Apparatus and method for operating a checkout system having a display monitor which displays both transaction information and customer-specific messages during a checkout transaction

A retail terminal, comprising:

• a display monitor;
• a processing unit electrically coupled to said display monitor;
• 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 an item for purchase is entered into said retail terminal,
• (b) display item information associated with said item for purchase on a first portion of said display monitor in response to generation of said item-entered control signal, and
• (c) display a customer-specific retail message on a second portion of said display monitor contemporaneously with display of said item information associated with said item for purchase on said first portion of said display monitor.

A method of operating a retail terminal having a display monitor, comprising the steps of:

• generating an item-entered control signal when an item for purchase of a customer is entered into said retail terminal by retail personnel;
• retrieving retail history information associated with said customer from a customer profile database;
• displaying item information associated with said item for purchase on a first portion of said display monitor in response to generation of said item-entered control signal;
• and
• displaying a customer-specific retail message based on said retail history information on a second portion of said display monitor, wherein said step of displaying said customer-specific retail message is performed contemporaneously with said step of displaying said item information associated with said item for purchase.

A method of operating a retail terminal, 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 an item for purchase is entered into said retail terminal;
• displaying item information associated with said item for purchase on a first portion of a display monitor during said operating step in response to generation of said item-entered control signal;
• and
• displaying a customer-specific retail message on a second portion of said display monitor during said operating step, wherein said step of displaying said customer-specific retail message is performed contemporaneously with said step of displaying said item information associated with said item for purchase.

A method of operating an assisted retail terminal, comprising the steps of:

• generating an item-entered control signal when an item for purchase is entered into said retail terminal;
• displaying item information associated with said item for purchase on a first portion of a display monitor while said retail terminal is configured to be in an assisted mode of operation in response to generation of said item-entered control signal;
• and
• displaying a customer-specific retail message on a second portion of said display monitor while said retail terminal is configured to be in an assisted mode of operation, wherein said step of displaying said customer-specific retail message is performed contemporaneously with said step of displaying said item information associated with said item for purchase.