Method and apparatus for checking out non-barcoded items at a checkout station

• US 5,987,428 A
• Filed: 06/25/1996
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Suntory Ltd (Kotobuki Realty Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Walter, Joanne S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Application Number:
  US08/673,641
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 177/25.15, 186/61, 235/383, 705/1, 705/16, 705/20, 705/23, 705/414
• US Class Current: 705/23
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4144 for controlling weight of goods in commercial establishments, e.g. supermarket, P.O.S. systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/145 PLU-management
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/006 False operation

Abstract

A method and apparatus for checking out an item to be weighed through a checkout station. The method includes the steps of sensing when the item is positioned on a scale, and displaying a visual indication which prompts a user to initiate a specific keystroke operation in response to the sensing step. The visual indication may be an item menu or a highlighted portion of a screen display. The item menu may include a listing of item names which are ranked based on a sales volume value associated with each of the item names listed in the item menu.

Claims

1. A method for checking out an item through a checkout station, comprising the steps of:

sensing when the item is positioned on a scale; and

displaying a visual indication which prompts a user to initiate a specific keystroke operation in response to the sensing step,

wherein the displaying step includes the step of displaying a menu having a plurality of items listed thereon.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

each of the plurality of items listed on the menu has an item number associated therewith, and

the method includes the step of entering into a data input device an item number corresponding to the item positioned on the scale.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

each of the plurality of items listed on the menu has a touch area associated therewith, and

the method includes the step of contacting a touch area associated with the item positioned on the scale.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying a menu step includes the step of:

listing the plurality of items in order based on a sales volume value associated with each of the plurality of items.

5. A checkout station, comprising:

a scale; and

means for providing a visual indication which prompts a user to initiate a keystroke operation in response to an item being placed on the scale,

wherein the visual indication means includes a menu having a plurality of items listed thereon.

6. The checkout station of claim 5, wherein:

the plurality of items listed on the menu each have a corresponding item number associated therewith, and

the keystroke operation includes entering an item number corresponding with the item being placed on the scale.

7. The checkout station of claim 5, wherein:

the plurality of items listed on the menu each have a corresponding touch area associated therewith, and

the keystroke operation includes contacting a touch area associated with the item being placed on the scale.

8. The checkout station of claim 5, wherein the plurality of items listed on the menu are ranked in order of a sales volume value associated with each of the plurality of items.

9. A checkout station, comprising:

a scale; and

means for providing a visual indication which prompts a user to initiate a keystroke operation in response to an item being placed on the scale,

wherein the visual indication means includes a highlighted portion of a display screen, and

wherein the keystroke operation includes entering in the highlighted portion a PLU code associated with the item placed on the scale.

10. A checkout station, comprising:

a scale; and

means for providing a visual indication which prompts a user to initiate a keystroke operation in response to an item being placed on the scale,

wherein the scale includes means for generating a trigger signal in response to placing the item on the scale; and

wherein the visual indication means includes a processing unit responsive to the trigger signal for displaying a menu on a display device associated with the checkout station.