Self-checkout system having component video camera for produce purchase monitoring
First Claim
1. A method of operating a self-service checkout terminal comprising the steps of:
- initiating a checkout transaction at the self-service checkout terminal;
obtaining weight of a produce item via a scale of the self-service checkout terminal; and
acquiring a digital picture of the produce item via a component video camera of the self-service checkout terminal when the weight of the produce item is obtained.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A monitoring system for a self-service checkout system includes a component video camera, such as an RGB component video camera or an analog component video camera. The component video camera is coupled to the processor of a self-service checkout terminal and is operative to obtain a digital picture of an item during the self-checkout transaction. Preferably, the component video camera is operative to obtain a digital picture of an item such as produce when the item is on a scale of the self-checkout terminal and being weighed. This provides a high probability that the customer is not blocking the component video camera. The self-service checkout terminal is in communication with a monitoring station via a network such that the monitoring station can view the digital picture and/or store the digital picture. The digital picture can then be associated with the purchase transaction in a data warehouse. An attendant at a monitoring station can review the picture of an item being weighed virtually at the moment the item is being weighed.
66 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of operating a self-service checkout terminal comprising the steps of:
-
initiating a checkout transaction at the self-service checkout terminal;
obtaining weight of a produce item via a scale of the self-service checkout terminal; and
acquiring a digital picture of the produce item via a component video camera of the self-service checkout terminal when the weight of the produce item is obtained. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A self-service checkout terminal comprising:
-
a processing unit;
a component video camera in communication with said processing unit;
a produce scale in communication with said processing unit; and
memory in communication with said processing unit and containing program instructions which, when executed by said processing unit, causes said processing unit to (i) initiate a checkout transaction at the self-service checkout terminal, (ii) obtain weight of a produce item via a produce scale of the self-service checkout terminal, and (iii) acquire a digital picture of the produce item when the weight of the produce item is obtained. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A self-service checkout system comprising:
-
a self-service checkout terminal;
a monitoring station; and
a network providing communication between said self-service checkout terminal and said monitoring station;
said self-service checkout terminal comprising;
a first processing unit;
a component video camera in communication with said processing unit;
a produce scale in communication with said processing unit; and
first memory in communication with said processing unit and containing program instructions which, when executed by said processing unit, causes said processing unit to (i) initiate a checkout transaction at the self-service checkout terminal, (ii) obtain weight of a produce item via a produce scale of the self-service checkout terminal, (iii) acquire a digital picture of the produce item when the weight of the produce item is obtained, and (iv) transmit the acquired digital picture of the produce item to said monitoring station via said network;
said monitoring station comprising;
a second processing unit;
a display in communication with said processing unit; and
second memory in communication with said processing unit and containing program instructions which, when executed by said processing unit, causes said processing unit to (i) receive the digital picture of the produce item from the self-service checkout terminal via the network; and
(ii) display the digital picture of the produce item on the display. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification