Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records – Inventory
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-13
2001-10-30
Le, Thien M. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
Inventory
C235S375000, C235S462010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308888
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to an arrangement for and a method of updating inventory markings and, more particularly, to a point-of-sale (POS) system including a scanner for electro-optically scanning a target, e.g., a bar code symbol on a label applied to a product; a terminal such as a data base computer or cash register operative for storing information, e.g., price, relating to the product, and for periodically updating such information; and a printer for printing an updated label for such updated information.
2. Description of Related Art
Targets having indicia of different light reflectivity,such as bar code symbols printed-on labels affixed to products, have been electro-optically scanned by directing laser beams to symbols for reflection therefrom. A portion of the reflected laser beam for each symbol was collected by a photodetector having a finite field of view. Each symbol and/or the field of view was scanned by different scan patterns including, but not limited to, a single scan line, a set of generally parallel scan lines, two sets of intersecting parallel scan lines, multiple intersecting scan lines, Lissajous scan patterns, holographic scan patterns, omnidirectional scan patterns, etc.
POS scanners and readers of this general type for electro-optically reading symbols have been disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,251,798; 4,360,798; 4,369,361; 4,387,297; 4,593,186; 4,496,831; 4,409,470; 4,460,120; 4,607,156; 4,673,805; 4,736,095; 4,758,717; 4,760,248; 4,806,742; 4,808,804; 4,825,057; 4,816,661; 4,816,660; 4,845,350; 4,835,374; 4,871,904; D-306,434; D-306,435; as well as pending applications Ser. Nos. 193,265; 265,143; 265,548; 265,149; 264,693; 367,335; 367,007; 429,198; 392,207; and 349,860, all of the aforementioned patents and patent applications having been assigned to the same assignee as the instant application, and being hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Once a product having a symbol-bearing label has been scanned and identified, information such as price relating to the identified product is retrieved from a data base of a host computer. This information is then used, for example, at a supermarket checkout counter to indicate the price of the identified product to a customer.
Although generally satisfactory for its intended purpose, some customers wish to know the price of a product before standing in line at the checkout counter. To assist the customer, some stores post price signs in the vicinity of the products for sale on supermarket shelves. However, those signs are sometimes removed and not replaced on the shelves. More often, the price information is outdated from one day to the next due to price increases or special promotion sales. The only reliable price information is obtained typically only at the checkout counter and, as previously noted, many customers would like to know the price beforehand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
1. Objects of the Invention
It is a general object of this invention to advance the state of the art of such scanners.
It is another object of this invention to update inventory markings on a real-time basis.
Another object of this invention is to print updated product labels when information relating to the product has been updated.
A further object of this invention is to print individual updated product labels or application to each product.
Still another object of this invention is to advise a customer of the price of a: product prior to checkout.
2. Features of the Invention
In keeping with these objects, and others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of this invention resides, briefly stated, in a method of and an arrangement for updating inventory markings. The invention includes storing information relating to inventory products in a data base of a host computer, and periodically updating such information relating to the products as circumstances, e.g. price increases or decreases, warrant. Each of the products is identified by electro-optically reading indicia thereon having parts of different light reflectivity. In a preferred embodiment, the indicia are bar code symbols printed on labels affixed to the products.
Each time a product has been identified, the host computer is interrogated on a real-time basis for the updated information. If updated information is available, an updated label is printed, the updated label containing the updated information in human-readable and/or machine-readable form. The updated label is thereupon applied to the identified product.
Thus, when the information relating to the products is price information, the customer is reliably apprised of the actual price of the item prior to checkout. No longer need the customer be faced with missing price signs.
The electro-optical reading of the symbol is preferably performed by a hand-held head supported by a retail clerk, and aimable at each symbol during reading. Within the head are mounted means for directing a light beam, preferably a laser beam, to the symbol, means for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off each symbol over a field of view, means for scanning at least one of said laser beam and said field of view, and means for processing electrical signals indicative of the detected light intensity into data identifying the product bearing the symbol.
Rather than a hand-held head, all of the afore-mentioned means can be incorporated in a head of a desk-top, stand-alone workstation. The head may be connected, in a preferred embodiment, to one end of an arm that is bendable in order to position the head in a desired orientation.
The printing of the updated label may be performed by a printer on-board the head, or located remotely therefrom, e.g. a portable printer either held separately by the clerk or supported on a belt or shoulder strap worn by the clerk.
In a preferred embodiment, the printer is a thermal printer that is powered by a re-usable, rechargeable battery. The printer advantageously prints on leading portions of a paper roll of tear-off labels not only the aforementioned price information, but also sequence numbers indicative of the number of times that the printer has printed labels -- a feature useful in preventing pilferage.
The electro-optical reading of a bar code symbol uniquely associated with each product insures that incorrect product identification by manual entry of an incorrect numerical code at a keyboard is reliably prevented.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 4372741 (1983-02-01), Cane et al.
patent: 4766297 (1988-08-01), McMillan
patent: 4879650 (1989-11-01), Kurimoto et al.
patent: 5448046 (1995-09-01), Swartz
patent: 0 199 252 B2 (1991-07-01), None
patent: 0708409 A2 (1996-04-01), None
patent: 0 341 717 B1 (1997-07-01), None
patent: 61-123563A (1987-06-01), None
patent: 02-153199A (1990-02-01), None
patent: 02-064799A (1990-03-01), None
Kirschstein, et al
Le Thien M.
Symbol Technologies Inc.
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