System and method for operating multiple checkout stations with a single processor
First Claim
1. A system for controlling the operation of a plurality of checkout stations, the system comprising:
- a central server comprising a central processor operating under the control of a checkout station control application and further comprising a network hub;
a plurality of checkout stations, each checkout station in the plurality of the checkout stations comprising a high speed data hub in communication with the network hub, each checkout station in the plurality of checkout stations further comprising a plurality of components, one or more of the components being adapted to transmit data directly to the central processor and receive data directly from the central processor using the high speed data hub associated with the checkout station and the network hub; and
where the central processor directly transmits data and commands to and directly receives data from the one or more plurality of components of each checkout station in the plurality of checkout stations to control operation of each checkout station in the plurality of checkout stations, the network hub and the high speed data hub of each checkout station mediating communication between the central processor and the one or more of plurality of components of each checkout station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method enables a central processor to control the operations of a plurality of checkout stations. Each checkout station includes a high speed data hub to provide data from a checkout station to the central processor. The central processor processes the data and generates data and/or commands. The data may be stored in a data repository located proximately with the central processor or at the checkout station that communicated the data to the central processor. Data messages generated by the central processor are communicated to the checkout stations at a high speed data rate of at least 12 Mbps. By using a central processor for controlling the operation of more than one checkout station, processors and processor support requirements are reduced for checkout stations.
14 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for controlling the operation of a plurality of checkout stations, the system comprising:
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a central server comprising a central processor operating under the control of a checkout station control application and further comprising a network hub; a plurality of checkout stations, each checkout station in the plurality of the checkout stations comprising a high speed data hub in communication with the network hub, each checkout station in the plurality of checkout stations further comprising a plurality of components, one or more of the components being adapted to transmit data directly to the central processor and receive data directly from the central processor using the high speed data hub associated with the checkout station and the network hub; and where the central processor directly transmits data and commands to and directly receives data from the one or more plurality of components of each checkout station in the plurality of checkout stations to control operation of each checkout station in the plurality of checkout stations, the network hub and the high speed data hub of each checkout station mediating communication between the central processor and the one or more of plurality of components of each checkout station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification