# US 12,112,225 B2 · Tag tracking / detection system having a reflective surface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,112,225 B2 - Document ID: US12112225B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/868,508 - Filed: 2022-07-19 - Published: 2023-01-26 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2021-07-20 - Assignees: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation - Applicants: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC - Inventors: Michael C. Stewart - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12112225B2 ## CPC - G06K 7/10366: {the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications} - G06Q 10/0877: {by inventory control or reporting using inventory tracking or counting} - G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders - G08B 21/24: Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms - G06Q 10/08744: {by distributed inventory management} - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract Example aspects include methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable medium for receiving, by an antenna of a tag tracking/detection system, a tag signal of a tag in the tag tracking/detection system; determining, based on a strength or pattern of the tag signal, whether the tag signal comprises a reflected signal that is reflected by one or more reflective surfaces, wherein the one or more reflective surfaces are configured to focus tag signals of tags in a target location of the tag tracking/detection system toward the antenna of the tag tracking/detection system; and generating an output signal responsive to the tag signal comprising the reflected signal that is reflected by the one or more reflective surfaces, wherein the output signal is indicative of the tag being detected in the target location. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of tag tracking/detection, comprising: receiving, by an antenna of a tag tracking/detection system, a tag signal of a tag in the tag tracking/detection system; determining, based on a strength or pattern of the tag signal, whether the tag signal only comprises a direct signal that is directly received from the tag or whether the tag signal comprises the direct signal that is directly received from the tag as well as a reflected signal that is reflected by one or more reflective surfaces, wherein the one or more reflective surfaces are configured to focus tag signals of tags in a target location of the tag tracking/detection system toward the antenna of the tag tracking/detection system; determining, responsive to the tag signal only comprising the direct signal that is directly received from the tag, that the tag is detected outside the target location; and generating an output signal responsive to the tag signal comprising the direct signal that is directly received from the tag as well as the reflected signal that is reflected by the one or more reflective surfaces, wherein the output signal is indicative of the tag being detected in the target location. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the tag tracking/detection system comprises a radio-frequency identification (RFID) system, wherein the tag comprises an RFID tag. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the tag tracking/detection system comprises an acousto-magnetic (AM) system, wherein the tag comprises an AM tag. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more reflective surfaces comprise retro-reflective material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured in a pedestal at an entryway. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more reflective surfaces comprise at least one reflective surface configured on or within another pedestal opposing the pedestal at the entryway. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more reflective surfaces comprise at least one reflective surface configured on or within a ceiling or floor adjacent to the pedestal at the entryway. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more reflective surfaces comprise at least one reflective surface configured on or within a surface in front of or behind the pedestal at the entryway. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more reflective surfaces form a parabolic dish configured to focus the tag signals of the tags in the target location of the tag tracking/detection system toward the antenna of the tag tracking/detection system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the tag signal only comprises the direct signal or whether the tag signal comprises the direct signal as well as the reflected signal comprises determining by a machine learning classification model. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the tag signal only comprises the direct signal or whether the tag signal comprises the direct signal as well as the reflected signal comprises comparing the strength or pattern of the tag signal with an alarm threshold. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the tag tracking/detection system comprises an electronic article surveillance system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the output signal comprises a loss prevention alarm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the tag tracking/detection system comprises a supply-chain management system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the output signal indicates a physical movement of the tag between or within one or more distribution or storage centers in the supply-chain management system. ### Claim 16 A tag tracking/detection system, comprising: an antenna; and one or more reflective surfaces configured to focus tag signals of tags in a target location of the tag tracking/detection system toward the antenna of the tag tracking/detection system, wherein the tag tracking/detection system is configured to: receive, by the antenna, a tag signal of a tag in the tag tracking/detection system; determine, based on a strength or pattern of the tag signal, whether the tag signal only comprises a direct signal that is directly received from the tag or whether the tag signal comprises the direct signal that is directly received from the tag as well as a reflected signal that is reflected by the one or more reflective surfaces; determine, responsive to the tag signal only comprising the direct signal that is directly received from the tag, that the tag is detected outside the target location; and generate an output signal responsive to the tag signal comprising the direct signal that is directly received from the tag as well as the reflected signal that is reflected by the one or more reflective surfaces, wherein the output signal is indicative of the tag being detected in the target location. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The tag tracking/detection system of claim 16, wherein the tag tracking/detection system comprises an electronic article surveillance system, wherein the output signal comprises a loss prevention alarm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The tag tracking/detection system of claim 16, wherein the tag tracking/detection system comprises a supply-chain management system, wherein the output signal indicates a physical movement of the tag between or within one or more distribution or storage centers in the supply-chain management system. ### Claim 19 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: receive, by an antenna of a tag tracking/detection system, a tag signal of a tag in the tag tracking/detection system; determine, based on a strength or pattern of the tag signal, whether the tag signal only comprises a direct signal that is directly received from the tag or whether the tag signal comprises the direct signal that is directly received from the tag as well as a reflected signal that is reflected by one or more reflective surfaces, wherein the one or more reflective surfaces are configured to focus tag signals of tags in a target location of the tag tracking/detection system toward the antenna of the tag tracking/detection system; determine, responsive to the tag signal only comprising the direct signal that is directly received from the tag, that the tag is detected outside the target location; and generate an output signal responsive to the tag signal comprising the direct signal that is directly received from the tag as well as the reflected signal that is reflected by the one or more reflective surfaces, wherein the output signal is indicative of the tag being detected in the target location.