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US6102290A
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Self-checkout, point-of-transaction system including deactivatable electro-optically coded surveillance tags
Assignee: Symbol Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1998-07-10
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Granted: 2000-08-15
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Expires: 2018-07-10
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 21:21
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: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
An article transaction processing system, comprising: a) a database for storing article symbols identifying articles, for storing tag symbols identifying surveillance tags, and for associating respective tags with respective articles on which the respective tags are mounted; b) a reader for electro-optically reading an article symbol to identify a selected article to be processed, and for subsequently electro-optically reading a tag symbol to identify the respective tag on the selected article; c) a control processor for communicating with the database after the article symbol and the tag symbol have been read, for determining whether the identified tag is associated with the identified article; and d) a transaction processor for completing a transaction with the selected article upon the determination that the identified tag is associated with the identified article.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
An article transaction processing system, comprising: a) a database for storing article symbols identifying articles, for storing tag symbols identifying surveillance tags, and for associating respective tags with respective articles on which the respective tags are mounted; b) a reader for electro-optically reading an article symbol to identify a selected article to be processed, and for subsequently electro-optically reading a tag symbol to identify the respective tag on the selected article; c) a control processor for communicating with the database after the article symbol and the tag symbol have been read, for determining whether the identified tag is associated with the identified article; and d) a transaction processor for completing a transaction with the selected article upon the determination that the identified tag is associated with the identified article.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system in accordance with claim 1; and further comprising a plurality of terminals in wireless communication with the database, and wherein the reader and the processors are located in one of the terminals; and further comprising additional readers, additional control processors, and additional transaction processors located in others of the terminals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the database is located in a host computer remote from the terminals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system in accordance with claim 1; and further comprising a sales terminal in which the reader and the processors are located, for completing the transaction as a sale of the selected article; and wherein the sales terminal includes means for effecting the sale by a financial payment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the sales terminal includes a card reader, and a slot for receiving a card bearing financial information to be read.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the sales terminal includes a keypad for enabling manual entry of information relating to the transaction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the sales terminal includes a display for displaying information relating to the transaction, including visible messages for prompting a user through the transaction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the transaction processor includes a tag remover for enabling the identified tag to be removed from the identified article.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the transaction processor includes a tag deactivator for deactivating the identified tag.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system in accordance with claim 9, wherein each tag has an electronic component switchable between activated and deactivated states upon receipt of a radio frequency signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the article symbol and the tag symbol are bar code symbols.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the bar code symbols are the same.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the bar code symbols are different.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tag symbols are printed on respective labels respectively mounted on the tags.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the article symbols are printed on respective labels respectively mounted on the articles.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reader includes a light source for generating a light beam, a detector having a field of view and operative for detecting light reflected from a respective symbol, and a scanner for scanning at least one of the light beam and the field of view in a scan over the respective symbol.
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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) | 2003-08-15 | 2004-02-14 | 2004-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-15 | 2008-02-14 | 2008-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-15 | 2012-02-14 | 2012-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |