US 11,869,323 B2
Anti-theft device having a wireless merchandise identification function
Christopher A. Kelsch, Palm Harbor, FL (US); Francesc Agustin, Clearwater, FL (US); Lee Eckert, Sarasota, FL (US); Wade Zhu, Tampa, FL (US); William Claude Chazotte, Indian Rocks Beach, FL (US); and Robert Ekle, Land O′ Lakes, FL (US)
Assigned to Vanguard Products Group, Inc., Oldsmar, FL (US)
Filed by Christopher A. Kelsch, Palm Harbor, FL (US); and Vanguard Products Group, Inc., Oldsmar, FL (US)
Filed on Apr. 19, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/303,398.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/332,510, filed on Apr. 19, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0334968 A1, Oct. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. G08B 13/24 (2006.01); H02J 50/10 (2016.01); G06K 19/077 (2006.01); G08B 5/38 (2006.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC G08B 13/2417 (2013.01) [G06K 19/07758 (2013.01); G08B 5/38 (2013.01); H02J 7/0047 (2013.01); H02J 50/10 (2016.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of securing an article of electronic merchandise against theft, the method comprising:
providing a wireless charging platform having a first wireless connection device disposed therein, wherein the wireless charging platform is configured to wirelessly supply electrical power to the article of electronic merchandise and is configured to wirelessly obtain data therefrom;
provisioning a pre-programmed identification data string into a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the pre-programmed identification data string is associated with the article of electronic merchandise being secured;
responsive to the article of electronic merchandise being removed from the wireless charging platform, arming an alarm device;
responsive to the article of electronic merchandise being replaced onto the wireless charging platform, establishing a wireless connection between the first wireless connection device and the article of electronic merchandise;
obtaining by the first wireless connection device, via the wireless connection, an identification data string from the article of electronic merchandise;
verifying whether the identification data string wirelessly obtained from the article of electronic merchandise corresponds to the pre-programmed identification data string provisioned into the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and
responsive to successfully verifying that the identification data string wirelessly obtained from the article of electronic merchandise corresponds to the pre-programmed identification data string, disarming the alarm device.