Method and apparatus for operating a self-service checkout system having a number of retail terminals associated therewith

• US 6,363,355 B1
• Filed: 12/21/1998
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Morrison, James, Addy, John C., Sadler, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hayes, John W.
• Application Number:
  US09/217,539
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 705/16, 705/17, 705/20, 705/21, 705/23, 705/29, 705/34, 705/43, 902/22, 235/383, 186/59, 186/61, 186/62, 186/64
• US Class Current: 705/23
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/047 for recording self-service articles without cashier or assistant
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• 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 self-service checkout system which includes a base having a scanner secured thereto includes the step of securing an itemization-only retail terminal to the base. The method also includes the step of coupling the itemization-only retail terminal to the scanner. The method further includes the step of operating the itemization-only retail terminal and the scanner so as to allow a first user to enter a first number of items for purchase into the self-service checkout system for a first time period while (i) the itemization-only retail terminal is secured to the base, and (ii) the itemization-only retail terminal is coupled to the scanner. Moreover, the method includes the step of detaching the itemization-only retail terminal from the base. Yet further, the method includes the step of decoupling the itemization-only retail terminal from the scanner. The method further includes the step of securing a full-tendering retail terminal to the base. The method also includes the step of coupling the full-tendering retail terminal to the scanner. Finally, the method includes the step of operating the full-tendering retail terminal and the scanner so as to allow a second user to enter a second number of items for purchase into the self-service checkout system for a second time period while (i) the full-tendering retail terminal is secured to the base, and (ii) the full-tendering retail terminal is coupled to the scanner. A self-service checkout system is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of operating a self-service checkout system having a scanner, comprising the steps of:

coupling an itemization-only retail terminal to said scanner;

operating said itemization-only retail terminal and said scanner so as to allow a first user to enter a first number of items for purchase into said self-service checkout system for a first time period while said itemization-only retail terminal is coupled to said scanner;

decoupling said itemization-only retail terminal from said scanner;

coupling a full-tendering retail terminal to said scanner; and

operating said full-tendering retail terminal and said scanner so as to allow a second user to enter a second number of items for purchase into said self-service checkout system for a second time period while said full-tendering retail terminal is coupled to said scanner.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said self-service checkout system further has a base having a counter secured thereto,

said scanner is secured to said counter,

said step of coupling said itemization-only retail terminal to said scanner includes the step of securing said itemization-only retail terminal to said base, and

said step of operating said itemization-only retail terminal and said scanner so as to allow said first user to enter said first number of items for purchase into said self-service checkout system includes the step of operating said itemization-only retail terminal and said scanner so as to allow said first user to enter said first number of items for purchase into said self-service checkout system for said first time period while (i) said itemization-only retail terminal is electrically coupled to said scanner, and (ii) said itemization-only retail terminal is secured to said base.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

said step of decoupling said itemization-only retail terminal from said scanner includes the step of detaching said itemization-only retail terminal from said base,

said step of coupling said full-tendering retail terminal to said scanner includes the step of securing said full-tendering retail terminal to said base, and

said step of operating said full-tendering retail terminal and said scanner so as to allow said second user to enter said second number of items for purchase into said self-service checkout system includes the step of operating said full-tendering retail terminal and said scanner so as to allow said second user to enter said second number of items for purchase into said self-service checkout system for said second time period while (i) said full-tendering retail terminal is electrically coupled to said scanner, and (ii) said full-tendering retail terminal is secured to said base.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said self-service checkout system further has a security device, further comprising the steps of:

coupling said itemization-only retail terminal to said security device;

operating said security device so as to provide security to self-service checkout system during said first time period while said itemization-only retail terminal is coupled to said security device;

decoupling said itemization-only retail terminal from said security device;

coupling said full-tendering retail terminal to said security device; and

operating said security device so as to provide security to said self-service checkout system during said second time period while said full-tendering retail terminal is coupled to said security device.

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

generating an end-of-transaction control signal when a last item associated with said first number of items for purchase has been scanned with said scanner; and

operating said itemization-only retail terminal during said first time period so as to allow said first user to tender payment for said first number of items at a remote payment terminal in response to generation of said end-of-transaction control signal.

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

generating an end-of-transaction control signal when a last item associated with said second number of items for purchase has been scanned with said scanner; and

operating said full-tendering retail terminal during said second time period so as to allow said second user to tender payment for said second number of items with said full-tendering retail terminal in response to generation of said end-of-transaction control signal.

7. A method of operating a self-service checkout system which includes a base having a scanner secured thereto, comprising the steps of:

securing an itemization-only retail terminal to said base;

coupling said itemization-only retail terminal to said scanner;

operating said itemization-only retail terminal and said scanner so as to allow a first user to enter a first number of items for purchase into said self-service checkout system for a first time period while (i) said itemization-only retail terminal is secured to said base, and (ii) said itemization-only retail terminal is coupled to said scanner;

detaching said itemization-only retail terminal from said base;

decoupling said itemization-only retail terminal from said scanner;

securing a full-tendering retail terminal to said base;

coupling said full-tendering retail terminal to said scanner; and

operating said full-tendering retail terminal and said scanner so as to allow a second user to enter a second number of items for purchase into said self-service checkout system for a second time period while (i) said full-tendering retail terminal is secured to said base, and (ii) said full-tendering retail terminal is coupled to said scanner.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said self-service checkout system further has a security device, further comprising the steps of:

coupling said itemization-only retail terminal to said security device;

operating said security device so as to provide security to said self-service checkout system during said first time period while said itemization-only retail terminal is coupled to said security device;

decoupling said itemization-only retail terminal from said security device;

coupling said full-tendering retail terminal to said security device; and

operating said security device so as to provide security to said self-service checkout system during said second time period while said full-tendering retail terminal is coupled to said security device.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

generating an end-of-transaction control signal when a last item associated with said first number of items for purchase has been scanned with said scanner; and

operating said itemization-only retail terminal during said first time period so as to allow said first user to tender payment for said first number of items at a remote payment terminal in response to generation of said end-of-transaction control signal.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

generating an end-of-transaction control signal when a last item associated with said second number of items for purchase has been scanned with said scanner; and

operating said full-tendering retail terminal during said second time period so as to allow said second user to tender payment for said second number of items with said full-tendering retail terminal in response to generation of said end-of-transaction control signal.