Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records – Mechanized store
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-02
2001-10-02
Pitts, Harold I. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
Mechanized store
C235S385000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296184
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a checkout system, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for operating a checkout system having a security scale for providing security during an assisted checkout transaction.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the retail industry, the largest expenditures are typically the cost of the goods sold followed closely by the cost of labor expended. With particular regard to the retail grocery or supermarket industry, the impetus to reduce labor costs has focused on reducing or eliminating the amount of time required to handle and/or process the items or goods to be purchased by a customer. To this end, there have been a number of self-service checkout systems developed which attempt to substantially eliminate the need for a checkout clerk.
A self-service checkout system is operated by a customer without the aid of a checkout clerk. Hence, during operation of a self-service checkout system, the customer scans individual items for purchase across a scanner and then places the scanned items into a grocery bag, if desired. The customer then pays for his or her purchases either at the self-service checkout system if so equipped, or at a central payment area which is staffed by a store employee. Thus, a self-service checkout system permits a customer to select, itemize, and in some cases pay for his or her purchases without the assistance of the retailer's personnel.
It should be appreciated that a given retailer may have a number of reservations in regard to implementation of self-service checkout systems into the retailer's operation. For example, certain self-service checkout systems which have heretofore been designed are more expensive relative to assisted checkout systems (i.e. retail checkout systems which are operated by an employee of the retailer such as a checkout clerk). The higher cost associated with a self-service checkout system is typically due to the fact that the system itself must perform functions that would normally be performed by the checkout clerk operating the checkout system thereby increasing the number of components associated with the self-service checkout system. For instance, in the case of a self-service checkout system, the system must provide security from improprieties such as theft. Moreover, in certain self-service checkout systems, the checkout system itself must collect payment from the customer for his or her items for purchase. It is the cost of the hardware and software necessary to provide such functions to the self-service checkout system which in certain cases cause the cost of the system to typically exceed the cost of an assisted checkout system.
Moreover, a number of retailers fear that the retailer's customers may not embrace the idea of using self-service checkout systems to checkout their items for purchase thereby potentially causing the systems to go unused in the retailer's store. In such a situation, the retailer would have expended a relatively substantial sum of money for a checkout system which is not being utilized thereby increasing costs associated with the retailer's operation.
Yet further, it is generally recognized that a well-trained checkout clerk is capable of completing a checkout transaction in a more timely manner relative to an untrained customer. Accordingly, during periods of peak demand within the retailer's store, it is desirable for the retailer to operate a relatively large number of assisted checkout systems in order to expedite the checkout process thereby preventing customers from undesirably being forced to wait in long checkout queues. However, during periods of lesser demand within the retailer's store, it is desirable for the retailer to operate a relatively large number of self-service checkout systems in order to reduce the number of employees (i.e. checkout clerks) that the retailer must have present in the store. Hence, a compromise must be made between the number of assisted checkout systems and the number of self-service checkout systems which are installed in the retailer's store.
What is needed therefore is a checkout system which overcomes one or more of the above-mentioned drawbacks. What is particularly needed is a low-cost, easy-to-operate checkout system that may be operated as either an assisted checkout system or a self-service checkout system. What is further needed is a checkout system that may be operated as either an assisted checkout system or a self-service checkout system that can be quickly and easily converted between the two types of systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing security to an assisted retail terminal having a security weight scale associated therewith. The method includes the step of generating an item-entered control signal when a product code associated with an item of a customer is entered into the retail terminal by retail personnel. The method also includes the step of detecting placement of the item by the retail personnel into a post-scan area associated with the retail terminal with the security weight scale and generating a detection control signal in response thereto. Moreover, the method includes the step of generating an invalid-use control signal if the detection control signal is generated prior to generation of the item-entered control signal.
In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an assisted retail terminal. The terminal includes a terminal base having (i) a customer side, and (ii) a personnel side which is opposite the customer side. The terminal also includes a code entry device secured to the terminal base. Moreover, the terminal includes a post-scan area for supporting an item of a customer subsequent to entry of the item with the code entry device by retail personnel. The post-scan area is oriented relative to the terminal base so as to allow advancement of the item by the retail personnel into the post-scan area from the personnel side of the terminal base. The terminal also includes a security weight scale for monitoring (i) placement of the item into the post-scan area by the retail personnel, and (ii) removal of the item from the post-scan area by the retail personnel. In addition, the terminal includes a processing unit electrically coupled to both the code entry device and the security weight scale. Further, the terminal includes a memory device electrically coupled to the processing unit. The memory device has stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, causes the processing unit to (a) generate an item-entered control signal when a product code associated with the item of the customer is entered with the code entry device by the retail personnel, (b) detect placement of the item by the retail personnel into the post-scan area with the security weight scale and generate a detection control signal in response thereto, and (c) generate an invalid-use control signal if the detection control signal is generated prior to generation of the item-entered control signal.
In accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, there is provided method of providing security to an assisted retail terminal having a security weight scale associated therewith. The method includes the step of generating an item-entered control signal when a product code associated with an item of a customer is entered into the retail terminal by retail personnel. The method also includes the step of retrieving a reference weight value of the item from a weight database in response to generation of the item-entered control signal. The method further includes the step of determining a measured weight value of the item with the security weight scale when the item is placed into a post-scan area by the retail personnel. Moreover, the method includes the step of generating an invalid-use control signal if the measured weight value of the item does not match the re
Maginot Addison & Moore
NCR Corporation
Pitts Harold I.
LandOfFree
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