Abstract: The invention concerns a method for detecting the handling of products on a display stand by a person, the products being provided with electronic tags, each person being associated with a communicating object, the display stand comprising a near-field communication device and at least two receivers. The method comprises the repetition of: a product inventory step during which the display stand sends and receives messages communicated by near-field communication in order to identify and locate the products; a step of comparing inventories in order to determine, between two successive inventories, a product removed from or added to the display stand and the position thereof; a step of locating a person by triangulation using the radio-frequency receivers receiving a signal from the communicating object; an association step during which a person is associated with a product when they are close.

Abstract: The invention relates to a near-field communication surface intended to communicate with at least one electronic tag. The surface comprises a plurality of antennas, each antenna having a position along an axis, a circuit for reading electronic tags that is connected to said antennas in order to supply them with power and communicate with said electronic tag, and a processing unit controlling the antennas and the circuit for reading electronic tags. The processing unit is configured to activate just one antenna at a time and the reading circuit in order to communicate with said at least one electronic tag, and to locate a position of the electronic tag along the axis according to a number of responses or to a response time from the electronic tag. The invention also relates to the locating method.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for detecting the handling of products on a display stand by a person, the products being provided with electronic tags, each person being associated with a communicating object, the display stand comprising a near-field communication device and at least two receivers. The method comprises the repetition of: a product inventory step during which the display stand sends and receives messages communicated by near-field communication in order to identify and locate the products; a step of comparing inventories in order to determine, between two successive inventories, a product removed from or added to the display stand and the position thereof; a step of locating a person by triangulation using the radio-frequency receivers receiving a signal from the communicating object; an association step during which a person is associated with a product when they are close.

Abstract: The invention relates to a male device comprising an elongate portion and an antenna. The elongate portion extends in one direction between a first end and a second end, and is intended for receiving at least one female device by threading from the first end. The near-field communication antenna is placed inside the elongate portion and comprises at least one conductive turn comprising two connection terminals at the second end, the two connection terminals being intended for being connected to a reading circuit, the conductive turn being positioned so as to produce at least one magnetic field generating a flux passing through the elongate portion perpendicularly to the direction when the antenna is traversed by a current produced by the reading circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a near-field communication surface intended to communicate with at least one electronic tag. The surface comprises a plurality of antennas, each antenna having a position along an axis, a circuit for reading electronic tags that is connected to said antennas in order to supply them with power and communicate with said electronic tag, and a processing unit controlling the antennas and the circuit for reading electronic tags. The processing unit is configured to activate just one antenna at a time and the reading circuit in order to communicate with said at least one electronic tag, and to locate a position of the electronic tag along the axis according to a number of responses or to a response time from the electronic tag. The invention also relates to the locating method.

Abstract: A card reader receives an indication that a device has been plugged into a socket of the card reader. Power is provided to the socket in accordance with a first type of device. An attempt to communicate with the device is made in accordance with a first type of device protocol. If the communication attempt is not successful, power is provided to the socket in accordance with a second type of device, and communications commence with the device in accordance with a second type of device protocol.