Granted Patent B1

US 12,725,482 · App. 17/166,561 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Inventors: Shellie Crandall (Palm Beach Gardens, FL); Brian McCabe (Jupiter, FL)

Assignee: G4S Retail Solutions (USA) Inc.

G07F9/026G06Q20/20G07F9/023

Abstract

Claims (67)

1 . A method for tracking physical cash by a plurality of point-of-sale (POS) terminals at a retail establishment using a monitoring server in communication with the plurality of POS terminals, the method comprising:

ingesting, by one or more processors in communication with a memory, cash usage data for a self-checkout (SCO) POS terminal, wherein the cash usage data indicates cash usage of the SCO POS terminal during a primary mode for accepting cash and dispensing cash during customer-facing transactions and indicates an amount of cash in the SCO POS terminal at a denominational level, wherein the SCO POS terminal is configurable between the primary mode and a cash management mode for executing reallocation instructions generated by the monitoring server to dispense physical cash from the SCO POS terminal;

ingesting, by the one or more processors, cash usage data for a second POS terminal executing customer-facing transactions while operating in the primary mode;

computing cash usage forecast data for the second POS terminal;

upon determining that the cash usage data of the second POS terminal does not satisfy the cash usage forecast data for a first denomination of cash at the second POS terminal:

automatically dispensing, by the SCO POS terminal, a specific quantity of the first denomination of cash while the SCO POS terminal is in the cash management mode;

informing, by the one or more processors, a user computing entity regarding the first denomination of cash for dispensing from the SCO POS terminal and placement in the second POS terminal; and

electronically monitoring, by the one or more processors, movement of the first denomination of cash from the SCO POS terminal to the second POS terminal and determining an updated amount of the first denomination of cash in each of the SCO POS terminal and the second POS terminal.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second POS terminal is a second SCO POS terminal, and wherein the method further comprises:

upon determining that the cash usage of the second SCO POS terminal does not satisfy cash usage forecast data stored for the second SCO POS terminal, identifying the SCO POS terminal as satisfying reallocation source criteria for providing the specific quantity of the first denomination of cash to be transferred to the second SCO POS terminal.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein identifying the SCO POS terminal as satisfying reallocation source criteria comprises:

comparing cash usage of each of a plurality of SCO POS terminals with stored cash usage forecast data for each of the plurality of SCO POS terminals; and

determining whether removal of the specific quantity of the first denomination of cash from the SCO POS terminal would cause the cash usage of the SCO POS terminal to fail to satisfy the cash usage forecast data.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

upon determining that the cash usage of the second POS terminal does not satisfy cash usage forecast data stored for the second POS terminal, determining the specific quantity of the first denomination of cash based at least in part on a comparison between the cash usage for the second POS terminal and the cash usage forecast data for the second POS terminal.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second POS terminal is a second SCO POS terminal, and wherein monitoring cash usage from the second SCO POS terminal comprises receiving cash usage data from the second SCO POS terminal.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving reallocation confirmation data from at least one of the SCO POS terminal or the second POS terminal, wherein the reallocation confirmation data identifies the amount of cash transferred from the SCO POS terminal to the second POS terminal; and

reconciling the reallocation confirmation data with the reallocation instructions.

7 . A system for physical cash by a plurality of point-of-sale (POS) terminals at a retail establishment, the system comprising:

a self-checkout (SCO) POS terminal configured to generate cash usage data in real-time, wherein the cash usage data indicates cash usage of the SCO POS terminal during a primary mode for accepting cash and dispensing cash during customer-facing transactions and indicates an amount of cash in the SCO POS terminal at a denominational level, wherein the SCO POS terminal is configurable between the primary mode and a cash management mode for executing reallocation instructions to dispense physical cash from the SCO POS terminal;

one or more memory storage areas; and

one or more processors in communication with the plurality of POS terminals, the one or more processors configured to:

receive the cash usage data;

receive cash usage data for a second POS terminal executing customer-facing transactions while operating in the primary mode;

compute cash usage forecast data for the second POS terminal;

upon determining that the cash usage data of the second POS terminal does not satisfy the cash usage forecast data for a first denomination of cash at the second POS terminal:

inform a user computing entity regarding the first denomination of cash for dispensing from the SCO POS terminal and placement in the second POS terminal; and

wherein the SCO POS terminal is configured to, after receipt of the reallocation instructions, automatically dispense a specific quantity of the first denomination of cash while the SCO POS terminal is in the cash management mode; and

after the SCO POS terminal automatically dispenses the specific quantity of the first denomination of cash, the one or more processors are configured to electronically monitor movement of the first denomination of cash from the first SCO POS terminal to the second POS terminal and determine an updated amount of the first denomination of cash in each of the SCO POS terminal and the second POS terminal.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the second POS terminal is a second SCO POS terminal and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

upon determining that the cash usage of the second POS terminal does not satisfy cash usage forecast data stored for the second POS terminal, identify the SCO POS terminal as satisfying reallocation source criteria for providing the specific quantity of the first denomination of cash to be transferred to the second SCO POS terminal.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein identifying the SCO POS terminal as satisfying reallocation source criteria comprises:

comparing cash usage of each of a plurality of SCO POS terminals with stored cash usage forecast data for each of the plurality of SCO POS terminals; and

determining whether removal of the specific quantity of the first denomination of cash from the SCO POS terminal would cause the cash usage of the SCO POS terminal to fail to satisfy the cash usage forecast data.

10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

upon determining that the cash usage of the second POS terminal does not satisfy cash usage forecast data stored for the second POS terminal, determine the specific quantity of the first denomination of cash based at least in part on a comparison between the cash usage for the second POS terminal and the cash usage forecast data for the second POS terminal.

11 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the second POS terminal is a second SCO POS terminal, and wherein monitoring cash usage from the second SCO POS terminal comprises receiving cash usage data from the second SCO POS terminal.

12 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive reallocation confirmation data from at least one of the SCO POS terminal or the second POS terminal, wherein the reallocation confirmation data identifies the amount of cash transferred from the SCO POS terminal to the second POS terminal; and

reconcile the reallocation confirmation data with the reallocation instructions.

13 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer program instructions stored therein, the computer program instructions when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

ingest cash usage data for a self-checkout (SCO) POS terminal, wherein the cash usage data indicates cash usage of the SCO POS terminal during a primary mode for accepting cash and dispensing cash during customer-facing transactions and indicates an amount of cash in the SCO POS terminal at a denominational level, wherein the SCO POS terminal is configurable between the primary mode and a cash management mode for executing reallocation instructions to dispense physical cash from the SCO POS terminal;

ingest cash usage data for a second POS terminal executing customer-facing transactions while operating in the primary mode;

compute cash usage forecast data for the second POS terminal;

upon determining that the cash usage data of the second POS terminal does not satisfy the cash usage forecast data for a first denomination of cash at the second POS terminal:

automatically dispense, by the SCO POS terminal, a specific quantity of the first denomination of cash while the SCO POS terminal is in the cash management mode;

inform a user computing entity regarding the first denomination of cash for dispensing from the SCO POS terminal and placement in the second POS terminal; and

electronically monitor movement of the first denomination of cash from the first SCO POS terminal to the second POS terminal and determine an updated amount of the first denomination of cash in each of the SCO POS terminal and the second POS terminal.

14 . The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the second POS terminal is a second SCO POS terminal and wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:

upon determining that the cash usage of the second POS terminal does not satisfy cash usage forecast data stored for the second POS terminal, identify the SCO POS terminal as satisfying reallocation source criteria for providing the specific quantity of the first denomination of cash to be transferred to the second SCO POS terminal.

15 . The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein identifying the SCO POS terminal as satisfying reallocation source criteria comprises:

comparing cash usage of each of a plurality of SCO POS terminals with stored cash usage forecast data for each of the plurality of SCO POS terminals; and

determining whether removal of the specific quantity of the first denomination of cash from the SCO POS terminal would cause the cash usage of the SCO POS terminal to fail to satisfy the cash usage forecast data.

16 . The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:

upon determining that the cash usage of the second POS terminal does not satisfy cash usage forecast data stored for the second POS terminal, determine the specific quantity of the first denomination of cash based at least in part on a comparison between the cash usage for the second POS terminal and the cash usage forecast data for the second POS terminal.

17 . The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the second POS terminal is a second SCO POS terminal, and wherein monitoring cash usage from the second SCO POS terminal comprises receiving cash usage data from the second SCO POS terminal.

18 . The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:

receive reallocation confirmation data from at least one of the SCO POS terminal or the second POS terminal, wherein the reallocation confirmation data identifies the amount of cash transferred from the SCO POS terminal to the second POS terminal; and

reconcile the reallocation confirmation data with the reallocation instructions.

19 . A method for automatically reallocating physical cash among a plurality of point-of-sale (POS) terminals, the method comprising:

operating a first self-checkout (SCO) POS terminal in a primary mode for executing customer-facing transactions;

receiving, at the first SCO POS terminal, reallocation instructions from a monitoring server, wherein the reallocation instructions identify a second POS terminal for receiving a cash transfer from the first SCO POS terminal and identifying a denomination-specific cash quantity to be transferred to the second POS terminal;

in response to receipt of user input, changing operation of the first SCO POS terminal from the primary mode to a cash management mode for executing reallocation transactions with others of the plurality of POS terminals;

while operating in the cash management mode, executing the reallocation instructions via the first SCO POS terminal to dispense the denomination-specific cash quantity from the first SCO POS terminal;

update data of an amount of cash available within the first SCO POS terminal to reflect the denomination-specific cash quantity dispensed from the first SCO POS terminal; and

transfer, from the first SCO POS terminal, reallocation confirmation data to the monitoring server, wherein the monitoring server is configured to reconcile the reallocation confirmation data against secondary reallocation confirmation data received from the second POS terminal after the second POS terminal receives the denomination-specific cash quantity dispensed from the first SCO POS terminal.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (109)