Self service retail check out using smart phone
OwnerBarbara W. Dawkinsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of operating a retail check-out station. A customer selects items to be purchased, and scans bar codes attached to the items, using a cell phone camera. The bar codes identify the items. The cell phone extracts data from multiple bar codes and assembles the data into a different type of code, such as a 2-D bar code. The cell phone prints out the 2-D bar code, either on paper or on its display. The check-out station scans the 2-D bar code to obtain the identities of the items, and completes the transaction.
Claims13
A method of performing a sales transaction with a customer at a check-out station in a retail store, comprising:
- receiving, prior to check-out, an indication of one or more items the customer plans to purchase, wherein the indication comprises a customer identifier;
- receiving, from the customer at the check-out station, a graphical image comprising an indication of the customer identifier;
- optically scanning said graphical image to thereby deduce the customer identifier;
- retrieving item information related to the one or more items using the customer identifier;
- and
- using the item information to formulate a bill and complete the sales transaction for the items.
A method of performing a sales transaction with a customer at a check-out station in a retail store, comprising:
- receiving, prior to check-out, an indication of one or more items the customer plans to purchase, wherein the indication comprises a customer identifier;
- receiving, at the check-out station, a 2-D bar code which
- comprises an indication of the customer identifier;
- was generated by a cell phone of the customer which
- scanned linear bar codes on said items, and
- transmitted item information from the linear bar codes;
- optically scanning the 2-D bar code to identify the customer identifier;
- and
- retrieving item information related to the one or more items using the customer identifier to formulate a bill for the items, without scanning bar codes on the items.
A method of performing a sales transaction with a customer at a check-out station in a retail store, comprising:
- receiving, prior to check-out, an indication of one or more items the customer plans to purchase, wherein the indication comprises a customer identifier
- receiving the customer at a check-out station;
- optically scanning, at the check-out station, a 2-D bar code which
- is presented by a portable device in possession of the customer,
- comprises an indication of the customer identifier;
- was generated by the portable device which previously
- scanned linear bar codes on said items, and
- transmitted item information from the linear bar codes;
- and
- retrieving item information related to the one or more items using the customer identifier to formulate a bill for the items, without scanning bar codes on the items.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.