Patent Publication Number: US-2009230187-A1

Title: Cash register system and method of operating a cash register system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/046,031, filed Mar. 11, 2008; and this application is a continuation and claims priority of International Application PCT/NL2008/050858, filed Dec. 30, 2008, and to be published in English, both of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The discussion below is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     Aspects of the invention relate to a cash register system and method of operating a cash register system. In particular, the aspects of the invention relate to age verification in relation to the purchase of age-restricted items at such a cash register system. 
     Nowadays, items as tobacco and alcoholic beverages receive increased attention as to their free availability for the under-aged. Instances of selling age-restricted goods to underage individuals often result from careless employee verifications of a consumer&#39;s age before the consumer purchases age-restricted goods. Commonly, employees who are supposed to be verifying a consumer&#39;s age will not even ask for the consumer&#39;s identification, and in systems that prompt employees to enter the consumer&#39;s birth date, employees often enter a fictitious birth date. Such careless age verification may go unnoticed by a store manager or owner. 
     On the other hand, government authorities are increasingly willing to enforce fines and license suspension penalties on establishments that sell age-restricted goods to underage individuals. If authorities catch an employee selling age-restricted products to underage consumers, the manager or owner is often held responsible for the employee&#39;s actions and may even have their license to sell age-restricted goods revoked as a result of their employee&#39;s careless behaviour. 
     US 2002/087413 describes a vending machine including a video camera for transmitting an image of a buyer to a remotely located human operator, a document reader for transmitting an image of identification document(s) to the remotely located human in control of the vending machine, and a user interface which gives the appearance that the machine is autonomous even though the operator&#39;s approval is required prior to vending an age-restricted item. The machine also includes a payment acceptor and a dispensing apparatus. 
     Improvements are continually needed in the art to provide a cash register system, i.e. a payment system, for payment of age-restricted items. 
     SUMMARY 
     This Summary and Abstract are provided to introduce some concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary and Abstract are not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor are they intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. In addition, the description herein provided and the claimed subject matter should not be interpreted as being directed to addressing any of the short-comings discussed in the Background. 
     An aspect of the invention is a cash register system comprising an age verification system configured for verifying the age of a person for purchasing an age-restricted item. The age verification system comprises an image capture device such as but not limited to a video camera configured for capturing an image of the person. Also, a connecting device (e.g. network card, transmitter, transceiver) is provided for connecting to a remote age verification center and configured to transmit the image of said person to this age verification center. The connecting device may also receive an authorization signal from the age verification center if, from the image, the person can be determined to have an age allowing purchase of the age-restricted item. Also, a controller is provided that is configured for providing a release signal, e.g. to a cash register device, only in response to receiving the authorization signal in order to allow payment of the age-restricted item. 
     Furthermore, another aspect of the invention is a computer-implemented method of operating a cash register system for payment of an age-restricted item by a person. The cash register system comprises an age verification system. An image of a person is captured and transmitted to a remote age verification center. An authorization signal is subsequently received if, from the image, the person can be determined to have an age allowing purchase of the age-restricted item. A release signal is provided, e.g. to a cash register device, only if the authorization signal is received in order to allow payment of the age-restricted item. 
     The person image can be captured quickly and only requires the person under consideration to expose him- or herself to the video camera, i.e. the burden is very low. In the majority of cases, it can be verified from the person&#39;s image whether the age of the person is such that purchase of the age-restricted item is allowed. The cash register device is only released for payment of this item, if the authorization signal is received from the remote age verification center, i.e. the burden is also low for the cashiers since they have no involvement in the age verification process and are not in control of releasing the cash register device. Finally, the burden is also low for shop owners, since the age-restricted items do not need to be contained in a vending machine but can be made available in a traditional off-shelf manner in the shop. Moreover, the age-restricted items can be bought using self-service cash registers without requiring involvement of employees while still providing an appropriate check as to the age of the person buying the item. Consequently, as aspects of the invention, a system and method are provided that enable quick age verification in combination with appropriate but secure selling of age-restricted items. 
     It should be appreciated that, in some cases, the authorization signal and the release signal coincide, i.e. the (positive) authorization signal is sufficient to allow payment of the age-restricted item. 
     The age verification may comprise two separate process phases. 
     In a first phase, an image is captured of the person by an image capture device, e.g. a video camera. This image is sent to an age verification center within a very short time interval, possibly seconds. This process phase involves only a low burden and is convenient for the person involved. He or she only has to expose him/herself to the video camera. If it can be determined that the age of the person is appropriate for purchasing the age-restricted item(s), the authorization signal is received and the cash register device is released to allow payment for the age-restricted item. 
     Only if the age cannot be determined accurately by using the video camera, a second process phase may be required. This second phase involves the reading of an identification document of the person whose age could not be verified in the first phase. The image of the identification document, obtained from the same or another image capture device, should preferably comprise a picture of the legitimate holder of the document. This process phase is typically more time-consuming, and thus less convenient, than the first process phase. However, this phase can often be omitted, since the video image often allows determination whether or not a person should be allowed to purchase the item. The image of the identification document, or a sample thereof, is sent to the age verification center. Moreover, the person&#39;s image is obtained again, either from a database (or other means of storage) or from a second image by the image capture device in order to verify if the person image and document image are associated with the same person. If this is true and it can be determined that age of the person in question is appropriate for purchasing the age-restricted item, the authorization signal is received and the cash register device is released to allow payment for the age-restricted item in accordance with the embodiments of claims  2  an  13 . 
     The embodiments of claims  3  and  14  enable the person&#39;s image and the document image to be captured and transmitted both to the age verification center at once in the beginning of the age verification process. This is particularly efficient for persons in between the age of 16-30 that have a reasonable chance of being required to present an identification document before an authorization signal is given. 
     The initiation of the age verification process can be triggered in a variety of ways. 
     In the embodiments of claims  5  and  15 , the age verification process is triggered only if an age-restricted item is recognized. These embodiments have the advantage that communication with the age verification center only occurs when it is determined that age-verification is required. As an example, the age verification process is triggered by scanning a bar code of the age-restricted item or by user input of e.g. a cashier or the person under consideration. These embodiments provide the advantage that in particular the person image is only captured when required. 
     In the embodiments of claims  6 ,  7 ,  16  and  17 , the age verification process can already be triggered before an age-restricted item is recognized. This is advantageous since, especially in large shops, such as supermarkets, it is of critical importance that delays are minimized. The embodiments enable age verification as soon as a signal from the cash register device for releasing the age verification system and an approval signal of the customer approving age verification are detected. The signal from the cash register device may be initiated e.g. by scanning of a (first) item (not necessarily an age-restricted item) at the cash register device or by a manually initiated signal (triggered e.g. by a cashier operating a device indicating that the “next customer” will be served). 
     The embodiments of claims  8  and  18  enable the age verification center to control use of the age verification system by only enabling the age verification system (in particular by enabling user input to approve capturing of the person image) during operation of the cash register device. 
     Often, age-restricted items are classified as to the age that is required to purchase the item. For example, certain items may require an age of 16, while others require an age of 18. The embodiments of claims  9  and  19  allow the age verification center to provide age classification information and, therefore, make sure that a single age verification is sufficient for a plurality of items having different age-restrictions. The age-classification information relates to the maximum age class for which the person is allowed to purchase items. For example, the age verification center may, after having received the person image and, possibly, the document image, provide an authentication signal indicating that the person under verification qualifies for the class age-16 items. If this person tries to purchase age-16 and age-18 items, the single authentication signal is sufficient to allow payment of the age-16 item, while payment is not allowed for the age-18 items. 
     The embodiments of claims  10 ,  11 ,  20  and  21  enable the cashier to collect the not-allowed items at an early stage. 
     A system comprising a cash register system and an age verification center is also disclosed. 
     It should be appreciated that the video camera and the document reader may be a single device, possibly with different settings adapted to the image to be made. The document reader may also be a scanner or a similar device. 
     It should also be appreciated that the image of the identification document may preferably contain an image of the legitimate holder of the identification document. The image of the identification document may comprise a complete image of (one or more pages of) the identification document, a part of the identification document and/or information derived from the identification document. 
     The system and method may also be used for controlling systems other than a cash register system, in particular systems for which age verification is desired. Examples of such other systems include a gambling machine or an entrance to an entertainment center, such as but not limited to a bar, a casino, or a nightclub. In these systems, the outcome of the age verification process determines whether the person under consideration may play on the gambling machine or may enter the entertainment center. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  provides a schematic illustration of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  provides a schematic illustration of a cash register system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  provides a flow chart of a method of operating the cash register system of  FIG. 2  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  provide a schematic illustration of a system and a timing diagram of operating the system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic illustration of a system comprising cash register systems  1 A,  1 B,  1 C and an age verification center  2 , hereinafter also referred to as verification center. The cash register systems  1 A,  1 B,  1 C may comprise cash desk devices operated by a cashier or self-service cash desk devices. The cash register systems  1 A,  1 B,  1 C are connected to the remote age verification center  2  via a network  3 . The network  3  may comprise a wired network and/or a wireless, local and/or wide area (e.g. Internet) network. 
     The cash register systems  1 A- 1 C are located in a shop S, e.g. a supermarket. Shop S sells a plurality of goods (items), amongst which are age-restricted items, such as tobacco, alcoholic beverages, adult magazines, weapons etc. The cash desk systems  1 A- 1 C are for payment of items of the shop S. 
     The verification center  2  comprises a controller  5  and one or more display units  6 . The display units  6  are configured to display images received from the cash register systems  1 A- 1 C to human beings in order to verify the age of potential purchasers of age-restricted items. The images include a person image of a potential purchaser and/or an image of (and/or a part of) an identification document. 
     Controller  5  distributes the received images amongst the display units  6 . The controller  5  may execute a round robin distribution process for efficient distribution of the images. In case more images are received than can be handled by the display units  6 , the controller  5  is configured to manage a waiting cue of images. The controller  5  is also configured for providing, in the first verification phase, a person image of a potential purchaser to a first display unit  6  and, for the subsequent second verification phase, the person image and the document image on a second display unit  6 , different from the first display unit. 
     The verification center  2  also comprises a database  7 . The database  7  may store the received images and other data received from the cash register systems  1 A- 1 C for future use. The images can be retrieved from the database  7  when desired. Information from the database can be used for sales transaction information for shop owners and allows authorities to check the transactions regarding age-restricted items. Furthermore, the database information may be used for statistical analysis. 
       FIG. 2  provides a schematic illustration of a cash register system  1 A as shown in  FIG. 1 . The self-service cash register system  1 A can comprise a bar code reader  10 , or other input device, an age verification button  11  and an age verification system  12 . 
     The age verification system  12  of the cash register system  1 A comprises an image capture device, for example, a video camera  13  for capturing a live image of a person in front of the camera (a person image) and a document reader  14  (which also comprises an image capture device, for example, a video camera in the present embodiment) configured for reading an identification document (a document image) of that person. Identification documents include, but are not limited to, passports, identity cards, drivers licenses etc. Preferably, the identification documents comprise a picture of the owner of the identification document in combination with information of the age of the owner. However, the documents may alternatively comprise information from which the age of the owner can be derived, e.g. at the age verification center  2 . The age of the owner may e.g. be derived from information already stored in the database  7  or by making a connection to an external system from which the age of the owner of the identification document can be derived using the information of the document. 
     The age verification system  12  further comprises a display  15 . The display  15  can be used to inform potential purchasers that their image, and/or an image of an identification document may be required before an item can be purchased. This information may be mandatory to comply with privacy provisions in some areas. Furthermore, the display  15  may guide potential purchasers through the age verification process. The display  15  may be a touch screen comprising (soft) keys  16  for entering instructions to the age verification system  12 . The keys  16  may also be buttons with dedicated functions. 
     It should be appreciated that the image capture devices, in this example the video camera  13  and the document reader  14  are not necessarily integral parts of the age verification system  12 . 
     The age verification system  12  comprises a controller  17  for issuing a release signal for the cash register system  1 A. To that end, the controller  17  uses one or more of the following functional modules of the age verification system  12 . It should be appreciated that the functions of the modules may be largely implemented as software code portions of one or more computer programs executed by the controller  17 , which may be an ordinary computer processor in combination with one or more storage devices (e.g. hard disc) in a manner known as such to the skilled person. 
     It should be appreciated however, that the controller  17  may also be configured for receiving instructions and commands from the verification center  2 , in particular the controller  5 . As an example, controller  5  of verification center  2  may issue a release signal to release the cash register system  1 A in order to allow payment for the age-restricted item, i.e. the authorization signal and the release signal coincide. 
     The age verification system  12  comprises a connection module or device  18  configured for connecting to the remote age verification center  2  to transmit the person image and/or the document image to the verification center  2 . The connection module  18  may also receive commands/signals from the verification center  2 , in particular an authorization signal and an identification request signal. The authorization signal may include the release signal to release the cash register system  1 A to allow payment for the age-restricted item. 
     The controller  17  is configured for transmitting a release signal to a processor  19  of the cash register system  1 A in order to release the cash register system  1 A and to allow payment for the product Q, or in other words completion of sale. 
     In order to avoid undesired capturing of person images by video camera  13 , the cash register system  1 A comprises a approval module  20 , that may be operated using age verification button  11  and/or keys  16 , configured for instructing the video camera  13  to capture the person image. 
     An embodiment of the operation of the system of  FIG. 1  and the cash register system  1 A of  FIG. 2  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 3 . It will be assumed that a person, aged 22, enters, or desires access, to shop S and desires to perform an age-restricted task, in this example, purchase an age-restricted item Q. The age restriction for this item Q is 21. The person intends to purchase the age-restricted item (possibly in combination with other, non age-restricted, items). The person knowingly or unknowingly indicates an age-restricted task is desired, in this case, by scanning the age-restricted item using the bar code reader  10  of the cash register system  1 A. Alternatively, the person may operate button  11  in order to approve and start the age verification process via approval module  20 . The bar code reader  10  or other input device such as a keyboard to enter the item identifier, or the button  11  may command the controller  17  to initiate the age verification procedure. 
     It should be noted that, when cash register system  1 A would not be a self-service system, another alternative includes a cashier scanning the bar code of the age-restricted item using bar code reader  10 , using another input device such as a keyboard to enter the item identifier or employing the button  11 . In that case, the person to be verified may approve the age-verification using keys  16  and approval module  20 . 
     After identifying the item Q, the display  15  may inform the person of the required age verification procedure. As mentioned, the person may then, in step  30 , first operate the button  11  for approval and to trigger the age verification process by activating the video camera  13 . It should be noted that the age verification process may be triggered differently, as will be explained in further detail for a cashier-operated system with reference to  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
     The video camera  11  captures a live image of the person in step  31  and transmits the person image to the remote age verification center  2 , using connection module  18  (step  32 ). 
     The controller  5  distributes the received person image to one of the available display units  6 . A human operator estimates from the person image on the display  6  whether the purchaser has the required age for purchase of the selected item (step  33 ). If the human operator is in doubt, and believes that a further verification phase of the age is required, additional verification is provided at step  34 . To that end, an identification request signal for an identification document is transmitted from the verification center  2  and received at the cash register system  1 A (step  35 ). 
     The display  15 , or cashier, instructs the person to provide an identification document. The document reader  14  is then activated. The person exposes an identification document to the document reader  14 . An image of the identification document is transmitted from the age verification system  12  to the verification center  2  in step  36 . Moreover, video camera  13  captures another image of the person and also transmits this person image to the verification center  2  in step  36 . It should be noted, however, that alternatively, the person image obtained in step  32  is used again. In the latter case, the person image is e.g. retrieved from the database  7  using an entry key assigned in step  32 . 
     The controller  5  of the verification center  2  provides the image of the document to an available display unit  6  (which is not necessarily the same display unit  6  used for the first age verification phase) in combination with the person image (also received in step  36  or obtained from database  7 ). The human operator is now able to conclude from the identification document image and the person image that the person is the legitimate holder of the identification document and that this person has reached the age of 22 and that, consequently, he is allowed to purchase the item (step  37 ). An authorization signal is then transmitted from the verification center  2  and is received at the age verification system  12  in step  38 . Controller  17  may now release the cash register system  1 A by instructing processor  19  to allow payment by the person for the product Q (step  39 ). As mentioned before, the authorization signal of the verification center  2  may also result in a direct release of the payment. 
     The first age verification phase of step  33  will generally be sufficient in a majority of cases. If the person would e.g. have the age of 50, the first age verification phase would already have resulted in receiving the authorization signal in step  38 . On the other hand, if the person would clearly be under-aged, the first age verification phase (step  33 ) would not have resulted in obtaining an authorization signal and the cashier or person would not be able to pay for the item Q, i.e. the cash register system would remain locked for this item (step  40 ). The same would be true if the human operator would conclude that the age of the person was not sufficient in the second age verification phase (step  37 ). 
     It should be noted that the system allows the person image and the document image to be captured and transmitted to the age verification center already in step  31  and  32 . This is particularly efficient for persons in between the age of 16-30 that have a reasonable chance of being required to present an identification document before an authorization signal is given. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  provide a schematic illustration of a system  1 B and a timing diagram of operating the cash register system  1 B in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In this example, system  1 B is a cashier-operated system comprising a cash register device  30  and the age verification system  12 . 
     Cash register system  1 B is connected to remote age verification center  2  for performing the age verification process. It should be noted that the actual connection to cash register system  1 B may be to the cash register device  30 , to the age verification system  12  or to another module, e.g. an intermediate unit, connected to both the cash register device  30  and the age verification system  12 . 
       FIG. 4B  is an exemplary timing diagram for operating the cash register system  1 B. 
     In the initial stage, video camera  13  and document reader  14  are disabled. 
     In step  40 , a cash register signal is transmitted from the cash register device  30  to the age verification center  2 . This cash register signal can be triggered by scanning a bar code of a first item of a customer, not necessarily an age-restricted item, by the cashier using a bar code reader  10 . Alternatively, the cashier may have operated a button  11  or other input device. 
     In step  41 , an enabling signal is received at the age verification system  2  of the cash register system  1 B. Display  15  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the age verification system  2  informs the customer that age verification is or may be required and solicits approval of the customer to perform this process. The customer may neglect this information if (s)he is under the assumption that such verification is not necessary, e.g. because (s)he does not intend to purchase age-restricted items. However, normally, the customer would approve the age verification process to be conducted by user input, step  42 , using keys  16  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     In step  43 , an information signal is received from the age verification center  2  for activation of the image capture device, herein by example, video camera  13 . 
     It should be noted that the cash register signal of step  40  may also be transmitted directly to the age verification system  12 , followed by approval of the customer (user input) to trigger the age verification process, i.e. without involving the age verification center  2  in the prior triggering phase. 
     Steps  44 - 46 , relating to the person image transmission, the possible identification request signal if the age cannot be verified from the person image and the document image transmission, respectively, involve the actual age verification process as previously described. 
     Step  47  indicates the authorization signal or authorization denial signal determining whether or not purchase of an item is allowed. 
     Further information, e.g. information of an age-restricted item triggered by scanning such an item, may also be communicated from the cash register system  1 A or  1 B to the age verification center  2 . 
     It should be noted that steps  40 - 47  (possibly excluding steps  45  and  46  if not required) can be conducted at any time after the customer has given approval and prior to payment of the items. Therefore, delays resulting from age verification at the cash register system  1 B can be minimized. 
     Often, age-restricted items Q are classified as to the age that is required to purchase the item. For example, certain items may require an age of 16, while others require an age of 18. The authorization signal in step  47  may therefore comprise age classification information to enable that a single age verification is sufficient for a plurality of items having different age-restrictions. The age-classification information relates to the maximum age class for which the person is allowed to purchase items. For example, the age verification center  2  may, after having received the person image in step  44  and, possibly, the document image in step  46 , provide an authentication signal indicating that the person under verification qualifies at maximum for the class age-16 items. If this person tries to purchase age-16 and age-18 items, the single authentication signal in step  47  is sufficient to allow payment of the age-16 item, while payment is not allowed for the age-18 items. 
     Of course, the same applies for a self-service cash register system  1 A, as depicted and described with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     If, in step  47 , an authorization denial signal is received, this signal may immediately block further operation of the cash register device  30 , thereby allowing the cashier to pick out the items that should not be purchased by the person for which the age-verification process had been conducted. 
     Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above as has been determined by the courts. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.