Patent EP0811958A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0811958A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Self-service checkout apparatus and methods
Assignee: NCR International Inc
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Filing: 1997-05-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-05-19
Abstract
Abstract A self-service checkout apparatus for processing items selected by a customer for purchase includes customer operated means (16,40,42), such as a scanner/scale (16), for identifying each item selected for purchase. The apparatus also includes a self-service terminal (18) which includes card or cash payment accepting means (50,22), cash dispensing means (24,44) for providing a customer with cash by way of change or cashback, and electronic control means (60) connected to said customer operated means (16,40,42) and arranged to determine the price of each item identified by said customer operated means (16,40,42), the terminal (18) displaying the total amount payable on a screen (38). A customer exit is normally closed by a security gate (12) which is arranged to be opened in response to the customer making payment for said total amount. The terminal (16) can be used to provide ATM services independently of a checkout transaction.
Inventors
- 👤 Joanne S. Walter
- 👤 Horng-Jaan Lin
- 👤 Alfred J. Hutcheon
- 👤 Edward F. Madigan, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:21
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; A; A47; A47F; A47F9/00; A47F9/02; A47F9/04; A47F9/046; A47F9/047; A47F9/048; G07; G07G; G07G1/00; G07G1/0036; G07G1/0045; G07G1/12; G07G3/00; G07G3/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
A checkout apparatus for enabling a customer to check out items selected by the customer for purchase comprising: customer operable means (16,40,42) for identifying each item selected for purchase; and self-service terminal means (18) co-operating with the customer operable means (16,40,42) for enabling the customer to make payment for the items identified by the customer operable means without further human involvement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
30 words
A checkout apparatus according to claim 1, in which the self-service terminal means (18) includes payment accepting means (22,50) for enabling the customer to make payment for the identified items.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A checkout apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the self-service terminal includes cash dispensing means (24,44) arranged to provide the customer with cash by way of change or otherwise.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
A checkout apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and including electronic control means (60) connected to the customer operable means (16,40,42) which electronic control means is arranged to determine the price of each item identified by the customer operable means (16,40,42) and send price information to the self-service terminal means (18), the self-service terminal means being arranged to provide an indication to the customer of the total amount payable for the items identified by the customer operable means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A checkout apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said self-service terminal means (18) includes a display screen (38) arranged to display messages for guiding a customer through a checkout transaction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
A checkout apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said customer operable means (16,40,42) includes a laser scanner (16) arranged to scan a bar code carried by an item to be purchased and send a signal identifying the scanned item to said electronic control means (60), said electronic control means being arranged to cause said display screen (38) to display an identification of the scanned item together with its price.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
95 words
A checkout apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said customer operable means (16,40,42) includes a scale (66) for weighing an item to be purchased and then for sending to said electronic control means (60) a signal indicative of the weight of the weighed item, and wherein said customer operable means further includes data entry means (40,42) for enabling the customer to enter data identifying the weighed item, said electronic control means (60) being arranged to cause said display screen (38) to display an identification of the weighed item together with its price.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A checkout apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said electronic control means (60) is arranged to cause said display screen (38) to display to a customer information enabling the customer to select a code identifying the weighed item.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A checkout apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said self-service terminal means (18) provides automated teller machine (ATM) services independently of the processing of items selected for purchase.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
A checkout apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said self-service terminal means (18) includes printer means (54) arranged to print a receipt listing all items purchased by a customer together with the prices of these items and the total price payable by the customer, said self-service terminal means being arranged to issue said receipt to the customer in response to the payment by the customer of said total price using said payment accepting means (22,50).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
A checkout apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said payment accepting means includes card reading means (50) for enabling a customer to make payment of said total price by means of a debit card or credit card, said card reading means also being arranged to read a customer identifying card used by a customer when carrying out an ATM transaction independently of the processing of items selected for purchase.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A checkout apparatus according to claim 11, further including a signature pad (26) for providing a digitized representation of a customer's signature, said digitized representation being stored by said electronic control means (60).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A checkout apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said payment accepting means also includes currency note acceptor means (22) for enabling a customer to make payment of said total price by cash.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A checkout apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said self-service terminal means (18) includes a coin dispenser (24) arranged to dispense change due to a customer who has made payment of said total price by cash.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
75 words
A checkout apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a security gate (12) which normally closes a customer exit from said checkout apparatus, said electronic control means (60) being arranged to open said security gate in response to payment of said total amount by a customer, means (126) being provided for bringing about closure of said security gate after the customer has passed through said exit away from said checkout apparatus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A checkout apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said card reading means (50) is arranged to read a further customer identifying card used by a customer at the commencement of a checkout transaction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
73 words
A checkout apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said self-service terminal (18) includes a coupon acceptor (25) which is connected to said electronic control means (60) and which is arranged to read information carried on a predetermined type of coupon inserted in said coupon acceptor by a customer, said electronic control means being arranged to adjust the total amount payable by the customer in response to information read by said coupon acceptor (25).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A checkout apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further including a video surveillance camera (36) connected to a remote monitoring station and arranged to survey a checkout transaction carried out by a customer using said apparatus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A checkout system comprising: a plurality of checkout apparatuses as claimed in claim 18, each including a video surveillance camera (36), all of which cameras are connected to a single remote monitoring station.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of carrying out a transaction in a retail establishment comprising the steps of: displaying a first set of instructions on a display of a self-checkout terminal while the self-service checkout terminal is in an idle state; recording an indication by a customer to start the transaction by an input device in the self-service checkout terminal; displaying a second set of instructions for the customer to indicate on an input device whether the customer wishes to make the transaction a banking transaction or a shopping transaction; recording a response by the customer to the input device; and completing the transaction by the self-checkout terminal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
143 words
The method of claim 20, wherein, if the response is a shopping transaction, carrying out the further steps of: displaying a third set of instructions on the display for instructing the customer how to enter items into the transaction by scanning them with a bar code reader, weighing them with a scale, or using the input device; recording the entry of items into the transaction in response to scanning, weighing, or using the input device; displaying a fourth set of instructions on the display in response to the last of the items recorded for instructing the customer to choose one of a number of methods of paying for the items, the methods of paying including cash and credit; recording the entry of a payment choice of the customer; and receiving payment from the customer using the chosen method of payment by the terminal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
118 words
The method of claim 20, wherein, if the response is a banking transaction, carrying out the further steps of: displaying a third set of instructions on the display for instructing the customer how to complete the banking transaction; displaying a fourth set of instructions on the display to choose one of a number of types of banking transactions, including cash deposit and cash withdrawal transactions; recording a customer choice of type of banking transaction by the terminal; completing the chosen type of banking transaction by the terminal; displaying a fifth set of instructions for the customer to indicate whether the customer wishes to conduct a shopping transaction; and recording a response by the customer by the input device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of: opening a security gate by the terminal after the transaction is completed; and displaying the first set of instructions on a display of a self-checkout terminal to return to an idle state.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5302811A
Cited
EP0491348A2
Cited
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