TREA

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING ITEMS PLACED IN A CONTAINER

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Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20070143188
  • Publication Number
    20070143188
  • Date Filed
    December 15, 2005
    20 years ago
  • Date Published
    June 21, 2007
    18 years ago
Information
Abstract
A system and method for processing items placed in a container. The system includes a cart having a system for processing items stored therein, comprising: a detection system that detects the placement of an item into the cart; a near field communication (NFC) reader for reading and storing information from an NFC tag attached to items detected as being placed in the cart.
Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:



FIG. 1 depicts a cart having an item processing system in accordance with the present invention.



FIG. 2 depicts a flow chart depicting a method of implementing an item processing system in accordance with the present invention.


Claims
  • 1. A cart having a system for processing items stored therein, comprising: a detection system that detects the placement of an item into the cart; a near field communication (NFC) reader for reading and storing information from an NFC tag attached to items detected as being placed in the cart.
  • 2. The cart of claim 1, wherein the detection system comprises a set of light sensors.
  • 3. The cart of claim 1, wherein the detection system comprises a weight sensor.
  • 4. The cart of claim 1, further comprising a system for directing the NFC reader to poll all items stored in the cart to determine an inventory of all items in the cart.
  • 5. The cart of claim 4, further comprising a system for comparing the inventory with stored data.
  • 6. The cart of claim 1, wherein the detection system comprises a counter to track a number of items placed in the cart.
  • 7. A method of processing items placed in a cart, comprising: activating a processing system associated with the cart; detecting an item being placed in the cart with a detection mechanism; reading information from a tag attached to the item with a near field communication (NFC) reader; and storing the information read from the tag.
  • 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the detection mechanism comprises a light sensor.
  • 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the detection mechanism comprises a weight sensor.
  • 10. The method of claim 7, comprising the further step of incrementing a counter each time a new item is placed in the cart.
  • 11. The method of claim 7, comprising the further step of performing a test to see if information from the tag was read successfully.
  • 12. The method of claim 11, comprising the further step of sounding an alarm if the information from the tag was not read successfully.
  • 13. The method of claim 7, comprising the further steps of: notifying the processing system that no further items are to be placed in the cart; polling the items in the cart to generate an inventory; and comparing the inventory to stored information about items placed in the card.
  • 14. The method of claim 13, comprising the further steps of: sending a list of items in the cart to a cashier; and effectuating payment of the list of items.
  • 15. A method of automatically processing items placed in a shopping cart, comprising: activating a processing system associated with the shopping cart when a user begins shopping; tripping a light sensor each time an item is placed in the shopping cart; reading information from a tag attached to an item with a near field communication (NFC) reader whenever the light sensor is tripped; storing the information read by the NFC reader in memory; notifying the processing system that the user is done shopping; polling all items in the shopping cart to determine an inventory; and comparing the inventory with the stored information; effectuating a checkout procedure.
  • 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of activating a processing system is done with a user interface to the processing system.
  • 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the tripping step causes a counter to be incremented.
  • 18. The method of claim 15, comprising the further step of performing a test to see if information from the tag was read successfully.
  • 19. The method of claim 18, comprising the further step of sounding an alarm if the information from the tag was not read successfully.
  • 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the comparing step includes effectuating a manual checkout procedure if the inventory does not match the stored information.