Patent ID: 8825531

Claim:
An automated self-checkout system comprising: a self-checkout housing for use by a customer or person in tangible store; a means for inputting information about products being purchased in a self-checkout transaction at the self-checkout housing; a means for receiving payment for the products being purchased in the self-checkout transaction at the self-checkout housing; a means for providing information to a customer during the self-checkout transaction at the self-checkout housing; and a controller operatively connected to the means for inputting, the means for receiving, and the means for providing information, wherein the controller has programming arranged to process information from the means for inputting and compiles information for the products being purchased in the self-checkout transaction to allow calculation of a total amount due for the transaction, and to provide to a customer on the means for providing information an amount due for the transaction, enabling payment by the customer by use of the means for receiving payment to complete a purchaser transaction at a self-checkout in the tangible store; the controller programming having a reset module that responds to a period of input inactivity by the purchaser at any time at the retail self-checkout in the tangible store before completion of the purchaser self-checkout transaction to void a purchaser self-checkout transaction and reset the means for providing information to start an entirely new self-checkout transaction; wherein the reset module is arranged to include a time-out warning to the purchaser on the means for providing information prior to voiding a purchaser in-store retail self-checkout transaction and resetting the display to start a new self-checkout transaction, and a reset module override that is arranged to prevent a void and reset of a retail self-checkout transaction when the purchaser responds to the time-out warning within a predetermined period of time.