Food product scale and related in-store random weight item transaction system with RFID capabilities

• US 7,587,335 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Premark FEG LLC (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Premark FEG LLC (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Weisz, Robert J., Eberhardt, Mark E. Jr., Mills, Nigel G., Schuller, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gart; Matthew S
• Assistant Examiner(s): GLASS, RUSSELL S
• Application Number:
  US10/561,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20080120193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,901 Days
• Field of Search: 705/23, 705/414
• US Class Current: 705/23
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4144 for controlling weight of goods in commercial establishments, e.g. supermarket, P.O.S. systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• 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 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• 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 20/207 Tax processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0072 with means for detecting the weight of the article of which the code is read, for the verification of the registration weighing combined with recording means, e.g. in weighing scale, G01G19/415
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/009 the reader being an RFID reader

Abstract

A random weight item transaction system include a scale with label RIFD tag functionality, service person RFID tag functionality and customer RFID tag functionality. A slicer in proximity to the scale may include service person and bulk food product RFID functionalities. The scale may make weigh transaction data available to a computerized checkout system via a communications link or via writing the information to the label RFID tag.

Claims

1. In a store, a computerized random weight items transaction system comprising:

a scale configured for communication with a computerized checkout system, the scale including a weighing station for receiving items to be weighed and having an associated mechanism for producing weight indicative signals when items are placed on the weighing station, a pricing control operable to establish a price for a weighed item based in part upon a weight indicative signal produced for the weighed item, a supply of labels and a supply of label RFID tags, a label RF unit positioned for reading label RFID tags, wherein the scale is adapted to output a label so as to enable application of an associated label RFID tag to the weighed item, in connection with the label that is output the label RF unit detects an identification number stored in the associated label RFID tag, the identification number is linked to transaction data including at least total price and weighed item identity, and the linked identification number and transaction data is made available to the computerized checkout system, the computerized checkout system includes at least one RF unit for detecting the identification number of the label RFID tag when the weighed item is presented at checkout, and the computerized checkout system accesses the transaction data linked to the identification number for adding the total price to a checkout transaction total.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the scale further includes a service person RF detection unit for detecting a service person RFID tag.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one food product slicer located in a vicinity of the scale, the slicer configured for communicating information to the scale, the slicer including at least one RF unit for detecting service person RFID tags and for detecting bulk food product RFID tags associated with products being sliced by the slicer, upon detection of a service person RFID tag and a bulk food product RFID tag, service person identity is linked to a bulk food product identifier and the linked service person identity and bulk food product identifier are made available to the scale, when the scale detects a service person RFID tag the scale accesses bulk food product identifier information linked to the service person and displays the information on a display of the scale.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the scale is configured with a user input device enabling the service person to select from among bulk food product identifier information displayed for the service person, for identifying to the scale the food product to be weighed.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the slicer is connected to the scale through a store computer, the store computer maintains an open slice/weigh transactions database including the linked service person identity and bulk food product identifier, the scale requests information from the database via communication with the store computer.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein upon output of the label from the scale, the linked service person identify and bulk food product identifier is either removed from the open slice/weigh transactions database or marked as closed in the open slice/weigh transactions database.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the scale includes a customer RF detection unit for detecting customer RFID tags.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein pricing information for the weighed item is set in part based upon identity of the customer as detected via the customer RFID tag.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the supply of labels and the supply of label RFID tags are integrated, the label RFID tags being preattached to the labels.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the supply of labels and the supply of RFID tags are separate, the scale includes a print mechanism for printing on labels, and the associated label RFID tag is attached to the label by the scale after printing of the label.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the label that is output includes pricing information printed thereon by a printer mechanism within the scale.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the scale is integrated with a food product slicer.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the scale forms part of a package wrapping machine located in a back room of the store.

14. In a store, a computerized random weight items transaction system comprising:

a scale configured for communication with a computerized checkout system, the scale including a weighing station for receiving items to be weighed and having an associated mechanism for producing weight indicative signals when items are placed on the weighing station, a pricing control operable to establish a price for a weighed item based in part upon a weight indicative signal produced for the weighed item, a supply of labels and a supply of label RFID tags, a label RF unit along a label path for writing information to label RFID tags, wherein the scale is adapted to output a label so as to enable application of an associated label RFID tag to the weighed item, in connection with the label that is output, the label RF unit writes an identification number to the label RFID tag, the identification number is linked to transaction data including at least total price and weighed item identity, and the linked identification number and transaction data is made available to the computerized checkout system, the computerized checkout system includes at least one RF unit for detecting the identification number of the label RFID tag when the weighed item is presented at checkout, and the computerized checkout system accesses the transaction data linked to the identification number for adding the total price to a checkout transaction total.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the supply of labels and the supply of label RFID tags are integrated, the label RFID tags being preattached to the labels.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the supply of labels and the supply of RFID tags are separate, the scale includes a print mechanism for printing on labels, and the associated label RFID tag is attached to the label by the scale after printing of the label.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the label that is output includes pricing information printed thereon by a printer mechanism within the scale.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the scale is integrated with a food product slicer.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein the scale forms part of a package wrapping machine located in a back room of the store.

20. In a store, a computerized random weight items transaction system comprising:

a scale configured for communication with a computerized checkout system, the scale including a weighing station for receiving items to be weighed and having an associated mechanism for producing weight indicative signals when items are placed on the weighing station, a pricing control operable to establish a price for a weighed item based in part upon a weight indicative signal produced for the weighed item, a supply of labels and a supply of label RFID tags, a label RF unit along a label path for writing information to label RFID tags, wherein the scale is adapted to output a label so as to enable application of an associated label RFID tag to the weighed item, in connection with the label that is output, the label RF unit writes transaction data including at least total price and weighed item identity to the label RFID tag, the computerized checkout system includes at least one RF unit for reading the transaction data from the label RFID tag when the weighed item is presented at checkout, and the computerized checkout system adds the read total price to a checkout transaction total.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the supply of labels and the supply of label RFID tags are integrated, the label RFID tags being preattached to the labels.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the supply of labels and the supply of RFID tags are separate, the scale includes a print mechanism for printing on labels, and the associated label RFID tag is attached to the label by the scale after printing of the label.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein the label that is output includes pricing information printed thereon by a printer mechanism within the scale.

24. The system of claim 20 wherein the scale is integrated with a food product slicer.

25. The system of claim 20 wherein the scale forms part of a package wrapping machine located in a back room of the store.

26. A food product scale comprising:

a weighing station for receiving a food item to be weighed;

a label printer positioned along a label path for printing indicia on labels;

a label RF unit positioned for reading and/or writing label RFID tags;

a controller operatively connected with each of the weighing station, the label printer and the label RF unit, the controller operable to establish a price for a weighed item based in part upon a weight indicative signal produced by the weighing station;

wherein in connection with weighing and pricing an item the scale is adapted to output a label with an associated label RFID tag having an identification number, the label RF unit detects the identification number stored in the associated label RFID tag or writes the identification number to the associated label RFID tag, the controller links the identification number to transaction data including at least total price and item identity.

27. The scale of claim 26 wherein the controller operates to output a transaction message, including the linked identification number and transaction data, on a communications link.

28. The scale of claim 26, further comprising at least one RF detection unit for detecting service person RFID tags, wherein the controller operates to retrieve service person information upon detection of a particular service person RFID tag.

29. The scale of claim 26, further comprising at least one RF detection unit for detecting service person RFID tags and customer RFD tags, wherein the controller operates to retrieve service person information upon detection of a particular service person RFID tag, wherein the controller operates to retrieve certain information based upon customer identity.

30. In a store, a computerized random weight items transaction system comprising:

a weighing station for receiving items to be weighed and having an associated mechanism for producing weight indicative signals when items are placed on the weighing station;

a pricing control operable to establish a price for a weighed item based in part upon a weight indicative signal produced for the weighed item

a supply of labels and a supply of label RFID tags, a label RF unit positioned for reading and/or writing label RFID tags;

wherein a label is output so as to enable application of an associated label RFID tag, having an identification number, to the weighed item, in connection with the label that is output the label RF unit detects the identification number stored in the associated label RFID tag or writes the identification number to the associated label RFID tag, the identification number is linked to transaction data including at least total price and weighed item identity, and the linked identification number and transaction data is made available to a computerized checkout system, the computerized checkout system includes at least one RF unit for detecting the identification number of the label RFID tag when the weighed item is presented at checkout, and the computerized checkout system accesses the transaction data linked to the identification number for adding the total price to a checkout transaction total.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the weighing station and the supply of labels, supply of label RFID tags and the label RF unit are integrated in a common scale mechanism.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the weighing station is part of a food product slicer, and the supply or labels, supply of label RFID tags and the label RF unit are part of a separate device.