SHOPPING CART MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORE CHECKOUT

摘要

A system and method for retail inventory checkout in which the customer selects items from the item shelves and as an item is taken from the shelf, the customer employs an input device, such as a portable data terminal, a smart phone provided with a store application or other suitable device that communicates with the store network, to identify the item either by scanning the optical code on the item or by other means, and then once scanned, the item is added to the purchase list and then placed in a shopping cart, basket or other container. Once item selection is completed, the customer proceeds to a point of sale (POS) or pay station and puts the cart onto a weigh scale whereby the total weight of the cart with the items included (measured total weight) is measured by the weigh scale and the net weight of the items in the cart (calculated by subtracting the weight of the cart from the measured total weight) is compared to a theoretic weight of the items as calculated by the store system using the weight information of the items present in the store database. Based on the result of the comparison, the store system either approves the transaction, whereby the customer then pays for the transaction and is permitted to exit with the items, or the transaction is flagged for audit or further assistance/scrutiny.

主权项

1. An method for item self-checkout at a retail store in a shopping transaction, comprising the steps of
selecting, by the customer, a cart, basket or other container for gathering items to be purchased; selecting items for purchase, and for each item selected, using a portable data terminal to identify the item selected, and placing the item in the container, wherein the portable data terminal adds the item to a purchase list; once all items have been selected, proceeding to a checkout position and placing the container with the selected items onto a scale; obtaining a tare weight for the container without items; using the scale to obtain a measured total weight of the container and the items therein; calculating a theoretical total weight of the items equal to a sum of expected weights of items on the purchase list; approving a transaction if the measured total weight of the items is equal to the theoretical total weight of the items within a given tolerance.