Aspects of the present disclosure include methods, systems, and non-transitory computer readable media for receiving a confirmation signal to unlock the security tag from being locked to a merchandise, transmitting a RFID signal to the RFID device associated with the security tag to enable a controller to receive a release signal used to unlock the security tag from the merchandise, and transmitting the release signal to the controller to unlock the security tag from the merchandise.

In an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS), a radio frequency identification (RFID) subsystem of an EAS system, can detect a presence of an RFID tag in an RFID interrogation zone associated with a boundary of a controlled area. The EAS system can first determine that the RFID tag is not authorized to leave the controlled area across the boundary. A radar subsystem of the EAS system can second determine, within a first window of time around the first detecting, whether an object in motion is associated with the boundary. The EAS system can alarm based upon both determining that the RFID tag is not authorized to leave the controlled area and determining that the object in motion is associated with the boundary.

Aspects of the present disclosure include methods, apparatus, and computer readable medium for managing a removal code of a tag includes providing information associating the tag with a merchandise item, wherein the information includes a removal code for removing the tag from the merchandise item, receiving, from a requesting device, a request for the removal code, authenticating the request, and transmitting, in response to successfully authenticating the request, the removal code to the requesting device, wherein the removal code is configured to be transmitted by the requesting device to the tag to remove the tag from the merchandise item.

An apparatus and method for unlocking a security tag that is connected to an article. The apparatus includes an unlocking device configured to provide an unlock signal or force to a security tag allowing for the security tag to be removed from the article. The apparatus further includes an unlocking surface disposed between the unlocking device and the security tag and an alignment feature configured to indicate a detachment zone that corresponds with a source of the unlock signal or force, wherein placing the tag in the detachment allows for the unlocking device to provide an unlock signal or force to the security device to allow the security tag to be removed from the article.

An RFID portal of an EAS system first interrogates a first zone extending into a controlled area beyond a threshold distance from an interrogating antenna of the portal. The portal defines an exit from the controlled area, the threshold distance being less than a width of the exit. The portal first detects, in response to the first interrogating, a first response of a particular RFID tag. The portal second interrogate, subsequent to the first detecting, in a second zone extending into the controlled area at least to the threshold distance. The portal second detects, in response to the second interrogating, at least one second response of the particular RFID tag indicating a received signal strength of the second interrogating at the particular RFID tag corresponding to a distance from an interrogating antenna of the portal less than the threshold distance. The EAS system alarms in response to the second detecting.

In an aspect, the present disclosure includes a method, apparatus, and system for operating a security tag, comprising activating a piezo-electric component of the security tag to generate an electrical charge in response to an applied mechanical force on the security tag; determining whether a verification signal has been received by the security tag upon activating the piezo-electric component; and disengaging a mechanical component of the security tag based on a determination that the verification signal has been received.

Systems and methods for responding to an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) alarm's issuance. The methods involve: receiving, by a mobile device, a short range communication signal from a fixed device located in proximity to EAS equipment issuing the EAS alarm; automatically transitioning an operational mode of the mobile device from a first operational mode in which alarm response functions are disabled to a second operational mode in which alarm response functions are enabled, in response to the short range communication signal's reception; receiving, by the mobile device, a user input for inputting a reason code specifying a reason for the EAS alarm's issuance; and communicating the reason code from the mobile device to an external device for causing a deactivation of the EAS alarm's issuance.

According to an embodiment, an information processing apparatus, comprises a database configured to store a first list of commodities determined as having been removed from a store display shelf and a second list of commodities registered by a customer in a sales transaction using a mobile terminal. A processor is configured to detect that a commodity has been removed from a store display shelf based on entry of the commodity on the first list, detect a registration of the commodity by the customer in the sales transaction based on entry of the commodity on the second list, and measure an elapsed time from the time of detecting that the commodity has been removed from the store display shelf. When the elapsed time exceeds a threshold value without the registration of the commodity being detected, the processor causes an output of warning notification information.

A system for providing and/or collecting information relating to at least one object is provided. The system comprises a radio-frequency identification, RFID, tag that is provided proximate to the at least one object, the RFID tag being configured to enable detection of a position and/or a movement of the at least one object; a server device configured to receive position and/or movement data about the at least one object; and a mobile device configured to: identify the at least one object; send a request to the server device for object information about the identified at least one object; wherein: the server device is further configured to, in response to the request, provide to the mobile device targeted object information about the identified at least one object, the targeted object information being at least partially based on the position and/or movement data; and the mobile device is further configured to display the targeted object information.

A detaching device for releasing a tack body from a tag housing is disclosed. the detaching device includes a housing, a handle pivotally mounted to the housing and configured to pivot about a handle axis. The device further includes a detacher translation mechanism configured to move a detacher portion from a first non-release position to a second release position, wherein the detacher translation mechanism converts rotational movement of the handle about the handle axis to rotational movement of the detacher portion about a first axis, wherein when the detacher portion moves to the second release position, the detacher portion is configured to be received by a receiving portion of the tag housing thus releasing the tack body from the tag housing.