International Business Machines Corporation

Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation

Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions

Other

Timothy Wayne Crockett

David John Steiner

Jose R Figueroa

Brad Matthew Johnson

Kimberly Wood

Scott Graham

Suzanne M Bleakley

Robert Thomas Cato

Jeff David Thomas

Phuc Ky Do

Justin Monroe Pierce

Tong Yu

Stacy Arrington

Hye Suk Chi

Craig Compton

Harry Thomas Minikel

Paul Kokkelenberg

Charles Kurtz

Edna Novido

D Williams

Sally Ierston

Richard Hunter Harris

Albert Vincent Makley

Robert Andrew Myers

William Laird Dungan

Duane Scott Miller

Lester Bartus, Jr

John Hibbard

Craig Turner

Paul Wilson

Ashley Trimpey

Paul Daniel Kangas

Julie Anne Morris

James M White

Charles Ray Kirk

Paul Morton Wilson

Craig W Turner

Stacy Leigh Arrington

Robert Scott Fortenberry

David A Bernath

Ashley Lanier Trimpey

John A Hibbard

Jay Hyuk Kim

Rex L Wills

Hye S Makley

Techniques of self-checkout alerts based on packaging detection. A given bag type of a bag selected at a self-checkout kiosk is identified out of a bag types available from a bag dispenser associated with the self-checkout kiosk, the bag being an empty bag. A weight range of the empty bag is identified based on the given bag type. An allowed weight range of a combination of the empty bag and a desired item is determined based on the weight range of the empty bag, a weight of the desired item as measured by a terminal scale, and at least one of a measurement tolerance of the terminal scale and a measurement tolerance of a platform scale. A loss prevention alert is generated, and a transaction at the self-checkout kiosk is paused, upon determining that the allowed weight range is exceeded.

Self-checkout alerts based on packaging detection

A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) enabled Self-Checkout (SCO) station includes an RF antenna that emits RF energy, such as RFID interrogation signals, through a variable aperture of an aperture plate into a scan zone. The size of the scan zone is selectively varied by electrically modifying the effective size of the aperture in the aperture plate.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) self-checkout (SCO) station

Techniques for self-checkout alert reduction based on packaging detection. A deflection in a first bag reservoir associated with a self-checkout kiosk is determined. The first bag reservoir is positioned adjacent to a packing area and includes a first type of bags. The self-checkout kiosk includes a terminal scale and further includes a platform scale in the packing area. That an empty bag is retrieved from the first bag reservoir is determined based on the deflection in the first bag reservoir. A bag type and a weight range are identified for the empty bag. An allowed weight range of a combination of the empty bag and a desired item is then determined. Presence of the empty bag on the platform scale is prevented from causing a loss prevention alert to be generated when the desired item has been placed in the empty bag on the platform scale.

Self-checkout alert reduction based on packaging detection

A self-checkout (SCO) terminal in a retail store controls banks of lights to communicate context information to a customer in order to better inform them about various events. The context information may be related to a predetermined event, such as a self-checkout process or an emergency event, and is enhanced using the personal preferences of the customer using the SCO terminal.

Point-of-sale (POS) operation system

A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) enabled Self-Checkout (SCO) station includes an RF antenna that emits RF energy, such as RFID interrogation signals, through the variable apertures of one or more aperture layers into a scan zone. The size of the scan zone is selectively varied by electrically modifying the effective size of the variable aperture in the aperture layer.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) self-checkout (SCO) station having a variable aperture for a selectively sized scan zone

A system includes a platen assembly having a platen and a magnet coupled with an underside of the platen. The system also includes a base assembly having a storage component and a base magnet coupled with the storage component. The base magnet and the magnet of the platen are magnetically coupled to secure the platen in place relative to the base assembly. The system also includes an electromagnet that is selectively activated to increase a holding strength of the platen to the base assembly. Techniques for selectively activating an electromagnet to increase a holding strength of a platen to a base assembly are also provided.

Platen stabilization system

A non-volatile multi-bit storage device that includes a phase change material doped with n-type or p-type semiconductor impurities, a first set of electrodes ohmically coupled to the phase change material, a second set of electrodes configured to apply an electric field across the phase change material. To program the non-volatile multi-bit storage device, an electrical field is applied to the phase change material as crystal annealing cool down is performed. Application of the electric field during the crystal annealing cool down forms a rectified current path through the phase change material.

Multi-bit storage device using phase change material

The present disclosure describes a directional radio frequency identification (RFID) system, which provides directional RFID tag scanning using RFID enclosures and moveable radio signal blocking components. The RFID systems herein also prevent unwanted RFID tag activation and focuses RFID readers on specific scan areas. The directional RFID systems may be implemented in any type of system that utilizes RFID tag reading, such as a point of sale systems and other related systems, which utilize RFID scanning.

Directional radio frequency identification system

Thermal printing systems are described. The thermal printing systems and methods described provide efficient, compact, and fast thermal printing by providing preheating components that generate a priming thermal energy which preheats thermal paper in the printing system. The priming thermal energy decreases the amount of energy needed to activate the thermal paper during printing. The system and methods also include an optical print head which activates thermal paper using optical energy, which provides for multiple different types of efficient component configuration and increased speed of printing.

Thermal paper preheating and optical printing

Radio frequency identification discontinuity correction is provided by calculating a phase-time slope for a Radio Frequency Identifier (RFID) signal received from an RFID tag; estimating, based on the phase-time slope, a predicted phase reading for the RFID signal at a given time; and in response to detecting a phase discontinuity based on a difference between the predicted phase reading and an actual phase reading for the given time, adjusting a calculated distance to the RFID tag. The calculated distance may indicate that the RFID tag is inside of or outside of a designated zone, and that a motion of the RFID tag indicates travel towards or away from the designated zone, which may be used to add or remove an item associated with the RFID tag to an ongoing item list.

Radio frequency identification discontinuity correction

The present disclosure provides improved packaging detection at self-checkout kiosks by identifying a given bag type for a bag selected at a self-checkout kiosk out of a plurality of bag types available from a bag dispenser associated with the self-checkout kiosk; identifying a weight range for the given bag type; in response to determining that the bag has been moved to a packing area of the self-checkout kiosk, comparing a first weight in the packing area from before the bag was moved to the packing area with a second weight in the packing area that includes the bag; and in response to a difference between the first weight and the second weight falling outside of the weight range, generating a loss prevention alert and pausing a transaction at the self-checkout kiosk.

Packaging detection for self checkout

System and method for operating a point-of-sale (POS) system in a retail environment

A method includes scanning, by a checkout station, a plurality of items and determining, by the checkout station, a total price for the plurality of items. Each item of the plurality of items is coupled to a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that identifies that item. The method also includes detecting, by an RFID scanner of a centralized payment station, one or more of the RFID tags of the plurality of items moving within a threshold distance of the centralized payment station and retrieving, by a hardware processor of the centralized payment station and based on the detected one or more RFID tags, the total price. The method further includes processing, by the hardware processor, a payment in satisfaction of the total price.

Radio-frequency-identification-based checkout process

A method of transmitting data serially can be provided by generating a pulse for a current data bit on an electrical conductor coupled to a string of LEDs, where the pulse has a pulse duration that is defined by a time between a rising edge of the current data bit and a falling edge of the current data bit, that is based on a logical value of the current data bit. A random delay time can be introduced between the falling edge of the current data bit and a rising edge of the next data bit and then the rising edge of the next data bit can be generated after expiration of the random delay time.

Methods of serially transmitting data to a string of LEDs using random delay times and related computer program products

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Timothy Wayne Crockett