Distributed point of sale, electronic article surveillance, and product information system, apparatus and method

1. A distributed point of sale, electronic article surveillance, and product information system, comprising:

a central database; and

at least one integrated POS/EAS/information terminal comprising a processor, a NFC transceiver, a UHF RFID reader, and a Bluetooth transceiver,

wherein the integrated POS/EAS/information terminal is:

adapted to communicate with NFC enabled devices, RFID and EAS tags, and the central database, where a RFID and EAS tag may be deactivated, or may change status, to permit removal of the product from an EAS-controlled area of a retail location without an alarm; and

configured such that when a customer places an NFC-enabled device and a product having an RFID and EAS tag that comprises a secondary antenna, within the field area of NFC transmissions between the NFC-enabled device and the integrated POS/EAS/information terminal, the integrated POS/EAS/information terminal facilitates a transaction for purchasing the product, wherein the integrated POS/EAS/information terminal is adapted to prioritize receiving modulated UHF signals from RFID tags, the modulated UHF signals being modulated by an NFC transmission.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is communicatively coupled to the NFC transceiver, the reader and the Bluetooth transceiver.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the terminal includes an enclosure containing the processor, the NFC transceiver the reader and the Bluetooth transceiver.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transaction for purchasing the product is performed via the NFC-enabled device.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the terminal provides the customer with information pertaining to the product.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the information is displayed on the NFC-enabled device.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second antenna is tuned to 13.56 MHz.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further includes a power source.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one terminal includes LEDS and/or displays that are LC, LED or OLED based.

10. A terminal for a distributed point of sale, electronic article surveillance, and product information system, comprising:

a processor;

an NFC transponder;

a UHF RFID reader;

a Bluetooth transponder; and

an 802.11-compliant antenna;

wherein, upon receiving an NFC signal from an NFC-compliant device, the terminal:

establishes an NFC link with the NFC-compliant device;

interrogates an RFID and EAS tag having a secondary antenna when a product having the RFID and EAS is placed within a field area of NFC transmissions between the NFC-compliant device and the terminal, wherein the terminal is adapted to prioritize receiving modulated UHF signals from RFID tags, the modulated UHF signals being modulated by an NFC transmission;

facilitates a secure transaction for purchase of a product having the RFID and EAS tag;

deactivates or changes the status of the RFID and EAS tag to permit removal of the product from an EAS-controlled area without an alarm.

11. The terminal of claim 10 , wherein the terminal transmits information to the NFC-enabled device, the information pertaining to the product on which the RFID and EAS tag is disposed.

12. The terminal of claim 10 , wherein the secondary antenna is tuned to 13.56 MHz.

13. The terminal of claim 10 , wherein the processor, the NFC transponder, the UHF RFID reader, the Bluetooth transponder, and the 802.11-compliant antenna are contained within an enclosure.

14. The terminal of claim 13 , wherein the enclosure conforms to a trade dress of a particular location.

15. The terminal of claim 10 , wherein the terminal is initially in a low-power “sleep mode” but exits the low-power, “sleep mode” when the NFC transponder receives a signal and induces the processor to exit the “sleep mode”.

16. The terminal of claim 10 , wherein the terminal provides the customer with information pertaining to the product.

17. The terminal of claim 10 , wherein the terminal presents a customer on a customer's NFC enabled device with a list of options that include to obtain information, specification and videos about a product, options to locate a desired size, color or other feature of product, options to purchase product directly or by delivery, and/or options to cancel the transaction.