GB2377802A

GB2377802A - Security system for a supermarket trolley

Info

Publication number: GB2377802A
Application number: GB0117374A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard John Leeson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-07-17
Filing date: 2001-07-17
Publication date: 2003-01-22
Also published as: GB0117374D0

Abstract

A security system for use in a supermarket having at least one entrance and exit 13 consisting of an electronic tag located on a supermarket trolley. The tag is normally in one state and changes to a second state whilst travelling on path P1 when it passes through a checkout 16 and payment for the goods is confirmed. The trolley may then leave the supermarket. Alternatively if the trolley moves along a second path P2 and payment for the goods is not received the tag changes from state 1 to state 3 and an alarm is triggered upon passing through the exit. The system further comprises a control unit 20, a series of information readers L1-3 and alarm readers A1 and A2 positioned adjacent to the exit. When the trolley re-enters the supermarket the tag is returned to state 1.

Description

SECURITY SYSTEM This invention relates to a security system and is particularly concerned with the provision of a security system for use in shops in which customers collect goods from two or more locations and on completing their selection are subsequently required to move to a checkout point where the total amount due for the goods is calculated and payment made. Typical of such shops are supermarkets and large scale retail outlets and warehouses.

Supermarket chains are subject to substantial financial loss by theft occurring in what are known as trolley'push outs'. Dishonest shoppers having filled a store trolley with goods leave the store with out passing through a checkout and with no intention of paying for the goods.

A number of solution providers are attempting to address this problem but it has become apparent that a major problem is to decide on how elaborate a solution should be. It needs to be born in mind that any installed system must be reliable, capable of being used, and its results interpreted, by non-specialised staff. In addition the system is subject to use in relatively stressful conditions where a member of staff in the store involved is required to approach a person suspected of theft. Consequently it is most desirable that the results of the use of a system are clear and unambiguous.

According to the present invention there is provided a security system for use in connection with a working region having a boundary including at least one entrance into the working region and at least one exit from the working region; the or each exit being capable of being reached by a person in the environment following a first path or a second path to the exit; the working region further including a checkout site through which the first path, but not the second path, passes; the system comprising: a mobile unit which can be moved into and out of the working region to provide for the collection of goods within the working region and their subsequent

transportation whether along the first or second path to the or an exit; the mobile unit including an identification tag bearing information which can be read remotely; an information handling network comprising: a series of information readers at the or each exit, within the working region and adjacent the checkout site; and a control box; the information handling network being adapted to provide for the reading of the identification tag of a mobile unit: on entering the working region with subsequent storage of the identification in a first category; on entering the checkout with the transfer of the identification from the first to a second category; and on approaching an exit by way of a second path causes the transfer of the identification from the first to a third category.

According to a first preferred version of the present invention the information handling network provides that in the event of the transfer of the identification from the first to the second category the identification provides for the mobile unit to pass out of an exit by way of the, or a, first path enable the mobile unit to re-enter the working region with subsequent storage of the identification in the first category.

According to a second preferred version of the present invention or of the first preferred version thereof automatically provides that in the event of the transfer of identification from the first to the third category an alarm signal is activated. Typically the information handling network provides for the over-riding of an activated alarm signal on the entry into the system of a predetermined instruction.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing of which the sole figure is a diagrammatic plan view of a supermarket.

The drawing shows a supermarket building 11 containing conventional shelf units 12A-J stocked with goods for purchase.

The building 11 is equipped with a combined entrance and exit 13 incorporating a pair of rotating doors 14,15 by means of which a customer can enter and leave bringing with them a trolley normally stored outside the building 11.

A plurality 16 of checkouts are provided whereby each customer with trolley containing goods they have collected from shelves 12A-J can have their purchases totalled and paid for. They then pass from the checkout onto first path PI and so out of the building by way of exit 13.

The problem arising from trolley push-outs referred to earlier arises in this case when a customer with a trolley containing goods passes to the exit 13, whether deliberately or inadvertently by way of second path P2. That is to say on a path not including passage through one of the checkouts in the plurality 16.

To resist this unauthorised removal of goods the store is equipped with an information handling network comprising linked items: information readers made up of- locking readers LI-L3 in the vicinity of the shelves 12A-J, unlocking reader U1 at exit from the plurality 16 of checkouts; and alarm readers Al, 2 in the combined entrance and exit 13; and programmable control unit 20 running appropriate software, such as'TagIT (RTM) Communications'.

Each trolley used within the store carries a readable information tag which serves to uniquely identify the trolley by a reader device.

To undertake shopping a customer with a store trolley enters the building 11 through combined entrance and exit 13. They pass into the general area of the shelves 12A-J within range of one or more of the locking readers LI-L3 which read the trolley tag

and, by means of the network, the control unit 20 operates to record the trolley as being in a first, locked state, category.

In most cases the customer having selected the items they require will proceed to one of the checkout in the plurality 16 to pay for the selected items carried in their trolley.

Having completed the purchase transaction the customer passes along path P1 through the region of the reader U1 which reads the information tag on the trolley and passes it by way of the network the control unit 20 operates to record the trolley as now being in a second, unlocked state, category. Hereafter the customer with their trolley can now pass out of the building by way of the combined entrance and exit 13.

In the case of an'unlocked'trolley the alarm readers Al, A2 will not sense a trolley being used for an illicit purpose.

However cases will arise where a customer having selected items they require from shelves 12A-J do not proceed to the plurality 16 of checkouts so as to follow path P1 to proceed out of the store but choose for some reason to proceed along path P2 leading to the combined entrance and exit 13. The alarm readers will detect the presence of the information tag on the trolley and from the information stored in the network on control unit 20 that the trolley is in its first, locked state, category. The control unit 20 will initiate an alarm such as a light or sound signal and cause a security panel to display a suitable message to enable staff to approach the entrance and exit 13, identify the trolley and establish the reason for an attempt being made to remove from the store a trolley in a locked state. This action can result in a number resolutions.

Typically it can be a mistake in which case the customer can be given the opportunity to proceed to and through a checkout paying for the selected items and thereafter passing along the PI path so that the reader U1 reads into the information system that the trolley has been unlocked and so can proceed out of the building in a normal fashion.

Again the alarm may have been triggered by an attempt by the customer to steal the goods contained in the trolley. In such a case it may well be that the customer will be conscious that their attempt has failed and they will abandon the trolley and leave the building. In that case the security staff can readily identify the trolley generating the alarm and recover it and the goods. In those cases where a thief is caught with their trolley then appropriate action can be taken, typically to prosecute the offender.

It will be apparent that the network can be readily integrated with other security resources such as a closed circuit television system so that in the event of the alarm readers Al, A2 detecting a locked trolley in the vicinity of the exit a picture of the exit will be recorded or tagged at the same time to provide for subsequent confirmation and identity.

The present invention provides for an effective surveillance system to be readily installed in a shopping area using existing units and software which will not require extensive modification. The invention is concerned with identifying the status of the equipment which is most likely to be used in the theft of sizeable amounts of goods taken from positions in the store.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 A security system for use in connection with a working region having a boundary including at least one entrance into the working region and at least one exit from the working region; the or each exit being capable of being reached by a person in the environment following a first path or a second path to the exit; the working region further including a checkout site through which the first path, but not the second path, passes; the system comprising: a mobile unit which can be moved into and out of the working region to provide for the collection of goods within the working region and their subsequent transportation whether along the first or second path to the or an exit; the mobile unit including an identification tag bearing information which can be read remotely; an information handling network comprising: a series of information readers at the or each exit, within the working region and adjacent the checkout site ; and a control box; the information handling network being adapted to provide for the reading of the identification tag of a mobile unit: on entering the working region with subsequent storage of the identification in a first category; on entering the checkout with the transfer of the identification from the first to a second category; and on approaching an exit by way of a second path causes the transfer of the identification from the first to a third category.
2 A security system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the information handling network provides that in the event of the transfer of the identification from the first to the second category the identification provides for the mobile unit to pass out of an exit by way of the, or a, first path enable the mobile unit to re- enter the working region with subsequent storage of the identification in the first category.

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3 A security system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the information handling network automatically provides that in the event of the transfer of identification from the first to the third category an alarm signal is activated.
4 A security systems as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the information handling network provides for the over-riding of an activated alarm signal on the entry into the system of a predetermined instruction.
5 A security system as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.