FR2727549A1 - Security system for surveillance of goods in warehouse, shop etc. - Google Patents

Abstract

Wares in a storage depot, supermarket or shop are protected by an array of tracking pseudo-satellites (10) suspended from the ceiling, and a network of acquisition and accounting units (12) located at points of display or storage.A pre-detection network (14) is situated close to the checkouts (18) and opt. a network of fraud detectors (16) beyond them. The entire system is interconnected to a central supervisory unit (22) and to a physical allocation unit (20). Information regarding characteristics of protected goods is received by mobile transponders fixed to or incorporated into the articles and is used to verify the location of the articles.

Description

 The present invention relates to devices and methods making it possible to simultaneously achieve global and unconditional security in the field of article surveillance (EAS), as well as their management in real time (this ter designating operations relating to pricing and stock rotations) within a predetermined area, which may be, although not exclusively, a store, supermarket or warehouse.

 Reports in the professional press relate to the existence of organized bands which manage to fraudulently defeat the traditional surveillance devices currently exist, based mainly on the use of identification labels either magnetic, or electromagnetic, or radio frequency, or the mixture both.

 Some manufacturers believed that they could find a solution by hiding labels or filaments in the articles themselves or their packaging, when these allow it, and by filing so-called 'source protection' patents.

 Other manufacturers with a view to protecting clothing items have filed patents relating to the destruction of the item itself, by an ink leak, possibly associated with remote signaling in the event of an attempted uprooting. There are not many business leaders willing to sacrifice expensive clothing for obvious reasons.

 In practice, the various environments have largely demonstrated that these are temporary palliatives, because the official frauds observed continue to be easily possible thanks to the inactivation or illegal inhibition of magnetic labels by ai antes or small shields, and radio frequency labels by very rudimentary shields (aluminum foil, sheet metal plates, coins) outside the packaging, and without any mechanical tampering on the items.

 In the current state of the art of EAS implementing the above-mentioned methods, there is no device capable of detecting these types of characteristic fraud, which are however the most frequent because the simplest to implement.

 The very principle of magnetic, or electromagnetic, or radio frequency, labels or the mixing of the two, is only operational when the following two conditions are met, namely positioning them on a plastic support, and the absence of any ferrous part or magnetic in their immediate proximity when passing through the gates of control.

 Many industrial managers using the current 'as systems are very reserved about the difficulty and the cost of deactivating the labels after payment, and confirm the need to find as soon as possible definitive procedures making the articles offered a truly inviolable. the sale, because the reported annual losses reach (by it in France) twenty five billion francs, including almost two billion relating to thefts of spirits, while (as an example) the markdown rate of records represents in some fifteen percent hypermarkets.

 Audits by specialized companies conclude that the losses are not due solely to customers (up to thirty X), and report that a very high rate (fifty X) of thefts is committed by employees, and that sometimes these Thefts result from forced or deliberate connivance between the agents in charge of the collection (or handling) of the articles, and certain customers.

In the context of trade, the management of articles in real t-ps for the follow-up of the rotation of stocks is already applied in nc * are under branches, however one can note that Migrated its current improvement, the performance of informative processing n is not sufficient on its own to achieve the best possible result, because ultimately there is not the same level of informative perfonance also in the monitoring of the physical route of the articles throughout the chain, ( which is claimed thanks to the innovations provided by the invention)
This reality is the key element which explains why the audits reporting 50% of thefts attributable to employees, and 20 X to "administrative" errors, are necessarily empirical and on the other hand reinforces the merits of the invention. which creates the real-time physical tracking link between theoretical stocks, actual stocks, and sales.

 Such figures also demonstrate (apart from a few exceptions), that failing to steal the articles by passing them through the customer exit gates (theoretically protected), these same articles take other exits, either from the point of sale, or from the places of stoclwe, or from the transit zones.

 Taking into account the various surrounding conditions revered above, we thus see the interest of a global security process, taking into account on the one hand the integrity of the logistic chain of exploitation, and on the other hand the imperatives characterizing each context, because it would be irrational to protect in the same way clothing items, or spirits, or discs, by setting identical their monitoring mode during storage, compared to their placing at the point of sale.

 For this purpose, the invention aims to provide on the one hand a set of coherent devices in response to each problematic level previously mentioned, and on the other hand an unconditional and global security method according to which, each element of the security chain is actively self-protected by taking cognizance of the context surrounding it, and informing by appropriate remote signaling of any attempt to violate the instructions relating to its physical position to a determined audience.

According to the methods below, the invention relates (without being interpreted as restrictive) to the installation and interconnection of advanced transponder devices of which it is possible to decline several non-lilitative variants in their implementation, described below (fig. 1)
- Chain of transponders (10) called pseudo satellites because installed.

preferably in height, in order to obtain on the one hand their best technical operating conditions, and on the other hand to place them outside the possibilities of physical aggression, namely at the ceiling of the building by possible suspension. These units are used mainly (but not restrictive)
-1 to control the physical positioning in the warehouse or iaguin, of the items to be monitored, when they leave the storage areas reserved for this purpose and leave certain unspecified areas planned or approach risk areas (exits unguarded), stay for an abnormally long time outside the storage areas.

 -2 to report to the central supervision unit (22) fraud attempts on the items being monitored or on the units involved, on their spectrum.

 - Chain of transponders (12) called acquisition, since ensuring the quantitative management of the articles (this main function not having a restrictive character), and installed in the places provided for the storage or the free sale of the articles to be monitored . Their design and integration respects the essential criteria allowing also to obtain immunity with regard to physical aggressions.

- Chain of transponders (14) called predetermination, because ensuring the function of systematic and unconditional control of items upon their arrival at the point of payment. Many non-restrictive variants can be retained among the functionalities entrusted to this chain, these variants reflecting the security strategy desired by the operator:
- These Christmas: the operator wants to limit the intrinsic detection to the only preventive and dissuasive function with regard to the customer, by the dissemination of an automatic message or the lighting of a light panel signaling the need to present all the cash items.

 - Case No2: the operator wants to reserve the intrinsic detection for the sole preventive and / or dissuasive function with regard to the staff responsible for collection which would risk colluding with the client.

 - Case No3: the operator wants to integrate the functionalities obtained in case No.1 and No.2. In this event, the presence of the chain of fraud detection units (16) located after the payment is optional according to the choices made by the betting operator the three combinations below.

In all cases of configuration selected, several interaction programs are possible with respect to the boxes (18)
- for automatic registration of signatures corresponding to
item / price codes
- for the "repentance" of the fraudulent customer (or in good faith)
- for blocking and unblocking the body as long as the article
is not actually paid.

The analysis of the relevant organizational structures would not add anything to the scope of the present invention, and is therefore not dealt with in detail.

 - Chain of transponders (16) called fraud detection, located after payment, because ensuring signaling in the event of an unexpected passage of a fraudulent horsetail customer if said passage is condemned during the absence of collection staff. As indicated above, their presence is preferential Mis optional. In the event of non-installation, the audible fraud alarm during the condemnation of the passage, must then be integrated into the predetection chain (14), the said alarm thus being dependent on 1 state of temporary inactivity of the cash register. that the operator pays an honest customer to sound the alarm inadvertently by getting too close to the pre-detection unit, temporarily transferring to the fraud detection unit during the closing of the cash register and the ban of the passage that follows.

 - A physical article allocation unit (20) allowing on the one hand to download the iaaruage / coding the so-called nubile transponders corrsspoe dants to the articles to be protected before their storage or placing at the point of sale, and others part of re-activating the transponders declared in non-priority surveillance (waiting state) after payment, from the collection points. This unit is placed under the responsibility of the warehouse manager and department heads who manage hierarchically the authorizations for the introduction, movement or exit of items between places of transit, storage and places of sale.

 - A central supervision unit (22) located in a secure location is connected to all of the information collecting and supplying networks. It is placed under the responsibility of the warehouse manager and the security service in order to manage the entire system in connection with the company's central computer (24) (mainframe).

 The central unit (22) manages the requests for physical allocation (security) coming from the unit (20), the authorizations for unlocking the cash points (18) during the pre-detection of the articles, the alaries coming from the various types attempts to defraud or sabotage, the individual allocation of spectra reserved for each zone surrounding the pseudo-satellites, which is explained in greater detail below.

The central unit also performs the appropriate computer treatments, which can be configured by interdependent set values with each other, and which includes, without limitation, the following variables:
1) iini / Mxi temple duration thresholds, hours, dates
2) authorizations for the articles to be stored
3) analysis of the physical movements of the items at the point of sale,
4) monitoring of minimum quantitative thresholds for stock rotation;
5) transmission of changes to serial codes to the articles themselves;
6) bidirectional file transfer with the central computer (24) ;;
7) statistics from physical or promotional flows
As regards computer programs their presentation is not developed, nevertheless within the framework of the present invention their direct functional necessity must be considered as forming part of a set of inseparable means and procedures with a view to obtaining the expected result as such, characterizing the inventive step.

 - A set of so-called mobile transponders (5) because they are fixed or integrated into the articles to be protected by mechanical methods that meet the specific conditions of use of each stage of the commercial chain.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:
Figure 1 is the general block diagram of the invention 1 according to a non-limiting variant in the installation method and internat nexion global security units inside the place of storage or sale of protected items.

 Figure 2 is a block diagram of the electronics included in devices called pseudo-satellites (10) (P.S).

 FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the electronics included in the devices called acquisition unit (12).

 FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the electronics included in the devices called predetection unit (14), this same block diagram also being able to refer to devices called fraud detection units (16).

 Figure 5 is a block diagram of the electronics included in devices called mobile transponders (T.M.).

 Certain elements constituting the various subsets are common, and for this reason they are designated by the same reference number in the various figures.

 FIG. 6 is a non-restrictive example of the spectral distributions concerned by the methods used. Only the use of the so-called infrasonic spectrum can be characterized with precision as to its extent. Indeed the allocation of such or such other portion of the VHF / UHF spectrum as well as the determination of the useful and residual radiated powers cannot be defined in a restrictive manner, being dependent on the governmental standards applicable on a case by case basis in the country concerned by the exploitation of the invention.

 With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the device according to the invention proposes the implementation of characteristic methods, which relate in particular to the real inviolability of so-called mobile transponders to attacks of a non-mechanical nature.

 The inviolability to attacks of a mechanical nature is outside the scope of the present invention, since implementing methods relating to the appropriate design and mechanical assembly, and consequently is not mentioned.

 Attacks on mobile transponders by attempted shielding or demagnetization do not give rise to remote signaling, however this can take place if the transponders are fitted with mechanical contacts in order to protect them against attacks of this nature.

The intrinsic security of mobile transponders is obtained by simultaneously satisfying the three imperatives defined below
-1) insensitivity to fraud attempts by violation methods using in particular magnetic fields or ferrous or non-ferrous shielding near the transponders.

 -2) effective range of several meters even when the transponders are fully shielded by ferrous material boxes, or surrounded by strong magnetic fields for their fraudulent inhibition.

 -3) insensitivity to attempts at fraud by methods of violation employing noted systems of electasetic jamming of the operating spectra of the transponders.

 According to a first alternative embodiment, with reference to FIGS. 2.5 and 6, the methods making it possible to meet the three above inviolability objectives respectively, are summarized by the concomitant use of a combination of spectra located respectively in the infrasonic band. for the reception of programming and interrogation orders, the use of the VHF or UHF spectrum concerning the retransmission to the fraud detection units and acquisition of article codes, as well as the use of controlled self-jamming methods called smoke screen (self jaiing).

These processes are detailed below in the same order:
-1) use of the spectrum located in the infrasonic band in order to transmit and receive bidirectionally the information. According to a first non-restrictive embodiment, this exploitation relates on the one hand to the coding of several fundamental frequencies in the said spectrum by their presence or consecutive absence in a given lape of teipe, and on the other hand by the simultaneous use of a modulation compatible with the widths of the channels allocated to the spectrum concerned by one or more complementary processes: phase, frequency, amplitude.

 According to a second embodiment, applicable to the discrimination of the operating contexts (hierarchy of the monitored areas), this spectrum can be partially occupied by modulation in pink noise, or overall by white noise.

 According to a third embodiment, the alternating occupation of the spectrum by modulation in white noise or modulated infrasonic carriers, can constitute an additional safety measure.

 -2) use of the spectrum preferentially but not restrictively located in the band greater than a few hundred MHz in order to obtain both sufficiently high overvoltage coefficients Q under low impedances, to delay the emission attenuation generated by close-up or enveloping metal objects (ferrous shielding or not).

 The methods 1 and 2 above thus place manual or semi-automatic labeling systems at the level of obsolescence, the boats said at the source, as well as the methods by transponders / labels of active or passive type either as devices BAS, either as a means of automatic entry of collection.

 -3) concomitant use of a spectral analysis in permanent scanning of possible EM jamming attempts in each of the zones allocated to units 10, 12, 14, 16, and masking by a smoke screen with variable geometry (jamming) to prevent attempts to detect the operating channels of the transponders. In addition to this set of methods is added the so-called fast or slow hopping method in mobile transponders.

 In response to the three imperatives mentioned above, the first is to be considered as falling within the innovative nature of the invention on an intrinsic basis. The method of immunity to spectral attacks is used in a complementary manner, being already known in the field of electronic countermeasures in radiocommunications.

 The concomitant use of the first and second processes in the specific field of E.A.S. must be considered as part of a set of inseparable means and procedures in order to obtain the expected result as such, characterizing the inventive activity restrictiveient in the context of the E.A.S.

 For the sake of clarity and maximum conciseness of the functional description, only the basic couple constituted by a pseudo-satellite PS (2) and a mobile transponder TM (5) is considered because their fundamental elements are found in a few variants also in the other sub -sets, and transposable by a person skilled in the art, with reference to the spectra symbolized in Figure (6).

It is acquired in the first instance that the random access memories 40 and 42 contained in the TM (5) have already received the initially indicated codifications thinkable for the surveillance of the article, by the allocator 20 according to the two functions below described
The memory 40 receives the codes of the various transmission channels of the nodule 44 as a function of the spectral positioning initially programmed by the allocator 20, as well as the transmission synchronization codes following reception of the interrogation requests.

 The memory 42 receives the codes of the zones affected by the physical positioning of the article (free movement and prohibition zones), as well as the article category codes and the serial number in the isie article category. This information has been authorized by the central unit (U.C.) 22 which "knows" the initial stock on delivery and the residual stock, through allocator 20.

 The tariff codes do not have to be known in the memory 42 being in principle automatically transcodable at the point of collection from the article code.

Prior to the analysis of a pseudo-satellite 2 PS2, it is essential to realize that the central unit (CPU) 22 develops without restriction
- the programming sent by infrasonic way to the TM5 in order to receive in return by the VHF UHF spectrum the expected information.

- 1 random algorithm of the smoke screens with variable geometry surrounding each element of the chain 10, 12, 14, 16 by a controlled spectral auto-jam 78 (chat)
the compatible distribution of the reception channels of each receiver element 58 with respect to the transmission channels allocated to the TN5s and to the geometries allocated to the jammers 78, so that there is no reciprocal interference due to overlap.

- analysis of the results provided by a possible incidental attack (local or broadcast jamming), with appropriate signaling of its origin;
- the countermeasure in response to this type of attack by fast or slow frequency agility technique (fast hopping) as required;
- overall monitoring of the physical integrity of the network;
- the location of alarms due to article fraud attempts;
- physical monitoring of articles (looping);
- miscellaneous statistics related to stock turnover.

 In order to limit the number of simultaneous transactions between the UC. 22 and the various devices constituting the installation, cache memories 68, 70, 76, receive interface, synchronous and asynchronous bursts.

UC 22 provides the various PS 2 with the timers described below:
-1) Two independent sequentials transmitted to the random access memory 70 by the link 88 intended for the infrasonic generator 72 which supplies the electromagnetic transducer 74, serving to address on the one hand the memory 40 and on the other hand the memory 42 of the TM 5 ( previously explained data).

 The relatively low bit rates that can be transmitted infrasonic demand the use of as short binary sots as possible.

 This coding takes the form of sending a series of three adjacent carriers, present (or absent) alternately, A, B and C in FIG. 6.

 These signals are received by the transducer 30 (T.n. 5) which can be of the magnetodynamic type, or with field effect, or piezoelectric, and having characteristics adapted to the infrasonic bands.

 The electrical signals thus converted pass through the three active band filters 32, 34, 36 with a steep slope whose central frequency corresponds to the emission channels produced by the infrasonic generator 72. According to two other variants not shown, the filling times can be improved by frequency conversion, and in addition white or pink noise can be exploited.

 The three signals are then sampled by a single digital analog converter 38 because of their particularly low frequency in relation to the conversion speed of 1 A / D 38.

 The output of the A / D 38 will then load the memories 40 and 42 which control the transmission synthesizer 44 radiating in turn through the loop 46 the carriers W and Y of FIG. 6.

 The addressing and the content of memories 40 and 42 is dependent on the absence or the consecutive presence in a given period of time, of emissions and of types of modulations in the infrasonic spectrum according to complementary processes: phase, frequency, amplitude .

 The predefined coding allows synchronization of bidirectional transfers to the "questionnaires" sent to the T.M. 5.

 Their energy supply can be obtained either by an appropriate battery (not shown for simplification) or by a high value and low leakage capacitor 50, possibly replaced by an accumulator recharged by an AC / DC energy converter 48 connected to the loop 52 .

 The transfer of energy can be carried out as an option by direct electrical contact of the converter in cases where the boxes serving to protect the articles can be integrated into the storage or sales furniture.

In many contrary cases, with reference to FIG. 3 purchasing the acquisition units (AU) 3, the electrical energy source 96 is connected to an AC / DC / AC converter which transforms the local sector into direct current to modulate a B.F./H.F energy. diffused by the inductive loop 100. The quantity of loops required per storage unit and their physical positioning is dependent on the distances, the conversion yields, the operating frequencies used, and the power levels required for the energy conversion. . These must be compatible with government standards.

 -2) The sequential allowing the rocket screen generator (jai-er) 78 to occupy the VHF UHF spectrum around P.S.2 with geometry variable dynamically according to frequency agilities. A non-restrictive static example is given according to the templates of FIG. 6, between point E and F, between G and H, and between L and n.

 The positioning coding is provided to the RAM 76 by the link 94 to the jammer 78 connected to the radiating antenna 80.

 -3) The sequential allowing the VHF UHF 60 receiver to tune on the channels corresponding to the transmission frequencies of the T.N. 5, left free by the jammers 78 in frequency agility synchronization.

 The broadband antenna 56 feeds the H.F. 58 stage of the receiver 60 which has the particularity of being a double receiver. With reference to fig. 6 reception is carried out simultaneously on the two channels, and in addition oscillates left and right of points W and Y according to a random algorithm (synchronous to jammers 78). The agility of the two receptors is not necessarily synchronous, but simply dependent on U.C. 22 via the link 86.

 Another peculiarity of the 58/60 dual receiver is that each rictor has a double chain F. 1. to obtain two levels of selectivity and dynamics for the working channel. Indeed each P.S. 2 must be able not only to receive the "normal" information concerning the positioning of the T.M. 5, Also put to carry out a field measurement in the event of an E.M. attack to report it to the UC. 22 by the link 84 in order to operate correlations between the various P.S. susceptible to undergo the same attack.

 This linear measurement is carried out over a dynamic range of 80 Db before compression with a bandwidth greater than a few tens of Khz than the bandwidth of "normal" signal receivers which, on the other hand, are provided with the C.A.G. 82, and characterized by a selectivity between 20 and 30 Kbz.

 The output of the receiver 60 drives an A / D converter 62, then a shift register 64 which controls a comparator 66 intended for the recognition of the item codes compared to those downloaded into the memory 68 by the U-C. 22 thanks to the connection 90. For simplification, the internal details are not shown allowing the incrementing of pointing speed by dichotomy.

The output of the comparator 66 indicates to the CPU 22 the articles present in the radius of reception of the PS 2 by the link 92, and in the event of an attack
EM undergone by the PS2 it confirms it simultaneously at the link 84 (indicating the rate of the HF level).

 As a non-restrictive example, the attack analysis is carried out by comparison between the "normal" signatures provided with a common base suffix, produced by the articles evolving in the controlled areas, and the erratic signatures generated after conversion. by A / D 62.

 If it is planned to remotely report mechanical attacks that may strike T.M. 5, this information also passes through 92.

 The invention is susceptible of other alternative embodiments and it should be understood that the scope of the present patent extends to such variants as well, more generally, than to any other variants remaining within the square of equivalences.

Claims (7)

 1. Global and unconditional security measures in the  real-time surveillance and management of items (EAS), (the term management designating operations relating to stock rotations) within a predetermined area, which may be (but not limited to) a store, supermarket or warehouse, and characterized according to FIG. 1, by a network of pseudo-satellites (10) suspended from the ceiling, of a network of acquisition and accounting units (12) located at the display points or warehousing, a pre-detection network (14) located near the watering points, an optional network of fraud detection units (16) located after the watering points, and a central processing unit supervision (22), connected to a physical allocation unit (20).  2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that one uses fixed transponders (10, 12, 14,16), one thus receives information on the characteristics of the articles protected by the mobile transponders (5) fixed or incorporated in the articles its which are located within the range of fixed transponders, their physical positioners are known by interrogating the mobile transponders (5) located inside a predetermined location, and this information is transmitted to a central unit (22) of autolatic capture and visualization of the types of articles monitored.  3. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that a physical allocation unit (20) is used which transfers inside the mobile transponders (5) fixed to the incorporated in the articles, the codes of the articles to be protected before their storage or their irises at the point of sale, pea we re-activate the transponders declared in non-priority surveillance (waiting state) after payment, from the collection points.  4. Method according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that a satellite transponder (2) can eiet and receives over distances of several meters information to destinations and from other mobile transponders (5) even if the latter are subjected to fraud attempts by being surrounded by ferrous or non-ferrous metallic shields or near magnetic fields, by the concomitant and non-restrictive use of a combination of spectra according to fig. 6 located respectively in the infrasonic band for the reception of programming and interrogation orders, and the use of the nIF or UHF spectrum allowing retransmission to the detection units, according to the coding of several fundamental frequencies or white noise in the said spectrum, and by their consecutive presence or absence in a determined period of time, and on the other hand by the simultaneous use of a modulation compatible with the widths of the channels allocated to the spectra concerned by one or more complementary processes: phase, frequency, amplitude.  5. Method according to claims 4, characterized in that a transponder poeudo-satellite (2) transmits and receives over distances of several meters information to destinations and from other mobile transponders (5) even if these two units are simultaneously subjected to electromagnetic attacks by interference from the operating spectra with reference to FIG. 6, because it performs a measurement of the parasitic signals to signal the alarm to the central unit (22), and adjusts the countermeasure according to a first non-restrictive embodiment relating both to the self-jamming controlled by smoke screen with variable geometry (self jamming) and frequency agility synchronized with auto jamming,  6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that unconditionally pre-detects by fixed transponders (14) the mobile trans-rs (5) fixed or incorporated into the articles upon arrival at point d collection (18), and in association with the central unit (22), an audible or light signal preventing fraud at the collection points is sent, the article code is automatically entered by its tariff transcoding, and the employees in charge of collection are forced to follow predefined security instructions for the payment of the article, prior to the inhibition of the mobile transponders (5).  7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that automatic interrogation sequences are implemented in the central unit (22) making it possible to establish the real-time inventory of the transponders associated with the articles, without human intervention, then the maximum periods of presence or absence of the articles are determined according to their type and the place of storage or sale, with a view to causing an alarm in the event of theft by the personnel of the company or the outside, and we detect any attempt to frid on the system way.