Apparatus and method for operating a checkout system having a security scale for providing security during an assisted checkout transaction

An assisted retail terminal, comprising:

• a terminal base having (i) a customer side, and (ii) a personnel side which is opposite said customer side;
• a code entry device secured to said terminal base;
• a post-scan area for supporting an item of a customer subsequent to entry of said item with said code entry device by retail personnel, said post-scan area being oriented relative to said terminal base so as to allow advancement of said item by said retail personnel into said post-scan area from said personnel side of said terminal base;
• a security weight scale for monitoring (i) placement of said item into said post-scan area by said retail personnel, and (ii) removal of said item from said post-scan area by said retail personnel;
• a processing unit electrically coupled to both said code entry device and said security weight scale;
• and
• a memory device electrically coupled to said processing unit, wherein said memory device has stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by said processing unit, causes said processing unit to:
• (a) generate an item-entered control signal when a product code associated with said item of said customer is entered with said code entry device by said retail personnel,
• (b) detect placement of said item by said retail personnel into said post-scan area with said security weight scale and generate a detection control signal in response thereto, and
• (c) generate an invalid-use control signal if said detection control signal is generated prior to generation of said item-entered control signal.

A method of providing security to an assisted retail terminal having a security weight scale associated therewith, comprising the steps of:

• generating an item-entered control signal when a product code associated with an item of a customer is entered into said retail terminal by retail personnel;
• retrieving a reference weight value of said item from a weight database in response to generation of said item-entered control signal;
• determining a measured weight value of said item with said security weight scale when said item is placed into a post-scan area by said retail personnel;
• and
• generating an invalid-use control signal if said measured weight value of said item does not match said reference weight value of said item.

A method of providing security to a retail terminal during assisted checkout transactions, comprising the steps of:

• operating said retail terminal by retail personnel while said retail terminal is configured in an assisted mode of operation;
• generating an item-entered control signal when a product code associated with an item of a customer is entered into said retail terminal by retail personnel during said operating step;
• detecting placement of said item by said retail personnel into a post-scan area associated with said retail terminal with a security weight scale during said operating step and generating a detection control signal in response thereto;
• and
• generating an invalid-use control signal if said detection control signal is generated prior to generation of said item-entered control signal.

A method of providing security to a retail terminal, comprising the steps of:

• generating an item-entered control signal when a product code associated with an item of a customer is entered into said retail terminal by retail personnel while said retail terminal is configured to be in an assisted mode of operation;
• detecting placement of said item by said retail personnel into a post-scan area associated with said retail terminal with a security weight scale while said retail terminal is configured to be in an assisted mode of operation and generating a detection control signal in response thereto;
• and
• generating an invalid-use control signal if said detection control signal is generated prior to generation of said item-entered control signal.