Self-checkout system

• US 7,229,015 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2004
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Persky, Michael B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US11/025,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20060138220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 186/60, 186/61, 186/62, 705/16
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/003 Anti-theft control theft alarms G08B13/00

Abstract

A system and method for providing a self-checkout system. The self-checkout system includes a processor and a first device coupled to the processor, where the first device identifies an item. The self-checkout system also includes a first receptacle coupled to the first device. The first receptacle receives the item after being identified by the first device. The self-checkout system also includes a second device coupled to the first receptacle. The second device identifies the item after being received by the first receptacle, and the processor verifies if the item identified by the second device is the same item identified by the first device. As a result, the checkout process is reliable and secure.

Claims

1. A self-checkout system comprising:

a processor;

a first device coupled to the processor, wherein the first device identifies an item;

a first receptacle coupled to the first device, wherein the item is inserted into the first receptacle after being identified by the first device, wherein the first receptacle is enclosed such that the item is inaccessible to a customer after the item is inserted into the first receptacle; and

a second device coupled to the first receptacle, wherein the second device identifies the item after being received by the first receptacle, wherein the processor verifies if the item identified by the second device is the same item identified by the first device.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second receptacle coupled to the first receptacle, wherein the second receptacle receives the item if the item identified by the second device is the same item identified by the first device.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the item can be retrieved from the second receptacle after the item has been paid for.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the second receptacle comprises a lockable door, wherein the door is unlocked after the item has been paid for.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a conveyor coupled to the first receptacle, wherein the conveyor routes the item back to a user if the item identified by the second device is not the same item identified by the first device.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a third device coupled to the first receptacle, wherein the third device deactivates a security tag attached to the item if the item identified by the second device is the same item identified by the first device.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second devices are scanners.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the first device is manually operated by a user.

9. The system of claim 1 Wherein the second device is automated.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the first receptacle is enclosed such that the item is not accessible by a user while the item is inside the receptacle.

11. A self-checkout system comprising:

a processor;

a first device coupled to the processor, wherein the first device identifies an item, wherein the first device is manually operated by a user;

a first receptacle coupled to the first device, wherein the item is inserted into the first receptacle after being identified by the first device, wherein the first receptacle is enclosed such that the item is inaccessible to a customer after the item is inserted into the first receptacle;

a second device coupled to the first receptacle, wherein the second device identifies the item after being received by the first receptacle, wherein the second device is automated, wherein the processor verifies if the item identified by the second device is the same item identified by the first device; and

a second receptacle coupled to the first receptacle, wherein the second receptacle receives the item if the item identified by the second device is the same item identified by the first device.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the item can be retrieved from the second receptacle after the item has been paid for.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the second receptacle comprises a lockable door, wherein the door is unlocked after the item has been paid for.

14. The system of claim 11 further comprising a conveyor coupled to the first receptacle, wherein the conveyor routes the item back to a user if the item identified by the second device is not the same item identified by the first device.

15. The system of claim 11 further comprising a third device coupled to the first receptacle, wherein the third device deactivates a security tag attached to the item if the item identified by the second device is the same item identified by the first device.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the first and second devices are scanners.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the first receptacle is enclosed such that the item is not accessible by a user while the item is inside the receptacle.

18. A self-checkout system comprising:

a processor;

a first device coupled to the processor, wherein the first device identifies an item, wherein the first device is manually operated by a user;

a first receptacle coupled to the first device, wherein the item is inserted into the first receptacle after being identified by the first device, wherein the first receptacle is enclosed such that the item is inaccessible to a customer after the item is inserted into the first receptacle;

a second device coupled to the first receptacle, wherein the second device identifies the item after being received by the first receptacle, wherein the second device is automated, wherein the processor verifies if the item identified by the second device is the same item identified by the first device;

a second receptacle coupled to the first receptacle, wherein the second receptacle receives the item if the item identified by the second device is the same item identified by the first device, and wherein the second receptacle comprises a lockable door, wherein the door is unlocked after the item has been paid for;

a conveyor coupled to the first receptacle, wherein the conveyor routes the item back to the user if the item identified by the second device is not the same item identified by the first device; and

a third device coupled to the first receptacle, wherein the third device deactivates a security tag attached to the item if the item identified by the second device is the same item identified by the first device.

19. A method for checking out an item, the method comprising:

identifying the item at a first location;

receiving the item into a first receptacle after the item is identified at the first location, wherein the first receptacle is enclosed such that the item is inaccessible to a customer after the item is inserted into the first receptacle;

identifying the item at a second location; and

verifying if the item identified at the second location is the same item identified at the first location.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising receiving the item at a third location if the item identified at the second location is the same item identified at the first location.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

providing a receptacle; and

receiving the item in the receptacle if the item identified at the second location is the same item identified at the first location.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

providing a lockable door on the receptacle; and

unlocking the door after the item has been paid for.

23. The method of claim 19 further comprising routing the item back to a user if the item identified at the second location is not the same item identified at the first location.

24. The method of claim 19 further comprising deactivating a security tag attached to the item if the item identified at the second location is the same item identified at the first location.

25. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for checking out an item, the program instructions which when executed by a computer system cause the computer system to execute a method comprising:

identifying the item at a first location;

receiving the item into a first receptacle after the item is identified at the first location, wherein the first receptacle is enclosed such that the item is inaccessible to a customer after the item is inserted into the first receptacle;

identifying the item at a second location; and

verifying if the item identified at the second location is the same item identified at the first location.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 25 further comprising program instructions for receiving the item at a third location if the item identified at the second location is the same item identified at the first location.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 25 further comprising program instructions for receiving the item in a receptacle if the item identified at the second location is the same item identified at the first location.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 25 further comprising:

program instructions for receiving the item in a receptacle if the item identified at the second location is the same item identified at the first location, wherein the receptacle has a lockable door; and

program instructions for unlocking the door after the item has been paid for.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 25 further comprising program instructions for routing the item back to a user if the item identified at the second location is not the same item identified at the first location.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 25 further comprising program instructions for deactivating a security tag attached to the item if the item identified at the second location is the same item identified at the first location.