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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, more and more retail establishments have employed
self-service operations, in which customers utilize shopping carts and
move through the establishment to collect the items which they wish to
purchase. The selected articles are then transported to checkout counters
where employees of the establishment ascertain the price of each selected
item, often by use of a scanner at the checkout counter which reads a bar
code printed on the item, and total the amount due, after which the
employee receives payment from the customer in the form of cash, check or
a credit or debit card to complete the transaction. While the use of
self-service operations and the automation of price reading and machine
entry by the use of scanners have greatly increased efficiency and reduced
costs in retail establishments, a substantial number of clerks at the
checkout counters are still required, and lines of customers waiting at
the checkout counters to complete their transactions are still
commonplace. A system which would reduce the number of clerks necessary,
and which would facilitate the movement of customers through the checkout
operations would therefore further enhance the efficiency of retail
establishments using self-service operations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for self-service
retail operations, and more particularly relates to a method and apparatus
for customer performed article scanning in self-service shopping.
In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, a system for
self-service selection and purchasing of articles bearing coded indicia in
a retail establishment comprises a plurality of customer-operated carts
movable about the retail establishment, each cart including a multi-walled
receptacle for receiving and transporting articles having product codes
thereon, which articles may be selected for purchase; a plurality of
modules, one for each cart, which are secured to said carts adjacent one
end of said receptacle; each said module including a scanner for scanning
said product code on said articles; each said module also including video
camera means capable of covering a first area to record images of articles
being scanned by the scanner and capable of covering a second area to
record images of articles being placed in the receptacle; each said module
also including data processing means for associating the information
scanned by the scanner with the images recorded by the video camera means
and for storing such associated information; each said module also
including display means for displaying the data scanned by the scanner,
and each said module also including a power supply; and checkout means to
which the carts are directed when the purchasing of articles to be placed
in their receptacles has been completed, said checkout means including
means for receiving the module for each cart; said checkout means also
including means for totaling and printing out the information scanned by
the scanner and stored by the data processing means of said module; and
said checkout means also including means for displaying the video
information recorded by the module to enable an operator at the checkout
means to verify the correctness of the actions of the customer in scanning
and transporting articles to be purchased.
In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, a method for
self-service selection and purchasing of articles bearing code indicia in
a retail establishment provided with a plurality of customer operated
carts, each cart having a walled receptacle for receiving goods selected
by the customer and a detachable module containing a scanner for scanning
the code indicia on the goods and video camera means capable of covering a
first area to record images of articles being scanned by the scanner and
capable of covering a second area to record images of articles being
placed in the receptacle, said establishment also being provided with a
checkout counter having data processing means and video playback means,
comprises the following steps: selecting and initiating of movement of a
cart by the customer; selecting of articles to be purchased by the
customer; scanning one by one of the articles to be purchased by the
customer using the module scanner and simultaneous recording of the
scanning operation by the video recording means; placing of the articles
to be purchased by the customer in the receptacle of the cart and
simultaneous recording of said placement operation by the video recording
means; transporting of the selected articles in the receptacle cart by the
customer to the checkout counter; coupling said module to the data
processing means and the video playback means by a cashier at the checkout
counter; printing a transaction record by the data processing means of the
information scanned from the selected articles by the scanner; playing
back the video record of the scanning and article placement transactions
by the cashier to assure that these transactions have been properly
performed by the customer; and making payment by the customer to the
cashier to complete the purchase transaction.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved
method and apparatus for self-service retail operations.
Another object is to provide an improved method and apparatus for customer
performed article scanning in self-service shopping.
Another object is to provide an improved method and apparatus for
self-service retail operations which employ a plurality of
customer-operated carts and a plurality of detachable modules which may be
secured to said carts and which include a scanner and video camera means
to record images of articles being scanned and placed in a receptacle in
the cart.
Another object is to provide an improved method and apparatus for
self-service shopping which reduces the time required for a customer to
complete a shopping operation in a retail establishment, and which
provides safeguards against incorrect or incomplete recording of articles
purchased.
Another object of the invention is, in a retail establishment, to minimize
labor costs, improve service by speeding customer checking out and
bagging, reduce the store front end checkout counter area, eliminate shelf
labeling requirements and permit the customer to spend a higher proportion
of total time in the store aisleways where product selections are made.
With these and other objects, which will become apparent from the following
description, in view, the invention includes certain novel features of
construction and combinations of parts, preferred forms or embodiments of
which are hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which
accompany and form a part of this specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a layout of a store utilizing the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the checkout counter area of the arrangement
of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a shopping cart having interior reflective
surfaces and an electronic module attached to one end thereof.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, showing a plurality of
grocery bags placed in the receptacle portion of the shopping cart.
FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the electronic module.
FIG. 5B is a front view of the electronic module.
FIG. 5C is a rear view of the electronic module.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the reflective surfaces which are installed
in the shopping cart.
FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the video recording apparatus contained
within the electronic module.
FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view as viewed by the module video recorder
showing the cart receptacle and the scanner slot of the electronic module
in the absence of an article selected for purchase.
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 in which a video recording is made of a
selected article being scanned by the module scanner.
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIGS. 8 and 9 in which a video recording is
made of an article being placed in the cart receptacle after the same
article has been scanned as shown in FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of an alternative embodiment in which
item gate sensors are used at the top of the shopping cart receptacle to
detect the placement of articles therein.
FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view of the alternative embodiment of FIG.
11, in which the electronic module has been removed and a remote connector
is shown which connects the item sensors to the electronic module.
FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view of the various components utilized at the
checkout counter, including a module taken from the cart.
FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view showing the transfer of data from the
electronic module to the point of sale system at the checkout counter.
FIG. 15 is a block diagram of the electronic module.
FIGS. 16A and 16B, taken together, constitute a flow diagram of the process
of selection of articles by a customer for purchase.
FIG. 17 is a flow diagram of the process by which the articles purchased by
a customer are checked by a store employee to enable the customer to
complete the purchase and exit the store.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to FIG. 1, shown there is a plan view of a store arrangement
in which the present invention may be used. A store 10 includes a
plurality of shelves 11 on which merchandise is placed, a plurality of
checkout counters or checkstands 12 at which merchandise selected by
customers from the shelves 11 is checked out, doors 13 through which
customers enter and exit the store, a cart corral 14 in which shopping
carts 20 are stored between customer use, an office 15 for the store 10,
and a module charging area 16 at which electronic modules 28 associated
with the carts 20, as will subsequently be described, have their batteries
charged after use.
Shown in FIG. 2 is a more detailed diagram of the checkstand 12 showing a
customer 17 in position there with a cart 20 containing a plurality of
grocery bags 42, and showing an operator or cashier 18 in the process of
performing a checkout operation. As will subsequently be described in
greater detail, the checkstand 12 includes a terminal 82 having a keyboard
84, a display monitor 86 and a printer 88. The electronic module 28 which
was attached to the cart 20 during the selection of articles for purchase
by the customer 17 has been removed from the cart 20 and is electrically
coupled to the components of the checkstand 12 for performance of the
checkout operation.
Referring to FIG. 3, shown there is a shopping cart 20 of a conventional
basic design which has been modified in accordance with the present
invention. The cart is pushed from place to place by a customer 17 who
grasps a handle 22. The cart travels on four wheels 24. The cart includes
a receptacle 26 into which groceries or other articles can be placed. At
the end of the cart 20 opposite the handle 22, an electronic module 28 is
detachably secured. Locking means are preferably provided to prevent the
customer from switching modules 28 or changing the position of the module
28 on the cart 20. The module 28 will subsequently be described in detail.
Along the upper portions of the three interior walls 30 of the receptacle
26 which are not adjacent to the module 28 are secured mirrors 32, 34 and
36, which are also shown separate from the cart 20 in FIG. 6. These
mirrors are rectangular in shape, and of a size to fit snugly against
their respective walls. Each mirror is provided along its upper edge with
a stripe 38 which may be of a selected color, such as red, and is provided
along its lower edge with another stripe 40, which may be of a different
color, such as blue. As will subsequently be described in greater detail,
these stripes help to define a region through which articles are moved,
during a video recording operation.
FIG. 4 is a view which is similar to the view of FIG. 3, and which
additionally shows a plurality of grocery bags 42 placed in the receptacle
26 of the cart 20. The customer 17 may place articles to be purchased in
the bags 42 after they have been scanned, as will subsequently be
described, thus eliminating the need for a separate bagging operation at
the checkout counter 12.
Shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are three exterior views of the electronic
module 28. This module includes a slot scanner 54 which operates through a
glass covered aperture 44, a video recording device or camera 45 which
operates to record images appearing both through the scanner aperture 44
and through a lens 46, a keyboard 48 to enable the entry of data into the
module, and a display 50 for displaying information. A lockable clip or
other suitable means 52 is attached to the exterior of the module 28 and
provides a means to secure the module 28 to the cart 20.
The manner in which the video camera 45 is enabled to record images both
through the aperture 44 and the lens 46 is shown diagrammatically in FIG.
7 and includes a single-sided mirror 47 positioned within the module 28 to
reflect an image which passes through the lens 46 into one part of the
field of vision of the lens 43 of the camera 45. At the same time, an
image from the aperture 44 also appears on another part of the field of
vision of the lens 43 of the camera 45.
A schematic diagram of the module 28 is shown in FIG. 15 and includes a
scanner 54 which may be of a conventional design which directs a laser
beam through the aperture 44 to scan bar codes on products selected for
purchase. The scanner 54 includes an optics motor and video/digital
circuitry.
Also shown in FIG. 15 are the keyboard 48 and the display 50. In addition,
the module 28 includes a battery 56 to provide power to the module and a
motion sensing device 58 which activates the module when a customer
selects the cart 20 to which the module 28 is secured, and puts the cart
in motion. Keeping the module 28 in an inactive state until cart movement
has commenced saves battery power.
In addition, the module 28 contains a video camera and an optical disk for
storing the images recorded, as represented by block 60. A video
microprocessor and video random access memory, represented by block 62,
are also included and are coupled to the video camera and optical disk
combination of block 60 for exercising control functions.
The module 28 also includes a control system represented generally by block
64, which includes a microprocessor 66, a ROM/RAM memory 68, and
input/output control circuitry 70. An external remote connector 72 is
electrically coupled to the control system 64 to provide means for
coupling the module 28 to elements of the employee-operated checkout
counter 12 during checkout operations, to charge the battery 56 when
necessary, and for other appropriate purposes. The connections between the
various elements of the module 28 are represented in FIG. 15 by lines, and
the numbers associated with the lines represent the minimum number of
individual conductive paths which would be required in each case.
Shown in FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic representation of the apparatus which is
located at the checkout counter or checkstand 12 (FIGS. 1 and 2) at the
front of the store 10, and which is used by the store employee 18 to check
out a customer 17 who has completed his or her purchases, so that the
customer 17 may make payment for the articles which have been purchased,
and then exit from the store 10. This apparatus is designated generally by
the reference character 80, and includes a point-of-sale (POS) terminal 82
having a keyboard 84 coupled thereto. Any suitable POS terminal may be
used, such as the NCR 7052, marketed by NCR Corporation, Dayton, Ohio.
Also coupled to the terminal 82 are a color monitor 86 for viewing the
video recording made by the electronic module 28 and a high-speed printer
88 for printing a record of the articles purchased by the customer, the
prices of the articles and the total amount due.
When the checkout operation for a given customer 17 and cart 20 is to
commence, the electronic module 28 is removed from the cart 20 and is
coupled to the POS terminal 82 by connecting the external remote connector
72 of the module 28 to a similar connector 74 of the POS terminal 82, as
diagrammatically shown in FIG. 14.
The process generally designated 100 by which the customer 17 selects and
scans articles for purchase is shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B. As represented
by block 102, this process commences when a customer 17 enters the store
10. The customer 17 then picks up a cart 20 from a cart corral. Movement
of the cart 20 causes power to it from its battery 56 to be initiated by
switch 58 (FIG. 15) as represented by block 104.
At this point, it may be helpful to refer to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, which
illustrate the manner in which the video camera 45 provides a transaction
record which can inform the employee 18 at the checkstand 12 whether or
not a scanning operation on a particular article was properly carried out
before that article was placed in the receptacle 26 of the cart 20. These
three figures represent three different records made by the video camera
45 during a proper scanning operation and placement of a selected article
into a receptacle 26 of a cart 20 by a customer 17. In FIG. 8 is shown a
two-part video record 92 in which the left part 94 as viewed in FIG. 8
represents the cart receptacle 26 as seen through the lens 46 and the
right part 96 represents a view reflected by the mirror 47 looking upward
through the scanner aperture 44. FIG. 8 shows the receptacle 26 and the
scanner aperture 44 before the article selection has begun.
In FIG. 9, an article, shown here as a bar of soap 98, has been selected,
and is first scanned by passing the article over the aperture 44, to
enable the product code to be sensed from the article and entered into the
memory 68 (FIG. 15). The part 96 of the record 92 records this operation,
while the part 94 shows that no article is being placed in the receptacle
26 at this time.
Following the scanning operation, the bar of soap 98 may be placed in the
receptacle 26 as shown in part 94 of the record 92 in FIG. 10. The two
records of FIGS. 9 and 10 show that the article 98 was properly scanned
before being placed in the receptacle 26, and also show that the article
being placed in the receptacle 26 is the same one which was previously
scanned. The video camera 45 may be controlled to operate for a
predetermined time interval, such as approximately one-fifth of a second,
for example, during each recording operation.
Returning now to FIG. 16A, the process is continued in decision block 106,
in which a continuing determination is made as to whether an article or
item is passed through a plane defined by the upper edges of the
receptacle 26. This determination is made by the video camera 60 and the
video processor 62 at approximately one-fifth second intervals. When there
is no item excursion through the top plane of the cart receptacle 26, as
shown in FIG. 8, there is no item present in the field of view of the
camera 45. The video processor 62 inputs this "empty" view and digitizes
it, storing it in the video processor RAM 62, once every one-tenth second.
Every one-fifth second, the newly digitized view is input and compared to
the digitized view which has been previously stored in RAM 62. When
comparing these two views, the video processor specifically examines the
bit stream which describes the red stripe 38 positioned at the top of the
mirrors within the cart 20. When the video processor 62 finds a
discontinuity within the bit stream describing the red stripe 38 (which is
always located in the same RAM memory location), it drives a digital
signal line to the main microprocessor 66 to indicate that the top plane
of the receptacle 26 has seen an item excursion.
Alternatively, the receptacle 26 of the cart 20 may be provided with a
plurality of sensors 41 (FIGS. 11 and 12) positioned along the top plane
of the receptacle 26. These sensors detect the passage of an article
through said top plane into the receptacle 26. As shown in FIG. 12, a
remote connector 43 is connected to the sensors 41 and provides a
connection with a corresponding remote connector 72 on the electronic
module 28.
If an item is passed through said plane and placed in the cart 20, as
represented by block 106 and path 108, the module 28 of the cart 20
creates an error record, as represented by block 110, and warns the
customer on the display 50. An audible warning may also be used. The
process then returns via path 112 to a point between blocks 104 and 106.
So long as no item is passed through the cart top plane without being
properly scanned, the process continues in a normal manner via path 109 to
block 111, in which the customer 17 picks up an item from a shelf 11 of
the store 10 and scans it. In decision block 116, a determination is made
as to whether or not the scan was a good one (that is, whether information
was properly sensed from the bar code on the item). If not, the process
continues along path 118 to a further decision block 120 in which a
determination is made as to whether there has been an excursion of the
item through the cart top plane. If so, the process proceeds along path
122 to the previously discussed block 110, and thence via path 112 to a
point between blocks 104 and 106. If there has been no item excursion
through the cart top plane, the process continues along path 125 to block
126, in which the module 28 creates an error record and warns the customer
17 to scan and place the item again. The process then returns over paths
128 and 112 to a point between blocks 104 and 106.
On the other hand, if a determination is made in block 116 that the scan is
a good one, the process proceeds to perform a price/item description
look-up and to display this information on the display 50 of the module 28
for the customer 17, as represented in block 130.
Next a determination is made in decision block 132 as to whether there has
been an item excursion through the top plane of the receptacle 26 of the
cart 20, as represented by block 132. If so, the price and item
description are attached to or associated with the video picture of the
item excursion and scanning by the module 28 and are stored for subsequent
use during the checkout operation, as represented by block 134. The
process then continues over path 136 to a decision block 138, in which a
determination is made as to whether the customer 17 is finished with all
items. If so, the customer 17 goes to the front of the store 10 as
represented by block 140, where a checkout operation is performed. If not,
the process returns along path 112 to a point between blocks 104 and 106
for selection of the next item.
Returning to the decision block 132, if there is no excursion of an item
through the top plane of the cart receptacle 26, the process continues
over a path 142 to a decision block 144, in which a time interval is
measured for the item to be placed in the receptacle 26. Until the time
interval has passed, the process loops back over path 146 to the decision
block 132. Once the predetermined time interval has passed without an item
excursion through the cart top plane, the process continues over path 148
to the previously mentioned block 126 and then over the path 128 to the
return path 112.
Let it now be assumed that the customer 17 has completed the selection of
all desired items, has properly scanned them and placed them in the cart
receptacle 26, and has proceeded to the front of the store 10, as
represented by block 140. A checkout operation is now performed, as
represented by the flow diagram of FIG. 17, and is commenced by the
customer 17 entering the front of the store 10, as represented by block
150.
As the first step in the checkout process, the cashier or other employee 18
removes the module 28 from the cart 20, as represented by block 152 and
plugs the module 28 into electrical connection with the terminal 82 (FIG.
13), as represented by block 154. If desired, suitable electrical
connections could be provided to enable the checkout operation to be
carried out with the module 28 still secured to the cart 20, but it is
considered to be generally desirable to remove the module 28 from the cart
20 at this point. Alternatively, a video storage disk could be removed
from the module 28 and plugged into a reader port associated with the
video display 86.
The cashier 18 then commences a print-out of all of the items selected by
the customer 17 (block 156) by accessing the appropriate storage unit in
the microprocessor 66 of the module 28 and causing the data contained
therein to be printed on an appropriate record medium, which may resemble
a conventional cash register tape. In association with generation of this
print-out, the cashier 18 scans through the video file which was generated
during the process of item selection by the customer 17 (block 158) to
determine whether any improper activities, such as scanning of one item
and placing of a higher priced item in the receptacle 26 of the cart 20,
may have taken place. In this activity, the cashier 18 will be aided by
any error records generated by the module 28 during the item selection
process.
In case it is determined that an error has been made (decision block 160),
a section of the video tape may be viewed again at a slower speed (block
162), and/or the items within the receptacle 26 of the cart 20 may be
actually physically examined by the cashier 18, after which the process
loops back again via path 164 to block 158. In the event that no errors
are discovered, the process continues with a determination as to whether
or not all items have been processed, as represented in block 166. If so,
the checkout transaction is completed, the customer 17 makes payment, and
a receipt is given (block 168), after which the customer exits the store
front (block 170). If all items have not yet been processed, the process
loops back via path 172 to block 158, and the remaining items are
processed.
Following completion of the transaction, the cashier will remove the module
28 from its electrical coupling to the terminal 82, and will place it on a
charging rack in the module charging area 16 for recharging of the battery
56, if necessary, after which said module can be attached to another cart
in the cart corral 14, ready for selection for use by a future customer
17.
The customer 17 is free to take the cart 20, with the module 28 removed
therefrom, through the doors 13 and outside the store 10 for
transportation of the selected articles to the customer's car, for
transportation of the selected items to their destination.
While the forms of the invention shown and described herein are admirably
adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood
that it is not intended to confine the invention to the forms or
embodiments disclosed herein, for it is susceptible of embodiment in
various other forms within the scope of the appended claims.
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