Patent Description:
Many modern enterprises depend upon information technology systems which track inventory and sales in an effort to reduce shrinkage resulting from theft by customers and employees, breakage, and handling errors.

Companies are continually trying to identify specific user behavior in order to improve the throughput and efficiency of the company. For example, by understanding user behavior in the context of the retail industry, companies can both improve product sales and reduce product shrinkage. Therefore, companies seek to improve their understanding of user behavior in order to reduce, and ultimately, eliminate, inventory shrinkage.

Companies have utilized various means to prevent shrinkage. Passive electronic devices attached to theft-prone items in retail stores are used to trigger alarms, although customers and/or employees may deactivate these devices before an item leaves the store. Some retailers conduct bag and/or cart inspections for both customers and employees while other retailers have implemented loss prevention systems that incorporate video monitoring of POS transactions to identify transactions that may have been conducted in violation of implemented procedures. Such procedures and technologies tend to focus on identifying individual occurrences rather than understanding the underlying user behaviors that occur during these events. As such, companies are unable to address the underlying conditions which enable individuals to commit theft.

Video surveillance systems and the like are widely used. In certain instances, camera video is continually being captured and recorded into a circular buffer having a period of, for example, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> hours. As the circular buffer reaches its capacity, and in the event the recorded video data is not required for some purpose, the oldest data is overwritten. In some cases, a longer period of time may be utilized and/or the recorded data is stored indefinitely. If an event of interest occurs, the video is available for review and analysis of the video data. However, known video surveillance systems may have drawbacks, because they are unable to recognize and identify individuals who may be potential or repeat offenders.

<CIT> discloses a method of theft prediction and tracking, comprising: collecting an electromagnetic signal associated with an individual; and issuing an alert in response to a determination that at least one of the electromagnetic signal or the individual is associated with undesirable activity. As similar method is also well-known from <CIT>. However, the aforementioned methods show drawbacks in a situation where there is not sufficient data available to accurately perform a triangulation.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method of theft prediction and tracking is provided according to claim <NUM>.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includes identifying a signal property of the electromagnetic signal.

According to the present invention, an individual identifier is associated with the individual, and the method further includes determining whether the individual has taken possession of an item having an item identifier, and storing the item identifier in association with the individual identifier in response to a determination that the individual has taken possession of the item. In a case where the individual is present in a retail establishment, takes possession of the item, and then proceeds to move rapidly toward the exit of the retail establishment, depending on the circumstances (e.g., the individual's location and path of travel throughout the retail establishment and/or the spatial arrangement of video cameras and/or RF emission detectors throughout the establishment) the individual may or may not be recognized as having taken possession of the item, for example, by a tripwire detection feature of a theft prediction and tracking system. However, in addition or as an alternative, the method may further include detecting (e.g., by way of one or more video cameras and/or RF emission detectors of the theft prediction and tracking system) the rapid movement of the individual towards the exit. Further, the individual's movement toward the exit may trigger one or more RF devices, scanners, and/or sensors to trigger an alarm. In either case, the method may further include (<NUM>) capturing and/or identifying personal information associated with the individual (e.g., by way of one or more video cameras, RF emission detectors, and/or other sensors that can obtain information regarding the individual, such as a video of the individual, an RF signal from a mobile communication device (e.g., a smartphone) carried by the individual, and/or the like); (<NUM>) flagging the individual as a potential shoplifter; and/or (<NUM>) pushing a tag or flag onto a mobile communication device possessed by the individual that enables the individual to be tracked for future entrance into retail establishments, and/or uploading the tag or flag to a server enabling a community of retail establishments to track the individual. In some embodiments, the method can include tracking the individual by way of pushing one or more notifications and/or flags to the mobile communication device of the individual in combination with employing any of the other flagging procedures described herein. The RF emission detectors and/or beacons may be positioned inside and/or outside the retail establishment(s).

The method further includes establishing a list of one or more entitled item identifiers corresponding to items to which the individual is entitled, and issuing an alert in response to a determination that the stored item identifier is not within the list of one or more entitled item identifiers.

The method further includes associating the individual with undesirable activity in response to a determination that the stored item identifier is not within the list of one or more entitled item identifiers.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includes storing a timestamp indicative of the time of collection of the electromagnetic signal.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includes storing indicia of the undesirable activity on an electronic device associated with the individual.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includes recording an image of the individual.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the issuing of the alert includes displaying the recorded image of the individual.

Example embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the drawings wherein:.

Particular embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms. Well-known and/or repetitive functions and constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary or redundant detail. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

In this description, as well as in the drawings, like-referenced numbers represent elements which may perform the same, similar, or equivalent functions. Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. The word "example" may be used interchangeably with the term "exemplary.

Additionally, embodiments of the present disclosure may be described herein in terms of functional block components, code listings, optional selections, page displays, and various processing steps. It should be appreciated that such functional blocks may be realized by any number of hardware and/or software components configured to perform the specified functions. For example, embodiments of the present disclosure may employ various integrated circuit components, e.g., memory elements, processing elements, logic elements, look-up tables, and the like, which may carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices.

Similarly, the software elements of embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented with any programming or scripting language such as C, C++, C#, Java, COBOL, assembler, PERL, Python, PHP, or the like, with the various algorithms being implemented with any combination of data structures, objects, processes, routines or other programming elements. The object code created may be executed on a variety of operating systems including, without limitation, Windows®, Macintosh OSX®, iOS®, Linux, and/or Android®.

Further, it should be noted that embodiments of the present disclosure may employ any number of conventional techniques for data transmission, signaling, data processing, network control, and the like. It should be appreciated that the particular implementations shown and described herein are illustrative of the disclosure and its best mode and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of embodiments of the present disclosure in any way. Examples are presented herein which may include sample data items (e.g., names, dates, etc.) which are intended as examples and are not to be construed as limiting. Indeed, for the sake of brevity, conventional data networking, application development and other functional aspects of the systems (and components of the individual operating components of the systems) may not be described in detail herein. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent example functional relationships and/or physical or virtual couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical or virtual connections may be present in a practical electronic data communications system.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, embodiments of the present disclosure may be embodied as a method, a data processing system, a device for data processing, and/or a computer program product. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure may take the form of an entirely software embodiment, an entirely hardware embodiment, or an embodiment combining aspects of both software and hardware. Furthermore, embodiments of the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in the storage medium. Any suitable computer-readable storage medium may be utilized, including hard disks, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, semiconductor storage devices (e.g., USB thumb drives) and/or the like.

In the discussion contained herein, the terms "user interface element" and/or "button" are understood to be non-limiting, and include other user interface elements such as, without limitation, a hyperlink, clickable image, and the like.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to block diagrams and flowchart illustrations of methods, apparatus (e.g., systems), and computer program products according to various aspects of the disclosure. It will be understood that each functional block of the block diagrams and the flowchart illustrations, and combinations of functional blocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, respectively, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded onto a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, mobile device or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement the function specified in the flowchart block or blocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks.

Accordingly, functional blocks of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations support combinations of ways of performing the specified functions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions, and program instruction ways of performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that each functional block of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, and combinations of functional blocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, can be implemented by either special purpose hardware-based computer systems that perform the specified functions or steps, or suitable combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

One skilled in the art will also appreciate that, for security reasons, any databases, systems, or components of embodiments of the present disclosure may consist of any combination of databases or components at a single location or at multiple locations, wherein each database or system includes any of various suitable security features, such as firewalls, access codes, encryption, de-encryption, compression, decompression, and/or the like.

The scope of the disclosure should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given herein. For example, steps recited in any method claims may be executed in any order and are not limited to the order presented in the claims. Moreover, no element is essential to the practice of the disclosure unless specifically described herein as "critical" or "essential.

With respect to <FIG>, an embodiment of a theft prediction and tracking system <NUM> is presented in which the method according to the present disclosure can be carried out. The system <NUM> includes one or more RF emission detectors <NUM>, one or more video cameras <NUM>, and at least one checkout station <NUM>. The one or more RF emission detectors <NUM>, one or more video cameras <NUM>, and the at least one checkout station <NUM> are in operative communication with server <NUM>. In embodiments, the one or more RF emission detectors <NUM>, one or more video cameras <NUM>, or the at least one checkout station <NUM> are connected to server <NUM> via network <NUM>, which may be a private network (e.g., a LAN), a public network (e.g., the Internet), and/or a combination of private and public networks. In some embodiments, the one or more RF emission detectors <NUM>, one or more video cameras <NUM>, and/or the at least one checkout station <NUM> may be connected to server <NUM> via a direct connection, such as a dedicated circuit, a hardwire cable, and the like, and/or may be connected to server <NUM> via a wireless connection, such as, without limitation, an <NUM> (WiFi) connection. Checkout station <NUM> includes at least one automatic identification device <NUM> (<FIG>), which may include, without limitation a handheld and/or a stationary barcode scanner, an RFID interrogator, and the like. One or more monitoring devices <NUM> are in operable communication with server <NUM> to facilitate interaction between a user and theft prediction and tracking system <NUM>, such as, without limitation, to facilitate the delivery of security alerts to security personnel, to enable viewing of images recorded by theft prediction and tracking system <NUM>, to facilitate configuration, operation, and maintenance operations, and so forth.

With reference to <FIG>, an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed theft prediction and tracking system <NUM> is shown in the form of an overhead view of a retail establishment <NUM> in which theft prediction and tracking system <NUM> is utilized. Retail establishment <NUM> includes at least one entrance <NUM>, at least one exit <NUM>, and one or more merchandise shelves <NUM> which contain the various goods offered for sale by retail establishment <NUM>. It should be understood that embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to use in a retail establishment, and may be used in any applicable environment, including without limitation, a warehouse, a fulfillment center, a manufacturing facility, an industrial facility, a scientific facility, a military facility, a workplace, an educational facility, and so forth.

The one or more RF emission detectors <NUM> and one or more video cameras <NUM> are located throughout retail establishment <NUM>. The one or more RF emission detectors <NUM> are generally arranged throughout retail establishment <NUM> to enable theft prediction and tracking system <NUM> to receive and localize radiofrequency signals which are transmitted by a personal electronic device D. Examples of a personal electronic device D may include any electronic device in the possession of, or associated with, a customer C or an employee E, which emits electromagnetic energy, such as, without limitation, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a wearable or interactive eyeglass-type device, a medical implant (e.g., a cardiac pacemaker), a child tracking or monitoring device, a two-way radio (including trunked and digital radios), an RFID badge, a credit or debit card, a discount card, and so forth.

The one or more RF emission detectors <NUM> are positioned within retail establishment <NUM> in a manner whereby one more one or more RF emission detectors <NUM> may be able to concurrently receive a signal emitted from a personal electronic device D. As described in detail below, RF emission detector <NUM> is configured to analyze RF emissions from a personal electronic device D, to determine whether such emissions include information which uniquely identifies personal electronic device D, and to convey such unique identification to server <NUM>.

Server <NUM> includes a processor <NUM> operatively coupled to a memory <NUM>, a database <NUM>, and includes video recorder <NUM>, which may be a network video recorder (NVR) and/or a digital video recorder (DVR) that is configured to store a video stream with a timecode captured by the one or more video cameras <NUM>. The timecode may be encoded within the video stream (e.g., within an encoded datastream formatted in accordance with H. <NUM>/MPEG4 or other motion video standard) and/or may be superimposed over the video image as a human-readable clock display.

A physical location associated with each of the one or more RF emission detectors <NUM> is stored by theft prediction and tracking system <NUM>. In embodiments, a three-dimensional Cartesian space representing the physical layout of retail establishment <NUM> is established, wherein the X and Y axes correspond to a horizontal position of an RF emission detector <NUM> within retail establishment <NUM>, and the Z axis corresponds to a vertical (elevation) position of an RF emission detector <NUM>. In embodiments, the X, Y, Z coordinates of each RF emission detector <NUM> is stored in a database <NUM> that is operatively associated with server <NUM>. In other embodiments, the coordinates of each RF emission detector <NUM> may be stored within RF emission detector <NUM>. The coordinates of RF emission detector <NUM> may be determined and stored during the initial installation and configuration of theft prediction and tracking system <NUM>.

In use, as a customer C moves about retail establishment <NUM>, one or more signals emitted from customer C's personal electronic device D are identified by the one or more RF emission detectors <NUM>. In addition, one or more additional signal parameters are determined and communicated to server <NUM>, which, in turn, stores the signal parameters in association with identification information extracted from the one or more signals emitted from customer C's personal electronic device D. In particular, a signal strength parameter is determined which indicates the amplitude of each detected RF emission, together with a timestamp indicating the time at which the signal was received. The one or more RF emission detectors <NUM> may be configured to provide continuous or periodic updates of signal properties (e.g., the identification information, timestamp, and signal parameters) to server <NUM>. In some embodiments, a timestamp may additionally or alternatively be generated by server <NUM>. The combination of the identification information, timestamp, and signal parameters (e.g., amplitude,) may be combined into a message, which, in turn is communicated to server <NUM> and stored in database <NUM> for subsequent analysis. Each individual message includes an identifier, a timestamp, and one or more signal parameter(s) to form an emissions signature (e.g., an RF "fingerprint") of customer C's RF emissions at a given location at a given point in time.

The one or more RF emission detectors <NUM> will continue to collect and send electronic snapshots relating to customer C. Server <NUM> is programmed to analyze the received snapshots in order to triangulate the physical position of each personal electronic device D, and thus, each customer C, as each customer C moves about retail establishment <NUM>. In one embodiment, server <NUM> is programmed to select a plurality of snapshots, each relating to the same personal electronic device D and having a timestamp falling within a predefined range from each other, and compare the relative amplitudes (signal strengths) corresponding to each of the plurality of snapshots, to determine customer C's physical position within the coordinate system of retail establishment <NUM>. In some embodiments, other signal parameter, such as, without limitation, a phase shift, a spectral distribution, may be utilized to triangulate a physical position in addition to or alternatively to utilizing an amplitude.

Additionally, server <NUM> may be programmed to analyze historical relative signal strengths in order to more improve the accuracy of triangulation. For example, a historical maximum amplitude may be determined after a predetermined number of snapshots are accumulated. The maximum amplitude is correlated to a distance between the personal electronic device D and the corresponding RF emission detector <NUM> which detected the maxima based upon a triangulation of that snapshot. A distance rule is then generated for that personal electronic device D which relates signal strength (or other property) to the triangulated distance. During subsequent snapshots relating to the particular personal electronic device D, for which insufficient additional snapshots are available to accurately perform a triangulation, the distance rule may be utilized to provide a best guess estimate of the position of personal electronic device D. This may be particularly useful when, for example, RF emission detector <NUM> is located at a perimeter wall or in a corner of retail establishment <NUM>, which constrains the range of possible locations to those within the confines of retail establishment <NUM>. In one example, one or more video cameras <NUM> are used to triangulate a location of a person (e.g., customer C) to enable flagging with one or more of the RF emission detectors <NUM> that are located in close proximity to the person (e.g., the RF emission detector <NUM> that is closest to the person's triangulated location).

With reference to <FIG>, an embodiment of RF emission detector <NUM> includes a cellular receiver <NUM> operatively coupled to at least one cellular antenna <NUM>, a Bluetooth receiver <NUM> operatively coupled to at least one Bluetooth antenna <NUM>, a WiFi receiver <NUM> operatively coupled to at least one WiFi antenna <NUM>, and a multiband receiver <NUM> operatively coupled to a multiband antenna <NUM>. Cellular receiver <NUM>, Bluetooth receiver <NUM>, WiFi receiver <NUM>, and multiband receiver <NUM> are operatively coupled to controller <NUM>. Cellular receiver <NUM> is configured to receive a cellular radiotelephone signal transmitted from personal electronic device D, and may include the capability of receiving CDMA, GSM, <NUM>, <NUM>, LTE and/or any radiotelephone signal now or in the future known. In embodiments, cellular receiver <NUM> is configured to detect various properties exhibited by the cellular radiotelephone signal transmitted from personal electronic device D, such as a unique identifier associated with personal electronic device D (which may include, but is not limited to, a telephone number, an electronic serial number (ESN), an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI), and so forth), a signal strength, and other properties as described herein.

Bluetooth receiver <NUM> is configured to receive a Bluetooth wireless communications signal transmitted from personal electronic device D, and may include the capability of receiving Bluetooth v1. <NUM>, v1.0B, , v1. <NUM> + EDR, v2. <NUM> + EDR, v3. <NUM> + HS and/or any wireless communications signal now or in the future known. In embodiments, Bluetooth receiver <NUM> is configured to detect various properties exhibited by a Bluetooth signal transmitted from personal electronic device D, such as a unique identifier associated with personal electronic device D (which may include, but is not limited to, a Bluetooth hardware device address (BD_ADDR), an IP address, and so forth), a signal strength, and other properties as described herein. In embodiments, Bluetooth receiver <NUM> may include one or more near-field communications receivers or transceivers configured to receive and/or transmit Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons, iBeacons™, and the like.

WiFi receiver <NUM> is configured to receive a WiFi (<NUM>) wireless networking signal transmitted from personal electronic device D, and may include the capability of receiving <NUM>. 11a, <NUM>. 11b, <NUM>, <NUM>. 11n and/or any wireless networking signal now or in the future known. In embodiments, WiFi receiver <NUM> is configured to detect various properties exhibited by the WiFi signal transmitted from personal electronic device D, such as a unique identifier associated with personal electronic device D (which may include, but is not limited to, a media access control address (MAC address), an IP address, and so forth), a signal strength, and other properties as described herein.

Multiband receiver <NUM> may be configured to receive a radiofrequency signal transmitted from personal electronic device D, and may include the capability to scan a plurality of frequencies within one or more predetermined frequency ranges, and/or to determine whether the signal includes an encoded identifier. If no encoded identifier is detected, the signal is analyzed to determine whether one or more distinguishing characteristics are exhibited by the signal, such as, without limitation, a spectral characteristic, a modulation characteristic (e.g., AM, FM, or sideband modulation), a frequency, and so forth. One or more parameters corresponding to the detected distinguishing characteristics may be utilized to assign a unique identifier. In embodiments, a hash function (such as without limitation, an md5sum) may be employed to generate a unique identifier. In embodiments, multiband receiver <NUM> may be configured to interrogate and/or receive signals from an RFID chip included in personal electronic device D and/or in possession of customer C.

Referring again to <FIG>, at least one RF emission detector <NUM> is located in proximity to entrance <NUM>, and at least one RF emission detector <NUM> is located in proximity to exit <NUM>. In addition, at least one video camera <NUM> is trained on entrance <NUM>, and at least one video camera <NUM> is trained on exit <NUM>. As customer C enters and/or exits retail establishment <NUM>, an emissions signature is captured. Concurrently, at least one video camera <NUM> captures video of the customer entering and/or exiting retail establishment <NUM>. Both the RF snapshot generated by the appropriate RF emission detector <NUM> and the video stream captured by the at least one video camera <NUM> are transmitted to server <NUM> for storage, retrieval, and analysis.

Turning now to <FIG>, theft prediction and tracking system <NUM> includes a tripwire detection feature (a. video analytics) which enables a region of a video frame <NUM> captured by the at least one video camera <NUM> to be defined as a trigger zone <NUM>. In the present example shown in <FIG>, the at least one video camera <NUM> is trained on a portion of shelves <NUM> on which a number of items <NUM> are placed. Trigger zone <NUM> is configured such that, as customer C removes an item <NUM>' from the shelve <NUM>, item <NUM>' moves into, crosses, or otherwise intersects the trigger zone <NUM>, which, in turn, causes theft prediction and tracking system <NUM> to recognize that an item <NUM> has been removed from the shelf. Concurrently therewith, the position of customer C, who is in possession of personal electronic device D, is identified by triangulation enabled by the RF emission detectors <NUM> in the vicinity of video frame <NUM>. In this manner, theft prediction and tracking system <NUM> recognizes that customer C is in possession of item <NUM>'. In some embodiments, an acknowledgement of the fact that customer C is in possession of item <NUM>' is recorded in server <NUM>. As customer C continues to shop and select additional items for purchase, those additional items will also be recorded by theft prediction and tracking system <NUM> (e.g., in server <NUM>).

Referring again to <FIG>, customer C has completed selecting items for purchase and approaches checkout station <NUM> for checkout processing. As customer C arrives at checkout station <NUM>, the fact of this arrival is identified by RF emission detectors <NUM> in the vicinity of checkout station <NUM>, which enable the triangulation of customer C's position at checkout station <NUM>. Employee E checks out each item selected for purchase by customer C by scanning the items with automatic identification device <NUM> and/or by entering a product identifier using a manual keyboard (not shown). The items checked at checkout station <NUM> are compared to the items previously recorded by theft prediction and tracking system <NUM> during customer C's visit. If any items which were recorded as being selected by customer C are determined to have not been checked out at checkout station <NUM>, theft prediction and tracking system <NUM> flags customer C as a potential shoplifter. In some embodiments, additional identifying information provided by customer C in connection with the purchase transaction, such as, without limitation, a name, a credit or debit card number, a discount club card, a telephone number, and the like, are communicated to server <NUM> and stored in database <NUM> in association with emissions signature data and/or video captured and/or stored with respect to customer C.

In some embodiments, a security message may be generated and transmitted to a monitoring device <NUM> to alert security personnel that a potential shoplifting is in progress. Additionally or alternatively, one or more views of customer C, which may include still or moving images of customer C removing the item in question from a shelf, of customer C entering retail establishment <NUM>, exiting retail establishment <NUM>, and/or of customer C moving about retail establishment <NUM> may be provided to security personnel for review.

In some instances, a customer C may bypass checkout station <NUM>, and instead proceed directly to an exit <NUM> without paying for items which customer C had previously taken into possession from shelf <NUM>. As customer C approaches exits <NUM>, one of more RF emission detectors <NUM> located in proximity to exit <NUM> enables theft prediction and tracking system <NUM> to recognize that customer C is attempting to abscond with stolen merchandise, and in response, transmit a security message to a monitoring device <NUM> as described above. In addition, theft prediction and tracking system <NUM> flags customer C as being a potential shoplifter, by, e.g., storing the flag in database <NUM> and/or database <NUM>.

In some embodiments, theft prediction and tracking system <NUM> may be configured to determine whether a personal electronic device D associated with and/or in the possession of customer C is configured to receive near field communications, such as without limitation, a BLE communication, an iBeacon™ in-store notification, and the like. In the event that theft prediction and tracking system <NUM> has identified that customer C may be a potential shoplifter, prediction and tracking system <NUM> may, in addition to or alternatively to flagging customer C in a database <NUM>, <NUM>, attempt to transmit a flag to personal electronic device D for storage therein indicating that personal electronic device D is associated with and/or in the possession of potential shoplifter customer C. In embodiments, the flag may be encoded within an in-store offer that is transmitted to personal electronic device D. For example, an offer identifier may include an encrypted code, a hash code, a steganographically-encoded data item (e.g., a graphic image), and/or any data item indicative of the fact that the personal electronic device D and/or customer C has been associated with potential theft. In embodiments, the flag may include a customer identifier, a location, a date, an item identifier, an item value, and/or graphic evidence of the theft. In the event customer C is detained and/or apprehended by authorities, the flag stored within personal electronic device D may be read by any suitable technique, including forensic analysis, to assist authorities with the investigation and/or prosecution of undesirable, unlawful, or criminal behavior.

When a customer C enters retail establishment <NUM> via entrance <NUM>, an RF emission detector <NUM> that is located in proximity to entrance <NUM> receives one or more RF emissions from a personal electronic device D associated with customer C, and communicates an RF snapshot to server <NUM>. Server <NUM> queries database <NUM> to determine whether customer C has previously been flagged as a potential shoplifter, and, in response to an affirmative determination that customer C was flagged previously as a potential shoplifter, causes a security message to be generated and transmitted to a monitoring device <NUM> to alert security personnel that a potential shoplifter has entered (or re-entered) the retail establishment <NUM>. In one embodiment, once a person (e.g., customer C) who has been flagged enters the retail establishment <NUM>, the person is automatically tracked by the system <NUM> (e.g., by way of one or more of the video cameras <NUM>) and/or manually tracked by security personnel.

In embodiments, theft prediction and tracking system <NUM> includes a community server <NUM> having a processor <NUM> operatively coupled to a memory <NUM> and a community database <NUM>. Data relating to potential shoplifters may be uploaded to, or downloaded from, community database <NUM>. In one example, when a customer C enters a retail establishment <NUM> via entrance <NUM>, server <NUM> queries database <NUM> to determine whether customer C has previously been flagged as a potential shoplifter. If a negative determination is made, i.e., that customer C was not flagged previously as a potential shoplifter, server <NUM> may conduct a subsequent query to community database <NUM> to determine whether customer C was flagged at another retail establishment <NUM>. In some embodiments, database <NUM> and community database <NUM> may be queried substantially concurrently. In this manner, information relating to potential shoplifters may be aggregated and shared among a plurality of retail establishments, which may assist in the reduction and/or prevention of loss, may enable insurance carriers to offer discounted premiums, and may discourage shoplifting attempts.

In some embodiments, a fee may be levied on an operator of retail establishment <NUM> by an operator of community server <NUM> for each query received from retail establishment <NUM> and/or for data downloaded from community server <NUM> by server <NUM>. In some embodiments, a credit may be given to an operator of retail establishment <NUM> by an operator of community server <NUM> for data uploaded to community server <NUM> by server <NUM>. In this manner, an operator of community server may recoup some or all of the costs of operating community server <NUM>, while also providing an incentive for operators of a retail establishment <NUM> to participate in the community database.

<FIG> presents a flowchart illustrating a method <NUM> of theft prediction and tracking in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In step <NUM>, an emissions signature of a customer at an entrance <NUM> is collected and in step <NUM>, the collected RF snapshot is used to determine whether the collected emissions signature has previously been associated with ("flagged") as a potential shoplifter. If it is determined that the collected RF snapshot has previously been flagged as belonging to a potential shoplifter, then in the step <NUM> a security alert is issued.

In step <NUM> an emissions signature of a customer at a checkout station <NUM> is collected and in step <NUM>, the collected RF snapshot is used to determine whether the customer C associated with the collected emissions signature is in possession of items for which the customer C is expected to have paid, but has not. If such a determination is made in the affirmative, then in step <NUM>, the RF snapshot is flagged as belonging to a potential shoplifter. In the step <NUM> a security alert is issued.

Claim 1:
A method of theft prediction and tracking, comprising:
Collecting, at an entrance and checkout of an establishment, an electromagnetic signal from a personal electronic device of an individual based on a plurality of RF emission detectors (<NUM>), each of the plurality of RF emission detectors (<NUM>) including a respective location in the establishment (<NUM>);
determining an emission signature associated with the individual based on the collected electromagnetic signal;
obtaining video data from a video camera (<NUM>) including a video frame (<NUM>) of the individual;
analyzing the video data to determine whether the individual has taken possession of an item including an item identifier;
identifying the individual using triangulation enabled by the RF emission detectors (<NUM>);
tracking the individual using triangulation enabled by the RF emission detectors (<NUM>);
storing the item identifier in association with an individual identifier in response to a determination that the individual has taken possession of the item;
establishing a list of one or more entitled item identifiers corresponding to items to which the individual is entitled;
associating the individual with taking possession of the item including the item identifier in response to a determination that the stored item identifier is not within the list of one or more entitled item identifiers; and
issuing an alert in response to a determination that the stored item identifier is not within the list of one or more entitled item identifiers.