Sensormatic - Experts & Thought Leaders

Genetec Inc., a pioneering technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, announced that the lawsuit filed by Sensormatic against Genetec had ended definitively in the company's favor with Genetec exonerated of any patent infringement and with the court awarding Genetec attorney fees. Sensormatic Electronics, LLC, a subsidiary of Tyco International, which is now merged with Johnson Controls, filed suit against Genetec in Delaware in June 2020, alleging infringement of two patents, U.S. Patent No. 7,307,652 entitled “Method and Apparatus for Object Tracking and Detection" ("the '652 patent"), and U.S. Patent No. 9,463,954 entitled “Access Control System for Override Elevator Control, and Method Therefor" ("the '954 patent"). Litigation between Sensormatic and Genetec On January 3, 2023, the Court invalidated the '652 patent following the Genetec motion for summary judgment. On February 15, 2023, Sensormatic unilaterally dismissed the remaining infringement claims regarding the '954 patent with prejudice, pioneering to the judge issuing a final judgment exculpating Genetec. The court found the case choice and found Genetec entitled to a substantial portion of its attorney fees Following the final judgment in its favor, Genetec moved to have its attorney fees awarded, which required the judge to find the case “exceptional” under US patent laws. On March 27, 2024, the Court found the case exceptional and found Genetec entitled to a substantial portion of its attorney fees. The Court also ordered that the parties meet to reach an agreement on the amount of attorney's fees to be awarded, following which Genetec and Sensormatic entered into an agreement regarding the amount to be paid to Genetec, ending the litigation and terminating appeals. This concludes all outstanding litigation between Sensormatic and Genetec. Nullification of invalid patents “We have stated in the past that Genetec considers this a simple case of friendly fire, and this remains true. That said, we take patent infringement accusations very seriously, even when they come from a subsidiary of a partner,” said Pierre Racz, President of Genetec Inc. “Genetec has a forward-facing approach to development. We do not copy our peers but look to the future to create technology that doesn’t exist yet. The successful conclusion of this litigation is a vindication of our innovative approach to product development.” Genetec announced the favorable conclusion of a lawsuit brought by a non-practicing entity Genetec has always taken a firm stand against unjustified patent lawsuits and seeks the nullification of invalid patents and restitutions in unfounded patent infringement claims. In 2020, Genetec announced the favorable conclusion of a lawsuit brought by a non-practicing entity (NPE) which ended with the NPE paying Genetec in a settlement. Accusations of infringement “Lawsuits like these can be seen as an accusation of plagiarism so it is important that we set the record straight. Genetec has a policy of vigorously defending itself against any patent case we consider unjustified and to seek attorney fees awards in all such cases. This outcome demonstrates to potential patent aggressors how seriously we take these accusations of infringement,” said Jean-Yves Pikulik, Director of Intellectual Property at Genetec Inc. Genetec was represented by Fish & Richardson P.C. in this matter. Sensormatic was represented by Foley & Lardner LLP.

Intellicene, the pioneer in intelligent security management platforms, announced the appointment of Greg Colaluca as General Manager. With more than 20 years of global leadership experience, Colaluca will guide the company into its next growth phase, emphasizing the delivery of intelligent security solutions for mission-critical environments. Colaluca brings a wealth of experience in customer success, growth, profitability, and operational excellence. He leverages vision, analytics, and continuous process improvement to develop successful business models and plans, and his technical background and business development skills ensure focused sales, product development, and service delivery. Delivering innovative technologies “Greg’s experience and proven track record in global leadership and customer-focused solutions will drive a continued focus on market leadership and innovation,” said Becky Stout, Volaris. “We are confident in his ability to lead the company with his extensive experience in delivering innovative technologies, his proven history of program development, and his unwavering commitment to the organization’s mission and values.” Prior roles of Colaluca Colaluca brings extensive experience to his new role as General Manager of Intellicene Colaluca brings extensive experience to his new role as General Manager of Intellicene. At Sensormatic, he led the Global Services team, providing solutions in design, RFID consulting, solutions design/architecture, implementation, and analytics.  Before Sensormatic, he led Global Delivery at Astreya Partners, managing network engineering, network operations, and IoT services. At Hewlett Packard Enterprise, he served as Senior Director for the Consumer and Retail Industry, overseeing IT delivery across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions. Intelligence and stronger risk mitigation "Intellicene is well-positioned to deliver on its promise of helping organizations achieve greater intelligence and stronger risk mitigation in an evolving business environment,” Colaluca said. “Backed by a world-class team and a robust technology portfolio, I am excited to lead this organization into its next era and help customers around the globe achieve safer and stronger operations.”

Illustra IP PTZ  cameras allow Century 21’s surveillance staff to monitor activity in stores Introduction Century 21 opened its first store in downtown Manhattan in 1961 and now operates eight stores across the New York/New Jersey area. The stores are focused on high-fashion, low-price apparel for women, men and children, along with cosmetics, handbags, shoes, lingerie, housewares, luggage and more. Merchandise can range from less than $10 to more than $7,000. The newest Century 21 site, which opened in April 2013, is at Jersey Gardens: The Outlet Center in Elizabeth, N.J. The largest outlet mall in the state, Jersey Gardens is also a major tourist attraction, drawing approximately 18 million visitors a year from more than 160 countries. The company’s loss prevention department is headquartered at its flagship store in Manhattan, although each store maintains its own LP department and staff. Challenges With each new store opening, Century 21’s loss prevention department looks to incorporate the latest technology to enhance the quality of its LP activities. The brand new Jersey Gardens store, which opened in April 2013 in an existing mall storefront, presented Century 21 with the opportunity to explore the transition to IP cameras from analog as well as discover additional features that could further reduce shrink as part of the company’s proactive LP program. “We like to think we are a leader in technology and in pushing the envelope,” said James Betesh, Vice President Loss Prevention, Century 21 Department Stores. “As a 25-year customer with American Dynamics and Sensormatic, we trusted them to provide cutting-edge technology that would perform to our standards.” One specific challenge that Century 21 presented to Tyco Security Product’s American Dynamics brand of surveillance solutions was how the company could address issues of latency that have been associated with some IP cameras. Latency is a delay between the movement of the joystick to command the camera and the camera’s response to the command. Like most retailers that employ a team of active surveillance personnel to monitor their facilities, Century 21 was averse to delays in camera control that affected their ability to track and monitor situations in their stores in real time. After evaluating older IP dome cameras, Century 21 LP personnel found that the delay between the joystick command and camera movement was too long to effectively follow specific individuals around the store. Solution Instead, Century 21 chose 10 Illustra 625 IP PTZ dome cameras with very low latency for accurate camera tracking control, allowing Century 21’s surveillance staff to actively monitor activity in their stores. With the Illustra 625, the camera moves to position as fast as 512° per second, allowing for active surveillance and efficient tracking of suspicious behavior. “We have very proactive LP policies in place to protect our inventory and guest experience so we needed the lowest latency and best quality picture from these domes as possible,” Betesh said. “You can access any one of the Illustra cameras we have installed and still have a crystal clear view”, says Tyrese Williams, Loss Prevention Manager, Century 21 The selection of the Illustra 625 IP PTZ cameras, along with an additional 34 Illustra 610 HD IP mini-domes, marks a definitive shift for Century 21 from analog to IP-based surveillance. Along with the IP cameras, the retailer also implemented the victor video management system from American Dynamics. Using the victor unified client, Century 21’s LP staff at Jersey Gardens is able to view, manage, and control recorded video from four VideoEdge network video recorders. Loss Prevention Manager Tyrese Williams, who is the onsite LP professional at Jersey Gardens, noted that the IP cameras were an improvement over analog for several reasons, beginning with the clarity of the images and the superior zoom-in ability. “You can access any one of the Illustra cameras we have installed and still have a crystal clear view,” explained Williams. Cameras are placed in key locations so LP staff can actively observe various activities, such as transactions at the registers throughout the day. With the new cameras, Williams said they have the capability to zoom in at the register “and get the best pictures possible.” This was the type of activity that was critical in testing the performance of IP over analog, said Tom Hamlin, Sales Manager Retail/Manager Professional Services for Tyco Security Products. "Tests on previous IP PTZ cameras had not performed to the level that C21 required," he said, "especially with their uncompromising LP standards." But the i625s, along with the victor/VideoEdge video management system (VMS), were able to provide the necessary low latency, high-quality picture and continuity of image capture that Century 21 required. Within the video management system platform, according to Williams, one of the most appealing features is the speed of the system for searching recorded video. Video that used to take as long as four hours to watch can be condensed to just 25 minutes, he said. The VideoEdge metadata collection and motion search tools are credited with reducing search and review times. Additionally, the user friendliness of the system makes it easy to burn key video onto a CD or DVD, which is an activity Williams does on a daily basis. Benefits "The i625s, along with the victor/VideoEdge VMS, were able to provide the necessary low latency, high-quality picture and continuity of image capture that Century 21 required", says Tom Hamlin, Sales Manager Retail/Manager Professional Services, Tyco A further advantage of the system is the ability to access video via an iPad or iPhone, so security personnel aren’t tied to their desktop or office or even have to be on-site to monitor and respond to situations. As part of Century 21’s efforts to continue to innovate with its LP system, Betesh said “they are looking at analog-to-IP conversions for its other locations, beginning with the flagship downtown Manhattan site. That store, which spans more than 200,000 square feet, also features more than 800 analog cameras.” Store size, layout and design all play a role in the number and placement of cameras, according to Betesh. The high ceilings in the Jersey Gardens store actually allowed for the use of fewer cameras because each one could cover a wider area. Converting from analog to IP would certainly be an investment, acknowledged Betesh, but he sees opportunities because the system can be used for more than just loss prevention. “There are a lot of additional returns on our investment in technology that are possible, such as tracking shopper behavior that can improve our guest experience,” he said. By using active surveillance to track shopper movements, store operators can better position merchandise and displays, and staff their stores for both sales and security based on time-of-day analytics. And while on-site staff is making use of this type of analysis, Betesh said analytics can also be tied into the POS system and used by fraud analysts to detect issues at the cash registers. With all the new features, plus not losing anything in the analog-to-IP conversion, Betesh said he sees the long-term value in continuing with an IP surveillance system such as victor/VideoEdge that allows Century 21 to maintain the benefits of analog with the possibilities of IP video. “As long as we maintain what analog provided for us, everything else is just gravy,” he said.  

The holiday season is marked by festive spirit and family celebrations, but it is also the busiest time of year for retailers. Busy shoppers willing to spend money are an upside to the holiday shopping season, and many businesses depend on the holiday rush as a critical element to having a successful year. A downside of a busy holiday season is an increase in retail security threats including shoplifting. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How can technology address loss prevention challenges during the holiday shopping season?

Shoplifting is often viewed as petty theft by individuals, but that is not always the case. Overall, shoplifting is becoming more sophisticated and coordinated. Sometimes, retail crimes are strategic and expertly choreographed. Every step is carefully thought out — from the brand to the location to the items that are taken. Shoplifting, a major safety concern Also, the violence that accompanies these events is rising. Shoppers are rightly concerned about their safety while shopping, and the brand reputations of retailers are under threat. Traditional ‘shoplifting’ has two major differences, when compared to organized retail crime (ORC). The differences are numbers and motivation. ORC consists of groups working together to monetize theft, very different than an individual taking an item they need. Rise in organized retail crimes (ORC) ORC groups take in-demand items that they can resell for a profit, either online or at a physical location ORC groups take in-demand items that they can resell for a profit, either online or at a physical location. Also, ORC attacks are not random - they come with a high level of strategic thinking. “Armed with the right tools, retailers can identify ORC patterns that allow them to potentially anticipate and take steps to mitigate future events,” said Craig Szklany, the Vice President and Product General Manager - Loss Prevention & Liability at Sensormatic Solutions. Although ORC was rising before 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on people’s lives and livelihoods accelerated the trend.  Economy impacts shoplifting The economy also impacts shoplifting. “When consumers have less money to spend, they are more likely to steal necessities,” said Craig Szklany, adding “Keeping food on the table or finding an alternate source of income to pay the mortgage can be powerful motivators, and some individuals turn to retail crime to keep up.” One tool to fight shoplifting is analytics, which can be used to determine where shrink is occurring. Craig Szklany continues, “Understanding where crimes take place helps retailers make strategic decisions about where to place their loss prevention efforts.” Loss prevention systems with artificial intelligence (AI) Some of these systems are equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) that can identify ‘red’ and ‘green’ shoppers (thieves versus well-intentioned customers), as they move throughout the store, so retailers can respond proactively to potential threats. With enough data on these patterns, systems can alert retailers of at-risk locations" “Widespread use of these technologies can also help track ORC groups, as they move around regions or countries,” said Craig Szklany, adding “With enough data on these patterns, systems can alert retailers of at-risk locations.” He continues, “The increased use of scan-and-go and other forms of self-service checkout has made it easier for consumers to steal. Implementation of these systems has been one of the biggest factors in increased shrink for retailers.” Store visibility technology “The purpose of scan-and-go is to provide a seamless shopping experience for consumers, with smoother checkout and to help retailers reduce the need for employees,” stated Craig Szklany, adding “However, with increased theft, retailers need some form of monitoring at these sections.” He continues, “With store visibility technology and AI, retailers can both monitor self-checkout for theft, while also gathering insights that enable them to better identify and predict theft at these checkouts.” Intelligence-led loss prevention technology Craig Szklany adds, “Intelligence-led loss prevention technology provides a huge return on investment (ROI). Traditionally, items that left the store were as good as gone. With RFID and smart-exit technology, that is no longer the case.” These systems allow retailers to quantify theft events and include data on what was stolen and how much it cost. With that information, retailers can take a proactive approach to theft prevention, by providing enhanced evidence packages to law enforcement, which increases the chances of the items being returned to stores. Challenge of shift to the Internet of Things (IoT) The biggest change in retail technology in the last five years is the shift to the Internet of Things (IoT) The biggest change in retail technology in the last five years is the shift to the Internet of Things (IoT) and Store Visibility technology. Stores outfitted with integrated tags, pedestals, and AI-enabled video cameras can be connected holistically, so that retailers have a clearer insight into the thieves’ journeys in real-time. That data helps prevent future theft. These technologies provide a more accurate look into what exactly went missing, when, and where, which allows retailers to respond to shoplifting, in a way that they had not been possible in the past.  Modern loss prevention technologies offer flexibility “The great thing about modern loss prevention technologies is that they’re flexible,” stated Craig Szklany, adding “The same system that tracks ORC events can provide insight into energy use, floor optimization, customer experience, and more.” RFID tags allow retailers to track inventory at the item level, so they are better prepared to make decisions about stocking and promotions. Computer-vision-based AI (artificial intelligence) that identifies ‘red’ and ‘green’ shoppers can also track customer sentiments and demographics, to enable retailers to offer special discounts and enhanced customer service, in order to improve customer experiences and establish loyalty. Benefits of video loss prevention technologies Ahead of busy shopping seasons, many retailers hire extra employees to serve as physical deterrents against theft, but labor shortages may take this practice out of reach this year. Video loss prevention technologies can reinforce retailers’ workforce, allowing them to be proactive against theft without drawing associates from their main goal: helping customers.