Method of using, apparatus, product, and system for a no touch point-of-sale self-checkout

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016110702-A1
Application number	US-201514883178-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 14, 2015
Priority date	Oct 15, 2014
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and system to perform a sale transaction are provided. The method includes identifying each item of a plurality of items, based on at least one image of the plurality of items, determining a cost for each item, optionally identifying a person based on an image of the person, adding each of the items and each of the costs to a sale transaction, and charging the person for the sale transaction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of performing a sale transaction, comprising:
identifying, by a first computer or another computer, each item of one or a plurality of items, based on at least one image of the items captured by one or more cameras; determining, by the first computer or another computer, a cost for each item; identifying, by the first computer or another computer, a person accompanying the items based on an image of the person captured by one of the one or more cameras or another camera; adding, by the first computer or another computer, each of the items and each of the costs to a sale transaction; and charging, by the first computer or another computer, the person for the sale transaction.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the person is identified based on a same image used to identify an item.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an item is identified based on at least one of: a color of the item, a size of the item, a weight range of the item, a packaging dimension of the item, a packaging shape of the item, and a graphical design of the item.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the person is identified based on at least one of: a mobile computing device carried by the person, a voice of the person, and an identification card of the person.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
authenticating, by the first computer or another computer, the person based on a first factor and a second factor, wherein the first factor is one of:
an image of a face of the person obtained via one of the one or more cameras or another camera, a sample of a voice of the person obtained via a microphone, a mobile computing device of the person detected via a wireless network receiver, or a credit card of the person read by a credit card reader;
and the second factor is one of:
a spoken pass-code of the person obtained via the microphone, signing of a signature of the person obtained via a touchscreen, a personal identification number of the person obtained via a keyboard or the touchscreen, or gesturing of a pass-code of the person obtained via the touchscreen.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
signaling, by at least one of a speaker, a light, or a visual display, the person that the sale transaction is complete.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
producing, by at least one of the first computer, another computer, or a printer, a receipt for the sale transaction.

8 . A computer program product for performing a sale transaction, the computer program product comprising:
a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code, the computer-readable program code executable by one or more computer processors to perform an operation that comprises:
identifying, by at least one of the one or more computer processors, each item of one or a plurality of items, based on at least one image of the items captured by one or more cameras;
determining, by at least one of the one or more computer processors, a cost for each item;
identifying, by at least one of the one or more computer processors, a person accompanying the items based on an image of the person captured by one of the one or more cameras or another camera;
adding, by at least one of the one or more computer processors, each of the items and each of the costs to a sale transaction; and
charging, by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the person for the sale transaction.

9 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the person is identified based on a same image used to identify an item.

10 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein an item is identified based on at least one of: a color of the item, a size of the item, a weight range of the item, a packaging dimension of the item, a packaging shape of the item, and a graphical design of the item.

11 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the person is identified based on at least one of: a mobile computing device carried by the person, a voice of the person, and an identification card of the person.

12 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the operation further comprises:
authenticating, by the first computer or another computer, the person based on a first factor and a second factor, wherein the first factor is one of:
an image of a face of the person obtained via one of the one or more cameras or another camera, a sample of a voice of the person obtained via a microphone, a mobile computing device of the person detected via a wireless network receiver, or a credit card of the person read by a credit card reader;
and the second factor is one of:
a spoken pass-code of the person obtained via the microphone, signing of a signature of the person obtained via a touchscreen, a personal identification number of the person obtained via a keyboard or the touchscreen, or gesturing of a pass-code of the person obtained via the touchscreen.

13 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the operation further comprises:
signaling, by at least one of a speaker, a light, or a visual display, the person that the sale transaction is complete.

14 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the operation further comprises:
producing, by at least one of the first computer, another computer, or a printer, a receipt for the sale transaction.

15 . A system for performing a sale transaction, comprising:
a computer processor; one or more visual sensors communicatively coupled with the computer processor; and a memory containing program code which, when executed by the computer processor, causes the system to perform an operation comprising:
identifying, by the computer processor, each item of one or a plurality of items, based on at least one image of the items captured by the one or more visual sensors;
determining, by the computer processor, a cost for each item;
identifying, by the computer processor, a person accompanying the items based on an image of the person captured by the one or more visual sensors;
adding, by the computer processor, each of the items and each of the costs to a sale transaction; and
charging, by the computer processor, the person for the sale transaction.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the person is identified based on a same image used to identify an item.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein an item is identified based on at least one of: a color of the item, a size of the item, a weight range of the item, a packaging dimension of the item, a packaging shape of the item, and a graphical design of the item.

18 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a wireless network interface; a microphone; a touchscreen; a credit card reader; and a keypad; wherein the operation further comprises:
authenticating the person based on a first factor and a second factor, wherein the first factor is one of:
an image of a face of the person obtained via the one or more visual sensors, a sample of a voice of the person obtained via the microphone, detecting a mobile computing device of the person via the wireless network interface, or reading a credit card of the person via the credit card reader;

and the second factor is one of:
a spoken pass-code of the person obtained via the microphone, signing of a signature of the person obtained via the touchscreen, a personal identification number of the person obtained via the keypad, or gesturing of a pass-code of the person, obtained via the touchscreen.

19 . The sys

Assignees

• Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corp

Inventors

• Landers Jr John David
• Herring Dean Frederick
• Johnson Brad Matthew
• Smith Jeffrey John
• Steiner David John
• Do Phuc Ky

Classifications

• G01S19/13

  Receivers · CPC title

• G06Q30/0235

  constrained by time limit or expiration date · CPC title

• G06T7/66

  of image moments or centre of gravity · CPC title

• G06F3/013

  Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G07G1/0063

  with means for detecting the geometric dimensions of the article of which the code is read, such as its size or height, for the verification of the registration · CPC title