Patent Publication Number: US-7913912-B2

Title: On-demand point-of-sale scanner access

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to point-of-sale scanner devices, and more particularly, to use of such devices for automatically associating and disassociating a scanner device with a shopper in an on-demand manner. 
     A so-called “shopping buddy” application allow shoppers to roam about a retail store or other environment with an information-transmitting device, gathering various types of information. 
     In one approach, a shopper goes to an in-store kiosk where a number of scanners are available. The shopper provides identifying information through the kiosk, and the shopping buddy application then assigns one of the available scanners to the shopper. Typically, a light flashes to indicate to the shopper which of the scanners he/she is to use. When a large number of scanners are available, it may be time-consuming and/or cumbersome for the shopper to locate the assigned scanner. 
     In another approach, a tablet-sized computing device is mounted on a shopping cart. The computing device may be equipped with a barcode scanner. The shopper provides identifying information to the computing device, and can then use the scanner to read barcodes on items as they are placed into the shopping cart. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the present invention provides techniques for automatically associating a scanner device with a user, comprising: capturing, by a scanner device configured with a biometric sensor, biometric information of a user; and scanning, by the scanner device, item-identifying information of an item (such as the item&#39;s barcode), such that the captured biometric information and the scanned item-identifying information can be transmitted to a computing device adapted for comparing the captured biometric information to previously-stored biometric information to identify the user and thereby automatically associating the scanner device (and as a result, the scanned item) with the identified user. For subsequent scans, one manner of automatically associating the subsequently-scanned items with the user is to transmit an authentication token to the computing device, instead of biometric information, where this authentication token preferably remains valid until the scanner device is no longer associated with the user. 
     In another aspect, the present invention provides techniques for automatically associating a scanner device with a user, comprising: capturing, by a scanner device, loyalty card information by scanning a loyalty card of a user, such that the captured loyalty card information can be transmitted to a computing device adapted for comparing the captured loyalty card information to previously-stored loyalty card information to identify the user and thereby automatically associating the scanner device (and as a result, items to be scanned with the scanner) with the identified user; and automatically disassociating the scanner device from the user when the user no longer maintains physical contact with the scanner device. Optionally, the scanned loyalty card information may be transmitted along with item-identifying information of a scanned item. One manner of automatically associating the scanned items with the user is to transmit an authentication token to the computing device, rather than repeatedly scanning and/or transmitting the loyalty card information. 
     In yet another aspect, the present invention provides techniques for automatically disassociating a scanner device from a user, comprising: automatically associating a scanner device with a particular user upon matching identifying information of the particular user, captured by the scanner device, with previously-stored identifying information of a plurality of users; adding items scanned by the scanner device to a shopping cart of the particular user while the scanner device remains associated with the particular user; detecting, by a sensor of the scanner device, that the particular user is no longer in physical contact with the scanner device; and automatically disassociating the scanner device from the particular user, responsive to the detection. If an authentication token is used while the scanner device remains associated with the user, the disassociation preferably comprises invalidating the authentication token. 
     In a further aspect, the present invention provides a scanner device adapted for automatic association with a user, the scanner device comprising: a biometric sensor for obtaining biometric information of a user; an item scanner portion for scanning item-identifying information of an item; and a transmitter adapted for transmitting the obtained biometric information to a computing device for comparing the transmitted biometric information to previously-stored biometric information to identify the user and thereby automatically associate the scanner device with the user and for transmitting the item-identifying information to the computing device. 
     In a still further aspect, the present invention provides techniques for associating a scanner device with a user, comprising: receiving, from a scanner device, biometric information of a user and item-identifying information of an item, the biometric information captured with a biometric sensor of the scanner device and the item-identifying information captured with an item scanning portion of the scanner device; comparing the received biometric information to previously-stored biometric information and thereby identify the user; automatically associating the scanner device with the identified user; and adding the item to a shopping list of the user. 
     The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizations, and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, inventive features, and advantages of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims, will become apparent in the non-limiting detailed description set forth below. 
     The present invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which like reference numbers denote the same element throughout. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment leveraging biometrics for shopper identification; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a representative scanner device which may be used with one or more embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment leveraging shopper loyalty cards for shopper identification; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates automatic disassociation of a scanner device from a shopper; 
         FIG. 5  depicts a data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing program code; and 
         FIG. 6  depicts a representative networking environment in which one or more embodiments of the present invention may be used. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention enable quickly associating and/or disassociating a mobile point-of-sale scanner device with a particular shopper, thus enabling items scanned with the scanner device to be added to a list (or other data structure) associated with the shopper, such as the shopper&#39;s shopping cart or shopping list. Alternatives for identifying the shopper to the scanner include biometrics and scanning the shopper&#39;s loyalty card. 
     In existing shopping buddy applications, shoppers explicitly identify themselves to the application, thereby providing a distinct association of a device (such as a kiosk-mounted scanner or a cart-mounted computing device) with the shopper. When the shopper is finished shopping, the shopper explicitly disassociates from the device. The shopper may be required to interact with a clerk to check out or otherwise complete the shopping experience. “Quick trip” shoppers may therefore be dissuaded from using these devices. 
     Using teachings disclosed herein, on-demand association and disassociation between a shopper and mobile point-of-sale scanner device is provided. This allows a shopper to use a shopping buddy application by walking into a store, picking up a scanner, scanning some items, and setting the scanner down when finished. As items are scanned, an identification thereof is preferably transmitted, using wireless transmission, to a server and placed in the shopper&#39;s virtual shopping cart or on the shopper&#39;s shopping list. When the shopper has finished scanning one or more items, he or she may then check out, ideally without requiring assistance of a clerk. 
     The on-demand techniques disclosed herein automatically associate the shopper with the scanner, and/or automatically disassociate the shopper from the device. Preferred embodiments thus reduce the number of steps in the shopping experience as well as the length of time required for shopping. 
     In one embodiment, biometric technology such as a fingerprint scan is used for identifying the shopper and thereby associating the shopper with items scanned by that shopper. Referring now to  FIG. 1 , this embodiment will be described in more detail. 
     When the shopper makes contact with the biometric scanner (Block  100 ), which is referred to herein as a fingerprint scanner, the shopper&#39;s fingerprint is scanned (Block  110 ) and the scanner device preferably turns on its laser (Block  120 ) for barcode scanning. When the scanner encounters a barcode (Block  130 ), the barcode and the scanned biometric information are preferably transmitted (Block  140 ) to a server or other device (referred to herein as a server for ease of reference), where the transmitted information is compared to previously-stored information (Block  150 ). The previously-stored information may be specific to a merchant in whose establishment the shopper is shopping. As another alternative, a repository shared by multiple merchants (or other entities) may be consulted. Upon matching the transmitted biometric information to an entry in the previously-stored information, the shopper to whom the biometric information corresponds is thereby identified (Block  160 ) and associated with the scanner at which the biometric information was scanned. The scanned item corresponding to the barcode is then added to a virtual shopping cart or shopping list for that shopper (Block  170 ). 
     The contact in Block  100  may occur when the shopper activates a trigger or button of the scanner. (See, e.g., trigger  230  in  FIG. 2 , discussed below.) In another approach, the contact in Block  100  may occur when the shopper initially picks up the scanner. In either approach, following the processing of Block  160 , the scanner preferably continues to be associated with this particular shopper until a disassociation occurs. (Disassociation is discussed in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 4 .) Accordingly, the processing of Blocks  130 ,  140 , and  170  is preferably repeated for subsequently-scanned items. Notably, once the shopper has been initially identified, the scanner and server may negotiate means for subsequently identifying the shopper, such that the shopper&#39;s biometric information does need to be repeatedly scanned and/or transmitted. In some embodiments, this comprises generating an authentication token at the server, passing this token back to the scanner, and then transmitting the authentication token from the scanner in subsequent iterations of Block  140 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a representative scanner device  200  that may be used with one or more embodiments of the present invention is shown. The scanner device  200  includes an item scanning portion  210 , which may use laser technology for reading the barcode of items. A handle portion  260  of the scanner device, with which the shopper holds the device, preferably includes a trigger portion  230  and a biometric scanning portion  220 . The biometric scanning portion may comprise a subset of the trigger portion, as illustrated. Alternatively, the entire trigger portion or an entirely separate portion of the device may be adapted for biometric scanning. A sensor portion  250 , used in preferred embodiments for automatically disassociating a scanner device from a shopper (as will be discussed in more detail with reference to  FIG. 4 ), is preferably placed at one or more locations within the handle portion  260  such that the sensor is triggered when the shopper sets the scanner device down or returns it to a docking station. 
     A scanner device may include buttons for shopping functions such as enabling the shopper to do price checks without purchasing the scanned item, removing previously-scanned items from the shopping cart or list, and so forth. Such buttons have not been illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, shopper loyalty cards are leveraged for shopper identification and thereby associating the shopper with items subsequently scanned by that shopper. This embodiment will now be described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
     A shopper&#39;s loyalty card is scanned (Block  300 ). The scanned loyalty card information is transmitted to a server or other device (Block  310 ). The transmitted loyalty card information is compared to previously-stored information (Block  320 ). Upon matching the scanned loyalty card information to an entry in the previously-stored information, the shopper to whom the loyalty card corresponds is thereby identified (Block  330 ) and associated with the scanner at which the loyalty card was scanned. While the shopper holds (or otherwise maintains physical contact with) the scanner, any item scan that takes place (Block  340 ) is preferably transmitted (Block  350 ) to a server or other device along with the scanned loyalty card information. The scanned item is added to a virtual shopping cart or shopping list for that shopper (Block  360 ). 
     Once the association depicted in Block  330  occurs, the scanner preferably continues to be associated with this particular shopper until a disassociation occurs. Accordingly, the processing of Blocks  340 - 360  is preferably repeated for subsequently-scanned items. As discussed above, once the shopper has been initially identified, the scanner and server may negotiate means for subsequently identifying the shopper, such as generating an authentication token at the server, passing this token back to the scanner, and then transmitting the authentication token from the scanner (i.e., in subsequent iterations of Block  350 ). As an alternative to the logic flow shown in  FIG. 3 , the transmission in Block  310  may be delayed until the shopper has scanned a first item. It will be obvious to one of skill in the art, once the teachings disclosed herein are known, how the processing depicted in  FIG. 3  may be modified for this alternative. 
     Automatic disassociation with a particular shopper will now be discussed with reference to  FIG. 4 . A sensor, such as a light-triggered sensor, is preferably located on the scanner device such that the sensor is activated when the shopper is no longer in physical contact with the device. Typically, this occurs when the shopper sets down the device. For example, the sensor is preferably located such that, while the shopper holds the scanner device, the shopper&#39;s hand covers the sensor and thereby prevents it from being activated. (Refer to the discussion of sensor portion  250  of  FIG. 2 , above.) Once the shopper is no longer in full contact with the device, as indicated by the sensor activation (Block  400 ), preferred embodiments begin an automatic disassociation wherein a disassociation timer is used to filter out accidental sensor activation. Or, alternatively, the disassociation may be triggered immediately upon the device being put down. Accordingly, Block  410  tests to see if a disassociation timer is being used. The test in Block  410  has a negative result when the disassociation is to be triggered immediately. Optionally, embodiments of the present invention may enable the shopper to override use of a timer, for example by pressing a button on the scanner that is configured for immediate disassociation. The test in Block  410  also has a negative result when the shopper uses this timer override. Following a negative result at Block  410 , control transfers to Block  460 , discussed below. 
     When the test at Block  410  has a positive result (i.e., a disassociation timer is being used), Block  420  starts the timer. The timer length may be determined in various ways without deviating from the scope of the present invention. As one example, a shopper-specific timeout value may be obtained from a shopper profile when the shopper is identified. (The shopper&#39;s profile may provide other information, such as specifying that this shopper prefers to use the override button approach discussed above with reference to Block  410 , rather than a timer. The test in Block  410  may therefore use information from the shopper&#39;s profile.) As another example, a merchant-specific value may be obtained (e.g., during the processing of  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 3  when accessing shopper information from the merchant&#39;s server or other repository). As yet another example, a timeout value (or overridable default value) may be configured in the scanner device by its manufacturer. 
     Block  430  tests to see if an interrupt occurs while the timer is ticking, indicating that the shopper is continuing to use the scanner device. For example, the barcode of another item (and an authentication token or perhaps the shopper&#39;s fingerprint, in a biometric embodiment) may be transmitted. When the test in Block  430  has a positive result, the association with the shopper is maintained (Block  440 ), thereby ending the disassociation processing before it completes. In this manner, an accidental sensor activation (e.g., whereby the scanner device slips from the shopper&#39;s hand) can be programmatically ignored. Control then exits from  FIG. 4 . 
     When the test in Block  430  has a negative result, on the other hand, control reaches Block  450  which tests to see if the timer has expired. If not, control returns to Block  430  and the timer continues ticking. (As will be obvious, the looping depicted for Blocks  430  and  450  is intended to illustrate use of events with the timer in a general sense.) If the test in Block  450  determines that the timer has expired, then the scanner device is disassociated from the shopper (Block  460 ). The processing of  FIG. 4  then exits. 
     Techniques disclosed herein may be used with a wide variety of items and in a wide variety of establishments. The “shopper” referred to herein may be more generally referred to as a “user”. Biometric information other than fingerprint scans may be captured by the scanner and used for identifying the shopper without deviating from the inventive techniques disclosed herein. Furthermore, while preferred embodiments have been described with reference to use of scanner devices such as the one illustrated in  FIG. 2 , this is by way of illustration and not of limitation: other types of mobile device may be used without deviating from the scope of the present invention. And while embodiments have been described herein with reference to scanning barcodes, this is by way of illustration and not of limitation: other types of item identifying information may be captured by the device without deviating from the scope of the present invention. 
     As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, selected components of the present invention may be provided as methods, systems, and/or computer program products comprising computer-readable program code. Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment. An embodiment combining software and hardware aspects might be used alternatively. Or, components of the present invention may be provided in a software embodiment (as described in the appended claims). 
     Furthermore, components of the invention may take the form of a computer program product accessible from computer-usable or computer-readable media providing program code for use by, or in connection with, a computer or any instruction execution system. For purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium can be any apparatus that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by, or in connection with, the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
     The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or a propagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, removable computer diskette, random access memory (“RAM”), read-only memory (“ROM”), rigid magnetic disk, and optical disk. Current example of optical disks include compact disk with read-only memory (“CD-ROM”), compact disk with read/write (“CD-R/W”), and DVD. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a data processing system  500  suitable for storing and/or executing program code includes at least one processor  512  coupled directly or indirectly to memory elements through a system bus  514 . The memory elements can include local memory  528  employed during actual execution of the program code, bulk storage  530 , and cache memories (not shown) which provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage during execution. 
     Input/output (I/O”) devices (including but not limited to keyboards  518 , displays  524 , pointing devices  520 , other interface devices  522 , etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers or adapters ( 516 ,  526 ). 
     Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the data processing system to become coupled to other data processing systems or remote printers or storage devices through intervening private or public networks (as shown generally at  532 ). Modems, cable modem attachments, wireless adapters, and Ethernet cards are just a few of the currently-available types of network adapters. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a data processing network environment  600  in which the present invention may be practiced. The data processing network  600  may include a plurality of individual networks, such as wireless network  642  and network  644 . A plurality of scanner devices  610  (as well as other devices, not shown) may communicate over wireless network  642 , and a plurality of devices, shown in the figure (by way of illustration) as workstations  611 , may communicate over network  644 . Additionally, as those skilled in the art will appreciate, one or more local area networks (“LANs”) may be included (not shown), where a LAN may comprise a plurality of devices coupled to a host processor. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 6 , the networks  642  and  644  may also include mainframe computers or servers, such as a gateway computer  646  or application server  647  (which may access a data repository  648 ). A gateway computer  646  serves as a point of entry into each network  644 . The gateway  646  may be preferably coupled to another network  642  by means of a communications link  650   a . The gateway  646  may also be directly coupled to one or more workstations  611  using a communications link  650   b ,  650   c , and/or may be indirectly coupled to such devices. The gateway computer  646  may be implemented utilizing an Enterprise Systems Architecture/370™ available from the International Business Machines Corporation (“IBM®”), an Enterprise Systems Architecture/390® computer, etc. Depending on the application, a midrange computer, such as an Application System/400® (also known as an AS/400®) may be employed. (“Enterprise Systems Architecture/370” is a trademark of IBM; “IBM”, “Enterprise Systems Architecture/ 390 ”, “Application System/ 400 ”, and “AS/400” are registered trademarks of IBM.) 
     The gateway computer  646  may also be coupled  649  to a storage device (such as data repository  648 ). 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the gateway computer  646  may be located a great geographic distance from the network  642 , and similarly, the scanner devices  610  and/or workstations  611  may be located some distance from the networks  642  and  644 , respectively. For example, the network  642  may be located in California, while the gateway  646  may be located in Texas, and one or more of the workstations  611  may be located in Florida. The scanner devices  610  may connect to the wireless network  642  using a networking protocol such as the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (“TCP/IP”) over a number of alternative connection media, such as cellular phone, radio frequency networks, satellite networks, etc. The wireless network  642  preferably connects to the gateway  646  using a network connection  650   a  such as TCP or User Datagram Protocol (“UDP”) over IP, X.25, Frame Relay, Integrated Services Digital Network (“ISDN”), Public Switched Telephone Network (“PSTN”), etc. The workstations  610  may connect directly to the gateway  646  using dial connections  650   b  or  650   c . Further, the wireless network  642  and network  644  may connect to one or more other networks (not shown), in an analogous manner to that depicted in  FIG. 6 . 
     While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, additional variations and modifications in those embodiments may occur to those skilled in the art once they learn of the basic inventive concepts. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims shall be construed to include preferred embodiments and all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, it should be understood that use of “a” or “an” in the claims is not intended to limit embodiments of the present invention to a singular one of any element thus introduced.