SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THE SELF-CHECKOUT OF SECURED ITEMS FROM A LENDING ESTABLISHMENT

• US 20070278297A1
• Filed: 06/05/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bibliotheca ITG LLC (Bibliotheca Group GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Vernon Library Supplies, Inc.
• Inventors: Robkin, Shai Steven, Chandler, Robert Craig
• Granted Patent: US 7,461,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/206 comprising security or operator identification provisions, e.g. password entry
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/12 comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for the self-checkout of secured items from a lending or sales establishment. A self-checkout system may be configured to determine a patron'"'"'s eligibility to checkout items. Subsequently, the system may be configured to determine whether an item wished to be checked out by a patron is stored in a secure locked case. The present invention provides means for allowing the patron to unlock the secure locked case without the need of library staff assistance. A blocking mechanism is provided which controls access to the unlocking mechanism such that a patron may only unlock a secure locked case when authorized to do so by the system.

Claims

1. A system for self-checkout of secured items from a lender comprising:

a first scanning mechanism for reading a patron'"'"'s identification card, where the first scanning mechanism is connected to a first database which contains the patron'"'"'s status for checkout of secured items;

a first processor for authenticating a patron'"'"'s identification card to make them eligible to checkout a secured item;

a second scanning mechanism for receiving information about a scanned item;

a second database containing information identifying certain items as secured items;

a second processor for determining whether the scanned item is contained in a secure locked case by comparing information received from the second scanning mechanism to information stored in the second database;

an unlocking mechanism for unlocking a secure locked case from a secured item, wherein access is denied to the unlocking mechanism unless the secured item is determined to be contained in a secure locked case by the second processor and the patron has been authenticated;

a blocking mechanism to control access to the unlocking mechanism which is only released after a secured item has been approved for checkout.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the secured item is one of a videocassette, digital video disc, compact disc, or software.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the patron'"'"'s identification card is a card issued by a library at which the patron is checking out secured items.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second scanning mechanism is a barcode reader.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second scanning mechanism is an RF tag reader.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the blocking mechanism consists of retractable metal members that prevent access to the unlocking mechanism until retracted.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a retaining container for the patron to deposit the secure locked outer case or locking pin or clip after the unlocking of said secure locked case.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the secure locked case is locked through the use of one of the group consisting of:

one or more clips, one or more pins, or one or more integrated locks.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the secure locked case replaces the original outer packaging of the secured item.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying instructions to the patron indicating how to insert the secured item into the unlocking mechanism and unlocking the secure locked case from the item and how to deposit the secure locked outer case or locking pin or clip into the retaining container after removal from the secured item.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising speakers for providing instructions to the patron indicating how to insert the secured item into the unlocking mechanism and unlocking the secure locked case from the item and how to deposit the secure locked case into the retaining container after removal from the secured item.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a printer for printing a receipt indicating the items checked out by the patron.

13. The system of claim 1, where the patron'"'"'s identification card is one of the group consisting of:

a magnetic stripe card, a smart card, or a card with an integrated RFID tag.

14. A method for self-checkout of secured items from a lender comprising the steps of:

locking an item in a secure locked case;

authenticating a patron'"'"'s identification card by scanning the identification card on a scanning mechanism and confirming that the patron is allowed to checkout secured items;

if patron is authenticated, displaying instructions instructing the patron to scan an item over a second scanning mechanism;

scanning the item over the second scanning mechanism;

determining whether the scanned item is contained in a secure locked case;

allowing access to an unlocking mechanism if the item is determined to be contained in a secure locked case and the patron has been authenticated;

allowing access to the unlocking mechanism only after a secured item has been approved for checkout and the authentication of a patron'"'"'s identification card;

inserting the secured item into the unlocking mechanism;

unlocking the secure locked case with the unlocking mechanism so that the secure locked case may be removed from the item;

securing a blocking mechanism upon removal of the secure locked case from the unlocking mechanism.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the secured item is one of a videocassette, digital video disc, compact disc, or software.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the patron'"'"'s identification card is a card issued by a library at which the patron is checking out secured items.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the second scanning mechanism is a barcode reader.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the second scanning mechanism is a RFID tag reader.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the determination step is achieved by comparison of the scanned item information to stored database information.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the determination step is achieved by reading the information stored on the scanned item'"'"'s RFID tag.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the secure locked case is locked through the use of one of the group consisting of one or more clips, one or more pins, or one or more integrated locks.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the secure locked outer case replaces the original outer packaging of the secured item.

23. The method of claim 14, where the patron'"'"'s identification card is one of the group consisting of:

a magnetic stripe card, a smart card, or a card with an integrated RFID tag.

24. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of depositing the secure outer case, locking pin or clip into an attached retaining container after the unlocking of said secure outer case, locking clip or pin from the secured item.

25. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of displaying instructions to the patron indicating how to insert the secured item into the unlocking mechanism and unlocking the secure locked case from the item and how to deposit the secure locked case, locking clip or pin into the retaining container after removal from the secured item.

26. A system for self-checkout of secured items from a lender comprising:

a first scanning mechanism for reading a patron'"'"'s identification card, where the first scanning mechanism is connected to a database which contains the patron'"'"'s status for checkout of secured items;

a first processor for authenticating a patron'"'"'s identification card to make them eligible to checkout a secured item;

a second scanning mechanism for receiving information about a scanned item;

an RF identification tag attached to the secured item containing information identifying the item as a secured item.

a second processor for determining whether the scanned item is contained in a secure locked case by comparing information received from the second scanning mechanism to information stored on the RF identification tag;

an unlocking mechanism for unlocking a secure locked case from a secured item, wherein access is denied to the unlocking mechanism unless the secured item is determined to be contained in a secure locked case by the second processor and the patron has been authenticated;

a blocking mechanism to control access to the unlocking mechanism which is only released after a secured item has been approved for checkout.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said RF identification tag contains thereon a security bit.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein a secured item is not approved for checkout until the security bit is deactivated.

29. The system of claim 27, further comprising a security light which is activated if a patron attempts to unlock a secure locked case where the security bit has not been deactivated.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the secure locked case is locked through the use of one of the group consisting of:

one or more clips, one or more pins, or one or more integrated locks.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein the first and second scanning mechanisms are remotely located from one another.

32. The system of claim 26, further comprising a retaining container for the patron to deposit the secure locked case after the unlocking of said secure locked case from the secured item.

33. The system of claim 26, wherein the secure locked outer case replaces the original outer packaging of the secured item.

34. The system of claim 26, where the patron'"'"'s identification card is one of the group consisting of, a magnetic stripe card, a smart card, or a card with an integrated RFID tag.