Self-checkout system and method including item buffer for item security verification

A self-checkout system for a retail establishment that allows a customer to checkout multiple items having respective identification codes, comprising:

• a computer;
• means coupled to the computer for reading the identification codes;
• security means coupled to the computer for verifying that the items actually being checked out from the retail establishment match those identified by the identification code reading means;
• and
• whereby the computer includes means for storing identification information of multiple items obtained by said identification code reading means in a buffer before verifying that the items actually being checked out from the retail establishment are the same as those identified by the identification code reading means.

A self-checkout system for a grocery store that allows a customer to checkout multiple grocery store items having respective bar codes, comprising:

• a checkout terminal having memory, the memory having a buffer;
• a bar code scanner coupled to the checkout terminal for reading the bar codes for determining the identifications of the grocery store items;
• an electronic scale coupled to the checkout terminal for verifying that the weight of the grocery store items actually being checked out from the grocery store match the weight of the grocery store items identified by the bar code scanner;
• and
• whereby the checkout terminal is adapted to store identification information of multiple grocery store items obtained by said bar code scanner in said buffer before verifying with said electronic scale that the weight of the grocery store items actually being checked out from the grocery store matches the weight of the grocery store items identified by the bar code scanner.

A method of checkout using a check out system for an establishment that allows a customer to checkout multiple items having respective identification codes, the method comprising the steps of:

• reading the identification codes of multiple items to be checked out;
• storing identification information for the multiple items in a buffer;
• and
• verifying that one or more physical characteristics of the items actually being checked from the establishment match one or more respective physical characteristics associated with the stored identification information for the multiple items after reading and storing identification codes for multiple items.

A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program logic stored therein, said computer program logic enabling the self-checkout of multiple items having respective identification codes with a self-checkout system for a retail establishment, said computer program logic comprising:

• means for determining identification information of multiple items to be checked out based on said identification codes;
• means for storing in a buffer identification information for multiple consecutive items identified by said determining means;
• and
• means for verifying that one or more characteristics of the items actually being checked out match one or more respective characteristics associated with the stored identification information for the multiple items after determining and storing identification information for multiple items.

A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program logic stored therein, said computer program logic enabling the self-checkout of multiple grocery store items having respective bar codes with a self-checkout system for a grocery store, said computer program logic comprising:

• means for determining identification information of multiple grocery store items to be checked out based on said bar codes;
• means for storing in a buffer identification information for the multiple consecutive grocery store items identified by said determining means;
• and
• means for verifying that the weight of the grocery store items actually being checked out match the weight associated with the stored identification information for the multiple grocery store items after determining and storing identification information for multiple grocery store items.

A method of a self-checkout and item verification, comprising the steps of

• obtaining identity of a first item by scanning an optical code thereon;
• before placing the first item on a weigh scale to verify its identity, obtaining identity of a second item by scanning an optical code thereon;
• placing both the first item and the second item on the weigh scale;
• obtaining a combined weight of the first and second items from the weigh scale;
• using the combined weight of the first and second items to verify identity of both the first item and the second item.