Random weight food product pricing scale with automated login capability
First Claim
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1. In a store including a department having a counter with a customer side and a service person side, a scale system comprising:
- multiple scale login enabling RF identification units for use by multiple service persons;
a scale located atop or above the counter and including a weighing station for receiving items to be weighed and having an associated mechanism for producing weight indicative signals when items are placed on the weighing station, a pricing control operable to establish a price for a weighed item based in part upon a weight indicative signal produced for that item, an RF detection system outputting an RF detection field in proximity to the scale for detecting the presence of RF identification units within the detection field, the RF detection field defining a limited detection range, wherein the scale is adapted to identify a single one of the RF identification units as being associated with a service person likely to next use the scale and to perform an automatic login for the identified RF identification unit, enabling multiple service persons with corresponding RF identification units to repeatedly move back and forth past the scale without causing automatic login until such an identification is made.
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Abstract
A scale system, such as a food product scale in a perishables department of a store, includes multiple scale login enabling RF identification units for use by corresponding service personnel, and a scale adapted to identify an acceptable RF identification unit that meets criteria indicative of likelihood of scale use and to perform an automated login operation for the identified RF identification unit.
21 Citations
37 Claims
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1. In a store including a department having a counter with a customer side and a service person side, a scale system comprising:
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multiple scale login enabling RF identification units for use by multiple service persons;
a scale located atop or above the counter and including a weighing station for receiving items to be weighed and having an associated mechanism for producing weight indicative signals when items are placed on the weighing station, a pricing control operable to establish a price for a weighed item based in part upon a weight indicative signal produced for that item, an RF detection system outputting an RF detection field in proximity to the scale for detecting the presence of RF identification units within the detection field, the RF detection field defining a limited detection range, wherein the scale is adapted to identify a single one of the RF identification units as being associated with a service person likely to next use the scale and to perform an automatic login for the identified RF identification unit, enabling multiple service persons with corresponding RF identification units to repeatedly move back and forth past the scale without causing automatic login until such an identification is made. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In a store including a department having a counter with a customer side and a service person side, a scale system comprising:
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multiple RF identification units for use by multiple service persons;
a scale located atop or above the counter and adapted for weighing and pricing random weight items and for enabling multiple service persons to utilize the scale where each service person has one of the RF identification units in the form of a wrist-band or other structure located proximate to the service person'"'"'s hand, the scale comprising;
a weighing station for receiving items to be weighed and having an associated mechanism for producing weight indicative signals when items are placed on the weighing station;
an input device located on the scale;
a controller operatively connected to the input device and the mechanism, the controller operable to establish a price for a weighed item based in part upon a weight indicative signal produced for that item; and
an RF detection system incorporated into the scale and outputting an RF detection field in proximity to the input device for detecting the presence of an RF identification unit near the input device, the RF detection field defining a limited detection range of no more than eighteen inches from the input device enabling multiple service persons to repeatedly move back and forth past the scale without having the RF detection system detect their respective RF identification units until a given service person takes an action indicative of an intent to use the scale by moving the hand having the associated RF identification unit near the input device and within the limited detection range of the RF detection field. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A scale adapted for weighing and pricing random weight items and for enabling multiple service persons to utilize the scale where each service person has a respective RF identification unit, the scale comprising:
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a weighing station for receiving items to be weighed and having an associated mechanism for producing weight indicative signals when items are placed on the weighing station;
an input device located on the scale;
a controller operatively connected to the input device and the mechanism; and
an RF detection system incorporated into the scale for outputting an RF detection field in proximity to the scale, the RF detection field defining a limited detection range so as to prevent detection of RF identification units that are around the scale but not within the limited detection range of the RF detection field;
wherein the controller is operable in at least one state during which it normally maintains the scale in an idle mode, and the RF detection system is operatively connected with the controller for placing the scale in an operating mode when an acceptable RF identification unit is detected within the limited detection range of the RF detection field, with the operating mode enabling at least one scale function not enabled during the idle mode. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A random weight item pricing scale adapted for automated login thereto, the scale comprising:
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a weighing station for receiving items to be weighed and having an associated mechanism for producing weight indicative signals when items are placed on the weighing station;
a controller operatively connected to the mechanism, the controller operable during an item pricing operation to calculate a price based upon weight of the item; and
an RF detection system incorporated into the scale for outputting an RF detection field in proximity to the scale, the RF detection field defining a limited detection range;
wherein the RF detection system and controller are adapted to identify, from among a plurality of RF identification units in a vicinity of the scale, a particular one of the RF identification units that meets certain criteria indicating a likelihood of scale use and to perform an automatic operator login for the particular RF identification unit. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of enabling multiple service persons working in the vicinity of a random weight item pricing scale having an automated login function to utilize the scale on an as needed basis, the method comprising:
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providing each service person with an RF identification unit;
identifying, from amongst a plurality of RF identification units moving around in a vicinity of the scale, a particular RF identification unit that meets criteria indicating a likelihood of scale use; and
performing an automatic scale login operation for the particular RF identification unit that is identified. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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Specification