Self-Checkout System

A self-service computing device comprising:

• processing circuitry and memory comprising instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the self-service computing device is configured to:
• detect a first weight for an item positioned on a sensory platform coupled to a self-service computing device, the sensory platform comprising a buy zone and a weight sensor integrated into the buy zone;
• determine a stabilized weight, wherein the determining the stabilized weight comprises calculating a first change in a first frequency associated with a first occurrence of intervals in which the first weight of the item falls below a threshold predetermined period of time;
• determine a weight-based item count, wherein determining the weight-based item count comprises calculating a second change in a second frequency associated with the occurrence of intervals the stabilized weight exceeds a threshold value;
• responsive to determining the stabilized weight:
• (i) cause a plurality of image capture devices positioned at a plurality of viewpoints coupled to the sensory platform to capture a plurality of images of the item;
• (ii) identify a visual characteristic of the item positioned in the buy zone in the plurality of received images;
• and
• (iii) retrieve, from memory, a second weight of the item identified in the plurality of images based on the visual characteristic of the item;
• generate an image-based item count, wherein to generate the image-based item count the self-service computing device is configured to:
• compare the identified visual characteristic of the item with the second weight of the item;
• and
• validate the presence of the item positioned on the sensory platform based on the comparison of the identified item and the second weight of the item;
• and
• cause or block a self-service transaction operation at the self-service computing device depending respectively on whether or not the image-based item count and the weight-based item count correspond;
• wherein to cause the self-service transaction operation, the self-service computing device is configured to detect a near-field wireless signal and authorize the self-service transaction operation;
• and
• wherein to block the self-service transaction operation, the self-service computing device is configured to disable transaction processing at the self-service computing device.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program for controlling a self-service computing device, the computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry of the self-service computing device, cause the self-service computing device to:

• detect a first weight for an item positioned on a sensory platform coupled to a self-service computing device, the sensory platform comprising a buy zone and a weight sensor integrated into the buy zone;
• determine a stabilized weight, wherein the determining the stabilized weight comprises calculating a first change in a first frequency associated with a first occurrence of intervals in which the first weight of the item falls below a threshold predetermined period of time;
• determine a weight-based item count, wherein determining the weight-based item count comprises calculating a second change in a second frequency associated with the occurrence of intervals the stabilized weight exceeds a threshold value;
• responsive to determining the stabilized weight:
• (i) cause a plurality of image capture devices positioned at a plurality of viewpoints coupled to the sensory platform to capture a plurality of images of the item;
• (ii) identify a visual characteristic of the item positioned in the buy zone in the plurality of received images;
• and
• (iii) retrieve, from memory, a second weight of the item identified in the plurality of images based on the visual characteristic of the item;
• generate an image-based item count, wherein generating the image-based item count comprises:
• comparing the identified visual characteristic of the item with the second weight of the item;
• and
• validating the presence of the item positioned on the sensory platform based on the comparison of the identified item and the second weight of the item;
• cause or block a self-service transaction operation at the self-service computing device depending respectively on whether or not the image-based item count and the weight-based item count correspond;
• wherein causing the self-service transaction operation comprises detecting a near-field wireless signal and authorizing the self-service transaction operation;
• and
• wherein blocking the self-service transaction operation comprises disabling transaction processing at the self-service computing device.