IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,423,751
Granted Patent B2
US 11,423,751 · App. 17/069,660 · Granted Aug 23, 2022

Validating radio frequency identification (RFID) tag alarm events

Inventor: John A. Allen (Pompano Beach, FL)
Assignee: SENSORMATIC ELECTRONICS, LLC
G08B13/2417G06N20/00G08B13/1436G08B13/2462G08B13/2488
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,423,751
App. No.
17/069,660
Granted
Aug 23, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS), a radio frequency identification (RFID) subsystem of an EAS system, can detect a presence of an RFID tag in an RFID interrogation zone associated with a boundary of a controlled area. The EAS system can first determine that the RFID tag is not authorized to leave the controlled area across the boundary. A radar subsystem of the EAS system can second determine, within a first window of time around the first detecting, whether an object in motion is associated with the boundary. The EAS system can alarm based upon both determining that the RFID tag is not authorized to leave the controlled area and determining that the object in motion is associated with the boundary.

Claims (30)

1. A method of electronic article surveillance (EAS), comprising:

first detecting, by a radio frequency identification (RFID) subsystem of an EAS system, a presence of an RFID tag in an RFID interrogation zone associated with a boundary of a controlled area;

first determining, by the EAS system, that the RFID tag is not authorized to leave the controlled area across the boundary;

second determining, by a radar subsystem of the EAS system and within a first window of time around the first detecting, whether an object in motion is associated with the boundary; and

alarming, by the EAS system, based upon both the determining that the RFID tag is not authorized to leave the controlled area and the determining that the object in motion is associated with the boundary.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radar subsystem is a millimeter wave radar subsystem.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second determining comprises determining that the object either has, or is expected to, cross the boundary out of the controlled area.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining that the object either is expected to cross the boundary out of the controlled area comprises determining a velocity and a direction of motion of the object.

5. The method of claim 4 :

further comprising:

third determining, based on the velocity and the direction of motion, a time when the object is expected to arrive at a second position closer to the boundary than a position of the object at the second determining; and

second detecting, by the RFID subsystem, at the determined time whether the tag is present at the second position;

wherein the alarming is further based on second detecting at the determined time whether the tag is present at the second position.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first window of time is selectable.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the selectable window of time is selected using an artificial intelligence subsystem of the EAS system based on a history of the alarming.

8. An electronic article surveillance (EAS) system, comprising:

a radio frequency identification (RFID) subsystem operative to first detect, by a radio frequency identification (RFID) subsystem of an EAS system, a presence of an RFID tag in an RFID interrogation zone associated with a boundary of a controlled area;

a determining subsystem operative to first determine that the RFID tag is not authorized to leave the controlled area across the boundary; and

a radar subsystem operative to second determine, within a first window of time around the first detecting, whether an object in motion is associated with the boundary;

wherein the EAS system is further operative to alarm based upon both the determining that the RFID tag is not authorized to leave the controlled area and the determining that the object in motion is associated with the boundary.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the radar subsystem is a millimeter wave radar subsystem.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second determining comprises determining that the object either has, or is expected to, cross the boundary out of the controlled area.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein determining that the object either is expected to cross the boundary out of the controlled area comprises determining a velocity and a direction of motion of the object.

12. The system of claim 11 :

further comprising:

third determining, based on the velocity and the direction of motion, a time when the object is expected to arrive at a second position closer to the boundary than a position of the object at the second determining; and

second detecting, by the RFID subsystem, at the determined time whether the tag is present at the second position;

wherein the alarming is further based on second detecting at the determined time whether the tag is present at the second position.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first window of time is selectable.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the selectable window of time is selected using an artificial intelligence subsystem of the EAS system based on a history of the alarming.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2021
From: ALLEN, JOHN A.
To: SENSORMATIC ELECTRONICS, LLC
Reel/Frame 055000/0957 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62914961 · Oct 14, 2019
Related Publication 20210110689A1 · Apr 15, 2021