Method and apparatus for displaying instructional messages during operation of a self-service checkout terminal

• US 6,189,790 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1999
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Walter, Joanne S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US09/469,996
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 186/61
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles

Abstract

A method of operating a retail terminal having a display monitor associated therewith includes the step of generating an item-entered control signal when a user enters an item for purchase into the retail terminal during a retail transaction. The method also includes the step of entering a record corresponding to the item for purchase into an electronic transaction table in response to generation of the item-entered control signal. The method further includes the step of generating an instructional message which instructs the customer on operation of the self-service checkout terminal during the retail transaction. The message generating step includes the step of displaying an animated character and an associated instructional text message with the display monitor during the retail transaction. The animated character is configured to resemble a commercially recognizable image so as to communicate the commercially recognizable image to the customer with the display monitor. A self-service checkout terminal is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of operating a retail terminal having a display monitor associated therewith, comprising the steps of:

generating an item-entered control signal when a user enters an item for purchase into said retail terminal during a retail transaction;

entering a record corresponding to said item for purchase into an electronic transaction table in response to generation of said item-entered control signal; and

generating an instructional message which instructs said user on operation of said retail terminal during said retail transaction, wherein said instructional message generating step includes the step of displaying an animated character and an associated instructional text message with said display monitor during said retail transaction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said animated character is configured to resemble a commercially recognizable image, and

said displaying step further includes the step of displaying said animated character so as to communicate said commercially recognizable image to said user with said display monitor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said animated character is configured to resemble a product for purchase, and

said displaying step includes the step of displaying said animated character so as to advertise said product for purchase to said user with said display monitor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying step includes the step of displaying said animated character in a manner which is representative of said animated character performing a number of lifelike movements.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said retail terminal further includes a speaker assembly, and

said instructional message generating step further includes the step of generating a number of lifelike sounds with said speaker assembly during said animated character displaying step.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining if said user operates an input device associated with said retail terminal so as to request assistance in regard to operation of said retail terminal and generating an assistance-needed control signal in response thereto, wherein:

said displaying step includes the step of displaying said instructional message so as to provide assistance to said user in response to generation of said assistance-needed control signal.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of detecting a predetermined user activity associated with operation of the terminal by said user and generating a user-activity control signal in response thereto, wherein:

said displaying step includes the step of displaying said instructional message so as to provide a specific instruction associated with said predetermined user activity to said user in response to generation of said user-activity control signal.

8. A retail terminal, comprising:

a display monitor;

a scanner for allowing a user to enter an item for purchase into said retail terminal;

a processing unit electrically coupled to both said display monitor and said scanner;

a memory device electrically coupled to said processing unit, said memory device having stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by said processing unit, causes said processing unit to;

(a) generate an item-entered control signal when said user enters said item for purchase into said retail terminal during a retail transaction,

(b) enter a record corresponding to said item for purchase into an electronic transaction table in response to generation of said item-entered control signal, and

(c) generate an instructional message which instructs said user on operation of said retail terminal during said retail transaction, wherein said instructional message includes an animated character and an associated instructional text message which are displayed with said display monitor during said retail transaction.

9. The retail terminal of claim 8, wherein said animated character is configured to resemble a commercially recognizable image, and

said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to display said animated character so as to communicate said commercially recognizable image to said user with said display monitor.

10. The retail terminal of claim 8, wherein:

said animated character is configured to resemble a product for purchase, and

said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to display said animated character so as to advertise said product for purchase to said user with said display monitor.

11. The retail terminal of claim 8, wherein said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to display said animated character in a manner which is representative of said animated character performing a number of lifelike movements.

12. The retail terminal of claim 8, further comprising a speaker assembly, wherein said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to generate a number of lifelike sounds with said speaker assembly contemporaneously with display of said animated character with said display monitor.

13. The retail terminal of claim 8, further comprising an input device for receiving input from said user, wherein said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to:

(a) determine if said user operates said input device associated with said retail terminal so as to request assistance in regard to operation of said retail terminal and generate an assistance-needed control signal in response thereto, and

(b) display said instructional message so as to provide assistance to said user in response to generation of said assistance-needed control signal.

14. The retail terminal of claim 8, wherein said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to:

(a) detect a predetermined user activity associated with operation of said terminal by said user and generate a user-activity control signal in response thereto, and

(b) display said instructional message so as to provide a specific instruction associated with said predetermined user activity to said user in response to generation of said user-activity control signal.

15. A method of operating a self-service checkout terminal having a display monitor associated therewith, comprising the steps of:

generating an item-entered control signal when a customer enters an item for purchase into said self-service checkout terminal during a retail transaction;

entering a record corresponding to said item for purchase into an electronic transaction table in response to generation of said item-entered control signal; and

generating an instructional message which instructs said customer on operation of said self-service checkout terminal during said retail transaction, wherein (i) said message generating step includes the step of displaying an animated character and an associated instructional text message with said display monitor during said retail transaction, and (ii) said animated character is configured to resemble a commercially recognizable image so as to communicate said commercially recognizable image to said customer with said display monitor.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

said animated character is further configured to resemble a product for purchase, and

said displaying step includes the step of displaying said animated character so as to advertise said product for purchase to said customer with said display monitor.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said displaying step includes the step of displaying said animated character in a manner which is representative of said animated character performing a number of lifelike movements.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein:

said self-service checkout terminal further includes a speaker assembly, and

said instructional message generating step further includes the step of generating a number of lifelike sounds with said speaker assembly during said animated character displaying step.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of determining if said customer operates an input device associated with said self-service checkout terminal so as to request assistance in regard to operation of said self-service checkout terminal and generating an assistance-needed control signal in response thereto, wherein:

said displaying step includes the step of displaying said instructional message so as to provide assistance to said customer in response to generation of said assistance-needed control signal.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of detecting a predetermined customer activity associated with operation of the terminal by said customer and generating a customer-activity control signal, wherein:

said displaying step includes the step of displaying said instructional message so as to provide a specific instruction associated with said customer activity to said customer in response to generation of said customer-activity control signal.

21. A method of operating a retail terminal having a display monitor associated therewith, comprising the steps of:

generating an item-entered control signal when a user enters an item for purchase into said retail terminal during a retail transaction;

entering a record corresponding to said item for purchase into an electronic transaction table in response to generation of said item-entered control signal; and

generating an instructional message which instructs said user on operation of said retail terminal during said retail transaction, wherein said instructional message generating step includes the steps of (i) displaying an animated character with said display monitor during said retail transaction, and (ii) generating an associated instructional audio message during said animated character displaying step.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein:

said animated character is configured to resemble a commercially recognizable image, and

said displaying step further includes the step of displaying said animated character so as to communicate said commercially recognizable image to said user with said display monitor.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein:

said animated character is configured to resemble a product for purchase, and

said displaying step includes the step of displaying said animated character so as to advertise said product for purchase to said user with said display monitor.