System and method for exception handling in self-checkout and automated data capture systems

• US 10,430,776 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2015
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Datalogic USA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Datalogic USA, Inc.
• Inventors: Svetal, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawley, Talia F
• Application Number:
  US14/593,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20150193761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/048 automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner 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 1/01 Details for indicating displaying information in general G09F, G09G
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/006 False operation

Abstract

A checkout system for data reading, and related methods of use, the checkout system including one or more data reading devices with a conveyor for transporting items toward a read zone of the data reading devices, and an exception identification system capable of identifying exception items transported through the read zone without being successfully identified by the data reader. An imaging system acquires one or more images of these exception items, and these images are presented to a user on a display screen, whereby the user manipulates the images of the exception items to associate the images with item information (such as item description, price, etc.) to clear any exception items.

Claims

1. An automated optical code reading and control system, comprising

a data reader having a read zone;

a conveyor system configured to transport one or more items through the read zone of the data reader, the data reader configured to read optical code data on the one or more items and to identify the one or more items during a reading process as the one or more items pass through the read zone;

a storage device in operable communication with the data reader, the storage device having stored therein a set of item data for each of the one or more items, the set of item data being retrievable from the storage device via the optical code data;

an exception identification system configured to detect an exception item from the one or more items that have been transported through the read zone, the exception item being a transported item that was not successfully identified by the data reader;

an imaging system configured to acquire an image of the exception item;

an exception handling system in operable communication with the exception identification system and the storage device, the exception handling system configured to query the storage device and retrieve one or more sets of item data for items determined by the exception handling system to be potential matches for the exception item;

a processor configured to receive the one or more sets of item data for the items determined to be potential matches for the exception item, and to generate one or more selectable icons for the items determined to be potential matches for the exception item; and

a display having a display screen, the display in operable communication with the processor and the imaging system, the display screen configured to;

(a) present the image of the exception item, (b) present the one or more selectable icons generated by the processor, and (c) receive input from an operator for associating the image of the exception item with one of the one or more selectable icons to resolve the exception for the exception item with the item associated with the selection icon.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the display screen comprises a touch screen, and wherein either or both of the image of the exception item and the one or more selectable icons are movable on the touch screen to a designated spot for associating the image of the exception item with the one of the one or more selectable icons.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the display screen is further configured to simultaneously present an image for each of a plurality of exception items, and wherein the display is further configured to receive input to associate the image for each of the plurality of exception items with a corresponding one of the one or more selectable icons for items determined by the exception handling system to be potential matches for each of the plurality of exception items.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging system is configured to acquire a collection of images including a first image of a first non-exception item and a second image of a second non-exception item, wherein the first and second non-exception items correspond to items determined to be successfully identified by the data reader, and wherein the display is further configured to display the collection of images on the display screen together with the image of the exception item.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the image of the exception item includes multiple views of the exception item captured by the data reader, and wherein the display is further configured to present each of the multiple views of the exception item and receive input for selecting and manipulating between the multiple views of the exception item on the display.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the display is configured to present item information for each image in the collection of images, and wherein the display is further configured to receive input for manipulating the item information for each image in the collection of images to swap association of the item information from the first non-exception item to be associated with the exception item such that the exception item is turned into a non-exception item and the first non-exception item is turned into an exception item.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a database having stored therein stock item information for the exception item; and

a verification system in communication with the database, the verification system configured to query the database, compare the stock item information for the exception item with the received input for associating the image of the exception item with one of the one or more selectable icons, and determine whether the received input corresponds to the stock item information for the exception item.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the image of the exception item presented on the display screen is a rotatable three-dimensional image.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is incorporated within the exception handling system.

16. The system of claim 6, wherein the item information includes at least one of item description, item pricing, or item weight.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the exception handling system is configured to determine items to be potential matches for the exception items based, at least in part, on a partial decoding of an optical code located on the exception item captured by the data reader.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the exception handling system is configured to determine items to be potential matches for the exception items based, at least in part, on analyzing a partial image of the exception item captured by the data reader.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the exception handling system is configured to determine items to be potential matches for the exception items based, at least in part, on a weight of the exception item determined by the data reader.

8. A method of operation for an automated data reading system, the method comprising:

transporting, via a conveyor, one or more items along an item path through a read zone of a data reader;

reading and identifying, via a data reader, optical code data on the one or more transported items during a reading process as the one or more items pass through the read zone;

detecting, via an exception identification system, an exception item from the one or more items that have been transported through the read zone of the data reader, the exception item being a transported item that was not successfully identified by the data reader;

capturing, via an imaging system, an image of the exception item as the exception item is moved along the item path through the read zone;

querying, via an exception handling system, a storage device having stored therein a set of item data for each of the one or more items;

retrieving, via the exception handling system, one or more sets of item data for items determined by the exception handling system to be potential matches for the exception item;

receiving, via a processor, the one or more sets of item data for items determined by the exception handling system to be potential matches for the exception item;

generating, via the processor, one or more selectable icons, each selectable icon associated with one of the one or more sets of item data for items determined by the exception handling system to be potential matches for the exception item;

displaying, via a display system, the image of the exception item on a display screen;

displaying, via the display system, the one or more selectable icons generated by the processor for items determined by the exception handling system to be potential matches for the exception item; and

resolving the exception by receiving input from the operator via the display screen for associating the image of the exception item with one of the one or more selectable icons displayed on the display screen.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein displaying the image of the exception item and item information of the exception item on the display screen further comprises simultaneously displaying an image for each of a plurality of exception items, and wherein resolving the exception by receiving input comprises receiving input to associate the image for each of the plurality of exception items with a corresponding one of the one or more selectable icons for items determined by the exception handling system to be potential matches for each of the plurality of exception items.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

acquiring, via the imaging system, a collection of images including a first image a first non-exception item and a second image of a second non-exception item, the first and second non-exception items correspond to items successfully identified by the data reader; and

displaying, via the display screen, the collection of images together with the image of the exception item.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the image of the exception item includes multiple views of the exception item captured by the data reader, and wherein resolving the exception by receiving input further includes selecting and manipulating between the multiple views of the exception item on the display screen.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving, via a verification system, feedback relating to the input for associating the image of the exception item with one of the one or more selectable icons; and

assessing an accuracy of the input based on the feedback.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the image of the exception item presented on the display screen is a rotatable three-dimensional image.

20. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

presenting item information for each image in the collection of images; and

receiving an input to swap association of the item information from the first non-exception item to be associated with the exception item such that the exception item is turned into a non-exception item and the first non-exception item is turned into an exception item.