Combination library patron-supervisor self check-in/out workstation
First Claim
1. A library self service check-in/out work station for selectively checking in/out library articles, where each article includes a discrete identification element attached thereto, and wherein the discrete identification element has library cataloging information and/or specific library patron loan information associated therewith specific to the accompanying article, including among others, library check-in and check-out date, late fees, cataloging circulation and the like, and where each library patron is issued a unique patron identifier, the library check-in/out work station comprising:
- a combined library patron and library staff self-service counter having,(ii) a first counter portion accessible by a library patron from a first side thereof, and(ii) a second counter portion accessible from an opposing second side of said library self-service counter by a library staff person and in proximity to a library administration work area and accessible by the library staff;
a library patron identification means, positioned and supported by said counter, and accessible by a library patron from said first counter side, said identification means responsive to said unique patron identifier associated with a current library patron initiated transaction for assigning the current patron initiated transaction to a specific patron,an article receiving area and article interrogator positioned and supported by said counter, and accessible by a library patron from said first counter side, wherein said article interrogator and said receiving area are arranged to interrogate the discrete identification element associated with a received article introduced into the article receiving area for providing an output representative of said information associated with said discrete identification element associated with the received article;
a library patron control unit including a library patron accessible visual display, positioned and supported by said first counter portion, and accessible by a library patron from said first counter side, for displaying first selected library patron operational information associated with a current library patron initiated transaction, where the first selected library patron operational information includes at least operational instructions and current library patron-specific transaction process feedback information;
a library supervisor control unit including a staff accessible visual display, positioned and supported by said second counter portion, and accessible by a library staff person from said second counter side, for displaying second selected library patron operational information associated with the current library patron initiated transaction for assisting said library patron self-service check-in/out transaction; and
a library cataloging system and system controller coupled to the article interrogator, the patron identification means, the library patron accessible visual display, and the library staff accessible visual display, for displaying first selected library patron operational information on said library patron accessible visual display, and displaying at least portions of said first selected library patron operational information on said library staff accessible visual display, separately or concurrently, so that a library staff person may assist a library patron self-service check-in/out transaction as required to complete a library patron initiated transaction while remaining in said library administration work area.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A combination patron-supervisor library self-check-in/out workstation includes both a patron visual display and a supervisor visual display so that a supervisor can monitor patron initiated transactions so that the supervisor may in real-time have access to the patron visually displayed patron operational information as well supplemental information.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A library self service check-in/out work station for selectively checking in/out library articles, where each article includes a discrete identification element attached thereto, and wherein the discrete identification element has library cataloging information and/or specific library patron loan information associated therewith specific to the accompanying article, including among others, library check-in and check-out date, late fees, cataloging circulation and the like, and where each library patron is issued a unique patron identifier, the library check-in/out work station comprising:
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a combined library patron and library staff self-service counter having, (ii) a first counter portion accessible by a library patron from a first side thereof, and (ii) a second counter portion accessible from an opposing second side of said library self-service counter by a library staff person and in proximity to a library administration work area and accessible by the library staff; a library patron identification means, positioned and supported by said counter, and accessible by a library patron from said first counter side, said identification means responsive to said unique patron identifier associated with a current library patron initiated transaction for assigning the current patron initiated transaction to a specific patron, an article receiving area and article interrogator positioned and supported by said counter, and accessible by a library patron from said first counter side, wherein said article interrogator and said receiving area are arranged to interrogate the discrete identification element associated with a received article introduced into the article receiving area for providing an output representative of said information associated with said discrete identification element associated with the received article; a library patron control unit including a library patron accessible visual display, positioned and supported by said first counter portion, and accessible by a library patron from said first counter side, for displaying first selected library patron operational information associated with a current library patron initiated transaction, where the first selected library patron operational information includes at least operational instructions and current library patron-specific transaction process feedback information; a library supervisor control unit including a staff accessible visual display, positioned and supported by said second counter portion, and accessible by a library staff person from said second counter side, for displaying second selected library patron operational information associated with the current library patron initiated transaction for assisting said library patron self-service check-in/out transaction; and a library cataloging system and system controller coupled to the article interrogator, the patron identification means, the library patron accessible visual display, and the library staff accessible visual display, for displaying first selected library patron operational information on said library patron accessible visual display, and displaying at least portions of said first selected library patron operational information on said library staff accessible visual display, separately or concurrently, so that a library staff person may assist a library patron self-service check-in/out transaction as required to complete a library patron initiated transaction while remaining in said library administration work area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A combination patron and staff library self-checking method for selectively checking in/out library articles at a self-check patron station, where each article includes a discrete identification element attached thereto, and wherein the discrete identification element has information associated therewith specific to the accompanying article, and where each library patron is issued a unique patron identifier, the library self-checking method comprising the steps of:
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interrogating, at a selected one self-check patron station, the unique patron identifier associated with a current patron initiated transaction; assigning the current patron initiated transaction, at said selected one self-check patron station, to a specific patron; receiving, at the selected one self-check patron station, an article in an article receiving area; interrogating the discrete identification element, associated with a received article introduced in the article receiving area of the selected one self-check patron station, for providing an output representative of the information associated with the discrete identification element associated with the received article; displaying selected patron operational information on a library patron accessible visual display positioned on a first counter portion of a first combined library patron and library staff self-service counter and accessible by a library patron from a first side thereof, where said patron operational information is visually available to a patron at the selected one self-check patron station, associated with the current patron initiated transaction, where said first selected patron operational information includes at least operational instructions and current patron-specific transaction process feedback information; and displaying on a library staff accessible visual display, positioned on a second counter portion of a said combined library patron and library staff self-service counter accessible from an opposing second side of said library self-service counter by a library staff person and in proximity to a library administration work area and accessible by the library staff, supervisor operational information including at least portions of selected patron operational information associated with the selected one self-check station so that a library staff person may assist a library patron self-service check-in/out transaction as required to complete a patron initiated transaction while remaining in said library administration work area. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A combination patron and staff library check-in/out work station for selectively checking in/out library articles, where each article includes a discrete identification element attached thereto, and wherein the discrete identification element has library cataloging information and/or specific patron loan information associated therewith specific to the accompanying article, including among others, library check-in and check-out date, late fees, cataloging circulation and the like, and where each library patron is issued a unique patron identifier, the library check-in/out work station comprising:
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a plurality of co-extensive combined library patron and library staff self-service counters, wherein each of said self-service counters includes, (ii) a first counter portion accessible by a library patron from a first side thereof, and (ii) a second counter portion accessible from an opposing second side of said library self-service counter by a library staff person and in proximity to a library administration work area and accessible by the library staff; a library patron identification means, positioned and supported by each of said self service counters, and accessible by a library patron from said first counter side, said identification means responsive to said unique patron identifier associated with a current patron initiated transaction for assigning the current patron initiated transaction to a specific patron, an article receiving area and article interrogator positioned and supported by each of said self service counters, and accessible by a library patron from said first counter side, wherein said article interrogator and said receiving area are arranged to interrogate the discrete identification element associated with a received article introduced into the article receiving area for providing an output representative of said information associated with said discrete identification element associated with the received article; a library patron accessible visual display, positioned and supported by said first counter portion of each of said self service counters, and accessible by a library patron from said first counter side thereof, for displaying first selected patron operational information associated with a current patron initiated transaction, where the first selected library patron operational information includes at least operational instructions and current patron-specific transaction process feedback information; a library supervisor control unit including a staff accessible visual display, positioned and supported by said second counter portion of each of said self service counters, and accessible by a library staff person from said second counter side thereof, for displaying second selected patron operational information associated with the current patron initiated transaction for assisting said library patron self-service check-in/out transaction; and a library cataloging system and system controller coupled to the article interrogator, the patron identification means, the library patron accessible visual display and the library staff accessible visual display associated with each of said self service counters, for correspondingly displaying on each respective patron accessible visual display on each of said counters said first selected patron operational information, and for at least corresponding displaying, concurrently or separately, on said library staff accessible visual display at least portions of said first selected patron operational information so that a library staff person may assist a library patron self-service check-in/out transaction as required to complete a patron initiated transaction while remaining in said library administration work area. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A combination patron and staff library check-in/out work station for selectively checking in/out library articles, where each article includes a discrete identification element attached thereto, and wherein the discrete identification element has information associated therewith specific to the accompanying article, and where each patron is issued a unique patron identifier, the library check-in/out work station comprising;
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a combined library patron and library staff self-service counter having, (ii) a first counter portion accessible by a library patron from a first side thereof, and (ii) a second counter portion accessible from an opposing second side of said library self-service counter by a library staff person and in proximity to a library administration work area and accessible by the library staff; a library patron control unit including a library patron accessible visual display, positioned and supported by said first counter portion, and accessible by a library patron from said first counter side, for displaying first selected patron operational information associated with a current patron initiated transaction, where the first selected library patron operational information includes at least operational instructions and current patron-specific transaction process feedback information; a library supervisor control unit including a staff accessible visual display, positioned and supported by said second counter portion, and accessible by a library staff person from said second counter side, for displaying second selected patron operational information associated with the current patron initiated transaction for assisting said library patron self-service check-in/out transaction; and a library cataloging system and system controller coupled to the library patron accessible visual display, and the library staff accessible visual display, for displaying first selected patron operational information on said library patron accessible visual display, and displaying at least portions of said first selected patron operational information on said library staff accessible visual display, separately or concurrently, so that a library staff person may assist a library patron self-service check-in/out transaction as required to complete a patron initiated transaction while remaining in said library administration work area. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A library self service check-in/out work station for selectively checking in/out library articles, where each article includes a discrete identification element attached thereto, and wherein the discrete identification element has library cataloging information and/or specific patron loan information associated therewith specific to the accompanying article, including among others, library check-in and check-out date, late fees, cataloging circulation and the like, and where each library patron is issued a unique patron identifier, the library check-in/out work station comprising;
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a plurality of co-extensive combined library patron and library staff self-service counters, wherein each of said self-service counters includes, (ii) a first counter portion accessible by a library patron from a first side thereof, and (ii) a second counter portion accessible from an opposing second side of said library self-service counter by a library staff person and in proximity to a library administration work area and accessible by the library staff; a library patron identification means, positioned and supported by each of said self service counters, and accessible by a library patron from said first counter side, said identification means responsive to said unique patron identifier associated with a current patron initiated transaction for assigning the current patron initiated transaction to a specific patron, an article receiving area and article interrogator positioned and supported by each of said self service counters, and accessible by a library patron from said first counter side, wherein said article interrogator and said receiving area are arranged to interrogate the discrete identification element associated with a received article introduced into the article receiving area for providing an output representative of said information associated with said discrete identification element associated with the received article; a library patron control unit including a library patron accessible visual display, positioned and supported by said first counter portion of each of said self service counters, and accessible by a library patron from said first counter side thereof, for displaying first selected patron operational information associated with a current patron initiated transaction, where the first selected library patron operational information includes at least operational instructions and current patron-specific transaction process feedback information; a library supervisor control unit including a library staff accessible visual display accessible by a library staff person for displaying second selected patron operational information associated with the current patron initiated transaction associated with a specific one of said self service counters for assisting said library patron self-service check-in/out transaction upon a request for service from a selected one of said self-service counters; and a library cataloging system and system controller coupled to the article interrogator, the patron identification means, the library patron accessible visual display and the library staff accessible visual displayed information associated with each of said self service counters, for correspondingly displaying on each respective patron accessible visual display on each of said counters said first selected patron operational information, and for displaying, concurrently or separately, on said library staff accessible visual display so that a library staff person may assist a library patron self-service check-in/out transaction as required to complete a patron initiated transaction while remaining in said library administration work area. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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Specification