# US 2025/0095462 A1 · Merchandise display security systems and methods

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- Number: US 2025/0095462 A1
- Document ID: US20250095462A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/965,693
- Filed: 2024-12-02
- Published: 2025-03-20
- Earliest claimed: 2019-05-07
- Assignees: InVue Security Products Inc.
- Applicants: InVue Security Products Inc.
- Inventors: Kyle Baker; Gary A. Taylor; Steven R. Bohon; Jeffrey A. Grant; Christopher J. Fawcett; James Richard Terrell, II
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250095462A1

## CPC

- E05B 73/0082: {for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators}
- G08B 13/1427: {with transmitter-receiver for distance detection}
- A47F 7/02: for jewellery, dentures, watches, eye-glasses, lenses, or the like
- E05B 73/00: Devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal; Miscellaneous locking devices {(motorcycle helmets A42B3/0413; supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening helmets B62J11/24; gun racks A47B81/005; showcases with theft protection A47F3/002; anti-theft means for peg-boards, grids or rods for hanging merchandise A47F5/0861; show stands, hangers, shelves with provision against unauthorised removal A47F7/024; for self-service hand-carts A47F10/04; locking skis A63C11/004; locking bolts, nuts or pins F16B41/00)}
- E05B 73/0005: {using chains, cables or the like (chain- or cable-locks of the padlock type E05B67/003; lockable clothing hangers or hanger racks E05B69/006)}
- E05B 73/0017: {Anti-theft devices, e.g. tags or monitors, fixed to articles, e.g. clothes, and to be removed at the check-out of shops}
- G08B 13/1445: {with detection of interference with a cable tethering an article, e.g. alarm activated by detecting detachment of article, breaking or stretching of cable (furniture, e.g. shelves for displaying merchandise, incorporating tethers to prevent theft A47F7/024, A47F5/0861)}
- G08B 13/149: {with electric, magnetic, capacitive switch actuation}
- G08B 13/2428: {Tag details}
- G08B 13/2462: {Asset location systems combined with EAS (inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00)}
- G08B 21/0275: {Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID}
- G08B 25/008: {Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system}
- G08B 25/10: using wireless transmission systems {(G08B25/009 takes precedence)}
- E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS

## Abstract

Merchandise security systems and methods are provided. In one example, a merchandise security system includes a plurality of security devices arranged in a wireless network, wherein the plurality of security devices are arranged in a planogram and each configured to protect one or more items from theft, each of the plurality of security devices configured to wirelessly communicate data with a remote device. The system also includes a plurality of electronic keys arranged in the wireless network and configured to wirelessly communicate data with the plurality of security devices and/or the remote device. Each of the plurality of electronic keys is configured to operate the plurality of security devices. The system also includes a gateway configured to receive the data from the plurality of security devices and electronic keys via wireless communication, wherein the gateway is configured to communicate the data to the remote computing device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A security system comprising:
a plurality of security devices arranged in a wireless network within a retail store, the plurality of security devices arranged in a planogram and each configured to protect one or more items from theft, each of the plurality of security devices configured to wirelessly communicate data with a remote computing device;
a plurality of electronic keys arranged in the wireless network and configured to wirelessly communicate data with the plurality of security devices and the remote computing device, each of the plurality of electronic keys configured to operate the plurality of security devices; and
a hub configured to receive the data from the plurality of security devices and electronic keys via a first private, wireless communication protocol, wherein the hub is configured to communicate the data to the remote computing device via a second wireless communication protocol different than the first private, wireless communication protocol, wherein the first private, wireless communication protocol is separate from any other private or public network operated by the retail store and is for the exclusive use of the plurality of security devices deployed in the retail store.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The security system of claim 1, wherein the hub is configured to communicate with the remote computing device via a cloud network.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The security system of claim 1, wherein the data further comprises an identifier of the items.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The security system of claim 1, wherein the items are items of merchandise located in a retail store.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The security system of claim 1, wherein the data further comprises a system health of the items, the electronic keys, and/or the security devices.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The security system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of security devices are locks and/or alarming security displays.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The security system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of security devices comprise different types.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The security system of claim 1, wherein the data of each of the plurality of security devices is a serial number.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The security system of claim 1, wherein the hub is configured to communicate data to the remote computing device comprising a date and time of activation of each electronic key, a user of each electronic key, a serial number of each electronic key, a number of activations of each electronic key, and/or events resulting from activation of each electronic key.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The security system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of electronic keys is configured to be authorized for locking, unlocking, arming, and/or disarming one or more different security devices than at least one other electronic key.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The security system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electronic keys is configured to receive a command from the remote computing device for controlling the electronic key.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The security system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electronic keys comprises a serial number.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The security system of claim 12, wherein the hub is configured to communicate the serial numbers to the remote computing device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The security system of claim 12, wherein one of the plurality of electronic keys is configured to communicate with one of the plurality of security devices for locking, unlocking, arming, and/or disarming the security device based on the serial number.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The security system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of security devices is configured to receive a command from the remote computing device for controlling the security device.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The security system of claim 1, wherein the hub is configured to communicate the data automatically or in real time to the remote computing device.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The security system of claim 1, wherein the remote computing device is a tablet or a computer.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The security system of claim 1, further comprising at least one alarm node configured to wirelessly communicate with each of the plurality of security devices.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The security system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of security devices are configured to communicate with the alarm node using a third wireless communication protocol different than the first and second wireless communication protocols.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The security system of claim 19, wherein the third wireless communication protocol is a direct node-to-node communication scheme between the plurality of security devices and the alarm node that does not have to also communicate with the hub.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The security system of claim 19, wherein the at least one alarm node is configured to wirelessly communicate with the hub using the first, private wireless communication protocol.

### Claim 22 (depends on 18)

The security system of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of alarm nodes, one of the alarm nodes configured to be associated with the plurality of security devices such that the one alarm node is configured to alarm only when receiving a signal from any one of the plurality of security devices.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The security system of claim 1, wherein the first private, wireless communication protocol is a sub-Ghz wireless communication protocol, and wherein the second communication protocol is configured to occur over a cloud-based network.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The security system of claim 1, wherein the first private, wireless communication protocol is a LoRa communication protocol.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The security system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electronic keys is configured to communicate with each of the plurality of security devices using a third wireless communication protocol different than the first and second communication protocols to determine whether the electronic key is authorized to operate the security device.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The security system of claim 25, wherein the third wireless communication protocol is NFC.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The security system of claim 25, wherein the third wireless communication protocol is infrared wireless communication.

### Claim 28 (depends on 1)

The security system of claim 1, wherein the hub is a gateway.

### Claim 29

A method for protecting items from theft, the method comprising:
a plurality of security devices wirelessly communicating in a wireless network within a retail store, the plurality of security devices arranged in a planogram and each configured to protect one or more items from theft;
a plurality of electronic keys wirelessly communicating in the network;
each of the plurality of security devices and electronic keys wirelessly communicating data;
a hub wirelessly receiving the data via a first private, wireless communication protocol, the first private, wireless communication protocol being separate from any other private or public network operated by the retail store and for the exclusive use of the plurality of security devices deployed in the retail store; and
the hub wirelessly communicating the data to a remote computing device via a second wireless communication protocol different than the first private, wireless communication protocol.