Abstract: At least some embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of product scanning systems and arrangements used within a retail venue. In an embodiment, the present invention is a data capture system that includes a scanner pod housing a plurality of scanners, each configured to capture product data; a data capture module communicatively coupled to the scanner pod, the first data capture module configured to capture, via a mobile device associated with a customer, customer data; and a server communicatively coupled to at least one of the scanner pod and the first data capture module, the server being configured to, upon the first data capture module capturing the customer data associated with the customer, associate one of the plurality of scanners with at least one of the customer and the customer data associated with the customer, resulting in an associated data capture device.

Abstract: At least some embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of product scanning systems and arrangements used within a retail venue. In an embodiment, the present invention is a data capture system that includes a scanner pod housing a plurality of scanners, each configured to capture product data; a data capture module communicatively coupled to the scanner pod, the first data capture module configured to capture, via a mobile device associated with a customer, customer data; and a server communicatively coupled to at least one of the scanner pod and the first data capture module, the server being configured to, upon the first data capture module capturing the customer data associated with the customer, associate one of the plurality of scanners with at least one of the customer and the customer data associated with the customer, resulting in an associated data capture device.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention is a device locationing system operable to dynamically determine the presence of keep-out zones within a venue, and thereafter adjust positional data obtained through the device based on the presence of the previously detected keep-out zones.

Abstract: At least some embodiments described herein relate to the field of product scanning systems and arrangements used within a retail venue. In an embodiment, the present invention is a system including: a barcode reader repository having docking stations each with a power connector and a lock; barcode readers docked at and locked by the docking stations, each receiving an electrical charge from the respective power connector; a data acquisition assembly configured to capture and decode a symbol associated with an operator profile, and forward the decoded data for further processing; and a server configured to: receive the decoded data; responsively select one of the plurality of barcode readers resulting in a selected barcode reader; transmit, an unlock signal to the lock locking the selected barcode reader to enable removal; and transmit a beacon signal to activate a beacon that is indicative of a physical location of the selected barcode reader.

Abstract: Systems and methods for triggering object recognition and planogram generation via shelf sensors are disclosed herein. An example apparatus may comprise a shelf, at least one sensor affixed to the shelf, at least one camera affixed to the shelf, and at least one server communicatively coupled to the at least one camera and the at least one sensor. The apparatus may be configured such that the at least one sensor is configured to detect that at least one threshold has been met, and the at least one sensor is further configured to trigger an image to be taken by the least one camera; wherein the at least one camera is configured to capture at least one image based on the met threshold, and the at least one server is configured to identify at least one product identifier based on the at least one captured image.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention is a device locationing system operable to dynamically determine the presence of keep-out zones within a venue, and thereafter adjust positional data obtained through the device based on the presence of the previously detected keep-out zones.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating a moving target in a venue and for capturing a sequenced timeline of target directed images is described. Target sensing stations having a wide-angle video camera, such as a 180° video camera, are positioned within the venue. Each sensing station includes a sensing unit, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) transceiver unit, that determines a location and/or direction of travel of the target. The sensing station correlates the RFID transceiver information with the wide-angle video camera to specifically filter and process a video stream from the camera, producing target directed image snapshots from the stream that are assembled at a centralized controller into the sequenced timeline images that may be used in monitoring target movement and to establish location chain for prevention of unauthorized movement.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for detecting theft events based on a dynamically updating high-shrink electronic item library. In various aspects, a server is associated with an onsite venue containing several items. The server is in communication with an electronic item library, where the server dynamically updates the electronic item library based on theft events associated with items of the onsite venue. The server further associates one or more shrink categories of the electronic item library with the items, where one of the shrink categories may be a high-shrink category. Detector station(s), located within the onsite venue, are configured to track a high-shrink item within the onsite venue, where the high-shrink item belongs to a high-shrink category of the electronic item library.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for detecting theft events based on a dynamically updating high-shrink electronic item library. In various aspects, a server is associated with an onsite venue containing several items. The server is in communication with an electronic item library, where the server dynamically updates the electronic item library based on theft events associated with items of the onsite venue. The server further associates one or more shrink categories of the electronic item library with the items, where one of the shrink categories may be a high-shrink category. Detector station(s), located within the onsite venue, are configured to track a high-shrink item within the onsite venue, where the high-shrink item belongs to a high-shrink category of the electronic item library.

Abstract: Theft of an item from a department of a venue having a department-specific, point-of-sale (POS) station for completing a transaction of the item prior to authorized removal of the item from the department, is deterred by sensing and tracking movement of a target associated with the item from the department by deploying a plurality of sensing units overhead at the venue, and by generating an alert when the sensing units sense and track that the target associated with the item has bypassed the department-specific POS station without the transaction having been completed for the item at the department-specific POS station. Security personnel execute a theft-deterrent action in response to the alert.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention is a shrink event detection system for use within a venue. The system includes a server associated with a venue containing a plurality of items, the server including one or more processors, and a shrink event detection subsystem. The shrink event detection subsystem is operable to: detect a theft event of a stolen item; backtrack from the theft event of the stolen item to recognize at least one attribute related to the theft event; and record the at least one attribute in a tracking database, the tracking database being accessible by the server. The system is configured such that the server, via the one or more processors, generates a shrink event template based at least in part of the at least one attribute in the tracking database.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to the field of RFID readers and more specifically to the selective operation of those readers. In an embodiment, the present invention is a system that alternates the operation of an RFID reader between a continuous wave (CW) only state and a read state depending on an absence or a presence of an object of interest within a read-zone of the RFID reader.

Abstract: Ultrasonic transmitters periodically transmit ultrasonic ranging signals, and an ultrasonic receiver receives the ultrasonic ranging signals on a mobile device in order to locate the mobile device in a venue. A controller determines a noise level in the venue, and varies a sound level of the periodically ranging signals based on the determined noise level, thereby optimizing the position of the mobile device.

Abstract: At least some embodiments described herein relate to the field of product scanning systems and arrangements used within a retail venue. In an embodiment, the present invention is a system including: a barcode reader repository having docking stations each with a power connector and a lock; barcode readers docked at and locked by the docking stations, each receiving an electrical charge from the respective power connector; a data acquisition assembly configured to capture and decode a symbol associated with an operator profile, and forward the decoded data for further processing; and a server configured to: receive the decoded data; responsively select one of the plurality of barcode readers resulting in a selected barcode reader; transmit, an unlock signal to the lock locking the selected barcode reader to enable removal; and transmit a beacon signal to activate a beacon that is indicative of a physical location of the selected barcode reader.

Abstract: At least some embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of product scanning systems and arrangements used within a retail venue. In an embodiment, the present invention is a data capture system that includes a scanner pod housing a plurality of scanners, each configured to capture product data; a data capture module communicatively coupled to the scanner pod, the first data capture module configured to capture, via a mobile device associated with a customer, customer data; and a server communicatively coupled to at least one of the scanner pod and the first data capture module, the server being configured to, upon the first data capture module capturing the customer data associated with the customer, associate one of the plurality of scanners with at least one of the customer and the customer data associated with the customer, resulting in an associated data capture device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for product reader control are described. In various aspects, the product reader control is enhanced with image sensor(s) for steering product reader(s) to determine product attributes associated with scanned products. The product reader control system and methods may capture, with the image sensor(s), one or more images associated with a product. The product may have a product identifier and the product may be located within an onsite venue. Based on the detection of the product identifier in the image(s), a first product reader may be steered in a direction of the product, where the first product reader is located within the onsite venue with the product. The first product reader may scan the product such that the scanning determines at least one attribute associated with the product.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating a moving target in a venue and for capturing a sequenced timeline of target directed images is described. Target sensing stations having a wide-angle video camera, such as a 180° video camera, are positioned within the venue. Each sensing station includes a sensing unit, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) transceiver unit, that determines a location and/or direction of travel of the target. The sensing station correlates the RFID transceiver information with the wide-angle video camera to specifically filter and process a video stream from the camera, producing target directed image snapshots from the stream that are assembled at a centralized controller into the sequenced timeline images that may be used in monitoring target movement and to establish location chain for prevention of unauthorized movement.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention is a device locationing system operable to dynamically determine the presence of keep-out zones within a venue, and thereafter adjust positional data obtained through the device based on the presence of the previously detected keep-out zones.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying new radio frequency identification (RFID) tag events within a particular vicinity of an RFID reader are described. In various aspects, a processor causes image sensors to capture a first set and a second set of video images, where the first set depicts a first RFID tag environment and the second set depicts a second RFID tag environment. The first RFID tag environment is static without a person moving within the first RFID tag environment and the second RFID tag environment is active with at least one person moving within the second RFID tag environment. An environment database may be generated and updated with static analytic information and active analytic information based on the first set and second set of video images, respectively. The processor may determine a RFID tag event based upon the static analytic information and the active analytic information.