Patent Application
20090032588
Self-service checkout systems accommodate many forms of payment. A failure of one of these forms of payment often results in the systems being taken out of service.
It would be desirable to provide a self-service checkout system that may still operate if a form of payment is unavailable.
A self-service checkout system with cash not available mode is provided.
The self-service checkout system includes.
Referring now to
Processor 12 executes software 32 for controlling operation of self-service checkout system 10. Processor 12 uses memory 14 to store software 32.
One of the functions of software 32 is to monitor the state of system 10 for limiting conditions, including component failures and a lack of cash in cash dispenser 22.
Cash dispenser 22 dispenses cash to customers, usually in the form of change or additional cash back. Cash dispenser 22 may include a coin dispenser and a bill dispenser, which may be separate devices. The coin dispenser and bill dispenser each have a limited capacity for storing coins and bills for making change and delivering additional cash back.
Software 32 determines that cash dispenser 22 has a lack of cash by tracking cash dispensed and comparing it to a predetermined limit. Software 32 counts the value of cash dispensed during each transaction as change or as additional cash back. Software 32 may additionally count the number of each denomination of cash dispensed during each transaction.
Software 32 may maintain individual balances and limits for bill and coin dispensers. Software 32 may maintain individual numbers or balances for each denomination of bills and coins. The predetermined limit may be based upon any one of the denominations.
The predetermined limit may be determined manually. A store employee manually counts an amount of cash loaded into cash dispenser 22 and configures software 32 with the loaded amount. Software 32 adds the loaded amount to a pre-existing amount within cash dispenser 22 to arrive at a new balance. The employee also configures software 32 with a minimum cash amount, which when reached will cause software 32 to disable a cash payment option and an additional cash back option. Alternatively, the minimum cash amount may remain the same after each load. Software 32 maintains a running balance of cash within cash dispenser 22 by tracking amounts of change and additional cash back given to each customer and subtracting those amounts from a balance remaining after a previous transaction.
In an alternative embodiment, cash dispenser 22 includes coin counter 42. An employee feeds or pours bills and coins into cash dispenser 22 and counter 42 counts the bills and coins added and provides software 32 with numbers and amounts of bills and coins.
Display 16 displays instructions and information provided by software 32. For example, display 16 displays payment options including cash and non-cash payment options. Non-cash payment options include, but are not limited to, credit, debit, smart card, gift card, stamps, and vouchers.
Input device 18 records operator inputs processed by software 32. Input device 18 may include a keyboard. Input device 18 and display 16 may be combined into a touch screen 34.
Cash acceptor 20 accepts cash payments from customers. Cash acceptor 20 may include a coin acceptor and a bill acceptor, which may be separate devices.
Card reader 24 reads information from cards, such as credit and debit cards. Card reader 24 may include a magnetic strip reader.
PIN keypad 26 records customer PINs during debit card transactions.
Item identifying device 28 records information from products. Item identifying device 28 may include a barcode reader or a radio frequency label identification reader.
Scale 30 records weights of certain items, such as produce items.
Coupon acceptor 36 accepts coupons from customers.
Printer 38 prints transaction documents, including receipts.
Self-service checkout system 10 may additionally includes security systems, which may include a number of security scales 40.
Security scales 40 determine whether unidentified products have been substituted for identified products of lesser value. Security scales 40 may be located under set-aside shelves and bagging shelves.
In accordance with an example of the present invention, self-service checkout system 10 further includes indicator 50, which provides an indication of payment limitations in the operation of system 10 to customers under the control of software 32. For example, indicator 50 may indicate that only credit payments are allowed by displaying the message, “CREDIT ONLY”.
In a simplified form, indicator 50 may include a sign for displaying a single message, with apertures representing letters, and a light for illuminating the sign through the apertures. Software 32 activates indicator 50 by activating the light.
In other embodiments in which a plurality of messages are displayed, indicator 50 may include a display, such as a liquid crystal display. Software 32 activates indicator 50 by choosing a message based upon limiting conditions monitored by software 32 and displaying the message.
With reference to
With reference to
In step 62, software 32 records an amount of cash loaded by an operator. Software 32 may record separate amounts of bills and coins. Software 32 may record individual amounts for each denomination of bills and coins.
In step 64, software 32 adds the amount of cash loaded to a pre-existing balance to create an updated balance. Software 32 may maintain individual balances for bill and coin dispensers. Software 32 may maintain individual balances for each denomination of bills or coins.
In step 66, software 32 records a change amount and/or an additional cash back amount during a transaction.
In step 68, software 32 subtracts the change amount and/or an additional cash back amount from the current balance to create an updated balance.
In step 70, software 32 determines whether the updated balance is below a predetermined limit. The bill and coin dispensers may have different limits, either of which will cause software 32 to disable cash transactions. The predetermined limit may be based upon any one of the denominations of bills or coins. If so, operation returns to step 72. Otherwise, operation returns to step 66.
In step 72, software 32 causes indicator 50 to provide an indication that cash payments are not allowed. For example, software 32 may cause indicator 50 to provide an indication that only non-cash payment options are allowed, including, but not limited to, credit, debit, smart card, gift card, stamps, and vouchers.
Indicator 50 may also provide an indication that the additional cash back option is not available.
Software 32 may disable selection of a cash payment and additional cash back options. Software 32 may display choices for cash transaction options in a faded or “grayed out” manner, and/or disable recording of selections through touch screen 34. Software 32 may additionally activate light 54 to provide an additional visual indication that cash options are not available.
Operation ends at step 74. Except for cash dispensing, operation of system 10 continues in a normal fashion.
Although particular reference has been made to certain embodiments, variations and modifications are also envisioned within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
