Scalable self-checkout system

Abstract

A system for self-checkout includes a plurality of self-checkout stations for self-assisted purchasing, each self-checkout station including a self-service terminal, a bagging area, and a merchandise placement area. The system also includes at least one supervisor terminal for monitoring purchasing activities of at least some of the plurality of self-checkout stations. The self-checkout system is scaleable for various configurations, applications, and capacity-based use. In a scaleable form, two or more supervisor terminals are provided each of which is operative to monitor one or more of the plurality of self checkout stations.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for self-checkout, comprising: 
 a plurality of self-checkout terminals for self-assisted purchasing, each self-checkout terminal including a display, a scanner, and a payment acceptor; and    a supervisor terminal in communication with each one of said plurality of self-checkout terminals, said supervisor terminal having a display and operative to selectively monitor purchasing activities being conducted at any one or any number of said plurality of self-checkout terminals.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said supervisor terminal is operative to approve and authorize any monitored purchasing activity.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each self-checkout terminal further comprises a security/assistance indicator each operative to inform a supervisor when a customer at a respective one of the plurality of self-checkout terminals requires at least one of purchasing assistance and purchasing authorization.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said supervisor terminal is disposed in close proximity to said plurality of self-checkout terminals.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each said self-checkout terminal display is a touch screen.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said supervisor terminal includes a communications unit operative to effect two-way communications between said supervisor terminal and an external computer.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the two-way communications utilize at least one of an intranet, a LAN, and the Internet.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the two-way communications utilize wireless networking within at least one of an intronet, a LAN, and the Internet.  
     
     
         9 . A system for self-checkout, comprising: 
 a plurality of self-checkout terminals for self-assisted purchasing, each self-checkout terminal including a scanner, a display, and a payment acceptor; and    a plurality of supervisor terminals each one of which is in communication with said plurality of self-checkout terminals and operative to monitor purchasing activities of any one or any number of said plurality of self-checkout terminals.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein each supervisor terminal of the plurality of supervisor terminals is operative to concurrently monitor with regard to other of the supervisor terminals of the plurality of supervisor terminals, purchasing activities of a selected one or selected ones of the self-checkout terminals.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each self-checkout terminal includes a security/assistance indicator that is operative to inform the supervisor when a customer at a respective one of said self-checkout terminals requires at least one of purchasing assistance and purchasing authorization.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein each supervisor terminal is operative to exclusively monitor with regard to other supervisor terminals, purchasing activities of a selected one or selected ones of said plurality of self-checkout terminals.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein each self-checkout terminal includes a security/assistance indicator that is operative to inform the supervisor when a customer at a respective one of said self-checkout terminals requires at least one of purchasing assistance and purchasing authorization.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein each said supervisor terminal is disposed in close proximity to said plurality of self-checkout terminals.  
     
     
         15 . A method of self-checkout comprising: 
 providing a plurality of self-checkout terminals, each self-checkout terminal having a scanner, a display, and a payment acceptor, and operative to perform a self-assisted purchase transaction;    providing a plurality of supervisor terminals each one of which is in communication with said plurality of self-checkout terminals and operative to monitor a purchase transaction occurring at any one or at any number of said plurality of self-checkout terminals; and    monitoring a purchase transaction currently occurring at any one or any number of the plurality of self-checkout terminals via any one or more of the plurality of supervisor terminals.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein monitoring a purchase transaction currently occurring at any one or any number of the plurality of self-checkout terminals via any one or more of the plurality of supervisor terminals includes exclusively monitoring, with regard to other supervisor terminals, a purchase transaction of a selected one or selected ones of said plurality of self-checkout terminals.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 monitoring a security/assistance indicator associated with each self-checkout terminal that is operative to inform a supervisor when a customer at a respective one of the self-checkout terminals requires at least one of purchasing assistance and purchasing authorization.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein monitoring a purchase transaction currently occurring at any one or any number of the plurality of self-checkout terminals via any one or more of the plurality of supervisor terminals includes concurrently monitoring, with regard to other supervisor terminals, a purchase transaction of a selected one or selected ones of said plurality of self-checkout terminals.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 monitoring a security/assistance indicator associated with each self-checkout terminal that is operative to inform a supervisor when a customer at a respective one of the self-checkout terminals requires at least one of purchasing assistance and purchasing authorization.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 providing each supervisor terminal in close proximity to the plurality of self-checkout terminals.