Method and apparatus for operating a self-service retail system in a department store

A method of operating a department store retail system in order to perform a purchase transaction, with said department store retail system having (i) a first self-service checkout terminal positioned in a first department of said department store, and (ii) a second self-service checkout terminal positioned in a second department of said department store, comprising the steps of:

• generating a first item-entered control signal if a customer enters a first item for purchase from said first department in said first self-service checkout terminal;
• determining if said customer has an additional item for purchase from said first department to enter in said first self-service checkout terminal in response to generation of said first item-entered control signal and generating a first no-additional-items control signal if said customer has no additional items from said first department to enter in said first self-service checkout terminal;
• suspending said purchase transaction of said customer at said first self-service checkout terminal in response to generation of said first no-additional-items control signal;
• resuming said purchase transaction of said customer at said second self-service checkout terminal, wherein said resuming step is performed subsequent to said suspending step;
• and
• generating a second item-entered control signal if said customer enters a second item for purchase from said second department in said second self-service checkout terminal.

A method of operating a department store retail system in order to perform a purchase transaction, with said department store retail system having (i) a self-service checkout terminal positioned in a department of said department store, and (ii) a supervisor terminal positioned in an exit area of said department store, comprising the steps of:

• generating an item-entered control signal if a customer enters an item for purchase from said department in said self-service checkout terminal;
• determining if said customer has an additional item for purchase from said department to enter in said self-service checkout terminal in response to generation of said item-entered control signal and generating a no-additional-items control signal if said customer has no additional items from said department to enter in said self-service checkout terminal;
• operating said self-service checkout terminal so as to allow said customer to tender payment for said item for purchase in said department of said department store;
• and
• operating said supervisor terminal so as to provide security to said purchase transaction of said customer in said exit area of said retail store.

A department store retail system for performing a purchase transaction, comprising:

• a first self-service checkout terminal positioned in a first department of said department store, wherein said first self-service checkout terminal is configured to (i) generate a first item-entered control signal if a customer enters a first item for purchase from said first department in said first self-service checkout terminal, (ii) determine if said customer has an additional item for purchase from said first department to enter in said first self-service checkout terminal in response to generation of said first item-entered control signal and generate a first no-additional-items control signal if said customer has no additional items from said first department to enter in said first self-service checkout terminal, and (iii) suspend said purchase transaction of said customer in response to generation of said first no-additional-items control signal;
• and
• a second self-service checkout terminal positioned in a second department of said department store, said second self-service checkout terminal being electrically coupled to said first self-service checkout terminal, wherein said second self-service checkout terminal is configured to (i) resume said purchase transaction of said customer at said second self-service checkout terminal, and (ii) generate a second item-entered control signal if said customer enters a second item for purchase from said second department in said second self-service checkout terminal.

A method of operating a department store retail system in order to perform a purchase transaction, with said department store retail system having (i) a first self-service checkout terminal positioned in a first department of a department store, and (ii) a supervisor terminal, comprising the steps of:

• generating a first item-entered control signal if a customer enters a first item for purchase in said first self-service checkout terminal;
• determining if said customer desires to tender payment for said first item at said first self-service checkout terminal in response to generation of said first item-entered control signal, said determining step including (i) generating a first pay-now control signal if said customer operates said self-service checkout terminal to indicate a desire to tender payment for said first item at said first self-service checkout terminal, and (ii) generating a first pay-later control signal if said customer operates said self-service checkout terminal to indicate a desire no to tender payment for said first item at said first self-service checkout terminal;
• operating said first self-service checkout terminal to allow said customer to tender payment for said first item for purchase in response to generation of said first pay-now control signal;
• and
• suspending operation of said purchase transaction in response to generation of said first pay-later control signal.

A method of operating a department store retail system in order to perform a purchase transaction, with said department store retail system having (i) a first self-service checkout terminal positioned in a first department of a department store, and (ii) a second self-service checkout terminal positioned in a second department of said department store which is distinct from said first department, comprising the steps of:

• generating a first item-entered control signal if a customer enters a first item for purchase in said first self-service checkout terminal;
• determining if said customer desires to tender payment for said first item at said first self-service checkout terminal in response to generation of said first item-entered control signal, said determining step including (i) generating a first pay-now control signal if said customer operates said self-service checkout terminal to indicate a desire to tender payment for said first item at said first self-service checkout terminal, and (ii) generating a first pay-later control signal if said customer operates said self-service checkout terminal to indicate a desire not to tender payment for said first item at said first self-service checkout terminal;
• operating said first self-service checkout terminal to allow said customer to tender payment for said first item for purchase in response to generation of said first pay-now control signal;
• and
• suspending operation of said purchase transaction in response to generation of said first pay-later control signal.