Secure self-checkout station

Abstract

A self-checkout system includes a cabinet having an opening and walls defining a vending space. The system includes a barrier having a lock and configured to restrict access to the vending space. The system includes a product configured for placement in the vending space. The system includes a product identification tag attached to the product. The system includes a tag detector configured to detect product data and detect when the product passes through the opening. The system includes a database configured to store an inventory of products and a corresponding account the products are allocated to. The system includes a self-checkout apparatus connected to the database and configured to unlock the lock when valid account credentials are detected. The self-checkout apparatus is also configured to allocate the product to a user account by updating the database when the product passes through the opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An unattended checkout system comprising:
 a cabinet having an opening and walls defining a vending space;   a barrier having a lock and attached to the cabinet, the barrier configured to restrict access to the vending space;   at least one product configured for placement in the vending space and located in the vending space;   a product identification tag attached to the at least one product;   a tag detector configured to detect product data and detect when the at least one product passes through the opening based on movement of the product identification tag;   a database configured to store an inventory of products and a corresponding account the products are allocated to, the inventory of products including the at least one product located in the vending space;   a self-checkout apparatus connected to the database and configured to:
 unlock the lock when valid account credentials associated with a user account are detected, and 
 allocate the at least one product to the user account by updating the database when the at least one product passes through the opening. 
   
     
     
         2 . The unattended checkout system of  claim 1 , wherein the account credentials are presented on a mobile device. 
     
     
         3 . The unattended checkout system of  claim 1 , wherein the self-checkout apparatus is configured to pair with a mobile device associated with a user, and
 wherein the mobile device is configured to display an identification of the at least one product which have passed through the opening and a confirmation display of allocating the at least one product to the user account.   
     
     
         4 . The unattended checkout system of  claim 1 , wherein the self-checkout apparatus includes a display configured to display a confirmation display of allocating the at least one product to the user account and receive a confirmation indication from a user. 
     
     
         5 . The unattended checkout system of  claim 1 , wherein the lock is configured to be automatically locked when the barrier is closed over the opening. 
     
     
         6 . The unattended checkout system of  claim 1 , wherein the self-checkout apparatus is located on an exterior wall of the cabinet. 
     
     
         7 . The unattended checkout system of  claim 1 , wherein the tag detector is a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader and wherein the product identification tag is an RFID tag. 
     
     
         8 . An unattended checkout system comprising:
 a room having an entryway and walls defining a vending space;   a barrier having a lock and attached to the entryway, the barrier configured to restrict access to the vending space;   at least one product configured for placement in the vending space and located in the vending space;   a product identification tag attached to the at least one product;   a tag detector configured to detect when the at least one product is moved within the vending space or removed from the vending space;   a database configured to store an inventory of products located in the vending space;   a self-checkout apparatus connected to the database and configured to:
 unlock the lock when valid account credentials associated with an account are detected, 
 update a checkout list to include the at least one product when the tag detector detects movement of the at least one product, and 
 allocate the at least one product in the checkout list to the account associated with the account credentials when the at least one product is removed from the vending space. 
   
     
     
         9 . The unattended checkout system of  claim 8 , wherein the account credentials are presented on a mobile device. 
     
     
         10 . The unattended checkout system of  claim 8 , wherein the self-checkout apparatus is configured to pair with a mobile device and a confirmation display is displayed on the mobile device. 
     
     
         11 . The unattended checkout system of  claim 8 , wherein the self-checkout apparatus includes a display configured to display a confirmation display and receive a confirmation indication. 
     
     
         12 . The unattended checkout system of  claim 8 , wherein the lock is configured to be automatically locked when the barrier is closed over the entryway. 
     
     
         13 . The unattended checkout system of  claim 8 , wherein the self-checkout apparatus is located on an exterior wall of the room. 
     
     
         14 . The unattended checkout system of  claim 8 , wherein the allocating each product in the checkout list to the account associated with the account credentials comprises updating the database to associate the at least one product in the checkout list with the account associated with the account credentials. 
     
     
         15 . A method for facilitating purchasing of products comprising:
 receiving account credentials on a self-checkout apparatus;   automatically unlocking a lock of a barrier to a restricted vending space when the account credentials are valid, the restricted vending space housing a product having a product identification tag;   detecting, using a tag detector, the product leaving the restricted vending space or being moved within the restricted vending space;   updating a checkout list to include the product after the product leaves the restricted vending space; and   automatically allocating the product in the checkout list to an account associated with the account credentials when the product leaves the restricted vending space.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the account credentials are presented on a mobile device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising pairing the self-checkout apparatus with a mobile device, and displaying a confirmation display on the mobile device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising automatically locking the lock when the barrier is closed. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the account is associated with a payment method. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the allocating the product in the checkout list to the account associated with the account credentials comprises updating a database to associate the product in the checkout list with the account associated with the account credentials.