Abstract:
Methods and systems are provided for tracking unpackaged merchandise for purchase in a retail environment. Merchandise is placed into bags having unique watermarks. Selected merchandise is associated with a particular bag after being identified by a merchandise identification device. Watermark scanners are used to identify the bags. The system allows for more efficient and accurate tracking of merchandise, such as produce, in a retail environment, such as a grocery store.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 62/232,991, filed Sep. 25, 2015, herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to systems and methods of tracking unpackaged merchandise in a retail environment. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In modern retail environments for the sale of groceries, most products are available in pre-packaged form, making it easy to identify each item and charge an appropriate price based on a barcode. However, for unpackaged merchandise, such as produce, there are typically additional steps that are necessary to ensure that the proper items are identified and that the customer is paying an appropriate price. 
         [0004]    There are four general methods by which produce and other unpackaged goods are tracked in a retail environment. The first is by individual barcoded stickers placed on each item and read with a checkout scanner. The second is by weighing and identifying produce in the produce section, printing and placing a barcode label on a bag containing the produce, and reading the barcode with a checkout scanner. A third method is manual entry of the identity of the produce at checkout. Finally, a fourth method utilizes a visual scanning system to identify the produce or narrow the choices at checkout. 
         [0005]    These current methods of tracking unpackaged merchandise are problematic in that they are error prone and/or cumbersome. A more convenient and secure means for tracking unpackaged merchandise in a retail environment is needed. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide a method of tracking unpackaged merchandise, such as produce, from the retail environment to a point of sale in a way that is less cumbersome and less error-prone. 
         [0007]    The Applicant has found that by utilizing bags marked with watermarks in combination with a merchandise identification device, such as a camera employing machine vision, merchandise can be tracked without examining each individual piece of merchandise at the point of sale. By identifying the individual piece of merchandise being placed into a watermarked bag, errors are reduced and the process is made more efficient at the time of check out for both the customer and the checkout clerk. 
         [0008]    Multiple different types of merchandise can be placed in a single watermarked bag. The merchandise identification device tracks which pieces of merchandise are placed in a bag and the bag is scanned to associate the merchandise with that particular bag. Then, at checkout, the bag is quickly scanned and the contents of the bag are quickly identified. This eliminates the need for individual barcodes to be placed on each unit of merchandise or for a checkout clerk to spend time trying to identify different types of produce and entering a code for each type. The process of selecting merchandise for purchase, tracking the merchandise, and purchasing the merchandise is streamlined, reducing the risk of error and the overall amount of time required for each transaction. 
         [0009]    Ultimately, the present invention relates to a system for tracking bagged merchandise for purchase having the features recited in claim  1 . In particular, the system of the invention comprises a merchandise selection station and a point of sale station in communication with one another through a server. The merchandise selection station includes units of unpackaged merchandise in a retail environment. Bags are available to hold the units of unpackaged merchandise. Each bag is printed with a unique watermark. A merchandise identification device surveys the retail area and identifies the units of unpackaged merchandise. A first watermark scanner identifies the bags. A first computer associates each of the bags with the units of unpackaged merchandise held inside. The point of sale station utilizes a second watermark scanner to identify each of the bags. Finally, a second computer identifies the units of unpackaged merchandise associated with each scanned bag. 
         [0010]    The invention may also include a computerized method for tracking produce for sale having the features recited in claim  9 . The method begins by identifying pieces of produce selected by a user at a produce storage area by a merchandise identification device. A watermarked bag is identified with a first watermark scanner located near the produce storage area. The pieces of produce selected by the user are associated with the watermarked bag that has been scanned and the pieces of produce are associated with the bag. A second watermark scanner located at the point of sale receives information identifying the watermarked bag. Information is retrieved that associates the watermarked bag with the pieces of produce. This information is utilized to calculate a sale price for the pieces of produce. 
         [0011]    In another exemplary system for tracking produce in a retail environment, the system includes the features recited in claim  17 . The system includes bags printed with unique watermarked codes, a machine vision tracking camera for identifying units of produce being placed into the bags, and a first watermark scanner located proximate to the machine vision tracking camera and the bags for scanning and identifying the unique watermarked codes of the bags containing the units of produce. A first computing device receives produce identifying information from the machine vision tracking camera, receives bag identifying information from the first watermark scanner, and associates the produce identifying information with the bag identifying information based on the units of produce placed into the bags. A second watermark scanner located proximate to the point of sale scans and identifies the unique watermarked codes of the bags containing the units of produce. A second computing device receives the bag identifying information from the second watermark scanner, receives identifying information from the first computing device, and submits the produce identifying information associated with the bag identifying information to a point of sale device. The point of sale device then calculates an amount due. 
         [0012]    Another computerized method of tracking unpackaged merchandise in accordance with the invention includes the steps recited in claim  21 . A server receives merchandise identifying information from merchandise identification devices monitoring a merchandise selection area. The server then receives bag identifying information from a first watermark scanner in the merchandise area. The merchandise identifying information is associated with the bag identifying information at the server. Bag identifying information is then received from a second watermark scanner at a checkout area. This bag identifying information is the same as the identifying information received from the first watermark scanner. Finally, the merchandise identifying information associated with the bag identifying information is sent to a point of sale machine at the checkout area. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    More features and benefits of the device of the present invention will become more evident from the following detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments thereof, by way of illustrative and non-limiting examples with reference to the attached drawings. In said drawings: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a customer at a merchandise selection station according to the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a customer at a point of sale station according to the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an exemplary system for tracking bagged merchandise, according to the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an exemplary retail environment including unpackaged merchandise, a watermark scanner, and a merchandise identification device connected to a server, according to the present invention; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a point of sale environment including bagged merchandise, a watermark scanner, and a point of sale, according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Turning to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary merchandise selection station  10  is shown. A merchandise display area  12  holds one or more units of unpackaged merchandise  14 . The merchandise display area may be a shelf, a counter, a rack, a bin, a crate, and the like. The unpackaged merchandise may be produce such as oranges, apples, pears, and the like. Alternatively, the unpackaged merchandise may be vegetables, nuts, dried fruit, oats, or other unpackaged, unlabeled merchandise. 
         [0020]    The merchandise display area  12  may include a bag storage apparatus  16  which holds one or more bags  18 . The bags  18  are preferably made of clear plastic so that the contents of the bag are visible. The bags may alternatively be made of paper, opaque plastic, or other similar material. Each bag includes a watermark  20 . The watermark  20  is a marking that is capable of being read by a watermark scanner. A watermark is an identifying image or pattern comprised of various shades of lightness and darkness when viewed with transmitted light. Each bag has its own unique watermark code such that each individual bag may be identified by the unique identifying code. For example, the unique watermark code may be a barcode. Other configurations of markings are possible. A first watermark scanner  22  scans the watermarks  20  on the bags  18  to identify each individual bag. 
         [0021]    A merchandise identification device  24  identifies units of unpackaged merchandise  14  that are placed into the bags  18  by a customer. The merchandise identification device  24  may be a camera system, a produce identification scanner, a barcode scanner, or the like. A camera system may utilize machine vision to automatically identify the unpackaged merchandise  14 . Machine vision may use two-dimensional (2-D) cameras, three-dimensional (3-D) cameras, infrared cameras, x-ray detection, and the like to acquire an image of the merchandise. Machine vision uses image capture and analysis to perform automated tasks such as inspection and counting. A combination of a video camera, analog-to-digital conversion, and digital signal processing may be employed to send data to a computing device, such as a server. A produce identification scanner identifies produce by appearance. The merchandise identification device may be a barcode scanner, but each unit of unpackaged merchandise must then include a barcode. 
         [0022]    The merchandise identification device  24  and the watermark scanner  22  communicate with a server (not shown) to identify units of unpackaged merchandise that are placed into each scanned, watermarked bag  18  by a customer. This process is shown in the diagram  40  of  FIG. 3 . One or more units of unpackaged merchandise  14  are placed into a bag  18 . The bag  18  is scanned by the first watermark scanner  22  to identify the unique watermark  20  (not shown) on the bag  18 . The merchandise identification device  24  identifies the one or more units of unpackaged merchandise  14  that have been selected and placed into the bag  18 . This identifying information describes a number and types of unpackaged merchandise  14  selected by the customer. There may be multiple types of unpackaged merchandise  14  held within the same bag. The unpackaged merchandise  14  may comprise unpackaged merchandise of a first type, unpackaged merchandise of a second type, or both. For instance, one bag may hold one orange, one apple, and one pear. The merchandise identification device  24  sends the identifying information for the units of unpackaged merchandise  14  to a first computer  26 . The first watermark scanner  22  sends the identifying information for the watermarked bag  18  to the first computer  26 . The first computer  26  associates the units of unpackaged merchandise  14  with the watermarked bag  18 , creating a data record  42 . 
         [0023]    Returning to  FIG. 2 , an exemplary point of sale station  30  is illustrated. A second watermark scanner  32  is located at the point of sale station  30 . The second watermark scanner  32  scans and identifies the bag  18  by its watermark  20 . The point of sale station  30  also includes a point of sale device  34 , such as a computerized cash register. When a customer or cashier scans a bag  18 , the unique watermark  20  on the bag  18  is identified. The second watermark scanner  32  communicates with a server (not shown) to identify the units of unpackaged merchandise  14  that are contained within the bag  18 . Using the above example, once the bag is scanned, the computer identifies the contents of the bag as being one orange, one apple, and one pear. This information is sent to the point of sale device  34  in order to determine the price that a customer is to pay for the unpackaged merchandise  14 . The customer would then be charged the price of one orange, one apple, and one pear in this example. 
         [0024]    This process is illustrated in the diagram  40  of  FIG. 3 . The one or more units of unpackaged merchandise  14  in a bag  18  are scanned by the second watermark scanner  32 . This information is communicated to a second computer  36 . The second computer  36  receives the data record  42  from the first computer  26 , which associates information about units of merchandise  14  with a particular bag&#39;s  18  identifying information. The second computer  36  receives the scanned watermark information from the second watermark scanner  32  and determines which units of unpackaged merchandise  14  are associated with the scanned bag  18 . This information is communicated to the point of sale device  34  where it is used to calculate an amount due. 
         [0025]    An alternative embodiment of the claimed invention is shown in  FIG. 4 . An exemplary retail environment  50  is depicted having multiple produce bins  52 . Each produce bin  52  may contain a different type of produce. For example, one produce bin  52  may contain produce of a first type, such as apples while another produce bin  52  contains produce of a second type  52 , like oranges, and a third produce bin  52  may contain produce of a third type, such as pears. Bag holders  60  may be placed at various locations throughout the retail environment  50 , such as at particular produce bins  52 . The bag holders  60  hold a plurality of bags  62  having watermarks  64  printed thereon. The bags  62  may be made of plastic and are stored in rolls on the bag holders  60 . Before selecting pieces of produce to purchase, a customer obtains a bag  62  from a bag holder  60 . The customer may then place one or more pieces of produce  54 ,  56 ,  58  into the bag  62 . 
         [0026]    The one of more pieces of produce may comprise at least two pieces of produce, wherein the two pieces of produce are of different types. For example, a customer may place one piece of produce of a first type  54 , one piece of produce of a second type  56 , and one piece of produce of a third type  58  into a single bag  62 . For example, a customer may choose one apple, one orange, and one pear to put into a bag  62 . 
         [0027]    One or more machine vision tracking cameras  68  monitor the retail environment  50 . The machine vision tracking cameras  68  detect which pieces of produce are being selected and placed into a bag  62  by a customer. In the example of  FIG. 4 , the machine vision tracking cameras  68  recognize that the man has placed an apple  54 , an orange  56 , and a pear  58  into a bag  62 . In alternate examples, two bananas, a bell pepper, and three carrots could be put into the bag and the machine vision tracking cameras would recognize the type and quantity of all of the items in the bag. This identifying information is sent to a server  70 . 
         [0028]    Once the customer has filled one or more bags  62  with produce, the customer scans the bag(s)  62  at a first watermark scanner  66 . The identifying information for the watermark  64  on the bag  62  is sent from the first watermark scanner  66  to the server  70 . The server  70  associates the produce identifying information received from the machine vision tracking cameras  68  with the bag identifying information from the watermark scanner  66 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary point of sale area  80  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Here, the bag  62  from  FIG. 4  containing an apple  54 , an orange  56 , and a pear  58  is being scanned at a second watermark scanner  82 . The second watermark scanner  82  reads the watermark  64  on the bag  62  to identify the bag  62 . This information is sent to the server  70 . The server  70  receives the identifying information for the bag  62  and retrieves the associated information identifying the contents of the bag  62 , which includes the three types of produce  54 ,  56 ,  58 . The identifying information specifies a quantity and types of produce contained in the watermarked bag. The information identifying the produce is submitted to a point of sale device  84  at the point of sale area  80 . The point of sale device  84  may be operated by a cashier or may be operated by a customer in a self-service fashion. The point of sale device  84  utilizes the information identifying the contents of the bag  62  to calculate an amount that a customer must pay for the produce. 
         [0030]    Naturally, a person skilled in the art could make additional changes and variations to the invention described above in order to satisfy specific and contingent application requirements, variations and modifications that nonetheless fall within the scope of protection as defined by the subsequent claims.