US5814799A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-checkout, point-of-transaction system including removable, electro-optically coded surveillance tags
Assignee: Symbol Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1996-11-12
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Granted: 1998-09-29
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Expires: 2016-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A self-check apparatus is provided for processing a sales transaction of an article having an attached surveillance tag, each attached surveillance tag bearing a coded indicia such as a bar code. The self-checkout apparatus stores an indication of the articles which have been selected for purchase. When the surveillance tag is presented to the apparatus for deactivation, the bar code on the tag is scanned, and a check is made to verify that the surveillance tag is attached to an article which has been selected for purchase, and provided such verification is made, the surveillance tag is deactivated.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerome Swartz
- 👤 William Tracy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:10
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/22; G08B13/24; G08B13/2402; G08B13/2405; G08B13/2414; G08B13/242; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10861; G06K7/10881; G07; G07G; G07G1/00; G07G1/0036; G07G1/0045; G07G1/0054; G07G3/00; G07G3/003; G08B13/2451; G08B13/246; G08B13/2465; G08B13/248; G08B13/2482; G06K2207/00; G06K2207/1011; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A point of-transaction system for processing articles having attached surveillance tags, each surveillance tag having an activated state and a deactivated state, each of the surveillance tags bearing coded indicia and being initially in an activated state, the point-of-transaction system defining a deactivated region in space in which only one of the surveillance tags at a given time may be positioned in order to change the surveillance tag from an activated state into a deactivated state, the system comprising: a) a plurality of surveillance tags, each surveillance tag being attached to one of a plurality of articles available for purchase, each tag bearing coded indicia; b) a deactivator for deactivating a selected one of the plurality surveillance tags positioned in the deactivation region; c) a reader for electro-optically reading the indicia on the selected one of the plurality of tags while the tag is positioned in the deactivation region and when a reader activation signal is obtained; and d) a controller for detecting when the deactivator deactivates the selected one of the plurality of tags and for forming a reader activation signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A point of-transaction system for processing articles having attached surveillance tags, each surveillance tag having an activated state and a deactivated state, each of the surveillance tags bearing coded indicia and being initially in an activated state, the point-of-transaction system defining a deactivated region in space in which only one of the surveillance tags at a given time may be positioned in order to change the surveillance tag from an activated state into a deactivated state, the system comprising: a) a plurality of surveillance tags, each surveillance tag being attached to one of a plurality of articles available for purchase, each tag bearing coded indicia; b) a deactivator for deactivating a selected one of the plurality surveillance tags positioned in the deactivation region; c) a reader for electro-optically reading the indicia on the selected one of the plurality of tags while the tag is positioned in the deactivation region and when a reader activation signal is obtained; and d) a controller for detecting when the deactivator deactivates the selected one of the plurality of tags and for forming a reader activation signal.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
68 words
An apparatus for processing an article having an attached surveillance tag, where the surveillance tag bears a light-reflective coded indicia, comprising: a) a deactivator for deactivating the surveillance tag; b) an activatable reader for electro-optically reading the indicia on the surveillance tag; and c) a controller for detecting when the deactivator deactivates the surveillance tag and for activating the reader to read the indicia on the surveillance tag.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
68 words
An apparatus for processing an article having an attached surveillance tag, where the surveillance tag bears a light-reflective coded indicia, comprising: a) a deactivator for deactivating the surveillance tag; b) an activatable reader for electro-optically reading the indicia on the surveillance tag; and c) a controller for detecting when the deactivator deactivates the surveillance tag and for activating the reader to read the indicia on the surveillance tag.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of confirming deactivation of a surveillance tag which is attached to an article, the surveillance tag having an activated state and a deactivated state, the surveillance tag initially having an activated state which can be changed to the deactivated state when the surveillance tag is placed in a deactivation region, the surveillance tag bearing a coded indicia, the method comprising the steps of: a) positioning the surveillance tag in the deactivation region; b) changing the state of the surveillance tag positioned in the deactivation region from the activated state to the deactivated state; c) detecting when the surveillance tag positioned in the deactivation region is changed from the activated state to the deactivated state and forming a positive deactivation signal; and d) reading electro-optically the indicia on the surveillance tag positioned in the deactivation region, said reading being responsive to the positive deactivation signal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of confirming deactivation of a surveillance tag which is attached to an article, the surveillance tag having an activated state and a deactivated state, the surveillance tag initially having an activated state which can be changed to the deactivated state when the surveillance tag is placed in a deactivation region, the surveillance tag bearing a coded indicia, the method comprising the steps of: a) positioning the surveillance tag in the deactivation region; b) changing the state of the surveillance tag positioned in the deactivation region from the activated state to the deactivated state; c) detecting when the surveillance tag positioned in the deactivation region is changed from the activated state to the deactivated state and forming a positive deactivation signal; and d) reading electro-optically the indicia on the surveillance tag positioned in the deactivation region, said reading being responsive to the positive deactivation signal.
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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) | 2001-09-28 | 2002-03-30 | 2002-09-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-28 | 2006-03-30 | 2006-09-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-28 | 2010-03-30 | 2010-09-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |