System and Method for Performing a Security Check at a Checkout Terminal
AssigneeNCR Corporation
InventorThomas V. Edwards
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for performing a security check at a checkout terminal is disclosed. Various heuristics are utilized to verify that a customer or clerk has properly identified an item being purchased. In various embodiments, the weight or other physical characteristics of an item placed on a product scale are measured and compared with expected physical characteristics for the item. If a mismatch is detected between the actual physical characteristics and the expected physical characteristics, the transaction may be flagged for further investigation.
Claims20
A method for performing a security check during a transaction conducted using a checkout terminal, wherein said checkout terminal comprises a product scale, an input device, and a processing unit, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) receiving at said processing unit a first signal encoding the weight of an item placed on said product scale;
- b) receiving at said processing unit a second signal encoding identification information about the item placed on the product scale;
- c) receiving at said processing unit a third signal encoding physical characteristic information about the item placed on the product scale;
- d) accessing, by said processing unit, a storage unit to retrieve an expected weight range and expected physical characteristic information for a product corresponding to said identification information;
- and
- e) comparing the weight received in step (a) with the expected weight range from step (d) and the physical characteristic information received in step (c) with the expected physical characteristic information from step (d).
A method for performing a security check during a transaction conducted using a checkout terminal, wherein said checkout terminal comprises a product scale, an input device, and a processing unit, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) receiving at said processing unit a first signal encoding the weight of an item placed on said product scale;
- b) receiving at said processing unit a second signal encoding identification information about the item placed on the product scale;
- c) accessing, by said processing unit, a storage unit to retrieve an expected weight range for a product corresponding to said identification information;
- and
- d) calculating an aggregate weight by adding the weight received in step (a) to any previously measured weights for previous items in the same transaction corresponding to said identification information.
A checkout terminal comprising:
- a product scale,
- an input device, and
- a processing unit;
- wherein the checkout terminal is in communication with a storage unit;
- and
- wherein the processing unit of the checkout terminal is configured to conduct a security check during a transaction by performing the steps of:
- a) receiving a first signal encoding the weight of an item placed on said product scale;
- b) receiving a second signal encoding identification information about the item placed on the product scale;
- c) accessing the storage unit to retrieve an expected weight range for a product corresponding to said identification information;
- and
- d) calculating an aggregate weight by adding the weight received in step (a) to any previously measured weights for previous items in the same transaction corresponding to said identification information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.