Self-checkout terminal

• US 7,325,731 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Tashiro, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, UYEN CHAU N
• Application Number:
  US11/652,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20070205277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/385
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/047 for recording self-service articles without cashier or assistant
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/006 False operation

Abstract

A self-checkout terminal is provided which includes a sensor for detecting whether or not a customer is in a position where operation of units of the self-checkout terminal by the customer is possible. When the sensor does not detect a customer, a whole guidance screen including a procedure summary of a self-checkout from start to finish is displayed. When the sensor detects a customer, the whole guidance screen is erased and a basic screen is displayed which shows guidance on performing a self-checkout. The guidance displayed on the basic screen is changed in accordance with the stage of the self-checkout.

Claims

1. A self-checkout terminal, comprising:

a settlement terminal which;

(i) comprises units for self-checkout including a basket placement unit for placing a shopping basket, a scanning unit for scanning merchandise codes, an input unit for inputting information, and a settlement unit for transacting settlement, each of said units being positioned so as to be operable by a customer, and (ii) executes merchandise sales data processing based on at least one of the merchandise codes scanned by the scanning unit and the information input via the input unit;

a display provided to the settlement terminal for displaying information;

a sensor which detects whether or not a customer is in a position where operation of the units of the settlement terminal by the customer is possible; and

a controller which (i) when the sensor does not detect a customer, displays on the display a whole guidance screen comprising a procedure summary of the self-checkout, including use of the units of the settlement terminal, from start to finish of the self-checkout, (ii) when the sensor detects a customer, erases the whole guidance screen on the display and displays on the display a basic screen showing guidance for performing the self-checkout, and (iii) changes the guidance displayed on the basic screen in accordance with a stage of the self-checkout.

2. The self-checkout terminal according to claim 1, wherein the controller displays the whole guidance screen on the display when the sensor does not detect a customer after the merchandise sales data processing is executed.

3. The self-checkout terminal according to claim 2, wherein the controller displays an early guidance screen comprising guidance for performing a first operation for starting the self-checkout on the basic screen when the sensor detects a customer, and the controller erases the early guidance screen when the first operation has been performed.

4. The self-checkout terminal according to claim 3, wherein the controller displays the whole guidance screen on the display when the sensor does not detect a customer while the early guidance screen is displayed on the display.

5. The self-checkout terminal according to claim 1, wherein the procedure summary of the whole guidance screen comprises a plurality of guidance areas each displaying guidance for a respective stage of the self-checkout.

6. The self-checkout terminal according to claim 5, wherein the whole guidance screen comprises an illustration of an external view of the self-checkout terminal, and at least one of the guidance areas is displayed so as to be associated in the whole guidance screen with a corresponding part of the illustration of the external view of the self-checkout terminal.

7. The self-checkout terminal according to claim 5, wherein the whole guidance screen comprises an illustration of an external view of the self-checkout terminal, and at least one of the guidance areas in the whole guidance screen is displayed so as to be connected by an illustrated connection with a corresponding part of the illustration of the external view of the self-checkout terminal.

8. The self-checkout terminal according to claim 5, wherein the guidance areas in the whole guidance screen are numbered to indicate an order of the respective stages of the self-checkout corresponding to the guidance areas.

9. The self-checkout terminal according to claim 5, wherein each of the guidance areas in the whole guidance screen comprises text guidance and an illustration associated with the text guidance.