Checkout system

Abstract

A system for operator-unassisted checkout of randomly disposed articles in a container in a checkout area of a supermarket or the like, performed without contacting the articles in the container, includes, associated with each article, respective transmitters for transmitting product-identifying data upon actuation and then deactuating itself. Associated with the checkout area are actuators for actuating all of the transmitters in the container and a receiver for receiving the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in the container in turn and identifying the total cost of the articles in the container.

I claim: 
     
       1. A system for unattended checkout of randomly disposed articles in a container in a checkout are without moving the articles in the container relative thereto, comprising: (A) associated with each article, respective transmitter means for transmitting product-identifying data upon actuation and then deactuating itself;   (B) associated with the checkout area, actuating means for actuating all of said transmitter means in the container; and   (C) associated with the checkout area, means for receiving the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in the container in turn and identifying information regarding the articles in the container.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1 wherein, when said respective transmitter means upon actuation is unable to successfully transmit product-identifying data to said receiver means, said respective transmitter means transmits a distress signal. 
     
     
       3. The system of claim 2 additionally including means associated with the checkout area for detecting each article transmitting a distress signal so that each such article is identified for operator-assisted checkout. 
     
     
       4. The system of claim 1 wherein said respective transmitter means includes means for broadcasting upon actuation a start signal of one rank and then associated single digit signals of a different rank as the product-identifying data. 
     
     
       5. The system of claim 4 wherein said receiving means includes means for receiving one start signal and then the product-identifying data associated therewith prior to receiving another start signal. 
     
     
       6. The system of claim 4 wherein said broadcast means broadcasts unique transmitter-identifying data as part of the start signal, and said receiving means includes means for transmitting to said transmitter means identified by said unique transmitter-identifying data an acknowledgement of its receipt of the start signal. 
     
     
       7. The system of claim 6 wherein said broadcasting means broadcasts the associated product-identifying data only after receipt by said transmitter means of the acknowledgement from said receiving means. 
     
     
       8. The system of claim 7 wherein said receiving means, upon receipt of the product-identifying data broadcast by said broadcasting means, causes said transmitter means to deactuate itself if the product-identifying data is recognized and to transmit a distress signal otherwise. 
     
     
       9. The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter means permanently deactuates itself. 
     
     
       10. A system for operator-unassisted checkout of randomly disposed articles in a container in a checkout area without contacting the articles in the container, comprising: (A) associated with each article, respective transmitter means for transmitting product-identifying data upon actuation and then permanently deactuating itself, and, when unable upon actuation to successfully transmit product-identifying data, for transmitting a distress signal; said respective transmitter means including means for broadcasting upon actuation a start signal of one rank including unique transmitter-identifying data and then, upon acknowledgement of the receipt thereof, associated single digit signals of a different rank as the product-identifying data;   (B) associated with the checkout area, actuating means for actuating all of said transmitter means in the container;   (C) associated with the checkout area, means for receiving the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in the container in turn and identifying information regarding the articles in the container; said receiving means including means for receiving one start signal, then transmitting to said transmitter means identified by said unique transmitter-identifying data in the start signal an acknowledgment of its receipt of the start signal, next receiving the product-identifying data associated therewith, and then either causing said transmitter means to permanently deactuate itself if the product-identifying data is recognized and to transmit a distress signal otherwise, prior to receiving another start signal from another transmitter means; and   (D) associated with the checkout area, means for detecting each article transmitting a distress signal so that each such article can be identified for operator-assisted checkout. .Iadd.   
     
     
       11.  A system for unattended detection of randomly disposed articles without moving the articles comprising: (A) respective transmitter means, associated with each article, for transmitting product-identifying data upon actuation and then deactuating itself;   (B) actuating means, not associated with each article, for actuating all of said transmitter means; and   (C) receiving means, not associated with each article, for receiving the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in turn and identifying information regarding the articles. .Iaddend..Iadd.12. The system of claim 11, wherein, when said respective transmitter means upon actuation is unable to successfully transmit product-identifying data to said receiver means, said respective transmitter means transmits a distress signal. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. The system of claim 12 additionally including detection means, not associated with each article, for detecting each article transmitting a distress signal so that each such article is identified. .Iaddend..Iadd.14. The system of claim 11 wherein said respective transmitter means includes means for broadcasting upon actuation a start signal of one rank and then associated single digit signals of a different rank as the product-identifying data. .Iaddend..Iadd.15. The system of claim 14 wherein said receiving means includes means for receiving one start signal and then product-identifying data associated therewith prior to receiving another start signal.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.16.  The system of claim 14 wherein said broadcast means broadcasts unique transmitter-identifying data as part of the start signal, and said receiving means includes means for transmitting to said transmitter means identified by said unique transmitter-identifying data an acknowledgement of its receipt of the start signal. .Iaddend..Iadd.17. The system of claim 16 wherein said broadcasting means broadcasts the associated product-identifying data only after receipt by said transmitter means of the acknowledgement from said receiving means. .Iaddend..Iadd.18. The system of claim 17 wherein said receiving means, upon receipt of the product-identifying data broadcast by said broadcasting means, causes said transmitter means to deactuate itself if the product-identifying data is recognized and to transmit a distress signal otherwise. .Iaddend..Iadd.19. The system of claim 11 wherein said transmitter means permanently deactuates itself. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. A system for unattended detection of randomly disposed articles without moving the articles comprising: (A) respective transmitter means, associated with each article, for transmitting product-identifying data upon actuation and then deactuating itself, and when unable upon actuation to successfully transmit product-identifying data, for transmitting a distress signal; said respective transmitter means including means for broadcasting upon actuation a start signal of one rank including unique transmitter-identifying data and then, upon acknowledgment of the receipt thereof, associated single digit signals of a different rank as the product-identifying data;   (B) actuating means, not associated with each article, for actuating all of said transmitter means;   (C) receiving means, not associated with each article, for receiving the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in turn and identifying information regarding the articles; said receiving means including means for receiving one start signal, then transmitting to said transmitter means identified by said unique transmitter-identifying data in the start signal an acknowledgment of its receipt of the start signal, next receiving the product-identifying data associated therewith, and then either causing said transmitter means to permanently deactuate itself if the product-identifying data is recognized and to transmit a distress signal otherwise, prior to receiving another start signal from another transmitter means; and   (D) detection means, not associated with each article, for detecting each article transmitting a distress signal so that each such article can be   
     
     
        identified. .Iaddend..Iadd.21.  A system for unattended detection of randomly disposed articles without moving the articles comprising: (A) respective transmitter means, associated with each article, for transmitting product-identifying data upon actuation and then deactuating itself; and   (B) detection apparatus comprising (i) actuating means for actuating all of said transmitter means; and (ii) receiving means for receiving the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in turn and identifying information regarding the articles. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. A system for unattended randomly disposed articles without moving contacting the articles comprising:   (A) respective transmitter means, associated with each article, for transmitting product-identifying data upon actuation and then deactuating itself, and when unable upon actuation to successfully transmit product-identifying data, for transmitting a distress signal; said respective transmitter means including means for broadcasting upon actuation a start signal of one rank including unique transmitter-identifying data and then, upon acknowledgment of the receipt thereof, associated single digit signals of a different rank as the product-identifying data; and   (B) detection apparatus comprising (i) actuating means for actuating all of said transmitter means; (ii) receiving means for receiving the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in turn and identifying information regarding the articles; said receiving means including means for receiving one start signal, then transmitting to said transmitter means identified by said unique transmitter-identifying data in the start signal an acknowledgment of its receipt of the start signal, next receiving the product-identifying data associated therewith, and then either causing said transmitter means to permanently deactuate itself if the product-identifying data is recognized and to transmit a distress signal otherwise, prior to receiving another start signal from another transmitter means; and (iii) detection means for detecting each article transmitting a distress signal so that each such article can be identified. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. A method for detecting randomly disposed articles without moving and without contacting the articles comprising:   (A) non-contactably actuating a transmitter means associated with each article to transmit product-identifying data regarding each article and then deactuate itself; and   (B) receiving via a receiving means the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in turn and identifying information regarding the articles. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. The method of claim 23, wherein, when said respective transmitter means upon actuation is unable to successfully transmit receivable product-identifying data, said respective transmitter means transmits a distress signal so that each such article can be identified. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. The method of claim 23 wherein said respective transmitter means includes means for broadcasting upon actuation a start signal of one rank and then associated single digit signals of a different rank as the product-identifying data. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. The method of claim 25 wherein said receiving means includes means for receiving one start signal and then product-identifying data associated therewith prior to receiving another start signal. .Iaddend..Iadd.27. The method of claim 25 wherein said broadcast means broadcasts unique transmitter-identifying data as part of the start signal, and said receiving means includes means for transmitting to said transmitter means identified by said unique transmitter-identifying data   
     
     
        an acknowledgement of its receipt of the start signal. .Iaddend..Iadd.28. The method of claim 27 wherein said broadcasting means broadcasts the associated product-identifying data only after receipt by said transmitter means of the acknowledgement from said receiving means. .Iaddend..Iadd.29. The method of claim 28 wherein said receiving means, upon receipt of the product-identifying data broadcast by said broadcasting means, causes said transmitter means to deactuate itself if the product-identifying data is recognized and to transmit a distress signal otherwise. .Iaddend..Iadd.30. The method of claim 23 wherein said transmitter means permanently 
     
     
        deactuates itself. .Iaddend..Iadd.31.  A method for detecting randomly disposed articles in a container in a checkout area without moving and without contacting the articles comprising: (A) in the checkout area, non-contactably actuating a transmitter means associated with each article in the container to transmit product-identifying data regarding each article in the container and then deactuate itself; and   (B) in the checkout area, receiving via a receiving means the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in the container in turn and identifying information regarding the articles in the container. .Iaddend..Iadd.32. The method of claim 31, wherein, when said respective transmitter means upon actuation is unable to successfully transmit receivable product-identifying data, said respective transmitter means transmits a distress signal so that each such article can be identified. .Iaddend..Iadd.33. The method of claim 31 wherein said respective transmitter means includes means for broadcasting upon actuation a start signal of one rank and then associated single digit signals of a different rank as the product-identifying data. .Iaddend..Iadd.34. The method of claim 33 wherein said receiving means includes means for receiving one start signal and then product-identifying data associated therewith prior   
     
     
        to receiving another start signal. .Iaddend..Iadd.35.  The method of claim 33 wherein said broadcast means broadcasts unique transmitter-identifying data as part of the start signal, and said receiving means includes means for transmitting to said transmitter means identified by said unique transmitter-identifying data an acknowledgement of its receipt of the start signal. .Iaddend..Iadd.36. The method of claim 35 wherein said broadcasting means broadcasts the associated product-identifying data only after receipt by said transmitter means of the acknowledgement from said receiving means. .Iaddend..Iadd.37. The method of claim 36 wherein said receiving means, upon receipt of the product-identifying data broadcast by said broadcasting means, causes said transmitter means to deactuate itself if the product-identifying data is recognized and to transmit a distress signal otherwise. .Iaddend..Iadd.38. The method of claim 31 wherein said 
     
     
        transmitter means permanently deactuates itself. .Iaddend..Iadd.39.  A method for unattended detection of randomly disposed articles without moving the articles comprising: (A) non-contactably actuating a transmitter means associated with each article to transmit product-identifying data regarding each article, and to transmit a distress signal when said respective transmitter means upon actuation is unable to successfully transmit receivable product-identifying data so that each such article can be identified; and   (B) receiving via a receiving means the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in turn and identifying information regarding the   
     
     
        articles. .Iaddend..Iadd.40.  The method of claim 39 wherein said 
     
     
        transmitter means permanently deactuates itself. .Iaddend..Iadd.41.  A method for unattended detection of randomly disposed articles without moving the articles comprising: (A) actuating a transmitter means associated with each article to transmit product-identifying data regarding each article, said respective transmitter means including means for broadcasting upon actuation a start signal of one rank and then associated single digit signals of a different rank as the product-identifying data; and   (B) receiving via a receiving means the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in turn and identifying information regarding the   
     
     
        articles. .Iaddend..Iadd.42.  The method of claim 41 wherein said receiving means includes means for receiving one start signal and then product-identifying data associated therewith prior to receiving another start signal. .Iaddend..Iadd.43. The method of claim 41 wherein said broadcast means broadcasts unique transmitter-identifying data as part of the start signal, and said receiving means includes means for transmitting to said transmitter means identified by said unique transmitter-identifying data an acknowledgment of its receipt of the start signal. .Iaddend..Iadd.44. The method of claim 43 wherein said broadcasting means broadcasts the associated product-identifying data only after receipt by said transmitter means of the acknowledgment from said receiving means. .Iaddend..Iadd.45. The method of claim 44 wherein said receiving means, upon receipt of the product-identifying data broadcast by said broadcasting means, causes said transmitter means to deactuate itself if the product-identifying data is recognized and to transmit a distress signal otherwise. .Iaddend..Iadd.46. A method for unattended detection of randomly disposed articles in a container in a checkout area without moving the articles comprising: (A) in the checkout area, non-contactably actuating a transmitter means associated with each article in the container to transmit product-identifying data regarding each article in the container, and to transmit a distress signal when said respective transmitter means upon actuation is unable to successfully transmit receivable product-identifying data so that each such article can be identified; and   (B) in the checkout area, receiving via a receiving means the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in the container in turn and identifying information regarding the articles in the container.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.47.  The method of claim 46 wherein said transmitter means permanently deactuates itself. .Iaddend..Iadd.48. A method for unattended detection of randomly disposed articles in a container in a checkout area without moving the articles comprising: (A) in the checkout area, non-contactably actuating a transmitter means associated with each article in the container to transmit product-identifying data regarding each article in the container, said respective transmitter means including means for broadcasting upon actuation a start signal of one rank and then associated single digit signals of a different rank as the product-identifying data; and   (B) in the checkout area, receiving via a receiving means the transmitted product-identifying data from each article in the container in turn and identifying information regarding the articles in the container. .Iaddend..Iadd.49. The method of claim 48 wherein said receiving means includes means for receiving one start signal and then product-identifying data associated therewith prior to receiving another start signal.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.50.  The method of claim 48 wherein said broadcast means broadcasts unique transmitter-identifying data as part of the start signal, and said receiving means includes means for transmitting to said transmitter means identified by said unique transmitter-identifying data an acknowledgment of its receipt of the start signal. .Iaddend..Iadd.51. The method of claim 50 wherein said broadcasting means broadcasts the associated product-identifying data only after receipt by said transmitter means of the acknowledgment from said receiving means. .Iaddend..Iadd.52. The method of claim 51 wherein said receiving means, upon receipt of the product-identifying data broadcast by said broadcasting means, causes said transmitter means to deactuate itself if the product-identifying data is recognized and to transmit a distress signal otherwise. .Iaddend.