Self-service checkout system with RFID capability

• US 6,547,040 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2001
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Goodwin, John C. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beauchaine, Mark J
• Application Number:
  US09/824,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20020139617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 186/61, 186/59, 186/66, 186/2, 177/50, 177/25.15, 235/383, 340/666
• US Class Current: 186/61
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/047 for recording self-service articles without cashier or assistant
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4144 for controlling weight of goods in commercial establishments, e.g. supermarket, P.O.S. systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles

Abstract

A self-service checkout system which weighs products with RFID labels for security. The system includes an RFID label affixed to a product, a scale for determining actual weight information for the product, and a computer which records a customer indication that the product is on the scale, transmits a signal to the RFID label while the product is on the scale, records a response from the RFID label, obtains identification information for the product using the response from the RFID label, obtains price and reference weight information for the product using the identification information, compares the actual weight information with the reference weight information, and initiates acceptance of payment if a difference amount between the actual weight information and the reference weight information is with a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A method of recording a product during a customer managed transaction comprising the steps of:

recording a customer indication that the product is on a security scale under a working surface of a self-service checkout counter;

determining actual weight information from the security scale;

transmitting a signal to an RFID label on the product while the product is on the security scale by a label interrogator located near the working surface;

recording a response from the RFID label;

obtaining identification information for the product using the response from the RFID label;

obtaining price and reference weight information for the product using the identification information;

comparing the actual weight information with the reference weight information; and

initiating acceptance of payment if a difference amount between the actual weight information and the reference weight information is with a predetermined threshold.

2. A system for completing a customer managed transaction comprising:

an RFID label affixed to a product;

a security scale for determining actual weight information for the product while the product is located on a working surface of a self-service checkout counter;

an RFID label interrogator; and

a computer which records a customer indication that the product is on the security scale, obtains the actual weight of the product from the security scale, causes the RFID label interrogator to transmit a signal to the RFID label while the product is on the security scale, records a response from the RFID label, obtains identification information for the product using the response from the RFID label, obtains price and reference weight information for the product using the identification information, compares the actual weight information with the reference weight information, and initiates acceptance of payment if a difference amount between the actual weight information and the reference weight information is with a predetermined threshold.

3. A system for completing a customer managed transaction comprising:

a self-service checkout counter including a working surface;

an RFID label affixed to a product;

a security scale for determining actual weight information for the product while the product is located on the working surface;

an RFID label interrogator near the working surface; and

a computer which records a customer indication that the product is on the security scale, obtains the actual weight of the product from the security scale, causes the RFID label interrogator to transmit a signal to the RFID label while the product is on the security scale, records a response from the RFID label, obtains identification information for the product using the response from the RFID label, obtains price and reference weight information for the product using the identification information, compares the actual weight information with the reference weight information, and initiates acceptance of payment if a difference amount between the actual weight information and the reference weight information is with a predetermined threshold.

4. A system for completing a customer managed transaction comprising:

a self-service checkout counter including a bag well;

an RFID label affixed to a product;

a security scale for determining actual weight information for the product while the product is located in a bag in the bag well;

an RFID label interrogator near the bag well; and

a computer which records a customer indication that the product is in the bag in the bag well, obtains the actual weight of the product from the security scale, causes the RFID label interrogator to transmit a signal to the RFID label while the product is in the bag in the bag well, records a response from the RFID label, obtains identification information for the product using the response from the RFID label, obtains price and reference weight information for the product using the identification information, compares the actual weight information with the reference weight information, and initiates acceptance of payment if a difference amount between the actual weight information and the reference weight information is with a predetermined threshold.

5. A method of recording a product during a customer managed transaction comprising the steps of:

recording a customer indication that the product is in a bag in a bag well of a self-service checkout counter;

determining an actual weight of the product in the bag by a security scale;

transmitting a signal to an RFID label on the product while the product is in the bag by a label interrogator located near the bag well;

recording a response from the RFID label;

obtaining identification information for the product using the response from the RFID label;

obtaining price and reference weight information for the product using the identification information;

comparing the actual weight information with the reference weight information; and

initiating acceptance of payment if a difference amount between the actual weight information and the reference weight information is with a predetermined threshold.