Patent ID: 6243687
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: G06Q,G07F,G07G

Abstract:
A system comprising:a plurality of products;a kiosk includinga holder for concurrently holding a plurality of portable cards each having a random access memory (RAM),a receiver that receives a first signal characterizing a customer while a first card, from the plurality of portable cards, is in the kiosk,a mechanism for ejecting the first card from the kiosk, after the receiver receives the first signal, the first card storing a respective second signal, anda memory that stores an association between the first signal and the second signal;a checkout area includinga card reader that receives a plurality of third signals from the RAM of the first card, each third signal corresponding to a product,a product detector that receives a fourth signal corresponding to a product, anda price determiner that determines a price depending on whether the fourth signal corresponds to one of the received third signals.