WO2005020173A1

WO2005020173A1 - Method and apparatus for preventing or deterring theft or loss of shopping trolleys

Info

Publication number: WO2005020173A1
Application number: PCT/AU2004/001111
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrew George Gathergood; Larry Hilton Sheer
Original assignee: Andrew George Gathergood; Larry Hilton Sheer
Priority date: 2003-08-21
Filing date: 2004-08-23
Publication date: 2005-03-03

Abstract

A method and apparatus for preventing or deterring theft of shopping trolleys (10) from a prescribed area (16) by providing identification tags (11) on each trolley (10), each identifying tag (11) transmitting a code identifying a trolley (10) and readers (13) located around the prescribed area (16) for sensing signals transmitted by an identification tag (11) to identify attempted removal of a shopping trolley (10) from the prescribed area (16).

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREλΕNTING OR DETERRING THEFT OR LOSS OF SHOPPING TROLLEYS

Technical Field

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for preventing or deterring the theft or loss of shopping trolleys, carts or other wheeled vehicles.

Background Art

Many commercial establishments provide shopping trolleys or similar carts for the convenience of customers in transporting merchandise both within the establishment and for transporting merchandise to their vehicles parked within a car park of the establishment. Loss of trolleys and carts is a very oommon occurrence which represents a substantial financial loss to the establishment. Trolleys may be lost by theft or simple removal from the establishment and negligent abandonment. A further issue which can become relevant where trolleys or carts are taken from an establishment is that of public liability. Establishments thus can be liable for injuries caused to persons or property by for example collisions with or damage caused by trolleys or carts which may be left in areas frequented by the public.

A number of systems have been proposed or provided to reduce loss of trolleys in the above manner. One system provides trolleys with a braking device which is actuated automatically if a trolley is moved out of a prescribed area to disable or immobilise the trolley. Such systems have not proved particularly effective as although movement of trolleys is prevented, trolleys can still be removed from a prescribed area for example by being lifted and carried. In addition, no warning system is enabled to alert security of possible theft.

Other systems which have been put into place to deter shoppers and others from removing trolleys or carts from the immediate vicinity of a parking lot of a shopping centre or other establishment have significant disadvantages and have not been adopted to any great extent due to the high cost and disadvantages or problems in implementing them. Some mechanisms are highly complex or fragile and liable to failure, breakage or improper operation whilst in the case particularly of trolleys fitted with braking devices, the devices are so expensive that they add considerable costs to the trolley or high ongoing maintenance expenses.

Summary of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved security method and apparatus for wheeled vehicles such as shopping trolleys or carts which is cost effective, and which is efficient in deterring theft or removal of trolleys or carts from a designated area such as a shopping centre parking lot. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

The present invention thus provides in a first preferred aspect, security apparatus for shopping trolleys or other wheeled vehicles, said apparatus comprising trolley identification means adapted to be mounted to a trolley, said trolley identification being adapted to transmit a signal identifying a said trolley, and reader means for receiving signals transmitted by said identification means for identifying that a said trolley has moved to a position in proximity to said reader means.

Suitably the identification means identify respective individual said trolleys such that the reader means can identify from the identification means the trolley which has been moved to a position in proximity to the reader means.

Typically the reader means are located at. adjacent to or beyond the boundary of a prescribed area such that movement of a trolley to or beyond the prescribed area is sensed by the reader means. For example reader means may be located at or near typical access points to or from a particular prescribed or designated area. The reader means suitably comprise a plurality of reader units located along or adjacent to the boundary of the prescribed area or at or adjacent to access points or locations at which trolleys are normally conveyed to and from the prescribed area. Alternatively or additionally, reader units may be located beyond the boundary of the prescribed area to detect trolleys which have moved outside of the prescribed area, Reader units may be fitted with multiple antennas to improve signal coverage and reduce costs. Reader units may also be placed in proximity to trolley parking bays, and by such an arrangement, it is possible to read the individual codes from each trolley, thus identifying where trolleys are at any time, and how may there are for stock and loss control.

Preferably the reader means are linked to monitoring apparatus to identify a trolley sensed by the reader means and the location thereof and/or that a trolley has been moved out of a prescribed area. The monitoring apparatus suitably controls an output/input unit, the output of which can enable or disable an alarm providing an alarm signal, indicating that a trolley has been moved beyond a prescribed area such that appropriate action can be taken in response thereto. The output of the output input unit may alternatively or additionally comprise an output to a security station to alert the station of the breach of security such that appropriate action can be taken to recover trolleys. The output of the output input unit may be sent as an alert signal directly or indirectly to mobile security guards for example to mobile phones or other mobile receiver or transceiver units so that the guards are alerted to possible loss of a trolley. Typically, an alert signal may be sent as a SMS message or alternatively as a simple alarm signal. The monitoring apparatus may comprise a centralised monitoring station.

The input of the output/input unit may be connected to a deactivation mechanism such as a key switch or transponder reader enabling the alarm signal to be disabled.

The alarm may comprise an audible and/or visual alarm. Typically, the audible alarm may comprise a siren, hom or voice signal provided by a suitable audible alarm device and the visual alarm may be provided by any visual alarm device for example a lamp such as a flashing lamp. The alarm device or devices may be powered by a separate power supply such as a mains power supply or a battery supply which may be associated with a rechargcr unit such as a solar recharging device. The alarm device or devices may be located adjacent or near to the reader unit or units to act as a deterrent to theft of trolleys.

A reader unit of the reader means may also on sensing trolley signals from the trolley identification means, transmit a signal to monitoring apparatus so that the event can be recorded. For example the monitoring apparatus may record the identity of the detected trolley, the date and time at which the trolley is detected or alarm triggered, the area or region where the trolley is detected and can further indicate which security personal to alert to take appropriate recovery action. Preferably one or more regions of the perimeter of the building is or are designated as regions in which authorised trolley removal can occur for example for the purposes of repair or maintenance. When this is required, a signal may be sent from the monitoring apparatus to temporarily disable the alarm s or reader unit/s at that location such that an alarm will not be triggered when trolleys are moved out of the prescribed area at those regions. Alternatively; means may be provided in the alarm/s or reader unit s at that location which will enable, for example through software control, trolleys to be removed without triggering an alarm.

The monitoring apparatus may also monitor the location of trolleys with the prescribed area and for example gather information relating to same such as which doorways or aisles in a shopping centre or other establishment are used to provide a history to a trolley owner as to use of trolleys within a store or other establishment. Monitoring trolleys in this manner can be used to control the trolleys which are used in a particular establishment for example by banning the use of the trolleys from another establishment. For this purpose, the identification means carried by the trolleys may identify trolleys from different organisations or establishments such that particular trolleys of different organisations or establishments can be identified by the reader means and/or monitoring apparatus. Preferably also the monitoring apparatus can identify, from signals received from the reader means, trolleys from different organizations or establishments and provide an output or signal to security or management personnel of those different organizations or establishments via SMS or the Internet. Alternatively, a central security establishment can be advised from the signal sent by the monitoring apparatus of the establishment or organization from which a sensed trolley has emanated.

The identification means suitably comprises an active tag, which comprises a radio beacon with unique identity as defined by an identification code, mounted on or to the trolley at any location, which will not prevent or inhibit signal transmission to the reader means.

The tags used for identifying the trolleys can have one of more than 4 million unique identification codes. Preferably, the tags are self powered and for this purpose may contain a battery or other power source. The tags suitably also include a movement sensor, a low battery warning sensor and provides randomised transmissions, for the purpose of minimal data collisions (anti-collision). Whilst in an idle state, that is with a trolley not moving, the tag preferably will report its presence over 16 random time intervals, with a minimum time interval of 20 seconds and a maximum time interval of

10 minutes. The signal transmitted by the tag is made up of the tag identification code and auto test identifier (roll call). As the trolley moves, the movement sensor is activated, and the tag will begin to transmit ever two (2) seconds. This signal transmitted is then made up of the tag identification code and movement identifier. The system can thus determine if the trolley is parked or moving.

Typically the tag may be located in the handle or other hollow member of the trolley. Preferably, the tag transmits a signal in the licence free band approved within the country of use. A commonly used band is 433.92MHz. The transmitter in the tag is controlled by a microprocessor, which contains the unique code of the tag and also controls the time intervals between successive transmissions of the code.

Each reader unit includes a receiver for receiving signals transmitted by the tags. The receiver may be a superheterodyne receiver for the purpose of improved range and selectivity. By selecting a suitable attenuator to the receiver input, the sensitivity of the receiver can be reduced, thus enabling shorter reading ranges, thus minimising overlap in receiving areas. A receiver database can cither detect any signal received from a tag or report which tags are in range and which have moved out of range within a prescribed time interval. Portable reader units may also be provided to enable tracing of and location of trolleys within or out of the prescribed area.

The monitoring apparatus, which monitors or receives signals directly from the reader units suitably comprises a software programmed computer which can receive and store information concerning all trolleys and their location as provided by the reader units. The monitoring apparatus may maintain an inventory of all trolleys which are identified by the tags that they carry and the unique code of a tag together with the organization or establishment which is the owner of the trolley identified by the tag. Preferably, the monitoring apparatus, by using the data from tags can also manage the service history of trolleys for example when a trolley was last serviced. In a further aspect, the present invention provides a security system for preventing or deterring loss of trolleys or other wheeled vehicles, said security system including trolley identification means amounted to each said trolley or wheeled vehicle, respective said identifying means identifying each said trolley or wheeled vehicle, said identifying means being adapted to transmit a signal identifying a said trolley, reader means for receiving signals transmitted by said identification means for identifying that a said trolley has moved to a position in proximity to said reader means, and alarm means, said alarm means being actuated when said reader means receives a signal from a said identification means of said trolley or other wheeled vehicle.

The reader means suitably comprise a plurality of reader units arranged along or adjacent a boundary or around the periphery of a prescribed area whereby movement of said trolley or wheeled vehicle beyond the prescribed area can be detected. The alarm means may comprise a visible or audible alarm devices. Preferably the alarm means comprise respective alarm devices located adjacent to respective reader units

The present invention in a further preferred aspect provides a method of monitoring shopping trolleys or other wheeled vehicles, said method comprising the steps of providing trolley identification means on respective trolleys, said trolley identification being adapted to transmit a signal identifying a said trolley, and providing means for receiving signals transmitted by said identification means to identify a location of a said trolley. Preferably the method also includes the step of actuating an alarm when movement of a trolley into or out of said location is detected. The alarm may be actuated directly or indirectly via a central monitoring apparatus.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

Fig 1 illustrates a shopping trolley onto which a signal transmitting tag is fitted into the hollow handle or other rail of the trolley for use in security apparatus of the invention; Fig. 2 illustrates the manner in which readers of the security apparatus are located around the periphery of a building such as a shopping centre to detect trolleys;

Figs. 3 and 4 are block diagrams of alternative readers for the security apparatus of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a block diagram of an output/input unit and associated alarms for use with the readers;

Fig. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a typical monitoring system for monitoring trolleys; and

Figs. 7 is a block diagram of an alternative monitoring system for monitoring trolleys.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a shopping trolley 10 of conventional form carrying a battery powered radio frequency tag 11 which transmits an uniquely coded signal or signals which identify the trolley 1 , The tag 11 also includes a movement sensor to sense movement of the tag 11 and thus the trolley 1 , the movement sensor providing a signal for transmission upon movement of the tag 11 and trolley 10. The tag 1 1 incorporates a battery so as to be a self-powered unit and is preferably located within the handle 12 of the trolley so as to be protected from tampering. The tag 11 however may be located on any other part of the trolley 10.

Trolleys 10 may be monitored by readers 13 (see Fig, 2) each of which includes a reader unit 14 (see Figs. 3 and 4) having a receiver for receiving signals transmitted by a tag 11. Readers 13 may be located at or adjacent to areas or regions to be monitored. For example as shown in Fig. 2, readers 13 are arranged around the perimeter 15 and/or at access points to and from a parking lot 16 surrounding a building 17 such as a shopping centre.

In Fig. 3, the reader 13 includes a reader unit 18 shown connected to a signal combiner 19 which receives signals from separate directional antennas 20. Alternatively the reader units 18 may be provided with a single antenna 21 as shown in Fig. 4. The readers 13 effectively form an electronic barrier or fence around the building 17 along the perimeter

15. The readers 13 are set at a spacing to detect passage of any trolley 10 carrying a tag

11 to and/or past the perimeter 15, The spacing of the readers 13 is determined by the range of the signals transmitted by the tag 1 1 and or the range at which the reader 13 can receive signals. The readers 13 alternatively may be located around a particular entrance or exit such as a driveway entrance or exit to detect any trolley 10 with the areas delineated by the readers 13 which will indicate that a trolley 10 is being taken out of the prescribed areas 16 for example in the vicinity of a shopping centre. The readers 13 are typically mounted to the sides of buildings or other structures.

An output input unit 22 as shown in Fig. 5 is arranged within or adjacent to each reader 13. The output/input unit 22 is an independent unit and connects to the application software by a suitable communication interface. In the event that a tag 11 is detected by a reader 13, the application software will instruct the output/input unit 22 to cause an alarm signal 23 and 24 to issued by actuating and alarm device such as a siren, horn or a voice warning or a flashing light respectively. Deactivation of the alarm is via a key switch 25 located nearby the output/input unit 22, The application software will monitor the output/input 22 for the key switch 25 status, This will result in the deactivation of the alarm device.

The readers 13 arc monitored by a management software programmed base computer in this case a personal computer 26 using two types of communication between the application software contained on the personal computer 26 and the hardware as shown in the systems 27 and 28 of Figs. 6 and .

In the system of Fig 6, the S232 port of the computer 26 is connected via an RS232 to RS4S5 converter to one or more pollers 29 arranged in parallel and associated with different sets of hardware comprising readers 13 and output input units 22, The RS232 to RS485 converter may be an internal card, or an external device. The poller/s 29 automatically polls the hardware, and acts as a controller / buffer between the personal computer 26 and the hardware comprising the readers 13 and output/input units 22. The connectivity between the poller/s 29 and the hardware is via RS485. The maximum number of addresses is limited to 961 readers 13 and output input units 22 combined, . the event that the personal computer 26 is off line, the poller/s 29 will take over the function of the computer 26 and continue communicating with the hardware. This has the advantage of offering backup to the system.

Information monitored by a poller 29 comprises the identity of the reader 13 (which identifies its location), and the identity of a tag 11 from its identification code as detected by a reader 13 (which identifies the trolley 10) as well as time and date information. The reader 13 may also transmit battery status of a tag 11, information as to whether a trolley 10 has been moved into or out of an area delineated by the perimeter 15 and time and date. The readers 13 may also advise the poller 29 that a tag signal has not been detected for a predetermined period of time.

Information provided by the persona] computer 26 on receiving signals from a reader 13 may be used to alert security personnel and/or active an alarm device. This will serve as an audible and/or visual deterrent to theft of a trolley 10 or movement of a trolley 10 outside of the perimeter 15. For this purposes, alarm devices such as sirens, homs and/or flashing lamps are located adjacent to the reader unit 13 which detects the tag 1 1.

The readers 13 may cause activation of the alarm device 18 directly through the output input device or alternatively the alarm device may be activated by the personal computer

26 under software control.

The pollers 29 thus communicate both with the readers 13 and management software and passes information from the readers 13 to the management software including the poller address, reader unit address, tag identification and possibly battery status, in out status and time and date. The pollers 29 contains a non-volatile memory which can store multiple information concerning tags 1 1. The poller 29 may communicate automatically with the readers 13 at regular intervals.

As an alternative, the programmed base computer 26 may communicate directly with the readers 13 thereby eliminating the pollers 29. particular sets of codes can correspond to sets of trolleys 10 from different stores or establishments such that particular received coded signals can identify a store or establishment from which a particular trolley 10 came. This allows the supervision of and/or control of trolleys 10 from different but overlapping use areas.

In the alternative system of Fig. 7, the computer 26 is connected to a LAN (local area network). The readers 13 and output/input units 22 each have a LAN card installed instead of a RS485 card. Each piece of hardware has it's own address and each LAN card has its own Tp address. There is no limit to the number of readers 13 and output/input units 22 in this system.

The present invention thus provides a system which will cause immediate actuation of an alarm device on attempted removal of the trolley from a designated area so as to act as an immediate deterrent to theft or inadvertent removal of trolleys. Further the system allows for trolley inventory control in that each tag 1 1 applied tn a trolley 10 has an unique identifier relating to a specific trolley 10. The base computer 26 and/or pollers 29 with or without associated readers 13 may also be used to locate a particular trolleylO identified by its identifying tag signal so that the location of a lost trolley 10 within a certain range can be determined.

The present invention has been described principally in reference to shopping trolleys however it may be readily applied to other wheeled vehicles, either manual or otherwise, the movement of which is required to be monitored or controlled. It will however be appreciated that many different monitoring systems other than those of the described embodiments can be used for monitoring the location of trolleys 10 or that trolleys 10 have been moved to an unauthorized region. The tags 11 in an alternative embodiment may simply transmit signals to indicate that a trolley is in a particular location rather than identifying the particular trolley.

The terms "comprising" or "comprises" or derivatives thereof as used throughout the specification and claims are taken to specify the presence of the stated features, integers and components referred to but not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature/s, integer/s, component/s or group thereof

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all variations and modifications thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. Security apparatus for shopping trolleys or other wheeled vehicles, said apparatus comprising trolley identification means adapted to be mounted to a trolley, said trolley identification being adapted to transmit a signal identifying a said trolley, and reader means for receiving signals transmitted by said i entification means for identifying that a said trolley has moved to a position in proximity to said reader means.

2. Security apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said identification means identify respective individual said trolleys whereby the reader means can identify from the identification means the trolley which has been moved to a position in proximity to the reader means.

3. Security apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reader means are located at, adjacent to or beyond the boundary of a prescribed area such that movement of a trolley to or beyond the prescribed area is sensed by the reader means.

4. Security apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said reader means are located at or near access points to or from a prescribed or designated area.

5. Security apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said reader means comprise a plurality of readers located along or adjacent to a boundary of the prescribed area.

6. Security apparatus as Claimed in claim 5 wherein said reader means includes readers located beyond the boundary of the prescribed area to detect trolleys which have moved outside of the prescribed area.

7. Security apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein said reader means are linked to monitoring apparatus to identify a trolley sensed by the reader means and the location thereof and or that a trolley has been moved out of a prescribed area.

8. Security apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said monitoring apparatus controls an output input unit to enable or disable an alarm signal, indicating that a trolley has been moved beyond a prescribed area.

9. Security apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said output/input unit provides an output to a security station to alert the possible theft or loss of trolleys.

10. Security apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein said monitoring apparatus provides an output to initiate operation of an alarm when a said identifying means is sensed by said reader means,

11. Security apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein alarm devices are associated with the output input unit and including means associated with the output/input unit for selectively disabling the alarm device.

12. Security apparatus as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 wherein said alarm comprises an audible and/or visual alarm.

13. Security apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said monitoring apparatus includes means for recording the identity of a trolley, the date and time at which an alarm is triggered, and an area or region where the trolley is detected.

14 Security apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said identification means comprises an active tag mounted on or to the trolley, said tag having a code identifying said trolley.

15. Security apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said tag is located in a handle or other hollow member of the trolley.

16. A security system for preventing or deterring loss of trolleys or other wheeled vehicles, said security system including trolley identification means mounted to each said trolley or wheeled vehiclo, respective said identifying means identifying each said trolley or wheeled vehicle, said identifying means being adapted to transmit a signal identifying a said trolley, reader means for receiving signals transmitted by said identification means for identifying that a said trolley has moved to a position in proximity to said reader means, and alarm means, said alarm means being actuated when said reader means receives a signal from a said identification means of said trolley or other wheeled vehicle.

17. A security system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said reader means comprises a plurality of reader units, said reader units arranged along or adjacent a boundary or the periphery of a prescribed area whereby movement of said trolley or wheeled vehicle beyond said prescribed area can be detected.

18. A method of onitoring shopping trolleys or other wheeled vehicles, said method comprising the steps of providing trolley identification means on respective trolleys, said trolley identification being adapted to transmit a signal identifying a said trolley, and providing means for receiving signals transmitted by said identification means to identify a location of a said trolley.

1 . A method as claimed in claim 18 and including the step of actuating an alarm when movement of a trolley into or out of said location is detected.