Ncr Corporation

Peter Robert Charpentier

Jason Rambler

Donald Alexander Collins, Jr

Janry C Amada

John Paul Opay

Daniel Frederick White

Theodore Heske, Iii

Jennie Psihogios Johnson

Various embodiments each include at least one of systems, methods, firmware, and software to automatically configure a scanner, such as a scanner coupled to point-of-sale or self-service terminal. Some embodiments include initializing a scanner that is in an un-configured state and requesting scanner configuration settings from at least one device via a network, such as another scanner. Some embodiments further include receiving scanner configuration settings in response to the request and implementing the scanner configuration settings on the scanner.

Automatic scanner configuration

Currency is selectively illuminated with Ultraviolet (UV) light, Infrared (IR) light, and/or white light in front of a camera, which may be integrated into a scanner in some embodiments. The camera takes an image of the illuminated currency and the image is presented on a screen of a display for validating the currency.

Currency validation

An imaging device captures movements and/or non-movements of an operator of a Point-Of-Sale (POS) terminal during an ongoing transaction at the POS terminal. Events from the POS terminal are combined with the captured movements and/or non-movements to determine or predict what steps the operator should next do in furtherance of the ongoing transaction. Those steps are automatically communicated to the operator of the POS terminal for the transaction to progress.

Point-of-sale (POS) terminal assistance

Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, devices, software, and methods that leverage images captured by imaging devices of product barcode scanners, which may include scanner-scale devices, and other imaging devices deployed at a Point of Sale (POS) terminal. One such embodiment, in the form of a method, includes identifying a scale-zero error condition and determining, based on a view of a scale surface provided by at least one imaging device, whether an item is present on the scale surface. In such embodiments, when no item is present on the scale surface, the method includes providing an instruction via an output device for proceeding with a scale zeroing process. Further in such embodiments, when an item is present on the scale surface, the method includes providing an instruction via the output device to remove the item present on the scale surface and restarting the method.

Image processing for scale zero validation

Various embodiments herein each include at least one of devices, methods, and software for image guided scale calibration. One embodiment, in the form of a method, includes outputting an instruction to place a first weight on a scale being calibrated at a particular location and capturing at least one image of the weight when placed on the scale. The method then processes a captured image of a weight when placed on the scale to determine whether the weight is the first weight and whether the weight is at the particular location. When the weight placed on the scale is not the first weight or the weight is not at the particular location, the method performs a remedial action.

Image guided scale calibration

A scanner recognizes types of images and components of those image types. Custom routing rules are applied against the types and components and the scanner utilizes multiple network connections to route the images and components to destinations within a Point-Of-Sale (POS) terminal and external to the POS terminal over a Wide-Area Network (WAN) and/or a Local-Area Network (LAN).

Scanner image routing (SIR)

A store can stock items that have the same appearance but have different prices. For instance, organic bananas can look like conventional bananas, but can be priced higher than conventional bananas. In some examples, a higher-priced item can be tagged with an identifier, which can include a visual cue that indicates, to the naked eye, that the item is higher-priced. For instance, organic bananas can include tape that visually indicates that the bananas are organic. In some examples, the problem of a person purchasing a higher-priced item at an imaging checkout terminal, but selecting a price of a corresponding lower-priced but visually similar item, can be overcome by capturing an image of the purchased item, determining from the image that an identifier is attached to the item, determining that a lower-priced item is selected at the terminal, and producing an alert for an attendant.

Identifying an incorrect entry at an imaging checkout terminal

Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, methods, devices, and software for secure image processing. In particular, the secure image processing may be performed with regard to images, such as image frames of a video stream, from a camera to obscure, either via image modification, encryption, and discarding image frames, to prevent, limit, or secure viewing of sensitive information that may be included within images. One such embodiment includes receiving an image of an image flow from a scanner, such as a product scanner, and determining whether a sensitive item is present in the image. When a sensitive item is determined to be present in the image, such embodiments perform a security action with regard to the image prior to passing the image in the image flow from the scanner.

Secure image processing

An optical code scanner is presented that includes an improved user interface and an improved external computer interface. The user interface includes illumination devices that illuminate an air gap between the edges of a weigh plate and the top surface of the optical code scanner. The illumination devices provide guidance to the operator that allows the operator to optimize scanning performance. The external computer interface exposes controls that allow an external computer to determine what information is displayed to an operator.

User interface for an optical code scanner

An apparatus, system and method are presented for improving the accessibility to self-service terminals by the visually impaired. An apparatus is provided that when attached to a touch-screen display improves accessibility. The apparatus includes touch identifiable symbols. A user operates a self-service terminal by selecting the appropriate symbol on the apparatus in response to audible instructions from the terminal.

Growing community of inventors

Suwanee, GA, United States of America

Peter Robert Charpentier