Self checkout kiosk and retail security system
A self-checkout kiosk enables a patron to purchase product displayed in a vending area and carrying a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. The customer exits the vending area through a security portal. The kiosk, a bill acceptor, and a computer monitor, either adjacent the portal or separated there from, enables the patron to complete a purchase transaction prior to exiting the vending area through the portal. The portal includes RFID reading antennas for detecting product being transferred through the portal. A security system responds to transfer of product through the portal without a patron completing a purchase transaction using the self-checkout station. The security system itself is also usable in conventional retail environments when an attendant is present.
1. An unattended checkout and security system comprising:
a product;
a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached to the product;
a frame defining a portal there between wherein transfer of the product from a vending area to a non-vending area requires the product to pass through the portal;
a first RFID antenna coupled to the frame to detect the RFID tag passing through the portal;
a RFID reader configured to read product data from the RFID tag;
a self-checkout apparatus located within the vending area, the self-checkout apparatus including a purchasing mechanism configured to accept payment for the product after the RFID reader reads the product data from the RFID tag;
a database coupled to the purchasing mechanism and configured to store an inventory of items located within the vending area, one of the items including the product, wherein each of the items has a different identification code and corresponds to a unique database record within the database, the database further configured to receive the product data from the RFID reader and update the database record for the corresponding product by marking the database record for the corresponding product as sold after payment for the product is accepted by the purchasing mechanism, the database further configured to update the database record for the corresponding product by marking the database record for the corresponding product as stolen when the product moves through the portal and the database record for the corresponding product has not been marked as sold;
a video camera directed toward the portal and configured to send video data to a remote location outside the vending area;
a motion sensing device for sensing movement of a patron through the portal; and
a theft warning device configured to respond when the motion sensing device detects the patron move through the portal with the product and the database record indicates a lack of accepted payment for the product.
2. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 1 , wherein the self-checkout apparatus further includes:
a monitor; and
a processor coupled to the monitor for assisting a patron in completing a purchase transaction.
3. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 1 , further comprising a second RFID antenna coupled to the frame.
4. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a counter coupled to the frame and defining an upper surface; and
a second RFID antenna mounted below the upper surface and configured to project radio frequency waves through the upper surface to read the RFID tag on the product when the product is moved across the upper surface.
5. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 1 , further comprising a second RFID antenna coupled to the frame and wherein the first and second RFID antennas are directed to project radio frequency waves across the portal in multiple directions.
6. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 5 , wherein the frame includes a first side frame member and a second side frame member extending parallel to one another,
the first side frame member terminating at a counter and including the first RFID antenna directed towards the second side frame member,
the second side frame member including a third RFID antenna and a fourth RFID antenna directed towards the first side frame member, and
wherein the first, third and fourth RFID antennas are configured to project overlapping radio frequency waves across the portal.
7. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 5 , wherein the first and second RFID antennas are offset from each other and are configured to project overlapping radio waves across the portal.
8. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a counter coupled to the frame and defining an upper surface; and
a third RFID antenna mounted below the upper surface and configured to project radio frequency waves through the upper surface to read the RFID tag on the product moved across the upper surface,
wherein the first and second RFID antennas are mounted on opposite sides of the portal and are configured to project overlapping radio waves across the portal.
9. An unattended checkout and security system comprising:
a frame defining a portal there between for a product with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached thereto to be passed through when the product is passed from a vending area to a non-vending area;
a first RFID antenna coupled to the frame to detect the RFID tag passing through the portal;
a RFID reader configured to read product data from the RFID tag;
a self-checkout apparatus configured to be located within the vending area, the self-checkout apparatus including a purchasing mechanism configured to accept payment for the product after the RFID reader reads the product data from the RFID tag;
a database coupled to the purchasing mechanism and configured to store an inventory of items located within the vending area, one of the items including the product, wherein each of the items has a different identification code and corresponds to a unique database record within the database, the database further configured to receive the product data from the RFID reader and update the database record for the corresponding product by marking the database record for the corresponding product as sold after payment for the product is accepted by the purchasing mechanism, the database further configured to update the database record for the corresponding product by marking the database record for the corresponding product as stolen when the product moves through the portal and the database record for the corresponding product has not been marked as sold;
a motion sensing device for sensing movement of a patron through the portal; and
a theft warning device configured to respond when the motion sensing device detects the patron move through the portal with the product and the database record indicates a lack of accepted payment for the product.
10. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 9 , wherein the self-checkout apparatus further includes:
a monitor; and
a processor coupled to the monitor for assisting a patron in completing a purchase transaction.
11. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 9 , further comprising a second RFID antenna coupled to the frame.
12. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a counter coupled to the frame and defining an upper surface; and
a second RFID antenna mounted below the upper surface and configured to project radio frequency waves through the upper surface to read the RFID tag on the product when the product is moved across the upper surface.
13. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 9 , further comprising a second RFID antenna coupled to the frame and wherein the first and second RFID antennas are directed to project radio frequency waves across the portal in multiple directions.
14. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 13 , wherein the frame includes a first side frame member and a second side frame member extending parallel to one another,
the first side frame member terminating at a counter and including the first RFID antenna directed towards the second side frame member,
the second side frame member including a third RFID antenna and a fourth RFID antenna directed towards the first side frame member, and
wherein the first, third and fourth RFID antennas are configured to project overlapping radio frequency waves across the portal.
15. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 11 , wherein the first and second RFID antennas are offset from each other and are configured to project overlapping radio waves across the portal.
16. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a counter coupled to the frame and defining an upper surface; and
a third RFID antenna mounted below the upper surface and configured to project radio frequency waves through the upper surface to read the RFID tag on the product moved across the upper surface,
wherein the first and second RFID antennas are mounted on opposite sides of the portal and are configured to project overlapping radio waves across the portal.
17. An unattended checkout and security system comprising:
a frame defining a portal there between for a product with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached thereto to be passed through when the product is passed from a vending area to a non-vending area;
an RFID antenna configured to detect the RFID tag passing through the portal;
a RFID reader configured to read product data from the RFID tag;
a self-checkout apparatus configured to be located within the vending area, the self-checkout apparatus including a purchasing mechanism configured to accept payment for the product after the RFID reader reads the product data from the RFID tag;
a database configured to store an inventory of items located within the vending area, one of the items including the product, wherein each of the items corresponds to a database record within the database, the database further configured to receive the product data from the RFID reader and update the database record for the corresponding product by marking the database record for the corresponding product as sold after payment for the product is accepted by the purchasing mechanism, the database further configured to update the database record for the corresponding product by marking the database record for the corresponding product as stolen when the product moves through the portal and the database record for the corresponding product has not been marked as sold; and
a theft warning device configured to respond when the RFID antenna detects the RFID tag passing through the portal and the database record indicates a lack of accepted payment for the product.
18. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 17 , further comprising a motion sensing device for sensing movement of a patron through the portal.
19. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 17 , wherein the database is located remote from the self-checkout apparatus.
20. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 17 , wherein the RFID antenna is coupled to the frame.