Apparatus, method, and system for positively identifying an item

A user interface for positively identifying an item, the user interface comprising:

• an input module configured to read a coded identifier associated with the item and to capture a visual characteristic associated with the item, the visual characteristic captured independent of the coded identifier;
• a controller in communication with the input module, the controller configured to receive the coded identifier and the visual characteristic from the input module, identify the item in a database based on the coded identifier, convert the visual characteristic into a visual signature based on brightness, hue, color saturation, and color variation, and verify the identity of the item based on the visual signature;
• and
• a confirmation module in communication with the controller, the confirmation module configured to confirm that the identity of the item by way of audio information describing one or more visual characteristics of an item associated with the coded identifier such that a user can detect a mismatch between the coded identifier and the item to facilitate fraud detection, and receive a confirmation selection from the user confirming that the visual characteristic of the item matches the audio information.

A system for positively identifying an item, the system comprising:

• a checkout station, comprising:
• a processor configured to execute executable data structures;
• and
• a memory device connected to the processor for storing the executable data structures, the executable and operational data structures comprising:
• a reader module configured to read a coded identifier of the item;
• and
• a capture module configured to capture a visual characteristic of the item, the visual characteristic captured independent of the coded identifier, and convert the visual characteristic into a visual signature based on brightness, hue, color saturation, and color variation;
• and
• a presentation module configured to provide audio information describing one or more visual characteristics of an item associated with the coded identifier such that a user can detect a mismatch between the coded identifier and the item to facilitate fraud detection;
• a confirmation module configured to receive a confirmation selection from the user confirming that the visual characteristic of the item matches the audio information;
• and
• a server in communication with the checkout station, the server comprising:
• an association module configured to identify the item in a database based on the coded identifier;
• and
• a verification module configured to verify the identity of the item based on the visual signature.

A method for positively identifying an item, the method comprising:

• reading a coded identifier associated with the item;
• capturing a visual characteristic of the item, the visual characteristic captured independent of the coded identifier;
• capturing the visual characteristic into a visual signature based on brightness, hue, color saturation, and color variation;
• identifying the item in a database based on the coded identifier;
• providing audio information describing one or more visual characteristics of an item associated with the coded identifier such that a user can detect a mismatch between the coded identifier and the item to facilitate fraud detection;
• receiving a confirmation selection from the user confirming that the visual characteristic of the item matches the audio information;
• and
• verifying the identity of the item based on the visual signature.

An apparatus for positively identifying an item, the apparatus comprising:

• means for reading a coded identifier associated with the item;
• means for capturing a visual characteristic of the item, the visual characteristic captured independent of the coded identifier;
• means for converting the visual characteristic into a visual signature based on brightness, hue, color saturation, and color variation;
• means for identifying the item in a database based on the coded identifier;
• means for providing audio information describing one or more visual characteristics of an item associated with the coded identifier such that a user can detect a mismatch between the coded identifier and the item to facilitate fraud detection;
• receiving a confirmation selection from the user confirming that the visual characteristic of the item matches the audio information;
• and
• means for verifying the identity of the item based on the visual signature.

An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a processor and embodying one or more instructions executable by a processor to perform a method for positively identifying an item, the method comprising:

• reading a coded identifier associated with an item;
• capturing a visual characteristic of the item, the visual characteristic captured independent of the coded identifier;
• converting the visual characteristic into a visual signature based on brightness, hue, color saturation, and color variation;
• identifying the item in a database based on the coded identifier;
• providing audio information describing one or more visual characteristics of an item associated with the coded identifier such that a user can detect a mismatch between the coded identifier and the item to facilitate fraud detection;
• receiving a confirmation selection from the user confirming that the visual characteristic of the item matches the audio information;
• and
• verifying the identity of the item based on the visual signature.