Multifunction point of sale system
First Claim
1. A point of sale system for facilitating a checkout process comprising tallying items for payment, the point of sale system comprising:
- an illumination subsystem configured to illuminate items with radiation from at least one light source;
an imaging subsystem configured to acquire images of items;
an indicia-reading subsystem configured to decode indicia information from images acquired by the imaging subsystem;
a verification subsystem;
wherein the point of sale system is configured to operate in an indicia-reading mode in which the indicia-reading subsystem is configured to decode indicia information from images acquired by the imaging subsystem, so that the decoded indicia information is configured for use in the tallying of the items; and
wherein the point of sale system is configured to operate in a verification mode in which;
the illumination subsystem is configured to illuminate items with radiation comprising ultraviolet light; and
the verification subsystem is configured to verify items from images acquired by the imaging subsystem while the items are illuminated with radiation comprising ultraviolet light and produce an output corresponding to the verification, so that the output is configured to restrict the checkout process when the output is indicative of a failed verification.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A point of sale system capable of operating in an indicia-reading mode or a verification mode is disclosed. In the indicia-reading mode, the point of sale system configures its illumination, imaging, and processing to read indicia as part of a normal checkout process. If triggered by a user or by an event, the point of sale system may operate in a verification mode. In the verification mode, the point of sale system enables the necessary illumination, imaging, and processing to verify an item. This verification includes illuminating the item in a way that causes a noticeable response from a security mark (or marks) on the item. An image of the response may be captured and processed to authenticate/verify the item. The point of sale system may then respond to the verification and/or may store the image/results as a record of the verification.
437 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A point of sale system for facilitating a checkout process comprising tallying items for payment, the point of sale system comprising:
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an illumination subsystem configured to illuminate items with radiation from at least one light source; an imaging subsystem configured to acquire images of items; an indicia-reading subsystem configured to decode indicia information from images acquired by the imaging subsystem; a verification subsystem; wherein the point of sale system is configured to operate in an indicia-reading mode in which the indicia-reading subsystem is configured to decode indicia information from images acquired by the imaging subsystem, so that the decoded indicia information is configured for use in the tallying of the items; and wherein the point of sale system is configured to operate in a verification mode in which; the illumination subsystem is configured to illuminate items with radiation comprising ultraviolet light; and the verification subsystem is configured to verify items from images acquired by the imaging subsystem while the items are illuminated with radiation comprising ultraviolet light and produce an output corresponding to the verification, so that the output is configured to restrict the checkout process when the output is indicative of a failed verification. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A point of sale system for facilitating a checkout process comprising tallying items for payment, the point of sale system comprising:
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an illumination subsystem configured to illuminate items with radiation from at least one light source; an imaging subsystem configured to acquire images of the items illuminated by the illumination subsystem; an indicia-reading subsystem configured to decode indicia information from images acquired by the imaging subsystem; and a verification subsystem; wherein the point of sale system is configured to operate in an indicia-reading mode in which the indicia-reading subsystem is configured to decode indicia information from images acquired by the imaging subsystem, so that the decoded indicia information is configured for use in the tallying of the items; wherein the point of sale system is configured to operate in a verification mode in which; the illumination subsystem is configured to illuminate items with radiation comprising ultraviolet light; and the verification subsystem is configured to verify items from images acquired by the imaging subsystem while the items are illuminated with radiation comprising ultraviolet light and produce an output corresponding to the verification, so that the output is configured to restrict the checkout process when the output is indicative of a failed verification; and wherein the point of sale system is configured to automatically change from the verification mode to the indicia-reading mode in response to the output from the verification subsystem being indicative of a passed verification. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A point of sale system for facilitating a checkout process comprising tallying items for payment, the point of sale system comprising:
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an illumination subsystem configured to illuminate items with radiation from at least one light source; an imaging subsystem configured to acquire images of the items illuminated by the illumination subsystem; an indicia-reading subsystem configured to decode indicia information from images acquired by the imaging subsystem; and a verification subsystem comprising memory storing a library of verification settings; wherein the point of sale system is configured to operate in an indicia-reading mode in which the indicia-reading subsystem is configured to decode indicia information from images acquired by the imaging subsystem, so that the decoded indicia information is configured for use in the tallying of the items; wherein the point of sale system is configured to operate, based on the verification settings, in a verification mode in which; the illumination subsystem is configured to illuminate items with radiation according to the verification settings; and the verification subsystem is configured to verify items from images acquired by the imaging subsystem while the items are illuminated with radiation and produce an output corresponding to the verification, so that the output is configured to restrict the checkout process when the output is indicative of a failed verification; and wherein the point of sale system is configured to transition from the indicia-reading mode to the verification mode in response to an authentication criterion being met. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification