System and method for self-checkout of video media in a rental store

• US 6,842,115 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Harris, Timothy L., Taylor, Jason W., Wike, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US10/256,675
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/5.9, 340/5.91, 340/5.92, 235/375, 235/380, 235/381, 235/385, 705/14, 705 16- 18, 705 22- 24, 705/28, 705/39, 705/41, 705/44, 705/64, 705/65, 705/67, 705/73, 705/75
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/069 by box-like containers, e.g. videocassettes, books
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2457 Lending systems using EAS tags wherein the tags are reusable, e.g. they can be activated and deactivated more than once, e.g. for a library
• 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 enables consumers to perform self-checkout and self-check-in of rental articles, especially rental video media. The system includes a scanner, a payment module, and an article transporter. The article transporter carries scanned articles having an attached, permanent EAS tag outside of an EAS tag interrogating zone. The self-checkout station of the present invention permits a consumer to identify his or her account and scan various video media for rental. The consumer may provide payment through the payment module and, once payment is accepted, the article transporter may be activated to carry the rented articles outside of an EAS tag interrogation zone adjacent to the self-checkout station.

Claims

1. A self-checkout station for renting articles having permanent electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags comprising:

a scanner for reading a product identifier associated with an article to be rented and an account identifier for the identifying a consumer'"'"'s account;

a payment module for accepting payment for rental of a scanned article; and

a transporter for carrying the scanned article having an attached, permanent EAS tag so that the scanned article does not enter an interrogation zone through which a consumer exits.

2. The station of claim 1 wherein the transporter delivers the scanned article to a position outside of all interrogation zones for a store.

3. The station of claim 1, the transporter further comprising:

a diverter interposed between a path of the scanned article and the interrogation zone.

4. The station of claim 1 further comprising:

a return scanner for reading a product identifier associated with an article being returned with an active EAS tag; and

a return slot for receiving rented articles that are being returned to a store.

5. The station of claim 4 further comprising:

a gate associated with the return slot, the gate being released so the return slot may receive a rented article in response to the return scanner generating a scanned article signal.

6. The station of claim 5, the gate further comprising:

a hinged door covering the return slot; and

a blocking member for preventing rotation of the door so the return slot is selectively available for receiving returned articles.

7. The station of claim 6 wherein the blocking member is a retractable bolt.

8. The station of claim 6 wherein the blocking member is an electromagnet selectively activated to release the door.

9. A method for the self-checkout of rental articles having permanent electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags comprising:

reading a product identifier associated with an article to be rented and an account identifier for identifying a consumer'"'"'s account;

accepting payment for rental of the scanned article; and

transporting the scanned article having an attached, permanent EAS tag on a conveyor so the scanned article does not enter an EAS tag interrogation zone through which a consumer exits.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the scanned article transportation includes delivering the scanned article to a position outside of all interrogation zones for a store.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

reading a product identifier associated with an article having an attached permanent EAS tag that is being returned; and

receiving the article from which the product identifier has been read.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

generating a scanned article signal in response to the product identifier reading; and

releasing a gate associated with a return slot in response to the generation of the scanned article signal so the return slot may receive the article.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

enabling movement of a door covering the return slot so the return slot is selectively available for receiving returned articles.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the movement enabling includes retracting a bolt.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the movement enabling includes selectively activating an electromagnet.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

determining whether the article from which the product identifier has been read was timely returned; and

updating a consumer'"'"'s account that corresponds to the product identifier with one of a late fee and credit in response to return of the article at a time other than its due date.

17. The method of claim 9, the scanned article transportation further comprising:

diverting the conveyor transporting the scanned article away from the interrogation zone.

18. A station for the return of rental articles comprising:

a return scanner for reading a product identifier associated with an article being returned with an active EAS tag; and

a return slot for receiving rented articles that are being returned to a store.

19. The station of claim 18 further comprising:

a gate associated with the return slot, the gate being released so the return slot may receive a rented article in response to the return scanner generating a scanned article signal.

20. The station of claim 19, the gate further comprising:

a hinged door covering the return slot; and

a blocking member for preventing rotation of the door so the return slot is selectively available for receiving returned articles.