U.S. patent application number 09/860044 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-21 for scalable self-checkout system.
This patent application is currently assigned to NCR Corporation. Invention is credited to Millikan, Marshall R..
Application Number | 20020170782 09/860044 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25332376 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020170782 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Millikan, Marshall R. |
November 21, 2002 |
Scalable self-checkout system
Abstract
A system for self-checkout includes a plurality of self-checkout
stations for self-assisted purchasing, each self-checkout station
including a self-service terminal, a bagging area, and a
merchandise placement area. The system also includes at least one
supervisor terminal for monitoring purchasing activities of at
least some of the plurality of self-checkout stations. The
self-checkout system is scaleable for various configurations,
applications, and capacity-based use. In a scaleable form, two or
more supervisor terminals are provided each of which is operative
to monitor one or more of the plurality of self checkout
stations.
Inventors: |
Millikan, Marshall R.;
(Suwanee, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Paul W. Martin
NCR Corporation
Law Department, WHQ-5E
1700 S. Patterson Blvd.
Dayton
OH
45479-0001
US
|
Assignee: |
NCR Corporation
|
Family ID: |
25332376 |
Appl. No.: |
09/860044 |
Filed: |
May 17, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
186/61 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07G 3/00 20130101; A47F
9/048 20130101; G07G 1/0054 20130101; G07G 1/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
186/61 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for self-checkout, comprising: a plurality of
self-checkout terminals for self-assisted purchasing, each
self-checkout terminal including a display, a scanner, and a
payment acceptor; and a supervisor terminal in communication with
each one of said plurality of self-checkout terminals, said
supervisor terminal having a display and operative to selectively
monitor purchasing activities being conducted at any one or any
number of said plurality of self-checkout terminals.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said supervisor terminal is
operative to approve and authorize any monitored purchasing
activity.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein each self-checkout terminal
further comprises a security/assistance indicator each operative to
inform a supervisor when a customer at a respective one of the
plurality of self-checkout terminals requires at least one of
purchasing assistance and purchasing authorization.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein said supervisor terminal is
disposed in close proximity to said plurality of self-checkout
terminals.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein each said self-checkout terminal
display is a touch screen.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein said supervisor terminal includes
a communications unit operative to effect two-way communications
between said supervisor terminal and an external computer.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the two-way communications
utilize at least one of an intranet, a LAN, and the Internet.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein the two-way communications
utilize wireless networking within at least one of an intronet, a
LAN, and the Internet.
9. A system for self-checkout, comprising: a plurality of
self-checkout terminals for self-assisted purchasing, each
self-checkout terminal including a scanner, a display, and a
payment acceptor; and a plurality of supervisor terminals each one
of which is in communication with said plurality of self-checkout
terminals and operative to monitor purchasing activities of any one
or any number of said plurality of self-checkout terminals.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein each supervisor terminal of the
plurality of supervisor terminals is operative to concurrently
monitor with regard to other of the supervisor terminals of the
plurality of supervisor terminals, purchasing activities of a
selected one or selected ones of the self-checkout terminals.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein each self-checkout terminal
includes a security/assistance indicator that is operative to
inform the supervisor when a customer at a respective one of said
self-checkout terminals requires at least one of purchasing
assistance and purchasing authorization.
12. The system of claim 9, wherein each supervisor terminal is
operative to exclusively monitor with regard to other supervisor
terminals, purchasing activities of a selected one or selected ones
of said plurality of self-checkout terminals.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein each self-checkout terminal
includes a security/assistance indicator that is operative to
inform the supervisor when a customer at a respective one of said
self-checkout terminals requires at least one of purchasing
assistance and purchasing authorization.
14. The system of claim 9, wherein each said supervisor terminal is
disposed in close proximity to said plurality of self-checkout
terminals.
15. A method of self-checkout comprising: providing a plurality of
self-checkout terminals, each self-checkout terminal having a
scanner, a display, and a payment acceptor, and operative to
perform a self-assisted purchase transaction; providing a plurality
of supervisor terminals each one of which is in communication with
said plurality of self-checkout terminals and operative to monitor
a purchase transaction occurring at any one or at any number of
said plurality of self-checkout terminals; and monitoring a
purchase transaction currently occurring at any one or any number
of the plurality of self-checkout terminals via any one or more of
the plurality of supervisor terminals.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein monitoring a purchase
transaction currently occurring at any one or any number of the
plurality of self-checkout terminals via any one or more of the
plurality of supervisor terminals includes exclusively monitoring,
with regard to other supervisor terminals, a purchase transaction
of a selected one or selected ones of said plurality of
self-checkout terminals.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: monitoring a
security/assistance indicator associated with each self-checkout
terminal that is operative to inform a supervisor when a customer
at a respective one of the self-checkout terminals requires at
least one of purchasing assistance and purchasing
authorization.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein monitoring a purchase
transaction currently occurring at any one or any number of the
plurality of self-checkout terminals via any one or more of the
plurality of supervisor terminals includes concurrently monitoring,
with regard to other supervisor terminals, a purchase transaction
of a selected one or selected ones of said plurality of
self-checkout terminals.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: monitoring a
security/assistance indicator associated with each self-checkout
terminal that is operative to inform a supervisor when a customer
at a respective one of the self-checkout terminals requires at
least one of purchasing assistance and purchasing
authorization.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: providing each
supervisor terminal in close proximity to the plurality of
self-checkout terminals.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a checkout apparatus,
system and method, and more particularly to a system, apparatus and
method for a scalable self-checkout.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Primary motivations for shopping at any store include a
store's merchandise, cost of merchandise, location, methods of
payment accepted, and speed of checkout transaction. A potential
consumer, when deciding where to shop, may additionally consider
other factors than the ones preceding.
[0003] In one example, motivations for shopping at a convenience
store include primarily a store's convenient location and speed of
transaction. A typical transaction at a convenience store has a
very low average dollar amount, a fact that helps limit some of the
security concerns regarding different checkout methods used at a
convenience store as well as the layout and manner of checkout.
[0004] During certain times, lines form at a checkout station of a
convenience store, defeating the "speed of transaction" benefit of
the convenience store. Times when a line forms are due to a variety
of factors including a number of customers waiting to purchase
their items exceeding the capability of the checkout station to
quickly process the individual sales. As an example, a time when
lines form at the checkout station is when lottery jackpots are
larger than normal and lottery ticket sales are correspondingly
high. A line at a checkout station can also be due to the fact that
certain transactions require special assistance from the
convenience store personnel. For example, lottery ticket sales or
redemption, and sales of age-restricted items such as alcohol,
tobacco, and adult magazines require that a convenience store
employee perform special tasks such as approval or validation. The
time spent performing these special tasks may negate the "speed of
transaction" benefit of the convenience store, which also has
conventionally negated the application and usefulness of a
self-checkout device in a convenience store.
[0005] Self-checkout has been implemented for "pay at the pump"
gasoline sales at convenience stores, where a gasoline pump
includes a point-of-sale (POS) terminal. While one form of
self-checkout has been implemented at a convenience store, namely
"pay at the pump" gasoline sales where a gasoline pump includes a
point-of-sale (POS) terminal, most other routine transactions
performed at a convenience store are not adapted to present
self-checkout operations. Moreover, certain transactions requiring
approval or validation are also not adapted to a self-checkout
operation in general.
[0006] Additionally, current self-checkout systems are not
adaptable to limited space considerations in a typical store
environment, such as a convenience store. Further, the current
self-checkout systems are not adaptable with respect to layout
within the given space.
[0007] This is thus a need for providing a system, method and/or
apparatus for effecting self-service checkout in a convenience
store environment.
[0008] There is thus a further need for providing a self-checkout
system, method and/or apparatus that is scalable for any store.
[0009] There is thus an even further need for implementing
self-checkout at convenience stores, so that the intended
convenience is not defeated due to waiting in lines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention is a self-service checkout or
self-checkout system, apparatus, and method. The present
self-checkout system has a scalable architecture that makes the
present self-checkout particularly well suited for applications
such as convenience stores.
[0011] A system for self-checkout according to an embodiment of the
present invention includes a plurality of
[0012] A self-checkout station for self-assisted purchasing
according to an embodiment of the present invention includes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0013] In the drawing:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view illustrating a checkout
island according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view illustrating a checkout
counter according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 3A illustrates a bagging assembly according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 3B is a schematic view of an isolating post used in a
bagging assembly according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of a self-service terminal
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 5A is a schematic front view of a security/assistance
pole according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 5B illustrates exemplary lenses of a
security/assistance pole according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of communication interfacing
among elements of a self-checkout station according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a currency and coin
acceptor and change assembly according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a flowchart for an exemplary method of
self-checkout according to the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 9 illustrates a touch screen display of a self-service
terminal in an exemplary payment choice mode of operation according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 10 illustrates a supervisor terminal's screen in an
exemplary monitoring mode of operation according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an exemplary configuration of
the present system illustrating a scalability aspect of the present
invention;
[0027] FIG. 12 depicts a block diagram of another exemplary
configuration of the present system illustrating the scalability
aspect of the present invention; and
[0028] FIG. 13 is an exemplary depiction of a screen of a
supervisor's terminal in accordance with the principles presented
herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications
and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown
by way of example in the drawing and will herein be described in
detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent
to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on
the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications,
equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope
of the invention as defined by the claims.
[0030] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary layout of an exemplary
self-checkout system according to a checkout island embodiment of
the principles of the present invention. A checkout island 90
includes a plurality of self-checkout stations 1, each including a
self-service terminal 10, a bagging area 20, a merchandise
placement area 30, and a security/assistance pole 40. The checkout
island also includes a supervisor terminal 60 accessible from an
open center area 80. It should be appreciated that the checkout
island 90 may have only one self-checkout station 1, rather than
two or more (a plurality). Further, the layout of the self-checkout
system of FIG. 1 (i.e. the location of each self-checkout station 1
and the location of the supervisor terminal 60 by itself and in
relation to each self-checkout station 1) is exemplary of the many
configurations that the present self-checkout system may take.
[0031] The plurality of self-checkout stations 1 are designed for
customer use, and each includes an outward-facing self-service
terminal 10 located at a center position for each of the
self-checkout stations 1. On one side of each self-service terminal
10 is the bagging area 20, and on the other side of each
self-service terminal 10 is the merchandise placement area 30. Each
self-checkout station 1 also includes the security/assistance pole
40 having lights that indicate when assistance is requested,
verification is required, or when a security issue is involved at
the particular self-checkout station 1. The security/assistance
pole 40 is preferably located at a position where it does not
substantially block a line-of-sight between a customer 2 and a
supervisor 70 manning the supervisor terminal 60.
[0032] The merchandise placement area 30 provides a flat surface
where a customer 2 can place an item or items she wishes to
purchase. The merchandise placement area 30 can be at a different
height compared with the surfaces of the bagging area 20 and the
area in front of the particular self-service terminal 10. For
example, a lower merchandise placement height is preferable when
the customer 2 has her items in a shopping basket and wishes to
unload the items from the basket in a more comfortable manner.
Another exemplary reason for varying the height of the surface of
the merchandise placement area 30 is when the customer 2 is in a
wheelchair, or is short in stature. In a preferred embodiment,
however, the surface of the merchandise placement area 30 is at a
same level as the other surfaces of the self-checkout station 1.
The merchandise placement area 30 provides one or more surfaces
that allow the customer 2 to selectively choose the order in which
items are scanned or otherwise entered into an order being
processed by the self-service terminal 10.
[0033] The location of the bagging area 20 and/or the merchandise
placement area 30 (i.e. on the left or right side of the
self-service terminal 10) is typically a matter of choice. One or
more self-checkout stations 1 may be configured for a left-handed
person (i.e. the merchandise placement area 30 on the right side,
and the bagging area 20 on the left), while one or more
self-checkout stations 1 may be configured for a right-handed
person (i.e. the merchandise placement area 30 on the left side,
and the bagging area 20 on the right side). Of course, other
configurations may be used.
[0034] The checkout island embodiment of the present invention may
optionally include a second set of self-checkout stations 1 (not
shown) and a second supervisor terminal 60 (not shown), all
disposed on an opposite side of the counter 90 in a mirror
configuration of FIG. 1. In this configuration, two supervisors 70
are able to service twice the number of self-checkout stations 1.
Optionally, a single supervisor terminal 60 is operative to
supervise any self-checkout stations 1 located at any location
around the circumference of the island 90. Another variation of the
checkout island embodiment of the present invention provides a
variable number of supervisor terminals 60 and a variable number of
self-checkout stations 1, where a plurality of supervisor terminals
60 are configured to select particular ones of the self-checkout
stations 1 to supervise. As well, a supervisor terminal 60 may be
used as a self-service terminal 10 or vice versa, when swapped. In
such a configuration, the monitored unassisted self-checkout
operation is scaleable, thereby optimizing equipment and employee
resources. For example, a single supervisor terminal 60 may
adequately supervise a smaller number of active self-checkout
stations 1 during a time of day when convenience store business is
slow. On the other hand, multiple supervisor terminals 60 may be
activated to supervise a larger number of active self-checkout
stations 1 during a time of day when convenience store business is
heavy.
[0035] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary layout of an exemplary
self-checkout system according to a checkout counter embodiment of
the principles of the present invention. A checkout counter 91
includes a plurality of self-checkout stations 1, each having the
same elements described above for a checkout island embodiment. The
checkout counter embodiment includes a supervisor area 81 on an
opposite side of the counter 91 from the self-checkout stations 1.
The supervisor terminal 60 is disposed facing this supervisor side
of the counter 91. The supervisor area 81 may be used for stocking
controlled merchandise such as alcohol, cigarettes, adult
magazines, and items having a large value or that are small and
easily stolen. The checkout counter embodiment allows the
supervisor 70 to face in only one general direction, and may be
more readily suited to certain store's floor plans or for providing
the supervisor 70 with a safer area, e.g., by placing security
glass between the self-checkout stations 1 and the supervisor
70.
[0036] A self-service terminal 10 in a preferred embodiment
includes a kiosk. The individual components of a self-service
terminal 10 may be embodied as separate devices, or they are
preferably embodied as integrated components enclosed within or
closely associated with the kiosk. One kiosk that may be used for
implementing the present invention is a model 7401 web kiosk
commercially available from NCR Corporation of Dayton, Ohio.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 4, the self-service terminal 10 contains a
barcode scanner 15 that reads universal product code (UPC)
information attached-to or printed on most of the items in the
convenience store. In a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, every item in the convenience store has a UPC label
affixed in a location allowing the item to be conveniently scanned.
However, a number of items for sale in the convenience store may
not have UPC numbers, those non-UPC items including, interalia,
fruits and vegetables, and delicatessen items. One scanner that may
be used in the present invention is a model number 7875 bi-optic
scanner, commercially available from NCR Corporation of Dayton,
Ohio.
[0038] The scanner 15 includes a first scanning window 19 and a
second scanning window 18. The first scanning window 19 is disposed
in a substantially horizontal manner, whereas the second scanning
window 18 is disposed in a substantially vertical manner. An
optional product scale 97 may be integrated with the scanner 15 for
weighing of fruits and vegetables. More specifically, the product
scale 97 is disposed substantially parallel to the scanning window
19, or may be integrated with the first scanning window 19. If an
item such as produce is placed upon the product scale 97 or the
first scanning window 19, the product scale 97 may be used to
determine the weight of the item. The scanner 15 may be physically
integrated with the kiosk 11 or may be implemented as a separate
piece of equipment adapted to communicate with the kiosk 11.
[0039] The scanner 15 includes a light source (not shown) such as a
laser, a rotating mirror (not shown) driven by a motor (not shown),
and a mirror array (not shown). In operation, a laser beam reflects
off the rotating mirror and mirror array to produce a pattern of
scanning light beams. As the product identification code on an item
is passed over the scanner 15, the scanning light beams scatter off
the code and are returned to the scanner 15 where they are
collected and detected. The reflected light is then analyzed
electronically in order to determine whether the reflected light
contains a valid product identification code pattern. If a valid
code pattern is present, the product identification code is then
converted into pricing information that is then used to determine
the cost of the item in a known manner.
[0040] The self-service terminal 10 in a preferred embodiment
includes a kiosk 11 with a touch screen 12 that displays text and
graphics to the customer and that obtains customer selections and
inputs. The kiosk 11 includes the scanner 15 that scans or reads a
barcode containing a product's UPC information, or other indicia
associated with an item to be purchased such as industrial
symbol(s) or alphanumeric characters. The UPC read by the scanner
15 is interpreted by using a local lookup table, or by feeding the
UPC into a database of a computer (not shown), where product
information from a lookup table entry is obtained for a specific
UPC. The conversion of the UPC to product information allows a
product description and price to be displayed on the touch screen
12 and printed as an individual entry on a paper receipt. The
stored product information also includes a weight value for each
item, the weight value used for security purposes (discussed below)
related to the bagging area 20.
[0041] A self-service terminal 10 preferably includes a magnetic
stripe reader 13 for obtaining information from a credit card,
debit card, membership card, etc. A self-service terminal 10
optionally also includes speakers 14 for presenting audio messages
and information to the customer. The self-service terminal 10
optionally includes an external signature capture device 88 that
works in conjunction with a magnetic stripe reader of its own (not
shown), or with the magnetic stripe reader 13 located on the kiosk
11, to obtain a signature verification for a credit card, debit
card, or membership card purchase.
[0042] A printer 17 is located beneath the kiosk 11 on a side of a
base assembly 16 facing the customer. The printer 17 can
alternatively be located in a cabinet (not shown) under the
self-service terminal 10, or in a separate enclosure (not shown)
that can be placed in an area of the self-checkout station 1 that
provides accessibility and convenience for both customers and
employees needing to maintain the printer 17, e.g., by replacing
printer paper. The printer 17 is used for printing receipts for
transactions that use the self-service terminal 10 and other
related printed information, including cash and credit/debit card
purchases, car wash code numbers, coupons, waiting numbers,
vouchers, order numbers, and other receipts. A second printer (not
shown) may be optionally provided in an area of the self-checkout
station 1, the second printer used, e.g., for printing lottery
tickets, coupons, or other items requiring special printing paper
or print format. The self-service terminal 10 optionally includes a
microphone 67 that allows two-way communication between a customer
2 and the supervisor 70.
[0043] The self-checkout stations 1 preferably are configured to
operate as POS systems for receipt of tender of payment from the
customer. The POS is a point-of-sale terminal that includes the
touch screen display 12, keypad and/or buttons 65 for inputting a
customer's selections or information, a currency and coin acceptor
and change assembly 69, and a card reader 13 for reading
information encoded on a user card such as a credit card, debit
card, or membership card having a magnetic strip, a barcode, or
flash memory. The POS may be embodied as integrated components
associated with an automated teller machine (ATM), or can be
suitably configured for integration into a particular ordering
station application. For example, a conventional ATM may offer many
features and menus (e.g., funds transfer, telephone utility
payment) that are inapplicable to a quick service vending
establishment and, thus, a POS may be more efficiently implemented
in the kiosk 11. By optimizing the functionality of the several
components of the POS, efficient customer self-payment for an order
is effected or established.
[0044] The magnetic strip card reader 13 is arranged to read data
from a card (such as a credit card, debit card, customer
identification card, SMART card, etc.) inserted in the card reader
13 via a slot 113. In a preferred embodiment, the card reader 13
operates without utilizing the keyboard 65, debiting a card's
account without requiring that a PIN or other verification number
be entered. Alternately, the keypad 65 is used in conjunction with
the card reader 13, allowing customer entry of a PIN number. The
keypad 65 has keys 165 that allow a customer to select a function
and to enter numerical data. The keypad 65 optionally has its own
POS display (not shown) dedicated to card transaction
information.
[0045] The card reader 13 optionally operates together with a
signature capture device 88 such as a signature recognition pad or
signature capture terminal. One such device that is suitable for
implementation with the present invention is a Model 5991 signature
recognition pad marketed by NCR Corporation of Dayton, Ohio. As is
known, the signature recognition pad includes a pressure transducer
plate (not shown) on which a customer "writes" his or her signature
using a stylus (not shown). The pad forms a digitized image of the
signature and this image is transmitted to the processing unit 80
(discussed below) of the self-service terminal 10 for storage in a
memory 84 contained therein. The signature capture device 88 is
preferably a separate unit disposed externally of the kiosk 11 and
connected to the kiosk 11 by a communications cable (not shown),
although the signature capture device 88 may also be physically
incorporated onto a top-facing surface of the kiosk 11. In any
case, the signature capture device 88 is located in a position
within the self-checkout station 1 that allows easy access by a
customer 2. The memory unit(s) 84 may include known devices such as
random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), large capacity
memory such as tape and disc drives, and others, the memory unit(s)
84 being disposed either within the kiosk 11 or located in an
external location accessed via the communications interface 83.
[0046] Each self-checkout station 1 preferably includes a currency
and coin acceptor and change assembly 69, as shown in FIG. 7. The
currency and coin acceptor and change assembly 69 has a bill reader
72 for inputting different denominations of currency, verifying
that a bill is authentic, rejecting bills that fail a visual check,
and causing the respective self-checkout station 1 to credit a
bill's denomination to a customer's tender amount. The currency and
coin acceptor and change assembly 69 also include a coin input
mechanism 73, which has an input slot for accepting coins, a
mechanical sifter (not shown) for identifying a coin's
denomination, and an output signal device (not shown) for causing
the respective ordering station 20 to credit a coin's denomination
to a customer's tender amount.
[0047] Each of the bill reader 72 and the coin input mechanism 73
has a mechanism (not shown) for returning bills or coins that are
rejected, and for returning a change amount to the customer for
money tendered in excess of the order total amount. The bill reader
72 returns rejected currency to the customer 2. Rejected coins or
coins returned to a customer as change are output to the change
receptacle 74. The currency and coin acceptor and change assembly
69 also preferably includes its own separate display 71 for
indicating the amounts tendered and related currency and coin
information. The display 71 provides a convenience by eliminating a
need for a customer to look at a distant display when tendering
cash payments. The currency and coin acceptor and change assembly
69 may be located within the kiosk 11, or can be separately located
below the merchandise placement area 30 or to one side of the
bagging area 20.
[0048] As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a security/assistance pole 40
has lights that indicate when assistance is requested, verification
is required, or when a security issue is involved at the particular
self-checkout station 1. In a preferred embodiment, the
security/assistance pole 40 includes a number of low-energy lights
42 disposed behind a corresponding number of lenses 41. The lenses
41 are made from different colored plastics, each lens having an
indication message that is readily visible when the respective
light 42 is illuminated. The security/assistance pole 40 includes a
housing 43 for containing the lights 42 and lenses 41. The housing
43 is mounted on a pole 44 that can be mounted to a self-service
terminal 10, a floor, an island 90, or a counter 91. Alternatively,
the security/assistance pole 40 may be formed integrally with a
kiosk 11, or may be configured so that indicators (not shown) for a
group of self-checkout stations 1 are all included in a single
display unit (not shown). The particular form of the
security/assistance pole 40 is readily adaptable to the particular
configuration of the self-checkout stations 1, the convenience
store's floor plan, and logistical common sense.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 6 the self-service terminal 10 includes a
processing unit 80 operative to assist in controlling the several
functions of the self-checkout station 1. The processing unit 80
can include one or more processors (not shown).
[0050] The processing unit 80 cooperates with network interface
circuitry 83 which conventionally permits the self-checkout station
1 to communicate with a network (not shown) such as a LAN or WAN
through a wired connection (not shown). The processing unit 80 may
communicate with the network during a checkout procedure in order
to obtain information such as pricing information on an item
scanned, and customer credit approval where appropriate. The
network interface circuitry 83 associated with the self-checkout
station 1 may include a known Ethernet expansion card, and the
wired connection may include a known twisted-pair or fiber optic
communication line. Alternatively, the network interface circuitry
may support wireless communications with the network.
[0051] Each self-checkout station 1 includes a processing unit 80
having network interface circuitry 83 that permits the
self-checkout station 1 to communicate with the supervisor terminal
60 and with an external computer (not shown) in order to both
output and obtain information related to payments using the
magnetic strip card reader 13. The card reader information includes
authorization of a sales amount and optional verification of a
customer for security reasons, e.g., confirmation of a PIN number,
and to upload or download any information relevant to the
self-checkout station 1 operation, such as for updating information
held in memory 84. The communication between the supervisor
terminal 60 and the external computer also provides update
information used to change and exchange pricing and weight
information, to change the touch screen 12's display format, and to
change the virtual buttons of the touch screen 12 in order to, for
example, add promotions and change operation of the touch screen
12.
[0052] The processing unit 80 is also operative to generate signals
that effect a finalization of the tender of payment, thereby
causing the touch screen display 12 to inform the customer that the
payment for the order is complete. The card reader 13 can also
generate the payment finalization signals or the cash input device
69. The payment finalization signals indicate that the customer's
business at the self-checkout station 1 is over and, preferably,
cause additional actions to be performed such as completing of the
filling or authorizing of the customer's order (if applicable), and
informing the customer 2 that all transactions are complete and
instructing her to exit the self-checkout station 1.
[0053] In the apparatus of the present invention, the hardware and
software of a POS terminal having at least some automated teller
machine (ATM) functions are integrated with the hardware and
software that support additional checkout functionality. Thus, the
hardware elements of the self-checkout station 1 may be integrated
into a single self-contained kiosk 11. Peripheral and the separate
devices of the kiosk 11 preferably connect to the processing unit
80 via a serial controller in the I/O communication device 83 in a
known manner, such as by using an RS-232 or universal serial bus
(USB) controller. Alternatively, known parallel type communication
apparatus can be utilized for any or all of the communications
between elements within the checkout system and/or between a
checkout system and an external device such as a computer (not
shown). The touch screen 12 contains a known video controller that
may be disposed on an adapter card or on a motherboard together
with the processing unit 80.
[0054] The kiosk 11 is operative to use various software
architectures or operating systems such as Microsoft Windows NT,
Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 2000, and Linux. However,
it should be appreciated that other suitable operating systems are
envisaged.
[0055] In traditional checkout systems, a checkout clerk at a
conventional cash register provides a level of security against
theft or other improprieties. However, in the case of a
self-checkout station 1, the self-service terminal 10 itself must
assist the supervisor terminal 60 in providing the necessary
security. Such security includes preventing a customer from either
inadvertently or intentionally placing an item in a grocery bag
without scanning the item, or voiding one item from entry, but
removing a second item of lesser value, or no item at all, from the
grocery bag. Thus, another concern when evaluating a self-checkout
station 1 is the level of security provided against illicit use of
the self-checkout station 1 by customers.
[0056] The bagging area 20 includes a bagging assembly 29. As shown
in FIG. 3A, the bagging assembly 29 in a preferred embodiment has
two sets of bag dispensing/weighing stations 9. However, any number
of dispensing/weighing stations 9 may be used in a bagging assembly
29 according to the present invention. Each dispensing/weighing
station 9 dispenses and weighs one bag 25 at a time. The bagging
assembly 29 includes one or more security scale(s) 23 for weighing
the bag(s) 25 as the customer 2 is filling them. The security scale
23 indicates whether something has been removed from or added to
the customer 2's bag 25. The security scale 23 outputs weight
information for an item placed into or removed from the bag 25,
outputs a total weight of the bag 25 and its contents, or outputs a
total weight of the bag 25 as well as a weight of a bag holder 27,
22, 28 and any unused bags 26 hanging from the bag holder 27, 22,
28.
[0057] The security scale 23 determines the weight value of the
item by detecting a weight increase of the grocery bag 25.
Alternatively, if a customer 2 removes an item from the grocery bag
25, the security scale 23 determines the weight value of the item
by detecting a weight decrease of the grocery bag 25. The security
scale 23 communicates with the processing unit 80 before, during,
and after an item has been scanned. In a preferred embodiment, the
security scale 23 includes a scale surface horizontally disposed
parallel to or aligned with the bottom surface of the bagging area
20. The security scale 23 may be embodied as any known retail
weight scale. One such retail weight scale that is particularly
useful as the security scale 23 of the present invention is a model
number 6680 weight scale that is commercially available from
Weigh-Tronix, Incorporated of Santa Rosa, Calif.
[0058] In a preferred embodiment, the processing unit 80 calculates
a total weight for a customer 2's purchases and compares this total
weight to a calculated weight based on the weights of the
corresponding scanned items. When the two weights are within a
predetermined tolerance, then the processing unit 80 determines
that no security violation has occurred. When a difference between
the two weights is greater than the predetermined amount then the
processing unit 80 sets a security violation flag in its monitoring
program.
[0059] More specifically, the processing unit 80 retrieves the
stored weight value of the item by using the UPC associated with
the item to select the corresponding stored weight value from a
number of values contained in a pre-defined, master product
database. What is meant herein by the term "master product
database" is a central database that includes product information
(e.g. description, price, and weight) associated with every item
that is sold by the retailer. The processing unit 80 compares the
stored weight value of the item to the measured weight value of the
item in order to determine if the item that was placed in the bag
25 is the same item that was scanned by the customer 2.
[0060] For example, if the customer 2 scans a can of soup with the
scanner, the product identification code associated with the can of
soup is used by the processing unit 80 to determine the stored
weight value associated with the soup. In particular, the
processing unit 80 communicates with memory device 84 in order to
retrieve the stored weight value corresponding to the can of soup
(e.g. 103/4 ounces) from the master product database of the memory
84. When the customer 2 places the can of soup into a bag 25, the
scale 23 determines the weight of the can of soup. In particular,
if the customer 2 places the can of soup into the bag 25, the scale
23 measures a weight increase corresponding to the can of soup
(e.g. 103/4 ounces) thereby allowing the processing unit 80 to
conclude that a proper bagging transaction has occurred. However,
if the customer 2 places a pound of steak into the bag 25, the
scale 23 will measure a weight corresponding to the steak (i.e. 16
ounces) thereby causing the processing unit 80 to conclude that an
item substitution has occurred. It is imperative that the data
within the master product database be maintained accurately.
[0061] The bagging assembly 29 includes a number of posts 21 which
cooperate to support a number of the grocery bags 26. As shown in
FIG. 3B, in a preferred embodiment, the posts 21 include one or
more bag storage portions 27 and one or more corresponding
"floating" portions 28. The floating portions 28 are connected to
the bag storage portions 27 by an isolation mechanism 22 that
allows a bag to be weighed while still being attached to the posts
21. By isolating the floating portion for each post 21, the
floating portion 28 is able to move, or "float," when a customer's
bag 25 is being filled. This floating enables an accurate weighing
of the filled bag 25 since the bag 25 is no longer being supported
or held-up by the posts 21.
[0062] The bagging assembly 29 is configured to allow a number of
grocery bags 25 to be accessed by the customer 2 at any given time,
the number of opened bags corresponding to the particular number of
posts 21, or pairs of posts 21, depending on the number of posts 21
being used for each bag. When the number of separate floating
portions 28 and corresponding opened bags 25 is more than one, a
customer 2 is able to selectively load various item types into
separate opened grocery bags 25. For example, the customer 2 may
desire to use a first grocery bag 25 for household chemical items
such as soap or bleach, and a second grocery bag 25 for edible
items such as meat and produce.
[0063] In an alternate embodiment, the posts 21 of the bagging
assembly 29 do not include the floating portions 28, and the
bagging assembly 29 is configured to position the security scale(s)
23 at a height relative to the posts 21 so that a bag 25 hangs
loose and does not have its weight affected by the posts 21. Other
envisioned alternative embodiments of the bagging assembly 29 of
the present invention include various configurations that allow
accurate weighing of a bag 25, such as using freestanding bags 25
or using load cells (not shown) positioned in series with portions
of the rod(s) 21, where the rods 21 are tilted vertically to allow
the load cells to function properly.
[0064] Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the security/assistance
pole 40 indicates the status of a transaction in progress. In a
preferred embodiment, the security/assistance pole 40 has different
colored lights for indicating different types of status. A "normal"
indication informs the supervisor 70 that no assistance is needed
at the particular self-checkout station 1. An "assistance/approval
needed" indication informs the supervisor 70 that the indicating
self-checkout station 1 requires some form of assistance, such as
authorization for a sale of age restricted items, a customer 2
requiring assistance for any reason, and others. A "security
violation" indication informs the supervisor 70 that an item has
been placed in a bag located in the bagging area 20 without the
item having been scanned, the weight of an item placed in the bag
does not match a known weight of the item identified by scanning,
and others.
[0065] The supervisor terminal 60 monitors transactions in progress
and is preferably located in very close proximity to the customers
2 and the self-checkout stations 1. The supervisor terminal 60 is
in electronic communication with each of the self-service terminals
10, and is operative to monitor transactions at all the
self-checkout stations 1.
[0066] The self-checkout station 1 optionally includes one or more
video cameras 98 and associated electronics (not shown), a video
camera 98 in a preferred embodiment being disposed above the
scanning area and bagging area 20 and positioned for detecting
motion within a number of "target areas." What is meant herein by
use of the term "target area" is an area across which the video
camera 98 is capable of detecting motion. For example, a first
target area is defined by the maximum range in which an item can be
successfully scanned as it is passed across the scanner 14. The
electronics associated with the video camera 98 preferably digitize
video signals from the video camera 98, so that corresponding video
information may be communicated to the processing unit 80 and
stored in the memory 84. In an alternate embodiment, more than one
video camera 98 is included in a self-checkout station 1, the
separate video cameras being positioned to respectively view
separate areas within the self-checkout station 1. In a preferred
embodiment, the supervisor 70 can select any of the store's video
cameras 98 in order to monitor particular activities on the
supervisor terminal touch screen display 72. In this manner, the
supervisor can view any customer 2 who is having problems
understanding the self-checkout procedure and needs assistance.
Another use for the selectable viewing capacity of the supervisor
terminal 60 is allowing the supervisor to closely monitor any
suspicious activity (e.g., theft).
[0067] Referring to the flowchart of FIG. 8 and the touch screen
display shown in FIG. 9, an exemplary method of a checkout process
according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be
described. A customer 2 enters a convenience store and selects
goods she wishes to purchase. The customer 2 either carries the
goods herself or places the goods in a conventional hand-carry
basket (not shown).
[0068] In step 100, the customer 2 arrives at a self-checkout
station 1 and places hand-carry basket or the goods themselves on a
surface of the corresponding merchandise placement area 30 of the
self-checkout station 1. The customer 2 may initially select a
payment type by pressing an appropriate virtual key icon 52 being
displayed on the touch screen display 12 of the self-service
terminal 10 located at the self-checkout station 1. The touch
screen display 12 may then displays a series of prompts that
request the customer 2 to make corresponding choices in response to
each prompt being displayed on the touch screen display 12. The
customer 2 makes her payment choices by pressing virtual keys 52
being displayed for each prompt. For example, if the customer 2
selects "credit card" as her choice for type of payment, the touch
screen display 12 then instructs the customer to swipe her card
through the card reader 13. After the customer has swiped her
credit card, the touch screen display 12 instructs the customer 2
to proceed to enter additional verification information, such as a
PIN number, using the keypad 65. If the particular self-service
terminal 10 does not include a keypad 65, the touch screen display
12 displays virtual keys 52 on which the customer 2 enters the
verification information (if required).
[0069] If the particular self-service terminal 10 includes a
microphone 67 and speakers 14 coupled to a software program
residing in memory 84, the kiosk 11 may present the customer 2 with
additional prompts and instructions via audiovisual messages such
as those involving a known synthesized speech module (not shown)
and /or digitized video segments employing known MPEG or VPEG
codification. For example, the touch screen display 12 may display
a virtual "help key" 51 that when pressed causes the kiosk 11 to
provide a customer 2 with an audio or visual training clip for a
given kiosk 11 operation. In a preferred embodiment, the touch
screen display 12 displays the help key 51 during some or all of
the various stages of the checkout process. In such a case, the
processing unit 80 accesses a corresponding set of control programs
located in memory 84, the control programs being operative to cause
the kiosk 11 to present instructions or messages that pertain to a
current operation being performed. The touch screen display 12 can
also display a menu of help choices when the virtual help key 51 is
pressed.
[0070] Alternatively to the above, the kiosk 11 may not initially
accept and/or prompt the customer 2 to select a payment type.
Instead, the kiosk 11 may display a "Start Transaction" or similar
virtual button on the touch screen display 12 so that the customer
2 may begin to scan items. As well, the act of scanning a first
item may begin the transaction. The ability to operate in either
operational flows (press button or scan) may be termed
"multi-pathing."
[0071] In step 110, the touch screen display 12 instructs the
customer 2 to begin scanning her goods and then placing the goods
in one or more of the opened bags 25 located in the bagging area
20. In a preferred embodiment, the touch screen display 12
instructs the customer 2 to perform the scanning and bagging of
goods one item at a time. For example, the touch screen display 12
may display a message "place item in bag" after an item has been
scanned. After the security scale 23 verifies that the item has
been placed in the bag 25, the touch screen display 12 then
instructs the customer 2 to "now scan another item." In this way,
the customer 2 proceeds to scan and then bag all her goods one item
at a time.
[0072] In the case of an item carrying a UPC bar code, the item is
scanned by passing it over the first scanning window 19 or in front
of the second scanning window 18. If the scan is successful, an
audible tone is generated by the security scale 23 via a known
electronic beeper device (not shown) or via one or more of the
speakers 14, and the price and identity (name, brand, weight,
description, etc.) of the scanned item is displayed on the touch
screen display 12 and/or printed by the printer 17 on a receipt
that is output by the printer 17 at the completion of the checkout
process.
[0073] For each successful scan, the scanner 15 in communication
with the processing unit 80 decodes the bar code label information
to obtain a description, price, and weight of the item from a
look-up file stored in memory 84. The processing unit 80 adds the
price of each scanned item to a total price and also adds the
item's weight information to a weight total. In the event of a
customer 2 filling her bag 25 and then removing the bag 25 from the
bagging assembly 29, the last weight information output by the
particular security scale 23 is stored in memory 84 for the current
checkout operation and the weight for a new bag 25 is reset.
[0074] In a preferred embodiment, all items being purchased at the
convenience store contain a UPC code. When produce or other items
have a price dependent upon weight, the particular item is either
pre-packaged to include a UPC label, or the convenience store has a
known weighing station (not shown) where a customer 2 can weigh and
bag her produce and can self-affix a UPC label for each separately
bagged produce type. The convenience store may alternatively have
an employee manning a produce weighing station, or may provide a
weighing station camera (not shown) operative to view the
self-assisted weighing station for security purposes.
[0075] However, a convenience store having a produce weighing
station may still desire to provide a customer 2 the option of
selecting her individual produce items so that the customer 2 can
be "finicky," and can select produce items that are ripe, green,
un-bruised, etc. For produce items not having a UPC bar code label
attached, the self-checkout station 1 has a known produce weighing
scale (not shown) in close proximity to, or integrated with, the
scanner 15. In such a case, the touch screen display 12 displays a
menu of virtual buttons 52 that allow a customer 2 to press a
"produce" button (not shown) to inform the self-service terminal 10
that the item being currently entered into the purchasing
transaction is a type of produce. When the produce button is
pressed, the touch screen display 12 then displays a menu of
produce types (not shown), such as "apples," "bananas," and others.
When the customer 2 enters the particular produce type by pressing
the appropriate virtual key 52, the customer 2 places the produce
on the produce weighing scale, and the touch screen display 12
indicates the price, product identifier (e.g., "red delicious"),
and weight for the produce item and instructs the customer 2 to
place the particular produce item in one of the opened bags 25. In
this manner, the customer 2 begins to checkout all her produce
items.
[0076] In step 120, the customer 2 presses a virtual key or icon 53
on the touch screen display 12 to inform the self-service terminal
10 that the customer has completed her checkout.
[0077] In step 130, the processing unit 80 determines whether a
current transaction at the particular self-service terminal 10 may
be finalized. The processing unit determines this by checking to
see whether any flags have been set during the customer 2's
scanning and bagging activities. If any of the scanned items
requires age verification, the processing unit 80 sets an
authorization flag in an internal program that monitors individual
transactions occurring at the plurality of self-checkout stations
1. The processing unit 80 also sets one or more security flags,
during a checkout at a self-checkout station 1, when a total weight
of filled bags 25 does not match a weight total calculated by the
processing unit 80 using individual weights stored in memory 84 for
each UPC, or codified in the UPC itself. The processing unit 80
also sets an assistance flag when verification is required for a
coupon or other customer credit request, or when a scanned item's
product description is unknown by the processing unit 80 or when an
item's product description or price being displayed is deemed
incorrect by the customer 2, or for any other event requiring
inspection and action by the supervisor 70.
[0078] If none of the purchased items require age verification or
any other intervention by the supervisor 70 and no flags have been
set during the customer 2's checkout, then the processing unit 80
proceeds to the finalization of the checkout.
[0079] In an alternative embodiment, the processing unit outputs a
signal to the security/assistance pole 40 that causes one or more
indicating lights on the security/assistance pole 40 to illuminate
as soon as any flag has been set during checkout at the
self-checkout station 1 having the particular security/assistance
pole 40. By informing the supervisor 70 of a need for her
intervention at a particular self-checkout station 1 in advance of
completion of a customer 2's checkout activities, the supervisor 70
is able to timely and efficiently provide the required
verification, authorization, or security inspection without
unnecessarily delaying the customer 2.
[0080] In step 140, a preferred embodiment of the checkout method
performs authorization, verification, and security activities after
the customer 2 has pressed the virtual key or icon 53 on the touch
screen display 12, informing the processing unit 80 that the
customer wishes to finalize her checkout transaction. The
processing unit 80 then checks to determine whether any flags have
been set during the customer 2's checkout activities. If any of the
flags has been set, the processing unit generates a flag signal and
sends the flag signal to the security/assistance pole 40, causing
one or more indicator lights (not shown) on the pole 40 to
illuminate. The pole may indicate "authorization required,"
"verification required," "security violation suspected," "customer
assistance requested/required," and others depending on which of
several flag signals has been sent by the processing unit 80.
[0081] It should be appreciated from the foregoing that any
indicator light may be set (illuminated) during or when an item or
action requiring attention, such as age verification for alcohol
purchase, is encountered rather than waiting until the end of the
transaction. This scenario speeds up the transaction in that a
clerk could check an ID (in the age verification case) when
appropriate and/or expedient. It should therefore be further
appreciated that this scenario is applicable to operation with
respect to the other indicator lights, flags (security assistance)
and display on the operator terminal, both described above and
below.
[0082] As shown by way of example in FIG. 10, the flags set at a
self-checkout station 1 also cause message(s) 62 to be displayed on
the supervisor terminal 60's touch screen display 72. The messages
62 provide an additional indication to the supervisor 70 that she
is required to perform an authorization, verification, price check,
or other supervising activity. The supervisor touch screen display
72 also displays a virtual "security emergency" key 61 that
activates a known telephone auto-dial mechanism that calls "911"
and that activates additional security equipment (not shown) such
as microphones and video cameras. The automatic 911 call informs
the local police that a security emergency such as a robbery is
taking place. The supervisor touch screen display 72 also has a
virtual approval key 64 adjacent each corresponding message 62 for
an individual self-checkout stations 1, where the supervisor 70 can
press the virtual approval key 64 after all the supervisor actions
(e.g., viewing a customer 2's driver's license for liquor or
cigarette purchases) for a particular self-checkout station 1 have
been completed.
[0083] The supervisor touch screen display 72 also has a virtual
menu key 63 that provides a refreshed supervisor touch screen
display 72 screen having virtual buttons 62 that, when pressed,
direct a processing unit (not shown) in the supervisor terminal 60
to display screens other than the monitor screen shown in FIG. 10.
Such additional screens may include an inventory screen, a daily
sales total screen, a shift sales total screen, a troubleshooting
screen for remote functional checking of a selected self-checkout
stations 1, a batch download screen for communicating with an
external computer (not shown), a monitoring configuration screen
for selecting which of the plural self-checkout stations 1 are
monitored by the supervisor terminal 60, a functional override
screen, a remote configuration screen for changing parameters,
displayed promotions, and settings being used by one or more of the
self-service terminals 10, and other screens pertinent to a
convenience store supervisory operation.
[0084] If none of the purchased items require age verification or
any other intervention by the supervisor 70, the supervisor touch
screen display 72 will display a message 62 indicating that a
successful checkout has occurred at a particular self-checkout
stations 1. The supervisor terminal 60's processing unit may be
configured to either require approval of all transactions and a
pressing of the virtual approval key 64 for all transactions, or
can be configured to only require a pressing of the virtual
approval key 64 when a supervisor action was required.
[0085] In step 150, the customer 2's checkout transaction is
finalized. The customer 2 presses the virtual key or icon 53 to
inform the self-service terminal 10 that she wishes to complete her
checking out activities. If no flags were set during the customer
2's checkout activities, or when the virtual approval key 64
corresponding to the particular customer 2's self-checkout station
1 has been pressed by the supervisor 70 (if applicable), then the
customer 2 proceeds to pay for her purchase according to the
payment option she selected in step 100 or, if no payment option
was specified at the beginning of the transaction, then the
customer 2 selects a payment type in a similar or the same manner
as described above in connection with step 100. In a preferred
embodiment, an additional virtual key (not shown) is displayed on
the customer 2's touch screen display 12, the key providing the
customer 2 with the option of changing her method of payment
selection previously performed in step 100. Referring still to step
150, the touch screen display 12 displays a total price for the
scanned goods. The customer 2 then proceeds to use the appropriate
one of the cash and coin acceptor 69, or the card reader 13 and
optionally the signature reader 88 to tender her payment. The
processing unit 80 for the particular self-checkout station 1
receives payment information from the above-described payment
device being used by the customer 2.
[0086] For example, when the customer 2 selects a credit card as
the type of payment, the customer may be instructed by a message on
the touch screen display 12 to authorize that the purchase amount
is "OK" by pressing a virtual "OK" button 52 on the touch screen
display 12. Where the signature pad 88 is used, the customer 2 is
instructed by the touch screen display 12 to carry out her credit
card authorization by entering her signature using the signature
pad 88. A digitized version of the customer's signature is stored
in memory 84 for possible future reference in the event of a
dispute occurring in respect of a particular checkout transaction.
The signature process may be preceded by a communication between
the particular self-checkout station 1 and an external credit
database maintained by, for example, a credit card institution.
After capturing the signature of the customer 2, the signature
recognition pad 88 sends the digitized signature information to the
processing unit 80, which stores the information in memory 84
and/or sends the information to a host computer (not shown). The
host computer then stores this signature in a storage location
file. A transaction file containing the details of the transaction
is stored at the host computer while the processing unit 80 sends a
signal to the touch screen 12 informing the customer 2 that the
transaction is complete.
[0087] When the processing unit 80 determines that payment in full
has been received, it signals the supervisor terminal 60 that the
checkout at its self-service terminal 10 is complete, and it
signals the printer 17 to print a paper receipt. The customer 2
takes her receipt from the printer 17, takes her bagged goods, and
exits the convenience store.
[0088] The touch screen display 12 of a self-checkout station 1 is
not limited to any particular format (e.g., FIG. 9) and can display
any page or pages that can be stored in memory 84. In particular,
the touch screen display 12 can display promotional advertisements
(not shown) that are loaded into memory 84 from an external
computer (not shown) via an intranet, LAN, or WAN including the
Internet. For example, an external server computer can address one
or a group of self-checkout stations 1 in order to download or
update pages to be displayed. In this manner, the touch screen
display 12 can display screens that are more user-friendly, and can
automatically display new screens according to a customer 2's
profile. The profile can be obtained by accumulating preferences
for a specific customer 2. Profile information may be resident in
memory 84 so that a profile-directed sequence of pages is
displayed.
[0089] Similarly, the self-checkout stations 1 can store
information about the purchases and touch screen selections of a
particular customer 2. This customer action information can be
uploaded from the self-checkout stations 1 to the aforementioned
external computer. A database (not shown) in communication with the
external computer can then access additional information about the
specific customer 2 in order to enhance and improve profile
information.
[0090] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the
self-checkout system is scaleable which allows the self-checkout
system to be configurable to any layout and adaptable to varying
degrees of capacity. Two exemplary basic configurations are
depicted in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12.
[0091] Referring to FIG. 11, an exemplary configuration of a
self-checkout system in accordance with the principles presented
herein is shown. This self-checkout system has a single supervisor
terminal 60 that is in communication with a plurality of
self-checkout systems (SCOS) 1. The supervisor terminal 60 is
operative to selectively view any one of the plurality of
self-checkout systems 1 or selectively view any number (including
all) of the plurality of self-checkout systems 1. Therefore,
depending on current use and/or capacity of the various
self-checkout systems 1, the person using the supervisor terminal
60 can select which self-checkout system or systems 1 to
monitor.
[0092] Referring to FIG. 12, another exemplary configuration of a
self-checkout system in accordance with the principles presented
herein is shown. This self-checkout system has a plurality of
supervisor terminals 60 each of which is in communication with a
plurality of self-checkout systems 1. Each supervisor terminal 60
is operative to selectively view any one of the plurality of
self-checkout systems 1 or selectively view any number (including
all) of the plurality of self-checkout systems 1. Thus, one
supervisor terminal 60 may monitor one of the plurality of
self-checkout systems 1, while another one or other ones of the
plurality of supervisor terminals 60 may monitor other
self-checkout systems 1. Alternatively, each supervisor terminal 60
may monitor a set number of self-checkout systems 1.
[0093] The systems of FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 allow the user
(supervisor) to select which one or ones of the plurality of
self-checkout systems 1 to monitor. FIG. 13 depicts a supervisor
terminal 60 and particularly the screen 200 of the supervisor
terminal 60. The screen 200 is operative (under the control of the
supervisor terminal 60) to display the various self-checkout
systems being monitored. In this example, the screen 200 is divided
into an arbitrary five (5) regions, wherein the region 202 is
monitoring self-checkout system (SCOS) #1, the region 204 is
monitoring SCOS #3, the region 208 is monitoring SCOS #2, the
region 210 is monitoring SCOS #6, and the region 206 is reserved
for other data. Each region of the screen 200 is variable depending
on a zoom and other factors. As well, the screen 200 may have only
one region, in the case that only one self-checkout system 1 is
being monitored, or more than one region, in the case that more
than one self-checkout system 1 and other data is being monitored.
Various corresponding or associated information or data may be
viewed in conjunction with the monitoring of a particular
self-checkout system 1, such as time and date, consumer information
such as after a shopper value card or the like is scanned or
entered into the self-checkout system 1 and any other
data/information.
[0094] Whether or not one or more than one supervisor terminal is
monitoring one or more of the self-checkout stations depends, in
part, to the current capacity of the self-checkout stations,
available supervisor people, and other factors. Various scenarios
are achievable with the present scaleable, self-checkout
system.
* * * * *