Electronic inventory label and security apparatus

Claim 2

A security and inventory control device comprising: a tag device; means for attaching said tag device to a piece of merchandise; identification means on said tag device for identifying the piece of merchandise; means, located on said tag device, for sounding an alarm if said tag device is removed from the piece of merchandise; means, located on said tag device, for receiving a sold signal, said sold signal being issued when said identification means has been read to purchase said piece of merchandise; means, in communication with said alarm sounding means and said receiving means, for disarming said alarm sounding means after the sold signal has been received; and means, coupled to said receiving means, for releasing said means for attaching after the sold signal has been received so that said tag device may be removed from said piece of merchandise.

Claim 3

The security and inventory control device of claim 1 wherein said identification means comprises a programmable display.

Claim 4

The security and inventory control device of claim 2 further comprising a manual control on said tag device which causes information displayed by said programmable display to change.

Claim 5

The security and inventory control device of claim 2 wherein said programmable display has sufficient resolution to display a machine-readable UPC bar code.

Claim 6

The security and inventory control device of claim 2 wherein said receiving means comprises a wireless RF receiver.

Claim 7

The security and inventory control device of claim 5 further comprising processor means connected to said receiver for controlling said programmable display in response to signals received by said receiver.

Claim 8

The security and inventory control device of claim 1 wherein said identification means comprises a bar code.

Claim 9

The security and inventory control device of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching comprises a conductive loop having two attachments to said tag device for attaching said tag device to said piece of merchandise and wherein said alarm sounding means is responsive to a break in a circuit formed by said loop.

Claim 10

A price tag security device comprising: a housing; a programmable display mounted on said housing; processor means coupled to said programmable display; means for attaching said housing to a piece of merchandise; means, coupled to said processor means, for detecting detachment of said housing from said piece of merchandise; communication means, coupled to said processor means, for receiving wireless communications; and means, coupled to said processor means, for releasing said attaching means in response to receipt of a signal indicating said piece of merchandise has been purchased and said programmable display has been scanned.

Claim 11

A price tag security device comprising: a housing; a programmable display mounted on said housing; processor means coupled to said programmable display; means for attaching said housing to a piece of merchandise; means, coupled to said processor means, for detecting detachment of said housing from said piece of merchandise; communication means, coupled to said processor means, for receiving wireless communications; and means, coupled to said processor means, for releasing said attaching means in response to receipt of a signal indicating said piece of merchandise has been purchased and said programmable display has been scanned.

Claim 12

The price tag security device of claim 9 wherein said attaching means comprises a conductive loop and wherein said detecting means comprises means for detecting an open circuit through said conductive loop.

Claim 13

The price tag security device of claim 9 wherein said programmable display has sufficient resolution to display a machine-readable UPC bar code.

Claim 14

The price tag security device of claim 9 wherein said communication means receives price information which said processor means causes to be displayed on said programmable display.

Claim 15

The price tag security device of claim 9 further comprising a button on said tag device for changing information displayed on said programmable display.

Claim 16

The price tag security device of claim 9 further comprising a light on said tag device and means for repeatedly flashing said light.

Claim 17

The price tag security device of claim 9 further comprising an alarm which sounds in response to detection of detachment by said detecting means.

Claim 18

The price tag security device of claim 15 wherein said alarm sounds when removed from a surveillance area.

Claim 19

The price tag security device of claim 15 further comprising means for deactivating said alarm after said programmable display has been scanned upon purchase of said piece of merchandise.

Claim 20

A security and tracking device comprising: a tag device; communication means on said tag device for transmitting and receiving wireless communications; processor means coupled to said communication means; means for attaching said tag device to a piece of merchandise; means, coupled to said processor means, for detecting detachment of said tag device from said piece of merchandise; and means, coupled to said processor means, for releasing said attaching means, wherein said processor means operates said releasing means in response to a signal received by said communication means, said signal indicating that said piece of merchandise has been purchased.

Claim 21

A security and tracking device comprising: a tag device; communication means on said tag device for transmitting and receiving wireless communications; processor means coupled to said communication means; means for attaching said tag device to a piece of merchandise; means, coupled to said processor means, for detecting detachment of said tag device from said piece of merchandise; and means, coupled to said processor means, for releasing said attaching means, wherein said processor means operates said releasing means in response to a signal received by said communication means, said signal indicating that said piece of merchandise has been purchased.

Claim 22

The security and tracking device of claim 18 wherein said attaching means comprises a conductive loop and wherein said detecting means comprises means for detecting an open circuit through said conductive loop.

Claim 23

The security and tracking device of claim 18 further comprising an alarm which sounds in response to detection of detachment by said detecting means.

Claim 24

The security and tracking device of claim 20 wherein said alarm sounds when removed from a surveillance area.

Claim 25

The security and tracking device of claim 18 further comprising a programmable display on said tag device in communication with said processor means.

Claim 26

The security and tracking device of claim 22 wherein said programmable display has sufficient resolution to display a machine-readable UPC bar code.

Claim 27

The security and tracking device of claim 22 wherein said communication means receives price information which said processor means causes to be displayed on said programmable display.

Claim 28

The security and tracking device of claim 22 further comprising a light on said tag device and means for repeatedly flashing said light.

Claim 29

The security and tracking device of claim 22 further comprising a manual control on said tag device which causes information displayed by said programmable display to change.

Claim 30

A reusable product label comprising: a programmable display mounted on a tag device; communication means, in said tag device, for receiving wireless communications; processor means coupled to said communication means; means for attaching said tag device to a product; said programmable display including means for displaying a machine-readable bar code corresponding to the product; and means, coupled to said processor means, for releasing said attaching means wherein said processor means operates said releasing means in response to a sold signal received by said communication means, said sold signal being indicative that the bar code on said programmable display has been read to purchase said product.

Claim 31

A reusable product label comprising: a programmable display mounted on a tag device; communication means, in said tag device, for receiving wireless communications; processor means coupled to said communication means; means for attaching said tag device to a product; said programmable display including means for displaying a machine-readable bar code corresponding to the product; and means, coupled to said processor means, for releasing said attaching means wherein said processor means operates said releasing means in response to a sold signal received by said communication means, said sold signal being indicative that the bar code on said programmable display has been read to purchase said product.

Claim 32

The reusable product label of claim 27 wherein said programmable display has sufficient resolution to display a machine-readable UPC bar code.

Claim 33

The reusable product label of claim 27 further comprising a manual control for changing the image on the display.

Claim 34

The reusable product label of claim 27 further comprising an alarm responsive to an electronic circuit formed by said attaching means so that said alarm is activated when said circuit is broken.

Claim 35

The reusable product label of claim 30 wherein said alarm is deactivated when said sold signal is received by said communication means.

Claim 36

The reusable product label of claim 27 further including a light source on said tag device and means for flashing said light source.

Claim 37

A protection method for securely handling merchandise comprising the steps of: attaching an electronic label to a piece of merchandise; programming a unique identification code for said piece of merchandise into said electronic label; addressing said electronic label with an employee identification code for an employee receiving said merchandise; communicating with said label to give said label a price to display for said piece of merchandise if said employee identification code has authority to do so; setting off an alarm on said label if said label is detached from said piece of merchandise before purchase; reading said electronic label to register a purchase of said piece of merchandise; issuing a sold signal to said electronic label upon said reading of said electronic label; receiving said sold signal in said electronic label; disarming said alarm after receiving said sold signal; and said electronic label automatically releasing its attachment to said piece of merchandise after receiving said sold signal.

Claim 38

A protection method for securely handling merchandise comprising the steps of: attaching an electronic label to a piece of merchandise; programming a unique identification code for said piece of merchandise into said electronic label; addressing said electronic label with an employee identification code for an employee receiving said merchandise; communicating with said label to give said label a price to display for said piece of merchandise if said employee identification code has authority to do so; setting off an alarm on said label if said label is detached from said piece of merchandise before purchase; reading said electronic label to register a purchase of said piece of merchandise; issuing a sold signal to said electronic label upon said reading of said electronic label; receiving said sold signal in said electronic label; disarming said alarm after receiving said sold signal; and said electronic label automatically releasing its attachment to said piece of merchandise after receiving said sold signal.

Claim 41

A security method for handling merchandise purchases comprising the steps of: attaching a programmable, processor-controlled tag device to a piece of merchandise; programming a unique identification code for said piece of merchandise into said tag device; setting off an alarm on said tag device if said tag device is removed from said piece of merchandise before purchase; reading the identification code off said tag device to register a purchase of said piece of merchandise; transmitting a sold signal upon said reading of said tag device; receiving the sold signal in said tag device; disarming said alarm after receiving the sold signal; and said tag device automatically releasing its attachment to said piece of merchandise in response to receiving the sold signal.

Claim 42

A security method for handling merchandise purchases comprising the steps of: attaching a programmable, processor-controlled tag device to a piece of merchandise; programming a unique identification code for said piece of merchandise into said tag device; setting off an alarm on said tag device if said tag device is removed from said piece of merchandise before purchase; reading the identification code off said tag device to register a purchase of said piece of merchandise; transmitting a sold signal upon said reading of said tag device; receiving the sold signal in said tag device; disarming said alarm after receiving the sold signal; and said tag device automatically releasing its attachment to said piece of merchandise in response to receiving the sold signal.