Method of operating a retail terminal having a core module assembly which is movable between a number of base assemblies

• US 6,062,478 A
• Filed: 04/30/1998
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Wike, Charles K. Jr., Lippert, Kurt J., Izaguirre, Jose L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): TREMBLAY, MARK STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US09/070,624
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.43, 235/462.45, 235/462.47, 235/462.31, 235/462.3, 235/375, 235/383, 345/905, 361/725, 361/731
• US Class Current: 235/462.47
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1631 Panel PC, e.g. single housing hosting PC and display panel
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0018 Constructional details, e.g. of drawer, printing means, input means

Abstract

A method of operating a retail terminal having a core module assembly, a first base assembly, and a second base assembly. The method includes the steps of (i) securing a first mounting plate to a first mounting surface, (ii) securing a second mounting plate to a second mounting surface, (iii) attaching the first base assembly to the first mounting plate, (iv) attaching the second base assembly to the second mounting plate, (v) attaching the core module assembly to the first base assembly, (vi) operating the core module assembly so as to perform retail functions for a first time period while (A) the first base assembly is mounted to the first mounting plate, and (B) the core module assembly is secured to the first base assembly, (vii) detaching the core module assembly from the first base assembly after the first time period operating step, (viii) attaching the core module assembly to the second base assembly after the detaching step, and (ix) operating the core module assembly so as to perform retail functions for a second time period while (A) the second base assembly is mounted to the second mounting plate, and (B) the core module assembly is secured to the second base assembly.

Claims

1. A method of operating a retail terminal having a core module assembly, a first base assembly, and a second base assembly, comprising the steps of:

securing the first base assembly to a first mounting surface;

securing the second base assembly to a second mounting surface;

attaching the core module assembly to the first base assembly;

operating the core module assembly so as to perform point-of-sale retail functions for a first time period while (i) the first base assembly is mounted to the first mounting surface, and (ii) the core module assembly is secured to the first base assembly;

detaching the core module assembly from the first base assembly after the first time period operating step;

attaching the core module assembly to the second base assembly after the detaching step; and

operating the core module assembly so as to perform product demonstration retail functions for a second time period while (i) the second base assembly is mounted to the second mounting surface, and (ii) the core module assembly is secured to the second base assembly,

wherein the core module assembly includes (i) a housing, (ii) a main controller board positioned within the housing, (iii) a hard drive device positioned within the housing and electrically coupled to the main controller board, (iv) a data input device, electrically coupled to the main controller board, which is configured to allow a user to input data signals to the main controller board, (v) a plurality of electrical connectors, supported by the housing, which are configured to electrically couple the main controller board to a number of external devices, and

wherein the plurality of electrical connectors includes (i) a cash drawer connector configured to electrically couple a cash drawer to the main controller board, (ii) a LAN connector configured to electrically couple a LAN to the main controller board, (iii) a scanner connector configured to electrically couple a scanner to the main controller board, (iv) a power connector configured to electrically couple a power supply to the main controller board, (v) an external speaker connector configured to electrically couple an external speaker to the main controller board, and (vi) a printer connector configured to electrically couple a printer to the main controller board.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first mounting surface has a substantially horizontal orientation, and

the second mounting surface has a substantially vertical orientation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first base assembly includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall,

the step of attaching the core module assembly to the first base assembly includes the step of attaching the core module assembly to both the first sidewall and the second sidewall,

the second base assembly includes (i) a stationary base, and (ii) a tilt mechanism secured to the stationary base, and

the step of attaching the core module assembly to the second base assembly includes the step of attaching the core module assembly to the tilt mechanism so as to allow pivotal movement between the core module assembly and the stationary base when the core module assembly is attached to the second base assembly.

4. A method of operating a retail terminal having a core module assembly, a first base assembly, and a second base assembly, comprising the steps of:

securing the first base assembly to a first mounting surface;

securing the second base assembly to a second mounting surface;

attaching the core module assembly to the first base assembly;

operating the core module assembly so as to perform point-of-sale retail functions for a first time period while (i) the first base assembly is mounted to the first mounting surface, and (ii) the core module assembly is secured to the first base assembly;

detaching the core module assembly from the first base assembly after the first time period operating step;

attaching the core module assembly to the second base assembly after the detaching step; and

operating the core module assembly so as to perform product demonstration retail functions for a second time period while (i) the second base assembly is mounted to the second mounting surface, and (ii) the core module assembly is secured to the second base assembly,

wherein the core module assembly includes (i) a housing, (ii) a main controller board positioned within the housing, (iii) a data input device, electrically coupled to the main controller board, which is configured to allow a user to input data signals to the main controller board, (iv) a plurality of electrical connectors, supported by the housing, which are configured to electrically couple the main controller board to a number of external devices, and

wherein the plurality of electrical connectors include (i) a LAN connector configured to electrically couple a LAN to the main controller board, (ii) a scanner connector configured to electrically couple a scanner to the main controller board, and (iii) a power connector configured to electrically couple a power supply to the main controller board.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the first mounting surface has a substantially horizontal orientation, and

the second mounting surface has a substantially vertical orientation.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the first base assembly includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall,

the step of attaching the core module assembly to the first base assembly includes the step of attaching the core module assembly to both the first sidewall and the second sidewall,

the second base assembly includes (i) a stationary base, and (ii) a tilt mechanism secured to the stationary base, and

the step of attaching the core module assembly to the second base assembly includes the step of attaching the core module assembly to the tilt mechanism so as to allow pivotal movement between the core module assembly and the stationary base when the core module assembly is attached to the second base assembly.