Automated apparatus and method for object recognition at checkout counters

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 in which the frame scan lines and image scan lines of the digital image are extracted and communicated to the data base and compared with the stored data sets to confirm the object identification.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 in which the pixels of the digital image are extracted and communicated to the data base and compared with the stored data sets to confirm the object identification.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 in which the information contained in the object data sets of the data base also includes the weight of each object to be identified, and at the identification station the weight of the object is measured, and the measured weight is converted to a digitized signal that is communicated to the data base so as to reduce the number of stored object data sets that are compared to positively recognize and identify the object.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 in which the object identification data is stored and periodically communicated to a main processing unit for use in billing and inventory control.

Claim 9

The method of claim 6 in which the stored multiple object identification signals in the central data base include a signal pertaining to the weight of each object to be identified and at the object identification station the weight of the object is also determined as the object is stopped, and the weight information is converted to a signal and communicated to the central data base, the signal representing the weight being used to the object.

Claim 10

The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of: providing a memory for the storage of received object identification signals; and periodically communicating said stored identification signals to a central processor for use in the control of inventory of the objects in the sales outlet.

Claim 11

A retail store check-out registration and inventory identification system for recognizing and identifying unknown objects sold to customers of the store, said system comprising: a central processing unit including memory means for the storage of preestablished object identification data including data sets for all the objects of the store, each object data set providing identification data corresponding to a separate object for sale within the store being serviced by the automated check-out system and including object data sets representing the size, shape and pictorial characteristics of each object from different orientations by which each object can be recognized and identified; a plurality of customer check-out stations, each station having: a display screen providing for the display of operative instructions to the customer utilizing the check-out station; an object identification station; digital video imaging means combined with the identification station for capturing an optical image of an object in the station regardless of the orientation of the object within the identification station; transport means to move an object into the object identification station for purposes of imaging; a first sensor combined with the object transport means to stop said transport means when an object enters the identification station and to activate the video imaging means; means for digitizing of the electronic signal produced by the video imaging means and which represents the size, shape and pictorial characteristics of an object in the identification station; means for communicating the digitized signal to the central processing unit; means for comparing the digitized signal representing the object data received from each check-out station with the object identification data sets stored within said central processing unit to recognize and identify the object and register its identity in the memory; and means for correlating the multiple electronic object identification signals received from a check-out station for a particular customer.

Claim 12

A retail store check-out registration and inventory identification system for recognizing and identifying unknown objects sold to customers of the store, said system comprising: a central processing unit including memory means for the storage of preestablished object identification data including data sets for all the objects of the store, each object data set providing identification data corresponding to a separate object for sale within the store being serviced by the automated check-out system and including object data sets representing the size, shape and pictorial characteristics of each object from different orientations by which each object can be recognized and identified; a plurality of customer check-out stations, each station having: a display screen providing for the display of operative instructions to the customer utilizing the check-out station; an object identification station; digital video imaging means combined with the identification station for capturing an optical image of an object in the station regardless of the orientation of the object within the identification station; transport means to move an object into the object identification station for purposes of imaging; a first sensor combined with the object transport means to stop said transport means when an object enters the identification station and to activate the video imaging means; means for digitizing of the electronic signal produced by the video imaging means and which represents the size, shape and pictorial characteristics of an object in the identification station; means for communicating the digitized signal to the central processing unit; means for comparing the digitized signal representing the object data received from each check-out station with the object identification data sets stored within said central processing unit to recognize and identify the object and register its identity in the memory; and means for correlating the multiple electronic object identification signals received from a check-out station for a particular customer.

Claim 13

The system of claim 9 in which each multiple electronic object identification signal received from a check-out station for a particular customer is converted to a per object price, a cashier station is provided for customer payment for the objects registered in the memory, and means is provided for communicating the information regarding object price to the cashier station.

Claim 14

The system of claim 9 in which each object data set includes a digitized signal representing the weight of each object of the store and each object identification station also includes object weight determination means for weighing each object in the station, and means for converting said weight information to a digitized signal and communicating said signal to the processing unit so as to reduce the number of stored object data sets that are compared to positively recognize and identify the object also being identified by the video imaging means.

Claim 15

The system of claim 9 in which the primary identification means is the optical-image based digitized signal.

Claim 16

The system of claim 12 in which the secondary identification means is the data of the digitized representation of the object data set.

Claim 17

The system of claim 13 in which there is a tertiary identification means including pictorial images of the object captured by the digital video imaging means, means for converting said pictorial images to electronic signals, and means for comparing said signals to electronically stored pictorial images of the objects in the central processing unit.

Claim 18

The system of claim 14 in which said pictorial images include the image for the universal product code (UPC) of the object in the identification station and by which the object can be identified by utilizing algorithms measuring the relation to the size and spacing of bars and spaces.

Claim 19

The system of claim 14 in which said pictorial images include the image for the UPC of the object in the identification station and by which the object can be identified by comparing the digitized representation of the UPC with stored data sets of the UPCs within the central processing unit.

Claim 20

The system of claim 9 in which there is means combined with each of the check-out stations providing for the multiple communication of electronic data and simultaneous computerized analysis of the data in making object identification determinations.

Claim 21

The system of claim 10 in which the central processing unit includes means providing for communication between the multiple check-out stations, the cashier's station and the central processing unit in addition to the memory means for storage of the object identification data.

Claim 22

The system of claim 18 in which the cashier's station includes a portable terminal for communicating with the central processing unit.

Claim 23

The system of claim 9 in which the check-out stations are combined with a customer-operated automated electronic payment system providing for the payment of the transaction using the customer's electronic debit card.