Method and apparatus for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal

• US 20030164398A1
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew S Van Luchene, Daniel E. Tedesco, Jay S. Walker, John B. Dickerson
• Original Assignee: Andrew S Van Luchene, Daniel E. Tedesco, Jay S. Walker, John B. Dickerson
• Inventors: Van Luchene, Andrew S., Tedesco, Daniel E., Walker, Jay S., Dickerson, John B.
• Granted Patent: US 6,871,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/206 comprising security or operator identification provisions, e.g. password entry
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A point-of-sale terminal initiates a transaction and provides a prompt to be spoken to an operator (e.g. a cashier) of the POS terminal. The prompt indicates a verbal message that is to be spoken by the operator. The POS terminal then receives an audio signal via a microphone or similar device to record what the operator has spoken. Using speech recognition, the POS terminal determines whether the audio signal corresponds to the prompt, and thus whether the operator spoke the prompt properly. In one embodiment, the transaction is paused until the operator properly speaks the prompt. In another embodiment, the POS terminal stores an indication of whether the operator has properly spoken the prompt, thereby allowing the performance of the operator to be measured.

Claims

1. A method for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

receiving an audio signal during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal; and

determining whether the audio signal satisfies a predetermined criterion.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the audio signal comprises a verbal message.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a prompt before the step of receiving an audio signal

4. The method of claim 1 in which the step of determining whether the audio signal satisfies a predetermined criterion comprises:

determining whether the audio signal indicates that the operator spoke.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the step of determining whether the audio signal indicates that the operator spoke comprises:

determining whether the audio signal indicates that the operator spoke for at least a predetermined length of time.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the step of determining whether the audio signal satisfies a predetermined criterion comprises:

determining whether the audio signal represents a predetermined phrase including at least one word.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the step of determining whether the audio signal satisfies a predetermined criterion comprises:

determining whether the audio signal represents a predetermined phrase including at least one word.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an operator identifier that uniquely indicates an operator of a POS terminal

9. A method for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

initiating a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal;

transmitting a prompt to be spoken during the transaction;

receiving an audio signal; and

determining whether the audio signal corresponds to the prompt.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of receiving the audio signal comprises:

recording the audio signal during a predetermined time interval.

11. The method of claim 10 in which the predetermined time interval starts at a predetermined time.

12. The method of claim 10 in which the step of recording an audio signal comprises:

receiving the audio signal after the step of transmitting the prompt.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing an indication of whether the audio signal corresponds to the prompt.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

pausing the transaction if the audio signal does not correspond to the prompt.

15. The method of claim 14 in which the step of pausing the transaction comprises:

pausing the transaction until it is determined that the audio signal corresponds to the prompt.

16. The method of claim 15 in which the step of pausing the transaction until it is determined that the audio signal corresponds to the prompt comprises:

receiving a supplementary audio signal; and

determining whether the supplementary audio signal corresponds to the prompt.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

repeating, until the supplementary audio signal corresponds to the prompt, the steps of

receiving a supplementary audio signal; and

determining whether the supplementary audio signal corresponds to the prompt.

18. The method of claim 14 in which the step of pausing the transaction if the audio signal does not correspond to the prompt comprises:

preventing a cash drawer from opening.

19. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

preventing initiation of a new transaction until it is determined that the audio signal corresponds to the prompt.

20. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

generating the prompt based on the transaction data.

21. The method of claim 20 in which the prompt includes a frequent shopper name.

22. The method of claim 20 in which the prompt includes an item ordered.

23. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining transaction information from the audio signal.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving transaction data; and

determining whether the transaction information corresponds to the transaction data.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

outputting instructions to repeat the order if the transaction information does not correspond to the transaction data.

26. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a customer audio signal from a customer.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

determining operator transaction information from the audio signal;

determining customer transaction information from the customer audio signal; and

determining whether the operator transaction information corresponds to the customer transaction information.

28. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

calculating a percentage of transactions in which the audio signal corresponds to the prompt.

29. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a survey response.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

transmitting a survey question before the step of receiving an audio signal.

31. The method of claim 29 in which the step of receiving a survey response is performed after the step of receiving an audio signal.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

transmitting a plurality of survey questions before the step of receiving an audio signal; and

in which the step of receiving a survey response comprises;

receiving a survey response to each survey question after the step of receiving an audio signal.

33. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

measuring an activity rate of a point-of-sale terminal.

34. The method of claim 33 in which the step of measuring the activity rate comprises:

measuring at least one of a transaction rate, an item sale rate, a profitability rate and an acceptance rate.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

pausing the transaction in accordance with the activity rate and the prompt.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

pausing the transaction if the audio signal does not correspond to the prompt and the activity rate is less than a predetermined threshold.

37. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing the audio signal.

38. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving an operator identifier

39. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

calculating a bonus of the operator based on the whether the audio signal corresponds to the prompt.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

adding the bonus to a pay check of the operator.

41. An apparatus for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

a processor;

a data storage device in communication with the processor; and

a microphone in communication with the processor;

the data storage device storing a program,

the processor operative with the program to;

receive transaction data indicating an item to purchase;

receive an audio signal via the microphone from an operator of a point-of-sale terminal; and

determine whether the audio signal satisfies a predetermined criterion.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising:

a speaker in communication with the processor.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

transmit audio signals via the speaker.

44. The apparatus of claim 42 in which the speaker is an earphone speaker.

45. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising:

a display device.

46. The apparatus of claim 45 in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

transmit a prompt via the display device.

47. A method for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

providing a prompt to be spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, the prompt being based on the transaction data;

receiving an audio signal at a predetermined time;

determining whether the audio signal corresponds to the prompt; and

pausing the transaction if the audio signal does not correspond to the prompt.

48. A method for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

receiving an operator identifier;

receiving transaction data;

transmitting a prompt to be spoken;

receiving an audio signal from an operator of a point-of-sale terminal;

determining whether the audio signal indicates that the operator has properly spoken the prompt; and

pausing the transaction if the audio signal does not indicate that the operator has properly spoken the prompt.

49. A method for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

receiving an operator identifier;

receiving transaction data;

transmitting a prompt to be spoken;

receiving an audio signal from an operator of a point-of-sale terminal;

determining whether the audio signal indicates that the operator has properly spoken the prompt; and

storing an indication of whether the audio signal indicates that the operator has properly spoken the prompt.

50. An apparatus for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

means for receiving an audio signal during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal; and

means for determining whether the audio signal satisfies a predetermined criterion.

51. An apparatus for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

receive an audio signal during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal; and

determine whether the audio signal satisfies a predetermined criterion.

52. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method performed by a computer for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, the method comprising:

receiving an audio signal during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal; and

determining whether the audio signal satisfies a predetermined criterion.

53. An apparatus for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

means for initiating a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal;

means for transmitting a prompt to be spoken during the transaction;

means for receiving an audio signal; and

means for determining whether the audio signal corresponds to the prompt.

54. An apparatus for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

initiate a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal;

transmit a prompt to be spoken during the transaction;

receive an audio signal; and

determine whether the audio signal corresponds to the prompt.

55. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method performed by a computer for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, the method comprising:

initiating a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal;

transmitting a prompt to be spoken during the transaction;

receiving an audio signal; and

determining whether the audio signal corresponds to the prompt.

56. An apparatus for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

provide a prompt to be spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, the prompt being based on the transaction data;

receive an audio signal at a predetermined time;

determine whether the audio signal corresponds to the prompt; and

pause the transaction if the audio signal does not correspond to the prompt.

57. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method performed by a computer for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, the method comprising:

providing a prompt to be spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, the prompt being based on the transaction data;

receiving an audio signal at a predetermined time;

determining whether the audio signal corresponds to the prompt; and

pausing the transaction if the audio signal does not correspond to the prompt.

58. An apparatus for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

receive an operator identifier;

receive transaction data;

transmit a prompt to be spoken;

receive an audio signal from an operator of a point-of-sale terminal;

determine whether the audio signal indicates that the operator has properly spoken the prompt; and

pause the transaction if the audio signal does not indicate that the operator has properly spoken the prompt.

59. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method performed by a computer for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, the method comprising:

receiving an operator identifier;

receiving transaction data;

transmitting a prompt to be spoken;

receiving an audio signal from an operator of a point-of-sale terminal;

determining whether the audio signal indicates that the operator has properly spoken the prompt; and

pausing the transaction if the audio signal does not indicate that the operator has properly spoken the prompt.

60. An apparatus for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

receive an operator identifier;

receive transaction data;

transmit a prompt to be spoken;

receive an audio signal from an operator of a point-of-sale terminal;

determine whether the audio signal indicates that the operator has properly spoken the prompt; and

store an indication of whether the audio signal indicates that the operator has properly spoken the prompt.

61. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method performed by a computer for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

receiving an operator identifier;

receiving transaction data;

transmitting a prompt to be spoken;

receiving an audio signal from an operator of a point-of-sale terminal;

determining whether the audio signal indicates that the operator has properly spoken the prompt; and

storing an indication of whether the audio signal indicates that the operator has properly spoken the prompt.