Apparatus and method for operating a checkout system having a number of interface terminals associated therewith

• US 6,354,497 B1
• Filed: 11/02/1999
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Nugent, Paul F. Jr., Wike, Charles K. Jr., Lippert, Kurt J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TREMBLAY, MARK STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US09/432,630
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/383, 235/385
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/048 automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

A method of operating a checkout terminal having a display monitor includes the step of operating the checkout terminal so as to perform an assisted checkout transaction while the display monitor is positioned in an assisted monitor position. The method also includes the step of pivoting the display monitor such that the display monitor is positioned in a self-service monitor position. Moreover, the method includes the step of operating the checkout terminal so as to perform a self-service checkout transaction while the display monitor is positioned in the self-service monitor position. A checkout terminal is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A checkout terminal, comprising:

a terminal base;

a housing pivotally secured to said terminal base; and

a display monitor pivotally secured to said housing, wherein (i) said housing is configured to be rotated relative to said terminal base so as to be positionable between an assisted housing position and a self-service housing position, and (ii) said display monitor is configured to be rotated relative to said housing so as to be positionable in an assisted monitor position when said housing is position in either said assisted housing position or said self-service housing position.

2. The checkout terminal of claim 1, further comprising a scanner, wherein:

said scanner includes a first scanning window and a second scanning window,

said terminal base has a substantially horizontal upper surface,

said first scanning window of said scanner is disposed substantially parallel with said upper surface of said terminal base, and

said second scanning window of said scanner is disposed in said housing in an orientation substantially perpendicular to said upper surface of said terminal base.

3. The checkout terminal of claim 2, wherein:

said terminal base further has a customer side and a personnel side which is opposite said customer side,

each of said housing, said display monitor, and said scanner is interposed between said customer side of said terminal base and said personnel side of said terminal base,

said display monitor includes a display screen,

said second scanning window of said scanner faces said personnel side of said terminal base when said scanner is positioned in said assisted scanner position,

said second scanning window of said scanner faces said customer side of said terminal base when said scanner is positioned in said self-service scanner position, and

said display screen faces said personnel side of said terminal base when said housing is positioned in either said assisted housing position or said self-service housing position.

4. The checkout terminal of claim 1, wherein:

said checkout terminal is configured to perform an assisted checkout transaction in which a first number of items are scanned with said scanner by retail personnel when (i) said housing is positioned in said assisted housing position, and (ii) said display monitor is positioned in said assisted monitor position, and

said checkout terminal is further configured to perform a self-service checkout transaction in which a second number of items are scanned with said scanner by a customer when (i) said housing is positioned in said self-service housing position, and (ii) said display monitor is positioned in said assisted monitor position.

9. The checkout terminal of claim 1, further comprising a scanner which is housed by said housing.

10. The checkout terminal of claim 2, wherein said housing houses said scanner.

11. The checkout terminal of claim 3, wherein said housing contains said scanner therein.

5. A method of operating a checkout terminal having a customer side and a personnel side which is opposite said customer side, and further having (i) a terminal base, (ii) a scanner housing supported by said terminal base and being movable in relation to said terminal base, and (iii) a personal interface terminal supported by said scanner housing and being movable in relation to said scanner housing, said personal interface terminal including a display monitor and a keyboard, comprising the steps of:

(a) operating said checkout terminal so as to perform an assisted checkout transaction in which retail personnel enters a first item for purchase of a first customer into said checkout terminal during a first time period, wherein during said step of operating said checkout terminal so as to perform said assisted checkout transaction (i) said retail personnel is positioned on said personnel side of said checkout terminal, (ii) said first customer is positioned on said customer side of said checkout terminal, (iii) said display monitor and said keyboard of said personal interface device face said personnel side of said checkout terminal, and (iv) said scanner housing is positioned in a first orientation relative to said terminal base;

(b) manipulating said scanner housing and said personnel interface terminal after step (a) so that (i) said scanner housing moves from said first orientation relative to said terminal base to a second orientation relative to said terminal base, said first orientation being different from said second orientation, and (ii) said display monitor and said keyboard of said personal interface device face said personnel side of said checkout terminal; and

(c) operating said checkout terminal after step (b) so as to perform a self-service checkout transaction in which a second customer enters a second item for purchase into said checkout terminal during a second time period, wherein during said step of operating said checkout terminal so as to perform said self-service checkout transaction (i) said second customer is positioned on said customer side of said checkout terminal, (ii) said display monitor and said keyboard of said personal interface device face said personnel side of said checkout terminal, and (iii) said scanner housing is positioned in said second orientation relative to said terminal base.

6. A checkout terminal, comprising:

a terminal base having a personnel side;

a code entry device;

a housing which contains said code entry device therein, said housing being supported by said terminal base and being movable in relation to said terminal base; and

a display monitor supported by said housing and being removable in relation to said housing, wherein;

said code entry device is operable in (i) an assisted mode of operation in which a first item for purchase is entered with said code entry device by retail personnel, and (ii) a self-service mode of operation in which a second item for purchase is entered with said code entry device by a customer,

said housing is positionable in relative to said terminal base in (i) a first orientation when said code entry device is operated in said assisted mode of operation in which said first item for purchase is entered with said code entry device by said retail personnel, and (ii) a second orientation when said code entry device is operated in said self-service mode of operation in which said second item for purchase is entered with said code entry device by said customer, said first orientation being different from said second orientation, and

said display monitor is configured to face said personnel side when (i) said housing is positioned in said first orientation, and (ii) said housing is positioned in said second orientation.

7. The checkout terminal of claim 6, wherein:

said code entry device is a scanner, and

said scanner is positioned within said housing.

8. A method of operating a checkout terminal having a customer side and a personnel side, and further having (i) a terminal base, (ii) a scanner housing supported by said terminal base and being movable in relation to said terminal base, and (iii) a display monitor supported by said scanner housing and being movable in relation to said scanner housing, comprising the steps of:

(a) operating said checkout terminal so as to perform an assisted checkout transaction in which retail personnel enters a first item for purchase of a first customer into said checkout terminal during a first time period, wherein during said step of operating said checkout terminal so as to perform said assisted checkout transaction (i) said retail personnel is positioned on said personnel side of said checkout terminal, (ii) said first customer is positioned on said customer side of said checkout terminal, (iii) said display monitor faces said personnel side of said checkout terminal, and (iv) said scanner housing is positioned in a first orientation relative to said terminal base; and

(b) operating said checkout terminal after step (a) so as to perform a self-service checkout transaction in which a second customer enters a second item for purchase into said checkout terminal during a second time period, wherein during said step of operating said checkout terminal so as to perform said self-service checkout transaction (i) said second customer is positioned on said customer side of said checkout terminal, (ii) said display monitor faces said personnel side of said checkout terminal, and (iii) said scanner housing is positioned in a second orientation relative to said terminal base, said first orientation being different from said second orientation.