Automatic electronic article surveillance for self-checkout

• US 7,389,918 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2001
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Hutcheon, Alfred John, Wike, Charles K. Jr., James, Daniel F., Snyder, Robert L., Nugent, Paul F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, UYEN CHAU N
• Application Number:
  US10/001,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20030075602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,436 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/375, 235/487, 235/462.13, 235/462.31, 705/16, 705/18, 340/572.1, 340/572.3
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/048 automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/00 Alarm indicators, e.g. bells
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2411 Tag deactivation
• 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 self checkout system/terminal includes an electronic article surveillance (EAS) system. The EAS system includes an EAS detector and an EAS deactivator. EAS tag detection is associated with a purchase transaction event, such as scanning or bagging of an item. After EAS tag detection, the customer is directed to deactivate the EAS tag. Some of the self-service checkout terminal (SCOT) operation/functionality may be paused during an EAS tag deactivation period. The subject EAS system and/or process eliminates the need to deactivate every item, thereby streamlining the self checkout process when EAS is used in a store.

Claims

1. A method of operating a checkout terminal The comprising:

scanning an item with a scanner;

determining that the scanned item has an electronic article surveillance tag;

allowing, after the step of determining, deactivation of the electronic article with an active electronic article surveillance tag deactivator;

disabling the scanner from scanning other items based upon the step of determining; and

activating an indicia identifying the location of the active electronic article surveillance tag deactivator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the scanned item has an active electronic article surveillance tag includes utilizing an electronic article surveillance detector.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein utilizing an electronic article surveillance detector, includes utilizing an electronic article surveillance detector that is associated with the scanner.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the electronic article surveillance tag has been deactivated after the step of allowing deactivation of the active electronic article surveillance tag.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein of determining whether the electronic article surveillance tag has been deactivated includes the step of utilizing a second electronic article surveillance detector.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein of utilizing a second electronic article surveillance detector, includes utilizing a second electronic article surveillance detector that is associated with a bagwell of a self checkout terminal.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein utilizing a second electronic article surveillance detector, includes utilizing a second electronic article surveillance detector that is associated with a security scale of a self checkout terminal.

8. A method of operating a checkout terminal The comprising:

scanning an item with a scanner;

determining that the scanned item has an electronic article surveillance tag;

allowing, after the step of determining, deactivation of the electronic article;

disabling the scanner from scanning other items based upon the step of determining; and

indicating that an intervention is needed if the electronic article surveillance tag has not been deactivated within a predetermined time of allowing the deactivation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining comprises determining that the item has an electronic article surveillance tag with a first electronic article surveillance tag detector.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

verifying, with a second electronic article surveillance tag detector, that the electronic article surveillance tag has been deactivated.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the disabling comprises disabling the scanner from scanning other items until the electronic article surveillance tag has been deactivated.

12. A method of operating a checkout terminal The comprising:

scanning an item with a scanner;

determining that the scanned item has an electronic article surveillance tag;

allowing, after the step of determining, deactivation of the electronic article;

disabling the scanner from scanning other items based upon the step of determining; and

detecting the electronic article surveillance tag with an electronic article surveillance tag detector located in a bagging area of the terminal; and

indicating that an intervention is needed if the electronic article surveillance tag has not been deactivated within a predetermined time of allowing the deactivation.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the determining comprises determining that the item has an electronic article surveillance tag with a first electronic article surveillance tag detector.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

verifying, with a second electronic article surveillance tag detector, that the electronic article surveillance tag has been deactivated.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the disabling comprises disabling the scanner from scanning other items until the electronic article surveillance tag has been deactivated.

16. A self checkout comprising:

a processor;

a scanner in communication with the processor;

an electronic article surveillance detector in communication with the processor;

an electronic article surveillance deactivator; and

a memory in communication with the processor and storing program instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to;

(a) allow scanning of an item for purchase via the scanner, (b) determine, after successful scanning of the item, whether the item has an active electronic article surveillance tag via the electronic article surveillance detector, (c) allow deactivation of the active electronic article surveillance tag after determining that the item includes an electronic article surveillance tag, and (d) generate an indication that an intervention is needed if the electronic article surveillance tag has not been deactivated within a predetermined time of allowing the deactivation.

17. The self checkout of claim 16, wherein the electronic article surveillance detector is associated with the scanner.

18. The self checkout of claim 16, further comprising a second electronic article surveillance detector, and the memory has further program instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to determine via the second article surveillance detector whether the electronic article surveillance tag has been deactivated by the electronic article surveillance deactivator.

19. The self checkout of claim 18, wherein the second electronic article surveillance detector is associated with a bagwell of the self checkout.

20. The self checkout of claim 18, wherein the second electronic article surveillance detector is associated with a security scale of the self checkout.

21. The self checkout of claim 16, wherein the electronic article surveillance detector comprises a coil and electronic circuitry/logic, and the memory has further program instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to cause the electronic circuitry/logic obtain a signal from the coil indicative of the active electronic article surveillance tag.

22. The self checkout of claim 21, wherein the coil and electronic circuitry/logic are modular.