Apparatus and method for operating a checkout system having a security scale for providing security during an assisted checkout transaction

• US 6,296,184 B1
• Filed: 11/02/1999
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Dejaeger, Wilfried E. Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US09/432,638
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/385
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/047 for recording self-service articles without cashier or assistant
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/00 Alarm indicators, e.g. bells
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/006 False operation

Abstract

A method of providing security to an assisted retail terminal having a security weight scale associated therewith includes the step of generating an item-entered control signal when a product code associated with an item of a customer is entered into the retail terminal by retail personnel. The method also includes the step of detecting placement of the item by the retail personnel into a post-scan area associated with the retail terminal with the security weight scale and generating a detection control signal in response thereto. Moreover, the method includes the step of generating an invalid-use control signal if the detection control signal is generated prior to generation of the item-entered control signal. An assisted retail terminal is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of providing security to an assisted retail terminal having a security weight scale associated therewith, comprising the steps of:

generating an item-entered control signal when a product code associated with an item of a customer is entered into said retail terminal by retail personnel;

detecting placement of said item by said retail personnel into a post-scan area associated with said retail terminal with said security weight scale and generating a detection control signal in response thereto; and

generating an invalid-use control signal if said detection control signal is generated prior to generation of said item-entered control signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said post-scan area of said retail terminal includes a bagwell having a support surface for supporting a grocery container,

said security weight scale is positioned in operative contact with said support surface of said bagwell, and

said step of detecting placement of said item by said retail personnel into said post-scan area includes the step of detecting placement of said item by said retail personnel into said grocery container with said security weight scale and generating said detection control signal in response thereto.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said post-scan area of said retail terminal includes a post-scan shelf for supporting said item prior to placement of said item into a grocery container,

said security weight scale is positioned in operative contact with said post-scan shelf, and

said step of detecting placement of said item by said retail personnel into said post-scan area includes the step of detecting placement of said item by said retail personnel onto said post-scan shelf with said security weight scale and generating said detection control signal in response thereto.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating a valid-use control signal if said item-entered control signal is generated prior to generation of said detection control signal; and

entering a record corresponding to said item in a transaction table in response to generation of said valid-use control signal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of generating a message which instructs said retail personnel to remove said item from said post-scan area in response to generation of said invalid-use control signal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of detecting removal of said item from said post-scan area by said retail personnel in response to generation of said invalid-use control signal and generating a removal control signal in response thereto.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein (i) said step of detecting placement of said item into said post-scan area includes the step of determining a first measured weight value of said item with said security weight scale when said item is placed in said post-scan area, and (ii) said step of detecting removal of said item from said post-scan area includes the step of determining a second measured weight value of said item with said security weight scale when said item is removed from said post-scan area, further comprising the step of:

comparing said first measured weight value to said second measured weight value and generating a mismatch control signal if said first measured weight value does not match said second measured weight value.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of generating a message which instructs said retail personnel that an incorrect item was removed from said post-scan area in response to generation of said mismatch control signal.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

generating a match control signal if said first measured weight value matches said second measured weight value; and

generating a message which instructs said retail personnel to re-enter said item in response to generation of said match control signal.

10. An assisted retail terminal, comprising:

a terminal base having (i) a customer side, and (ii) a personnel side which is opposite said customer side;

a code entry device secured to said terminal base;

a post-scan area for supporting an item of a customer subsequent to entry of said item with said code entry device by retail personnel, said post-scan area being oriented relative to said terminal base so as to allow advancement of said item by said retail personnel into said post-scan area from said personnel side of said terminal base;

a security weight scale for monitoring (i) placement of said item into said post-scan area by said retail personnel, and (ii) removal of said item from said post-scan area by said retail personnel;

a processing unit electrically coupled to both said code entry device and said security weight scale; and

a memory device electrically coupled to said processing unit, wherein said memory device has 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 a product code associated with said item of said customer is entered with said code entry device by said retail personnel,

(b) detect placement of said item by said retail personnel into said post-scan area with said security weight scale and generate a detection control signal in response thereto, and

(c) generate an invalid-use control signal if said detection control signal is generated prior to generation of said item-entered control signal.

11. The retail terminal of claim 10, wherein:

said post-scan area includes a bagwell having a support surface for supporting a grocery container,

said security weight scale is positioned in operative contact with said support surface of said bagwell, and

said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to detect placement of said item by said retail personnel into said grocery container with said security weight scale and generate said detection control signal in response thereto.

12. The retail terminal of claim 10, wherein:

said post-scan area includes a post-scan shelf for supporting said item prior to placement of said item into a grocery container,

said security weight scale is positioned in operative contact with said post-scan shelf, and

said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to detect placement of said item by said retail personnel onto said post-scan shelf with said security weight scale and generate said detection control signal in response thereto.

13. The retail terminal of claim 10, wherein said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to:

(a) generate a valid-use control signal if said item-entered control signal is generated prior to generation of said detection control signal, and

(b) enter a record corresponding to said item in a transaction table in response to generation of said valid-use control signal.

14. The retail terminal of claim 10, wherein said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to generate a message which instructs said retail personnel to remove said item from said post-scan area in response to generation of said invalid-use control signal.

15. The retail terminal of claim 10, wherein said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to detect removal of said item from said post-scan area by said retail personnel in response to generation of said invalid-use control signal and generate a removal control signal in response thereto.

16. The retail terminal of claim 15, wherein said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to:

(a) determine a first measured weight value of said item with said security weight scale when said item is placed in said post-scan area,

(b) determine a second measured weight value of said item with said security weight scale when said item is removed from said post-scan area, and

(c) compare said first measured weight value to said second measured weight value and generate a mismatch control signal if said first measured weight value does not match said second measured weight value.

17. The retail terminal of claim 16, wherein said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to generate a message which instructs said retail personnel that an incorrect item was removed from said post-scan area in response to generation of said mismatch control signal.

18. The retail terminal of claim 17, wherein said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to:

(a) generate a match control signal if said first measured weight value matches said second measured weight value; and

(b) generate a message which instructs said retail personnel to re-enter said item in response to generation of said match control signal.

19. A method of providing security to an assisted retail terminal having a security weight scale associated therewith, comprising the steps of:

generating an item-entered control signal when a product code associated with an item of a customer is entered into said retail terminal by retail personnel;

retrieving a reference weight value of said item from a weight database in response to generation of said item-entered control signal;

determining a measured weight value of said item with said security weight scale when said item is placed into a post-scan area by said retail personnel; and

generating an invalid-use control signal if said measured weight value of said item does not match said reference weight value of said item.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

said post-scan area of said retail terminal includes a bagwell having a support surface for supporting a grocery container,

said security weight scale is positioned in operative contact with said support surface of said bagwell, and

said step of determining said measured weight value of said item includes the step of determining said measured weight value of said item with said security weight scale when said item is placed into said grocery container by said retail personnel.

21. A method of providing security to a retail terminal during assisted checkout transactions, comprising the steps of:

operating said retail terminal by retail personnel while said retail terminal is configured in an assisted mode of operation;

generating an item-entered control signal when a product code associated with an item of a customer is entered into said retail terminal by retail personnel during said operating step;

detecting placement of said item by said retail personnel into a post-scan area associated with said retail terminal with a security weight scale during said operating step and generating a detection control signal in response thereto; and

generating an invalid-use control signal if said detection control signal is generated prior to generation of said item-entered control signal.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said retail terminal is configured to be convertible between an assisted mode of operation and a self-service mode of operation.

23. A method of providing security to a retail terminal, comprising the steps of:

generating an item-entered control signal when a product code associated with an item of a customer is entered into said retail terminal by retail personnel while said retail terminal is configured to be in an assisted mode of operation;

detecting placement of said item by said retail personnel into a post-scan area associated with said retail terminal with a security weight scale while said retail terminal is configured to be in an assisted mode of operation and generating a detection control signal in response thereto; and

generating an invalid-use control signal if said detection control signal is generated prior to generation of said item-entered control signal.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said retail terminal is configured to be convertible between an assisted mode of operation and a self-service mode of operation.