# US 2013/0153655 A1 · Self service retail check out using smart phone

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- Number: US 2013/0153655 A1
- Document ID: US20130153655A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/326,484
- Filed: 2011-12-15
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15
- Inventors: Barbara W. Dawkins
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153655A1

## CPC

- G06Q 20/20: Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
- G06Q 20/3274: {using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device}
- G06Q 20/3276: {using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device}
- G07G 1/0045: {with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader}
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07G: REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, in which the graphical image was generated by a portable telephone in possession of the customer, which
i) scanned linear bar codes on said items, and
ii) derived information from the linear bar codes, and
iii) transmitted the information from the linear bar codes.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, in which the check-out station does not scan items which are identified in the item information.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

Method according to claim 2, in which the check-out station does not scan items which are identified in the item information.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, in which the graphical image comprises a 2-D bar code.

### Claim 6

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.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

Method according to claim 6, in which the check-out station does not scan items which are identified in the item information.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

Method according to claim 6, in which the 2-D bar code is displayed by the cell phone, and the check-out station scans the displayed bar code.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

Method according to claim 6, in which the check-out station receives the 2-D bar code by optically scanning the 2-D bar code.

### Claim 10

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.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the customer identifier comprises an identifier selected from the group consisting of a loyalty card number, a phone number, a credit card number, and a driver's license number.

### Claim 12 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the customer identifier comprises an identifier selected from the group consisting of a loyalty card number, a phone number, a credit card number, and a driver's license number.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the customer identifier comprises an identifier selected from the group consisting of a loyalty card number, a phone number, a credit card number, and a driver's license number.