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US5967264A
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Method of monitoring item shuffling in a post-scan area of a self-service checkout terminal
Assignee: NCR Voyix Corp
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Filing: 1998-05-01
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Granted: 1999-10-19
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Expires: 2018-05-01
Abstract
Abstract A method of monitoring item shuffling in a post-scan area of a self-service checkout terminal having a post-scan shelf, a bagwell with a grocery container positioned therein, and a weight scale positioned so as to detect weight of items positioned both on the post-scan shelf and in the grocery container, includes the step of detecting removal of a first number of items from the post-scan shelf with the weight scale and generating a first weight decrease value in response thereto which corresponds to the weight of the first number of items. The method also includes the step of detecting placement of a second number of items into the grocery container with the weight scale and generating a first weight increase value in response thereto which corresponds to the weight of the second number of items. The method further includes the step of comparing the first weight decrease value to the first weight increase value and generating a first match control signal in response thereto if the first weight decrease value matches the first weight increase value.
Inventors
- 👤 Dusty L. Lutz
- 👤 Christopher A. Malchak
- 👤 Timothy E. Mason
- 👤 Ali M. Vassigh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G23/00; G01G23/18; G01G23/36; G01G23/37; G01G23/3728; G01G23/3735; A; A47; A47F; A47F9/00; A47F9/02; A47F9/04; A47F9/046; A47F9/047; A47F9/048; G01G19/00; G01G19/40; G01G19/413; G01G19/414; G01G19/415; G07; G07G; G07G1/00; G07G1/0036; G07G1/0045; G07G1/0054
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of monitoring item shuffling in a post-scan area of a self-service checkout terminal, with the post-scan area including a post-scan surface, comprising the steps of: detecting removal of a first number of items from the post-scan surface and generating a first weight decrease value in response thereto which corresponds to the weight of the first number of items; detecting placement of a second number of items onto the post-scan surface and generating a first weight increase value in response thereto which corresponds to the weight of the second number of items; and comparing the first weight decrease value to the first weight increase value and generating a first match control signal in response thereto if the first weight decrease value matches the first weight increase value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of monitoring item shuffling in a post-scan area of a self-service checkout terminal, with the post-scan area including a post-scan surface, comprising the steps of: detecting removal of a first number of items from the post-scan surface and generating a first weight decrease value in response thereto which corresponds to the weight of the first number of items; detecting placement of a second number of items onto the post-scan surface and generating a first weight increase value in response thereto which corresponds to the weight of the second number of items; and comparing the first weight decrease value to the first weight increase value and generating a first match control signal in response thereto if the first weight decrease value matches the first weight increase value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: generating an improper-use control signal if the first weight increase value (i) does not match the first weight decrease value, and (ii) is greater than the first weight decrease value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of: updating an electronic log value in response to generation of the improper-use control signal; and comparing the electronic log value to a log threshold and generating an intervention signal in response thereto if the electronic log value has a predetermined relationship to the log threshold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: detecting placement of a third number of items onto the post-scan surface and generating a second weight increase value in response thereto which corresponds to the weight of the third number of items; and comparing the first weight decrease value to a sum of the first weight increase value and the second weight increase value and generating a second match control signal in response thereto if the first weight decrease value matches the sum of the first weight increase value and the second weight increase value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of: generating an improper-use control signal if the first weight decrease value does not match the sum of the first weight increase value and the second weight increase value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of: updating an electronic log value in response to generation of the improper-use control signal; and comparing the electronic log value to a log threshold and generating an intervention signal in response thereto if the electronic log value has a predetermined relationship to the log threshold.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of: generating an item-displaced control signal if the first weight increase value (i) does not match the first weight decrease value, and (ii) is less than the first weight decrease value; generating an item-entered control signal if the user enters a subsequent item into the self-service checkout terminal; and generating an improper-use control signal if the item-entered control signal is generated (i) subsequent to generation of the item-displaced control signal, and (ii) prior to generation of the second match control signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of: updating an electronic log value in response to generation of the improper-use control signal; and comparing the electronic log value to a log threshold and generating an intervention signal in response thereto if the electronic log value has a predetermined relationship to the log threshold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
96 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: detecting removal of a third number of items from the post-scan surface and generating a second weight decrease value in response thereto which corresponds to the weight of the third number of items; and comparing the sum of the first weight decrease value and the second weight decrease value to the first weight increase value and generating a second match control signal in response thereto if the sum of the first weight decrease value and the second weight decrease value matches the first weight increase value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
96 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: the post-scan surface includes (i) a post-scan shelf, and (ii) a bagwell having a grocery container positioned therein, a weight scale is positioned so as to detect weight of items positioned both on the post-scan shelf and in the grocery container, the removal detecting step includes the step of detecting removal of the first number of items from the post-scan shelf with the weight scale, and the placement detecting step includes the step of detecting placement of the second number of items into the grocery container with the weight scale.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: a weight scale is positioned so as to detect weight of items positioned on the post-scan surface, the removal detecting step includes the step of detecting removal of the first number of items from the post-scan surface with the weight scale, and the placement detecting step includes the step of detecting placement of the second number of items onto the post-scan surface with the weight scale.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of monitoring item shuffling in a post-scan area of a self-service checkout terminal having (i) a post-scan shelf, (ii) a bagwell with a grocery container positioned therein, and (iii) a weight scale positioned so as to detect weight of items positioned both on the post-scan shelf and in the grocery container, comprising the steps of: detecting removal of a first number of items from the post-scan shelf with the weight scale and generating a first weight decrease value in response thereto which corresponds to the weight of the first number of items; detecting placement of a second number of items into the grocery container with the weight scale and generating a first weight increase value in response thereto which corresponds to the weight of the second number of items; and comparing the first weight decrease value to the first weight increase value and generating a first match control signal in response thereto if the first weight decrease value matches the first weight increase value.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of monitoring item shuffling in a post-scan area of a self-service checkout terminal having (i) a post-scan shelf, (ii) a bagwell with a grocery container positioned therein, and (iii) a weight scale positioned so as to detect weight of items positioned both on the post-scan shelf and in the grocery container, comprising the steps of: detecting removal of a first number of items from the post-scan shelf with the weight scale and generating a first weight decrease value in response thereto which corresponds to the weight of the first number of items; detecting placement of a second number of items into the grocery container with the weight scale and generating a first weight increase value in response thereto which corresponds to the weight of the second number of items; and comparing the first weight decrease value to the first weight increase value and generating a first match control signal in response thereto if the first weight decrease value matches the first weight increase value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of: generating an improper-use control signal if the first weight increase value (i) does not match the first weight decrease value, and (ii) is greater than the first weight decrease value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of: updating an electronic log value in response to generation of the improper-use control signal; and comparing the electronic log value to a log threshold and generating an intervention signal in response thereto if the electronic log value has a predetermined relationship to the log threshold.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
96 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of: detecting placement of a third number of items into the grocery container and generating a second weight increase value in response thereto which corresponds to the weight of the third number of items; and comparing the first weight decrease value to a sum of the first weight increase value and the second weight increase value and generating a second match control signal in response thereto if the first weight decrease value matches the sum of the first weight increase value and the second weight increase value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of: generating an improper-use control signal if the first weight decrease value does not match the sum of the first weight increase value and the second weight increase value.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of: updating an electronic log value in response to generation of the improper-use control signal; and comparing the electronic log value to a log threshold and generating an intervention signal in response thereto if the electronic log value has a predetermined relationship to the log threshold.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of: generating an item-displaced control signal if the first weight increase value (i) does not match the first weight decrease value, and (ii) is less than the first weight decrease value; generating an item-entered control signal if the user enters a subsequent item into the self-service checkout terminal; and generating an improper-use control signal if the item-entered control signal is generated (i) subsequent to generation of the item-displaced control signal, and (ii) prior to generation of the second match control signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of: updating an electronic log value in response to generation of the improper-use control signal; and comparing the electronic log value to a log threshold and generating an intervention signal in response thereto if the electronic log value has a predetermined relationship to the log threshold.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
96 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of: detecting removal of a third number of items from the post-scan shelf and generating a second weight decrease value in response thereto which corresponds to the weight of the third number of items; and comparing the sum of the first weight decrease value and the second weight decrease value to the first weight increase value and generating a second match control signal in response thereto if the sum of the first weight decrease value and the second weight decrease value matches the first weight increase value.
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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) | 2002-10-18 | 2003-04-19 | 2003-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-18 | 2007-04-19 | 2007-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-18 | 2011-04-19 | 2011-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |