Abstract: An apparatus and method for unlocking a security tag that is connected to an article. The apparatus includes an unlocking device configured to provide an unlock signal or force to a security tag allowing for the security tag to be removed from the article. The apparatus further includes an outer housing having an unlocking surface at least partially disposed above the unlocking device, wherein the unlocking surface includes a continuous surface area defined by a first surface area connected to a second surface area. In one aspect, the second surface area is tactily distinct from the first surface area and the second surface area includes an alignment feature configured to indicate a detachment zone that corresponds with a source of the unlock signal or force.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and systems for laser turning and attaching RFID tags to products. Such methods and systems may include a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The methods and systems may include determining a characteristic of a conductive trace on a substrate to be incorporated into an item to configure a tag performance in view of at least one of a dielectric property or a tuning property of the item. The methods and systems may further include a laser to alter the conductive trace on the substrate to have the characteristic to define an antenna for the tag. The methods and systems may further include an attaching device configured to attach a communications enabled device to the substrate so as to form an electrical connection between the communications enabled device and the antenna to form the tag.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a mechanism inside of the tag which detaches the tag when presented to a detacher system containing a rotating magnet array that retracts the tag pin allowing the tag to be removed from the garment.

Abstract: Examples described herein generally relate to a system and method for projecting content in a retail environment. The system and method may include an image projector for projecting content on a surface of the retail environment. The system and method may also include a security pedestal comprising the image projector. The system and method may also include receiving at the image projector a first signal indicating a first content to be projected. The system and method may also include receiving at the image projector a second signal indicating a second content to be projected after the first content.

Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) identification (RFID) system provides side-lobe blocking (SLB) functionality. The RFID system modifies a first RF signal to provide a modified signal. The first RF signal has an RF carrier frequency according to an RFID protocol, and a main directional antenna in the RFID system has a first main lobe extending in a first direction and is configured to radiate a first signal for reading one or more RFID tags according to the RFID protocol. The RFID system then provides the modified signal as an SLB signal to a secondary directional antenna having a second main lobe extending in a second direction different than the first direction to radiate a second signal toward one or more stray RFID tags.

Abstract: Example aspects include a method, an apparatus and a computer-readable medium of enforcing a mask wearing rule, comprising monitoring video frames of one or more video feeds. The aspects further include detecting a person in at least one video frame of the video frames. The at least one video frame corresponding to a first area of one or more areas. Additionally, the aspects further include determining whether the person is in violation of a mask wearing rule. Additionally, the aspects further include generating an alert in response to determining that the person is in violation of the mask wearing rule.

Abstract: A method for securing a security tag into an article of clothing includes positioning an end of the security tag into a first opening to an interface space between two layers of the article of clothing. The two layers are fixedly connected by one or more opposing connectors that are spaced apart in a manner to form the interface space sized to receive the security tag. The security tag is fully moved into the interface space. Also described herein is a security tag specially configured for placement into the interface space between two layers of the article of clothing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating tags with items. The methods comprise: dynamically determining a length of each metal thread to be incorporated into or trace to be disposed on a item to optimize tag performance in view of dielectric and tuning properties of the item. In the metal thread scenarios, the methods also involve: creating a metal thread having the length that was dynamically determined; and sewing the metal thread into the item being produced to form an antenna for a first tag. In the trace scenarios, the methods also involve forming the trace on the item being produced to form an antenna for a first tag. Next, at least a communications enabled device is attached to the item so as to form an electrical coupling or connection between the communications enabled device and the at least one antenna.

Abstract: A security tag including a housing and a pin. The housing includes a pin shaft securement mechanism internal to the housing. The pin is aligned with the securement mechanism and includes a pin head and a pin shaft. The a pin shaft: extends from the pin head in a first direction, is coupled to the pin head in the first direction, is free to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the pin shaft with respect to the pin head, and is releasably securable at an end of the pin shaft distal to the pin head by the pin shaft securement mechanism. Transfer of pin head rotation to the pin shaft is prevented at least when the shaft is secured by the securement mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods for auto-configuring a region of interest (ROI) associated with a camera. In one implementation, a method comprises receiving image frames from a camera installed in the environment, wherein the ROI is located within the view of the image frames. The method includes tracking a plurality of persons in the image frames and determining a respective trajectory of movement for each person of the plurality of persons. The method further includes comparing each of the respective trajectories to one another and identifying, based on the comparing, a common trajectory shared by more than one person of the plurality of persons, wherein the common trajectory is not fully encompassed in the ROI. The method additionally includes updating the ROI to encompass the common trajectory, and includes configuring the updated ROI to be associated with new image frames from the camera.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for contactless checkout in a retail environment including a security pedestal located at an entrance or exit to a retail location. The system further includes a scanning device that is communicably coupled with the security pedestal. The self-checkout system and methods may also include a processing system that is configured to receive a list of items from the security pedestal and customer identification code from the scanning device. The system and method is configured to allow for a customer to scan his purchases at the security pedestal and pay for the purchases through the use of the customer identification code generated, preferably, using the customer's personal computing device.

Abstract: A method for operating a sensor includes receiving identification information from one or more electronic identification devices (EIDs) located in a vicinity of the sensor. A number of EIDs located in the vicinity of the sensor is determined based on the received identification information. A determination is made if the number of EIDs located in the vicinity of the sensor exceeds a first predefined threshold. Transmission power to the sensor is selectively adjusted based on the number of EIDs with respect to the first predefined threshold, in response to determining that the number of EIDs located in the vicinity of the sensor exceeds or is less than any number of predefined thresholds.

Abstract: A method for configuring a sensor tag may include providing a flexible substrate layer comprising a thin film of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU); depositing a sensor inlay on the flexible substrate layer; and applying a protective coating over the sensor inlay encapsulating the sensor inlay between the flexible substrate layer and the protective coating.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating a data mapping to be used in a subsequent inventorying process to locate objects within an area. The methods comprise: identifying, by a robot, at least one first marker disposed within the area which should be re-programed; autonomously transforming, by the robot, a first programmed state of the at least one first marker to a second programmed state; and autonomously creating, by the robot, the data mapping specifying a current physical location of the at least one first marker which was re-programed and current physical locations of second markers also disposed within the area.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a tag. The methods comprise: actuating a telescoping actuator of the tag to transition a pin from an unengaged position in which the pin is retracted into a first portion of the tag's housing to an engaged position in which the pin extends through an insert space and into a second portion of the tag's housing; and mechanically securing the pin in the engaged position using a securement mechanism disposed in the second portion of the tag's housing. The pin is securely coupled to a movable component of the telescoping actuator so as to be integrated into the tag's body, and the first and second portions of the tag's housing are coupled to each other so as to form a unitary piece.

Abstract: A system may be configured to reliably identify, track, and collect data on a person of interest. In some aspects, the system may detect a facial representation within an image, generate a bounding box corresponding to the facial representation, determine an enhanced facial representation based at least in part on the bounding box and an image enhancement pipeline, and extract a plurality of facial features from the enhanced facial representation. Further, the system may determine quality information based on the plurality of facial features, determine that the quality information is greater than a threshold, and store the plurality of facial features in a data structure. In some aspects, the facial features may be used to identify red shoppers and green shoppers in a controlled environment.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques to synchronize a wireless device and a server in an RFID inventory management system. The device may detect a one or more signals from an electronic product code (EPC) tag. The device may generate an EPC tag data set based on the one or more signals. The device may update a local tag state database based on the EPC tag data set. The device may determine, based on a configuration profile of a server, a subset of the tag data set for transmission to the server. The device may wirelessly transmit the subset of the tag data set. The server may update a master product state database based on the received subset of the tag data set. The server may determine an update for the second wireless device based on the master product state database and a configuration profile of the second device.