Apparatus and method for operating a checkout system having an RF transmitter for communicating to a number of wireless personal pagers

• US 6,502,749 B1
• Filed: 11/02/1999
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Snyder, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TREMBLAY, MARK STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US09/432,628
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/383, 235/385
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/046 Arrangement of recording means in or on check-out counters record carriers or readers per se G06K
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/00 Alarm indicators, e.g. bells
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/006 False operation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/246 Check out systems combined with EAS, e.g. price information stored on EAS tag anti-theft systems in point of sale systems G07G3/003
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1016 using wireless transmission calling systems using transmission by inductive loop H04B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/222 Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems selective calling systems and call receivers H04W84/00, H04W68/00

Abstract

A retail terminal assembly includes a portable communication device for use by retail personnel. The assembly also includes a signal transmitter for transmitting a personnel-request signal to the portable communication device. The assembly further includes a processing unit electrically coupled to the signal transmitter. Moreover, the assembly includes a memory device electrically coupled to the processing unit. The memory device has stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, causes the processing unit to (a) detect an intervention-needed activity and generate an intervention-needed control signal in response thereto, and (b) operate the signal transmitter so as to transmit the personnel-request signal in response to generation of the intervention-needed control signal. A message is communicated to the retail personnel by the portable communication device in response to receipt of the personnel-request signal by the portable communication device. A method of operating a retail terminal is also disclosed.

Claims

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

detecting an intervention-needed activity and generating an intervention-needed control signal in response thereto;

operating said signal transmitter so as to transmit a personnel-request signal in response to generation of said intervention-needed control signal; and

receiving said personnel-request signal with a portable communication device associated with retail personnel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of detecting said intervention-needed activity includes the step of detecting a currency level of a currency dispenser and generating said intervention-needed control signal if said currency level is below a predetermined currency threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of detecting said intervention-needed activity includes the step of detecting a security-breach activity and generating said intervention-needed control signal in response thereto.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of detecting said intervention-needed activity includes the step of determining if a customer operates an input device associated with said retail terminal so as to request assistance from retail personnel and generating said intervention-needed control signal in response thereto.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said signal transmitter includes a wireless RF signal transmitter, and

said operating step includes the step of operating said RF signal transmitter so as to transmit an RF personnel-request signal in response to generation of said intervention-needed control signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said portable communication device includes a display screen, further comprising the step of:

displaying a message directed to said retail personnel on said display screen of said portable communication device in response to receipt of said personnel-request signal by said portable communication device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said portable communication device includes a wireless alphanumeric pager device.

8. A retail terminal assembly, comprising:

a portable communication device for use by retail personnel;

a signal transmitter for transmitting a personnel-request signal to said portable communication device;

a processing unit electrically coupled to said signal transmitter; 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) detect an intervention-needed activity and generate an intervention-needed control signal in response thereto, and (b) operate said signal transmitter so as to transmit said personnel-request signal in response to generation of said intervention-needed control signal,

wherein a message is communicated to said retail personnel by said portable communication device in response to receipt of said personnel-request signal by said portable communication device.

9. The retail terminal assembly of claim 8, further comprising a currency dispenser for dispensing currency during a checkout transaction, wherein:

said currency dispenser is electrically coupled to said processing unit, and

said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to detect a currency level of said currency dispenser and generate said intervention-needed control signal if said currency level is below a predetermined currency threshold.

10. The retail terminal assembly of claim 8, wherein said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to detect a security-breach activity and generate said intervention-needed control signal in response thereto.

11. The retail terminal assembly of claim 8, further comprising an input device for receiving input from a customer, wherein

said input device is electrically coupled to said processing unit, and

said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to determine if said customer operates said input device associated with said retail terminal so as to request assistance from said retail personnel and generate said intervention-needed control signal in response thereto.

12. The retail terminal assembly of claim 8, wherein:

said signal transmitter includes a wireless RF signal transmitter, and

said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to operate said RF signal transmitter so as to transmit an RF personnel-request signal in response to generation of said intervention-needed control signal.

13. The retail terminal assembly of claim 8, wherein:

said portable communication device includes a display screen, and

said message communicated to said retail personnel is displayed on said display screen of said portable communication device.

14. The retail terminal of claim 13, wherein said portable communication device includes a wireless alphanumeric pager device.

15. A method of operating a retail terminal having a wireless RF signal transmitter associated therewith, comprising the steps of:

detecting an intervention-needed activity and generating an intervention-needed control signal in response thereto;

operating said RF signal transmitter so as to transmit an RF personnel-request signal in repsonse to generation of said intervention-needed control signal; and

receiving said RF personnel-request signal with a communication device associated with retail personnel, wherein said communication device includes a wireless alphanumeric pager device.