Patent US5239167A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5239167A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Checkout system
Assignee: Xylon LLC
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Filing: 1991-04-30
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Granted: 1993-08-24
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Expires: 2011-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A system for operator-unassisted checkout of randomly disposed articles in a container in a checkout area of a supermarket or the like, performed without contacting the articles in the container, includes, associated with each article, respective transmitters for transmitting product-identifying data upon actuation and then deactuating itself. Associated with the checkout area are actuators for actuating all of the transmitters in the container and a receiver for receiving the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in the container in turn and identifying the total cost of the articles in the container.
Inventors
- 👤 Ludwig Kipp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:20
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/02; A; A47; A47F; A47F9/00; A47F9/02; A47F9/04; A47F9/046; A47F9/047; A47F9/048; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/0008; G06K7/0013; G06K7/0047; G06K7/10; G06K7/10009; G06K7/10019; G06K7/10029; G06K7/10039; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/343; G07G; G07G1/00; G07G1/0036; G07G1/0045; G07G1/0054; G07G1/009; G07G3/00; G07G3/003; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/22; G08B13/24; G08B13/2402; G08B13/2405; G08B13/2414; G08B13/2417; G08B13/2451; G08B13/246; G08B13/2465; G08B13/2468; G08B13/2471; G08B13/248; G08B13/2485
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A system for unattended checkout of randomly disposed articles in a container in a checkout area without moving the articles in the container relative thereto, comprising: (A) associated with each article, respective transmitter means for transmitting product-identifying data upon actuation and then deactuating itself; (B) associated with the checkout area, actuating means for actuating all of said transmitter means in the container; and (C) associated with the checkout area, means for receiving the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in the container in turn and identifying information regarding the articles in the container.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A system for unattended checkout of randomly disposed articles in a container in a checkout area without moving the articles in the container relative thereto, comprising: (A) associated with each article, respective transmitter means for transmitting product-identifying data upon actuation and then deactuating itself; (B) associated with the checkout area, actuating means for actuating all of said transmitter means in the container; and (C) associated with the checkout area, means for receiving the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in the container in turn and identifying information regarding the articles in the container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 wherein, when said respective transmitter means upon actuation is unable to successfully transmit product-identifying data to said receiver means, said respective transmitter means transmits a distress signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 2 additionally including means associated with the checkout area for detecting each article transmitting a distress signal so that each such article is identified for operator-assisted checkout.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said respective transmitter means includes means for broadcasting upon actuation a start signal of one rank and then associated single digit signals of a different rank as the product-identifying data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said receiving means includes means for receiving one start signal and then the product-identifying data associated therewith prior to receiving another start signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said broadcast means broadcasts unique transmitter-identifying data as part of the start signal, and said receiving means includes means for transmitting to said transmitter means identified by said unique transmitter-identifying data an acknowledgement of its receipt of the start signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said broadcasting means broadcasts the associated product-identifying data only after receipt by said transmitter means of the acknowledgement from said receiving means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said receiving means, upon receipt of the product-identifying data broadcast by said broadcasting means, causes said transmitter means to deactuate itself if the product-identifying data is recognized and to transmit a distress signal otherwise.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter means permanently deactutes itself.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
249 words
A system for operator-unassisted checkout of randomly disposed articles in a container in a checkout area without contacting the articles in the container, comprising: (A) associated with each article, respective transmitter means for transmitting product-identifying data upon actuation and then permanently deactuating itself, and, when unable upon actuation to successfully transmit product-identifying data, for transmitting a distress signal; said respective transmitter means including means for broadcasting upon actuation a start signal of one rank including unique transmitter-identifying data and then, upon acknowledgement of the receipt thereof, associated single digit signals of a different rank as the product-identifying data; (B) associated with the checkout area, actuating means for actuating all of said transmitter means in the container; (C) associated with the checkout area, means for receiving the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in the container in turn and identifying information regarding the articles in the container; said receiving means including means for receiving one start signal, then transmitting to said transmitter means identified by said unique transmitter-identifying data in the start signal an acknowledgement of its receipt of the start signal, next receiving the product-identifying data associated therewith, and then either causing said transmitter means to permanently deactuate itself if the product-identifying data is recognized and to transmit a distress signal otherwise, prior to receiving another start signal from another transmitter means; and (D) associated with the checkout area, means for detecting each article transmitting a distress signal so that each such article can be identified for operator-assisted checkout.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
249 words
A system for operator-unassisted checkout of randomly disposed articles in a container in a checkout area without contacting the articles in the container, comprising: (A) associated with each article, respective transmitter means for transmitting product-identifying data upon actuation and then permanently deactuating itself, and, when unable upon actuation to successfully transmit product-identifying data, for transmitting a distress signal; said respective transmitter means including means for broadcasting upon actuation a start signal of one rank including unique transmitter-identifying data and then, upon acknowledgement of the receipt thereof, associated single digit signals of a different rank as the product-identifying data; (B) associated with the checkout area, actuating means for actuating all of said transmitter means in the container; (C) associated with the checkout area, means for receiving the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in the container in turn and identifying information regarding the articles in the container; said receiving means including means for receiving one start signal, then transmitting to said transmitter means identified by said unique transmitter-identifying data in the start signal an acknowledgement of its receipt of the start signal, next receiving the product-identifying data associated therewith, and then either causing said transmitter means to permanently deactuate itself if the product-identifying data is recognized and to transmit a distress signal otherwise, prior to receiving another start signal from another transmitter means; and (D) associated with the checkout area, means for detecting each article transmitting a distress signal so that each such article can be identified for operator-assisted checkout.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-23 | 1997-02-22 | 1997-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-23 | 2001-02-22 | 2001-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-23 | 2005-02-22 | 2005-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |