Patent ID: 7303128

Claim:
A method of managing an asset carrying a barcode and an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag, the method comprising: providing a point of sale (POS) network comprising a processor configured for accessing a database; providing a portable EAS/Scanner wirelessly connected to said POS network for bi-directional communication with said processor, said EAS/Scanner comprising an EAS system for modifying an activation state of said EAS tag and a barcode scanner for scanning said barcode; scanning said barcode using said EAS/Scanner; transmitting a signal representative of said barcode from said EAS/Scanner for receipt by said processor; scanning said item using said EAS/Scanner to detect said EAS tag status; transmitting a signal representative of said EAS tag status from said EAS/Scanner for receipt by said processor; accessing asset information in said database in response to said signal representative of said barcode; and deactivating said EAS tag using said EAS/Scanner in response to said asset information, the deactivating of the EAS tag being performed without regard to purchase of the asset.