COMPUTER-CONTROLLED, UNATTENDED, AUTOMATED CHECKOUT STORE OUTLET SYSTEM AND RELATED METHOD

• US 20130332271A1
• Filed: 06/06/2013
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ronny Hay
• Original Assignee: Compass Group USA Incorporated (Compass Group PLC)
• Inventors: Hay, Ronny
• Granted Patent: US 10,083,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.51
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/048 automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

An unattended, automated checkout, computer-controlled automated store outlet and system is disclosed. A customer'"'"'s identification and payment information are inputted and verified and the customer qualified to remove items from the automated store outlet. Each bay of the automated store outlet is normally locked, and after the customer accesses the bay can remove one or more items from the bay, which are automatically detected and identified and charged to the customer as part of the purchase transaction. These events occur at the location of each automated store outlet. Each automated store outlet communicates with a central control center, which can be used for live customer service and real time surveillance.

Claims

1. A method for distributing items from a computer-controlled, automated store outlet, comprising the step of:

providing a computer-controlled, automated store outlet having at least one bay containing items removable from the bay for purchase;

inputting customer identification into a check-in station of the automated store outlet;

verifying the customer identification;

inputting customer payment information into the check-in station of the automated store outlet;

verifying the customer payment information;

qualifying the customer to remove items from the at least one bay by determining that the customer payment information is of a sufficient level to purchase items from the at least one bay;

unlocking a door to provide access to a bay after the customer identification and payment information is verified and the customer is qualified to remove items from the at least one bay;

removing an item from the bay;

detecting the removal of the item from the bay;

identifying the removed item;

sending the identification of the removed item to an electronic shopping cart of a computer located at the automated store outlet;

closing the bay door and automatically locking the bay door; and

closing the purchase transaction and charging the customer for the removed item.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the inputting customer identification step includes the step of inputting at least one of a customer identification code and/or password, swiping an electronically readable card or electronic device, or providing biometric information of the customer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of inputting customer payment information comprises the step of inputting information relating to a previously created customer automated store dedicated account, credit or debit card account information, or depositing cash into a cash receiving device at the automated store outlet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the unlocking door step includes the steps of providing customer identification at an electronic unit associated with a lock at each bay door and verifying the customer identification before unlocking the door.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the electronic unit comprises a device having an electronic display, a keypad, an RFID reader, an electronic image reader, a biometric reader and a motion detector.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the removal of the item is detected by a sensor associated with each item within the bay.

7. The method of claim 6, including the step of arranging items and corresponding sensors in association with a tray within the bay.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensor comprises a light sensor disposed below the item and exposed to light when the item is removed from the tray.

9. The method of claim 1, including the step of returning the item in the bay, and removing the item from the electronic shopping cart of the purchaser.

10. The method of claim 1, including the step of providing a receipt for the item purchased.

11. The method of claim 10, including the step of electronically sending a receipt to the customer.

12. The method of claim 10, including the step of printing a receipt for the customer.

13. The method of claim 1, including the step of displaying the identification of the removed item and its purchase price on a computer-controlled display unit.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the closing the purchase transaction step comprises the customer closing the purchase transaction using the check-in station at the automated store outlet or automatically closing the transaction and charging the customer for the removed item after a predetermined period of inactivity for the customer.

15. The method of claim 1, including the step of relaying purchase data from the automated store outlet to a central control center.

16. The method of claim 1, including the step of providing live customer service assistance to a customer using the automated store outlet.

17. The method of claim 1, including the step of monitoring the automated store outlet with surveillance devices.

18. The method of claim 1, including the step of displaying advertisements on a monitor associated with the automated store outlet.

19. The method of claim 3, including the step of the customer transferring funds to the customer'"'"'s automated store dedicated account using the check-in station of the automated store outlet.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting the removal of the item from the bay step comprises the steps of associating an RFID tag with each item on the tray, and utilizing a corresponding RFID detector to detect the movement of the item from the bay.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the RFID detector comprises a RFID antenna sandwiched between a cover and a base and forming a sensor tray positioned relative to the items so as to detect removal of the item.

22. The method of claim 8, including the step of forming divided tray compartments, each compartment having associated therewith a single item and a single photosensor.

23. A method for distributing items from a computer-controlled, automated store outlet, comprising the step of:

providing a computer-controlled, automated store outlet having at least one bay containing items removable from a tray of the bay for purchase;

arranging at least one sensor to correspond to items held by the tray;

inputting customer identification into a check-in station of the automated store outlet;

verifying the customer identification;

inputting customer payment information into the check-in station of the automated store outlet;

verifying the customer payment information;

qualifying the customer to remove items from the at least one bay by determining that the customer payment information is of a sufficient level to purchase items from the at least one bay;

unlocking a door to provide access to a bay after verifying the customer identification and payment information and qualifying the customer to remove items from the at least one bay, and after the customer provides identification information to an electronic unit associated with a lock at each bay door and verifying the customer identification;

removing an item from the bay;

detecting the removal of the item from the bay using the corresponding sensor;

identifying the removed item;

sending the identification of the removed item and its corresponding cost to an electronic shopping cart of a computer located at the automated store outlet;

closing the bay door and automatically locking the bay door;

closing the purchase transaction including the step of either the customer using the check-in station at the automated store outlet to complete the purchase of the item and close the transaction or automatically closing the transaction and charging the customer for the removed item after a predetermined period of customer inactivity at the automated store outlet.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the inputting customer identification step includes the step of inputting at least one of a customer identification code and/or password, swiping an electronically readable card or electronic device, or providing biometric information of the customer.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of inputting customer payment information comprises the step of inputting information relating to a previously created customer automated store dedicated account, credit or debit card account information, or depositing cash into a cash receiving device at the automated store outlet.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the sensor comprises a photosensor disposed below the item and exposed to light when the item is removed from the tray.

27. The method of claim 23, including the step of returning the item in the bay, and removing the item from the electronic shopping cart of the purchaser.

28. The method of claim 23, including the step of providing a receipt for the item purchased, including the step of electronically sending a receipt to the customer or printing a receipt for the customer.

29. The method of claim 23, including the step of displaying the identification of the removed item and its purchase price on a computer-controlled display unit.

30. The method of claim 23, including the step of relaying purchase data from the automated store outlet to a central control center.

31. The method of claim 23, including the step of providing live customer service assistance to a customer using the automated store outlet.

32. The method of claim 23, including the step of monitoring the automated store outlet with surveillance devices.

33. The method of claim 23, including the step of displaying advertisements on a monitor associated with the automated store outlet.

34. The method of claim 23, including the step of the customer transferring funds to the customer'"'"'s automated store dedicated account using the check-in station of the automated store outlet.

35. The method of claim 23, wherein the detecting the removal of the item from the bay step comprises the steps of associating an RFID tag with each item on the tray, and utilizing a corresponding RFID detector to detect the movement of the item from the bay.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the RFID detector comprises a RFID antenna sandwiched between a cover and a base and forming a sensor tray positioned relative to the items so as to detect removal of the item.

37. The method of claim 23, wherein the electronic unit comprises a device having an electronic display, a keypad, an RFID reader, an electronic image reader, a biometric reader and a motion detector.

38. The method of claim 26, including the step of forming divided tray compartments, each compartment having associated therewith a single item and a single photosensor.