POINT-OF-TRANSACTION CHECKOUT SYSTEM FOR AND METHOD OF PROCESSING TARGETS ELECTRO-OPTICALLY READABLE BY A CLERK-OPERATED WORKSTATION AND BY A CUSTOMER-OPERATED ACCESSORY READER
First Claim
1. A checkout system, comprising:
- a workstation operated by a clerk and having a data capture arrangement for capturing target data associated with products to be checked out by the clerk in a transaction, the data capture arrangement including a workstation microprocessor for processing the target data during an active mode, and for standing by during a standby mode; and
an accessory reader operated by a customer and having a data capture assembly for capturing additional target data related to the transaction, the data capture assembly including an accessory microprocessor for acquiring the additional target data, and for sending the acquired additional target data to the workstation microprocessor for processing during the standby modewherein the accessory reader has an accessory window being accessible to the customer for enabling the customer to interact with the accessory reader;
wherein the data capture assembly at the accessory reader includes at least one solid-state accessory imager for capturing through the accessory window an image of the additional target data and wherein the accessory microprocessor is operative for acquiring the image of the additional target data, and for sending the acquired image of the additional target data to the workstation microprocessor for processing during the standby mode; and
wherein the data capture assembly includes an accessory memory accessible by the accessory microprocessor for buffering multiple frames of the image of the additional target data while waiting for the workstation microprocessor to enter the standby mode.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A checkout system for, and a method of, processing target data electro-optically readable by a clerk-operated workstation and a customer-operated accessory reader, include a data capture arrangement at the workstation for capturing target data associated with products to be checked out by the clerk in a transaction, and a data capture assembly at the accessory reader for capturing additional target data related to the transaction. A workstation microprocessor processes the target data during an active mode, and stands by during a standby mode. An accessory microprocessor acquires the additional target data, and sends the acquired additional target data to the workstation microprocessor for processing during the standby mode.
4 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A checkout system, comprising:
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a workstation operated by a clerk and having a data capture arrangement for capturing target data associated with products to be checked out by the clerk in a transaction, the data capture arrangement including a workstation microprocessor for processing the target data during an active mode, and for standing by during a standby mode; and an accessory reader operated by a customer and having a data capture assembly for capturing additional target data related to the transaction, the data capture assembly including an accessory microprocessor for acquiring the additional target data, and for sending the acquired additional target data to the workstation microprocessor for processing during the standby mode wherein the accessory reader has an accessory window being accessible to the customer for enabling the customer to interact with the accessory reader;
wherein the data capture assembly at the accessory reader includes at least one solid-state accessory imager for capturing through the accessory window an image of the additional target data and wherein the accessory microprocessor is operative for acquiring the image of the additional target data, and for sending the acquired image of the additional target data to the workstation microprocessor for processing during the standby mode; andwherein the data capture assembly includes an accessory memory accessible by the accessory microprocessor for buffering multiple frames of the image of the additional target data while waiting for the workstation microprocessor to enter the standby mode.
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4. A checkout system, comprising:
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a workstation operated by a clerk and having a data capture arrangement for capturing target data associated with products to be checked out by the clerk in a transaction, the data capture arrangement including a workstation microprocessor for processing the target data during an active mode, and for standing by during a standby mode; an accessory reader operated by a customer and having a data capture assembly for capturing additional target data related to the transaction, the data capture assembly including an accessory microprocessor for acquiring the additional target data, and for sending the acquired additional target data to the workstation microprocessor for processing during the standby mode; wherein the accessory reader has an accessory window facing and being accessible to the customer for enabling the customer to interact with the accessory reader;
wherein the data capture assembly at the accessory reader includes at least one solid-state accessory imager for capturing through the accessory window an image of the additional target data and wherein the accessory microprocessor is operative for acquiring the image of the additional target data, and for sending the acquired image of the additional target data to the workstation microprocessor for processing during the standby mode; andwherein the data capture assembly includes an accessory memory accessible by the accessory microprocessor for buffering multiple frames of the image of the additional target data while waiting for the workstation microprocessor to enter the standby mode. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A checkout system, comprising:
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a workstation operated by a clerk and having a data capture arrangement for capturing target data associated with products to be checked out by the clerk in a transaction, the data capture arrangement including a workstation microprocessor for processing the target data during an active mode, and for standing by during a standby mode; an accessory reader operated by a customer and having a data capture assembly for capturing additional target data related to the transaction, the data capture assembly including an accessory microprocessor for acquiring the additional target data, and for sending the acquired additional target data to the workstation microprocessor for processing during the standby mode; wherein the workstation includes an object sensor for detecting when each product enters the workstation, and wherein the workstation microprocessor initiates the active mode when the object sensor detects entry of a product into the workstation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 7, 8)
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9. A checkout system, comprising:
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a bi-optical workstation operated by a clerk, the workstation having a first workstation window located in a generally horizontal plane, and a second workstation window located in a generally upright plane that intersects the generally horizontal plane, both of the workstation windows facing and being accessible to the clerk for enabling the clerk to interact with the workstation, the workstation also having a data capture arrangement including at least one solid-state workstation imager for capturing through at least one of the workstation windows an image associated with a product to be checked out by the clerk in a transaction, and a workstation microprocessor for processing the image during an active mode, and for standing by during a standby mode; an accessory reader operated by a customer, the accessory reader having an accessory window being accessible to the customer for enabling the customer to interact with the accessory reader, the accessory reader having a data capture assembly including at least one solid-state accessory imager for capturing through the accessory window an additional image related to the transaction, and an accessory microprocessor for acquiring the additional image, and for sending the acquired additional image to the workstation microprocessor for processing during the standby mode; and wherein the data capture assembly includes an accessory memory accessible by the accessory microprocessor for buffering multiple frames of the additional image while waiting for the workstation microprocessor to enter the standby mode.
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10. A checkout system, comprising:
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a bi-optical workstation operated by a clerk, the workstation having a first workstation window located in a generally horizontal plane, and a second workstation window located in a generally upright plane that intersects the generally horizontal plane, both of the workstation windows facing and being accessible to the clerk for enabling the clerk to interact with the workstation, the workstation also having a data capture arrangement including at least one solid-state workstation imager for capturing through at least one of the workstation windows an image associated with a product to be checked out by the clerk in a transaction, and a workstation microprocessor for processing the image during an active mode, and for standing by during a standby mode; an accessory reader operated by a customer, the accessory reader having an accessory window facing and being accessible to the customer for enabling the customer to interact with the accessory reader, the accessory reader having a data capture assembly including at least one solid-state accessory imager for capturing through the accessory window an additional image related to the transaction, and an accessory microprocessor for acquiring the additional image, and for sending the acquired additional image to the workstation microprocessor for processing during the standby mode; and wherein the data capture assembly includes an accessory memory accessible by the accessory microprocessor for buffering multiple frames of the additional image while waiting for the workstation microprocessor to enter the standby mode.
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11. A checkout system, comprising:
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a bi-optical workstation operated by a clerk, the workstation having a first workstation window located in a generally horizontal plane, and a second workstation window located in a generally upright plane that intersects the generally horizontal plane, both of the workstation windows facing and being accessible to the clerk for enabling the clerk to interact with the workstation, the workstation also having a data capture arrangement including at least one solid-state workstation imager for capturing through at least one of the workstation windows an image associated with a product to be checked out by the clerk in a transaction, and a workstation microprocessor for processing the image during an active mode, and for standing by during a standby mode; an accessory reader operated by a customer, the accessory reader having an accessory window facing and being accessible to the customer for enabling the customer to interact with the accessory reader, the accessory reader having a data capture assembly including at least one solid-state accessory imager for capturing through the accessory window an additional image related to the transaction, and an accessory microprocessor for acquiring the additional image, and for sending the acquired additional image to the workstation microprocessor for processing during the standby mode; and wherein the workstation includes an object sensor for detecting when the product enters the workstation, and wherein the workstation microprocessor initiates the active mode when the object sensor detects entry of the product into the workstation. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A checkout method, comprising:
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capturing target data associated with products to be checked out at a workstation operated by a clerk in a transaction, by processing the target data during an active mode of a workstation microprocessor, and by standing by during a standby mode of the workstation microprocessor; and capturing additional target data related to the transaction at an accessory reader operated by a customer, by acquiring the additional target data with an accessory microprocessor, and by sending the acquired additional target data to the workstation microprocessor for processing during the standby mode. configuring the accessory reader with an accessory window being accessible to the customer for enabling the customer to interact with the accessory reader, wherein the capturing of the additional target data at the accessory reader is performed by capturing through the accessory window an image of the additional target data, and wherein the acquiring of the additional target data is performed by acquiring the image of the additional target data; and wherein the capturing of the additional target data at the accessory reader is performed by buffering multiple frames of the image of the additional target data while waiting for the workstation microprocessor to enter the standby mode.
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17. A checkout method, comprising:
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capturing target data associated with products to be checked out at a workstation operated by a clerk in a transaction, by processing the target data during an active mode of a workstation microprocessor, and by standing by during a standby mode of the workstation microprocessor; capturing additional target data related to the transaction at an accessory reader operated by a customer, by acquiring the additional target data with an accessory microprocessor, and by sending the acquired additional target data to the workstation microprocessor for processing during the standby mode; configuring the accessory reader with an accessory window facing and being accessible to the customer for enabling the customer to interact with the accessory reader, wherein the capturing of the additional target data at the accessory reader is performed by capturing through the accessory window an image of the additional target data, and wherein the acquiring of the additional target data is performed by acquiring the image of the additional target data; and wherein the capturing of the additional target data at the accessory reader is performed by buffering multiple frames of the image of the additional target data while waiting for the workstation microprocessor to enter the standby mode.
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18. A checkout method, comprising:
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capturing target data associated with products to be checked out at a workstation operated by a clerk in a transaction, by processing the target data during an active mode of a workstation microprocessor, and by standing by during a standby mode of the workstation microprocessor; capturing additional target data related to the transaction at an accessory reader operated by a customer, by acquiring the additional target data with an accessory microprocessor, and by sending the acquired additional target data to the workstation microprocessor for processing during the standby mode; the image of the additional target data; and detecting when each product enters the workstation, and initiating the active mode when entry of a product into the workstation is detected. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 19, 20)
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Specification