Self-service checkout terminal having a biometric sensing device for verifying identity of a user and associated method

• US 6,522,772 B1
• Filed: 09/30/1998
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Morrison, James, Addy, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Samir
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bali, Vikkram
• Application Number:
  US09/164,098
• Time in Patent Office: 1,602 Days
• Field of Search: 382/115, 382/116, 382/117, 382/118, 382/124, 382/125, 235/375, 235/383, 235/462.01, 705/14, 705/10, 705/23, 713/182, 713/184, 713/186, 186/59, 186/61
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00

Abstract

A self-service checkout terminal includes an input device for receiving a user reported identity code associated with a user of the checkout terminal and a biometric sensing device for detecting a biometric characteristic of the user. The self-service checkout terminal also includes a processing unit electrically coupled to both the input device and the biometric sensing device. Moreover, the self-service checkout terminal includes a memory device electrically coupled to the processing unit. The memory device has stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, causes the processing unit to (i) retrieve a user biometric profile which corresponds to the user reported identity code, (ii) detect if the user enters a restricted item into the checkout terminal and generate a restricted-item control signal in response thereto, and (iii) compare the user biometric profile with the biometric characteristic and generate an identity-verified control signal if the user biometric profile matches the biometric characteristic. A method of operating a self-service checkout terminal is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of operating a self-service checkout terminal, comprising the steps of:

determining a user reported identity code associated with a user of said checkout terminal and retrieving a user biometric profile which corresponds to said user reported identity code in response thereto;

detecting if said user enters a restricted item into said checkout terminal and generating a restricted-item control signal in response thereto;

detecting a biometric characteristic of said user in response to generation of said restricted-item control signal; and

comparing said user biometric profile with said biometric characteristic and generating an identity-verified control signal if said user biometric profile matches said biometric characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of entering a record corresponding to said restricted item in a transaction table in response to generation of said identity-verified control signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of generating a personnel control signal if said biometric model does not match said biometric characteristic.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of suspending operation of said checkout terminal in response to generation of said personnel control signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said user biometric profile includes a fingerprint recognition profile,

said biometric characteristic detecting step includes the step of detecting a fingerprint pattern associated with said user'"'"'s fingerprints, and

said comparing step includes the step of comparing said fingerprint recognition profile to said fingerprint pattern and generating said identity-verified control signal if said fingerprint recognition profile matches said fingerprint pattern.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said user biometric profile includes an iris recognition profile,

said biometric characteristic detecting step includes the step of detecting an iris pattern associated with said user'"'"'s iris prints, and

said comparing step includes the step of comparing said iris recognition profile to said iris pattern and generating said identity-verified control signal if said iris recognition profile matches said iris pattern.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said user biometric profile includes a face recognition profile,

said biometric characteristic detecting step includes the step of detecting a facial pattern associated with said user'"'"'s facial characteristics, and

said comparing step includes the step of comparing said face recognition profile to said facial pattern and generating said identity-verified control signal if said face recognition profile matches said facial pattern.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said user biometric profile includes a hand recognition profile,

said biometric characteristic detecting step includes the step of detecting a hand pattern associated with said user'"'"'s hand characteristics, and

said comparing step includes the step of comparing said hand recognition profile to said hand pattern and generating said identity-verified control signal if said hand recognition profile matches said hand pattern.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said user biometric profile includes a voice recognition profile,

said biometric characteristic detecting step includes the step of detecting a voice pattern associated with said user'"'"'s voice characteristics, and

said comparing step includes the step of comparing said voice recognition profile to said voice pattern and generating said identity-verified control signal if said voice recognition profile matches said voice pattern.

10. A self-service checkout terminal, comprising:

an input device for receiving a user reported identity code associated with a user of said checkout terminal;

a biometric sensing device for detecting a biometric characteristic of said user;

a processing unit electrically coupled to both said input device and said biometric sensing device; and

a memory device electrically coupled to said processing unit, wherein said memory device has stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by said processing unit, causes said processing unit to;

(i) retrieve a user biometric profile which corresponds to said user reported identity code,

(ii) detect if said user enters a restricted item into said checkout terminal and generate a restricted-item control signal in response thereto, and

(iii) compare said user biometric profile with said biometric characteristic and generate an identity-verified control signal if said user biometric profile matches said biometric characteristic.

11. The self-service checkout terminal of claim 10, wherein said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to enter a record corresponding to said restricted item in a transaction table in response to generation of said identity-verified control signal.

12. The self-service checkout terminal of claim 10, wherein said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to generate a personnel control signal if said biometric model does not match said biometric characteristic.

13. The self-service checkout terminal of claim 10, wherein said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to suspend operation of said checkout terminal in response to generation of said personnel control signal.

14. The self-service checkout terminal of claim 10, wherein:

said biometric sensing device includes a fingerprint recognition device for detecting a fingerprint pattern associated with said user'"'"'s fingerprints,

said user biometric profile includes a fingerprint recognition profile, and

said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to compare said fingerprint recognition profile to said fingerprint pattern and generate said identity-verified control signal if said fingerprint recognition profile matches said fingerprint pattern.

15. The self-service checkout terminal of claim 10, wherein:

said biometric sensing device includes an iris recognition device for detecting an iris pattern associated with said user'"'"'s iris prints,

said user biometric profile includes an iris recognition profile, and

said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to compare said iris recognition profile to said iris pattern and generate said identity-verified control signal if said iris recognition profile matches said iris pattern.

16. The self-service checkout terminal of claim 10, wherein:

said biometric sensing device includes a facial recognition device for detecting a facial pattern associated with said user'"'"'s facial characteristics,

said user biometric profile includes a face recognition profile, and

said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to compare said face recognition profile to said facial pattern and generate said identity-verified control signal if said face recognition profile matches said facial pattern.

17. The self-service checkout terminal of claim 10, wherein:

said biometric sensing device includes a hand recognition device for detecting a hand pattern associated with said user'"'"'s hand characteristics,

said user biometric profile includes a hand recognition profile, and

said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to compare said hand recognition profile to said hand pattern and generate said identity-verified control signal if said hand recognition profile matches said hand pattern.

18. The self-service checkout terminal of claim 10, wherein:

said biometric sensing device includes a voice identification device for detecting a voice pattern associated with said user'"'"'s voice characteristics,

said user biometric profile includes a voice recognition profile, and

said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to compare said voice recognition profile to said voice pattern and generate said identity-verified control signal if said voice recognition profile matches said voice pattern.

19. A self-service checkout terminal, comprising:

a scanner for reading bar codes associated with a user'"'"'s items for purchase;

a product scale for weighing a number of said user'"'"'s items for purchase;

an input device for receiving a user reported identity code associated with said user;

a biometric sensing device for detecting a biometric characteristic of said user;

a processing unit electrically coupled to each of said scanner, said product scale, said input device, and said biometric sensing device; and

a memory device electrically coupled to said processing unit, wherein said memory device has stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by said processing unit, causes said processing unit to;

(i) retrieve a user biometric profile which corresponds to said user reported identity code, and

(ii) compare said user biometric profile with said biometric characteristic and generate an identity-verified control signal if said user biometric profile matches said biometric characteristic.

20. The self-service checkout terminal of claim 19, wherein said plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to generate a personnel control signal if said biometric model does not match said biometric characteristic.