System and method for updating a product database based on surveillance tag detection at a self-checkout station

Abstract

A system modifies the status of a surveillance tag indicator in a product data record corresponding to an article being processed at checkout stand. The system comprises a product database having product records corresponding to articles sold in a store, a surveillance tag interrogator associated with the checkout station that generates a surveillance tag present signal in response to detection of a surveillance tag, and a database modifier communicatively coupled to the database and the interrogator for modifying a surveillance tag indicator of a product record in response to the surveillance tag present signal from the interrogator. The database modifier, in response to the surveillance tag present signal, may set the surveillance tag indicator of a product record corresponding to an article being processed for checkout to indicate a surveillance tag is expected for the article thereafter. Subsequent queries of the product database using the barcode or other product identification data for the article retrieve a product record with an active surveillance tag indicator. One or more interrogators may be included in the system. Preferably, two interrogators are used with one being associated with the EAS deactivator of the checkout stand and the other being associated with the bag well of the checkout stand. Thus, the database modifier of the present invention updates the surveillance tag indicator to an active status in response to the unexpected detection of a surveillance tag being attached to the article being processed.