Patent US6598791B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6598791B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-checkout system and method including item buffer for item security verification
Assignee: PSC Inc USA
•
Filing: 2001-01-19
•
Granted: 2003-07-29
•
Expires: 2021-01-19
Abstract
Abstract A self-checkout system for a retail establishment that allows a customer to checkout multiple items having respective identification codes, the system includes a computer having memory with a buffer, an identification code reader coupled to the computer for determining the identifications of the items by the identification codes, a security verification mechanism coupled to the computer for verifying that the items actually being checked out from the retail establishment are the same as those identified by the identification code reader, and whereby the computer is adapted to store identification information of multiple items obtained by the identification code reader in the buffer before verifying that the items actually being checked out from the retail establishment are the same as those identified by the identification code reader.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald Bellis, Jr.
- 👤 Barry Keys
- 👤 James Behrens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:47
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47F; A47F9/00; A47F9/02; A47F9/04; A47F9/046; A47F9/047; G; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/20; G06Q20/208; G07; G07G; G07G1/00; G07G1/0036; G07G1/0045; G07G1/0054
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A checkout system for an establishment that allows a customer to checkout multiple items having respective identification codes, comprising: a computer having memory, the memory having a buffer; an identification code reader coupled to the computer for reading the identification codes; a security verification mechanism coupled to the computer for verifying that the items actually being checked out from the establishment are the same as those identified by the identification code reader; and whereby the computer is adapted to store identification information of multiple items obtained by said identification code reader in said buffer before verifying that the items actually being checked out from the establishment are the same as those identified by the identification code reader.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A checkout system for an establishment that allows a customer to checkout multiple items having respective identification codes, comprising: a computer having memory, the memory having a buffer; an identification code reader coupled to the computer for reading the identification codes; a security verification mechanism coupled to the computer for verifying that the items actually being checked out from the establishment are the same as those identified by the identification code reader; and whereby the computer is adapted to store identification information of multiple items obtained by said identification code reader in said buffer before verifying that the items actually being checked out from the establishment are the same as those identified by the identification code reader.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The checkout system of claim 1 , wherein the checkout system is a self-checkout system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The checkout system of claim 1 , wherein the establishment is a retail establishment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The checkout system of claim 3 , wherein the retail establishment comprises a grocery store.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The checkout system of claim 1 , wherein the identification code reader comprises a fixed bar code scanner.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The checkout system of claim 1 , wherein the identification code reader comprises a portable scanning device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The checkout system of claim 6 , wherein the identification code reader comprises a hand-held scanner.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The checkout system of claim 1 , wherein the security verification mechanism comprises a physical characteristic measuring device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The checkout system of claim 1 , wherein the security verification mechanism comprises an electronic scale.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
A self-checkout system for a retail establishment that allows a customer to checkout multiple items having respective identification codes, comprising: a computer; means coupled to the computer for reading the identification codes; security means coupled to the computer for verifying that the items actually being checked out from the retail establishment match those identified by the identification code reading means; and whereby the computer includes means for storing identification information of multiple items obtained by said identification code reading means in a buffer before verifying that the items actually being checked out from the retail establishment are the same as those identified by the identification code reading means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
108 words
A self-checkout system for a retail establishment that allows a customer to checkout multiple items having respective identification codes, comprising: a computer; means coupled to the computer for reading the identification codes; security means coupled to the computer for verifying that the items actually being checked out from the retail establishment match those identified by the identification code reading means; and whereby the computer includes means for storing identification information of multiple items obtained by said identification code reading means in a buffer before verifying that the items actually being checked out from the retail establishment are the same as those identified by the identification code reading means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
156 words
A self-checkout system for a grocery store that allows a customer to checkout multiple grocery store items having respective bar codes, comprising: a checkout terminal having memory, the memory having a buffer; a bar code scanner coupled to the checkout terminal for reading the bar codes for determining the identifications of the grocery store items; an electronic scale coupled to the checkout terminal for verifying that the weight of the grocery store items actually being checked out from the grocery store match the weight of the grocery store items identified by the bar code scanner; and whereby the checkout terminal is adapted to store identification information of multiple grocery store items obtained by said bar code scanner in said buffer before verifying with said electronic scale that the weight of the grocery store items actually being checked out from the grocery store matches the weight of the grocery store items identified by the bar code scanner.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
156 words
A self-checkout system for a grocery store that allows a customer to checkout multiple grocery store items having respective bar codes, comprising: a checkout terminal having memory, the memory having a buffer; a bar code scanner coupled to the checkout terminal for reading the bar codes for determining the identifications of the grocery store items; an electronic scale coupled to the checkout terminal for verifying that the weight of the grocery store items actually being checked out from the grocery store match the weight of the grocery store items identified by the bar code scanner; and whereby the checkout terminal is adapted to store identification information of multiple grocery store items obtained by said bar code scanner in said buffer before verifying with said electronic scale that the weight of the grocery store items actually being checked out from the grocery store matches the weight of the grocery store items identified by the bar code scanner.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein the step of verifying comprises placing first and second items on a scale, determining an incremental weight increase caused by placing the first and second items thereon, and verifying that the incremental weight increase matches the sum of the weight associated with the stored identification information for the first item and the second item.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 12 further comprising placing the first and second items on the scale at the same time.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of checkout using a check out system for an establishment that allows a customer to checkout multiple items having respective identification codes, the method comprising the steps of: reading the identification codes of multiple items to be checked out; storing identification information for the multiple items in a buffer; and verifying that one or more physical characteristics of the items actually being checked from the establishment match one or more respective physical characteristics associated with the stored identification information for the multiple items after reading and storing identification codes for multiple items.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of checkout using a check out system for an establishment that allows a customer to checkout multiple items having respective identification codes, the method comprising the steps of: reading the identification codes of multiple items to be checked out; storing identification information for the multiple items in a buffer; and verifying that one or more physical characteristics of the items actually being checked from the establishment match one or more respective physical characteristics associated with the stored identification information for the multiple items after reading and storing identification codes for multiple items.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the method is a method of self-checkout using a self-checkout system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the establishment is a retail establishment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the retail establishment comprises a grocery store.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of reading the identification codes of multiple items to be checked out includes reading the bar codes of multiple items to be checked out with a bar code scanner.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of verifying that one or more characteristics of the items actually being checked out from the retail establishment match one or more respective characteristics associated with the stored identification information for the multiple items includes weighing one or more of the items actually being checked out from the retail establishment with an electronic scale and verifying that the weight of the one or more items match the weight of the one or more items read.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of reading the identification codes of multiple items to be checked out includes holding a pair of items, one in each hand, and consecutively scanning a bar code on each item without a security verification step therebetween.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of verifying includes verifying, in a different order than an order that the multiple items are read, that one or more physical characteristics of the items actually being checked from the retail establishment match one or more respective physical characteristics associated with the stored identification information for the multiple items.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of verifying includes verifying, in a different order than an order that the multiple items are read, that the weight of the items actually being checked from the retail establishment match the weights associated with the stored identification information for the multiple items.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of self-checkout using a self-check out system for a grocery store that allows a customer to checkout multiple grocery store items having respective bar codes, the method comprising the steps of: reading the bar codes of multiple grocery store items to be checked out; storing identification information for the multiple grocery store items in a buffer; verifying for security purposes that the weight of the items actually being checked out from the grocery store match the weights associated with the stored identification information for the multiple items after reading the bar codes and storing identification information for multiple grocery store items.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of self-checkout using a self-check out system for a grocery store that allows a customer to checkout multiple grocery store items having respective bar codes, the method comprising the steps of: reading the bar codes of multiple grocery store items to be checked out; storing identification information for the multiple grocery store items in a buffer; verifying for security purposes that the weight of the items actually being checked out from the grocery store match the weights associated with the stored identification information for the multiple items after reading the bar codes and storing identification information for multiple grocery store items.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method of claim 23 further comprising verifying, in a different order than an order that the bar codes on the multiple items have been read, that the weight of the items actually being checked out match the weights associated with the stored identification information for the multiple items.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 24 further comprising placing multiple items on a scale at the same time.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of self-checkout using a self-check out system for a grocery store that allows a customer to checkout multiple grocery store items having respective bar codes, the method comprising the steps of: reading the bar code of a first grocery store item to be checked out and storing identification information for the first grocery store item in a buffer; before verifying for security purposes that the weight of first grocery store item matches the weight associated with the stored identification information for the first grocery store item, reading the bar code of a second grocery store item to be checked out and storing identification information for the second grocery store item in the same buffer as that used to store identification information for the first grocery store item.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of self-checkout using a self-check out system for a grocery store that allows a customer to checkout multiple grocery store items having respective bar codes, the method comprising the steps of: reading the bar code of a first grocery store item to be checked out and storing identification information for the first grocery store item in a buffer; before verifying for security purposes that the weight of first grocery store item matches the weight associated with the stored identification information for the first grocery store item, reading the bar code of a second grocery store item to be checked out and storing identification information for the second grocery store item in the same buffer as that used to store identification information for the first grocery store item.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 26 , further comprising verifying for security purposes that the weight of first grocery store item and/or the second grocery store item match the weight associated with the stored identification information for the first grocery store item and/or the second grocery store item.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 26 , further comprising determining a combined weight for the first and second grocery store items and verifying that the combined weight of the first and second grocery store items matches the sum of the weight associated with the stored identification information for the first grocery store item and the second grocery store item.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 26 , further comprising determining a weight for the second grocery store item before determining a weight of the first grocery store item and verifying that the weight of the second grocery store item matches the weight associated with the stored identification information for the second grocery store item before verifying that the weight of the first grocery store item matches the weight associated with the stored identification information for the first grocery store item.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 26 , further comprising the steps of placing the first and second grocery store items in a bag on a scale, determining the incremental weight increase of the bag caused by placing the first and second grocery store items therein, and verifying that the incremental weight increase matches the sum of the weight associated with the stored identification information for the first grocery store item and the second grocery store item.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the method includes reading and verifying N grocery story items, wherein N is greater than two.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of checkout in an establishment, comprising: reading a bar code of a first item to be checked out; reading a bar code of a second item to be checked out prior to performing a security verification that the first item to be checked out is the same as that which had its bar code read; performing a security verification that the first and second items to be checked out are the same as those that had their bar codes read after the bar codes of the first and second items have been read.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of checkout in an establishment, comprising: reading a bar code of a first item to be checked out; reading a bar code of a second item to be checked out prior to performing a security verification that the first item to be checked out is the same as that which had its bar code read; performing a security verification that the first and second items to be checked out are the same as those that had their bar codes read after the bar codes of the first and second items have been read.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein said method is a method of self-checkout in a retail establishment.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of claim 32 further comprising performing security verification on the second item prior to performing security verification on the first item.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of self-checkout using a self-check out system for a grocery store that allows a customer to checkout multiple grocery store items having respective bar codes, the method comprising the steps of: consecutively reading the bar codes of multiple grocery store items to be checked out and storing identification information for the multiple grocery store items in a buffer in a first order; after consecutively reading the bar codes and storing identification information, verifying for security purposes that the weight of the items actually being checked out from the grocery store match the weights associated with the stored identification information for the multiple items in a second order that is different that the first order.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of self-checkout using a self-check out system for a grocery store that allows a customer to checkout multiple grocery store items having respective bar codes, the method comprising the steps of: consecutively reading the bar codes of multiple grocery store items to be checked out and storing identification information for the multiple grocery store items in a buffer in a first order; after consecutively reading the bar codes and storing identification information, verifying for security purposes that the weight of the items actually being checked out from the grocery store match the weights associated with the stored identification information for the multiple items in a second order that is different that the first order.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
117 words
A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program logic stored therein, said computer program logic enabling the self-checkout of multiple items having respective identification codes with a self-checkout system for a retail establishment, said computer program logic comprising: means for determining identification information of multiple items to be checked out based on said identification codes; means for storing in a buffer identification information for multiple consecutive items identified by said determining means; and means for verifying that one or more characteristics of the items actually being checked out match one or more respective characteristics associated with the stored identification information for the multiple items after determining and storing identification information for multiple items.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
117 words
A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program logic stored therein, said computer program logic enabling the self-checkout of multiple items having respective identification codes with a self-checkout system for a retail establishment, said computer program logic comprising: means for determining identification information of multiple items to be checked out based on said identification codes; means for storing in a buffer identification information for multiple consecutive items identified by said determining means; and means for verifying that one or more characteristics of the items actually being checked out match one or more respective characteristics associated with the stored identification information for the multiple items after determining and storing identification information for multiple items.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
125 words
A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program logic stored therein, said computer program logic enabling the self-checkout of multiple grocery store items having respective bar codes with a self-checkout system for a grocery store, said computer program logic comprising: means for determining identification information of multiple grocery store items to be checked out based on said bar codes; means for storing in a buffer identification information for the multiple consecutive grocery store items identified by said determining means; and means for verifying that the weight of the grocery store items actually being checked out match the weight associated with the stored identification information for the multiple grocery store items after determining and storing identification information for multiple grocery store items.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
125 words
A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program logic stored therein, said computer program logic enabling the self-checkout of multiple grocery store items having respective bar codes with a self-checkout system for a grocery store, said computer program logic comprising: means for determining identification information of multiple grocery store items to be checked out based on said bar codes; means for storing in a buffer identification information for the multiple consecutive grocery store items identified by said determining means; and means for verifying that the weight of the grocery store items actually being checked out match the weight associated with the stored identification information for the multiple grocery store items after determining and storing identification information for multiple grocery store items.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
144 words
A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program logic stored therein, said computer program logic enabling the self-checkout of multiple grocery store items having respective bar codes with a self-checkout system for a grocery store, said computer program logic comprising: means for reading the bar code of a first grocery store item to be checked out and storing identification information for the first grocery store item in a buffer; means for reading the bar code of a second grocery store item to be checked out and storing identification information for the second grocery store item in the same buffer as that used to store identification information for the first grocery store item before verifying for security purposes that the weight of first grocery store item matches the weight associated with the stored identification information for the first grocery store item.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
144 words
A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program logic stored therein, said computer program logic enabling the self-checkout of multiple grocery store items having respective bar codes with a self-checkout system for a grocery store, said computer program logic comprising: means for reading the bar code of a first grocery store item to be checked out and storing identification information for the first grocery store item in a buffer; means for reading the bar code of a second grocery store item to be checked out and storing identification information for the second grocery store item in the same buffer as that used to store identification information for the first grocery store item before verifying for security purposes that the weight of first grocery store item matches the weight associated with the stored identification information for the first grocery store item.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
51 words
The computer program product of claim 38 , further including means for verifying for security purposes that the weight of first grocery store item and/or the second grocery store item match the weight associated with the stored identification information for the first grocery store item and/or the second grocery store item.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of a self-checkout and item verification, comprising the steps of obtaining identity of a first item by scanning an optical code thereon; before placing the first item on a weigh scale to verify its identity, obtaining identity of a second item by scanning an optical code thereon; placing both the first item and the second item on the weigh scale; obtaining a combined weight of the first and second items from the weigh scale; using the combined weight of the first and second items to verify identity of both the first item and the second item.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of a self-checkout and item verification, comprising the steps of obtaining identity of a first item by scanning an optical code thereon; before placing the first item on a weigh scale to verify its identity, obtaining identity of a second item by scanning an optical code thereon; placing both the first item and the second item on the weigh scale; obtaining a combined weight of the first and second items from the weigh scale; using the combined weight of the first and second items to verify identity of both the first item and the second item.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3836755A
Cited
US4071740A
Cited
US4792018A
Cited
US4676343A
Cited
GB2193000A
Cited
US4779706A
Cited
US4766296A
Cited
US4909356A
Cited
US4964053A
Cited
US5594228A
Cited
US4932485A
Cited
US4940116A
Cited
US4959530A
Cited
US5083638A
Cited
US5168961A
Cited
US5125465A
Cited
US5543607A
Cited
US5311969A
Cited
US5340970A
Cited
US5497853A
Cited
US5936541A
Cited
US5524073A
Cited
US5974148A
Cited
US5793302A
Cited
US5267314A
Cited
US5646998A
Cited
US5494136A
Cited
US5426282A
Cited
US5900614A
Cited
US5560450A
Cited
US5525786A
Cited
US5641039A
Cited
US5540301A
Cited
US5662190A
Cited
US5609223A
Cited
US5664110A
Cited
US5877485A
Cited
US5752582A
Cited
US5923735A
Cited
US5992570A
Cited
US5979757A
Cited
US5898383A
Cited
US5747784A
Cited
US6092725A
Cited
US5965861A
Cited
US6167381A
Cited
US6080938A
Cited
US6056087A
Cited
US6032128A
Cited
US5952642A
Cited
US6354498B1
Cited
US5967264A
Cited
EP0994447A2
Cited
US6363355B1
Cited
US6155486A
Cited
JP2001184563A
Cited
US6189790B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-07-28 | 2007-01-27 | 2007-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-07-28 | 2011-01-27 | 2011-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-07-28 | 2015-01-27 | 2015-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |