Terminal for libraries and the like

Abstract

A library terminal permits a user to execute a loan transaction without assistance. The library terminal (i) provides a visible scan line from a bar code reader indicating the correct positioning of the bar code on a circulating item, (ii) leads a user through a loan transaction, (iii) provides an explicit feedback to a user when an article has an improper position on the article receiving area, (iv) both checks out and checks in circulating items, (v) stores fonts in bit maps of screen displays instead of in a separate font memory, (vi) integrates a security marker reader, a printer, and a controller in the same housing, (vii) processes financial transactions related to the borrowing of circulating items, and/or (viii) displays actions for helping the user to correct errors in use of the terminal.

1 - 22 . (canceled)  
     
     
         23 . A self-service library terminal comprising: 
 a display;    a transducer;    a code reader arranged to read a code on an article involved in a loan transaction; and,    a controller coupled to the display, the transducer, and the code reader, wherein the controller is arranged to control the code reader so to as read the code on the article, wherein the controller is arranged to control the display so as to lead a patron through the loan transaction, wherein the controller is arranged to control the transducer so as to provide an audible feedback to the patron, wherein the audible feedback has first and second on-states depending upon operation of the self-service library terminal by the patron, wherein the audible feedback during the first on-state is different than the audible feedback during the second on-state, wherein the first on-state is provided when a loan of a circulating item is permitted, and wherein the second on-state is provided when a loan of a circulating item is not permitted.    
     
     
         24 - 28 . (canceled)  
     
     
         29 . The self-service library terminal of  claim 23  wherein the controller is arranged to control the transducer so as to provide an audible feedback having a third on-state, and wherein the controller is arranged to control the transducer so that the third on-state of the audible feedback indicates that the self-service library terminal needs attention.  
     
     
         30 . The self-service library terminal of  claim 23  wherein the audible feedback is a first tone for the first on-state and a second tone for the second on-state.  
     
     
         31 . The self-service library terminal of  claim 23  wherein the controller is arranged to control the display so as to provide a visible feedback of the operation of the self-service library terminal by the patron.  
     
     
         32 . The self-service library terminal of  claim 23  further comprising an article receiving area arranged to receive the article, wherein the article receiving area has an idle indicator thereon readable by the code reader in order to determine whether an article is placed in the article receiving area.  
     
     
         33 . The self-service library terminal of  claim 23  wherein the controller is arranged to process both loans and returns.  
     
     
         34 . (canceled)  
     
     
         35 . The self-service library terminal of  claim 23  further comprising a connector, wherein the connector is arranged to couple the self-service library terminal over a link to a circulation system, and wherein the controller is arranged to store loan transactions during periods when the link to the circulation system is down so that the loan transactions can be later transferred to the circulation system.  
     
     
         36 . The self-service library terminal of  claim 23  further comprising an article receiving area, wherein the controller is arranged to control the code reader so as to project a visible indicator onto the article receiving area and so as to change the visible indicator between first and second visible states.  
     
     
         37 - 182 . (canceled)  
     
     
         183 . A self-service library terminal comprising: 
 a display;    a transducer;    a code reader arranged to read a code on an article involved in a loan transaction; and,    a controller coupled to the display, the transducer, and the code reader, wherein the controller is arranged to control the code reader so to as read the code on the article, wherein the controller is arranged to control the display so as to lead a patron through the loan transaction, wherein the controller is arranged to control the transducer so as to provide an audible feedback to the patron, wherein the audible feedback has first and second on-states depending upon operation of the self-service library terminal by the patron, wherein the first on-state comprises a happy tone, and wherein the second on-state comprises a sad tone.    
     
     
         184 . The self-service library terminal of  claim 183  wherein the controller is arranged to control the transducer so that the happy tone indicates proper operation of the self-service library terminal by the patron.  
     
     
         185 . The self-service library terminal of  claim 183  wherein the controller is arranged to control the transducer so that the sad tone indicates improper operation of the self-service library terminal by the patron.  
     
     
         186 . The self-service library terminal of  claim 183  wherein the controller is arranged to control the transducer so that the happy tone indicates proper operation of the self-service library terminal by the patron, and wherein the controller is arranged to control the transducer so that the sad tone indicates improper operation of the self-service library terminal by the patron.  
     
     
         187 . The self-service library terminal of  claim 183  wherein the audible feedback has a third on-state depending upon operation of the self-service library terminal by the patron, wherein the third on-state comprises a walk-away tone, and wherein the walkaway tone indicates that the self-service library terminal needs servicing.  
     
     
         188 . The self-service library terminal of  claim 187  wherein the controller is arranged to control the transducer so that the happy tone indicates proper operation of the self-service library terminal by the patron.  
     
     
         189 . The self-service library terminal of  claim 187  wherein the controller is arranged to control the transducer so that the sad tone indicates improper operation of the self-service library terminal by the patron.  
     
     
         190 . The self-service library terminal of  claim 187  wherein the controller is arranged to control the transducer so that the happy tone indicates proper operation of the self-service library terminal by the patron, and wherein the controller is arranged to control the transducer so that the sad tone indicates improper operation of the self-service library terminal by the patron.  
     
     
         191 . The self-service library terminal of  claim 183  wherein the controller is arranged to control the display so as to provide a visible feedback of the operation of the self-service library terminal by the patron.  
     
     
         192 . The self-service library terminal of  claim 183  further comprising an article receiving area arranged to receive the article, wherein the article receiving area has an idle indicator thereon readable by the code reader in order to determine whether an article is placed in the article receiving area.  
     
     
         193 . The self-service library terminal of  claim 183  wherein the controller is arranged to process both loans and returns.  
     
     
         194 . The self-service library terminal of  claim 183  further comprising a connector, wherein the connector is arranged to couple the self-service library terminal over a link to a circulation system, and wherein the controller is arranged to store loan transactions during periods when the link to the circulation system is down so that the loan transactions can be later transferred to the circulation system.  
     
     
         195 . The self-service library terminal of  claim 183  further comprising an article receiving area, wherein the controller is arranged to control the code reader so as to project a visible indicator onto the article receiving area and so as to change the visible indicator between first and second visible states.