Fixed self-checkout station with cradle for communicating with portable self-scanning units

Abstract

A retail checkout system includes a customer-operated portable terminal with a data reader, such as a barcode scanner, and a customer-operated self-checkout station with an automated payment-accepting subsystem. Customers use the portable terminal to identify and log products that are selected as they move through a store. Item identification data is then transferred to the self-checkout station, where the customer pays for the selected products using the automated payment-accepting subsystem.

1 - 54 . (canceled)  
   
   
       55 . The self-checkout station of  claim 59 , wherein the data storage unit comprises a portable data reading unit.  
   
   
       56 . The self-checkout station of  claim 55 , wherein the portable data reading unit comprises a barcode reader selected from the group consisting of: a flying spot scanner, an optical imaging reader, and a wand reader.  
   
   
       57 . The self-checkout station of  claim 55 , wherein the portable data reading unit comprises a radio frequency identification tag reader.  
   
   
       58 . The self-checkout station of  claim 59 , wherein the data storage unit comprises a base station that communicates with a portable data reading unit.  
   
   
       59 . A self-checkout station comprising: 
 a data input port that inputs a plurality of data records from a portable data storage unit;    a first controller that determines a price for a plurality of items corresponding to the plurality of data records inputted via the data input port;    a non-portable customer-operated automated payment-acceptor that generates an output signal based on an amount of tendered payment; and    an interface with a second controller, wherein the first controller determines the price for the plurality of items by outputting signals to the second controller via the interface and inputting price information from the second controller via the interface,    wherein at least one of the first controller and the automated payment-acceptor generates an indication when a tendered payment is sufficient to pay the price determined by the first controller.    
   
   
       60 . The self-checkout station of  claim 59 , wherein the indication generated by the automated payment-acceptor is based on at least one of an amount of cash received and a credit card authorization.  
   
   
       61 . The self-checkout station of  claim 59 , further comprising a cradle, wherein a connection between the data input port and the data storage unit is established by docking a portable data reading unit in the cradle.  
   
   
       62 . The self-checkout station of  claim 59 , wherein the automated payment-acceptor comprises at least one of a credit card transaction device, a debit card transaction device, and a cash-accepting device.  
   
   
       63 . A self-checkout station comprising: 
 a data input port that inputs a plurality of data records from a portable data storage unit;    a first controller that determines a price for a plurality of items corresponding to the plurality of data records inputted via the data input port; and    a non-portable customer-operated automated payment-acceptor that generates an output signal based on an amount of tendered payment,    wherein at least one of the first controller and the automated payment-accpetor generates an indication when a tendered payment is sufficient to pay the price determined by the first controller,    wherein the plurality of data records includes at least one of weight or volume data for each of the plurality of items, and further comprising:    at least one of a weight or volume sensor employed by a shopping cart to measure at least one of the actual weight or volume for the plurality of items placed in the cart; and    a controller for automatically comparing the measured weight or volume with an expected weight or volume calculated from the weight or volume data.    
   
   
       64 . A self-checkout station comprising: 
 a data input port that inputs a plurality of data records from a portable data storage unit;    a first controller that determines a price for a plurality of items corresponding to the plurality of data records inputted via the data input port;    a non-portable customer-operated automated payment-acceptor that generates an output signal based on an amount of tendered payment; and    an interface with a second controller, wherein the first controller determines the price for the plurality of items by outputting signals to the second controller via the interface and inputting price information from the second controller via the interface,    wherein at least one of the first controller and the automated payment-acceptor generates an indication when a tendered payment is sufficient to pay the price determined by the first controller,    wherein the plurality of data records includes at least one of weight or volume data for each of the plurality of items, and further comprising:    at least one of a weight or volume sensor employed by a shopping cart to measure at least one of the actual weight or volume for the plurality of items placed in the cart; and    a controller for automatically comparing the measured weight or volume with an expected weight or volume calculated from the weight or volume data.