Abstract:
A system and method for providing a self-checkout system. The self-checkout system includes a processor and a first device coupled to the processor, where the first device identifies an item. The self-checkout system also includes a first receptacle coupled to the first device. The first receptacle receives the item after being identified by the first device. The self-checkout system also includes a second device coupled to the first receptacle. The second device identifies the item after being received by the first receptacle, and the processor verifies if the item identified by the second device is the same item identified by the first device. As a result, the checkout process is reliable and secure.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to checkout stations, and more particularly to a system and method for providing a self-checkout station.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Checkout stations are well known, and are typically used in retail businesses to assist customers in purchasing products. Self-checkout stations have been introduced to provide customers with a self-serve alternative to the conventional operator-run checkout station. Self-checkout stations also reduce a business&#39; operating costs, because the self-checkout station ideally eliminates the need for an operator to operate the checkout station.  
         [0003]     In some conventional self-checkout stations, the customer typically handles all of the items to be purchased. As such, the customer personally performs barcode scanning and product code entry.  
         [0004]     In the world of retail self checkout, one of the key concerns is how does the retailer ensures that the items scanned and paid for by the customer are actually the items that are carried off by the customer. This problem is particularly difficult when many of the items in a store are similar in shape, size, weight, or “look and feel.” This problem is particularly relevant in retail establishments that sell or rent books, tapes, DVDs, CDs, videos, video game cartridges, and other items that are difficult to distinguish on the basis of shape, size, and weight.  
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a side-view of a conventional self-checkout station  50 , which includes a monitor and tender station  52 , a scanner  54 , and a weighing scale  56 . In operation, the customer  60  scans an item  62  with the scanner  54 . The item typically has an attached barcode, preferably a universal product code (UPC), that the scanner  54  reads. The barcode corresponds to a price, which appears on the monitor and tender station  52  for the user&#39;s  60  viewing. After scanning the item  62 , the user  60  immediately places the item  62  in a bag  64 , which lays on top of the weighing scale  56 .  
         [0006]     To verify if the item placed on the scale  56  is the same item  62  that was just scanned, the weighing scale  56  weighs the item just placed in the bag and compares the weight of the item placed in the bag  64  to an expected weight associated with the barcode of the scanned item  62 . If the weight values match, the item in the bag is assumed to be the item  62 . Once the item  62  is scanned, the customer  60  then pays for them using the monitor and tender station  52 . The problem with this conventional solution is that it does not work well for items having the same weight (e.g. books, videos, DVDs, CDs) but having substantially different prices.  
         [0007]     Another conventional solution uses a height detector to verify the dimensions of the item. The height detector uses an infrared sensor to measure the height of an item in any orientation, and this height is then compared to an expected height associated with the barcode of the scanned item  62 . The problem with this conventional solution is that it also does not work well for items having the same dimensions (e.g. books, videos, DVDs, CDs), but having substantially different prices.  
         [0008]     In another conventional solution, items after being scanned are routed on a conveyer to a receiving area where the items can be bagged. The additional security is provided by the fact that the item is actually on display as it moves down the conveyor. Also, there is a physical distance separating the two actions of scanning and bagging. This conventional solution is problematic for similar reasons as those described above where items are similar in shape, size, and weight.  
         [0009]     Another conventional solution uses a real time video camera to monitor transactions. The problem with this conventional solution is that it requires someone to be present and observe at all times, and is therefore costly since a staff person needs to be hired to monitor the transactions.  
         [0010]     Generally, there is not a good solution to this problem today in that the conventional solutions require the maintenance of a security database, which contains item UPCs cross-referenced with item-specific weights and dimensions. Also, conventional solutions also do not address problems associated with items having similar shape, size, and weight.  
         [0011]     Accordingly, what is needed is an improved and more secure self-checkout system. The system and method should be able to address problems associated with items having similar shape, size, and weight, and should be simple, cost effective, and capable of being easily adapted to existing technology. The present invention addresses such a need.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     A self-checkout system is disclosed. The self-checkout system includes a processor and a first device coupled to the processor, where the first device identifies an item. The self-checkout system also includes a first receptacle coupled to the first device. The first receptacle receives the item after being identified by the first device. The self-checkout system also includes a second device coupled to the first receptacle. The second device identifies the item after being received by the first receptacle, and the processor verifies if the item identified by the second device is the same item identified by the first device. As a result, the checkout process is reliable and secure. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a side-view of a conventional self-checkout station.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a side-view of a self-checkout system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing a method for processing items at a self-checkout station in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     The present invention relates to checkout stations, and more particularly to a system and method for providing a self-checkout station. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiment and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.  
         [0017]     A system and method in accordance with the present invention for processing one or more items at a self-checkout system are disclosed. A customer manually scans an item using a scanner and then inserts the item into a slot of a verification receptacle. A second scanner inside of the verification receptacle automatically scans the item to verify if it is the same item that was scanned by the customer. If so, the item is routed into a collection receptacle having a locked door, which is unlocked after the customer pays for the item. As a result, the self-checkout process is made more secure. To more particularly describe the features of the present invention, refer now to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a side-view of a self-checkout system  100  in accordance with the present invention. The self-checkout system  100  includes a monitor and tender station  102 , a processor  104 , a point of sale (POS) system  106 , scanners  110  and  112 , a verification receptacle  120 , and a collection receptacle  122 , which has a lockable lid  124 .  FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing a method for processing items at a self-checkout station in accordance with the present invention. Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  together, first, an item  130  is identified utilizing the scanner  110 , which is manually operated by a customer  140  at a first location, in a step  302 . The item  130  can be a CD, a book, a video, a DVD, etc., or any other item to be purchased. The self-checkout system  100  is coupled to the POS system  106  via an in-store network. The POS system  106  contains a database  108  that stores item descriptions and prices. Accordingly, when the scanner  110  scans the item  130 , the scanner  110  reads a barcode on the item  120 , preferably a UPC. The scanner  110  is a fixed scanner, or can alternatively be a hand held scanner.  
         [0019]     Once scanned, the appropriate item description, price, and running price total are displayed on the monitor and tender station  102  for the user&#39;s  140  viewing. The self-check system  100  can also provide audio feedback in addition to visual feedback to the customer  140 .  
         [0020]     Next, the item  130  is received into the verification receptacle  120  as the customer  140  inserts the item  130  into a slot  150  of the verification receptacle  120 , in a step  304 . The item  130  is placed onto a conveyor  152 , or alternatively a ramp. The conveyor  152  carries the item  130  to the scanner  112 . Next, the item  130  is identified by the scanner  112  at a second location (i.e. inside the verification receptacle), in a step  306 . The verification receptacle  120  is enclosed such that the item  130  is inaccessible to the customer  140  after the item  130  is inserted into the slot  150 . The second scan or “verification scan” is an automatic operation and is performed inside the verification receptacle  120  so that the customer  140  cannot interfere with the second scan. For additional verification, the scanner  112  can be used in combination with other conventional verification devices such as a weighing scale, height detector, etc.  
         [0021]     Next, in a step  308 , the processor  104  determines if the item identified at the second location is the same item  130  identified at the first location. If the item identified at the second location is the same item  130  identified at the first location, a security tag (e.g. electronic article surveillance tag) attached to the item  130  is deactivated, in a step  310 . In a specific embodiment, an electronic article surveillance deactivator  160  is used to deactivate the security tag.  
         [0022]     Although the present invention is described in the context of UPC scanners, one of ordinary skill in the art recognizes that other types of identification devices, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) readers, image recognition devices, etc., can be used to identify the item, and their use would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0023]     Next, the item  130  is received into the collection receptacle  122 , if the item identified at the second location is the same item  130  identified at the first location, in a step  312 . The customer  140  can then pay for the item  130 . The self-check system  100  accepts all payment types of tender (cash, credit, debit, check, etc.). Next, the lid  124  on the collection receptacle  122  is automatically unlocked after the customer  140  pays for the item  130 , in step  314 . The customer  140  can then open the lid  124 , retrieve the item, and leave the store. Once the customer  140  pays, the slot  150  is preferably blocked so that no further items can be deposited.  
         [0024]     Although the present invention is described in the context of the lid  130 , one of ordinary skill in the art recognizes that other types of doors can be used to secure and release the item, and their use would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0025]     If the item identified at the second location is not the same item  130  identified at the first location, the item  130  is returned to the customer  140 , in a step  316 . As such, the conveyor  152  is reversed to push the item  130  back up the slot  150 . Alternatively, a mechanical arm can push the item  130  back up the slot  150 . The customer  140  can then try scanning the item  130  again with the scanner  110 , in step  302 .  
         [0026]     According to the system and method disclosed herein, the present invention provides numerous benefits. For example, it provides secured transactions by ensuring that items taken out of a store by a customer are the same items scanned (i.e. paid for) by the customer. The self-checkout system is especially value in purchases involving items of similar shapes, sizes, and weights, such as books, videos, CDs, DVDs.  
         [0027]     A system and method for processing one or more items at a self-checkout system are disclosed. A customer manually scans an item using a scanner and then inserts the item into a slot of a verification receptacle. A second scanner inside of the verification receptacle automatically scans the item to verify if it is the same item that was scanned by the customer. If so, the item is routed into a collection receptacle having a locked door, which is unlocked after the customer pays for the item. As a result, the self-checkout process is made more secure.  
         [0028]     The present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that there could be variations to the embodiments, and that any variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention can be implemented using hardware, software, a computer readable medium containing program instructions, or a combination thereof. Software written according to the present invention is to be either stored in some form of computer-readable medium such as memory or CD-ROM, or is to be transmitted over a network, and is to be executed by a processor. Consequently, a computer-readable medium is intended to include a computer readable signal, which may be, for example, transmitted over a network. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.