Terminal for libraries and the like

• US 6,750,777 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2001
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bibliotheca RFID Library Systems AG (Bibliotheca Group GmbH)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Nelson, John E., Brace, Thomas J., Wurz, Ronald C., Marsolek, Gerald G., Willems, Richard M., Schwietz, Joseph E. Jr., McLeod, Kathleen M., Fergen, James E., Kieffer, Michael J., Larson, Roger D., Grunes, Mitchell B., Karel, Gerald L., Yorkovich, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US09/927,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20020017564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 340/691.1, 340/691.6, 340/571, 235/375, 235/380, 235/382, 235/470
• US Class Current: 340/691.1
• 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 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/005 Details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/00 Cash registers alarm indicators G07G3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles

Abstract

A library terminal permits a user to execute a loan transaction without assistance. The library terminal (i) provides a visible scan line from a bar code reader indicating the correct positioning of the bar code on a circulating item, (ii) leads a user through a loan transaction, (iii) provides an explicit feedback to a user when an article has an improper position on the article receiving area, (iv) both checks out and checks in circulating items, (v) stores fonts in bit maps of screen displays instead of in a separate font memory, (vi) integrates a security marker reader, a printer, and a controller in the same housing, (vii) processes financial transactions related to the borrowing of circulating items, and/or (viii) displays actions for helping the user to correct errors in use of the terminal.

Claims

1. A library terminal comprising:

an article receiving area arranged to receive an article;

a code reader arranged to read a code on the article when placed on the article receiving area; and

,

a controller coupled to the code reader, wherein the controller is arranged to control the code reader so as to project a visible indicator onto the article receiving area and so as to change the visible indicator between first and second visible states, and wherein the controller is arranged to process a signal from the code reader corresponding to the code read by the code reader.

2. The library terminal of claim 1 wherein one of the first and second states is a blinking state.

3. The library terminal of claim 1 wherein one of the first and second states is a steady state.

4. The library terminal of claim 1 wherein one of the first and second states is an elongated length.

5. The library terminal of claim 1 wherein one of the first and second states is a shortened length.

6. The library terminal of claim 1 wherein the first state is a blinking state having a first rate of blinking, wherein the second state is a blinking state having a second rate of blinking, and wherein the first and second rates of blinking are different.

7. The library terminal of claim 1 further comprising a proximity sensor arranged to sense proximity of a user.

8. The library terminal of claim 7 wherein the controller is arranged to control the code reader so as to project the visible indicator in response to the proximity sensor.

9. The library terminal of claim 7 wherein the controller is arranged to control the code reader in response to the proximity sensor so as to cause the visible indicator to change to the first state, and wherein the first state is a blinking state.

10. The library terminal of claim 7 wherein the controller is arranged to control the code reader in response to the proximity sensor so as to cause the visible indicator to change to the first state, and wherein the first state is a steady state.

11. The library terminal of claim 7 wherein the controller is arranged to control the code reader in response to the proximity sensor so as to cause the visible indicator to change to the first state, and wherein the first state is an elongated length.

12. The library terminal of claim 7 wherein the controller is arranged to control the code reader in response to the proximity sensor so as to cause the visible indicator to change to the first state, and wherein the first state is a shortened length.

13. The library terminal of claim 7 wherein the controller is arranged to control the code reader in response to the proximity sensor so as to cause the visible indicator to change from the first state to the second state, wherein the first state is a blinking state having a first rate of blinking, wherein the second state is a blinking state having a second rate of blinking, and wherein the first and second rates of blinking are different.

14. The library terminal of claim 7 wherein the controller is arranged to control the code reader in response to the proximity sensor so as to change the visible indicator from the first state to the second state.

15. The library terminal of claim 1 wherein the code reader is arranged to read a code on a circulating item.

16. The library terminal of claim 1 wherein the code reader is arranged to read a code on an identification card.

17. The library terminal of claim 1 wherein the article receiving area has an idle indicator thereon readable by the code reader in order to determine whether an article is placed in the article receiving area.

18. The library terminal of claim 1 wherein the controller is arranged to process both loans and returns.

19. The library terminal of claim 1 further comprising a monitor, a data storage memory, and a video display memory, wherein the data storage memory stores screen displays, and wherein the controller transfers the screen displays from the data storage memory to the video display memory for display on the monitor during interaction with a borrower.

20. The library terminal of claim 1 further comprising a connector, wherein the connector is arranged to couple the library terminal over a link to a circulation system, and wherein the controller is arranged to store loan transactions during periods when the link to the circulation system is down so that the loan transactions can be later transferred to the circulation system.

21. The library terminal of claim 1 further comprising a proximity sensor arranged to sense an article placed on the article receiving area.

22. The library terminal of claim 1 wherein the visible indicator indicates the correct position of the code on the article placed on the article receiving area.

23. A self-service library terminal comprising:

an article receiving area arranged to receive an article;

a code reader arranged to read a code on the article when the article is placed on the article receiving area; and

,

a controller coupled to the code reader, wherein the controller is arranged to process signals from the code reader and to provide an explicit feedback to a borrower when an article has an improper position on the article receiving area.

24. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 further comprising a security marker reader arranged to read a security marker attached to a circulating item, wherein the article receiving area has an idle indicator thereon readable by the code reader in order to determine whether an article is placed in the article receiving area, and wherein the controller is arranged to process signals from the code reader corresponding to the idle indicator, and from the security marker reader corresponding to the security marker, in order to provide the explicit feedback.

25. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 wherein the article receiving area has an idle indicator thereon readable by the code reader in order to determine whether an article is placed in the article receiving area.

26. The self-service library terminal of claim 25 wherein the idle indicator is a code.

27. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 wherein the controller is arranged to process both loans and returns.

28. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 further comprising a display, a data storage memory, and a display memory, wherein the data storage memory stores screen displays, and wherein the controller transfers the screen displays from the data storage memory to the display memory for display during interaction with a borrower.

29. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 further comprising a connector, wherein the connector is arranged to couple the self-service library terminal over a link to a circulation system, and wherein the controller is arranged to store loan transactions during periods when the link to the circulation system is down so that the loan transactions can be later transferred to the circulation system.

30. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 wherein the article receiving area includes a position sensor, and wherein the controller is responsive to the code reader and the position sensor in order to provide the explicit feedback when a circulating item is not in a reference position.

31. The self-service library terminal of claim 30 wherein controller is arranged to direct a user to properly position an article when the code reader reads the code but the controller determines that the article is not properly positioned against a back wall of the article receiving area based upon the position sensor.

32. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 wherein the article receiving area is a first article receiving area arranged to receive an article of a first type, wherein the self-service library terminal further comprises a second article receiving area arranged to receive an article of a second type, and wherein the controller is arranged to direct a user to properly place the article of the second type at the second article receiving area if the controller determines that the article of the second type is improperly placed at the first article receiving area.

33. The self-service library terminal of claim 32 wherein the article of the first type has a first type code, wherein the article of the second type has a second type code, and wherein the controller is arranged to direct a user to place the article of the second type at the second article receiving area if the controller determines that the code reader reads the second type code when the article of the second type is at the first article receiving area.

34. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 wherein circulating items have first type codes, and wherein the controller is arranged to direct a user to place one of the circulating items at the article receiving area if the code reader reads a second type code from an article at the article receiving area.

35. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 wherein the controller is arranged to notify a user that the article has been previously processed if the code reader twice reads the code from the article before the article is returned by the user.

36. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 wherein the controller is arranged to provide a notice if a user is conducting a transaction but the controller detects no activity for a predetermined amount of time.

37. The self-service library terminal of claim 36 wherein the notice directs the clearing of the self-service library terminal.

38. The self-service library terminal of claim 36 wherein notice requests the user to indicate whether the user needs more time.

39. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 wherein the user has a loan card, and wherein the controller is arranged to block the user'"'"'s loan card if the user is conducting a transaction but the controller detects no activity for a predetermined amount of time.

40. The self-service library terminal of claim 39 wherein the explicit feedback is an indication that the self-service library terminal must be reset before it can be used again.

41. The self-service library terminal of claim 39 wherein the explicit feedback is an audible tone alert to indicate that the self-service library terminal needs attention.

42. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 wherein the controller is arranged to detect an error state, and wherein the controller is arranged to notify a user that the user may elect to continue a transaction upon detection of the error state.

43. The self-service library terminal of claim 42 further comprising a printer, and wherein the error state is the printer being out of paper.

44. The self-service library terminal of claim 42 further comprising a printer, and wherein the error state is the printer being out of service.

45. The self-service library terminal of claim 42 wherein the error state is a failure of a communication link.

46. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 wherein the controller is arranged to detect an error state, and wherein the controller is arranged to block the transaction upon detection of the error state.

47. The self-service library terminal of claim 46 wherein the error state is the code reader being out of service.

48. The self-service library terminal of claim 46 wherein the error state is a first error state, wherein the controller is arranged to detect a second error state, and wherein the controller is arranged to notify a user that the user may elect to continue a transaction upon detection of the first error state.

49. The self-service library terminal of claim 48 further comprising a printer, and wherein the first error state is the printer being out of paper.

50. The self-service library terminal of claim 48 further comprising a printer, and wherein the first error state is the printer being out of service.

51. The self-service library terminal of claim 48 wherein the first error state is a failure of a communication link.

52. The self-service library terminal of claim 48 wherein the second error state is the code reader being out of service.

53. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 wherein the controller is arranged to control the code reader so as to project a visible indicator onto the article receiving area and so as to change the visible indicator between first and second visible states.

54. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 wherein the controller is arranged to explicitly direct the borrower to re-position the article.

55. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 further comprising a display device, wherein the controller is arranged to control the display device in order to lead the borrower through processing of a loan transaction, wherein the controller is arranged to detect an error in the processing of the loan transaction, and wherein the controller is arranged to control the display device in order to display an action for helping the borrower to correct the error.

56. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 wherein the controller is arranged to direct the borrower to replace a circulating item involved in a loan transaction if the borrower removes an identification card from the article receiving area before placing the circulating item in a position to be read by the code reader.

57. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 wherein, if a loan transaction is rejected with respect to the borrower, the controller is arranged to inform the borrower of the reason for the rejection.

58. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 wherein, if the borrower positions anything other than an identification card in a reading position with respect to the code reader before an identification card is positioned so that the identification card can be read by the code reader, the controller is arranged to direct the borrower to first place the identification card in the reading position with respect to the code reader.

59. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 wherein, if data is incorrectly entered by the borrower, the controller is arranged to direct the borrower to retry entry of the data.

60. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 wherein, if a circulating item has already been checked out by the borrower during a current transaction, and if the borrower attempts to check out the circulating item again, the controller is arranged to inform the borrower that the borrower has already checked out the circulating item.

61. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 further comprising a video receiver, wherein, if the borrower leaves a circulating item in a position to be read by the code reader while inserting a video into the video receiver, the controller is arranged to direct the borrower to remove the circulating item before inserting the video.

62. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 wherein, if the borrower places multiple articles together in the article receiving area, the controller is arranged to explicitly direct the borrower to place articles one at a time in the article receiving area.

63. The self-service library terminal of claim 23 wherein, if any part of the self-service library terminal is out of service, the controller is arranged to inform the borrower as to which part of the self-service library terminal is out of service.

64. A library terminal comprising:

a monitor;

a data storage memory storing screen displays, wherein the screen displays include fonts; and

,

a controller, wherein the controller is arranged to control the display of the screen displays, including the fonts, on the monitor without performing font rendering from fonts stored separately from the screen displays.

65. The library terminal of claim 64 further comprising an article receiving area arranged to receive an article, and a code reader arranged to read a code on the article when placed on the article receiving area, wherein the controller is arranged to process a signal from the code reader corresponding to the code read by the code reader.

66. The library terminal of claim 65 wherein the article is a circulating item.

67. The library terminal of claim 65 wherein the article is an identification card.

68. The library terminal of claim 65 wherein the article receiving area has an idle indicator thereon readable by the code reader in order to determine whether an article is placed in the article receiving area.

69. The library terminal of claim 64 further comprising a proximity sensor arranged to sense proximity of a borrower.

70. The library terminal of claim 64 further comprising a connector, wherein the connector is arranged to couple the library terminal over a link to a circulation system, and wherein the controller is arranged to store loan transactions during periods when the link to the circulation system is down so that the loan transactions can be later transferred to the circulation system.

71. The library terminal of claim 64 wherein the controller is arranged to control a code reader so as to project a visible indicator onto an article receiving area and so as to change the visible indicator between first and second visible states.

72. A library terminal comprising:

a card receiving area arranged to receive a library card;

a card reader arranged to read the library card when the library card is placed on the card receiving area; and

,

a controller coupled to the card reader, wherein the controller is responsive to the card reader in order to determine incorrect library card placement on the card receiving area.

73. The library terminal of claim 72 wherein the controller is arranged to control the card reader so as to project a visible indicator onto the card receiving area and so as to change the visible indicator between first and second visible states.

74. The library terminal of claim 72 wherein the card reader comprises a scanner having a position to scan book IDs in addition to the library card.

75. A library terminal comprising:

a circulating item receiving area arranged to receive a circulating item;

a scanner arranged to scan the circulating item when the circulating item is placed on the circulating item receiving area; and

,

a controller coupled to the scanner, wherein the controller is responsive to the scanner in order to determine when the circulating item is in the circulating item receiving area but is not in a reference position.

76. The library terminal of claim 75 further comprising an indicator, wherein the controller controls the indicator to provide feedback that the circulating item is not in the reference position.

77. The library terminal of claim 75 further comprising an item proximity sensor, and wherein the controller is responsive to the scanner and the item proximity sensor in order to determine when the circulating item is in the circulating item receiving area but is not in the reference position.

78. The library terminal of claim 77 further comprising a back wall of the circulating item receiving area, wherein the item proximity sensor is positioned to detect when the circulating item is not against the back wall, and wherein the reference position is against the back wall.

79. The library terminal of claim 75 further comprising first and second item proximity sensors, and wherein the controller is responsive to the scanner and the first and second item proximity sensors in order to determine when the circulating item is in the circulating item receiving area but is not in the reference position.

80. The library terminal of claim 79 further comprising a back wall of the circulating item receiving area, wherein the first and second item proximity sensors are positioned to detect when the circulating item is not against the back wall, and wherein the reference position is against the back wall.

81. The library terminal of claim 79 further comprising a back wall of the circulating item receiving area, and wherein the first and second item proximity sensors are positioned to detect when the circulating item is skewed with respect to the back wall.

82. The library terminal of claim 75 wherein the controller is arranged to control the scanner so as to project a visible indicator onto the circulating item receiving area and so as to change the visible indicator between first and second visible states.

83. A library terminal comprising:

a first circulating item receiving area arranged to receive a first circulating item of a first type;

a first scanner arranged to read the first circulating item when the first circulating item is placed in the first circulating item receiving area;

a second circulating item receiving area arranged to receive a second circulating item of a second type, wherein the first and second types are different;

a second scanner arranged to read the second circulating item when the second circulating item is placed in the second circulating item receiving area; and

,

a controller coupled to the first and second scanners, wherein the controller is responsive to the first scanner in order to determine when the second circulating item is placed on the first circulating item receiving area.

84. The library terminal of claim 83 wherein the first scanner is a bar code scanner.

85. The library terminal of claim 83 wherein the first scanner is a dimension scanner.

86. The library terminal of claim 83 wherein the first circulating item is a book and the second circulating item is a video.

87. The library terminal of claim 83 wherein the first circulating item is a book and the second circulating item is a CD.

88. The library terminal of claim 83 further comprising a security marker state setter arranged to set a state of a security marker attached to a circulating item, and wherein the controller is arranged to inhibit the security marker state setter when the controller determines that the second circulating item is placed on the first circulating item receiving area.

89. The library terminal of claim 88 wherein the state is a desensitized state.

90. The library terminal of claim 88 wherein the state is a sensitized state.

91. The library terminal of claim 83 wherein the controller is arranged to control one of the first and second scanners so as to project a visible indicator onto a corresponding one of the first and second circulating item receiving areas and so as to change the visible indicator between first and second visible states.

92. A self-service library terminal comprising a controller and a display, wherein the controller is arranged to detect an error state of the self-service library terminal and, while the self-service library terminal is in the error state, to notify a user through use of the display that the user may continue a transaction at the option of the user.

93. The self-service library terminal of claim 92 wherein the controller is arranged to detect first and second error states, wherein the controller is arranged to notify a user that the user may elect to continue a transaction upon detection of the first error state, and wherein the controller is arranged to block the transaction upon detection of the second error state.

94. The self-service library terminal of claim 92 further comprising a printer, and wherein the error state is the printer being out of paper.

95. The self-service library terminal of claim 92 further comprising a printer, and wherein the error state is the printer being out of service.

96. The self-service library terminal of claim 92 wherein the error state is a failure of a communication link.

97. The self-service library terminal of claim 92 further comprising an article receiving area and a scanner, wherein the controller is arranged to control the scanner so as to project a visible indicator onto the article receiving area and so as to change the visible indicator between first and second visible states.