Method and apparatus for automated shopper checkout using radio frequency identification technology

摘要

A method and apparatus involve: providing a plurality of products that are each associated with a respective radio frequency identification tag; using radio frequency identification technology to automatically identify specific products in a group of products collected by a shopper; and evaluating whether or not to obtain payment from the shopper based on the radio frequency identification of products in the group. Based on the result of the evaluation, either payment is obtained from the shopper on the basis of the radio frequency identification of products in the group, or else the products in the group are audited, and then payment is obtained on the basis of the products identified by the audit.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
providing a plurality of products that are each associated with a respective radio frequency identification tag; using radio frequency identification technology to automatically identify specific products within a group of the products collected by a shopper; and evaluating whether to obtain payment from the shopper based on the radio frequency identification of products in the group and as a function of a business value assigned by a seller, and then, based on the result of the evaluating, carrying out one of: obtaining payment from the shopper based on the radio frequency identification of products in the group; and auditing the products in the group, and then obtaining payment from the shopper based on the products identified by the auditing; maintaining the business value, wherein the business value is selectively adjustable by the seller; including assigning each of the plurality of products a respective difficulty rating representing the level of difficulty involved in identifying that product using radio frequency identification technology; wherein the evaluating includes selecting one of a plurality of different difficulty thresholds as a function of the business value; and carrying out the auditing and the obtaining of payment based on the auditing if any of the products identified by radio frequency identification technology has a difficulty rating in excess of the selected difficulty threshold.