The present disclosure provides details of a system and method for a communication device for guards in controlled environments. The communication device is established based on an indoor wireless infrastructure in the controlled environment, receiving wireless positioning signals to calculate and determine the real-time location of a user carrying the device. The indoor wireless positioning can be combined with other available positioning methods to provide highly accurate positioning information of the guard. The communication device detects, monitors, and records activities of the guard during a period of time, and is controlled by the control center. The control center and the communication device respond quickly to different abnormal situations. In addition, the communication device detects contraband electronic devices and monitor surroundings of the guard. Thus, the disclosed system and method for the communication device provides improved communication and monitoring for guards in a controlled environment.

The inventory control system process includes steps for printing a circuit to a sheet stock having at least one ID tag formed therewith such that the circuit is carried by the ID tag, assigning a unique identification code to the circuit associated with the ID tag, removing the ID tag carrying the circuit from the sheet stock, associating the removed ID tag with a product, and entering the product into an inventory control system secured in connection with a user account accessible only by an authorized user associated with the user account, for real-time location tracking of the product thereof by way of the circuit.

An apparatus, method and computer program, the apparatus comprising: processing circuitry; and memory circuitry including computer program code; the memory circuitry and the computer program code configured to, with the processing circuitry, cause the apparatus to, at least in part: obtain information relating to a position of an object relative to a user; determine a field of vision of the user; determine whether or not the object is in the field of vision of the user; and if it is determined that the object is not in the field of vision of the user enable an alert to be provided.

Personal portable items are subject to potential loss or misplacement by their owners or authorized users. A system and method is operative with personal portable items which are locally associated with a processor, memory, and sensors (either built-in or via attached sensing device). The memory stores environmental parameters which indicate a potential chance or possibility that an item may be lost, stolen, or misplaced in the near-term, proximate future. The stored parameters are customized to the historical or expected uses of the portable item by a particular user or owner in particular, user-specific contexts. The sensors sense the environment of the portable item in real-time. If the sensed environment or sensed item usage matches the environmental parameters which indicate risk of loss or misplacement, an alert element signals the portable item's user, enabling the user to take anticipatory action to prevent item loss. In an embodiment, at least one first portable item of two or more portable items which are both intended to be substantially on-person of an authorized user, is configured to monitor a status of a second other portable item with which it is paired. If the first portable item detects an anomalous status of the second portable item, the first portable item alerts the authorized user that the second item is at risk of being lost, misplaced, or stolen.

Augmented reality apparatus and methods of use are provided with persistent digital content linked to a location coordinates. More specifically, the present invention links a physical location with digital content to enable a user interface with augmented reality that combines aspects of the physical area with location specific digital content. According to the present invention, digital content remains persistent with a location even if visual aspects of the location change.

Medical procedure related objects (e.g., instruments, supplies) tagged with transponders (e.g., RFID transponders, dumb transponders) are accounted for in a medical or clinical environment via an accounting system using a number of antennas and interrogators/readers. A first set of antennas and RFID interrogator(s) interrogate portions of the environment for RFID tagged objects, for example proximate a start and an end of a procedure. Shielded packaging and/or shielded receptacles shield tagged objects, preventing interrogation except for those objects in unshielded portions of the environment. A shielded receptacle may include an antenna to interrogate the contents thereof in a relatively noise-free environment. A data store may maintain information including a current status or count of each instrument or supply, for instance as checked in or checked out. A handheld antenna and/or second set of antennas interrogates a body of a patient for retained instruments or supplies tagged with dumb transponders.

A portable item reporting device (PIRD) automatically learns a use of a portable item which is selected by an owner or authorized user of the portable item, where the PIRD is configured to be attached to and in substantial collocation with the selected portable item, or to be integrated into the portable item. The PIRD includes environmental monitors which monitor item location, item movement, and/or other environmental factors. The PIRD detects obtains and analyzes environmental data during usage of the portable item by the authorized user, or during user-designated storage of the portable item in a storage location. The PIRD further identifies and/or learns, based on the detected environmental data, one or more repeated patterns and/or context-determined patterns of usage or physical storage of the user's portable item. The PIRD then stores the past, learned pattern(s) of usage data as indicative of expected and/or normal, future use/storage by the authorized user of the portable item. In some embodiments, the PIRD includes linking elements to ensure that the PIRD remains attached to, and/or in substantial colocation with, a designated portable item of an owner or authorized user.

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.

The present disclosure provides details of a system and method for a communication device for guards in controlled environments. The communication device is established based on an indoor wireless infrastructure in the controlled environment, receiving wireless positioning signals to calculate and determine the real-time location of a user carrying the device. The indoor wireless positioning can be combined with other available positioning methods to provide highly accurate positioning information of the guard. The communication device detects, monitors, and records activities of the guard during a period of time, and is controlled by the control center. The control center and the communication device respond quickly to different abnormal situations. In addition, the communication device detects contraband electronic devices and monitor surroundings of the guard. Thus, the disclosed system and method for the communication device provides improved communication and monitoring for guards in a controlled environment.

Active radio-frequency identification, RFID, tag, and a product surveillance method using active RFID tags. The method includes: transmitting (202), by an active RFID tag, continuously a signal comprising an own identifier according to a predetermined schedule; receiving (204), by the active RFID tag, continuously a plurality of signals comprising a plurality of foreign identifiers transmitted by a plurality of other active RFID tags according to the predetermined schedule; measuring (206), by the active RFID tag, a received signal strength indication, RSSI, of each received signal; storing (208), by the active RFID tag, each foreign identifier of a signal whose RSSI exceeds a predetermined strength threshold; detecting (210), by the active RFID tag, that a signal with a stored foreign identifier is no more received according to the predetermined schedule and marking (212), by the active RFID tag, said stored foreign identifier.