Abstract:
A method of marking products purchased through a self-service checkout terminal includes scanning a product to be purchased into a computer and issuing a tamper resistant label from a printer at the self-service checkout terminal. The tamper resistant label includes a visual indicator including product data section, and a radio frequency identifier including product data portion. The method also includes adhesively bonding the tamper resistant label to the product scanned into the computer such that removal of the tamper resistant label from the product destroys the product data section of the visual indicator and the radio frequency identifier. Finally, the method includes scanning for each of the visual indicator and the radio frequency identifier after the product passes through the self-service checkout terminal to verify that the product was scanned into the computer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Field of the Invention 
   The present invention pertains to the art of retail sales check-out terminals and, more particularly, to a system for marking products passing through a self-service checkout terminal. 
   DESCRIPTION OF BACKGROUND 
   Conventionally, retail stores employ checkout terminals manned by a store employee, e.g., cashier. The store employee scans each item to be purchased by a customer. During checkout, often times the cashier will ask the customer if there are any large under-cart items that require scanning. If so, the cashier will typically use a hand-held scanner to scan the large item. Once all items are scanned, a total is calculated, the customer pays and carries the purchased items from the store. Recently, in order to reduce costs and checkout times, many retail stores have installed self-service checkout terminals. 
   A self-service checkout terminal allows a customer to scan and pay for items without the aid of a cashier. When large under-cart items are present, the customer employs the hand-held scanner to validate a purchase. In some cases, once hand scanning is complete, a “paid” label is printed, and the customer is prompted to affix the label to the large item. Often times, a customer will accidentally neglect to scan a large under-cart item and head towards a store exit. In order to mitigate product losses, many stores employ a security person that performs a visual scan to ensure that all under-the-carts items have a paid label. In some cases, a dishonest customer will simply neglect to scan an item and attempt to leave the store, or will swap a paid label from one item to another, generally more expensive item. In any case, it is difficult to monitor all carts and all customers exiting a store, particularly during high volume sales periods. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of a method of marking products purchased through a self-service checkout terminal. The method includes scanning a product to be purchased into a computer and issuing a tamper resistant label from a printer at the self-service checkout terminal. The tamper resistant label includes a visual indicator including product data section, and a radio frequency identifier programmed at the self-service checkout terminal with a product data portion. The method also includes adhesively bonding the tamper resistant label to the product scanned into the computer such that removal of the tamper resistant label from the product destroys the product data section of the visual indicator and the radio frequency identifier. Finally, the method includes scanning for each of the visual indicator and the radio frequency identifier after the product passes through the self-service checkout terminal to verify that the product was scanned into the computer. 
   Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention. For a better understanding of the invention with advantages and features, refer to the description and to the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one example of a self-service checkout terminal including an apparatus for dispensing tamper resistant monitoring labels in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a tamper resistant monitoring label in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and 
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating one example of a method of marking and monitoring products at a self-service checkout terminal in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
   

   The detailed description explains exemplary embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Turning now to the drawings in greater detail, it will be seen that in  FIG. 1  there is shown a self-service checkout terminal indicated generally at  2 . Checkout terminal  2  includes a product scanning portion  5  and a user interface portion  8 . Product scanning portion  5  includes a product scale  12 , a stationary scanner  14  having a vertical scanning surface  16  and a horizontal scanning surface  18 , and a hand-held scanner  22 . Stationary scanner  14  and hand-held scanner  22  scan or read product identification codes, such as Universal Product Code (UPC), industrial symbol(s), alphanumeric character(s) or other indicia associated with items to be purchased. In addition, product scanning portion  5  includes a radio frequency detector  27  that is employed to scan radio frequency identification (RFID) tags as will become more fully evident below. Scanner portion  5  is further shown to include a housing  30  having first and second counter surfaces  32  and  33 , and a holder  34  that serves as a housing for hand-held scanner  22 . 
   User interface portion  8  includes a housing  44  having a card reader  47 , a bill acceptor/validator  48 , a display monitor  50 , a keypad  53 , a receipt printer  55  for printing receipts, and a change well  58  for selectively returning change to customers upon completion of a purchase transaction. User interface  8  further includes a computer  61  including a database  62  having stored therein product information. A bag well  66  is interposed between scanner portion  5  and user interface portion  8 . Self-service checkout terminal  2  is also shown to include a status light  70  that signals customers that terminal  2  is open or store personnel that help is required. Finally, user interface portion  8  is shown to include a printer  73  that selectively outputs tamper resistant monitoring labels or tags as will be discussed more fully below. 
   During a transaction, a customer approaches self-service checkout terminal  2  with a shopping cart, such as indicated at  78 , full of various items/products indicated generally at  80 . In addition to items  80 , often times a customer will purchase a large or bulk item, such as shown at  83 , that is stored underneath cart  78 . During the transaction, the customer scans each of items  80  through stationary scanner  14 . The scan queries computer  61  for product information associated with the scanned product stored in database  62 . The product information is then stored in computer  61  as part of a list of purchased products associated with the instant transaction. The product information is also sent to display monitor  50 , which displays the price so that it may be seen by the customer. In addition, the price and product information are sent to receipt printer  55  where a cash receipt containing a list of all products purchased, their associated prices together with a total is printed upon completion of the transaction. The receipt also usually contains an identification of the store, date of purchase, a record of the cash offered by the customer, change due, credits due, and any applicable taxes. In any event, once payment is received, and the receipt validating the purchase is printed, the customer exits the store with their purchases. 
   If the customer has purchased a large or bulk item, scanning is performed via hand-held scanner  22 . Oftentimes however, a customer will either accidentally, or intentionally neglect to scan a large under-cart item and attempt to leave the store without paying. In order to minimize product losses, many stores position store employees to monitor a group of self-service checkout terminals. The store employees offer help with the scanning process while at the same time keeping a weather eye for under-cart items that may not have been scanned to ensure that each product is purchased. Oftentimes, the customer is provided with a label to mark the bulk item. The label aids the store employee in differentiating between items that have been scanned and purchased and those items that have not been scanned. Unfortunately, during high volume sales periods store employees may be busy assisting customers with their purchases. During these times, an unscrupulous customer may try to take advantage of the employee&#39;s low level of vigilance and attempt to sneak a product from the store. In other cases, the unscrupulous customer will remove a label from a scanned item to place on an oftentimes more expensive not scanned item. In order to address this concern the present invention provides a tamper resistant monitoring label  90  such as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   Label  90  includes a first or outer surface  93  and a second or adhesive surface  95  including a semi-permanent adhesive  98 . Label  90  also includes a plurality of score lines  104  through  110  that are designed to tear if a customer attempts to remove label  90  from a scanned product. In addition, label  90  is provided with a striking visual indicator such as a fluorescent color, or reflective surface to draw the attention of store employees or security personnel. The visual indicator also includes a product data section  119  including product data such as product name, product price, and date of purchase. Finally, label  90  is provided with a radio frequency identification device  123  having an antenna  124  that extends across label  90 . Radio frequency identification device  123 , also includes a product data portion  125  programmed with product data, e.g., product name product price and purchase date, at self-service checkout terminal  2  when a product is scanned by hand-held scanner  22 . In this manner, store personnel are not only provided with a visual indicator to ensure that large or under-cart items have been scanned into computer  61  and purchased, but also with a radio frequency identifier that can be scanned by, for example radio frequency detector  27  to aid in minimizing product losses as will be discussed more fully below. 
   In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, upon approaching self-service checkout terminal  2 , a customer scans bar codes affixed to each item  80  in shopping car  78 . The bar codes contain product information that is entered into computer  61 —to be stored in a transaction database as indicated in block  136  in  FIG. 3 . If under-cart items are present, the customer uses hand-held scanner  22  to scan the corresponding bar code as indicated in block  138 . Once the under-cart or large item is scanned, computer  61  initiates printing product data section  119  on label  90  as indicated in block  142 . Computer  61  also programs product data portion  125  of radio frequency identifier device  123  as indicated at block  144 . Once product section  119  is printed, and radio frequency identification device  123  is programmed, printer  73  dispenses tamper resistant label  90  as indicated in block  146 . At this point, a visual and/or audible prompt is presented requesting that the customer affix tamper resistant label  90  to the scanned under-cart or large item as indicated in block  148 . Once the transaction is complete, and the consumer exits, store personnel visually and electronically monitor each time bearing a tamper resistant product monitoring label  90 . Any attempts to remove label  90  from a scanned product will destroy product data section and antenna  124  and by extension, product data portion  125 . 
   In accordance with another aspect of the invention, in the event that a particular item already includes a radio frequency identifying tag RFID tag, such as indicated at  200 , after scanning an under-cart item into database  62  in block  138 , computer  61  reprograms radio frequency identifying tag  200  as indicated in block  160  as an added measure of security. More specifically, oftentimes certain products are provided with a radio frequency identifier or tag for inventory control purposes. The exemplary embodiment reprograms the existing inventory control radio frequency identifier to indicate that the associated item has been scanned into database  62 . In this manner, in the event that a customer fails to scan a product having an existing radio frequency identifier, radio frequency monitoring device  27  is employed to scan for signals from both label  90  and RFID tag  200  to further ensure that each item has been scanned into database  62  and purchased by the customer. 
   At this point, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides for a simple, cost-effective method of inventory control to ensure bulk products are properly, permanently and conspicuously marked as being purchased through a self-service check-out terminal. In this manner, store personnel are provided with multiple opportunities, both active, i.e., visual scanning of carts and passive, i.e., electronic scanning, to scan for marked products, to ensure that every item, particularly large under-cart items, exiting the store has been purchased by the customer. 
   The flow diagrams depicted herein are just examples. There may be many variations to these diagrams or the steps (or operations) described therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the steps may be performed in a differing order, or steps may be added, deleted or modified. All of these variations are considered a part of the claimed invention. 
   While the preferred embodiment to the invention has been described, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in the future, may make various improvements and enhancements which fall within the scope of the claims which follow. These claims should be construed to maintain the proper protection for the invention first described.