EP0994447A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for deactivating electronic article surveillance tag in a retail self-checkout terminal
Assignee: NCR International Inc
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Filing: 1999-10-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2019-10-06
Abstract
Abstract In a retail self-checkout system, items to be purchased are placed into an itemization area. An item detector detects the presence of the item in the itemization area, and a security checking system determines whether the item satisfies predetermined security criteria. If the item satisfies the security criteria, a deactivator deactivates a security tag affixed on the item to be purchased.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy Edward Mason
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:17
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/22; G08B13/24; G08B13/2402; G08B13/2405; G08B13/2414; G08B13/242; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/10; G06Q20/108; G06Q20/1085; G07; G07G; G07G1/00; G07G1/0036; G07G1/0045; G07G1/0054; G08B13/2451; G08B13/246; G08B13/2465; G08B13/2482
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A retail self-checkout system, characterized by: a system computer; data input means for receiving data input relating to an article to be purchased; an itemization area for receiving the article to be purchased, the article having
affixed thereto an EAS surveillance tag, and the article being identified by the data
received at the data input means; an EAS deactivator proximate to the itemization area for deactivating the EAS
surveillance tag affixed to the article to be purchased, the EAS deactivator being
connected to the system computer, the system computer activating the EAS deactivator
only after performing a security check to ensure that the article being purchased has
been correctly identified by the data received at the data input means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
A retail checkout system according to claim 1, wherein the data input
means is connected to the system computer, the data received by the data input means is
input by a retail customer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 1, further including an alarm connected to
the system computer for summoning store personnel if the article being purchased does
not pass the security check.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 1, further including an itemized area
proximate to the itemization area for receiving the article to be purchased after the EAS
surveillance tag has been deactivated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 1, further including a card reader connected
to the system computer, and located proximate to the data input means, for reading an
ATM or credit card.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the system further includes a
scale proximate to the itemization area for weighing the article to be purchased, the
scale being connected to the system computer, and wherein in conducting the security
check, the computer compares the weight of the article with a stored weight.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 6, wherein if the weight of the article being
purchased does not match the stored weight, the system notes an occurrence of a
transgression in security.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 6, wherein if the system notes the
occurrence of a transgression in security, the system uses security thresholds to
determine whether intervention by store personnel is necessary.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the system further includes a
scale proximate to the itemization area for weighing the article to be purchased, the sale
being connected to the system computer, and wherein in conducting the security check,
the computer compares the weight of the article with the weight of other items in the
same or previous transactions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A retail self-checkout system, according to claim 1, wherein the data
input means comprises: a scanner proximate to the itemization area for scanning a bar code on the article
to be purchased;
Claim 11
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for retail self-checkout, comprising: (a) providing an itemization area for receiving an article to be purchased, the
article having an EAS surveillance tag affixed thereto; (b) receiving an input identifying the article; (c) performing a security check to determine whether the article has been
correctly identified; (d) deactivating the EAS surveillance tag if the article passes the security
check; (e) summoning store personnel if the article fails the security check.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein in step (c), the security check
comprises the following substeps: (c1) weighing the article to be purchased; (c2) comparing the weight of the article to be purchased with a stored weight.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein step (c) comprises the
following additional substep: (c3) noting the occurrence of a transgression in security if the weight of the
article to be purchased does not match the stored weight; (c4) using security thresholds to determine whether intervention by store
personnel is necessary.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein in step (c), the security check
comprising the following substeps: (c1) weighing the article to be purchased; (c2) comparing the weight of the article to be purchased with the weight of
other items in the same or previous transactions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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