Multi-device supervisor support for self-checkout systems
First Claim
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1. A customer self-checkout system for processing items for purchase, comprising:
- a checkout station configured for self-checkout by customers of items for purchase;
a plurality of supervisory terminals configured to conduct supervisory activities administering operation of the checkout station; and
a controller operatively coupling the plurality of supervisory terminals to the checkout station, wherein said controller is configured to enable administration of the checkout station by multiple ones of the supervisory terminals.
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Abstract
A customer self-checkout system includes one or more checkout stations and multiple supervisor terminals. The supervisor terminals provide support to, and control over, the self-checkout system and checkout stations. A controller is used to coordinate communications among the checkout stations and supervisor terminals over a wired and/or wireless network interfaces. A user may provide input at supervisory terminal using an interface providing context sensitive prompting to enable control using a simple keyboard interface.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A customer self-checkout system for processing items for purchase, comprising:
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a checkout station configured for self-checkout by customers of items for purchase;
a plurality of supervisory terminals configured to conduct supervisory activities administering operation of the checkout station; and
a controller operatively coupling the plurality of supervisory terminals to the checkout station, wherein said controller is configured to enable administration of the checkout station by multiple ones of the supervisory terminals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21)
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14. A method for providing supervisory support in a customer self-checkout system, comprising:
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monitoring operation of a checkout station;
detecting a request for supervisory activity at the checkout station;
transmitting the request for supervisory activity to a plurality of supervisory stations;
coordinating communication between the self-checkout station and the plurality of supervisory stations to enable a responding supervisory station to assert control over the checkout station.
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19. A method of processing input at a supervisory terminal in a self-checkout system using a handheld supervisory device, the method comprising:
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receiving a supervisory request at a handheld supervisory device, the supervisory request indicating assistance required at a checkout station;
processing the supervisory request to determine a sequence of input steps associated with receipt of input responsive to the supervisory request, where the sequence of input steps differs depending on content of the received supervisory request and on inputs entered at the supervisory device as said steps are processed;
displaying context-sensitive input displays on a supervisory device display; and
altering the displayed information in response to data entry at the supervisory device.
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Specification