Wireless electronic article surveillance synchronization system and method with data transfer
AssigneeSensormatic Electronics Corporation
InventorJeffrey T. Oakes
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Abstract
A method and system are provided for synchronizing a plurality of electronic article surveillance (“EAS”) units and providing wireless data transfer by the EAS units. The invention generates a master synchronization signal, transmits the master synchronization signal to the plurality of EAS units and applies the master synchronization signal to trigger a synchronization packet reception period. A beginning of a wireless data transfer period is calculated and initiated based on the triggering of the synchronization packet reception period.
Claims20
A method of synchronizing a plurality of electronic article surveillance (“EAS”) units and providing wireless data transfer by the EAS units, the method comprising:
- generating a master synchronization signal;
- transmitting the master synchronization signal to the plurality of EAS units;
- applying the master synchronization signal to trigger a synchronization packet reception period;
- calculating a start of a wireless data transfer period based on the triggering of the synchronization packet reception period;
- and
- triggering the start of the wireless data transfer period.
A system for synchronizing the operation of a plurality of EAS units and providing wireless data transfer by the EAS units, the system comprising:
- a synchronization master, the synchronization master including:
- a master phase-locked loop generating a master synchronization signal;
- a master radio transmitter transmitting the master synchronization signal;
- and
- a master radio receiver receiving data originating from the EAS units.
An EAS system, comprising:
- a repeater receiving a synchronization signal and generating a pattern of receiving time periods and transmitting time periods based on the synchronization period;
- and
- an EAS unit in communication with the repeater, the EAS unit arranged to communicate during the receiving time periods and the transmitting time periods.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.