Biometric identification and security system associated with cash register

• US 20030150911A1
• Filed: 02/12/2002
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Famous Horse, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Famous Horse, Inc.
• Inventors: Joseph, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 6,883,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/206 comprising security or operator identification provisions, e.g. password entry
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00

Abstract

A wholesale and/or retail check out station system includes a biometric finger print reader and storage for reading and storing biometric data of employees having access to the cash registers of the check out stations in the system. Authorization to use a cash register in the system is programmed into the microprocessor in the system, limiting use of a cash register to authorized employees. Employees are identified by finger print using biometric technology. Limitations of use is extended to access to operate particular cash register(s); handling returned merchandise at a cash register; refunds on returned purchases require authorization of the manager and the cashier; cashing checks at a cash register, where the limitation includes only cashing of employer drawn payroll checks of employees; and, clearing errors made in tabulations at a cash register. Unauthorized persons attempting to gain access to cash registers to which they are not authorized serves to activate an alarm.

Claims

1. A commercial check out station system comprising:

a) a cash register means;

b) a biometric reader means for reading and storing a biometric data read by said biometric reader means; and

c) a comparator means, associated with said cash register means, for comparing said stored biometric data with a second biometric data read by said biometric reader means for identifying a person authorized to use said cash register means.

2. A commercial check out station system as in claim 1 wherein said cash register of said check out station system will automatically shut down if said cash register is not used for a predetermined time interval.

3. A commercial check out station system as in claim 1 wherein checks cashed through said cash register means are limited to employee payroll checks drafted by an employer/operator of said commercial check out station system.

4. A commercial check out station system as in claim 1 wherein said biometric reader means is a thumb print reader means.

5. A commercial check out station system as in claim 1 wherein said biometric reader means is a finger print reader means.

6. A commercial check out station system as in claim 1 which further includes a real time clock for providing a running tally of date, day of week, time of day and year.

7. A commercial check out station system as in claim 6 where in said cash register means is a plurality of cash register means.

8. A commercial check out station system as in claim 7 each said cash register means of said plurality of cash register means includes

a) a check reader means for reading a data on a check identifying an account on which said check is drawn and a bank which holds said account.

9. A commercial check out station system as in claim 8 which further includes

a) a standard card reader means for reading for reading a credit card and a debit card;

and

b) a bar code reader means for reading data encoded in bar form code.

10. A commercial check out station system as in claim 7 and said system further includes

a) a central control station, coupled to each said cash register by a hard wire link and by a wireless link for communication between stations.