Abstract:
A dynamic key terminal including a choice-driven interface which employs multi-pathing to guide a retail operator through a retail transaction. A display displays choices vertically on one side of the display to an operator. A first keypad, vertically oriented in the front surface of the housing adjacent the choices displayed by the display, is used by an operator for entering choices. A second keypad adjacent the first keypad is used by the operator to enter item information. The terminal may also have a card reader. A processor controls operation of the terminal and executes a graphic user interface including a plurality of overlays wherein each overlay is associated with a choice selected by the operator using the first keypad. A method for guiding an operator through a retail transaction is also disclosed, wherein each user choice causes the processor to display an overlay specific to the choice entered.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to retail terminals and more specifically to a dynamic key terminal including a choice-driven interface.  
           [0002]    Within the retail environment, operation of current terminals by employees is not intuitive. Employees must receive training and use the terminals for a predetermined amount of time in order to become proficient at operating the terminals. Inexperienced operators cause delays in the checking lines and are prone to making mistakes.  
           [0003]    Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an input terminal and an interface that are intuitive for inexperienced employees to operate and which reduces the likelihood of errors by employees.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a dynamic key terminal including a choice-driven interface is provided. A display displays choices vertically on one side of the display to an operator. A first keypad, vertically oriented in the front surface of the housing adjacent the choices displayed by the display, is used by an operator for entering choices. A second keypad adjacent the first keypad is used by the operator to enter item information. The terminal may also have a card reader. A processor controls operation of the terminal and executes a graphic user interface including a plurality of overlays wherein each overlay is associated with a choice selected by the operator using the first keypad.  
           [0005]    A method for guiding an operator through a retail transaction is also disclosed. The method employs multi-pathing as a tool to complete a transaction. Multi-pathing may be defined as providing a plurality of ways to accomplish the same function. The present invention employs the choice-driven actuators and the keypad to accomplish multi-pathing. For example, if the choice is to modify an item entry, the possible ways to modify an item entry may include various combinations of actuator and keypad entries.  
           [0006]    The method begins with the processor displaying a first overlay of the choice-driven interface, which contains a choice to enter information about an item to be purchased by a customer. The processor records the information entered by the operator. The processor displays the item information as part of the first overlay. The processor displays additional choices for modifying the item information as part of the first overlay. The processor displays a second overlay containing payment choices. Finally, the processor records the payment choice entered by the operator through a keypad adjacent the choices.  
           [0007]    Additional steps may include displaying a third overlay containing payment amount choices and total cost information by the processor, recording a payment amount choice entered by the operator through the keypad adjacent the choices, and displaying a fourth overlay containing a representation of change information, if the payment amount choice is more than the total cost, by the processor.  
           [0008]    The method also includes steps for displaying an overlay on a retail terminal, including the steps of establishing left and right portions of the overlay; providing operator choices within the right portion of the overlay; displaying the operator choices; establishing top, middle, and bottom areas within the left portion of the overlay; providing overlay title information within the top portion of the overlay; providing an item list within the middle portion of the overlay; providing payment information within the bottom portion of the overlay; and displaying the top, middle, and bottom portions.  
           [0009]    It is a feature of the present invention that the keys with the keypad associated with the choices displayed in the choice-driven interface change their functions as the overlays change.  
           [0010]    It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a dynamic key terminal including a choice-driven interface.  
           [0011]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a dynamic key terminal including a choice-driven interface which is intuitive to use and which guides an operator through a retail transaction with minimal supervisor intervention.  
           [0012]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a dynamic key terminal including a choice-driven interface which includes a plurality of overlays wherein each overlay includes choices that are recorded by an operator using a keypad adjacent the choices.  
           [0013]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a dynamic key terminal which includes a display for displaying a choice-driven interface, a plurality of choice buttons adjacent the display, and a keypad, all within a housing that has a small footprint on the checkout counter.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiments and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the dynamic key terminal of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is front view of the dynamic key terminal of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is front view of another embodiment of the dynamic key terminal of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a side view of the dynamic key terminal of the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a view of the display of the dynamic key terminal illustrating the functional sections of the choice-driven interface;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 6A and 6B form a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the choice-driven interface in connection with a retail transaction;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is a view of an overlay of the choice-driven interface;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 is a view of another overlay of the choice-driven interface;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 is a view of another overlay of the choice-driven interface;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 10 is a view of another overlay of the choice-driven interface;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 11 is a view of another overlay of the choice-driven interface;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 12 is a view of another overlay of the choice-driven interface;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 13 is a view of another overlay of the choice-driven interface;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 14 is a view of another overlay of the choice-driven interface;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 15 is a view of another overlay of the choice-driven interface;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 16 is a view of another overlay of the choice-driven interface;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 17 is a view of another overlay of the choice-driven interface;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 18 is a view of another overlay of the choice-driven interface; and  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 19 is a view of another overlay of the choice-driven interface.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0034]    Referring now to FIG. 1, system  10  includes dynamic key terminal  12  and terminal  14 . In a network environment, system  10  also includes server  16 .  
         [0035]    Terminal  12  includes liquid crystal display (LCD)  18 , choice-driven interface actuators  20 , and keypad  22 . In a first embodiment (FIG. 2), choice-driven interface actuators  20  are mechanical buttons  35 . In a second embodiment (FIG. 3), choice-driven interface actuators  20  are touch sensitive screen portions  37  within LCD  18 . Terminal  12  may also include other peripheral devices in the same housing such as magnetic stripe reader  24 .  
         [0036]    LCD  18  displays the choice-driven interface.  
         [0037]    Choice-driven interface actuators  20  enter user inputs corresponding to displayed interface choices. Actuators  20  record user choices in response to instructions and choice queries displayed by LCD  18 . The functions associated with actuators  20  change and are specific to each overlay generated by choice-driven interface application program  28 .  
         [0038]    Keypad  22  provides keys, numerical keys and other standard retail function keys. Keypad  22  may be used to implement any of the functional choices displayed by choice driven interface  28 , either alone or in combination with actuators  20 , thereby providing a plurality of ways to accomplish the same function. This concept, called multi-pathing, is employed throughout the present invention.  
         [0039]    MSR  24  reads magnetic stripes on credit and debit cards.  
         [0040]    Terminal  14  includes processor  26  which executes choice-driven interface application program  28 . Thus, terminal  12  cannot be operated without terminal  14  Processor  26  responds to user inputs from actuators  20 , keypad  22 , and MSR  24  by displaying instruction and choice query overlays generated by application program  28 .  
         [0041]    Choice-driven interface application program  28  provides a graphic interface for executing known terminal functions. Choice-driven interface application program  28  may be implemented to run in a Microsoft Disk Operating System (DOS) or Windows environment.  
         [0042]    Server  16  stores application program  28  and makes it available for loading by terminal  14 .  
         [0043]    Scanner  29  provides item information to processor  26 .  
         [0044]    Terminal  12  may also include ports for connecting additional peripherals, including signature capture device  23  and SMART card reader  25 .  
         [0045]    Turning now to FIGS.  2 - 4 , terminal  12  is shown in more detail. Terminal  12  includes housing  30  and housing support stand  32 .  
         [0046]    Housing  30  includes a display and input portion  36  and an MSR portion  38 . Display and input portion is generally rectangular in shape and includes LCD  18 , actuators  20 , and keypad  22 . MSR portion  38  is inclined slightly towards an operator and contains MSR  24  (FIG. 4).  
         [0047]    Use of LCD  18  allows housing  30  to be lightweight and slender. Components  18 - 24  are organized within housing  30  in accordance with recommendations from human factors research which provided the most ergonomic and user-friendly locations. Keypad  22  is rectangular in shape and is arranged vertically. MSR  24  is located horizontally in MSR portion  38 . LCD  18  is located on the side opposite keypad  22 . Actuators  20  are vertically arranged one over the other along one side  34  of LCD  18 .  
         [0048]    With reference to FIG. 2, mechanical choice buttons  35  are arranged vertically adjacent corresponding choices  44  displayed by LCD  18 .  
         [0049]    With reference to FIG. 3, touch screen actuators  37  overlap displayed choices  44 .  
         [0050]    Stand  32  supports terminal  12  above checkout counter, typically behind scanner within checkout counter and facing the operator. Stand  32  also provides a conduit for wiring between terminal  12  and terminal  14 , which is located within checkout counter. Terminal  12  may be rotated about stand  32  for operator comfort.  
         [0051]    Key lock  39  allows terminal  12  to be secured from unauthorized use.  
         [0052]    Power/standby switch  41  has three positions, “P” for “On”, “S” for “Standby”, and “O” for “Off”. The standby position places terminals  12  and  14  into a low-power mode.  
         [0053]    Turning now to FIGS.  5 - 19 , the choice-driven interface of the present invention is illustrated. With reference to FIG. 5, choice-driven interface application program  28  creates a graphic interface which divides LCD  18  into functional sections.  
         [0054]    Title and instruction section  50  in the upper left corner of LCD  18  displays the title of the overlay and any instructions.  
         [0055]    Prompt section  52  displays prompts for information.  
         [0056]    Echo section  54  is adjacent prompt section  52  and displays responses entered by an operator.  
         [0057]    List section  56  is in the lower left hand corner and is used to display lists of merchandise items entered through keypad  22  or scanner  29 .  
         [0058]    List caption section  58  contains information about the number of items displayed in list section  56 .  
         [0059]    Options section  59  occupies the entire right half of LCD  18  and displays user-driven interface choices  44 .  
         [0060]    Referring now to FIGS. 6A and 6B, a flow diagram illustrating a typical sequence of interface choices is shown beginning with START  60 . Each step follows the next and takes an operator through a specific sequence of overlays based upon the choice entered by the operator.  
         [0061]    In step  62  (FIG. 7), choice-driven interface application program  28  displays a list of user names and an “Enter ID” choice on the right. Scroll up and down choices are also displayed.  
         [0062]    In step  64 , choice-driven interface application program  28  accepts a proper name entered by the user from the list, a user identification number entered by the user, and checks the identification number, all after the user selects the “Enter ID” choice. Choice-driven interface application program  28  also records the time of day in order to keep an electronic record of the operator&#39;s working hours.  
         [0063]    In step  66  (FIG. 8), choice-driven interface application program  28  displays broadcast and other messages of interest to the operator.  
         [0064]    In step  68 , choice-driven interface application program  28  displays an item entry overlay (FIG. 9) and accepts item information, such as a price look-up number, entered through keypad  22  or scanner  29 .  
         [0065]    In step  70  (FIG. 10), choice-driven interface application program  28  displays the item information entered in step  68 . Choice-driven interface application program  28  offers choices along the right side to modify any item that has been entered. The choices include “Change Quantity”, “Item Repeat”, “Change Price”, “Item Void”, “Make Non-Discountable”, “Change Tax”, “Make Food-stampable”, and “Item Inquiry”. The item to be modified may be chosen by moving cursor keys on the keypad  22 .  
         [0066]    In step  71 , determines whether more items are to be entered. If so, the method loops back to step  68 . If not, the method proceeds to step  72 . FIG. 11 illustrates the items entry overlay of FIG. 10 after a second item has been entered.  
         [0067]    In step  72 , choice-driven interface application program  28  determines whether a modification choice has been entered by a user. If so, it displays additional overlays, based upon the modification choice of the user in step  73 . FIG. 12 illustrates the case in which a user selects the “Change Quantity” choice in FIG. 11 to change the number of blue jeans purchased. The “Change Quantity” choice produces further choices along the right side for likely numbers of blue jeans to be purchased, from 1 to 8. The number may also be entered manually using keypad  22 . Other modification choices are made in a similar way.  
         [0068]    The item modification process of step  72  illustrates the concept of multi-pathing, which is used throughout the choice-driven interface of the present invention. An operator function may be performed in a plurality of different ways, using actuators  20  and keypad  22 . For example, item modification may be performed by engaging a number key within keypad  22 , followed by the quantity actuator. Or, item modification may be performed by engaging the quantity actuator, followed by the number actuator. Or, item modification may be performed by engaging the quantity actuator, followed by the number key within keypad  22 , followed by the “Enter” key of keypad  22 . Finally, item modification may be performed by engaging the “Repeat” key a number of items equal to the number of items less one time.  
         [0069]    In step  74 , choice-driven interface application program  28  accepts the modification by the user and returns to step  70  in which choice-driven interface application program  28  displays the item as modified. Here the item entry overlay of FIG. 13 shows a new quantity of blue jeans.  
         [0070]    After an item is modified, the method returns to step  71 , in which more items may be entered. Alternatively, the method may proceed again to step  72  for further modifications. If there are no further modifications necessary, the method proceeds to step  75  for more item entries. If there are no further item entries or modifications, the method proceeds to the payment process, beginning with step  76 .  
         [0071]    In step  76 , choice-driven interface application program  28  displays predetermined payment options (FIG. 14). Here, the options include “Cash”, “Personal Checks”, “Credit Card”, “Smart Card”, “Food Stamp”, “Gift Certificate”, “Traveler&#39;s Check”, or other forms of payment.  
         [0072]    In step  78 , the method is simplified to reflect only the choices of “Cash” and “Credit Card”. Thus, the method determines whether the payment option is cash. If so, the method proceeds to step  80  (FIG. 15) in which choice-driven interface application program  28  displays predetermined payment options and accepts a choice entry by the operator based upon a choice by the customer. The payment choices for cash include exact change and additional combinations of paper currency that exceed the total price. The user may also manually enter the paid amount using keypad  22 .  
         [0073]    In step  82 , choice-driven interface application program  28  determines whether any choice other than the exact change choice has been entered by the employee. If so, choice-driven interface application program  28  displays the correct change in terms of paper currency and coins in step  84  (FIG. 16). Advantageously, choice-driven interface application program  28  reduces the chance of employee error in calculating change.  
         [0074]    Referring back to step  82 , if the exact change choice is entered by the employee, then the method terminates at END  86 .  
         [0075]    Referring back to step  78 , if the payment choice was credit card, then choice-driven interface application. program  28  displays an overlay (FIG. 17) for instructing an operator to enter an account number from the credit card in step  79 .  
         [0076]    In step  81 , choice-driven interface application. program  28  displays an overlay (FIG. 18) instructing the operator to verify a signature recorded by signature capture device  23 .  
         [0077]    In step  84 , choice-driven interface application. program  28  choice-driven interface application program  28  displays a cash drawer indicating that no change is due (FIG. 19), and then terminates at END  86 .  
         [0078]    Although the present invention has been described with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, variations and modifications of the present invention can be effected within the spirit and scope of the following claims.