Arrangement for and method of expediting commercial product transactions at a point-of-sale site
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of labeling articles with an integrated reader/printer unit, comprising the steps of:
- a) storing product identity information of products having attributes and data corresponding to the attributes of each product in a data base of a computer;
b) associating a tag bearing coded indicia having parts of different light reflectivity with each of the products, each coded indicia representing the identity of a respective product;
c) electro-optically scanning and reading the coded indicia on the tag associated with a product visually selected by a human operator by moving the unit relative to, and at a distance away from, the coded indicia to position thereon a light beam emitted exteriorly of the unit and movable across the coded indicia to automatically identify the product selected by the operator to the computer on a real-time basis;
d) accessing on a real-time basis the data base subsequent to the reading step to automatically retrieve the stored data corresponding to the attributes of the product selected;
e) printing a bar code symbol representing the retrieved data on a label with a printer associated with the unit;
f) applying the printed label to an article; and
g) automatically reading the symbol on the printed label applied to the article.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of and arrangement for updating inventory markings include printing an updated label containing updated information such as price obtained from the data base of a host computer on a real-time basis. The updated label is applied to a product identified by a scanner.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method of labeling articles with an integrated reader/printer unit, comprising the steps of:
-
a) storing product identity information of products having attributes and data corresponding to the attributes of each product in a data base of a computer;
b) associating a tag bearing coded indicia having parts of different light reflectivity with each of the products, each coded indicia representing the identity of a respective product;
c) electro-optically scanning and reading the coded indicia on the tag associated with a product visually selected by a human operator by moving the unit relative to, and at a distance away from, the coded indicia to position thereon a light beam emitted exteriorly of the unit and movable across the coded indicia to automatically identify the product selected by the operator to the computer on a real-time basis;
d) accessing on a real-time basis the data base subsequent to the reading step to automatically retrieve the stored data corresponding to the attributes of the product selected;
e) printing a bar code symbol representing the retrieved data on a label with a printer associated with the unit;
f) applying the printed label to an article; and
g) automatically reading the symbol on the printed label applied to the article. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. An arrangement for expediting transactions of articles, comprising:
-
a) a computer having a data base in which product identity information of products having attributes and data corresponding to attributes of each product are stored;
b) a tag bearing coded indicia having parts of different light reflectivity associated with each of the products, each coded indicia representing the identity of a respective product;
c) means for electro-optically scanning and reading the coded indicia on the tag associated with a product visually selected by a human operator, including means for directing a light beam exteriorly of the reading means, and means for movably positioning the light beam on the coded indicia on the tag of the selected product to automatically identify the selected product to the computer and produce a signal when such identification is successfully made;
d) means for accessing the data base on a real-time basis in automatic subsequent response to said signal from the reading means to retrieve the stored data corresponding to an attribute associated with each identified product;
e) means for printing attribute information corresponding to the retrieved data on a label on a real-time basis with the operation of the means for accessing the data base;
f) adhesive means for adhering the printed label to an article; and
g) means for completing a transaction by electro-optically reading the attribute information on the printed label on the article. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification