RU2565005C1 - Self-checkout lane - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: radio engineering, communication.

SUBSTANCE: self-checkout lane consists of a goods scanner, an information desk and a payment terminal that includes an information display device, a data base communication device, a device for reception of payment from a buyer and a device for issue of a receipt and cash, and the goods scanner includes a goods arrangement place, RFID mark reader units, antennas, an information display device, a control unit, a data base communication device and weighs; the information desk includes an information display device and a data base communication device; with that, the goods scanner, the information desk and the payment terminal are equipped with a device for input of the identification code of purchase and/or the user for data readout from this identification code. The goods scanner is also provided with a radio non-permeable screening curtain with an opening/closing controller and a buyer security system preventing a closing operating at available interference on the way of movement of the screening curtain, and the antennas have a possibility of volumetric scanning of goods irrespectively of their orientation in the goods arrangement place.

EFFECT: reducing the time required for a goods buying process.

4 cl, 4 dwg

Description

The present invention relates to self-service devices in the field of trade, mainly to the retail sale of food and industrial goods and other small retail goods, mainly in large stores or large trading floors.

A self-service checkout counter is known (patent for utility model RU 113391, G07F 19/00, published February 10, 2012) related to the technology of interactive customer service by placing electronic touch-sensitive trading equipment in the store’s space to assist the buyer in making payment for purchases. This self-service checkout consists of a goods scanner, information desk and payment terminal, made in one single building, i.e. All the main functions (scanning the goods, receiving information about the goods and paying for the goods) are implemented in one place in one device. At the same time, the information desk contains an information display device made in the form of a touch screen on which information about products selected by the buyer is displayed, including at least the cost of each product and the amount of payment for the purchase, as well as interface elements that allow you to edit the order. A product scanner contains an RFID tag reader, antennas, a control unit, means for communicating with product databases, a place for placing goods made in the form of a holder for packages with goods installed in an unscreened space under said information display device, wherein goods must be distributed in a certain way. At the same time, the payment terminal contains funds for connecting to the Internet, funds for receiving payment from the buyer, funds for issuing a check and cash.

The disadvantages of this well-known technical solution are: the long process of the buyer’s work with the self-checkout counter when purchasing goods. This is due to the fact that all functions (scanning of goods, obtaining information about the goods, payment for goods) are implemented in one building. In addition, this known cash register has a low accuracy of reading RFID tags, due to the fact that the place for placing goods has high permeability for radio emission, which leads to undesirable reading of RFID tags that are not on the buyer's list. At the same time, the design of this interactive self-checkout counter, namely the place for placing goods, allows you to scan a small number of goods, due to the one-sided arrangement of antennas that scan in the same plane, i.e. when labeling a customer’s package, antennas may not see one RFID tag located behind another RFID tag. To RFID tags do not overlap each other when reading to the buyer, it is necessary to lay out the goods in a certain way, spending time. Also, this self-service checkout does not protect the buyer from the radio emission of antennas.

Known self-checkout "Self-checkout / self-check-in RFID and electronics article surveillance system" (patent for invention US 6169483, G07G 1/00; G08B 13/24; G06K 17/00, published 01.02.2001), based reading RFID tags for self-purchase of goods. This self-service checkout consists of a goods scanner, information desk and payment terminal, all of which are connected in one building. The said product scanner contains antennas, an RFID tag reader, an EAS tag reader, a place for placing goods, a means for communicating with product databases, a control unit. A payment terminal contains funds for receiving payment from the buyer and funds for issuing a check. At the same time, the information rack contains an information display device.

The disadvantages of this technical solution are: the long process of the buyer’s work with the self-checkout counter when purchasing goods, due to the fact that all functions (scanning the goods, receiving information about the goods, paying for the goods) are implemented in one building, while the buyer also spends additional time for preparation goods for scanning, in which he must strictly place it at the place of placement of the goods, which will lead to the creation and / or increase the queue of customers. The disadvantages also need to be attributed to the complex design due to the use of several types of narrowly oriented antennas, for which appropriate tags are needed, some of which are designed to transmit information about the product, and others to prevent theft in the store. Moreover, this technical solution has low accuracy of reading RFID tags attached to the product, due to the fact that the place for placing the goods has high permeability to radio emission, which leads to undesirable reading of RFID tags that are not on the buyer's list. Also, this self-service checkout does not protect the buyer from the radio emission of antennas.

Known self-checkout "Self-checkout system having integrated RFID reader" (patent application US 20040220860, A47F 9/04; G01G 19/414; G06Q 30/00; G07G 1/00, publ. 04/11/2004), related to systems independent purchase transactions using radio frequency identification (RFID) elements. This self-service checkout consists of a goods scanner, information desk and payment terminal, made in one building. At the same time, the product scanner contains a control unit, means for communicating with databases, antennas, an RFID tag reader, scales and a place for placing goods, made in the form of a conveyor belt, on which the buyer must lay out the goods individually. Said information rack comprises an information display device. And on the payment terminal there are installed funds for receiving payment and funds for issuing a check.

The well-known self-service checkout, designed to carry out purchasing operations using radio frequency identification (RFID) elements, is selected as a prototype, since it has the largest number of essential features that match the essential features of the claimed invention.

However, the prototype has significant disadvantages, namely:

- the long process of the buyer’s work with the self-checkout counter when purchasing goods, due to the fact that all the functions (scanning the goods, receiving information about the goods, paying for the goods) are implemented in one building, which increases the queue at the self-service checkouts;

- a lengthy process of scanning the goods, in which the buyer places the piece by piece at the place for placing the goods, made in the form of a conveyor belt;

- low accuracy of reading RFID tags, due to the fact that the place for placing goods has a high permeability to radio emission (i.e. the place for placing goods is not shielded from radio waves), which leads to undesirable reading of RFID tags that are not on the buyer's list , and to the adverse effects on the buyer of radio emission from antennas.

The objective of the present invention is to create a new self-checkout counter with the following technical result: reducing the time of the purchase and scanning of goods while increasing the accuracy and amount of reading RFID tags (in one scanning session), while increasing the buyer’s safety from exposure to radio waves.

The problem is solved due to the fact that:

- the goods scanner, information desk and payment terminal are independent devices spaced in space and included in a single information network;

- the identifier of the purchase and / or user is entered, the input device of which is installed on the goods scanner, information desk and payment terminal;

- the product scanner is equipped with a radiopaque shielding curtain with an opening / closing controller and a customer safety system that prevents closure in the presence of interference in the movement of the shielding curtain;

- the scanner of goods is configured to simultaneously read a large number of goods of various types;

- the antenna is made with the possibility of volumetric scanning of goods, regardless of their orientation in place for the placement of goods.

The essence of the claimed technical solution is that in the self-checkout counter, consisting of a goods scanner, information desk and payment terminal, which contains an information display device, means for communicating with databases, means for receiving payment from the buyer, and means for issuing a check and cash money, and the product scanner contains a place for placing goods, RFID tag readers, antennas, an information display device, a control unit, a tool for communicating with databases and scales, an information desk containing The information display device and the means for communicating with the databases according to the present invention, the product scanner, information desk and payment terminal are separate devices spaced in space, included in a single information network, equipped with a device for entering a purchase identifier and / or user for reading data from this identifier, while the product scanner is equipped with a radiopaque shielding curtain with an opening / closing controller and a buyer’s security system, preventing the closure in the presence of interference on the path of movement of the screening curtain, and the antennas are made with the possibility of volumetric scanning of goods regardless of their orientation in place for the placement of goods.

A development option for the main technical solution is possible, consisting in the fact that the information display devices in the product scanner, information desk and payment terminal are made in the form of a touch screen.

A development option for the main technical solution is possible, consisting in the fact that the place for placing goods is made in the form of an open / close insulated chamber.

A possible development option for the main technical solution is that an additional standard cash register terminal with a purchase identifier is introduced.

Thus, the claimed technical solution, in its entirety of essential features, allows to reduce the time of the purchase process due to the diversity in space according to functional features, information-related identifier of the purchase and / or user and the corresponding network of the product scanner, information rack and payment terminal, to reduce the time for scanning goods for due to the fact that the designated place for the placement of goods is made with the possibility of installing in it a shopping basket with a large number of goods a) to increase the accuracy and number of readable RFID tags due to antennas made with the possibility of realizing volumetric scanning (i.e., for this purpose, these antennas are installed on at least two sides in at least two planes), and a screening curtain, which at This increases the safety of the buyer from exposure to radio waves.

The applicant conducted a patent information search on this topic, as a result of which the claimed combination of essential features was not identified. Therefore, the present invention can be recognized as new.

The compliance of this invention with the patentability criterion of "inventive step" is justified by the following.

This invention for a specialist does not follow logically from the prior art. Known technical solutions describe self-checkout counters that have high permeability for radio emission, which leads to undesirable reading of extraneous RFID tags, for example, patent for utility model RU 113391, G07F 19/00, publ. 02/10/2012, where the antennas are located in the same plane, which reduces the number of readable RFID tags and the readout accuracy when buying several products, and the place for placing the product is made in such a way that these antennas can read the RFID tags of another customer or standing in line, or held in close proximity to the product, on which there is an RFID tag. Technical solutions are also known in which several types of antennas are installed, which leads to a complication of the structure, for example, in the patent for the invention US 6169483, G07G 1/00; G08B 13/24; G06K 17/00, publ. 02/01/2001, describe a self-checkout counter in which at least two types of antennas are installed, one of which reads information about the product, and the other deactivates anti-theft tags. Those. in addition to complicating the checkout itself by installing several types of antennas, it becomes necessary to install additional anti-theft tags on the product, which complicates the stage of pre-sale preparation of goods in stores. Moreover, the above technical solutions are highly specialized, because in the first case, the product scanner reads mainly RFID tags from clothes, and in the second - from books or audio / video tapes. A more universal self-service checkout is described in patent application US 20040220860, A47F 9/04; G01G 19/414; G06Q 30/00; G07G 1/00, publ. 04/11/2004, in which the place for placing the goods is made in the form of a conveyor, on which you can lay out clothes, books, and other goods with RFID tags. But the scanning process takes a long time, because the buyer needs to lay out each product on a moving belt, while in this self-checkout counter the product scanner can read the extra RFID tags of another buyer. It should also be noted that all of the above technical solutions do not protect the buyer from radio emission. A common disadvantage of the described technical solutions is the lengthy purchase process, i.e. these cash desks are mainly intended for stores where customers have low traffic due to the fact that the product scanner, information desk and payment terminal are in the same building. With a large flow of customers, these lines of self-service will accumulate large queues, because all the basic functions of a self-checkout counter (scanning a product, receiving information about a product, purchasing a product) are implemented in one place. If the buyer decides to familiarize himself in detail with the goods that he purchases, he will delay the buyers following him who will not be able to use the product scanner and payment terminal to complete the purchase.

In the claimed invention, the situation is different. The main functions of the self-checkout counter are separated in space, namely, scanning the goods, obtaining detailed information about each product and paying for the goods, because the buyer spends different time on these functions, and not every buyer uses the function to obtain detailed information about the product. For this, the product scanner, information desk and payment terminal are separate, but are combined by a single information network and the identifier of the purchase and / or user, the input device of which is installed on the product scanner, information desk and payment terminal. At the same time, the place for placing the goods is equipped with a radiopaque shielding curtain with an opening / closing controller and a customer safety system that prevents closure in the presence of interference in the movement of the shielding curtain. This screening curtain prevents “parasitic” reading of RFID tags of other customers located near the product scanner and protects them from radio emission. And the product scanner is capable of simultaneously scanning a large number of different types of goods, the antennas in which are installed on at least two sides in at least two planes, which increases the reading accuracy and speed of reading RFID tags due to volume scanning. Also, to control the purchase and improve accuracy, a weight measuring device is installed in the product scanner - scales that verify the read information from RFID tags in the customer’s basket with the weight of the product that was originally entered into the database, which allows to determine the location of excess goods, for example, damaged or torn RFID tag. In addition, in the claimed invention, it is possible to use several payment terminals at once, which will reduce the queue of customers after serving them with a product scanner, and the ability to use an information kiosk allows you to get all the necessary information on goods, which was previously performed only on devices known from the prototype and analogues.

Thus, the present invention is aimed at creating a new self-checkout counter, the technical result of which is to reduce the time of the purchase and scanning of goods while increasing the accuracy and amount of reading RFID tags (in one scanning session), while increasing the buyer’s safety from exposure to it radio emissions.

The essence of the claimed invention and the possibility of its practical implementation is illustrated by the description and drawings below.

FIG. 1 - General view of the self-checkout.

FIG. 2 - General view of the product scanner.

FIG. 3 - General view of the self-checkout counter with cash register terminal.

FIG. 4 - An approximate layout of the checkout counter in the store.

1 - product scanner;

2 - information desk;

3 - payment terminal;

4 - information display device (at the payment terminal);

5 - funds for receiving payment;

6 - funds for issuing a check;

7 - funds for the issuance of cash;

8 - input device identifier of the purchase and / or user;

9 - a place for placing goods;

10 - screening curtain;

11 - antenna;

12 - information display device (on the goods scanner);

13 - information display device (at the information desk);

14 - standard cash register terminal.

Self-service cash desk (Fig. 1) consists of a scanner 1 of goods, an information desk 2 and a payment terminal 3.

Payment terminal 3 comprises an information display device 4, means for communicating with databases (not shown in the drawing), means 5 for receiving payment from a customer, and means 6 for issuing a check and means 7 for dispensing cash and a device 8 for entering a purchase identifier and / or user.

A scanner 1 of goods (Fig. 2) is configured to simultaneously read a large number of RFID tags installed on different types of goods, i.e. configured to volume scan. It contains a place 9 for placing goods, made, for example, in the form of an open / close insulated chamber, and equipped with a radiopaque shielding curtain 10 with an opening / closing controller (not shown in the drawing) and a customer safety system (conventionally shown in the drawing) that prevents closing in the presence of interference in the path of movement of the screening curtain. Also, the product scanner 1 contains RFID tag readers (not shown in the drawing), antennas 11 installed on at least two sides in at least two planes to fully cover the entire volume of the internal space of the aforementioned place 9 for placing goods, made in the form an isolated camera, an information display device 12, a control unit (not shown in the drawing), means for communicating with databases (not shown in the drawing), scales (not shown in the drawing), and a purchase identifier and / or user input device 8.

And the information desk 2 contains an information display device 13, means for communicating with databases (not shown in the drawing) and a device 8 for entering a purchase identifier and / or user.

The information display devices 4, 12 and 13 in the goods scanner 1, the information desk 2 and the payment terminal 3 can be made, for example, in the form of a touch screen.

In this case, a standard cash register terminal 14 (Fig. 3) with a device 8 for entering a purchase identifier and / or user can be additionally introduced, in which the cashier accepts, stores and records cash.

On the scanner 1 of the goods can be installed external scales (not shown), for bulky goods. They are used if the product does not fit in the shopping basket.

The device 8 for entering the purchase identifier and / or user can be made, for example, in the form of a plastic HF card reader, and the identifier (not shown) of the purchase and / or user can be made, for example, in the form of a plastic HF card (loyalty card buyer).

On the goods scanner 1, information desk 2 and payment terminal 3, sound reproducing devices (not shown) can be installed, for example, an electrodynamic loudspeaker with an electro-acoustic device for converting sound vibrations into electrical ones in order to realize the sound control function for visually impaired people.

Also, light indication devices (not shown in the drawing) can be installed on the goods scanner 1, information desk 2 and the payment terminal 3 to inform the buyer about the presence of “free” goods scanners 1, information stands 2 and payment terminals 3.

RFID tag readers can be made in the form of any microwave readers (devices operating at microwave frequencies). And as antennas 11 can use any antenna of the corresponding range.

Volumetric scanning of products with RFID tags in place 9 for product placement takes place in accordance with the protocol for data exchange between readers and tags (EPC Gen2 Air Protocol, the text of this protocol can be read at the following link on a free Internet resource: www.gs1.org/sites /default/files/docs/epc/Gen2_Protocol_Standard.pdf), i.e. Radio communication between reader antennas 11 and tags takes place in several stages:

- according to the algorithm described in the standard, a label is selected (if there are a lot of them) with which the radio is currently being exchanged;

- the label reports its identifier (ЕРС - Electronic Product Code), then the label is silenced;

- the reader advances to the next unsolicited tag.

The antennas 11 of the reader operate alternately. The same antenna 11 is both transmitting and receiving, so the operation process is similar to radar. An impulse (command) is sent, a modulated reflected signal comes from a label with information. With the simultaneous operation of several readers, the antenna frequencies of 11 different readers are shifted so as not to interfere with each other. In this case, the correct reading of information from all tags (i.e., accurate reading of all tags located in the customer’s basket, which is installed in place 9 for placing goods, without duplication) is achieved due to the fact that:

1) All tags have a unique identifier (EPC) - this is controlled at the stage of recording tags in the marking center;

2) In the standard for working with tags, there are special mechanisms (so-called sessions) when a tag, once read, goes silent for a sufficiently long time (the time exceeds the reading time of all tags that can be in the basket) - this guarantees an improvement in the situation on the air (in the entire scan volume, where the shopping cart is located with the goods on which the RFID tags are applied), since the read tag no longer sends its identifier and does not clog the air.

The number and location of scanners 1 of goods, information desks 2 and payment terminals is determined from the "cross" and the load of a particular store. It is also necessary to take into account that the buyer spends a different amount of time at the scanner 1 of goods, the information rack 2 and the payment terminal 3. For example, a product scanner 1, on average, scans a customer’s basket in 12 seconds, and a customer can stand at information desk 2 for 1 minute or 30 minutes until he has fully examined the list of purchased goods. An example of the distribution in space of a self-checkout counter is shown in FIG. four.

This self-checkout counter is used as follows. They are pre-installed in a store or on a trading platform intended for the retail sale of goods and services to customers, connected to the power supply network, and configured for correct operation by connecting the product scanner 1, information stand 2 and payment terminal 3 to a single information network with an assortment database the goods of the store in whose territory the self-service cash desk is established. The buyer goes through the store, puts in the basket the goods that he decided to purchase, after which he goes to the scanner 1 of the goods and sets the basket in place 9 to place the goods (purchases). The basket handles can not be lowered. If the dimensions of the product exceed the dimensions of the basket or its weight is more than 15 kg, for example, RFID tags must be removed from a large product and placed in a basket, and the product without RFID tags should be placed on an external scale. Next, the buyer applies to the device 8 input identifier of the purchase and / or user loyalty card of the buyer making the purchase. The screening curtain 10 of the scanner 1 product will automatically close. And in cases when the basket is full, the screening curtain 10 simply will not close and the buyer, for example, by outputting a message to the product information display device 12 or by sound message, can be offered, for example, the option of packing the goods more compactly in the basket so that it does not interfere closing the screening curtain 10, or put the purchases in two baskets and scan them separately. After installing the basket of goods and reading the customer’s loyalty card when the shielding curtain 10 is completely closed, a message will appear on the information display device 12 about the progress of scanning the goods, in which information is read from all RFID tags in the customer’s basket. After scanning the product and weighing it, the screening curtain 10 will automatically open and information on the product that was in the basket and the question of confirming the purchase or continuing to scan the next basket of this customer will appear on the information display device 12. To complete the scan of goods, the buyer on the information display device 12 selects a purchase confirmation point and removes the basket from the place 9 for placing goods and, if necessary, releases the external scales. If the buyer has doubts about the correct reading of labels (for example, the number of purchased units of goods does not match the quantity of goods displayed by the information display device), or the program displays an error message, then he can repeat the scan of the goods. The buyer can also cancel the purchase by pressing, for example, the “Cancel” button on the information display device 12 and removing the basket from location 9 for placing the goods. After scanning the goods, the buyer can go to the information desk 2 and, having attached his loyalty card to the device 8 for entering the purchase identifier and / or user, check the list of goods, as well as receive detailed information about each of them or remove several goods from his list. Then the buyer approaches the payment terminal 3 and, having attached his loyalty card to the device 8 for entering the purchase identifier and / or user, pays for the purchase.

Thus, the technical result of the claimed invention is achieved, namely: reducing the time of the process of buying and scanning goods with a simultaneous increase in the accuracy and amount of reading RFID tags (in one scanning session), while increasing the buyer’s safety from exposure to radio waves.

Claims (4)

1. Self-service checkout, consisting of a goods scanner, information desk and payment terminal, which contains an information display device, means for communicating with databases, means for receiving payment from a buyer, and means for issuing a check and cash, and the goods scanner contains a place for product placement, RFID tag readers, antennas, information display device, control unit, means for communicating with databases and scales, the information rack contains an information display device and means for communicating with data, characterized in that the product scanner, information desk and payment terminal are separate devices spaced in space, included in a single information network, equipped with a device to enter a purchase identifier and / or user to read data from this identifier, while the goods scanner it is also equipped with a radiopaque shielding curtain with an opening / closing controller and a customer safety system that prevents closing if there is interference with the screen air curtain, and antennas are made with the possibility of volumetric scanning of goods, regardless of their orientation in place for the placement of goods. 2. Self-service cash desk according to claim 1, characterized in that the information display devices in the goods scanner, information desk and payment terminal are made in the form of a touch screen. 3. Self-service cash desk according to claim 1, characterized in that the place for placing goods is made in the form of an open / close insulated chamber. 4. Self-service cash desk according to claim 1, characterized in that a standard cash register terminal with a purchase identifier is additionally introduced.

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