One Touch Purchase Device and System

• US 20080142589A1
• Filed: 12/13/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cummings, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US11/610,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20080142589A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/009 the reader being an RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/246 Check out systems combined with EAS, e.g. price information stored on EAS tag anti-theft systems in point of sale systems G07G3/003

Abstract

A purchase transaction device is attached to each product to be purchased in a retail environment. The purchase transaction device is equipped with Electronic Article Surveillance (ESA), a biometric (thumbprint) or non-biometric reader, and the ability to transmit and receive information from a network. The purchase transaction device is also configured with a releasable locking mechanism attaching the device to the product.

Claims

1. A checkout system adapted to be located within a physical store maintaining an inventory of items to be purchased, said checkout system comprising:

a central processor operatively connected to a local database and or a remote database;

a sensing device operatively connected to said central processor;

a purchase transaction device physically connected to an item to be purchased, wherein said purchase transaction device is adapted to communicate with said sensing device; and

an electronic article deactivation device operatively connected to said central processor,

wherein said purchase transaction device comprises a shopper identification device adapted to be handled by a shopper, to identify said shopper, and to acquire payment from said shopper while purchasing said item to be purchased, and

wherein said electronic article deactivation device is adapted to deactivate a security feature of said purchase transaction device, while said shopper is purchasing said item to be purchased.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said database maintains customer identification information, and wherein said customer identification information comprises data adapted to identify said customer and payment data associated with said customer.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said purchase transaction device is adapted to be physically removed from said item to be purchased after said item to be purchased has been purchased by said shopper.

4. A checkout system adapted to be located within a physical store maintaining an inventory of items to be purchased, said checkout system comprising:

a central processor operatively connected to a local database and or a remote database;

a sensing device operatively connected to said central processor;

a purchase transaction device physically connected to an item to be purchased, wherein said purchase transaction device is adapted to communicate with said sensing device; and

an electronic article deactivation device operatively connected to said central processor,

wherein said purchase transaction device comprises a biometric shopper identification device adapted to be touched by a shopper, to identify said shopper, and to acquire payment from said shopper while purchasing said item to be purchased,

wherein said electronic article deactivation device is adapted to deactivate a security feature of said purchase transaction device, while said shopper is purchasing said item to be purchased, and

wherein said central processor is adapted to complete a purchase transaction by;

using communications between said purchase transaction device and said sensing device to identify said item to be purchased;

using a single touch of said biometric shopper identification device to identify said shopper and acquire payment from said shopper; and

causing said electronic article deactivation device to deactivate said security feature after payment for said item being purchased has been acquired.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said database maintains customer identification information, and wherein said customer identification information comprises biometric data adapted to identify said customer and payment data associated with said customer.

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein said purchase transaction device is adapted to be physically removed from said item to be purchased after said item to be purchased has been purchased by said shopper.