Theft increases the average product cost to consumers. A mentoring system is presented that can help to reduce or prevent the inventory from lost or theft. Theft is a serious concern in the consumer market place. Industry loses billions per year on theft of merchandise. According to a Reuters report, last year, thefts by employees of U.S. retail merchandise accounted for $15.9 billion, or 44 percent of theft losses at stores, more than shoplifting and vendor fraud combined. Thus, the total thief by the customers and store employees during the year 2008 amounted to $36 billion. Several embodiments of ways to control or reduce the thefts in the market place are presented.

A theft deterring system includes a power tool with a motor connectable to a power source, a switch connected to the motor, a controller controlling to the switch for controlling an amount of power provided to the motor, and a state circuit having a memory for storing a state value. The controller activates the switch to provide power to the motor when the state value stored in the memory equals a desired value. The system may also include a tag programmer for changing the stored value.

In a general aspect, motion-sensing data are generated based on wireless signals transmitted between respective pairs of wireless communication devices in a wireless communication network. Spatial coordinates are generated for the respective wireless communication devices, and user input is received in response to a graphical representation of a spatial arrangement of the wireless communication devices. The user input indicates a selected group of the wireless communication devices that share a common characteristic. Motion zones in a motion detection system associated with the space are defined. Each of the motion zones represents a distinct region in the space, and the motion zones include a first motion zone representing a region that includes the selected group of the wireless communication devices.

In a general aspect, motion-sensing data are generated based on wireless signals transmitted between respective pairs of wireless communication devices in a wireless communication network. Spatial coordinates are generated for the respective wireless communication devices, and user input is received in response to a graphical representation of a spatial arrangement of the wireless communication devices. The user input indicates a selected group of the wireless communication devices that share a common characteristic. Motion zones in a motion detection system associated with the space are defined. Each of the motion zones represents a distinct region in the space, and the motion zones include a first motion zone representing a region that includes the selected group of the wireless communication devices.

Aspects of the present disclosure include methods, systems, and non-transitory computer readable media for receiving a magnetic signal from a magnetic signal transmitter, determining a strength of the magnetic signal at the security tag, receiving a radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogatory signal from a RFID scanner, and transmitting a RFID response signal, to the RFID scanner, indicating the strength of the magnetic signal.

A security device for an item of merchandise is provided. The security device includes a non-programmable locking mechanism comprising a mechanical lock and a programmable locking mechanism comprising a monitoring circuit operatively coupled to an alarm. The security device is configured to secure an item of merchandise from theft or removal when the mechanical lock is locked and to be separated from the item of merchandise when the mechanical lock is unlocked. The alarm is configured to provide an alarm signal if the security device is separated from the item of merchandise while the monitoring circuit is armed.

A transportable container is enabled with radio frequency identification (“RFID”) technologies to maintain automated inventory levels of those items that are inside the container. The inventory data is communicated via wireless methods, such as cellular or Wi-Fi, to a remote device such as enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system. The ERP system may use the inventory data received from the remote device to automatically update appropriately and generate appropriate records (e.g., container inventory, restocking, invoicing, etc.). In some embodiments, automated RFID scans are triggered when the container is opened and subsequently closed. The container may include RF containment/screening to prevent inadvertent scanning of RFID tags outside of the container. The container may also include a location device to allow the location of the container to be readily determined.

Systems and methods are provided for labeling a piece of merchandise with a wireless communication device. In addition to a wireless communication device, the merchandise tag includes an associated label made of a washable fabric material. The wireless communication device is incorporated into the label and includes an RFID chip and a slot-loop hybrid antenna, with the antenna including a conductor sheet that defines a slot. The label is secured to a piece of merchandise at a sew line, with the sew line dividing the label into an upper portion and a lower portion. The RFID chip and the slot of the antenna are positioned within the upper portion of the label, which may itself be positioned within a seam or neckline or waistband of the piece of merchandise.

Systems and methods are provided for labeling a piece of merchandise with a wireless communication device. In addition to a wireless communication device, the merchandise tag includes an associated label made of a washable fabric material. The wireless communication device is incorporated into the label and includes an RFID chip and a slot-loop hybrid antenna, with the antenna including a conductor sheet that defines a slot. The label is secured to a piece of merchandise at a sew line, with the sew line dividing the label into an upper portion and a lower portion. The RFID chip and the slot of the antenna are positioned within the upper portion of the label, which may itself be positioned within a seam or neckline or waistband of the piece of merchandise.

The present invention includes a self-sounding theft prevention tag that issues one of two different sounds, that is, a first alarm or a second alarm in the event of theft, so that an abnormal state where a theft has occurred is detected with sound in a remote location without being interrupted by electromagnetic noise.