HK1242827B - Anti-theft system used for customer service - Google Patents

Description

Anti-theft systems for customer service

Technical Field

This document relates generally to anti-theft systems. More particularly, it relates to an anti-theft system for customer service.

Background Art

Conventional anti-theft systems primarily attempt to catch thieves, rather than prevent or deter theft. The only deterrent is the presence of a security tag on the merchandise, which signals to the customer that they will likely be caught if they attempt to steal the merchandise. Most retailers do not stop would-be thieves at the exits for fear of legal action or harm to those who stop them. This lack of action negates, or at least minimizes, the effectiveness of anti-theft systems.

Summary of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for implementing customer service-based theft deterrence. The method includes: identifying, by electronic circuitry, each of a plurality of items being removed from a display by a person; determining, by the electronic circuitry, whether the person is performing an action associated with a potential theft of an item previously removed from the display by the person; and, in response to determining that the person is performing an action associated with a potential theft of the item, initiating, by the electronic circuitry, an action of a customer service-based interaction. A customer service-based interaction is initiated with the person, such that the person is deterred from stealing. Notably, when the customer service-based interaction occurs, the person is located within a facility, rather than at an exit from the facility.

In some scenarios, determining whether the person is performing actions associated with potential theft of items is based on: the results of associating a list of items removed from a display by the person with a list of items checked out by a store clerk on the person's behalf; the results of associating a list of items detected in the person's possession at the sales floor with a list of items checked out by a store clerk on the person's behalf; the quantity and type of at least one item removed from a display by the person; the person's current location within the facility and/or the location at which the person removed items from the display; the person's speed of travel and current path of travel through the facility; and/or the results of comparing the person's activities within the facility with predefined shopping patterns of thieves.

The customer service-based interaction includes at least one of the following actions: a store associate asking the person if he (she) needs help finding something that can be used with the item that may be stolen or an item other than the item that may be stolen; a store associate asking the person if he (she) needs anything that goes with the item that may be stolen or an item other than the item that may be stolen; a store associate providing the person with information about special offers or promotions associated with the item that may be stolen or an item other than the item that may be stolen; a store POS clerk asking the person if he (she) wishes to purchase the item that may be stolen; an electronic message transmitted to the person's communication device suggesting items that go with the item that may be stolen or an item other than the item that may be stolen; and an electronic message transmitted to the person's communication device emphasizing special offers or promotions regarding the item that may be stolen or an item other than the item that may be stolen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments will be described with reference to the following drawings, wherein like numerals represent like items throughout the figures, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary system that may be useful in understanding the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary architecture of the beacon shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary architecture of the mobile communication device shown in FIG. 1 .

4 is a flow chart of an exemplary method for providing customer service-based theft deterrence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments generally described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of various embodiments, as illustrated, is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure but is merely representative of various embodiments. Although various aspects of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless otherwise indicated.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the present invention. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative only and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is therefore indicated by the appended claims rather than by this detailed description. All variations that come within the meaning and scope of the equivalents of the claims are intended to be encompassed within their scope.

References throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language do not imply that all features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention are or should be included in any single embodiment of the present invention. Rather, language referring to features and advantages should be understood to mean that a particular feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussions of features and advantages, and similar language throughout this specification, may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the present invention may be combined in any suitable form in one or more embodiments. Based on the description herein, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other cases, additional features and advantages may be present in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the present invention.

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the indicated embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrases "in one embodiment," "in an embodiment," and similar language may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment throughout this specification.

As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. As used herein, the term "including" means "including, but not limited to."

Significantly, by changing the way anti-theft systems operate, more effectively tracking customers within a retail store and using information gathered before they leave the store, it is possible to predict potential thefts. This prediction allows for customer service interactions within the store that deter customers from actually completing thefts. Therefore, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing customer service using anti-theft systems. Exemplary architectures of these systems and methods are described below with reference to Figures 1-4.

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for providing a store intelligence system using a proximity system. The proximity system may include, but is not limited to, a proximity system based on Bluetooth communication technology. Bluetooth communication technology is used to connect to mobile communication devices (e.g., cellular phones). When such a connection is established, first information is requested and received from each mobile communication device. The first information includes information provided by the phone user with consent. Second information may also be pushed to the mobile communication device. The second information may include, but is not limited to, coupon-related information selected based on the store the customer is currently in or is entering. Bluetooth technology is based on 2.45GHz transmission, and its data rate ranges from 1Mbit to 24Mbit.

Referring now to FIG. 1 , a schematic diagram of an exemplary system 100 useful for understanding the present invention is provided. System 100 is generally configured to enable improved anti-theft retail store intelligence and customer service using wireless communication technology. The wireless communication technology may include, but is not limited to, short-range communication (“SRC”) technology and/or mobile communication technology. SRC technology includes, but is not limited to, Bluetooth technology. Mobile communication technology may include, but is not limited to, radio frequency (“RF”) communication technology.

As shown in FIG1 , system 100 includes a retail store facility (“RSF”) 160 and a corporate facility (“CF”) 170 communicatively coupled to each other via a network (e.g., the Internet) 136. Although FIG1 is illustrated as having two facilities, the present invention is not limited in this respect. For example, facilities 160, 170 may reside in the same or different buildings or geographic areas. Alternatively or additionally, facilities 160, 170 may be the same or different sub-sections of a larger facility.

The RSF 160 is generally configured to provide enhanced security, store intelligence, and customer service. In this regard, the RSF 160 includes a plurality of proximity systems 106, 116, 134 disposed at various strategic locations therein. For example, a first proximity system 106 is coupled to a display device (e.g., a promotional display or merchandise display case). A second proximity system 116 is disposed on or in an electronic article surveillance ("EAS") system 120. In this case, the second proximity system 116 can be disposed on at least one pedestal located at an exit/entrance point of the RSF 160. A third proximity system 134 is disposed in or on an emergency device (e.g., a smoke detector, an exit sign, or an emergency door).

Each proximity system 106, 116, 134 includes a beacon 138 and/or a camera 136. The beacon 138 is generally operable to transmit information to and/or from other communication devices via SRC technology (e.g., Bluetooth technology). Therefore, in some scenarios, the inclusion of the beacon 138 is well known in the art and will not be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that Bluetooth technology can be used as a transmitting device or as a receiving device. The camera 136 is used to obtain time-stamped images of people entering, existing at, and/or leaving the RSF 160.

Thus, the information transmitted from the beacon 138 may include, but is not limited to, a unique identifier. The unique identifier of the beacon 138 provides a means of determining the location of a person within the RSF 160. For example, assume that a person 108 located in the RSF 160 has a mobile communication device ("MCD") 110 with an SRC application installed thereon. When the person 108 moves into proximity with the beacon 138, the beacon transmits its unique identifier to the MCD 110 via SRC communication. In addition, the camera 136 may optionally capture at least one time-stamped image of the person 108 and forward the captured image to the store intelligence system ("SIS") 140 of the CF 170 via the computing device 114, either directly (not shown in FIG. 1 ) or indirectly. The MCD 110 sends the unique identifier of the beacon 138 and its own unique identifier (e.g., MAC address) to the SIS 140.

It is important to note that in all cases, SIS 140 does not need to be remote from RSF 160. For example, if the RSF is part of a relatively small store chain, the SIS may be located in one of the retail stores. The SIS can also be a cloud function. In this case, the SIS may not be located in the company's facilities 170, but rather in servers leased from a cloud provider.

Various operations are performed using the two unique identifiers and/or the time-stamped image at SIS 140. For example, the two unique identifiers and/or the time-stamped image are used to (1) increase the security and safety of RSF 160, (2) track the paths people take through the retail store, (3) generate a map indicating where one or more people are located within RSF 160, and/or (4) improve the shopping and/or checkout experience for customers.

As described above, RSF 160 includes EAS system 120. EAS system 120 includes monitoring system 124 and at least one security tag 122. Although not shown in FIG1 , security tag 122 is attached to merchandise 150 to protect merchandise 150 from unauthorized removal from RSF 160. Monitoring system 124 establishes a monitoring area (not shown) within which the presence of security tag 122 can be detected. The monitoring area is established at an entry point (not shown) to RSF 160. If security tag 122 is brought into the monitoring area, an alarm is triggered to indicate that merchandise 150 may have been unauthorizedly removed from RSF 160.

During store hours, a customer may wish to purchase an item 150. The customer may purchase the item 150 via a fixed POS station (e.g., a checkout counter) or a mobile POS station (e.g., MCD 110). Once the item 150 is successfully purchased, the security tag 122 is disabled and/or detached from the item 150. In effect, no alarm is sounded when the customer passes through the interrogation area.

In some cases, a person may attempt to steal merchandise 150 and thereby leave the RSF 160 with merchandise 150 coupled to an activated security tag 122 or with merchandise 150 coupled to a maliciously deactivated security tag 122. When the person walks through the interrogation area of the EAS system 120, an alarm may be sounded as described above. However, the person may not be stopped if (1) multiple other people (e.g., five) pass through the interrogation area at the same or substantially the same time, and/or (2) the retail store has a policy of letting would-be thieves leave the RSF due to fear of legal action or harm to its employees.

Thus, system 100 implements a method that allows store personnel to interact with potential thieves within RSF 160 before they attempt to exit the RSF. In this regard, proximity systems 106, 116, 134 allow RSF 160 to monitor and track customers 108 passing through RSF 160. Customer tracking is achieved using unique identification information (e.g., a media access control ("MAC") address) obtained from the MCD 110 carried by customers 108. Additionally, video analytics can be used to visually track customers 108 passing through RSF 160 and visually detect whether the customer is removing items from display fixtures 104, walking around RSF 160, or performing some other action that may be associated with potential theft. Video analytics are facilitated by cameras 136 of proximity systems 106, 116, 134. Display fixtures 104 may include, but are not limited to, promotional displays, secure areas of the RSF, and security displays.

The RSF 160 can obtain knowledge of what items each customer possesses at any given time by (1) identifying the customer, (2) identifying items removed from the display by the customer, and (3) tracking the movement of the customer and/or security tags affixed to the items through the RSF 160. Customer identification can be achieved using the camera 136 and/or unique identification information obtained from the MCD 110. In both scenarios, the customer may not be identified by name, but rather as an anonymous person. Item removal can be visually identified using a mechanical shelving system 190 and/or camera 136 that monitors shelf loading. Mechanical shelving systems are well known in the art and will not be described herein. Customers can be tracked using signals received from the MCD 110 and/or self-checkout devices (e.g., RFID or Bluetooth signals). Security tags can be tracked using SRC (such as RFID communication).

This knowledge can be used to correlate purchases made at the POS station. This correlation can be achieved by comparing the checkout item list (i.e., the list of items scanned at the POS station) with a list of items removed from displays by the customer, read from security tags in the vicinity of the customer, and/or read from security tags that have traveled the same path through the RSF. Based on the comparison, certain measures can be taken before the customer leaves the RSF to prevent theft.

For example, if a customer enters a POS station and the scanned items do not match the items identified as having been removed from the display by the customer, the checkout clerk can be alerted to any items missing from the checkout items (or scanned items). The checkout clerk can then ask the customer if he or she wishes to purchase the missing items from the checkout items. This intervention occurs before the customer enters the vicinity of the RSF's exit and before the customer is in a position to leave the store without ignoring the alarm issued by the security tag, as an added deterrent to theft.

This knowledge can also be used to alert store personnel to potential thefts, which can initiate an interaction with the customer. This customer interaction indicates to the customer that the RSF is aware of the item that was removed from the display and/or that he or she owns. The customer interaction can take the form of a store assistant asking if he or she can help the customer find something to use with the potentially stolen item.

For example, the system 100 detects that a customer has removed multiple identical items (e.g., a ten-pack of razors) from a display. These items are highly stolen items. Typically, thieves pick up multiple packs of these items and quickly move to the exit of the RSF. However, alerted that a particular customer has removed many items from a display, a store associate can be quickly dispatched to prevent the customer from reaching the exit door. Upon reaching the customer, the store associate can ask the customer if they need anything that goes with the particular item (e.g., the razors). Such an inquiry lets the customer know that he or she has been identified by the retail store as possessing the item. Additionally, this information can automatically trigger a visual record of the customer (e.g., a picture or video) and/or highlight the event within a recording system for later retrieval and evidence.

Of course, the same information is also useful for providing actual customer service. Customer or item information allows the retail store to suggest complementary items to the item or items removed from the display and/or highlight specials and discounts that may be of interest to the customer. These suggestions can be pushed to the MCD 110 or conveyed to the customer by a store associate. In this way, customer service aspects can also be used as a theft deterrent.

Reference is now made to FIG2 , which provides a schematic diagram of an exemplary architecture of the beacon 138 of FIG1 . The beacon 138 may include more or fewer components than those shown in FIG2 . However, the components shown are sufficient to disclose an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Some or all of the components of the beacon 138 may be implemented in hardware, software, and/or a combination of hardware and software. The hardware includes, but is not limited to, one or more electronic circuits. The electronic circuits may include passive components (e.g., capacitors and resistors) and active components (e.g., processors) that are arranged and/or programmed to implement the methods disclosed herein.

The hardware architecture of FIG2 represents an embodiment of a representative beacon 138 configured to facilitate improved store intelligence. In this regard, the beacon 138 includes an SRC-enabled device 200 for enabling data exchange with an external device (e.g., the MCD 110 of FIG1 ) via SRC technology (e.g., Bluetooth technology). The components 204-208, 260, and the battery 220 shown in FIG2 may be collectively referred to herein as the SRC-enabled device 200.

The SRC-enabled device 200 includes an antenna 202 that allows data to be exchanged with external devices via SRC technology. Antenna 202 is configured to receive SRC signals from the external device and/or transmit SRC signals generated by the SRC-enabled device 200. The SRC-enabled device 200 includes an SRC transceiver 204. SRC transceivers are well known in the art and will not be described further herein. However, it should be understood that the SRC transceiver 204 transmits an SRC signal including first information to the external device and processes the received SRC signal to extract second information therefrom. The first information includes a unique identifier 230 of the beacon 138. The unique identifier 230 provides a means for the SIS to determine the location of a person within a given facility (e.g., the RSF 160 of FIG. 1 ). The second information may include, but is not limited to, a unique identifier of an external device (e.g., the MCD 110 of FIG. 1 ). The SRC transceiver 204 may transmit the extracted second information to the controller 206 via an interface 260.

At controller 206, information may be pre-processed to determine how the SRC signal is to be processed by beacon 130. For example, the external device's unique identifier and the beacon's unique identifier may be forwarded to the SIS for various purposes, such as security, customer service, access control, and/or promotional purposes.

It is worth noting that the memory 208 can be a volatile memory and/or a non-volatile memory. For example, the memory 208 can include, but is not limited to, random access memory ("RAM"), dynamic random access memory ("DRAM"), static random access memory ("SRAM"), read-only memory ("ROM"), and flash memory. The memory 208 can also include non-secure memory and/or secure memory. As used herein, the phrase "non-secure memory" refers to a memory configured to store data in plain text form. As used herein, the phrase "secure memory" refers to a memory configured to store data in encrypted form and/or a memory having a secure or tamper-resistant housing or arranged in a secure or tamper-resistant housing.

Referring now to FIG. 3 , a block diagram of an exemplary architecture of MCD 110 is provided that may be useful in understanding the present invention. MCD 110 may include more or fewer components than those shown in FIG. 3 . However, the components shown are sufficient to disclose an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Some or all of the components of MCD 110 may be implemented in hardware, software, and/or a combination of hardware and software. Hardware may include, but is not limited to, one or more electronic circuits.

MCD 110 may include, but is not limited to, a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, or a mobile phone with smart device functionality (e.g., a smartphone). In this regard, MCD 110 includes an antenna 302 for receiving and transmitting RF signals. A receive/transmit ("Rx/Tx") switch 304 selectively couples antenna 302 to transmitter circuitry 306 and receiver circuitry 308 in a manner familiar to those skilled in the art. Receiver circuitry 308 demodulates and decodes RF signals received from external devices. Receiver circuitry 308 is coupled to controller (or microprocessor) 310 via electrical connection 334. Receiver circuitry 308 provides decoded signal information to controller 310. Controller 310 utilizes the decoded RF signal information in accordance with one or more functions of MCD 110. Controller 310 also provides information to transmitter circuitry 306 for encoding and modulating the information into RF signals. Thus, controller 210 is coupled to transmitter circuitry 306 via electrical connection 338. Transmitter circuit 306 communicates the RF signal to antenna 302 for transmission to an external device via Rx/Tx switch 304 .

The MCD 110 also includes an antenna 340 coupled to an SRC transceiver 314 for receiving SRC signals. SRC transceivers are well known in the art and will not be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the SRC transceiver 314 processes the SRC signals to extract information therefrom. The SRC transceiver 314 may process the SRC signals in a manner defined by an SRC application 354 installed on the MCD 110. The SRC application 354 may include, but is not limited to, a Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) application. The SRC transceiver 314 is coupled to the controller 310 via an electrical connection 336. The controller uses the extracted information according to one or more functions of the MCD 110. For example, the extracted information may be forwarded by the MCD 110 to a SIS (e.g., SIS 140 of FIG. 1 ), where the information may be used for various purposes. Such purposes may include, but are not limited to: (1) increasing the security of RSF 160, (2) providing promotional materials to a person, (3) providing a person with a lock code for accessing specific areas of RSF 160 and/or merchandise stored in locked display cases, (4) tracking the paths of people through the retail store, (5) generating a map indicating where one or more people are located within RSF 160, and/or (6) improving the shopping and/or checkout experience for customers.

The controller 310 can store the received and extracted information in the memory 312 of the MCD 110. Thus, the memory 312 is connected to the controller 310 via an electrical connection 332 and is accessible by the controller 310. The memory 312 can be volatile memory and/or non-volatile memory. For example, the memory 312 can include, but is not limited to, RAM, DRAM, ROM, and flash memory. The memory 312 can also include non-secure memory and/or secure memory. The memory 312 can be used to store various other types of data 360 therein, such as authentication information, encryption information, location information, and various information related to the product.

As shown in Figure 3, one or more sets of instructions 350 are stored in the memory 312. The instructions may include customizable instructions and non-customizable instructions. During execution by the MCD 110, the instructions 350 may also reside completely or at least partially within the controller 310. In this regard, the memory 312 and the controller 310 may constitute machine-readable media. As used herein, the term "machine-readable medium" refers to a single medium or multiple media that store one or more sets of instructions 350. As used herein, the term "machine-readable medium" also refers to any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying a set of instructions 350 for execution by the MCD 110 and causing the MCD 110 to perform one or more of the methods of the present disclosure.

Controller 310 is also connected to user interface 330. User interface 330 includes input devices 316, output devices 324, and software routines (not shown in FIG. 3 ) configured to allow a user to interact with and control software applications installed on MCD 110 (e.g., software applications 352-358 and other software applications). Such input and output devices may include, but are not limited to, display 328, speaker 326, keyboard 320, directional keys (not shown in FIG. 3 ), directional knob (not shown in FIG. 3 ), microphone 322, and camera 318. Display 328 may be designed to accept touchscreen input. Thus, user interface 330 may facilitate user-software interaction to launch applications installed on MCD 110 (e.g., software applications 352-358 and other software applications). User interface 330 may facilitate user-software interactive sessions for: initializing communications with external devices; writing data to and reading data from memory 312; and initializing retail application processes to provide improved customer service to users and/or increased security to the retail store. The retail application process will be described in detail below.

The display 328, keyboard 320, directional pad (not shown in FIG3), and directional knob (not shown in FIG3) can collectively provide a user with a means of initiating one or more software applications or functions of the MCD 110. The application software 352-358 can facilitate data exchange between (a) the user and the MCD 110, (b) the MCD 110 and a POS station, and/or (c) the MCD 110 and a beacon (e.g., beacon 138 of FIG1). In this regard, the application software 352-358 performs one or more of the following: verifying the identity of the user of the MCD 110 via an authentication process; presenting information to the user indicating that his/her identity has or has not been verified; and presenting a graphical user interface ("GUI") to the user to enable the user to initiate a customer service process that provides enhanced customer service to the user while the user is in a retail store facility (e.g., RSF 150 of FIG1).

The application software 352-358 also performs one or more of the following: transmits a unique identifier to the beacon; receives information (e.g., promotional materials) from a remote database; and/or displays the received information on the display screen of the MCD 110. The application software 352-358 also performs one or more of the following: receives a unique identifier from the beacon; transmits the beacon's unique identifier and its own unique identifier to a remote SIS; receives information from the SIS; and/or displays the received information on the display screen of the MCD 110.

Referring now to FIG. 4 , a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method 400 for providing customer service-based theft deterrence is provided. Method 400 begins at step 402 and proceeds to step 404. Step 404 involves detecting when a person (e.g., person 108 of FIG. 1 ) is in proximity to a proximity system (e.g., proximity systems 106, 116, or 134 of FIG. 1 ) disposed within an RSF (e.g., RSF 160 of FIG. 1 ). This detection can be performed using a proximity sensor (e.g., proximity sensor 130 of FIG. 1 ) disposed adjacent to or near the proximity system. Next, in optional step 406 , at least one time-stamped image of the person is captured by a camera of the proximity system (e.g., camera 136 of FIG. 1 ). The captured image is then optionally transmitted from the proximity system to a remote SIS (e.g., SIS 140 of FIG. 1 ), as shown in step 408.

In step 410, a unique identifier is transmitted from a beacon of the proximity system (e.g., beacon 138 of FIG. 1 ) to an MCD owned by the person (e.g., MCD 110 of FIG. 1 ), or vice versa, via SRC (e.g., Bluetooth communication). In step 412, the unique identifiers of the beacon and the MCD are transmitted to the SIS.

Then, in step 414, various operations are performed by the proximity system to identify each item (e.g., merchandise 150 of FIG. 1 ) being removed from the display (e.g., display 104 of FIG. 1 ). These operations may include, but are not limited to, capturing visual images showing the person's activities within the RSF and/or obtaining information from security tags (e.g., security tags 122 of FIG. 1 ) attached to items removed from the display by the person. In step 414, identification information of the removed items is also sent from the proximity system to the SIS. At the SIS, a list is generated in step 416 that includes information identifying each item removed from the display by the person.

Tracking information is also generated in step 418. The tracking information indicates the tracked movement of the person and/or items owned by the person throughout the RSF. The tracking information can be generated by periodically acquiring unique identification information from beacons of the proximity system (e.g., beacon 138 of FIG. 1 ), an MCD owned by the person (e.g., MCD 110 of FIG. 1 ), and/or security tags attached to items; capturing images of the person's movements within the RSF; and/or capturing images of items removed from the display by the person. The tracking information is also transmitted from the RSF to the SIS in step 418.

At the SIS, one or more beacon unique identifiers, MCD unique identifiers, a list of removed items, and/or tracking information are used to determine whether the person is performing actions associated with potential theft, as shown in step 420. This determination can be made based on: (1) the results of an operation to correlate the list of removed items with a list of items checked out (or scanned), (2) the results of an operation to correlate the list of items in the person's possession detected at the POS station with a list of items checked out (or scanned), (3) the number and type of items removed from the display by the person, (4) the person's current location within the facility and/or the location at which the person removed items from the display, (5) the speed of travel and current path of travel of the person or group of people through the RSF, and/or (6) the results of an operation to compare the person's activities within the RSF with predefined shopping patterns of thieves. With respect to criterion (3), a threshold comparison can be performed. The same or different thresholds can be selected for each type of time. With respect to criterion (4), a threshold comparison can be performed. The threshold is selected based on the risk of theft associated with a particular location within the RSF.

For example, if the list of items checked out (or scanned) does not match the list of items removed, then the person is considered to be performing actions associated with potential theft. Similarly, if the person removes multiple packages of a certain item from a display and/or begins to move relatively quickly toward the exit of the RSF, then the person is considered to be performing actions associated with potential theft. Similarly, if the person's activities within the RSF substantially or approximately match the shopping patterns of a predefined thief, then the person is considered to be performing actions associated with potential theft.

If it is determined that the person is not performing an action associated with potential theft [422: No], step 424 is executed, where method 400 returns to step 404. Conversely, if it is determined that the person is performing an action associated with potential theft [422: Yes], step 426 is executed, where an interaction with the person is initiated before the person reaches the exit of the RSF. For example, an interaction with the person may be initiated to indicate that store personnel are aware of the item the person has taken. This interaction may take the form of: (1) a store associate asking the person if they need help finding something to go with the potentially stolen item or an item other than the potentially stolen item; (2) a store associate asking the person if they need anything to go with the potentially stolen item or an item other than the potentially stolen item; (3) a store associate providing the person with information about specials or promotions associated with the potentially stolen item or an item other than the potentially stolen item; (4) a store POS clerk asking the person if they wish to purchase the potentially stolen item; (5) an electronic message transmitted to the person's MCD suggesting items that go with the potentially stolen item or an item other than the potentially stolen item; and/or (6) an electronic message transmitted to the person's MCD highlighting specials or promotions associated with the potentially stolen item or an item other than the potentially stolen item. The electronic message may include, but is not limited to, an email, text message, or other display screen message. This interaction serves as a deterrent to theft before the person is in a position to leave the store without ignoring any associated security alerts. Notably, this interaction is customer service based, which eliminates or minimizes liability and injury issues for the retail store regarding theft deterrence.

After completing step 426, step 428 is executed, where method 400 ends or performs other processing. Other processing may include capturing an image of the person and/or a video of the incident between store personnel and the person. The captured image and/or video is transmitted to the SIS for storage and later use as evidence of the person's illegal behavior.

All devices, methods and algorithms disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed according to the present disclosure without excessive experimentation. Although the present invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the order of the steps of the devices, methods and methods can be changed without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the present invention. More specifically, it is obvious that certain components can be added to, combined with or replaced with the components described herein, but the same or similar results will be obtained. All similar substitutions and modifications obvious to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the present invention as defined.

The features and functions disclosed above and alternative forms can be combined into many other different systems or applications. Those skilled in the art may make various currently unforeseen or unexpected substitutions, modifications, changes or improvements, each of which is also intended to be covered by the disclosed embodiments.

Claims (18)

1. A method for providing customer service-based theft deterrence, comprising: The movement of the person through the area is tracked using a unique identifier of the person's mobile device and a unique identifier of a proximity system with known different locations in the area; Each of a plurality of items being removed from the display unit by the person is identified by electronic circuitry; Track the path of each item through the area; The electronic circuitry determines whether the person is performing an action associated with the potential theft of each of the items previously removed from the display unit by the person and whose movement path through the area is identical to that of the person; and In response to determining that the person is performing an action associated with a potential theft of the item, the electronic circuitry performs an action to initiate a customer service-based interaction with the person, thereby preventing the theft, wherein the person is located within the facility rather than at an exit of the facility when the customer service-based interaction occurs. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination is the result of an operation that associates a list of items to be removed from the display unit by the person with a list of items checked out by a clerk on behalf of the person. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination is based on the result of an operation that associates a list of items owned by the person detected at the point of sale with a list of items checked out by a clerk on behalf of the person. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination is based on the quantity and type of at least one item removed from the display device by the person. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination is based on the current location of the person within the facility and/or the location where the person removes an item from the display unit. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination is based on the person's speed of travel through the facility and the current travel path. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination is based on the result of an operation that compares the person’s activities within the facility with a predefined shopping pattern of a thief. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer service-based interaction includes at least one of the following actions: The store assistant asks the person if he/she needs help finding something that can be used with the potentially stolen item or something other than the potentially stolen item; The store assistant asks the person if he/she needs anything to go with the items that might be stolen or other items besides the items that might be stolen; The store assistant provides the person with information about special offers or promotions related to items that may be stolen or other items besides those that may be stolen; and The store POS clerk asked the person if he/she wanted to buy items that might be stolen. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer service-based interaction includes at least one of the following actions: Electronic messages transmitted to the person's communication device suggest items to be paired with items that may be stolen or other than items that may be stolen; and Electronic messages transmitted to the person's communication device highlight special offers or promotions on items that may be stolen or other items besides those that may be stolen. 10. A system comprising: At least one electronic circuit is configured as The movement of the person through the area is tracked using a unique identifier of the person's mobile device and a unique identifier of a proximity system with known different locations in the area; Identify each of a plurality of items being removed from the display unit by the person in question; Track the path of each item through the area; Determine whether the person is performing an action associated with the potential theft of each of the items previously removed from the display unit by the person and whose travel path through the area is the same as the person's; and In response to determining that the person is performing the action associated with a potential theft of the item, an action is performed to initiate a customer service-based interaction with the person, thereby preventing the theft, wherein when the customer service-based interaction occurs, the person is located within the facility rather than at an exit of the facility. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the determination is based on the result of an operation that associates a list of items to be removed from the display unit by the person with a list of items checked out by a clerk on behalf of the person. 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the determination is based on the result of an operation that associates a list of items owned by the person detected at the point of sale with a list of items checked out by a clerk on behalf of the person. 13. The system of claim 10, wherein the determination is based on the quantity and type of at least one item removed from the display device by the person. 14. The system of claim 10, wherein the determination is based on the current location of the person within the facility and/or the location where the person removes an item from the display unit. 15. The system of claim 10, wherein the determination is based on the person's speed of travel through the facility and the current travel path. 16. The system of claim 10, wherein the determination is based on the result of an operation that compares the person’s activities within the facility with a predefined shopping pattern of a thief. 17. The system of claim 10, wherein the customer service-based interaction includes at least one of the following actions: The store assistant asks the person if he/she needs help finding something that can be used with the potentially stolen item or something other than the potentially stolen item; The store assistant asks the person if he/she needs anything to go with the items that might be stolen or other items besides the items that might be stolen; The store assistant provides the person with information about special offers or promotions related to items that may be stolen or other items besides those that may be stolen; and The store POS clerk asked the person if he/she wanted to buy items that might be stolen. 18. The system of claim 10, wherein the customer service-based interaction includes at least one of the following actions: Electronic messages transmitted to the person's communication device suggest items to be paired with items that may be stolen or other than items that may be stolen; and Electronic messages transmitted to the person's communication device highlight special offers or promotions on items that may be stolen or other items besides those that may be stolen.