Device and method for secure data updates in a self-checkout system

• US 5,825,002 A
• Filed: 09/05/1996
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Roslak, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Douglas X.
• Application Number:
  US08/706,579
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/283, 235/472
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

The present invention relates to a data processing and retrieval system for use in a self-checkout system utilized in a retail facility. A plurality of customers are provided with a portable data collecting terminal having a bar code reader. Once the data is collected using the portable terminal, a record of the session is uploaded to a customer'"'"'s data file upon the entry of an authorization code. In the event errors occur during data entry or in the entry of the authorization codes, a customer service desk is provided which assists the customer in completing the transaction.

Claims

1. A method for updating a customer data file stored in a self-checkout central processing system with a session data record collected with one of a plurality of portable data collecting terminals, each of said terminals having a unique assigned identifier, said method comprising the steps of:

a) returning the portable data collecting terminal to a terminal receiver;

b) communicating the assigned identifier of the portable data collecting terminal to the self-checkout central processing system;

c) entering a customer authorization code on a data entry device coupled to the self-checkout central processing system after step (a);

d) communicating the customer authorization code entered in step (c) to the self-checkout central processing system;

e) confirming that the customer authorization code corresponds to the assigned identifier of the portable data collecting terminal; and

f) updating customer data file with the session data record collected with the portable data collecting terminal if the customer code corresponds to the assigned identifier of the portable data collecting terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal receiver further comprises a location address, and the step of communicating the assigned identifier of the portable data collecting terminal further comprises the step of communicating the location address of the terminal receiver.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the terminal receiver is provided with a locking mechanism and the method further comprising the steps of locking the data collecting terminal in the terminal receiver with the locking mechanism after step (a) and prior to the entering of the customer authorization code.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein an alert signal is generated at a customer service facility in the event the customer authorization code transmitted to the self-checkout central processing center does not match a recognized customer authorization code.

5. A self-checkout system having secure data collection system for updating customer data stored in the self-checkout system with a session data record generated by an authorized customer using a previously assigned portable data collecting terminal including a bar code scanner, said system comprising:

a) at least one data entry device for receiving authorization data from a customer having generated a session data record;

b) data processing and storage means coupled to the data entry device, said data processing and storage means including a first memory having

i) a user file including a plurality of system authorized customers,

ii) a corresponding authorization code for each of said plurality of system authorized customers, and

iii) a customer data file for each of said plurality of system authorized customers; and

c) secondary memory coupled to the data processing and storage means for storing the session data record;

wherein upon the entry of the authorization code of a one of the plurality of authorized customers stored on the user file corresponding to the previously assigned portable data collecting terminal, the data processing and storage system updates a corresponding customer data file for the one of the plurality of authorized customers with the session data record stored on the secondary memory.

6. The secure data collection system of claim 5 further comprising a terminal receiver for receiving a portable terminal having a integrated bar code reader, said receiver having locking means for engaging the portable terminal receiver upon the return of the portable data collecting terminal into the terminal receiver after the generation of the session data record.

7. A customer service facility for use in a self-checkout system having a session data record stored on a portable data collecting terminal retrieved from a terminal dispenser having receiving means for receiving said data collecting terminal, a customer data file including an authorization code stored on a central processing means, and a customer loyalty card corresponding to a customer data file on the central processing system, said customer service facility comprising:

a) a customer service console having a data display and a data entry device coupled to said central processing system for retrieving the customer data file stored on the central processing system and the session data record collected with and stored in the portable data collecting terminal;

b) a customer card reader coupled to said central processing system for reading the customer loyalty card of the authorized customer; and

c) a receipt printer in communication with said central processing system for printing a receipt of the session data record upon the entry of the customer loyalty card on the customer card reader and the authorization code on the data entry device.

8. A method for secure updates of a customer data file stored on a non-volatile memory means of a self-checkout system with a session data record generated with a portable data collecting terminal including an itemized list of selected items collected by a customer, said method comprising the steps of:

a) storing a customer authorization code on the self-checkout system;

b) downloading the session data record from the portable data collection terminal onto a temporary memory location in the self-checkout system;

c) entering the customer authorization code onto a data entry device coupled to the self-checkout system; and

d) uploading the session data record stored on temporary memory into the customer data file upon the entry of the customer authorization code onto the data entry device.

9. A method for processing a session data record collected by a customer using a previously assigned portable data collecting terminal having an integrated bar code reader for payment in a self-checkout system coupled to a central processing system, said method comprising the steps of:

a) returning the portable data collecting terminal to a terminal receiver;

b) storing a customer data file having an authorization code on the central processing system, said customer data file corresponding to the customer using the portable data collecting terminal having an integrated bar code reader which collected the session data record including an itemized list of selected items collected by said customer;

c) entering the authorization code on a data entry device coupled to the self-checkout system; and

d) updating the customer data file on the central processing system with the record and processing payment for the session data record, whereby the customer data file is updated with the session data record and payment is processed for the session data record upon the entry of the authorization code stored in the central processing system on the data entry device.

10. A method for selectively activating and deactivating a portable data collecting terminal having an integrated data entry device during a customer item selection session using an authorized customer identification entry, said portable data collecting terminal having an active mode and inactive mode of operation wherein the portable data collecting terminal updates the customer session record only when in the active mode, said method comprising the steps of:

a) registering the customer identification entry in a memory device;

b) issuing the portable data collecting terminal to the authorized customer in the active mode;

c) changing the status of the portable data collecting terminal to the inactive mode upon the entry of the customer identification entry on the integrated data entry device of the portable data collecting terminal;

d) changing the status of the portable data collecting terminal to the active mode upon the re-entry of the customer identification entry on the integrated data entry device of the portable data collecting terminal; and

e) repeating steps c and d during the customer'"'"'s item selection session, whereby the portable data collecting terminal updates the customer'"'"'s sessions data record only when it is in the active mode.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the integrated data entry device is a bar code scanner and the step of entering the customer identification entry in the data entry device comprises the step of scanning a customer loyalty card bearing a bar coded customer identification entry encoded therein.