U.S. patent application number 11/529703 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-08 for fixed self-checkout station with cradle for communicating with portable self-scanning units.
Invention is credited to Roy A. Garver.
Application Number | 20070051801 11/529703 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23957149 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070051801 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Garver; Roy A. |
March 8, 2007 |
Fixed self-checkout station with cradle for communicating with
portable self-scanning units
Abstract
A retail checkout system includes a customer-operated portable
terminal with a data reader, such as a barcode scanner, and a
customer-operated self-checkout station with an automated
payment-accepting subsystem. Customers use the portable terminal to
identify and log products that are selected as they move through a
store. Item identification data is then transferred to the
self-checkout station, where the customer pays for the selected
products using the automated payment-accepting subsystem.
Inventors: |
Garver; Roy A.; (Eugene,
OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MACCORD MASON PLLC
300 N. GREENE STREET, SUITE 1600
P. O. BOX 2974
GREENSBORO
NC
27402
US
|
Family ID: |
23957149 |
Appl. No.: |
11/529703 |
Filed: |
September 28, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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09492668 |
Jan 27, 2000 |
7114656 |
|
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11529703 |
Sep 28, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
235/383 ;
235/472.02 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/20 20130101;
G06Q 20/202 20130101; G07G 1/0045 20130101; A47F 9/048 20130101;
G06Q 30/0641 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
235/383 ;
235/472.02 |
International
Class: |
G06K 15/00 20060101
G06K015/00; G06K 7/10 20060101 G06K007/10 |
Claims
1-45. (canceled)
46. A method for retail check-out comprising the steps of:
establishing a communication link between (a) a self-checkout
station incorporating a customer-operated automated
payment-accepting subsystem and (b) a data storage unit in which a
plurality of data records are stored, each of the plurality of data
records corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of
identifiers that was read by a portable data reading unit before
the communication link was established; inputting the plurality of
data records from the data storage unit via the communication link
established in the establishing step; determining a price total for
a plurality of items corresponding to the plurality of identifiers
based on the plurality of data records inputted in the inputting
step; wherein determining the price total comprises: outputting
signals from the self-checkout station to a POS controller through
an interface that formats the signals to mimic signals outputted by
conventional POS scanning terminals after performing a check-out
scan for each of the plurality of items; and inputting, to the
self-checkout station, price information generated by the POS
controller in response to the signals outputted in the outputting
step; and accepting payment for the plurality of items based on the
price total determined in the determining step, wherein the step of
accepting payment is performed using the customer-operated
automated payment-accepting subsystem.
47. A customer-operated checkout system for items bearing
identifiers, the system comprising: a portable terminal including a
data reader, a memory, and a data output port; and a self-checkout
station including a data input port and a customer-operated
automated payment-accepting subsystem, wherein the portable
terminal identifies selected items using the data reader, stores
information about the selected items in the memory, and sends the
stored information to the self-checkout station via the data output
port, and wherein the self-checkout station receives the stored
information from the portable terminal via the data input port,
outputs signals to a POS controller through an interface that
formats the signals to mimic signals outputted by conventional POS
scanning terminals, and accepts payment from the customer for the
selected items using the payment-accepting subsystem.
48. The system of claim 47, wherein the identifiers are barcodes,
the data reader identifies the selected items by reading the
barcodes, and the data reader comprises a barcode reader selected
from a group consisting of: a flying spot scanner, an optical
imaging reader, and a wand reader.
49. The system of claim 47, wherein the identifiers are optical
characters, and the data reader identifies the selected items by
reading the optical characters.
50. The system of claim 47, wherein the identifiers are radio
frequency identification tags, and the data reader identifies the
selected items by reading the radio frequency identification
tags.
51. The system of claim 47, further comprising a base station
including a first RF data interface, wherein the portable terminal
further includes a second RF data interface, and wherein the
portable terminal requests a price from the base station, via the
first mid second RF interfaces, corresponding to each identifier
read, and the base station provides a price to the portable
terminal, via the first and second RF interfaces, in response to
the price request.
52. The system of claim 47, wherein the memory of the portable
terminal stores a price look-up table, and wherein total price for
selected items is computed based on the price look-up table.
53. The system of claim 47, wherein the self-checkout station
further includes an interface to a point-of-sale system.
54. The system of claim 47, wherein the payment-accepting subsystem
comprises at least one of a credit card_transaction device, a debit
card transaction device, and a cash-accepting device.
55. The method of claim 46, wherein the plurality of data records
includes physical characteristic data for each of the plurality of
items and further comprising the steps of: calculating an expected
aggregate physical characteristic for the plurality of items based
on the plurality of data records; automatically measuring an actual
aggregate physical characteristic for the plurality of items; and
verifying that the measured aggregate substantially equates with
the expected aggregate.
56. The method of claim 55 wherein the physical characteristic is a
weight.
57. The method of claim 55 wherein the physical characteristic is
volume.
58. A method of retail shopping, comprising: obtaining a portable
reading unit; selecting a set of desired items; identifying each of
the desired items using the portable reading unit during the
selecting; linking, after completion of selecting and identifying
the portable reading unit to a self-checkout station having a
customer-operated automated payment-accepting subsystem; waiting
for a transfer, into the self-checkout station, of data identifying
the set of desired items; paying for the set of desired items using
the customer-operated automated payment-accepting subsystem;
determining a price total at the self-checkout station by:
outputting signals from the self-checkout station to a POS
controller through an interface that formats the signals to mimic
signals outputted by conventional POS scanning terminals after
performing a check-out scan for each of the plurality of items; and
inputting, to the self-checkout station, price information
generated by the POS controller in response to the signals
outputted in the outputting step.
59. The method of claim 58 further comprising the steps of:
accessing at least one of stored weight or volume data for each
item in the set of desired items; calculating at least one of the
expected total weight or volume for the set of desired items based
on inputted data; automatically measuring at least one of the
actual total weight or volume of the set of desired items; and
verifying that the measured total substantially approximates the
expected total.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The field of the present invention relates to self-checkout
systems for retail establishments or more particularly to a data
reading system that enables customers to identify and log selected
products by themselves using a portable reading terminal, and to
pay for those products by themselves using a self-checkout station
that includes a payment-accepting subsystem. In a preferred
embodiment, the selected products are identified and logged using a
portable terminal to read barcodes printed on the products.
[0002] In conventional supermarkets, product selection is performed
by the customers, and product checkout is performed by cashiers.
Typically, a customer will walk up and down the aisles selecting
products to buy and placing the selected products in the shopping
basket. Once the customer has finished selecting products, the
basket is taken over to a checkout counter. The customer then
unloads the selected products from the basket and places them on
the checkout counter. Each item is then checked out by a cashier,
typically using a barcode scanning system. Finally, each item is
bagged, either by the customer, the cashier, or by another
supermarket employee.
[0003] In this conventional shopping approach, the product
selection process and the checkout process are performed serially
(i.e., one after the other). As a result, the total time required
to complete a shopping trip is the sum of the product selection
time and the checkout time. Even under optimum conditions, when
there are no queues at the checkout counters and the cashier
operates quickly and efficiently, the checkout process can
contribute a few minutes to the total shopping time. And when
conditions are sub-optimum, (e.g., when there are long checkout
queues, when a cashier is slow, and/or when a preceding customer
has a problem) the checkout process can significantly extend the
total shopping time.
[0004] Adding self-checkout stations to conventional checkout
stations can reduce checkout queue times without requiring
additional manpower, because the customers will be distributed in a
larger number of shorter queues. One example of this type of
self-checkout system is the U-Scan.RTM. Express self-checkout
system available from PSC Inc., Webster, N.Y. 14580. With the
U-Scan.RTM. system, customers scan their selected products by
themselves, and then pay for their purchase by themselves using
either an automatic cash-receiving system or a magnetic
credit/debit card reader.
[0005] While using the U-Scan.RTM. system does reduce the time
spent waiting in queues for checkout by shortening the queues,
product selection and checkout are still performed serially.
[0006] Another checkout system is the Scanboy.TM. system,
originating from CSE GmbH, Germany. With the Scanboy.TM. system,
upon entering the store, each customer picks up a portable,
cordless scanning unit from a dispenser rack and uses this scanning
unit to scan the selected products as they are placed in a shopping
cart. When the customer has finished selecting products, the
customer returns the handheld scanner to the rack. The rack then
prints out a receipt for the items that were scanned by the
handheld unit. The customer then takes this receipt to a human
cashier, who accepts payment for the purchase.
[0007] While portable scanners such as the Scanboy.TM. system can
cut total shopping time by reducing the amount of time spent at
checkout, portable scanner users may still have to wait in a queue
for the human cashier to pay for their purchase. And although the
time required to process each customer should be smaller than at
conventional scanning checkout stations, the queue time can still
be considerable, particularly when a preceding customer has a
special problem that requires the cashier's attention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention relates to a system that includes a
customer-operated portable terminal and a customer-operated
self-checkout station with an automated payment-accepting
subsystem. Customers use the portable terminal to identify and log
products that they select as they walk through a store. Product
identification data is then transferred to the self-checkout
station, where the customer pays for the selected products using
the automated payment-accepting subsystem. In a preferred
embodiment, the portable terminal identifies the selected products
by reading barcodes that have been printed on the products.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment barcode
reading and checkout system.
[0010] FIG. 1B is a schematic illustration of the barcode reading
and checkout system of FIG. 1A.
[0011] FIG. 2A is a block diagram that shows details of the
portable terminal shown in FIG. 1A.
[0012] FIG. 2B is a schematic illustration of the portable terminal
of FIG. 2A.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a flowchart that shows the operation of the
portable terminal shown in FIG. 2A.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a flowchart that shows the operation of the
portable terminal shown in FIG. 2A when it is being used to read
barcodes.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a flowchart that shows the operation of the
self-checkout station shown in FIG. 1A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] FIGS. 1A and 1B are, respectively, a block diagram and a
schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment point-of-sale (POS)
store checkout system. The illustrated system includes a POS store
controller 31, a pair of POS terminals 32, and a pair of
self-checkout stations 40. Alternative embodiments may be
implemented using a different quantity of POS terminals 32, or
without any POS terminals. A different quantity of self-checkout
stations 40 may also be used, provided that at least one
self-checkout station 40 is included.
[0017] The POS store controller 31 and the POS terminals 32 are
conventional in the field of POS systems, as are the
interconnection protocols between those devices. Conventional POS
terminals are checkout counters operated by store clerks. The
self-checkout stations 40 are preferably designed to mimic the
operation of such conventional POS terminals when communicating
with the POS store controller 31. By implementing this type of
mimicking, self-checkout stations 40 can be added to pre-existing
POS installations without requiring modifications to the POS store
controller 31 in those installations.
[0018] The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B also includes
at least one portable terminal (PT) 50 that can communicate with
the self-checkout station 40. Preferably, each PT 50 is stored in a
PT base station 35 when the PT 50 is not being used. The operation
of the PT 50 is described in greater detail below.
[0019] An overview of the FIG. 1A/1B embodiment will first be
described from the perspective of a customer in a retail store. Of
course, this embodiment may be applied to alternative contexts as
well. After entering into the store, the user locates the PT base
station 35 (which stores the PTs 50 when they are not being used)
and removes a PT 50 from the PT base station 35. Preferably, the PT
50 is cordless and comprises either a scanning system or an optical
imaging system for reading barcodes. Alternatively, the PT 50 may
comprise another type of data reader for identifying products, such
as an optical recognition system that recognizes characters (or
other non-barcode symbols) printed on the products, an image
comparison system that identifies the products by their overall
appearance, or a radio frequency identification (RFID) system that
reads an ID tag affixed to each product. The customer may either
hold the PT 50 in their hand, or attach the PT to a shopping cart
using any appropriate secure and removable attachment
mechanism.
[0020] The customer then traverses the various aisles of the store
and selects the desired items in any conventional manner. Each time
the user selects an item, the PT 50 is employed to identify the
item. In embodiments that use a barcode reader to identify the
products, this identification is preferably accomplished by reading
a barcode printed on each selected item. In alternative
embodiments, symbols or images of the product are read and
identified in any suitable manner.
[0021] The item identification operation may be initiated by, for
example, pressing a button on the PT 50 or using a proximity sensor
(not shown) to detect an item's presence. This item identification
operation may be performed either before or after each selected
item is placed in the shopping cart, in accordance with each
customer's preference. As each item is identified, the PT 50 stores
information about the identified item in an internal list. The
steps of selecting the items and identifying the items (by, for
example, reading the barcodes affixed on the items) are repeated
until the customer has selected the last desired item and has used
the PT 50 to identify it.
[0022] After finishing the item-selecting and item-identifying
process, the user takes the shopping cart over to the self-checkout
station 40, and places the PT 50 into a cradle 42 in the
self-checkout station (SCS) 40. The PT 50 then transfers the list
of read items to the self-checkout station 40 and the SCS 40
displays a total price for the selected items. The user then
tenders payment at the SCS 40 using, for example, a credit/debit
card processing device 46 or a cash-accepting device 45.
[0023] In one preferred embodiment, the PTs 50 operate in "batch"
mode. In the batch mode, each PT 50 has an internal price look-up
table (PLU) that is accessed to determine the price of each
identified item. Preferably, this PLU is updated automatically each
time the PT 50 is returned to the base station 35. Alternatively,
updating of the PLU may be initiated manually by, for example,
connecting the PT 50 to a dedicated fixture (not shown) on a
regular basis (e.g., once a day). As yet another alternative, the
PT 50 may obtain the PLU table from the base station 35 using a
suitable remote data link such as a radio frequency (RF) or an
infrared optical communication link. The PLU table may be so
obtained at either regular intervals (e.g., once an hour) or at
non-regular intervals (e.g., every time the price list for the
store is updated).
[0024] In another preferred embodiment, the PTs 50 operate in
"real-time" mode. In this mode, each PT obtains the price for each
identified item from the base station 35 in real time using any
suitable data communication link including, for example, a radio
frequency (RF) or an infrared optical data communication link.
[0025] In another preferred embodiment based on a real-time
connection between the PT 50 and the base station 35, the PT acts
as a "dumb" reading terminal, and merely forwards the identity of
each read item to the base station 35. The base station 35 then
stores the list of read items (instead of relying on the PT 50 to
store that list). When the PT 50 is eventually placed in the cradle
42 in the SCS 40, the base station 35 transfers the list of items
corresponding to a particular PT 50 to the SCS 40.
[0026] The hardware configuration shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B includes
at least one SCS 40 connected to a POS system that includes a POS
store controller 31 and, optionally, conventional POS terminals 32.
Each SCS 40 includes a controller 41, with associated memory, that
runs a control program (as described below) and a suitable display
47 for displaying messages to the user. Each SCS 40 also includes a
POS interface 48, a cash acceptor 45 (e.g., of the type commonly
found in vending machines that accept paper money), and a
credit/debit card processor 46 (e.g., of the type commonly found at
self service pay-at-the-pump gasoline filling stations).
Preferably, each of the subsystems 45-48 operates under control of
the controller 41, and all communications between the SCS 40 and
the POS store controller 31 occur in the same way that conventional
POS terminals 32 communicate with the POS store controller 31.
[0027] The SCS 40 also includes a PT interface 43, which preferably
includes a suitable docking cradle 42 designed to interface with
the PT 50. The PT interface 43 may be implemented using any
suitable interfacing technique including, for example, electrical
contact connections using the RS232 or USB standards, and cordless
connections using the IRDA infrared standard. Preferably, the PT
interface 43 also operates under control of the controller 41 so
that when the PT 50 is docked in the docking cradle 42, the SCS 40
can receive data from the PT 50. Optionally, the PT interface 43
may be bidirectional.
[0028] Preferably, the PT interface 43 includes hardware (not
shown) that automatically recognizes when a PT 50 has been docked
in the cradle 42. This automatic recognition can be accomplished
using any suitable technique including, for example, using a micro
switch (not shown) that is actuated whenever a PT 50 is inserted
into the cradle 42, using a light source and photo detector pair,
or by detecting the completion of a circuit established by contacts
provided on the PT 50. Alternatively, the SCS 40 may rely on an
indication made by the customer (e.g., by actuating a switch) to
inform the SCS 40 that a PT 50 has been connected to the cradle
42.
[0029] FIGS. 2A and 2B are, respectively, a block diagram and a
pictorial representation of a preferred portable terminal (PT) 50.
The illustrated PT 50 includes a controller 51, a keypad 52, a
memory 53, a barcode reader 54, a checkout station interface 55, a
base station interface 56 and a display 57. Preferably, the
controller 51 includes a microprocessor or a microcontroller that
controls all operations of the PT 50 by executing a control program
53B stored in the memory 53. The control program 53B may be stored
in nonvolatile portion of the memory 53 (e.g., ROM). Alternatively,
the control program 53B may be stored in a writable portion of the
memory 53 (e.g., RAM) that is updated from an external data source
(e.g., the PT base station 35, via the base station interface 56).
The memory 53 also includes a writable data storage region 53C
(e.g., RAM) that can be accessed by the controller 51. While the
memory 53 is illustrated as being separate from the controller 51,
the memory and the controller may instead be implemented together
in a single integrated circuit.
[0030] The customer uses the keypad 52 to control the operation of
the device. Keystrokes on keypad 52 are detected by the controller
51 using any suitable techniques including, for example, generating
an interrupt each time a key is pressed or using a dedicated
keyboard interface circuit (not shown) to strobe the keyboard and
to store the detected keys in a buffer.
[0031] Preferably, the PT 50 uses barcode reader 54 to read
barcodes on the items selected by the customer in order to identify
the selected items. Barcode reading may be accomplished using any
of a variety of techniques well known to those skilled in the art.
For example, the barcode reader 54 may comprise a flying spot
barcode scanner that reads barcodes by scanning a spot of laser
light across the barcode, detecting light reflected by the target
barcode, and processing and decoding the detected light. For
example, the LM500 Plus.TM. or Minuet.TM. scan modules from PSC
Inc. of Webster, N.Y. may be incorporated into a handheld terminal
housing. Alternatively, the barcode reader 54 may comprise an
optical imaging reader that operates by capturing an image of the
target barcode using an image sensor (e.g., a CCD or an active
pixel CMOS image sensor), and processing and decoding the detected
image. Other alternative barcode readers (e.g., the
Hewlett-Packard.RTM. HBSW-8000 series wand-type readers) may also
be used. In the illustrated embodiment, the barcode reader provides
its output to the controller 51, and is also controlled by
controller 51 using appropriate control signals (not shown).
[0032] Alternatively, instead of using the illustrated barcode
reader 54, the PT 50 may identify the items selected by the
customer using another item-identification technique. For example,
an optical imager combined with optical character recognition
software could be used to identify items by reading and recognizing
words or other symbols printed on each item. Alternatively, items
could be identified by capturing their image and comparing each
captured image to a set of pre-stored images representing the
universe of items that are stocked in the store. In other
alternative approaches, items may be identified using voice
recognition by having the customer say the name of each selected
item (e.g., "Cheerios.RTM., 18 ounces"), or identified using an
RFID system. Numerous other alternative approaches for identifying
items may be readily implemented.
[0033] The PT 50 communicates with the base station 35 via the base
station interface 56. For batch mode PTs 50 that only communicate
with the base station 35 when the PT is docked in the base station,
communication is preferably implemented using a data port 56B of
the base station interface 56, and a data port 35B of the base
station. These data ports 35B, 56B may be implemented using any
suitable interface including, for example, wired connections using
the RS232 or USB standards, and cordless infrared connections using
the IRDA standard.
[0034] For PTs 50 that operate in real-time mode, where the PT 50
communicates with the base station 35 when the PT 50 is being
carried around by the customer, communication is preferably
implemented using a wireless link such as the RF data interfaces
56A, 35A of the base station interface 56 and the base station 35.
These RF data interfaces 35A, 56A may be implemented using any
suitable data communication protocol including, for example, PSK
and FSK. Less preferably, alternative types of wireless
communications such as an infrared data link (not shown) may be
substituted for the illustrated RF link.
[0035] Real-time mode PTs 50 may use the same RF data interface
35A, 56A to communicate with the base station 35 when the PT 50 is
docked in the base station 35. Alternatively, these real-time mode
PTs 50 may incorporate an additional data port 56B to communicate
with a corresponding data port 35B on the PT base station 35 when
the PT 50 is docked in the base station 35.
[0036] The PT 50 communicates with the self-checkout station 40 via
the checkout station interface 55 using any suitable interface
including, for example, corded connections using the RS232 or USB
standards, and cordless connections using the IRDA infrared
standard. Of course, the communication protocol in the PT 50 should
match the protocol used in the SCS 40 described above.
[0037] Preferably, the checkout station interface 55 includes
hardware that automatically senses when the PT 50 is docked in the
SCS 40, and the base station interface 56 includes hardware that
automatically senses when the PT 50 is docked in the base station
35. Automatic operating-condition sensing can be accomplished using
any suitable arrangement. For example, the PT 50 may be provided
with a first contact (not shown) that is grounded by the base
station 35 whenever the PT 50 is docked in the base station 35, and
a second contact (not shown) that is grounded whenever the PT 50 is
docked in the SCS 40. Alternatively, a unique predetermined
identification signal may be provided by the base station 35 and
the SCS 40, and circuitry to detect the provided signal (not shown)
may be incorporated into the PT 40. Numerous alternative automatic
operating condition-sensing approaches can be readily envisioned.
Alternatively, a user-actuated mode selector (e.g., a rotary
switch) may be used to inform the controller about the current
operating condition.
[0038] FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts that illustrate a preferred
control program 53B, which is run by the controller 51 in the PT 50
(all shown in FIG. 2A). The program illustrated in FIG. 3 selects a
suitable control routine for each of three possible operating
conditions: (1) when the PT is docked in the base station, (2) when
the PT is being used by a customer to identify items, and (3) when
the PT is linked to the self-checkout station. In the illustrated
embodiment, steps S71, S73, and S75 of the control program select
the appropriate control routine as follows, depending on the
current operating condition.
[0039] First, in step S71, the controller 51 performs a test to
determine whether the PT 50 is docked in a PT base station 35,
preferably using the operating-condition sensing circuitry
described above. If the test indicates that the PT 50 has been so
docked, program control proceeds to step S72 where a
battery-charging process is initiated to charge a rechargeable
battery (not shown) which preferably powers the PT 50. For PTs 50
that operate in the batch mode, a price look-up type (PLU) table
may be loaded into the memory 53a of the PT 50 via the data port
interface 56B, 35B when the PT is docked in the base station
35.
[0040] If the test performed in step S71 indicates that the PT 50
is not docked in a PT base station 35, processing continues at step
S73, where a test is performed to determine whether the "read" key
52A on the keypad has been pressed, which will happen when the
customer wishes to identify an item. If the read key 52A has been
pressed, processing continues in step S74, where the handheld unit
identifies the item by, for example, reading and processing the
barcode. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a preferred process performed in
real-time mode PTs that rely on barcodes for identifying and
processing items, and it can be best understood when viewed
together with FIG. 2A.
[0041] The process of FIG. 4 will typically be initiated by the
customer by pressing the "read" key 52A on the keypad 52 while the
customer walks through the store selecting items to buy.
Alternatively, it may be initiated by a proximity sensor (e.g., an
ultrasonic distance detector) that detects when an object is close
to the light entrance window 54A of the barcode reader 54. The use
of a proximity sensor is particularly advantageous when the barcode
reader 54 comprises an optical imaging type reader.
[0042] First, in step S82 the barcode reader 54 reads and decodes
the barcode from the selected item. After the barcode reader 54 has
read the barcode, the decoded data is transferred to the controller
51. Optionally, the task of decoding of the barcode may be
performed by the controller 51 instead of the barcode reader 54.
The decoded data will typically correspond to an item upon which
the barcode is affixed. The controller 51 takes this data and, in
step S83, stores it in an item list 53C in the memory 53. Of
course, when symbols other than barcodes are used to perform item
identification, appropriate modifications to step S82 must be made,
which will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.
[0043] Next, processing continues in step S84 where the controller
51 requests a price for the item corresponding to the decoded data
from the base station 35. This price request may be accomplished,
for example, by sending the decoded data along with a predetermined
data header to the base station 35 via the RF interface 56A of the
base station interface 56. The base station 35 would look them up
the price for the corresponding item on a price look-up table (not
shown), and send the price back to the controller 51 via the RF
interface 35A and the base station interface 56. After receiving
the price, the controller 51 stores the price in the memory 53 in
step S85.
[0044] Preferably, in step S86, the controller 51 uses the price
information received from the base station 35 to update a running
total price for all the items that have been read by the barcode
reader 54. This updated total price is preferably stored in the
memory 53, and is provided for the convenience of customers who
wish to know the total price of the selected items in their
shopping cart. Preferably, the customer can access the total price
by pressing a dedicated key 52C on the keypad 52. When the
controller 51 recognizes that this dedicated key 52C has been
pressed, the controller will determine the total price and instruct
the display 57 to display the total price.
[0045] The operation of batch mode PTs 50 is also similar to the
operation of real-time PTs described above in connection with FIG.
4. Instead of requesting each price from the base station 35 in
step S84, however, the batch mode PTs 50 obtain each price from a
price look up (PLU) table 53A stored in the PT's internal memory
53. This PLU table 53A may be updated each time the batch-mode PT
50 is returned to the PT base station 35, as described above.
[0046] Each time the above-described process is repeated (i.e. once
for each item placed in the customer's shopping cart), an entry is
added to the item list 53C. The item list 53C will therefore
contain an entry corresponding to each item that has been placed in
the customer's cart. Optionally, the cart may be supplied with a
mechanism for confirming that an item has been read properly before
being placed in the cart. For example, the cart may include weight
or volume sensors and the PLU data may also include weight or
volume data of the items. Once an item is read, the cart would then
expect the total weight or volume of the cart's contents to
increase by the weight or volume of the read item. When the actual
added weight or volume does not match the expected increase, a flag
may be set to alert the customer or the store management.
Similarly, this flag would be set if an item is placed in the cart
without being read.
[0047] Returning now to FIG. 3, if the test performed in step S73
determines that the read key has not been pressed, processing
continues at step S75, where the PT 50 performs a test to determine
whether it has been docked to the self-checkout station 40,
preferably using the operating-condition sensing circuitry
described above. Docking will typically occur after the customer
has finished selecting and scanning all the items that the customer
wishes to buy.
[0048] If the test performed in step S75 determines that the PT 50
has been linked to an SCS 40, processing continues at step S76,
where the data stored in item list 53C in the memory 53 of the PT
50 is transferred to the SCS 40 via the checkout station interface
55. The transfer of data from the PT 50 to the SCS 40 may be
accomplished by implementing a suitable data transmitting algorithm
at the PT 50, and a complementary receiving algorithm at the SCS
40. An example of such a suitable data transmitting algorithm for
the PT 50 would be to read a single data record from the item list
53C in the memory 53, reformat the data record for transmission,
and transfer the data record to the checkout station interface 55.
After transmitting each data record, the controller 51 would then
check the item list 53C to determine whether there are any
additional data records stored therein. If there are additional
data records, the next data record is read, reformatted for
transmission, and sent to the checkout station interface 55.
Processing continues in this manner until the last data record from
the item list has been transmitted.
[0049] Operation of the SCS 40 after a PT 50 has been docked will
now be explained with reference to FIG. 1A and FIG. 5. Ordinarily,
the PT 50 will only be docked in the cradle 42 in the self-checkout
station 40 after the customer has completed selecting the items the
customer wishes to buy and after the items have been identified
using the PT 50.
[0050] First, in step S91, the SCS 40 receives the item list data
records from the PT 50, which arrives via the PT interface 43. Data
reception for the item list may be initiated by, for example,
pressing a button on the SCS 40 or the PT 50, or by detecting when
the PT 50 has been docked. Details of implementing the data
reception algorithm will depend upon the particular algorithm used
at the PT 50 for transmitting the data records. The received data
records are stored in the memory of the controller 41 so as to
reconstruct a local copy of the item list at the SCS 40.
[0051] In step S92, the controller 41 reads a data record from the
local item list, and sends it to the POS interface 48. The POS
interface 48 converts the data from the controller 41 into a
suitable format, and forwards the data to the POS store controller
31. Preferably, the POS interface 48 formats the data so as to
mimic transfers from conventional POS terminals 32 that occur when
an item is scanned using a conventional POS terminal 32. When this
type of mimicking is implemented, the POS store controller 31 will
behave as if the data originated from an ordinary POS terminal 32.
As a result, self-checkout stations 40 in accordance with the
illustrated embodiments may be integrated into existing store POS
systems without requiring reprogramming of any pre-existing POS
store controllers 31.
[0052] After the POS store controller 31 receives the data, the POS
store controller 31 will reply by sending a price for the item to
the SCS 40 via the POS interface 48. In step S93, the SCS 40 inputs
this price. Then, in step S94, the controller 41 checks to
determine whether there are any more data records in the local item
list. If there are more data records, processing returns to step
S92 where the next data record on the list is sent out to the POS
store controller 31 via the POS interface 48. If, in step S94, it
is determined that there are no more data records on the list,
processing continues at step S95.
[0053] In an alternative embodiment (not shown), instead of loading
all the data records in the item list from the PT 50 into the SCS
40 in one batch, and subsequently transferring each data record
from the item list to the POS store controller 31 one at a time and
waiting for responses from the POS store controller 31, the
inputting of the data records and the communication with the POS
store controller 31 may be interspersed with one another. More
specifically, the SCS 40 may input one data record from the PT 50,
transfer data for that one data record to the POS store controller
31, wait for the price for that one item to arrive from the POS
store controller 31, and then repeat the input/transfer/get-price
process for each of the remaining data records in the PT's item
list 53C in turn. In this alternative embodiment, there is no need
to maintain a local copy of the PT's item list 53C at the SCS
40.
[0054] In step S95, the SCS 40 calculates the total price for all
the items in the item list. This calculation may be accomplished
locally in the SCS 40 using the item list received from the PT 50
and the prices received from the POS store controller 31.
Alternatively, the POS store controller 31 may compute the total
price for the order in a conventional manner and transfer it to the
SCS controller 41 via the POS interface 48.
[0055] In step S96, the SCS 40 requests payment from the customer
by, for example, displaying the total price together with an
appropriate message on the display 47. In response to this message,
the customer tenders payment by placing currency in the cash
acceptor 45 or by swiping a credit or debit card in the card
processor 46. The cash accepting system 45 and the credit/debit
card processor 46 may be implemented using any of a variety of
techniques well known to those skilled in the art, as described
above.
[0056] In step S97, the controller 41 waits for an indication that
sufficient payment has been received. This payment-received
indication could be, for example, a report from the cash acceptor
45 of an amount of inserted cash, an indication from the cash
acceptor 45 that the amount of inserted cash exceeds a threshold
provided by the controller 41, or an indication from the card
processor 46 that a credit/debit card transaction has been
approved. After receiving the payment-received indication, the
controller 41 instructs the display 47 to display an appropriate
confirmation message (e.g., "your payment has been accepted--thank
you") in step S98. The customer may then exit with their purchase.
Preferably, the PTs 50 are eventually returned to the PT base
station 35 by a store employee.
[0057] Operation of the alternative "dumb terminal" embodiment is
similar to the operation of the real-time embodiment described
above, with a number of modifications. For example, in the dumb
terminal embodiment, when the PT 50 identifies a selected item, the
PT immediately reports the results of the identification to the
base station 35 using a suitable remote communication protocol. The
base station then looks up the prices and maintains the item list.
User requests for price information that are initiated at the PT 50
may also be serviced by the base station 30 using a suitable
two-way communication link. Preferably, the base station 35
maintains an item list file for each PT 50 in the store. When a PT
50 is eventually placed in the cradle 42 in the SCS 40, the base
station 35 transfers the item list file corresponding to that PT to
the SCS 40. Preferably the transfer of data from the base station
35 to the SCS 40 is initiated in response to the docking of the PT
50 in the SCS 40.
[0058] The above-described embodiments provide a number of
advantages. For example, by combining portable customer-operated
barcode reading with a cashier-less payment system, the time wasted
by customers waiting in checkout queues may be eliminated or
reduced. More specifically, if a sufficient number of self-checkout
stations are provided in a store, a customer who has finished
selecting items will always be able to find a self-checkout station
that is not being used by another customer. As a result, a customer
will never have to wait in line behind another customer that is
experiencing a checkout problem.
[0059] Another advantage provided by the above-described
embodiments is that the PTs may be returned at the checkout
stations, and need not be returned to the same rack from which they
were obtained (in contrast to the Scanboy.TM. system). This
arrangement saves the customer the trouble of walking to a part of
the store that may be far from the spot where the customer has
finished selecting items, and allows the customer to proceed
directly to a checkout station. Because the checkout station may be
located more than 20 feet from the rack (or even more than 100 feet
away, in larger stores), this feature can save a significant amount
of walking. These and other advantages will be apparent to persons
skilled in the relevant art.
[0060] While the present invention has been explained in the
context of the preferred embodiments described above, it is to be
understood that various changes may be made to those embodiments,
and various equivalents may be substituted, without departing from
the spirit or scope of the invention, as will be apparent to
persons skilled in the relevant arts.
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