Electronic surveillance article systems reducing the number and likelihood of false alarms are provided. Such systems include two read zones, with a second read zone having an associated RFID reader configured to detect an RFID device at a trigger threshold. The trigger threshold may be set or modified in view of a value of a sensor of an RFID device (sensing a capacitance or dielectric permittivity or temperature or degree of movement, for example), the number of times the RFID device is detected in the first read zone, or whether the RFID device is detected in the first read zone under predetermined conditions. Such systems may also or alternatively initiate a response (e.g., modifying the trigger threshold or the amount of power transmitted by an RFID reader) when an RFID guard device associated with a piece of infrastructure in the first read zone is detected in the second read zone.

Apparatuses, methods and systems for unlocking a tracking apparatus that is affixed to an asset are disclosed herein. In one example, a method of unlocking a tracking apparatus that is affixed to an asset is provided. The tracking apparatus may comprise an electronic tag electronically coupled to a securing component comprising an actuating element. The method may comprise: receiving asset information associated with the tracking apparatus; generating and storing a secure machine-readable code in conjunction with the asset information; in response to receiving a request to unlock the tracking apparatus, determining whether a received input corresponds with the stored secure machine-readable code; and providing an indication to cause an electronic reader in electronic communication with the tracking apparatus to trigger deactivating the actuating element.

A dual hard tag assembly comprises radio frequency identification and electronic article surveillance. The dual hard tag is provides a single component able to both track retail merchandise generally and prevent theft by triggering an alarm. The RFID and EAS systems are not coplanar. The dual hard tag system is small and light weight, and may be reprogrammed and reused for the tracking and anti-theft of multiple items.

Aspects of the present disclosure include methods, systems, and non-transitory computer readable media for receiving a confirmation signal to unlock the security tag being detachably locked to a merchandise, wherein the confirmation signal includes a RFID device identifier associated with a RFID device of the security tag, and the RFID device is associated with a wireless device of the security tag, identifying the wireless device associated with the RFID device based on the RFID device identifier, transmitting a wireless signal to the wireless device 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.

Systems and methods for operating an EAS detection system. The methods comprise: detecting an Active Security Tag (“AST”) in an EAS detection zone; determining whether AST is coupled to an object identified in a list; and performing operations when a determination is made that AST is coupled to a listed object. The operations involve: accessing sensor data generated by at least one sensor device disposed on/near display equipment associated with the listed object; processing the sensor data to determine whether a person was within a defined distance range of AST during a period of time immediately preceding the detecting; concluding that a false alarm scenario exists when the sensor data indicates that a person was not within the defined distance range of AST during the period of time; and suppressing alarm issuance by the EAS detection system in response to the false alarm scenario conclusion.

Storage units including platforms that are outfitted with RFID antennas and auxiliary sensors detect changes in loading on the platforms based on changes in loading determined by the auxiliary sensors or changes in signals received by the RFID antennas. The platforms include surfaces for receiving items tagged with RFID transmitters thereon, such as items of common types and variable weights. An interaction involving the placement of an item on the platform, or the removal of the item from the platform, is detected by the auxiliary sensors. The energization of an RFID field is triggered in response to the detected interaction, and an item is identified where an RFID signal transmitted by the item is present at one time and absent at another time.

Methods and devices for determining movement associated with an antenna of a receiver are disclosed herein. An example method includes generating a first acceleration signal associated with the antenna, wherein the first acceleration signal includes one or more substantially non-zero axial components. The method may further include establishing an acceleration signature corresponding to the antenna based on the first acceleration signal, and generating a second acceleration signal associated with the antenna, wherein the second acceleration signal includes one or more substantially non-zero axial components. The method may further include determining a signal difference between the acceleration signature and the second acceleration signal, wherein the signal difference is attributable to a movement of the antenna. The method may further include generating an alert signal indicating the movement.

A system and method for interaction monitoring in a retail environment that includes executing a first monitoring system and thereby generating a first evaluation of customer selection of items; executing a second monitoring system and thereby generating a second evaluation of customer selection of items; determining monitoring alignment between the first evaluation and the second evaluation of a first customer; and triggering an action in response to the monitoring alignment.

A system and method for interaction monitoring in a retail environment that includes executing a first monitoring system and thereby generating a first evaluation of customer selection of items; executing a second monitoring system and thereby generating a second evaluation of customer selection of items; determining monitoring alignment between the first evaluation and the second evaluation of a first customer; and triggering an action in response to the monitoring alignment.

A combined EAS and RFID circuit includes an HF coil antenna, a UHF tuning loop, and an RFID chip coupled to a strap that includes a first coupling area and a second coupling area. The coil ends of the HF coil antenna are configured to capacitively and/or conductively couple to one or both of the first coupling area or second coupling area of the strap. The HF coil antenna can include a gap between turns for non-interfering placement of the UHF tuning loop. The EAS circuit can be deactivating upon application of a field at the resonant frequency of sufficient intensity to cause the breakdown voltage to be exceeded between a coil end and coupling area. The threshold breakdown voltage between a coil end and a coupling area can be reduced by laser ablation treatment of a conductive surface of one or both of the coil end or coupling area.