System and methods for integrating a self-checkout system into an existing store system

• US 7,272,570 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2002
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Sadler, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): GORT, ELAINE L
• Application Number:
  US10/195,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20030009384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,891 Days
• Field of Search: 705/16, 705/17, 235/7.R, 235/383
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/14 Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit data transmission in general H04L; telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station H04Q9/00

Abstract

A self-checkout terminal system includes a self-checkout core application module for controlling a self-checkout terminal, the self-checkout core application module controlling peripheral input and output devices at the self-checkout terminal for receiving inputs from, and providing outputs to, a retail customer. An emulator module connected to the self-checkout core application module emulates, independent from the self-checkout core application, a native vendor software application in a network of cashier-operated checkout terminals administered by a vendor server computer, the emulator module passing commands and data to, and receiving commands and data from, the vendor server. The self-checkout core application converts inputs received at the peripheral input devices into inputs expected by the emulated native vendor software application, and converts device update outputs from the emulated native vendor software application into updates to the peripheral output devices.

Claims

1. A method of integrating a self-checkout terminal into a retail store system in which a vendor server communicates with a cashier-operated checkout terminal through native vendor software running on the cashier-operated checkout terminal, comprising:

providing on the self-checkout terminal, self-service software that is interactive with a user of the terminal through input and output devices that the self-service software controls;

providing the native vendor software on the self-checkout terminal, to be run concurrently with the self-service software; and

providing on the self-checkout terminal, emulator module software providing interfaces between the self-service software, the native vendor software on the self-checkout terminal and the vendor server with which the self-checkout terminal can communicate.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 in which the first interface includes a second interface for intercepting, and passing to the self-service, communications directed to a peripheral device.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 further comprising vendor stubs acting as placeholders for commands and data passed between the vendor server, the self-service software and the native vendor software running retail self-checkout terminal.

2. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a self-checkout terminal having a peripheral device to integrate into a retail store system in which a vendor server communicates with a cashier-operated checkout terminal through native vendor software running on the cashier-operated checkout terminal within a retail store, the computer-readable medium having a first interface between self-service software and native vendor software running concurrently with the self-service software on the self-checkout terminal, by performing the steps of:

receiving a native sequences from the self-service software through the first interface requesting data from the vendor server;

passing the sequence to the native vendor software, the native vendor software operates in the same manner as if it were running on an existing cashier-operated terminal by sending the native sequence to the vendor server;

receiving requested data from the vendor server; and

updating the peripheral device on the self-checkout system through the first interface.

5. Self-service software for use on a retail self-checkout terminal, integrating the self-checkout terminal into a retail store system in which a vendor server communicates with a cashier-operated checkout terminal through native vendor software running on the cashier-operated checkout terminal within a store, comprising:

interfaces through which the self-service software is interactive with users of the self-checkout terminal via input and output devices that the self-service software controls; and

interfaces through which the self-service software can communicate with the vendor server through native vendor module software running concurrently with the self-service software on the self-checkout terminal;

whereby the self-checkout terminal can function similarly to the cashier-operated checkout terminal interacting with the vendor server.

6. The self-service software of claim 5 in which the self-service software maps received communications directed to peripheral devices by the native vendor software, mapping output to the output devices the self-service software controls, and thereby communicating the output to a user of the retail self-checkout terminal.

7. The self-service software of claim 5 in which the self-service software accesses an expected state transitions database to control the state of the native vendor software application emulated on the retail self-checkout terminal.

8. The self-service software of claim 5 in which the self-service software accesses a vendor sequences database to convert user actions into native sequences to be passed to the native vendor software running on the retail self-checkout terminal.

9. The self-service software of claim 5 in which the self-service software further comprises a security agent module that detects and reports predetermined security events.

10. The self-service software of claim 5 in which the self-service software further comprises a remotw approval module that provides an interface to a remote approval station by which the retail self-checkout terminal is serviced.

11. The self-service software of claim 5 in which the self-service software further comprises a device manager module that interfaces with peripheral devices.

12. The self-service software of claim 5 in which the self-service software further comprises a presentation services module that interfaces with user display device.

13. A method of integrating a self-checkout terminal into a retail store system in which a vendor server communicates with a cashier-operated checkout terminal through native vendor software running on the cashier-operated checkout terminal, comprising:

providing for execution on the self-checkout terminal, self-service software that is interactive with a user of the terminal through input and output devices that the self-service software controls;

providing for execution on the self-checkout terminal, the native vendor software, to be executed concurrently with the self-service software; and

providing for execution on the self-checkout terminal, emulator module software with interfaces between the self-service software, the native vendor software on the self-checkout terminal and the vendor server networked with the self-checkout terminal.

14. The method of claim 13 in which an interface between the self-service software and the emulator module software is provided by an inter-process communications (IPC) link.

15. The method of claim 13 in which an interface between the emulator module and the native vendor software on the self-checkout terminal is provided by vendor stubs.

16. A method of integrating a self-checkout terminal into a retail store system in which a vendor server communicates with a cashier-operated checkout terminal through native vendor software running on the cahier-operated checkout terminal, comprising:

providing for execution on the self-checkout terminal, self-service software that is interactive with a user of the terminal through input and output devices, including cash changer and cash acceptor devices, that the self-service software controls;

the self-service software further providing an interface to a remote transaction approval station; and

providing for execution on th self-checkout terminal, emulator module software with interfaces between the self-service software and the vendor server networked with the self-checkout terminal, where the emulator module software emulates the native vendor software with respect to the vendor server.

17. The method of claim 16 in which the interface to the remote transaction approval station is adapted to be used when a transaction requires approval from store personnel, as when as customer purchases an age-restricted item, such as tobacco or alcohol.