System and method for updating a product database based on surveillance tag detection at a self-checkout station

• US 6,809,645 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Mason, Timothy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEHMOOD, JENNIFER
• Application Number:
  US10/232,455
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 235/385, 705/21, 705/22, 705/23, 705/24
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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

Abstract

A system modifies the status of a surveillance tag indicator in a product data record corresponding to an article being processed at checkout stand. The system comprises a product database having product records corresponding to articles sold in a store, a surveillance tag interrogator associated with the checkout station that generates a surveillance tag present signal in response to detection of a surveillance tag, and a database modifier communicatively coupled to the database and the interrogator for modifying a surveillance tag indicator of a product record in response to the surveillance tag present signal from the interrogator. The database modifier, in response to the surveillance tag present signal, may set the surveillance tag indicator of a product record corresponding to an article being processed for checkout to indicate a surveillance tag is expected for the article thereafter. Subsequent queries of the product database using the barcode or other product identification data for the article retrieve a product record with an active surveillance tag indicator. One or more interrogators may be included in the system. Preferably, two interrogators are used with one being associated with the EAS deactivator of the checkout stand and the other being associated with the bag well of the checkout stand. Thus, the database modifier of the present invention updates the surveillance tag indicator to an active status in response to the unexpected detection of a surveillance tag being attached to the article being processed.

Claims

1. A system for modifying a database in response to detection of surveillance tags at a checkout station comprising:

a product database for storing product records corresponding to articles sold in a store, the product records including a surveillance tag indicator;

a surveillance tag interrogator at the checkout station for generating a surveillance tag present signal during a transaction in response to detection of a surveillance tag attached to an article submitted for processing at the checkout station; and

a database modifier communicatively coupled to the database and interrogator for sending a query containing product identification data associated with the article,

if a record is returned by the database, for determining whether a surveillance tag indicator in the record is active, indicating that the surveillance tag should be attached to the article and deactivation is required, or inactive, indicating that the surveillance tag should not be attached to the article, but that deactivation is still required; and

if no record is returned from the database, for generating a new data record for the database, and for setting an active surveillance tag indicator in the new data record during the transaction, indicating that deactivation is required.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the interrogator is located proximate a surveillance tag deactivator at a checkout counter so that the interrogator detects the surveillance tag in the the surveillance tag deactivator.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a scanner at the checkout station for obtaining the product identification data associated with the article being submitted for checkout processing.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a prompter at the checkout station for prompting deactivation of the surveillance tag attached to the article during the transaction in response to the surveillance tag present signal.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the prompter is a display for providing a visual prompt regarding surveillance tag deactivation during the transaction.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the prompter is an annunciator for providing an audible prompt regarding surveillance tag deactivation during the transaction.

11. The system of claim 2 wherein the interrogator is located proximate a bag well of the checkout station.

7. A method for modifying a database in response to the detection of surveillance tags at a checkout station comprising:

receiving product identification data for an article being submitted for checkout processing during a transaction from a scanner by a computer at the checkout station;

sending a query containing the product identification data read by the scanner to the database by the computer;

receiving a surveillance tag present signal from a surveillance tag interrogator at the checkout station in response to detection of a surveillance tag attached to the article being processed at the checkout station during the transaction by the computer; and

if a record is returned by the database,

determining whether a surveillance tag indicator in the record is active by the computer, indicating that the surveillance tag should be attached to the article and deactivation is required, or inactive by the computer, indicating that the surveillance tag should not be attached to the article, but that deactivation is still required; and

if no record is returned from the database,

generating a new data record for the database by the computer; and

setting an active surveillance tag indicator in the new data record during the transaction by the computer, indicating that deactivation is required.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

prompting for deactivation of the surveillance tag attached to the article being submitted for checkout processing in response to the surveillance tag present signal.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the prompting displays a visual prompt regarding surveillance tag deactivation.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the prompting annunciates an audible prompt regarding surveillance tag deactivation.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the interrogator is located proximate a bag well of the checkout station.

13. A method for modifying a database in response to the detection of surveillance tags at a checkout station comprising:

receiving product identification data for an article being submitted for checkout processing during a transaction from a scanner by a computer at the checkout station;

receiving a surveillance tag present signal from a surveillance tag interrogator in a bag well at the checkout station in response to detection of a surveillance tag attached to the article being placed in the bag well during the transaction by the computer; and

sending a query containing the product identification data read by the scanner to the database by the computer;

if a record is returned by the database,

determining whether a surveillance tag indicator in the record is active by the computer, indicating that the surveillance tag should be attached to the article and deactivation is required, or inactive by the computer, indicating that the surveillance tag should not be attached to the article, but that deactivation is still required;

if no record is returned from the database,

generating a new data record for the database by the computer; and

setting an active surveillance tag indicator in the new data record during the transaction by the computer, indicating that deactivation is required; and

prompting for deactivation of the surveillance tag attached to the article in response to the surveillance tag present signal by the computer.

14. A system for modifying a database in response to detection of surveillance tags at a checkout station comprising:

a product database for storing product records corresponding to articles sold in a store, the product records including a surveillance tag indicator;

a scanner at the checkout station for reading product identification data for an article being submitted for checkout processing;

a surveillance tag interrogator at the checkout station for generating a surveillance tag present signal during a transaction in response to detection of a surveillance tag attached to the article submitted for processing at the checkout station; and

a database modifier communicatively coupled to the database and interrogator for sending a query containing the product identification data read by the scanner,

if a record is returned by the database, for determining whether a surveillance tag indicator in the record is active, indicating that the surveillance tag should be attached to the article and deactivation is required, or inactive, indicating that the surveillance tag should not be attached to the article, but that deactivation is still required; and

if no record is returned from the database, for generating a new data record for the database, and for setting an active surveillance tag indicator in the new data record during the transaction, indicating that deactivation is required.