Customized self-checkout system

• US 20030217892A1
• Filed: 02/03/2003
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Persky, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 6,991,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 186/68
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/048 automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles

Abstract

The present invention is directed to systems and methods relating to a customizable self-checkout system including a self-checkout device for processing items for purchase by a customer, a processor for controlling the operations of the self-checkout device, and a memory for receiving customer profile data. The processor adapts the operation of the self-checkout system in accordance with the customer profile data.

Claims

1. A customizable self-checkout system comprising:

a self-checkout device for processing items for purchase by a customer;

a processor for controlling the operations of the self-checkout device;

a memory for receiving customer profile data;

wherein the processor adapts the operation of the self-checkout system in accordance with the customer profile data.

2. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 1, further comprising an input device for inputting information into the system;

3. The customizable system according to claim 1, wherein the customer profile data includes at least one of:

a profile variable, a customer preference, a learned preference, and/or a shopping transaction history of a customer.

4. The customizable system according to claim 3, wherein the processor adapts the performance of the self-checkout system in accordance with at least one of the profile variable, the customer preference, the learned preference, and/or the shopping transaction history.

5. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 1, wherein a customer profile includes a behavioral model comprising operational parameters for application to the self-checkout device, and wherein the processor applies the behavioral model to the operation of the self-checkout system.

6. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 1, wherein the customer profile data includes data corresponding to at least one of:

a self-checkout processing speed, a display prompting speed, a security level, a lighting scheme, a payment method, coupon acceptance, advertising, instructional prompting, and a customer'"'"'s favorite products.

7. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 6, wherein the self-checkout speed comprises a speed of a conveyor belt speed, and/or an instructional presentation speed.

8. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 6, wherein a security level comprises at least one of:

item pass-around allowance, age-verification system, a number of security resets, and/or the need for personnel to monitor the transaction.

9. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 5, wherein the operational parameters include data corresponding to at least one of:

a self-checkout processing speed, a display prompting speed, a security level, a lighting scheme, a payment method, coupon acceptance, advertising, instructional prompting, and a customer'"'"'s favorite products.

10. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 9, wherein the self-checkout speed comprises a speed of a conveyor belt speed, and/or an instructional presentation speed.

11. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 9, wherein a security level comprises at least one of:

item pass-around allowance, age-verification system, a number of security resets, and/or the need for personnel to monitor the transaction.

12. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 2, wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting of:

a magnetic card reader, a scanner, a bar-code reader, a keypad, a touchscreen, a microphone, a joystick, and a computer readable medium.

13. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 1, further comprising a display.

14. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 1, further comprising an audio system.

15. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 1, wherein a customer is identified with customer profile data via a customer ID.

16. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 15, wherein the processor determining whether a customer has been assigned a customer ID, and if not then the processor assigns a new customer ID and/or a default customer profile to the customer.

17. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 1, wherein customer profile data is stored in a database.

18. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 1, further comprising a database for storing customer profile data.

19. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 1, wherein a new customer profile variable for confirmation by the customer is presented to the customer.

20. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 1, wherein a marketing preference selection is presented to the customer.

21. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 1, wherein the processor learns a customer preference.

22. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 21, wherein the preference includes a marketing preference.

23. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 5, wherein the processor generates a revised behavioral model based on shopping transaction history.

24. The customizable self-checkout system according to claim 23, wherein the processor associates the revised behavioral model to the customer profile.

25. A method for customizing a self-checkout system comprising:

receiving customer profile data for a customer;

adapting the operation of a self-checkout system in accordance with the customer profile data for that customer.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the customer profile data includes at least one of:

a profile variable, a customer preference, a learned preference, and/or a shopping transaction history of a customer.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the operation of the self-checkout system is in accordance with at least one of the profile variable, the customer preference, the learned preference and/or the shopping transaction history.

28. The method according to claim 25, wherein a customer profile includes a behavioral model comprising one or more operational parameters for application to the self-checkout device, and wherein the processor applies the behavioral model to operate the self-checkout system in accordance with one or more of such operational parameters.

29. The method according to claim 25, wherein the customer profile data includes data corresponding to at least one of:

a self-checkout processing speed, a display prompting speed, a security level, a lighting scheme, a payment method, coupon acceptance, advertising, instructional prompting, and a customer'"'"'s favorite products.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the self-checkout speed comprises a speed of a conveyor belt speed, and/or an instructional presentation speed.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein a security level comprises at least one of:

item pass-around allowance, age-verification system, a number of security resets, and/or the need for personnel to monitor the transaction.

32. The method according to claim 28, wherein the operational parameters at least one of:

a self-checkout processing speed, a display prompting speed, a security level, a lighting scheme, a payment method, coupon acceptance, advertising, instructional prompting, and a customer'"'"'s favorite products.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the self-checkout speed comprises a speed of a conveyor belt speed, and/or an instructional presentation speed.

34. A system for customizing a self-checkout system comprising:

receiving means for receiving customer profile data;

adapting means for adapting the operation of a self-checkout system in accordance with the customer profile data.

35. A computer readable medium having computer instructions provided thereon for enabling a self-checkout system to perform a method of customizing a shopping transaction, the method comprising:

receiving customer profile data;

adapting the operation of a self-checkout system in accordance with the customer profile data.

36. A customizable self-checkout system comprising:

a self-checkout device,

a processor for controlling the operation of the self-checkout device,

a memory for receiving customer profile data, the customer profile data including customized settings for the operation of the self-checkout system for such customer; and

presentation means for presenting the customer settings.

37. The customizable system according to claim 36, wherein the presentation means comprises at least one of a display and a loudspeaker.

38. The system according to claim 36, further comprising an input device.

39. The customizable system according to claim 38, wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting of:

a magnetic card reader, a scanner, a bar-code reader, a keypad, a touchscreen, a microphone, a joystick, and a computer readable medium.

40. The system according to claim 36, wherein the custom settings comprise at least one of:

a self-checkout processing speed, a display prompting speed, a security level, a lighting scheme, a payment method, coupon acceptance, advertising, instructional prompting, and a customer'"'"'s favorite products.

41. The system according to claim 40, wherein the self-checkout speed comprises a speed of a conveyor belt speed, and/or an instructional presentation speed.

42. The system according to claim 41, wherein a security level comprises at least one of:

item pass-around allowance, age-verification system, a number of security resets, and/or the need for personnel to monitor the transaction.

43. The system according to claim 38, wherein the custom settings are further customizable by the customer.