Self checkout kiosk and retail security system

• US 8,328,096 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2012
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patricia A Anderson Revocable Trust
• Original Assignee: Freedom Shopping, Inc.
• Inventors: Daily, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Obeid, Fahd
• Application Number:
  US13/488,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20120241518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 190 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/047 for recording self-service articles without cashier or assistant
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/009 the reader being an RFID reader

Abstract

A self-checkout kiosk enables a patron to purchase product displayed in a vending area and carrying a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. The customer exits the vending area through a security portal. The kiosk, a bill acceptor, and a computer monitor, either adjacent the portal or separated there from, enables the patron to complete a purchase transaction prior to exiting the vending area through the portal. The portal includes RFID reading antennas for detecting product being transferred through the portal. A security system responds to transfer of product through the portal without a patron completing a purchase transaction using the self-checkout station. The security system itself is also usable in conventional retail environments when an attendant is present.

Claims

1. An unattended checkout and security system comprising:

a product;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached to the product;

a frame defining a portal there between wherein transfer of the product from a vending area to a non-vending area requires the product to pass through the portal;

a first RFID antenna coupled to the frame to detect the RFID tag passing through the portal;

a RFID reader configured to read product data from the RFID tag;

a self-checkout apparatus located within the vending area, the self-checkout apparatus including a purchasing mechanism configured to accept payment for the product after the RFID reader reads the product data from the RFID tag;

a database coupled to the purchasing mechanism and configured to store an inventory of items located within the vending area, one of the items including the product, wherein each of the items has a different identification code and corresponds to a unique database record within the database, the database further configured to receive the product data from the RFID reader and update the database record for the corresponding product by marking the database record for the corresponding product as sold after payment for the product is accepted by the purchasing mechanism, the database further configured to update the database record for the corresponding product by marking the database record for the corresponding product as stolen when the product moves through the portal and the database record for the corresponding product has not been marked as sold;

a video camera directed toward the portal and configured to send video data to a remote location outside the vending area;

a video recorder for storing the video data and configured to respond to transfer of the product through the portal when the database record indicates a lack of accepted payment for the product;

a motion sensing device for sensing movement of a patron through the portal; and

a theft warning device configured to respond when the motion sensing device detects the patron move through the portal with the product and the database record indicates a lack of accepted payment for the product.

2. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 1, wherein the self-checkout apparatus further includes:

a monitor; and

a processor coupled to the monitor for assisting a patron in completing a purchase transaction.

3. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 2, further comprising a second RFID antenna coupled to the frame.

4. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 1, wherein the self-checkout apparatus is positioned adjacent to the frame.

5. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 1, further comprising a second RFID antenna coupled to the frame and wherein the first and second RFID antennas are directed to project radio frequency waves across the portal in multiple directions.

6. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 5, further comprising:

a counter coupled to the frame and defining an upper surface; and

a second RFID antenna mounted below the upper surface and configured to project radio frequency waves through the upper surface to read the RFID tag on the product when the product is moved across the upper surface.

7. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 5, wherein the frame includes a first side frame member and a second side frame member extending parallel to one another, the first side frame member terminating at the counter and including the first RFID antenna directed towards the second side frame member, the second side frame member including a third RFID antenna and a fourth RFID antenna directed towards the first side frame member, and wherein the first, third and fourth RFID antennas are configured to project overlapping radio frequency waves across the portal.

8. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 7, wherein the first and second RFID antennas are offset from each other and are configured to project overlapping radio waves across the portal.