Point of sale (POS) based bar code reading and cash register systems with integrated internet-enabled customer-kiosk terminal

Abstract

Novel POS-based bar code symbol reading systems are disclosed having an integrated customer-kiosk terminal. Also disclosed are novel POS-based bar code reading cash register Systems having integrated Intenet-enabled customer-kiosk terminals.

1 . A point of sale (POS) based bar code reading system with a cashier-scale terminal and an internet-enabled customer-kiosk terminal integrated within a single housing, said POS-based bar code reading system comprising: 
 a bar code reading unit having a bottom portion having a horizontal scanning window installable through a counter-surface at a point-of-sale (POS), and a vertical portion operably connected with said bottom portion and having a vertical scanning window;    an electronic produce scale integrated within said bottom portion of said bar code reading unit;    a housing connected to said vertical portion of said bar code reading unit, defining a cashier's side of the system and a customer's side of the system;    a cashier-scale terminal integrated with said bar code reading unit, and having a first visual display panel and a first keyboard integrated within said housing on the cashier's side of said system; and    an Internet-enabled customer-kiosk terminal integrated with said bar code reading unit, and having with a second visual display panel and second keyboard integrated within said housing on the customer's side of said system, facing opposite the cashier's side of said system so that the cashier and customer are facing each other during a POS transaction conducted at said POS-based bar code reading system;    wherein the first display panel at said cashier-scale terminal enables the cashier to enter information into said cashier-scale terminal regarding produce items to be weighed by said electronic produce scale, as well as display such information for the cashier to review; and    wherein the second display panel at said customer-kiosk terminal enables the customer to view a displayed price of scanned items and a displayed weight and price of weighed items, as well as enter and display information pertaining to financial transactions being carried out in connection with the purchase of products and/or produce at said POS-based bar code reading system;    wherein the customer can view the displayed price of scanned items and the displayed weight and price of weighted items while facing the cashier during a POS transaction; and    wherein said Internet-enabled customer-kiosk terminal also has an advertisement/promotion mode capable of receiving advertisements and/or promotions from an Internet-based advertisement and promotion delivery system operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet, and displaying said advertisements and/or promotions on said second display panel to the customer during said POS transaction.    
     
     
         2 . The POS-based bar code reading system of  claim 1 , wherein said bar code reading unit is a bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit.  
     
     
         3 . The POS-based bar code reading system of  claim 1 , wherein said electronic produce scale further comprises a produce weigh tray supported upon said bar code reading unit and having a recessed surface region for slidably receiving the full weight of produce items under gravitational loading so that the full weight of the produce items to be purchased is accurately measured by said electronic produce scale integrated within the bottom portion of said bar code reading unit.  
     
     
         4 . The POS-based bar code reading system of  claim 1 , wherein said Internet-enabled customer-kiosk terminal displays said advertisements and/or promotions on said second display panel while the cashier is not scanning products and the price and product information thereof is not being displayed on said second display panel.  
     
     
         5 . The POS-based bar code reading system of  claim 1 , wherein said Internet-enabled customer-kiosk terminal is realized as a modular assembly connectable to said housing, and wherein said modular assembly comprises an automated teller machine (ATM) submodule removably detached to a first installation port provided on said housing, and a phone submodule removably detached to a second installation port provided on said housing.  
     
     
         6 . The POS-based bar code reading system of  claim 1 , wherein said advertisements and promotions relate to the products offered for sale in the kiosk-hosting retailer store, services and products offered for sale in local and/or regional markets, as well as community news, sporting events, recreational events as well as local educational programs.  
     
     
         7 . The POS-based bar code reading system of  claim 2 , wherein said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit comprises: 
 a plurality of visual laser diodes (VLDs), light focusing optics, scanning motors and scanning optics for producing and scanning laser scanning beams so as to project a laser scanning pattern through the horizontal and vertical scanning windows of the system, and scan bar codes on objects being moved thereby by the cashier, and light collection optics for collecting and focusing the return laser light signal for subsequent photodetection;    a plurality of laser scan data generator and processing modules including a plurality of photodetectors, for producing scan data signals, that are ultimately decode-processed in order to produce symbol character data representative of the bar code symbol scanned by the system; and    a computing platform including a microprocessor, a memory architecture, a system bus architecture and an input/output (I/O) interface connected to the system bus architecture for enabling the collection, processing and transport of data elements generated by the various components in the system.    
     
     
         8 . The POS-based bar code reading system of  claim 7 , wherein said computing platform has an operating system (OS), networking software to support transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) protocol, and information network access software to access the world wide web (WWW) and other information resources on a global information network  
     
     
         9 . The POS-based bar code reading system of  claim 1 , wherein said first visual display panel is realized as a first liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, said second display panel is realized as a second liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, and second keyboard is realized as a touch-screen keypad mounted on said second liquid crystal display (LCD) panel.  
     
     
         10 . The POS-based bar code reading system of  claim 8 , wherein said Internet-enabled customer-kiosk terminal further comprises a bar code symbol reader integrated with said computing platform.  
     
     
         11 . The POS-based bar code reading system of  claim 8 , wherein said Internet-enabled customer-kiosk terminal comprises: 
 a network interface controller (NIC) card operably connected to a system bus architecture, for enabling data packet communications over a packet-switched information network; and    a multi-port Ethernet hub device connected to said NIC card and said Internet-enabled customer-kiosk terminal, so that said system has one or more Ethernet data ports for operable connection to said packet-switched network.    
     
     
         12 . The POS-based bar code reading system of  claim 8 , wherein said Internet-enabled customer-kiosk terminal further comprises a voice-over-IP telephone handset integrated with said computing platform, and having software components running thereon to support its voice communication functions over a global information network, or alternatively, over a Public Telecommunications Switching Network (PTSN).  
     
     
         13 . The POS-based bar code reading system of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical portion of said bar code reading unit, said cashier-scale terminal, and said Internet-enabled customer-kiosk terminal are contained in a housing of generally unitary construction.