The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 25, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 28, 1999
Edward G. Rantze, Lawrenceville, GA (US);
NCR Corporation, Dayton, OH (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for operating a retail terminal, such as a kiosk, includes a proximity detector that is operable to ascertain movement of a consumer relative to the retail terminal and the distance therefrom. The retail terminal may use the movement/distance measurement to either power-up the retail terminal from a power-down mode or change the mode of operation of the retail terminal. A transmitter emits waveforms of preferably different frequencies that reflect from objects (e.g. a consumer) within various zones. The reflected waveforms are received by a detector in the retail terminal and analyzed to determine movement and/or distance that the consumer is relative to the retail terminal. A retail terminal is also provided.