Method and apparatus for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal

An apparatus, comprising:

• a storage device;
• and
• a processor in communication with the storage device,
• the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor;
• and
• the processor operative with the program to:
• initiate a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal;
• transmit a prompt to be spoken during the transaction;
• receive an audio signal;
• determine whether the audio signal corresponds to the prompt;
• prevent a cash drawer from opening if the audio signal does not correspond to the prompt;
• receive a customer audio signal from a customer;
• determining operator transaction information from the audio signal;
• determining customer transaction information from the customer audio signal;
• and
• determining whether the operator transaction information corresponds to the customer transaction information.

A medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a device to perform the steps of:

• initiating a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal;
• transmitting a prompt to be spoken during the transaction;
• receiving an audio signal;
• determining whether the audio signal corresponds to the prompt;
• preventing a cash drawer from opening if the audio signal does not correspond to the prompt;
• receiving a customer audio signal from a customer;
• determining operator transaction information from the audio signal;
• determining customer transaction information from the customer audio signal;
• and
• determining whether the operator transaction information corresponds to the customer transaction information.

A method for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

• initiating a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal;
• transmitting a prompt to be spoken during the transaction;
• receiving an audio signal;
• determining whether the audio signal corresponds to the prompt;
• and
• preventing a cash drawer from opening if the audio signal does not correspond to the prompt;
• measuring an activity rate of a point-of-sale terminal;
• and
• pausing the transaction in accordance with the activity rate and the prompt.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a storage device;
• and
• a processor in communication with the storage device,
• the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor;
• and
• the processor operative with the program to:
• initiate a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal;
• transmit a prompt to be spoken during the transaction;
• receive an audio signal;
• determine whether the audio signal corresponds to the prompt;
• and
• prevent a cash drawer from opening if the audio signal does not correspond to the prompt;
• measure an activity rate of a point-of-sale terminal;
• and
• pause the transaction in accordance with the activity rate and the prompt.

A medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a device to perform the steps of:

• initiating a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal;
• transmitting a prompt to be spoken during the transaction;
• receiving an audio signal;
• determining whether the audio signal corresponds to the prompt;
• and
• preventing a cash drawer from opening if the audio signal does not correspond to the prompt;
• measuring an activity rate of a point-of-sale terminal;
• and
• pausing the transaction in accordance with the activity rate and the prompt.

A method for determining whether a verbal message was spoken during a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

• initiating a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal;
• transmitting a prompt to be spoken during the transaction;
• receiving an audio signal;
• determining whether the audio signal corresponds to the prompt;
• and
• preventing a cash drawer from opening if the audio signal does not correspond to the prompt;
• measuring an activity rate of a point-of-sale terminal;
• and
• pausing the transaction if the audio signal does not correspond to the prompt and the activity rate is less than a predetermined threshold.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a storage device;
• and
• a processor in communication with the storage device,
• the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor;
• and
• the processor operative with the program to:
• initiate a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal;
• transmit a prompt to be spoken during the transaction;
• receive an audio signal;
• determine whether the audio signal corresponds to the prompt;
• and
• prevent a cash drawer from opening if the audio signal does not correspond to the prompt;
• measure an activity rate of a point-of-sale terminal;
• and
• pause the transaction if the audio signal does not correspond to the prompt and the activity rate is less than a predetermined threshold.

A medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a device to perform the steps of:

• initiating a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal;
• transmitting a prompt to be spoken during the transaction;
• receiving an audio signal;
• determining whether the audio signal corresponds to the prompt;
• and
• preventing a cash drawer from opening if the audio signal does not correspond to the prompt;
• measuring an activity rate of a point-of-sale terminal;
• and
• pausing the transaction if the audio signal does not correspond to the prompt and the activity rate is less than a predetermined threshold.