion detection unit determines whether the portion of the plane is breached based on temporal deviations in the electromagnetic signal and, in response to determining a breach, generates a notification of the breach. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for monitoring a display of products is provided. The method includes providing a sensor and receiving an electromagnetic signal from the sensor concerning a portion of a plane disposed between at least one product in a display and an individual. A determination is made as to whether the portion of the plane is breached based on temporal deviations in the electromagnetic signal. In response to determining a breach, a notification of the breach is generated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following description and drawings set forth certain illustrative implementations of the disclosure in detail, which are indicative of several exemplary ways in which the various principles of the disclosure may be carried out. The illustrative examples, however, are not exhaustive of the many possible embodiments of the disclosure. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the disclosure will be set forth in the following detailed description of the disclosure when considered in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic top plan view of a retail store having a product display monitoring system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic end elevational view of a product display having a product display monitoring system according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic side elevational view of a product display monitoring system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure mounted to a header of a product display; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic side elevational of a product display monitoring system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure mounted to a header of a product display; and, 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method for monitoring a product display. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One or more embodiments or implementations are hereinafter described in conjunction with the drawings, where like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout, and where the various features are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a schematic top plan view of a retail store  10  is illustrated. The retail store  10  is suitably one of a drug store, a grocery store, a hardware store, a jewelry store, and the like. However, other types of stores are also contemplated. The retail store  10  includes one or more product displays  12 . The product displays  12  carry products for sale and typically define aisles within the retail store  10 . The products may include, for example, makeup, over the counter pharmaceuticals, groceries, tools, and the like. The product displays  12  may be disposed along walls of the retail store  10  and/or offset from walls of the retail store  10 . Further, the product displays  12  typically include one or more vertically spaced shelves, optionally covered by a protective case. However, in some embodiments, the product displays  12  include bins, mere groupings of products, and the like. 
     An entrance  14 , such as a door, of the retail store  10  allows customers of the retail store  10  to enter and/or exit the retail store  10 . The entrance  14  is suitably located next to one or more checkout registers  16  of the retail store  10 , so that store clerks manning the checkout registers  16  can view the ingress and egress of customers. The checkout registers  16  provide customers wishing to purchase products with a location to pay for the products. While store clerks suitably man the checkout registers  16 , the checkout registers  16  may additionally, or alternatively, allow for self-checkout. In some embodiments, the entrance  14  may be associated with RFID scanners and/or other like security measures so as to deter and/or reduce theft. Further, although only a single entrance is shown, additional entrances are contemplated. 
     An optional surveillance system  18  may include a controller  20 , one or more security cameras  22 , and an optional display monitor  24 . The controller  20  monitors video streams from the cameras  22  and, in some embodiments, displays one or more video streams from the cameras  22  on the display monitor  24 . In displaying video streams on the display monitor  24 , the controller  20  may, for example, change the video streams displayed on the display monitor  24  at periodic intervals and/or change the video streams displayed on the display monitor  24  to video streams of cameras capturing motion. The controller  20  further, in some embodiments, records and/or archives video streams from the cameras  22  to a memory or database. The cameras  22  may include, but are not limited to, one or more of black and white cameras, infrared cameras, night vision cameras, cameras having rotating and/or zooming capabilities, and the like. The display monitor  24  is suitably located within the view of one or more store clerks and/or one or more security guards. 
     A product display monitoring system  26  generates an invisible wall  28 , occupying a portion of a generally vertically oriented plane, which is disposed between customers and the products held or disposed in a product display  30 . Additional product display monitoring systems may be employed for other product displays. When a customer breaches the invisible wall  28 , the product display monitoring system  26  typically notifies security guards and/or store clerks thereof. However, other actions, some of which are described below, are also contemplated. A breach includes, for example, a customer crossing the invisible wall  28  with an appendage. 
     As mentioned, the invisible wall  28  can be and typically is oriented vertically. However, in some embodiments, the invisible wall  28  is oriented horizontally or at an angle from a horizontal or vertical axis. Further, two co-planar, perpendicular axes typically define the plane of the invisible wall  28 . The invisible wall  28  extends predetermined distances from the product display monitoring system  26  along the two axes, in one or both directions of each of the two axes. For example, when the invisible wall  28  is arranged substantially vertically (e.g., less than 20 degrees from the vertical axis), the invisible wall  28  extends along the first axis between the top of the product display  30  and the bottom of the product display  30  and along the second axis across the width of the product display  30 . The predetermined distances are set by the size of the product display  30  and bounded by the specific design of the product display monitoring system  26 . For example, in one embodiment, the invisible wall can selectively extend up to 45 feet from the product display monitoring system  26  in each direction of each axis. 
     If the product display  30  extends beyond the range of a single product display monitoring system  26  or includes a bend, one or more additional product display monitoring systems may be employed to monitor the product display. The additional product display monitoring systems and the product display monitoring system  26  may be interconnected or operated independently. As to the former, for example, one of the product display monitoring systems may be configured as a master system and the other product display monitoring systems may be configured as slave systems, whereby the master system acts in response to a breach of an invisible wall of any of the other product display monitoring systems. Such an arrangement can additionally be employed with additional display monitoring systems for other product displays. Communication between the product display monitoring systems may be carried out using one or more of a cable, wireless link, a communications network, and so on. 
     A motion detection unit  32  of the product display monitoring system  26  generates the invisible wall  28 , detects a breach thereof, and optionally determines the location of the breach. The motion detection unit  32  suitably generates the invisible wall  28  actively or passively using electromagnetic waves. In some embodiments, electromagnetic waves are transmitted over the full extent of the invisible wall  28  with an electromagnetic generator  34  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) and reflections of the electromagnetic waves are sensed with one or more sensors  36  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). Temporal deviations in the electromagnetic waves are then detected using, for example, reflection time, phase shift, frequency shift, and so on. These deviations are used as indicators of a breach. In other embodiments, electromagnetic waves given off by a person, such as infrared light, are sensed with the sensors  36  and used to detect a breach of the invisible wall  28 . To avoid false alarms, further conditions may be required for detection of a breach. For example, the extent of a potential breach must exceed a predetermined amount. As another example, a potential breach must last a predetermined amount of time. 
     In some embodiments, the electromagnetic waves are generated using infrared light. In such embodiments, the electromagnetic generator  34  generates an infrared beam continuously scanning along the invisible wall  28 . Further, the sensors  36  suitably monitor a reflection time of the infrared beam for variations. If the amount of time it took for the infrared beam to reflect back to the sensors  36  was x seconds during a first pass and the amount of time it took for the infrared beam to reflect back to the sensors  36  was y second during a second pass, then the invisible wall  28  is breached. 
     To determine the location of a breach, in some embodiments, the electromagnetic generator  34  scans back and forth across the invisible wall  28 . When a breach is detected, the location can be determined based on the location of the electromagnetic generator in its scan path and the reflection time. In other embodiments, the sensors  36  can include a plurality of sensors disposed at different locations, each measuring one or more of reflection time, magnitude of the reflected electromagnetic waves, and so on. Trigonometry and/or multi-lateration, for example, can then be employed to determine location. Other approaches to determining location are contemplated and equally amenable. 
     When a breach is detected, the motion detection unit  32  typically generates an audio and/or visual warning for a security guard and/or a store clerk using a notification unit  38 . An audio warning may be provided by way of a speaker or other audio source of the notification unit  38 . Further, a visual warning may be provided by way of one or more light sources  40  (see  FIGS. 3-4 ) of the notification unit  38 . The light sources  40  may be of any color, such as blue. Further, the light sources  40  may shine steadily or blink at varying intervals and/or in varying patterns, remain activated for a predetermined period of time (e.g., five seconds), and the like, when a breach of the invisible wall  28  is detected. 
     The notification unit  38  is suitably placed remote from the motion detection unit  32 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . However, it may be mounted proximate to and/or on the motion detection unit  32 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 . Further, the notification unit  38  is suitably mounted within the view of security guards and/or store clerks, typically on the ceiling  42  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the retail store  10 . The notification unit  38  receives control and/or trigger signals from the motion detection unit  32  from one or more of a cable  44 , wireless link, a communications network, and the like. 
     Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, when a breach is detected, the motion detection unit  32  controls the surveillance system  18  to focus on the product display  30  with one of the cameras  22 . In interfacing with the surveillance system  18 , the motion detection unit  32  may instruct the surveillance system  32  to change the display monitor  24  of the surveillance system  18  to display a video stream of a security camera having a view of the invisible wall  28 . As should be appreciated, this may have the effect of providing store clerks and/or security guards a visual notification of a breach. The motion detection unit  32  may also instruct the surveillance system  18  to record the video stream from a camera having a view of the invisible wall  28 . 
     Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, when a breach is detected, the motion detection unit  32  stores a record of the breach, optionally including the location thereof, in a memory  45 . Such data has value for purposes of marketing. For example, the data can be used to determine which products are most viewed, sought after, removed, and so on; where the most sought after products are located in the product display  30 ; which products have the most breaches; and so on. As another example, if the invisible wall  28  protects a certain product and has numerous breaches, but few purchases, it can be inferred that customers are interested in the product, but not at the current price. Other uses of this data will be apparent to those with marketing backgrounds. 
     The motion detection unit  32  may include a number of operating settings controlling operation of the motion detection unit  32 . The operating settings may include, for example, one or more of what action to take in response to detecting a breach, parameters affecting particular actions, such as a strobe interval for a visual alert, sensitivity, the extent of the invisible wall  28  in each direction of the two axes, the minimum duration of a breach needed before providing notice, whether to interface with the surveillance system  18 , and the like. Advantageously, the operating settings allow the motion detection unit  32  to account for floor displays and/or promotional advertising hanging off the product display  30  and/or planogram changes. 
     To set the operating settings, the motion detection unit  32  may include one or more user input devices  46 , optionally covered with a protective cover. The user input devices  46  may include at least one of one or more dials, one or more buttons, one or more switches, a network interface, a wireless interface, and the like. The network interface may allow one to set the operating settings via a communications network, such as the Internet, a local area network, a wireless network, a telephone network, and the like, using, for example, a computer, a phone, and the like. The wireless interface may allow one to set the operating settings via a wireless link, such as a radio link, using, for example, a wireless remote control. 
     Typically, the motion detection unit  32  is placed centrally along at least one axis of the invisible wall  28 . For example, when the invisible wall  28  is in a vertical or substantially vertical orientation, the product display monitoring system  26  is mounted centrally along the length of the product display  30 . Advantageously, this allows the motion detection unit  32  to scan 180 degrees along the invisible wall  28 . The extent of the invisible wall  28  is then adjusted to cover as many products in the product display  30  as possible. Typically, the motion detection unit  32  is mounted to the top or header  48  of the product display  30  or to the ceiling  42  of the retail store  10  adjacent the product display  30 . However, other mount points are also contemplated. 
     The motion detection unit  32  may be embodied in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. In the exemplary embodiment, the motion detection unit  32  includes the memory  45  and a processor  47  in communication therewith. The memory  45  stores instructions for carrying out the above noted functions and which are executed by the processor  47 . The memory  45  includes one or more of a non-transient computer readable medium; a magnetic disk or other magnetic storage medium; an optical disk or other optical storage medium; a random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), or other electronic memory device or chip or set of operatively interconnected chips; an Internet/Intranet server from which data may be retrieved or stored via the Internet/Intranet or a local area network; and the like. The processor  47  includes one or more of a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a graphic processing unit (GPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and the like 
     With reference again to  FIG. 2 , a schematic end elevational view of one embodiment of the product display  30  is illustrated. The product display monitoring system  32  establishes the invisible wall  28  in front of the product display  30  and monitors the invisible wall  28  for breaches using the motion detection unit  32 . As illustrated, the invisible wall  28  has a vertical orientation. When a breach of the invisible wall  28  occurs, the motion detection unit  32  notifies a security guard and/or a store clerk using the notification unit  38 , which is mounted to the motion detection unit  32 . The notification unit  38  generates an audio and/or visual warning. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , a schematic side elevational view of one embodiment of the product display monitoring system  26  is provided. In this embodiment, the motion detection unit  32  includes a recessed area  50  housing components to generate the invisible wall  28 . Suitably, said components include the electromagnetic generator  34  and the sensors  36 . The electromagnetic generator  34  may, for example, include one or more infrared LEDs, and the sensors  36  may, for example, include one or more photodiodes. The notification unit  38  can be mounted directly to the motion detection unit  32  and can include the light sources  40  for generating a visual alert. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , a schematic side elevational view of another embodiment of the product display monitoring system  26  is provided. In contrast with the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , this embodiment includes a long configuration allowing the notification unit  38  to be distanced from the monitoring system  26  along a track  52  extending from the motion detection unit  32 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , a method  100  for monitoring the product display  30  is illustrated. Suitably, the motion detection unit  32  carries out the method  100 . The method  100  optionally includes transmitting electromagnetic waves, as at  102 , across the invisible wall  28  (i.e., a portion of a plane) using the beam generator  34 . For example, a beam of infrared light may continuously scan across the invisible wall  28 . Notably, this is an active method of generating the invisible wall  28 . Passive methods which do not require actively transmitting electromagnetic waves across the invisible wall  28  are also contemplated. 
     An electromagnetic signal is received as at  104  from the invisible wall  28  using the sensors  36  and, based on temporal deviations in the received signal, a determination is made, as at  106 , as to whether the invisible wall  28  is breached. Suitably this is carried out by measuring the amount of time it takes for the electromagnetic waves to reflect back. When the amount of time for the transmitted electromagnetic waves to reflect back varies temporally, a breach of the invisible wall is detected. For example, when an object is disposed within the invisible wall, the reflection time will likely be less than if the object was not there since the reflection time is usually the time to a floor of the store  10  and back. 
     In response to determining a breach, a notification thereof is typically generated, as at  108 . This suitably entails notifying a security guard and/or a store clerk. Notice may, for example, by way of audio and/or visual indications. In some embodiments, the surveillance system  18  is additionally or alternatively instructed, as at  110 , to focus a camera on the display when the portion of the plane is breached. The surveillance system  18  may then record the video stream and/or display the video stream on the display monitor  24  within the view of a security guard and/or a store clerk. In some embodiments, the location of the breach is additionally or alternatively determined and stored in the memory, as at  112 . The data may also be used for marketing purposes. 
     The disclosure has been made with reference to preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. For example, although the invisible wall is described in conjunction with a product display, it is equally amenable to other display types and other situations in which an invisible wall is needed. It is intended that the preferred embodiments be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.