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

1 . A point of sale (POS)-based bar code driven retail transaction terminal system installable in a counter-surface at a point of sale (POS) environment, said POS-based bar code driven retail transaction terminal system comprising:

a bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit having a bottom portion having a horizontal scanning window installable through said counter-surface, 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 bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit;

a housing connected to said vertical portion of said bioptical laser scanning 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 bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having a first visual display panel and a first keyboard provided on the cashier's side of said housing; and

a customer-kiosk terminal integrated with said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, and having a second visual display panel and second keyboard integrated therewith provided on the customer's side of said housing; and

a computing platform for running a cashier-clerk/customer retail transaction application that automatically and sequentially generates and displays graphical user interfaces (GUIs) on said first and second display panels, and supports data entry operations at said cashier-scale terminal and said customer-kiosk terminal, in accordance with a cashier-clerk/customer interaction script automatically generated by said cashier-clerk/customer retail transaction application running on said computing platform;

wherein said cashier-scale terminal is arranged opposite said customer-kiosk terminal so that said cashier faces the customer during a retail transaction carried out at said POS-based bar code driven transaction terminal system;

wherein said 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 said 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 environment; and

wherein behavioral interaction of both the cashier and the customer are automatically guided in accordance with said cashier-clerk/customer interaction script so as to ensure that a predetermined quality of service is delivered to the customer by said cashier.

2 . The POS-based bar code driven retail transaction terminal system of claim 1 , wherein said cashier-clerk/customer interaction script comprises corresponding sets of visual and/or graphical instructions that are sequentially displayed on said first and second display panels cuing the cashier and/or clerk to make initiatives and conversation about particular phases of the retail transaction being carried out at the POS-based bar code driven related transaction terminal station.

3 . The POS-based bar code driven retail transaction terminal system of claim 1 , wherein said cashier-clerk/customer interaction script further comprises the display of motivational and/or inspiring quotes and/or imagery on the LCD panels on both the cashier and customer sides of said related terminal system.

4 . The POS-based bar code driven retail transaction terminal system of claim 1 , wherein said electronic produce scale further comprises a produce weigh tray supported upon said bioptical laser scanning 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 bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit.

5 . The POS-based bar code driven retail transaction terminal system of claim 1 , wherein said 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 driven retail transaction terminal system of claim 1 , wherein the second display panel associated with said customer-kiosk terminal is provided with an advertisement/promotion mode capable of displaying advertisements and/or promotions while the cashier is not scanning products and the price and product information thereof is not being displayed on said second display panel.

7 . The POS-based bar code driven retail transaction terminal system of claim 6 , wherein said advertisements and promotions can 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.

8 . The POS-based bar code driven retail transaction terminal system of claim 1 , wherein said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit comprises:

a plurality of visible 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 a 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.

9 . The POS-based bar code driven retail transaction terminal system of claim 1 , wherein said computing platform has an operating system (OS), networking software to support a transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), and Internet access software to access the world wide web (WWW) and other information resources on the Internet.

10 . The POS-based bar code driven retail transaction terminal 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 LCD panel, and second keyboard is realized as a touch-screen keypad mounted on said second LCD panel.

11 . The POS-based bar code driven retail transaction terminal system of claim 1 , wherein said 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 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 driven retail transaction terminal system of claim 1 , wherein said customer-kiosk terminal further comprises a voice-over-Internet protocol (IP) telephone handset integrated with said computing system, and having software components running thereon to support its voice communication functions over the Internet, or alternatively, over a Public Telecommunications Switching Network (PTSN).

13 . The POS-based bar code driven retail transaction terminal system of claim 1 , wherein the vertical portion of said bioptical laser scanning bar code reading unit, said cashier-scale terminal, and said customer-kiosk terminal are contained in a housing of generally unitary construction.