Security tag and method of using same to facilitate authorized removal of inventory items from controlled areas

A security tag for an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system, comprising:

• a security tag housing;
• a barcode visibly disposed on an exterior of the security tag housing and specifying security tag information;
• at least one EAS detection element disposed within the security tag housing and responsive to an EAS system interrogation signal for producing a detectable electromagnetic signature when the security tag is present within an EAS detection zone;
• a computer processing device disposed within the security tag housing;
• and
• a wireless communication receiver disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the computer processing device;
• wherein the computer processing device is responsive to a coded signal to perform at least one security tag action, the coded signal comprising (a) a code generated using at least a portion of the security tag information specified by the barcode and (b) wirelessly received by the security tag using the wireless communication receiver.

A security tag for an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system, comprising:

• a security tag housing;
• a barcode visibly disposed on exterior of the security tag housing specifying security tag information;
• at least one EAS detection element disposed within the security tag housing and responsive to an EAS system interrogation signal for producing a detectable electromagnetic signature when the security tag is present within an EAS detection zone;
• a computer processing device disposed within the security tag housing;
• and
• a wireless communication receiver disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the computer processing device;
• wherein the computer processing device is responsive to a coded signal determined in accordance with the security tag information and received using the wireless communication receiver to perform at least one security tag action;
• wherein the security tag further comprises a latch release mechanism responsive to the computer processing device, and wherein the at least one security tag action comprises transitioning the latch release mechanism to an unlatched state to facilitate release of the security tag from an article;
• and
• wherein the computer processing device is configured to cause the latch release mechanism to remain in the unlatched state for a predetermined period of time before automatically causing the latch release mechanism to revert to a latched state.

A security tag for an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system, comprising:

• a security tag housing;
• a barcode visibly disposed on exterior of the security tag housing specifying security tag information;
• at least one EAS detection element disposed within the security tag housing and responsive to an EAS system interrogation signal for producing a detectable electromagnetic signature when the security tag is present within an EAS detection zone;
• a computer processing device disposed within the security tag housing;
• and
• a wireless communication receiver disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the computer processing device;
• wherein the computer processing device is responsive to a coded signal determined in accordance with the security tag information and received using the wireless communication receiver to perform at least one security tag action;
• wherein the coded signal is encrypted using a public key specified by the security tag information.

A security tag for an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system, comprising:

• a security tag information dissemination device configured to facilitate short range wireless communication of security tag information to a portable mobile communication device;
• at least one EAS detection element responsive to an EAS system interrogation signal for producing a detectable electromagnetic signature when the security tag is present within an EAS detection zone;
• a computer processing device;
• a wireless communication receiver operatively coupled to the computer processing device;
• and
• a latch release mechanism;
• wherein the computer processing device is responsive to a coded signal to actuate the latch release mechanism, the coded signal comprising (a) a code generated using at least a portion of the security tag information and (b) wirelessly received from the portable mobile communication device using the wireless communication receiver.