Point of sale (POS) based bar code reading and cash register systems with integrated internet-enabled customer-kiosk terminals
First Claim
Patent Images
13. A point of sale (POS) station for installation in a retail shopping environment, comprising:
- a counter-surface installed in said retail shopping environment; and
a bar code reading system installed in said counter-surface, said bar code reading system including;
a bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit having a bottom portion having a horizontal scanning window, and a vertical portion operably connected with said bottom portion and having a vertical scanning window;
an electronic produce scale integrated within said bottom portion of said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit;
a housing connected to said vertical portion of said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, defining a cashier'"'"'s side of the system and a customer'"'"'s side of the system;
a cashier-scale terminal integrated with said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having a first visual display panel and a first keyboard provided on the cashier'"'"'s side of said housing, and customer-kiosk terminal integrated with said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having with a second visual display panel and second keyboard integrated therewith provided on the cashier'"'"'s side of said housing;
wherein the first display panel at said cashier-scale terminal enables the cashier to enter information into said cashier-scale terminal, regarding produce items to be weighed by said electronic produce scale, as well as display such information for the cashier to review;
wherein the second display panel at said customer-kiosk terminal enables the customer to view the displayed price of scanned products and the displayed weight and price of weighed items, as well as enter and display information pertaining to financial transactions being carried out in connection with the purchase of products and/or produce at said POS envirorunent; and
wherein the second visual display panel is also provided with an Advertisement/Promotion Mode enabling the display of advertisements and/or promotions while the cashier is not scanning products and the price and product information thereof is not being displayed on said second visual display terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Novel POS-based bar code symbol reading systems are disclosed having an integrated customer-kiosk terminal. Also disclosed are novel POS-Based Bar Code Reading Cash Register Systems having Integrated Internet-enabled Customer-Kiosk Terminals.
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Citations
174 Claims
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13. A point of sale (POS) station for installation in a retail shopping environment, comprising:
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a counter-surface installed in said retail shopping environment; and
a bar code reading system installed in said counter-surface, said bar code reading system including;
a bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit having a bottom portion having a horizontal scanning window, and a vertical portion operably connected with said bottom portion and having a vertical scanning window;
an electronic produce scale integrated within said bottom portion of said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit;
a housing connected to said vertical portion of said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, defining a cashier'"'"'s side of the system and a customer'"'"'s side of the system;
a cashier-scale terminal integrated with said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having a first visual display panel and a first keyboard provided on the cashier'"'"'s side of said housing, and customer-kiosk terminal integrated with said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having with a second visual display panel and second keyboard integrated therewith provided on the cashier'"'"'s side of said housing;
wherein the first display panel at said cashier-scale terminal enables the cashier to enter information into said cashier-scale terminal, regarding produce items to be weighed by said electronic produce scale, as well as display such information for the cashier to review;
wherein the second display panel at said customer-kiosk terminal enables the customer to view the displayed price of scanned products and the displayed weight and price of weighed items, as well as enter and display information pertaining to financial transactions being carried out in connection with the purchase of products and/or produce at said POS envirorunent; and
wherein the second visual display panel is also provided with an Advertisement/Promotion Mode enabling the display of advertisements and/or promotions while the cashier is not scanning products and the price and product information thereof is not being displayed on said second visual display terminal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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25. A point of sale (POS) station for installation in a retail shopping environment, comprising:
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a counter-surface installed in said retail shopping environment; and
a bar code reading system installed in said counter-surface, said bar code reading system including;
a bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit having a bottom portion having a horizontal scanning window installable through said counter-surface, and a vertical portion operably connected with said bottom portion and having a vertical scanning window;
an electronic produce scale integrated within said bottom portion of said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit;
a housing connected to said vertical portion of said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, defining a cashier'"'"'s side of the system and a customer'"'"'s side of the system;
a cashier-scale terminal integrated with said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having a first visual display panel and a first keyboard provided on the cashier'"'"'s side of said housing; and
a customer-kiosk terminal integrated with said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having with a second visual display panel and second keyboard integrated therewith provided on the customer'"'"'s side of said housing;
wherein the first display panel at said cashier-scale terminal enables the cashier to enter information into said cashier-scale terminal regarding produce items to be weighed by said electronic produce scale, as well as display such information for the cashier to review; and
wherein the second display panel at said customer-kiosk terminal enables the customer to view the displayed price of scanned items and the displayed weight and price of weighed items, as well as enter and display information pertaining to financial transactions being carried out in connection with the purchase of products and/or produce at said POS environment. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 47, 48)
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37. A point of sale (POS) station for installation in a retail shopping environment, comprising:
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a counter-surface installed in said retail shopping environment; and
a bar code reading system installed in said counter-surface, said bar code reading system including;
a laser scanning bar code reading unit having a bottom portion having a horizontal scanning window;
an electronic produce scale integrated within said bottom portion of said laser scanning bar code reading unit;
a housing connected to said bottom portion of said laser scanning bar code reading unit, defining a cashier'"'"'s side of the system and a customer'"'"'s side of the system;
a cashier-scale terminal integrated with said laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having a first visual display panel and a first keyboard provided on the cashier'"'"'s side of said housing, and customer-kiosk terminal integrated with said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having with a second visual display panel and second keyboard integrated therewith provided on the cashier'"'"'s side of said housing;
wherein the first display panel at said cashier-scale terminal enables the cashier to (1) enter information into said cashier-scale terminal, regarding produce items to be weighed by said electronic produce scale, as well as (2) display such information for the cashier to review;
wherein the second display panel at said customer-kiosk terminal enables the customer to (1) view the displayed price of scanned products and the displayed weight and price of weighed items, as well as (2) enter and display information pertaining to financial transactions being carried out in connection with the purchase of products and/or produce at said POS environment; and
wherein the second visual display panel is also provided with an Advertisement/Promotion Mode enabling the display of advertisements and/or promotions while the cashier is not scanning products and the price and product information thereof is not being displayed on said second visual display terminal. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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49. A bar code reading system installable in a counter-surface at a point of sale (POS) environment, said bar code reading system comprising:
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a bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit having a bottom portion having a horizontal scanning window installable through said counter-surface, and a vertical portion operably connected with said bottom portion and having a vertical scanning window;
an electronic produce scale integrated within said bottom portion of said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit;
a housing connected to said vertical portion of said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, defining a cashier'"'"'s side of the system and a customer'"'"'s side of the system;
a cashier-scale terminal integrated with said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having a first visual display panel and a first keyboard provided on the cashier'"'"'s side of said housing; and
a customer-kiosk terminal integrated with said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having with a second visual display panel and second keyboard integrated therewith provided on the customer'"'"'s side of said housing;
wherein the first display panel at said cashier-scale terminal enables the cashier to enter information into said cashier-scale terminal regarding produce items to be weighed by said electronic produce scale, as well as display such information for the cashier to review; and
wherein the second display panel at said customer-kiosk terminal enables the customer to view the displayed price of scanned items and the displayed weight and price of weighed items, as well as enter and display information pertaining to financial transactions being carried out in connection with the purchase of products and/or produce at said POS environment. - View Dependent Claims (29, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 63, 71, 72)
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61. A bar code reading system installable in a counter-surface at a point of sale (POS) environment, said bar code reading system comprising:
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a bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit having a bottom portion having a horizontal scanning window, and a vertical portion operably connected with said bottom portion and having a vertical scanning window;
an electronic produce scale integrated within said bottom portion of said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit;
a housing connected to said vertical portion of said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, defining a cashier'"'"'s side of the system and a customer'"'"'s side of the system;
a cashier-scale terminal integrated with said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having a first visual display panel and a first keyboard provided on the cashier'"'"'s side of said housing, and customer-kiosk terminal integrated with said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having with a second visual display panel and second keyboard integrated therewith provided on the cashier'"'"'s side of said housing;
wherein the first display panel at said cashier-scale terminal enables the cashier to enter information into said cashier-scale terminal, regarding produce items to be weighed by said electronic produce scale, as well as display such information for the cashier to review;
wherein the second display panel at said customer-kiosk terminal enables the customer to view the displayed price of scanned products and the displayed weight and price of weighed items, as well as enter and display information pertaining to financial transactions being carried out in connection with the purchase of products and/or produce at said POS environment; and
wherein the second visual display panel is also provided with an Advertisement/Promotion Mode enabling the display of advertisements and/or promotions while the cashier is not scanning products and the price and product information thereof is not being displayed on said second visual display terminal. - View Dependent Claims (62, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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73. A bar code reading system installable in a counter-surface at a point of sale (POS) environment, said bar code reading system comprising:
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a bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit having a bottom portion having a horizontal scanning window installable through said counter-surface, and a vertical portion operably connected with said bottom portion and having a vertical scanning window;
an electronic produce scale integrated within said bottom portion of said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit;
a housing connected to said vertical portion of said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, defining a cashier'"'"'s side of the system and a customer'"'"'s side of the system;
a cashier-scale terminal integrated with said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having a first visual display panel and a first keyboard provided on the cashier'"'"'s side of said housing; and
a customer-kiosk terminal integrated with said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having with a second visual display panel and second keyboard integrated therewith provided on the customer'"'"'s side of said housing;
wherein the first display panel at said cashier-scale terminal enables the cashier to enter information into said cashier-scale terminal regarding produce items to be weighed by said electronic produce scale, as well as display such information for the cashier to review; and
wherein the second display panel at said customer-kiosk terminal enables the customer to view the displayed price of scanned items and the displayed weight and price of weighed items, as well as enter and display information pertaining to financial transactions being carried out in connection with the purchase of products and/or produce at said POS environment. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 83, 84, 86, 87, 95, 96)
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82-1. The bar code reading system of claim 85, wherein said first visual display panel is realized as a first LCD panel, said second display panel is realized as a second LCD panel, and second keyboard is realized as a touch-screen keypad mounted on said second LCD panel.
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85. A bar code reading system installable in a counter-surface at a point of sale (POS) environment, said bar code reading system comprising:
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a laser scanning bar code reading unit having a bottom portion having a horizontal scanning window;
an electronic produce scale integrated within said bottom portion of said laser scanning bar code reading unit;
a housing connected to said bottom portion of said laser scanning bar code reading unit, defining a cashier'"'"'s side of the system and a customer'"'"'s side of the system;
a cashier-scale terminal integrated with said laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having a first visual display panel and a first keyboard provided on the cashier'"'"'s side of said housing, and customer-kiosk terminal integrated with said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having with a second visual display panel and second keyboard integrated therewith provided on the cashier'"'"'s side of said housing;
wherein the first display panel at said cashier-scale terminal enables the cashier to (1) enter information into said cashier-scale terminal, regarding produce items to be weighed by said electronic produce scale, as well as (2) display such information for the cashier to review;
wherein the second display panel at said customer-kiosk terminal enables the customer to (1) view the displayed price of scanned products and the displayed weight and price of weighed items, as well as (2) enter and display information pertaining to financial transactions being carried out in connection with the purchase of products and/or produce at said POS environment; and
wherein the second visual display panel is also provided with an Advertisement/Promotion Mode enabling the display of advertisements and/or promotions while the cashier is not scanning products and the price and product information thereof is not being displayed on said second visual display terminal. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 23, 24, 82, 88, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 115)
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97. A bar code driven cash register system installable in a counter-surface at a point of sale (POS) environment, bar code driven cash register system comprising:
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a bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit having a bottom portion having a horizontal scanning window installable through a counter-surface at a POS environment, and a vertical portion operably connected with said bottom portion and having a vertical scanning window;
an electronic produce scale integrated within said bottom portion of said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit;
a housing connected to said vertical portion of said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, defining a cashier'"'"'s side of the system and a customer'"'"'s side of the system;
a cashier-scale transaction terminal integrated with said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having a first visual display panel and a first keyboard provided on the cashier'"'"'s side of said housing;
a customer-kiosk transaction terminal, integrated with said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having with a second visual display panel and second keyboard provided on the customer'"'"'s side of said housing;
an electronically-controlled cash drawer mounted beneath the counter-surface and operably connected to said cashier-scale-transaction terminal, for holding and drawing cash;
wherein the first display panel at said cashier-scale transaction terminal enables the cashier to (1) enter into said cashier-scale transaction terminal, information relating to produce items to be weighed by said electronic produce scale, (2) display produce weight and price information for the cashier to review, as well as (3) enter and display information relating to a consumer transaction being conducted at said POS environment; and
wherein the second display panel at said customer-kiosk transaction terminal enables the customer to (1) view displayed price information relating to scanned items, displayed weight and price information relating to weighed items, as well as (2) to enter and display information pertaining to financial transactions being carried out in connection with the purchase of products and/or produce at said POS environment. - View Dependent Claims (98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 118)
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109. A bar code driven cash register system installable in a counter-surface at a point of sale (POS) environment, said bar code driven cash register system comprising:
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a laser scanning bar code reading unit having a bottom portion having a horizontal scanning window installable through a counter-surface at a POS environment, and a vertical portion connected to said bottom;
an electronic produce scale integrated within said bottom portion of said laser scanning bar code reading unit;
a housing connected to said vertical portion of said laser scanning bar code reading unit, defining a cashier'"'"'s side of the system and a customer'"'"'s side of the system;
a cashier-scale transaction terminal integrated with said laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having a first visual display panel and a first keyboard provided on the cashier'"'"'s side of said housing; and
a customer-kiosk transaction terminal integrated with said laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having with a second visual display panel and second keyboard integrated therewith provided on the customer'"'"'s side of said housing;
an electronically-controlled cash drawer mounted beneath the counter-surface and operably connected to said cashier-scale transaction terminal, for holding and drawing cash;
wherein the first display panel at said cashier-scale-transaction terminal enables the cashier to (1) enter information relating to produce items to be weighed by said electronic produce scale, as well as (2) display product weight and price information for the cashier to review, as well as enter and display information relating to a consumer transaction being conducted at said POS environment; and
wherein the second display panel at said customer-kiosk transaction terminal enables the customer to (1) view displayed price information relating to scanned items, displayed weight and price information relating to weighed items, as well as (2) to enter and display information pertaining to financial transactions being carried out in connection with the purchase of products and/or produce at said POS environment. - View Dependent Claims (110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 116, 117, 119, 120)
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121. A bar code driven cash register system installable in a counter-surface at a point of sale (POS) environment, said bar code driven cash register system comprising:
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a laser scanning bar code reading unit having a bottom portion supportable upon a counter surface at a POS environment, and having a horizontal scanning window;
a housing connected to said bottom portion of said laser scanning bar code reading unit, defining a cashier'"'"'s side of the system and a customer'"'"'s side of the system;
a cashier-transaction terminal integrated with said laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having a first visual display panel and a first keyboard provided on the cashier'"'"'s side of said housing; and
a customer-kiosk transaction terminal, integrated with said laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having with a second visual display panel and second keyboard integrated therewith provided on the customer'"'"'s side of said housing;
an electronically-controlled cash drawer mounted beneath the counter-surface and operably connected to said cashier-transaction terminal;
wherein the first display panel at said cashier transaction terminal enables the cashier to (1) display product and price information for the cashier to review, as well as (2) enter and display information relating to a consumer transaction being conducted at said POS environment; and
wherein the second display panel at said customer-kiosk transaction terminal enables the customer to (1) view displayed price information relating to scanned products, as well as (2) to enter and display information pertaining to financial transactions being carried out in connection with the purchase of products at said POS environment. - View Dependent Claims (122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131)
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132. A point of sale (POS) station installed within a retail shopping environment, comprising:
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a counter-surface installed at a point of sale (POS) environment; and
a bar code driven cash register system installed in said counter-surface, said bar code driven cash register system including;
a bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit having a bottom portion having a horizontal scanning window installable through a counter-surface at a POS environment, and a vertical portion operably connected with said bottom portion and having a vertical scanning window;
an electronic produce scale integrated within said bottom portion of said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit;
a housing connected to said vertical portion of said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, defining a cashier'"'"'s side of the system and a customer'"'"'s side of the system;
a cashier-scale transaction terminal integrated with said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having a first visual display panel and a first keyboard provided on the cashier'"'"'s side of said housing;
a customer-kiosk transaction terminal, integrated with said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having with a second visual display panel and second keyboard provided on the customer'"'"'s side of said housing;
an electronically-controlled cash drawer mounted beneath the counter-surface and operably connected to said cashier-scale-transaction terminal, for holding and drawing cash;
wherein the first display panel at said cashier-scale transaction terminal enables the cashier to (1) enter into said cashier-scale transaction terminal, information relating to produce items to be weighed by said electronic produce scale, (2) display produce weight and price information for the cashier to review, as well as (3) enter and display information relating to a consumer transaction being conducted at said POS environment; and
wherein the second display panel at said customer-kiosk transaction terminal enables the customer to (1) view displayed price information relating to scanned items, displayed weight and price information relating to weighed items, as well as (2) to enter and display information pertaining to financial transactions being carried out in connection with the purchase of products and/or produce at said POS environment. - View Dependent Claims (133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142)
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- 143. The POS station of claim 143, wherein the vertical portion of said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, said cashier-scale terminal, and said customer-kiosk transaction terminal are contained in a housing of generally unitary construction.
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144. A point of sale (POS) station installed within a retail shopping environment, comprising:
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a counter-surface installed at a point of sale (POS) environment; and
a bar code driven cash register system installed in said counter-surface, said bar code driven cash register system including;
a laser scanning bar code reading unit having a bottom portion having a horizontal scanning window installable through a counter-surface at a POS environment, and a vertical portion connected to said bottom;
an electronic produce scale integrated within said bottom portion of said laser scanning bar code reading unit;
a housing connected to said vertical portion of said laser scanning bar code reading unit, defining a cashier'"'"'s side of the system and a customer'"'"'s side of the system;
a cashier-scale transaction terminal integrated with said laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having a first visual display panel and a first keyboard provided on the cashier'"'"'s side of said housing; and
a customer-kiosk transaction terminal integrated with said laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having with a second visual display panel and second keyboard integrated therewith provided on the customer'"'"'s side of said housing;
an electronically-controlled cash drawer mounted beneath the counter-surface and operably connected to said cashier-scale transaction terminal, for holding and drawing cash;
wherein the first display panel at said cashier-scale-transaction terminal enables the cashier to (1) enter information relating to produce items to be weighed by said electronic produce scale, as well as (2) display product weight and price information for the cashier to review, as well as enter and display information relating to a consumer transaction being conducted at said POS environment; and
wherein the second display panel at said customer-kiosk transaction terminal enables the customer to (1) view displayed price information relating to scanned items, displayed weight and price information relating to weighed items, as well as (2) to enter and display information pertaining to financial transactions being carried out in connection with the purchase of products and/or produce at said POS environment. - View Dependent Claims (145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 154, 155)
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156. A point of sale (POS) station installed within a retail shopping environment, comprising:
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a counter-surface installed at a point of sale (POS) environment; and
a bar code driven cash register system installed in said counter-surface, said bar code driven cash register system including;
a laser scanning bar code reading unit having a bottom portion supportable upon a counter surface at a POS environment, and having a horizontal scanning window;
a housing connected to said bottom portion of said laser scanning bar code reading unit, defining a cashier'"'"'s side of the system and a customer'"'"'s side of the system;
a cashier-transaction terminal integrated with said laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having a first visual display panel and a first keyboard provided on the cashier'"'"'s side of said housing; and
a customer-kiosk transaction terminal, integrated with said laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having with a second visual display panel and second keyboard integrated therewith provided on the customer'"'"'s side of said housing;
an electronically-controlled cash drawer mounted beneath the counter-surface and operably connected to said cashier-transaction terminal;
wherein the first display panel at said cashier transaction terminal enables the cashier to (1) display product and price information for the cashier to review, as well as (2) enter and display information relating to a consumer transaction being conducted at said POS environment; and
wherein the second display panel at said customer-kiosk transaction terminal enables the customer to (1) view displayed price information relating to scanned products, as well as (2) to enter and display information pertaining to financial transactions being carried out in connection with the purchase of products at said POS environment. - View Dependent Claims (157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166)
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167. A POS-based bar code driven retail transaction terminal system, wherein both the cashier and customer interact with each other and with touch-screen driven LCD screens, on which graphical user interfaces (GUls) are automatically and sequentially displayed in accordance with a cashier-clerk/customer interaction script automatically generated by a cashier-clerk/customer retail transaction application running on the computing platform driving the POS-based retail transaction terminal system.
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168. A POS-based bar code driven retail transaction terminal system, wherein the behavioral interaction of both the cashier/salesclerk and the customer are automatically guided under the retailer'"'"'s service script driving the cashier/customer interactive transaction terminal so as to ensure that a predetermined quality of customer service is delivered to the customer by the retail cashier/salesclerk at the retailer POS station while permitting a high degree of improvisation naturally demanded by customers and retail cashiers and clerks (i.e. retail service personnel).
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169. A POS-based bar code driven retail transaction terminal system, wherein retailer'"'"'s service script comprises corresponding sets of visual and/or graphical instructions that are sequentially displayed on the LCD panels on the cashier'"'"'s side and the customer'"'"'s side of the terminal system, respectively, cuing the cashier/clerk to make initiatives and conversation about particular phases of the retail transaction being carried out at the terminal system and/or particular kinds of services being offered by the retailer at the POS-based terminal station, and also cuing the customer to respond to such initiatives and conservation in a pleasant and enjoyable manner.
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170. A POS-based bar code driven retail transaction terminal system, wherein retailer'"'"'s service script further comprises the display of motivational and/or inspiring quotes and/or imagery on the LCD panels both the cashier and customer sides of the terminal system, so as to encourage positive attitudes, cordial responses and compassionate levels human interaction within the retail store, as well as a sense of well being and value experienced at the POS-based terminal system.
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171. A dual-LCD panel type cashier/customer POS-based retail transaction terminal system, wherein a receipt printer is provided on the customer side of the terminal system for printing out receipts for the various kinds of retail transactions and services supported by the system.
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172. A dual-LCD panel type cashier/customer POS-based retail transaction terminal system, wherein a wireless 2-way RF transceiver is installed within the system housing so that the system can function as a base station for enabling 2-way RF-based data communication with a plurality of wireless RF-enabled portable data communication terminals (PDTs) or portable digital assistants (PDAs).
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173. A dual-LCD panel type cashier/customer POS-based retail transaction terminal system, wherein an IrDA data communication port is provided on the customer side of the terminal system for uploading/receiving digital data associated with electronic coupons that have been transmitted from the IrDA data communications port of the customer'"'"'s PDA to the IrDA communication port on the customer side of the terminal system at a prespecified time during the retailer'"'"'s transaction script.
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174. A dual-LCD panel type cashier/customer POS-based retail transaction terminal system, wherein the electronic coupons are stored within the customerr'"'"'s IrDA-enabled PDA in response to reading the UPC product codes on products either within or outside of the retailer'"'"'s store, and that these electronic coupons represent the right of the customer who collects the same to receive a rebate from product manufacturer and/or retailer on the purchase price of the product.
Specification