Self checkout with security checks based on categorized items

• US 10,157,379 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2014
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Singh, Ankit
• Primary Examiner(s): Chein, Allen C
• Application Number:
  US14/539,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20160132854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0072 with means for detecting the weight of the article of which the code is read, for the verification of the registration weighing combined with recording means, e.g. in weighing scale, G01G19/415
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/01 Details for indicating displaying information in general G09F, G09G
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/003 Anti-theft control theft alarms G08B13/00

Abstract

Method and apparatus for performing security checks at a self-checkout kiosk in a retail store. The customers can create lists of items for purchase as they shop. When a customer is ready to pay, his list can be divided into sub-lists. Each sub-list can include items that require the same type of security check. The customer can then be provided with the sub-lists and an instruction for each sub-list that explains how the customer should arrange the items on the sub-list for a security check. After the customer has properly arranged the items on a sub-list, the relevant security check can be performed.

Claims

1. A method of implementing distinct security check types for distinct categories of items during self-checkout, the method comprising:

receiving a list of items to be purchased as part of a desired transaction at a physical store, each item in the list of items comprising a physical item selected from a plurality of items available for sale;

generating a plurality of sub-lists by operation of one or more computer processors, based on the list of items and based further on a predefined association between each item available for sale with a respective one of a plurality of security check categories, each sub-list pertaining to a distinct one of the plurality of security check categories and containing only those items in the list that are associated with the respective security check category;

generating;

(i) a first instruction to present only the items on a first of the plurality of sub-lists for a first security check associated with a first of the plurality of security check categories and (ii) a second instruction to present only the items on a second of the plurality of sub-lists for a second security check associated with a second of the plurality of security check categories, wherein the first and second security checks are of distinct security check types, wherein the items on the first sub-list include one or more items of a first item type and one or more items of a second item type; and

outputting the first and second instructions in order to cause the first and second security checks to be performed on the items on the first and second sub-lists, respectively, during self-checkout, wherein the items on the first sub-list are presented on a scale, wherein the first security check comprises a weight verification that includes;

upon determining that a total weight from a single weighing of the items in the first sub-list on the scale exceeds, by at least a threshold difference, an expected total weight determined for the items in the first sub-list, generating and outputting an alert indicating an error detected by the first security check, wherein the desired transaction is not completed until the error is corrected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the security check category associated with the second sub-list comprises quantity verification of the items in the second sub-list, wherein the second instruction includes an instruction to sequentially place items from the second sub-list on a point-of-sale device for one of counting and count verification.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the security check category associated with the second sub-list comprises quantity verification of the items in the second sub-list, wherein the second instruction includes an instruction for a customer of the desired transaction to convey a quantity for each item on the second sub-list for verification.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the categorized self-checkout is performed with an increased measure of efficiency relative to uncategorized self-checkout, wherein the first and second instructions are output in sequence, wherein the method is performed by an application configured to:

upon determining that the first and second security checks completed without any security check error, complete the desired transaction at the physical store, whereafter an indication of the completed transaction is generated and output;

wherein the first and second instructions to present only the items comprise first and second instructions to physically present only the items, wherein each of the items on the second sub-list is of a respective, distinct item type.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the security check category associated with the second sub-list comprises quantity verification of the items in the second sub-list, wherein the second instruction includes:

(i) an instruction for a customer of the desired transaction to convey a quantity for each item on the second sub-list for verification; and

(ii) an instruction to sequentially place items from the second sub-list on a point-of-sale device for one of counting and count verification.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the error comprises a first error, wherein the second security check is performed for each sequentially placed item in the second sub-list, wherein performing the second security check comprises:

determining a quantity of the item placed on the point-of-sale device;

comparing the conveyed quantity to the determined quantity; and

upon determining a second error comprising the conveyed quantity differing from the determined quantity, generating an alert indicating that the conveyed quantity differs from the determined quantity, whereafter the alert is output in order to notify an attendant of the second error.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the quantity of the item comprises, in a first instance of performing the method:

receiving an image of the item on the point-of-sale device; and

automatically counting a number of units in the image.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the quantity of the item comprises, in a second instance of performing the method:

weighing the item on the scale on the point-of-sale device;

retrieving a weight-per-unit metric for the item; and

automatically calculating a quantity of the item based on the weight of the item and based further on the retrieved weight-per-unit metric for the item.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the categorized self-checkout is performed with an increased measure of efficiency relative to uncategorized self-checkout, wherein the first and second instructions are output in sequence, wherein the first and second instructions to present only the items comprise first and second instructions to physically present only the items.

10. A system to implement distinct security check types for distinct categories of items during self-checkout, the system comprising:

a computer memory storing a computer program;

a transceiver configured for communication with a plurality of mobile payment devices; and

a computer processor in communication with the computer memory and the transceiver, wherein the computer processor is configured to execute the computer program to;

receive, via the transceiver, a list of items to be purchased as part of a desired transaction at a physical store, each item in the list of items comprising a physical item selected from a plurality of items available for sale;

generate a plurality of sub-lists based on the list of items and based further on a predefined association between each item available for sale with a respective one of a plurality of security check categories, each sub-list pertaining to a distinct one of the plurality of security check categories and containing only those items associated with the respective security check category;

generate;

(i) a first instruction to present only the items on a first of the plurality of sub-lists for a first security check associated with a first of the plurality of security check categories and (ii) a second instruction to present only the items on a second of the plurality of sub-lists for a second security check associated with a second of the plurality of security check categories, wherein the first and second security checks are of distinct security check types, wherein the items on the first sub-list include one or more items of a first item type and one or more items of a second item type; and

output the first and second instructions in order to cause the first and second security checks to be performed on the items on the first and second sub-lists, respectively, during self-checkout, wherein the items on the first sub-list are presented on a scale, wherein the first security check comprises a weight verification that includes;

upon determining that a total weight from a single weighing of the items in the first sub-list on the scale exceeds, by at least a threshold difference, an expected total weight determined for the items in the first sub-list, generating and outputting an alert indicating an error detected by the first security check, wherein the desired transaction is not completed until the error is corrected.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer memory, transceiver, and computer processor are arranged in a point-of-sale machine, wherein the system further comprises a computer display, wherein the computer processor outputs the first sub-list, the second sub-list, the first instruction, and the second instruction to the computer display.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer processor outputs the first sub-list, the second sub-list, the first instruction, and the second instruction to at least a first of the plurality of mobile payment devices via the transceiver for display on a display screen associated with the first mobile payment device.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer processor further performs the first security check on the items in the first sub-list and the second security check on the items in the second sub-list, wherein the system further includes a selectively illuminating indicator, wherein the computer processor illuminates the indicator upon any error detected by the first security check or the second security check, in order to alert an attendant of the physical store of the error, wherein the attendant comprises an individual other than a customer of the desired transaction.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the security check category associated with the second sub-list comprises quantity verification of the items in the second sub-list, wherein the second instruction includes an instruction to sequentially place items from the second sub-list on a point-of-sale device for one of counting and count verification.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the security check category associated with the second sub-list comprises quantity verification of the items in the second sub-list, wherein the second instruction includes an instruction for a customer of the desired transaction to convey a quantity for each item on the second sub-list for verification.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the categorized self-checkout is performed with an increased measure of efficiency relative to uncategorized self-checkout, wherein the first and second instructions are output in sequence, wherein the first and second instructions to present only the items comprise first and second instructions to physically present only the items.

17. A computer program product to implement distinct security check types for distinct categories of items during self-checkout, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied therewith, the computer-readable program code executable by one or more computer processors to;

receive, from a mobile payment device, a list of items to be purchased as part of a desired transaction at a physical store, each item in the list of items comprising a physical item selected from a plurality of items available for sale;

generate a plurality of sub-lists based on the list of items and based further on a predefined association between each item available for sale with a respective one of a plurality of security check categories, each sub-list pertaining to a distinct one of the plurality of security check categories and containing only those items in the list that are associated with the respective security check category;

generate;

(i) a first instruction to present only the items on a first of the plurality of sub-lists for a first security check associated with a first of the plurality of security check categories and (ii) a second instruction to present only the items on a second of the plurality of sub-lists for a second security check associated with a second of the plurality of security check categories, wherein the first and second security checks are of distinct security check types, wherein the items on the first sub-list include one or more items of a first item type and one or more items of a second item type; and

output the first and second instructions in order to cause the first and second security checks to be performed on the items on the first and second sub-lists, respectively, during self-checkout, wherein the items on the first sub-list are presented on a scale, wherein the first security check comprises a weight verification that includes;

upon determining that a total weight from a single weighing of the items in the first sub-list on the scale exceeds, by at least a threshold difference, an expected total weight determined for the items in the first sub-list, generating and outputting an alert indicating an error detected by the first security check, wherein the desired transaction is not completed until the error is corrected.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the security check category associated with the second sub-list comprises quantity verification of the items in the second sub-list, wherein the second instruction includes an instruction to sequentially place items from the second sub-list on a point-of-sale device for one of counting and count verification.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the security check category associated with the second sub-list comprises quantity verification of the items in the second sub-list, wherein the second instruction includes an instruction for a customer of the desired transaction to convey a quantity for each item on the second sub-list for verification.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the categorized self-checkout is performed with an increased measure of efficiency relative to uncategorized self-checkout, wherein the first and second instructions are output in sequence, wherein the first and second instructions to present only the items comprise first and second instructions to physically present only the items.