WO2012168934A1

WO2012168934A1 - Security system for sale points

Info

Publication number: WO2012168934A1
Application number: PCT/IL2012/000219
Authority: WO
Inventors: Deborah REUVEN
Original assignee: Reuven Deborah
Priority date: 2011-06-06
Filing date: 2012-06-06
Publication date: 2012-12-13
Also published as: IL213394A0

Abstract

A security system for securing an exit pathway area in a shop that includes: electronically controlled barriers; a controller that controls the barriers; and a scale that communicates with the controller. The scale allows weighing one or more products or a container such as a shopping cart having products of a customer therein. The barriers and scale are arranged in the exit pathway area such that they define a security zone therebetween directing the respective customer therethrough while enabling to block the security zone. The controller controls the barriers according to security verification in which it verifies whether the products of the customer that were weighed are paid for prior to leaving the security zone, where the verification is based on comparing a weight of the products based on the measured weight with an estimation of the weight of products that were purchased and paid for by the customer

Description

SECURITY SYSTEM FOR SALE POINTS

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Israeli patent application No. 213394 filed on June 6, 201 1 , which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to security systems and methods and more particularly for security systems and methods for sale points in shopping places.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Shopping places such as supermarkets and shops recently use automatic point of sale systems also known as automatic cash register systems allowing the customers to scan selected products on their own for receiving information associated with the product such as its price, discount related information, product content related information such as what the product is made of and the like and also for paying for selected products. These systems require no human cashier or fewer cashiers per shopping place and therefor save the retailer staff expenses and may allow the retailer to lower down products prices due to the low cost maintenance of these automatic sale points. In some cases a bar code reader (optical scanner) is installed at each shopping cart allowing the customer to conveniently read the products prices and information while walking through the store's aisles. In other cases a cart lane having an automatic point of sale station allows the customers to scan their selected products through a designated scanning device where the scanned products can be paid for by requiring the customer to pass his/her credit card through a designated computerized system. These systems actually require the same technology available for regular stores, where the operation of the cashier is replaced by another human operator who is the customer himself.

[0004] The problem that arises when using these automatic sale point systems is how to prevent customers from accidently or deliberately exit the store while taking products they did not pay for. This may happen due to customers' fraud or due to human error but nevertheless may be a costly drawback. When the scanning and paying for the products is done by a cashier, the cashier is the one passing the products and making sure all the products that have passed through a conveyor of the cash register area were registered and thereby prevents fraud. In the case of a system requiring the customer to register his/her products no such supervision is done.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to some aspects of the present invention, there is provided a security system for securing an exit pathway area in a shop that comprises: at least one electronically controlled barrier; a controller that controls the barrier; at least one scale that communicates with the controller, wherein the scale measures weight and electronically transmits weight related data to the controller, where the scale allows weighing one or more products or a container of products of a customer. The one or more barriers and scale are arranged in the exit pathway area such that they define a security zone therebetween directing the respective customer therethrough while enabling to block the security zone. The controller controls the opening and closing of the barrier(s) according to security verification that the products of the customer are paid for prior to leaving the security zone, wherein the verification is based on the measured weight of the products.

[0006] Optionally, the verification is carried out by comparing measured weight of the products or of the container and products therein received from the scale with an estimated weight of the products or products and container by receiving data indicative of the identity of the products that were purchased by the customer and known weight thereof from at least one database of the security system, and wherein the barrier is opened only when the compared weights match, in which case the controller allows the customer to leave the security zone and therefore the shop.

[0007] According to some embodiments, the at least one barrier comprises a first barrier and a second barrier, the first barrier is adjacent to the scale and the second barrier is located at a distance from the first barrier such that the two define the security zone therebetween. The first barrier may be opened by the controller when a respective container and products of the customer are weighed by the scale, keeping the second barrier in a closed position while the controller is carrying out security checks, where the second barrier only opens when the compared weights match for allowing the respective customer to leave.

[0008] Additionally or alternatively, the security system further comprises a conveyor and a product identifying device, the conveyor allows moving products from the scale area and from a container they are placed in through the conveyor through the security zone of the security system and the product identifying device allows identifying each product that is placed over the conveyor. The product identification device may comprise, for instance: at least one optical code scanner; at least one camera set; at least one input device for allowing the customer to input products codes therethrough; an RF transceiver for identifying products having RFID tags attached thereto; and the like.

[0009] Optionally, the conveyer is transparent and the product identification system comprises multiple camera sets for enabling identification of products by conducting image analysis of photographs of the products passed through the transparent conveyor taken by the cameras of the camera sets.

[0010] The security system may enable also weighing the customer before and after the security check.

[0011] Optionally, the controller enables outputting alerts to remote terminals of staff members of the shop, for reporting mismatches of weight comparisons.

[0012] Additionally or alternatively, the security system further comprises a cash register device for allowing payment for the identified products at the security zone area before the barrier is opened by the controller thereby the security system area also serves as a cash register station. The cash register device may be embedded in the controller.

[0013] Additionally or alternatively, the controller is a computerized system that can receive, transmit, process and store data.

[0014] Optionally, each of the barriers comprises a support and an

electronically controlled lever member, wherein the barrier is opened and closed by respectively, lifting and lowering of the lever member in respect to the support.

[0015] According to some embodiments, the scale resends measured weight values to the controller wherein the controller verifies that the container left thereover is not refilled with products by rechecking its weight value over time.

[0016] The security system may optionally further comprise a counter device for counting the number of products for carrying out an additional security check.

[0017] According to other aspects of the present invention, there is provided a system for securing and supervising an exit pathway area in a shop that includes a multiplicity of security systems and a central supervision system for supervising the multiple security systems wherein each respective security system communicates with the central supervision system via at least one communication link. Each security system comprises: at least one electronically controlled barrier; a controller that controls the barrier; at least one scale that communicates with the controller, the scale measures weight and electronically transmits weight related data to the controller, the scale allows weighing one or more products or a container of products such as a shopping cart or a bag full of products therein of a customer. The one or more barriers and scale are arranged in the exit pathway area such that they define a security zone therebetween directing the respective customer therethrough, wherein the controller allows verifying whether the products that the customer has taken have been paid for prior to leaving the shop by comparing measured weight thereof received from the scale with an estimated weight of the products by receiving data indicative of the identity of the products that were purchased by the customer and known weight thereof from at least one database of the security system, and wherein the barrier is opened by the controller for allowing the customer to leave the shop, only when the compared weights substantially match.

[0018] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for securing an exit pathway area in a shop comprising:

measuring weight of products or a container having products therein of a customer using a scale of a security system; receiving the measured weight data, wherein a controller of the system receives the weight data from the scale; receiving identification information indicative the identity and the weight of each identified product; estimating a total weight of the identified products; comparing the measured weight with the estimated weight for determining a mismatch if the difference between the measured and estimated weights exceeds a predefined threshold; and opening a barrier for enabling the respective customer to exit the shop only when the difference does not exceed the predefined threshold.

[0019] The method may further comprise identifying each product by using at least one product identification device and optionally the step of paying for the identified products, wherein the customer pays for the products by using a cash register device of the security system. [0020] Optionally, the identification of products is carried out by at least one of: photographing, optical code scanning and/or RF signal identification of the products.

[0021] According to some embodiments, the method further comprises

measuring the customer's weight for enabling comparing the total weight of the customer, container and products with an estimated value thereof based on the separate measuring of the customer's weight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a security system for a point of sale, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0023] Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a security and supervision system including a multiplicity of security systems of a multiplicity of sale points all connected to a central supervision system, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0024] Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a security system for a point of sale, according to other embodiments of the present invention.

[0025] Fig. 4 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method for securing a sale point in a shop, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] In the following detailed description of various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part thereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0027] The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, provides methods and systems for securing an area in a shop such as a supermarket, a store, and the like that is located on the pathway to exit the shop. The system may also serve as a sale point in which customers can pay for goods they have selected serving a secured cash register system.

[0028] The main objective of the present invention, is to prevent customers from leaving the shop with goods they did not pay for by physically preventing their exiting the shop before an automated or semi-automated security check is performed, hopefully in the most convenient and inoffensive manner in terms of the customers' shopping experience.

[0029] The security system, according to some embodiments of the present invention, is arranged such that a customer is directed to pass a predefined lane in the check point for exiting the shop where the lane passage can be blocked by one or more electronically controlled barriers. Initially, the barriers are in a locked position blocking the passage through the lane. The weight of all the products in the customer's shopping container (e.g. shopping cart, bag, basket and the like) is measured by requiring the customer to place the container (e.g. shopping cart) containing the products or a pile thereof over a weighing platform at the entrance to the lane that includes a scale. Once the container/pile is weighed this weight "Wi" is fed to a processing control device for opening a first barrier to start the products identification for payment or for

confirmation of payment and optionally to allow the customer to reach a predefined security zone in the lane that allows him/her to place the identified products back into the empty container. The products can be identified by any method known in the art such as code scanning, code inputting, radio frequency (RF) ID tagging (RFID tagging), product photography based image analysis and the like.

[0030] According to some embodiments, the system includes one or more processing devices for receiving data including the weight of the container and products and for communicating with one or more databases for retrieving data indicative of the identified products, such as data including the weight of known packaged products to identify the weight of each product of the container/pile.

[0031] Products that are typically weighed at selling points inside the shop such as vegetables, fruit, fish, cheese, meat and the like, are often coded at the selling point and that code can be later translated at the sale/check point for identifying the weight and therefore the price of these particular products. Once all the products that were passed by the customer through the conveyor have been identified, the processing device calculates their total weight "W₂". In case the cashing (payment) is also carried out in the sale point, the customer is required to pay for the products before the next stage. Alternatively, another process of identification and payment is carried out before approaching the security lane. [0032] The calculated or estimated total weight of all the identified products or products and container W₂ is then compared to the measured weight Wj to see if there is a match between these weight values. In case the customers use a container such as a shopping cart, a bag or a basket for instance, the weight of the container Wo is known in the system and so the comparison calculation involves reduction of the container weight WO from the initially measured weight Wj: to see if WpWo is substantially equal to W₂ in order to verify no fraud has been carried out or any other mistake that could cause a difference between these values. Once the difference between these weights does not exceed what is set as Valid in the system, the second barrier can open allowing the customer to exit the shop along with the products he has purchased. If a mismatch is identified the system may register and report a "non-valid" event requiring further investigation by the retailer and/or his/her staff or first requiring the customer to repeat the process by placing the container/pile with products therein back over the weighing area to start the process again.

[0033] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the processing device controls the barriers for allowing closing and opening each one of them according to predefined security rules and conditions.

[0034] The security system includes the barriers, the processor (also referred to hereinafter as controller) and at least one scale and may optionally further include the identification system (e.g. code scanner), one or more output devices such as a screen, speaker and the like and the conveyor.

[0035] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a security system 100 for a point of sale of a shop having a predefined lane 55, which is passageway leading from inside the shop to an area from which the customer can exit the shop, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0036] As illustrated in Fig. 1, the security system 100 includes a scale 130 placed on the floor or a lowered designated surface ; a first barrier 110 proximal to the shopping area 91 of the shop ; a second barrier 110b distal to the shopping area 91 and closer to the exit area 92 of the shop; a conveyor 150; a product identification device 140 such as a sensor that can sense each product according to one or more sensing techniques such as RF or optical infrared scanners, cameras for allowing identification via image analysis and the like; a computerized controller 120 including a screen and at least one processor, where the controller 120 can receive input data from the scale 130. [0037] According to some embodiments, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the barriers 110a and 110b may be connected through a fencing member 115 for blocking the passageway between the barriers 110a and 110b. The fencing member 115 may include for example, a rope barrier as illustrated in Fig. 1 or any other fencing elements such as a wall and the like.

[0038] The first and second barrier 110a and 110b respectively are electronically controlled by the controller 120, where each includes a support 111a and 111b

respectively, pivotally connected to a lever member 112a and 112b respectively, that can lift to an open position and be lowered to a lock position in which the lane passageway is blocked thereby. The two barriers 110a and 110b define a security zone 55 within the lane. The customer is allowed to enter this zone 55 for placing his/her products 10 back into the container 50 and/or for enabling identification of the products 10 (e.g. by using an optical code scanner).

[0039] In this configuration, the security system 100 also serves as a cash register sale point, where the controller 120 also includes cash registering abilities and devices (e.g. including a cash register device enabling credit card, cash and/or cheques transactions and/or storage) such as a credit card terminal embedded therein for allowing the customers to pay for their products by credit and/or an input device such as a keyboard for allowing the customer to input his/her credit card number and/or ID number for verification of the credit card.

[0040] Optionally, the controller also includes a screen for displaying the customer with the product he has scanned through the product identification device 140 and information relating thereto such as the product's price, weight, content features and the like. The customer is required to pass the products 10 through the conveyor 150. To do so, the customer is required to open the first barrier 110a by pressing a designated press button (Not Shown) that may be located over the barrier 110a itself to allow him/her to enter the space between the first and second barrier 111a and 111b, respectively. At this stage, the second barrier 110b is closed and blocks the customer's exit towards the exit area 92.

[0041] Once the products 10 are all weighed along with the container 50 (e.g. shopping cart), passed through the conveyor 150 and identified by the controller 120 by using code scanning via the product identification device 140, the weighed products 10 await collection at an area of the conveyor 150 that is within the security zone 55 while the controller 120 verifies that the products 10 are all paid for before opening the second barrier 110b by comparing the initially measured weight Wi of the products and cart 50 with a calculation of the total weight of the products 10 that have been identified, which have been scanned by the product identification device 140.

[0042] For example, as mentioned above, a known weight of the cart Wo is subtracted from the initially measured weight W and the difference: W]-Wo=AW is then compared to the calculated weight of the identified products 10 W₂ if the difference between them: (W₂-AW) is higher than a predefined threshold (e.g. 0.2 Kg) then a mismatch event is determined and the controller 100 outputs one or more alerts to other devices of the shop's staff and/or requires the customer to repeat the process by shifting all the products 10 back to the scale 130 for rescanning and re-identifying thereof. If again a mismatch is identified, the controller 120b sends a second alert to the staff for investigating the issue e.g. by sending alert signals/messages to end devices such as mobile phones of the staff members. If the difference (W₂-AW) is below the predefined threshold the second barrier 110b is open allowing the customer to take the purchased products 10 and leave the shop.

[0043] Optionally a second scale (Not Shown) is placed externally to the security zone 55 to perform a second weighing of the container 50 and products 10.

Additionally or alternatively the scale 130 can also weigh the customer separately or along with the container 50 and products 10 to then compare the weighed components and/or the summation thereof with an estimation of that summation based on the calculation of the weight of the identified products, the known weight of the container 50 and the measured weight of the customer.

[0044] According to some embodiments of the present invention, other devices may be used to perform additional security checks such as, for example, a counter device 70 for counting the number of products passing through the conveyor 150, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The counted number of products is then compared to the number of identified products for carrying out additional security verification.

[0045] Reference is now made to Fig. 2 schematically illustrating a security and supervision system 200 including a multiplicity of security systems such as a first security system 100 and a second security system 100'of a multiplicity of sale points all connected to a central supervision system 300, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0046] The second security system 100' includes substantially the same

components as the first security system 100 as described above such as (i) the first and second barriers 110a' and 110b' each including a support 111a' and 111b' and an electronically controlled lever members 112a' and 112b'; (ii) a controller 120'; a conveyor 150'; (iii) a product identification device 140'; (iv) a fencing member 115'; (v) and a scale 130' all configured in a similar way to that described in regards to the first security system 100.

[0047] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the controllers 120 and 120' can communicate with the central supervision system 300, which is a computerized system (e.g. a computer server) that can receive data from all controllers in the shop such as controllers 120 and 120' and also optionally remotely control the security systems 100 and 100'. Authorized staff members of the shop may be required to man a station including the central supervision system 300 for being able to solve technical problems and address identified security problems associated with mismatch identification.

[0048] The controllers 120 and 120' may communicate with the central supervision system 300 via one or more communication means and links such as through wireless or wire-based communication links. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 2 the controllers 120 and 120' communicate with the central supervision system 300 vial wired communication links 99 (e.g. through internet links).

[0049] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the central supervision system 300 also includes one or more databases including lists of the products in the shop and information associated therewith, such as estimated weight, price, content details of each product, price per weight for products which are bought by weight and the like. In this way the controllers 120 and 120' serve as terminals that receive the input data for identifying the products 10 and 10' in the customers' containers 50 and 50', respectively , use the remote database(s) in the supervision system's 300 data storage for estimating the weight of the identified products and carry out the comparison and the verification. Once a mismatch is identified, the respective controller 120/120* sends an alert message/signal to the central supervision system 300, which in turn alerts the authorized staff member located nearby or sends the alert message to one or more staff members through other communication means and links. For example, the central supervision system 300, which is a PC computer, allows sending alert messages through cellular wireless communication link(s) to mobile devices such as mobile phones, beepers and the like of the authorized staff members through hardware and/or software tools and data protocols known in the art.

[0050] Reference is now made to Fig. 3, schematically illustrating a security system 500 for shop's sale point, according to other embodiments of the present invention. In this embodiment, most components of the system 500 are similar in functionality to those of the security system 100 described in respect to Figures 1-2. The security system 500 of Fig. 3 includes: (i) a scale 530; (ii) a first and second barriers 510a and 510b each including a support 511a and 511b and an electronically controlled lever members 512a and 512b; (iii) a fencing member 515; and (iv) a controller 520, all configured in a similar way to that described in regards to the first security system 100.

[0051] Additionally, according to these embodiments, the security system 500 includes a transparent conveyor 550 and a product identification device 540, which includes one or more cameras for allowing identifying the products 10 taken from the container 50 by the customer and placed over the conveyor 550 without requiring human hand for the actual scanning and identification of the product.

[0052] This product identification device 540 allows photographing the products that pass along the transparent conveyor 550 from various angles for either capturing the area of the product/package with the barcode or the entire product for allowing then using image analysis based programs for visual identification of the barcode and/or the products that pass through the conveyor 550.

[0053] For covering multiple photographing angles of the products passed through the conveyor 550, the product identification device 540 includes an upper camera set 540a and a lower camera set 540b, where the upper set 540a captures images of the products from above and the lower camera set 540b captures images of the products from below. The controller 520 then uses sophisticated image processing tools for identifying each passed product through one or more captured image of the product and/or part(s) thereof.

[0054] The transparent conveyor 550 allows optically covering multiple photography angles to require minimum human actions for identifying the products. The security system 500 configuration described may only require the customer to place the products 10 over the conveyor in a manner in which they are not stacked one over the other to enable photographing each product separately.

[0055] In other embodiments, the product identification device is not optical but an RF transceiver that can read RFID tag codes (signals) for product identification. In this case, each product in the shop is attached to an RFID tag such as a passive RFID tag that can be activated by and identified by an RF transceiver. This technique may be applied for shops that sell products the price of which is fixed such as clothing, shoes, appliances and the like (and not products that have to be weighed for determining their price such as vegetables, meat and the like).

[0056] Fig. 4 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method for securing a sale point in a shop, according to some embodiments of the present invention. The method generally includes: (i) measuring the weight of the products and container using a scale 31; (ii) receiving identification codes indicative of the identity of identified products in the container that have been purchased 32 these codes are received by using a product identification device of any kind available in the shop (e.g. optical code scanner, RF transceiver and the like), the identification of the products can be carried out at an exit check point including the at least one barrier or at another location of the shop; (iii) retrieving known weight of each identified product by using one or more databases that include lists of product codes and their associated known weight and optionally their prices and other related information 33; (iv) calculating a total weight of the identified products by summing all the known weight thereof 34; (v) estimating the total weight of the container and identified products using the calculated total weight and a known value of the container's weight (e.g. an average shopping cart weight) 35 (vi) comparing the estimated weight with the measured weight of the container and products 36; (vii) checking whether the two weight values (estimated and measured) match according to a predefined matching condition 37 (e.g. by calculating the absolute value of the difference between these values and checking whether the difference is smaller than a predefined threshold); and (viii) opening the exit barrier of the security system allowing the customer to take his purchased products and leave the shop if there is a match or (ix) reporting a mismatch 39 to the staff members of the shop via reporting means available by the security system . [0057] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the container, left before the first barrier and over the scale may be weighed again, where the scale continues sending measured weight values to the controller for continuous verification to the fact that the container was not refilled after it was already weighed and after the first barrier has been opened.

[0058] Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following invention and its various embodiments and/or by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations. A teaching that two elements are combined in a claimed combination is further to be understood as also allowing for a claimed combination in which the two elements are not combined with each other, but may be used alone or combined in other combinations. The excision of any disclosed element of the invention is explicitly contemplated as within the scope of the invention.

[0059] The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself.

[0060] The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub- combination.

[0061] Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.

[0062] The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the invention.

[0063] Although the invention has been described in detail, nevertheless changes and modifications, which do not depart from the teachings of the present invention, will be evident to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are deemed to come within the purview of the present invention and the appended claims.

Claims

is claimed is:

A security system for securing an exit pathway area in a shop, said system comprising:

a) at least one electronically controlled barrier;

b) a controller that controls said barrier;

c) at least one scale that communicates with said controller, said scale measures weight and electronically transmits weight related data to said controller, said scale allows weighing one or more products or a container having products therein of a customer,

wherein said barrier and scale are arranged in the exit pathway area such that they define a security zone therebetween directing the respective customer therethrough while enabling to block said security zone,

wherein said controller controls the opening and closing of said barrier according to security verification that the products of the customer are paid for prior to leaving the security zone, said verification is based on the measured weight of said products.

The security system according to claim 1, wherein said verification is carried out by comparing measured weight of the products received from said scale with an estimated weight of the products by receiving data indicative of the identity of the products that were purchased by the customer and known weight thereof from at least one database of the security system, and wherein said barrier is opened only when the compared weights match, in which case said controller allows the customer to leave the shop.

The security system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one barrier comprises a first barrier and a second barrier, said first barrier is adjacent to said scale and said second barrier is located at a distance from said first barrier such that the two define said security zone therebetween.

The security system according to claim 3, wherein said first barrier is opened by said controller when a respective said container and products of the customer are weighed by said scale, keeping said second barrier in a closed position while said controller is carrying out security checks, said second barrier only opens when the compared weights match for allowing the respective customer to leave.

5. The security system according to claim 1-4, further comprising a conveyor and a product identifying device, said conveyor allows moving products from the scale area and from a container they are placed in through said conveyor through the security zone of said security system and said product identifying device allows identifying each product that is placed over said conveyor.

6. The security system according to claim 4, wherein said product identification device comprises: at least one optical code scanner; at least one camera set; at least one input device for allowing the customer to input products codes therethrough; an RF transceiver for identifying products having RFID tags attached thereto.

7. The security system according to claim 5, wherein said conveyer is

transparent and said product identification system comprises multiple camera sets for enabling identification of products by conducting image analysis of photographs of the products passed through said transparent conveyor.

8. The security system according to claim 1, further enabling weighing the

customer before and after the security check.

9. The security system according to claim 1, wherein said controller enables outputting alerts to remote terminals of staff members of the shop, for reporting mismatches of weight comparisons.

10. The security system according to claim 1 and 5, further comprising a cash register device for allowing payment for the identified products at the security zone area before said barrier is opened by said controller.

11. The security system according to claim 9, wherein said cash register device is embedded in said controller.

12. The security system according to claim 1 -1 1, wherein said controller is a computerized system enabling to receive, transmit, process and store data.

13. The security system according to claims 1-12, wherein each said barrier

comprises a support and an electronically controlled lever member, wherein said barrier is opened and closed by respectively, lifting and lowering of said lever member in respect to said support.

14. The security system according to claim 1, wherein said scale re sends measured weight values to said controller and wherein said controller verifies that the container left thereover is not refilled with products by rechecking its weight value over time.

15. The security system according to claim 1 or 5 further comprising a counter device for counting the number of products for carrying out an additional security check.

A system for securing and supervising an exit pathway area in a shop, said system comprising:

a) a multiplicity of security systems; and

b) a central supervision system for supervising said multiple security systems wherein each respective security system communicates with said central supervision system via at least one communication link,

wherein each said security system comprises:

i) at least one electronically controlled barrier;

ϋ) a controller that controls said barrier; and

iii) at least one scale that communicates with said controller, said scale measures weight and electronically transmits weight related data to said controller, said scale allows weighing one or more products or a container having products therein of a customer,

wherein said barrier and scale are arranged in the exit pathway area such that they define a security zone therebetween directing the respective customer therethrough,

wherein said controller allows verifying whether the products that the customer has taken have been paid for prior to leaving the shop by comparing measured weight thereof received from said scale with an estimated weight of the products by receiving data indicative of the identity of the products that were purchased by the customer and known weight thereof from at least one database of the security system, and

wherein said barrier is opened by said controller for allowing the customer to leave the shop, only when the compared weights substantially match.

17. A method for securing an exit pathway area in a shop, said method comprising:

a) measuring weight of products or a container having products therein of a customer using a scale of a security system;

b) receiving the measured weight data, wherein a controller of the system receives said weight data from said scale;

c) receiving identification information indicative the identity and the weight of each identified product;

d) estimating a total weight of the identified products;

e) comparing the measured weight with the estimated weight for determining a mismatch if the difference between said measured and estimated weights exceeds a predefined threshold; and

f) opening a barrier for enabling the respective customer to exit the shop only when said difference does not exceed said predefined threshold. 18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising identifying each

product by using at least one product identification device.

19. The method according to claim 18 further comprising paying for the

identified products, wherein said customer pays for the products by using a cash register device of the security system.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein said identification of products is carried out by at least one of: photographing, optical code scanning and/or RF signal identification of the products.

21. The method according to claims 17 further comprising measuring the

customer's weight for enabling comparing the total weight of the customer, container and products with an estimated value thereof based on the separate measuring of the customer's weight.