Secure self-checkout station
A self-checkout kiosk enables a patron to purchase or allocate to an account a product displayed in a vending area and carrying a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. The patron exits the vending area through a security portal. The kiosk, a bill acceptor, a computer monitor and/or a mobile device enables the patron to complete a purchase or allocate transaction prior to exiting the vending area through the portal. The portal includes RFID reading antennas for marking products stolen when transferred through the portal without a transaction. Alternatively, a smart shelf keeps track of products on the smart shelf and keeps a checkout tally of removed products. If the patron does not complete a purchase or allocate transaction, or returns the product to the smart shelf within a user-defined set of time, the smart shelf will mark the product as stolen. A security system responds to products marked as stolen.
1. An unattended checkout system comprising:
a cabinet having a doorway and defining a vending space within the cabinet;
a door having a lock and attached to the cabinet, the door configured to close over the doorway to cover the vending space;
at least one product configured for placement in the vending space;
a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached to the at least one product;
an RFID reader adjacent the door and configured to read a product data from the RFID tag and detect if the at least one product passed through the doorway;
a self-checkout apparatus having an authentication mechanism that unlocks the lock when a valid payment is detected and a purchasing mechanism that accepts the valid payment for the at least one product after the RFID reader detects that the at least one product passed from the vending space and through the doorway; and
a database coupled to the self-checkout apparatus and configured to:
store an inventory of items located in the vending space, the items including the at least one product, and
update a checkout list to include the at least one product after the at least one product passed from the vending space and through the doorway for allowing purchase of items included in the checkout list after the door is closed or after a predetermined amount of time.
2. The unattended checkout system of claim 1 , wherein the cabinet comprises a refrigerator.
3. The unattended checkout system of claim 1 , wherein the lock is configured to be automatically locked when the door is closed over the doorway.
4. The unattended checkout system of claim 1 , wherein the self-checkout apparatus is located on an exterior wall of the cabinet.
5. The unattended checkout system of claim 1 , wherein the valid payment comprises a valid credit card.
6. The unattended checkout system of claim 1 , wherein the valid payment comprises a valid account.
7. The unattended checkout system of claim 1 , wherein the purchasing mechanism comprises a mobile device paired to the self-checkout apparatus.
8. An unattended checkout system comprising:
a room having a doorway and defining a vending space within the room;
a door having a lock and attached to the room, the door configured to close over the doorway to cover the vending space;
at least one product configured for placement in the vending space;
a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached to the at least one product;
an RFID reader adjacent the door and configured to read a product data from the RFID tag and detect if the at least one product passed through the doorway;
a self-checkout apparatus having an authentication mechanism that unlocks the lock when a valid payment is detected and a purchasing mechanism that accepts the valid payment for the at least one product after the RFID reader detects that the at least one product passed from the vending space and through the doorway; and
a database coupled to the self-checkout apparatus and configured to:
store an inventory of items located in the vending space, the items including the at least one product, and
update a checkout list to include the at least one product after the at least one product passed from the vending space and through the doorway for allowing purchase of items included in the checkout list after the door is closed or after a predetermined amount of time.
9. The unattended checkout system of claim 8 , wherein at least one wall of the room is substantially transparent.
10. The unattended checkout system of claim 8 , wherein the lock is configured to be automatically locked when the door is closed over the doorway.
11. The unattended checkout system of claim 8 , wherein the lock is configured to be unlockable from the vending space such that the door can be opened from the vending space.
12. The unattended checkout system of claim 8 , wherein the self-checkout apparatus is located on an exterior wall of the room.
13. The unattended checkout system of claim 8 , wherein the valid payment comprises a valid credit card or a valid account.
14. The unattended checkout system of claim 8 , wherein the purchasing mechanism comprises a mobile device paired to the self-checkout apparatus.
15. A method for purchasing products comprising:
receiving a transaction request on a self-checkout apparatus;
validating a payment request;
automatically unlocking a lock of a door to an enclosed vending space when the payment request is valid, the enclosed vending space housing a product having a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag;
detecting, using an RFID reader adjacent to the door, the product leaving the enclosed vending space;
updating, using a database, a checkout list to include the at least one product after the product leaves the enclosed vending space for allowing purchase of items included in the checkout list after the door is locked or after a predetermined amount of time; and
accepting the payment request for the product.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the enclosed vending space is defined by a refrigerator.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the enclosed vending space is defined by a room.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the lock is configured to be automatically locked when the door is closed over the doorway.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the valid payment comprises a valid credit card or a valid account.
20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising automatically accepting the payment request for the product after the predetermined amount of time.