Method and apparatus for deactivating an alarming unit

1. A merchandise display system comprising:

a display cabinet configured to display a plurality of merchandise items;

an alarm unit configured to generate an alarm when one of the merchandise items is moved a predetermined distance from the display cabinet; and

a key extension device configured to be mounted on the display cabinet away from the alarm unit to allow an electronic key to be inserted into the key extension device to control the alarm unit without requiring the display cabinet to be opened.

2. The merchandise display system of claim 1 further comprising:

an electrical cable with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to connect to the alarm unit and the second end is configured to connect to the key extension device, and wherein the cable is configured to carry electrical signals generated by the electronic key to the alarm unit.

3. The merchandise display system of claim 2 wherein the electrical cable further comprises:

one or more metal wires extending between the first end and the second end adapted to carry at least a portion of the electrical signals.

4. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the key extension device further comprises:

a key socket formed with a left side wall, a right side wall, a back side wall and a front side wall, wherein the left side wall, the right side wall, the back side wall and the front side wall form a trapezoidal shaped key socket, with an interior chamber for receiving the electronic key.

5. The merchandise display system of claim 4 wherein the key extension device further comprises:

a front plate, wherein the trapezoidal shaped key socket further comprises;

a front end with an opening and a back end of trapezoidal shaped key socket opposite the front end, wherein the front plate is attached to the front end of the key socket.

6. The merchandise display system of claim 4 wherein the trapezoidal shaped key socket is an elongated trapezoidal shaped key socket and wherein the interior chamber is an elongated interior chamber.

7. The merchandise display system of claim 4 further comprising:

an electrical cable;

wherein the trapezoidal shape further comprises:

a front end and a backend, wherein the front end is configured to receive the electronic key, wherein the electrical cable is configured to connect between the backend and the alarm unit, and wherein the cable is configured to carry electrical signals generated by the electronic key to the alarm unit.

8. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the key extension device is configured to be mounted on an outer surface of display cabinet.

9. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the key extension device is configured to allow a signal indicating the serial number of the electronic key to be transmitted from the key extension device to the alarm unit.

10. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein alarm unit is configured to be deactivated based on a signal received from the electronic key at the key extension device.

11. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the alarm unit further comprises:

an infra-red sensor configured to receive and infra-red signal from an infra-red remote control.

12. The merchandise display system of claim 11 wherein the alarm unit is configured to deactivate an alarm based on a signal received from the infra-red remote control.

13. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein when the key is inserted into the key extension device, the alarm unit is configured allow data to be extracted from the alarm unit into an electronic circuit in the electronic key.

14. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein when the key is inserted into the key extension device, the alarm unit is configured to be placed into a different operating mode.

15. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein when the key is inserted into the key extension device, the alarm unit is configured to read a serial number from the key and to respond to commands based on the serial number of the key.

16. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the electronic key is a program key, and wherein when the key extension device receives the program key the alarm unit is configured to be programmed with new security parameters.

17. The merchandise display system of claim 1 further comprising:

an fiber-optic cable connected between the key extension device and the alarm unit configured to transmit an infra-red signal received at the key extension device to the alarm unit and to transmit the infra-red signal to the alarm unit over the fiber-optic cable, wherein the alarm unit is configured to turn off an alarm based, at least in part, on the infra-red signal.

18. The merchandise display system of claim 1 further comprising:

a cover pivotally attached to the key extension device configured to rotate to an open position, wherein the cover is configured to rotate to a closed position to cover the key extension device.

19. A method of protecting merchandise items at a merchandise display comprising:

detecting an alarm condition at an alarm unit enclosed within the merchandise display when a merchandise item is being removed from the merchandise display;

generating an alarm at the alarm unit when the alarm condition is detected;

receiving a signal at a remote key receptacle that is remote from the alarm unit and that is accessible exterior to the merchandise display without entering the merchandise display; and

disabling the alarm based, at least in part, on the signal.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the merchandise display further comprises:

one or more access doors and the method further comprises:

keeping the one or more access doors closed.