Personalized item sorting and packing recommendations at a point of sale

• US 8,584,805 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2011
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nelson, Mark A., Peters, Kevin H., Ruggiero, Louis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gart, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAICHER, MICHAEL D
• Application Number:
  US13/105,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20120290424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 186/66
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202

Abstract

A method and system for determining a recommendation for packing an item at a point of sale (POS). A preference indicating a maximum bag weight is received at a POS device. The weight of a next item to be packed is determined. Based on the maximum bag weight preference and based on the determined weight of the item, the recommendation for packing the item is determined by selecting a bag from multiple bags that are available to pack items to be purchased by a customer. The bag is selected so that a sum of the weight of the item and a weight of zero or more other items already packed in the bag does not exceed the maximum bag weight preference. The recommendation for packing the item in the selected bag is presented to a user.

Claims

1. A method of determining a recommendation for packing an item at a point of sale, said method comprising:

a computer at said point of sale receiving a preference that indicates a maximum weight of one or more items to be packed in a bag of a plurality of bags;

said computer determining a weight of said item, said item included in a plurality of items to be purchased by a customer;

based on said preference that indicates said maximum weight and based on said determined weight of said item, said computer determining said recommendation for packing said item by selecting said bag from said plurality of bags so that a sum of said weight of said item and a weight of zero or more other items packed in said bag does not exceed said maximum weight indicated by said received preference;

said computer presenting said recommendation for packing said item in said selected bag;

said computer pre-scanning one or more barcodes affixed to a first set of one or more items of said plurality of items to be purchased by said customer, wherein said pre-scanning is performed prior to a scanning of said one or more barcodes affixed to said first set of one or more items to determine an amount to pay for said first set of one or more items, and wherein said computer is included in a point of sale device that is in a fixed position;

said computer determining a first set of one or more weights of said first set of one or more items based on said pre-scanned one or more barcodes;

said computer attempting and failing to pre-scan one or more barcodes affixed to a second set of one or more items of said plurality of items, wherein said first and second sets of one or more items are mutually exclusive, wherein said attempting and failing to pre-scan is performed prior to a scanning of said one or more barcodes affixed to said second set of one or more items to determine an amount to pay for said second set of one or more items;

said computer generating an image that includes said second set of one or more items of said plurality of items;

said computer performing object recognition on said generated image to determine a second set of one or more weights of said second set of one or more items of said plurality of items, wherein said weight of said item is included in said first set of one or more weights or said second set of one or more weights; and

said computer selecting said item from said plurality of items as a next item to be packed based on said determined weight of said item and based on said determined first and second sets of one or more weights.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising said computer determining said weight of said item is greater than or equal to any other weight of said first and second sets of one or more weights, wherein said selecting said item from said plurality of items is based on said determined weight of said item being greater than or equal to any other weight of said first and second sets of one or more weights.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said presenting said recommendation for packing said item in said selected bag includes:

illuminating said item in response to said determining said recommendation for packing said item; and

presenting an indication of said selected bag into which said item is to be packed.

4. A computer system comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

a memory coupled to said CPU;

a computer-readable, tangible storage device coupled to said CPU, said storage device containing instructions that are carried out by said CPU via said memory to implement a method of determining a recommendation for packing an item at a point of sale, said method comprising;

said computer system at said point of sale receiving a preference that indicates a maximum weight of one or more items to be packed in any bag a plurality of bags;

said computer system determining a weight of said item, said item included in a plurality of items to be purchased by a customer;

based on said preference that indicates said maximum weight and based on said determined weight of said item, said computer system determining said recommendation for packing said item by selecting said bag from said plurality of bags so that a sum of said weight of said item and a weight of zero or more other items packed in said bag does not exceed said maximum weight indicated by said received preference; and

said computer system presenting said recommendation for packing said item in said selected bag;

said computer system pre-scanning one or more barcodes affixed to a first set of one or more items of said plurality of items to be purchased by said customer, wherein said pre-scanning is performed prior to a scanning of said one or more barcodes affixed to said first set of one or more items to determine an amount to pay for said first set of one or more items, and wherein said computer system is included in a point of sale device that is in a fixed position;

said computer system determining a first set of one or more weights of said first set of one or more items based on said pre-scanned one or more barcodes;

said computer system attempting and failing to pre-scan one or more barcodes affixed to a second set of one or more items of said plurality of items, wherein said first and second sets of one or more items are mutually exclusive, wherein said attempting and failing to pre-scan is performed prior to a scanning of said one or more barcodes affixed to said second set of one or more items to determine an amount to pay for said second set of one or more items;

said computer system generating an image that includes said second set of one or more items of said plurality of items;

said computer system performing object recognition on said generated image to determine a second set of one or more weights of said second set of one or more items of said plurality of items, wherein said weight of said item is included in said first set of one or more weights or said second set of one or more weights; and

said computer system selecting said item from said plurality of items as a next item to be packed based on said determined weight of said item and based on said determined first and second sets of one or more weights.

5. The computer system of claim 4, wherein said presenting said recommendation for packing said item in said selected bag includes:

said computer system illuminating said item in response to said determining said recommendation for packing said item; and

said computer system presenting an indication of said selected bag into which said item is to be packed.

6. A computer program product, comprising a computer-readable, tangible storage device having a computer-readable program code stored therein, said computer-readable program code containing instructions that are carried out by a processor of a computer system to implement a method of determining a recommendation for packing an item at a point of sale, said method comprising:

said computer system at said point of sale receiving a preference that indicates a maximum weight of one or more items to be packed in a bag of a plurality of bags;

said computer system determining a weight of said item, said item included in a plurality of items to be purchased by a customer;

based on said preference that indicates said maximum weight and based on said determined weight of said item, said computer system determining said recommendation for packing said item by selecting said bag from said plurality of bags so that a sum of said weight of said item and a weight of zero or more other items packed in said bag does not exceed said maximum weight indicated by said received preference; and

said computer system presenting said recommendation for packing said item in said selected bag;

said computer system pre-scanning one or more barcodes affixed to a first set of one or more items of said plurality of items to be purchased by said customer, wherein said pre-scanning is performed prior to a scanning of said one or more barcodes affixed to said first set of one or more items to determine an amount to pay for said first set of one or more items, and wherein said computer system is included in a point of sale device that is in a fixed position;

said computer system determining a first set of one or more weights of said first set of one or more items based on said pre-scanned one or more barcodes;

said computer system attempting and failing to pre-scan one or more barcodes affixed to a second set of one or more items of said plurality of items, wherein said first and second sets of one or more items are mutually exclusive, wherein said attempting and failing to pre-scan is performed prior to a scanning of said one or more barcodes affixed to said second set of one or more items to determine an amount to pay for said second set of one or more items;

said computer system generating an image that includes said second set of one or more items of said plurality of items;

said computer system performing object recognition on said generated image to determine a second set of one or more weights of said second set of one or more items of said plurality of items, wherein said weight of said item is included in said first set of one or more weights or said second set of one or more weights; and

said computer system selecting said item from said plurality of items as a next item to be packed based on said determined weight of said item and based on said determined first and second sets of one or more weights.