Electronically connected environment

1. A networked product-display system comprising:

a first wireless communications network;

multiple wireless nodes that display one or more products, communicate through the first wireless communications network with an aggregator entity and send event information to the aggregator entity;

a second communications network; and

multiple computational entities, each running on one or more computer systems, that communicate through the second communications network, including

a global-view entity,

an access-control entity,

an identification entity,

a database entity,

a planogram that includes representations of display locations within a retail establishment and indications of products displayed at the display locations,

wherein the aggregator entity uses the event information, the planogram, and accesses information provided by the access-control entity, identification entity, and database entity to control the product-display system, generate security alarms, control display of products, monitor displayed products, and transfer information to the global-view entity for provision to remote organizations and entities.

2. The networked product-display system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless nodes include one or more:

lock nodes;

security nodes;

device nodes;

camera nodes;

power nodes; and

audio-video controller nodes.

3. The networked product-display system of claim 2 , wherein a lock node

includes a wireless transceiver and processor;

provides product and/or product-display status information to the aggregator entity; and

controls a locking device within or connected to the wireless nodes.

4. The networked product-display system of claim 1 , wherein a lock node additionally provides identity information to the aggregator entity, including product and user identity information.

5. The networked product-display system of claim 2 , wherein a security node

includes a wireless transceiver and processor;

includes a security device within or connected to the wireless nodes;

and

provides product and/or product-display status information and security information to the aggregator entity.

6. The networked product-display system of claim 2 , wherein a device node

includes a wireless transceiver and processor;

includes a communications device within, or connected to, the wireless nodes through which the device node obtains product-identity information;

and

provides product and/or product-display status information and identity information to the aggregator entity.

7. The networked product-display system of claim 2 , wherein a power node

includes a wireless transceiver and processor;

and

controls provision of electrical power to the wireless nodes with which it is associated.

8. The networked product-display system of claim 2 , wherein an audio-video controller node

includes a wireless transceiver and processor;

and

provides power to and controls operation of audio/visual recording devices within or connected to the wireless nodes with which it is associated.

9. The networked product-display system of claim 2 , wherein a camera node

includes a wireless transceiver and processor;

and

provides power to, and controls operation of, a camera within or connected to the wireless nodes with which it is associated.

10. The networked product-display system of claim 1 , wherein the access-control entity provides access control to the products and the wireless nodes, including

maintaining roles and access privileges for personnel in one or more retail environments in the networked product-display system is located;

authorizing personnel;

authenticating personnel; and

auditing access to the products and the wireless nodes.

11. The networked product-display system of claim 1 , wherein the global-view entity provides reports and information to external organizations, including product manufacturers and vendors, the reports and information including:

historical operational information for the displayed products;

real-time operational information for the displayed products;

product-display attributes of the displayed products, including statistical information with respect to numbers and/or frequencies of consumer access to the displayed products; and

product-location information, including the display locations of the products.

12. The networked product-display system of claim 1 , wherein the identification entity obtains information directly from the wireless nodes or indirectly from the aggregator entity that the identification entity uses to generate a unique identifier for each displayed product and wireless node.

13. The networked product-display system of claim 1 , wherein the database entity

is accessible to the global-view entity, access-control entity, identification entity, and aggregator entity;

stores access-control, operational information for the displayed products; product-display attributes of the displayed products, including statistical information with respect to numbers and/or frequencies of consumer access to the displayed products, identifiers for the displayed products and the wireless nodes, status information for the products, security information, and user information.

14. The networked product-display system of claim 1 , wherein the aggregator entity

facilitates communications between the wireless nodes;

facilitates communication between the wireless nodes and computational entities;

generates security alarms;

collects and provides, to the database entity for storage, operational information for the displayed products; product-display attributes of the displayed products, including statistical information with respect to numbers and/or frequencies of consumer access to the displayed products, identifiers for the displayed products and the wireless nodes, status information for the products and the wireless nodes, security information, and user information;

controls operation of the wireless nodes; and

provides a management interface to management personnel.

15. The networked product-display system of claim 14 , wherein the aggregator entity provides, through the management interface, optimization facilities for redistributing the displayed products among the wireless nodes in order to optimize consumer access to the displayed products, product sales, and other optimization criteria.

16. The networked product-display system of claim 14 , wherein the aggregator entity provides, through the management interface, configuration interfaces through which management personnel configure the wireless nodes and access to the wireless nodes.

17. The networked product-display system of claim 14 , wherein the aggregator entity provides, through the management interface, user-registration interfaces.