Site News  |   Monitor Keywords  |   Monitor Archive  |   Organizer  |   Account Info  |

Small footprint self checkout system

Small footprint self checkout system description/claims

Under 35 USC §120, this application is a continuation application and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/390,964, filed Mar. 18, 2003, entitled “Small Footprint Self Checkout Method,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to self checkout systems and more particularly to a self checkout system that uses minimal floor space.

Self checkout is becoming a popular solution for merchants who wish to reduce front end labor expense and allow their customers convenience, reduced time at the checkout counter, and privacy. While offering these benefits, a preferred feature is that the self checkout counter consume minimal floor space. This is particularly important in drug stores or convenience stores where space is usually extremely limited.

Of further importance is protection against theft and fraud, which is an inherent risk when the customer is allowed to perform the checkout. Some efforts to provide security for a self checkout system interfere with the primary objectives of the self checkout solution. For example, a self checkout system from PSI (Productivity Solutions Incorporated) utilizes an optical grid to confirm shape parameters at the beginning of a long security tunnel. This system is nearly eleven feet in length and requires items to be scanned and placed on a belt, which transports the items through the tunnel. At the end of the tunnel, the items can be bagged. While providing a level of security, the length and size of the tunnel have a significant footprint. Such floor space consumption limits the ability to conveniently include the system in many store environments.

Accordingly, a need exists for a self checkout system that consumes very little space and does not compromise security. The present invention addresses such a need.

Aspects of a self checkout system are described. The system includes a product imaging scanner. Also included is a bag rack with scales substantially adjacent the product imaging scanner for holding a bag to receive imaged products. A computer system is coupled to the product imaging scanner and the bag rack for processing data from the product imaging scanner and the bag rack to ensure complete and secure product purchasing.

Through the present invention, the ability to perform self checkout is achieved with a system that has a small footprint. The integrated system for self checkout includes significant security capabilities to avoid potential fraudulent purchase activity. These and other advantages of the aspects of the present invention will be more fully understood in conjunction with the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of a small footprint checkout system in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block flow diagram of a method for self checkout in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block flow diagram of an example of the method of FIG. 2.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

• What Is a Patent?
• What Is a Trademark or Servicemark?
• What Is a Copyright?
• Patent Laws