Self-service checkout terminal with a security function based on detection of weight of items

Abstract

A self-service checkout terminal includes an optical code reader, a platform on which items to be purchased are placed, a weight sensor configured to detect a weight of objects placed on the platform, and a processor configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode. The processor carries out a registration process based on a merchandise code corresponding to a code symbol read from an item by the optical code reader while enabling a confirmation process to confirm proper item placement based on the weight detected by the weight sensor in the first mode, and carries out the registration process while disabling the confirmation process in the second mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A self-service checkout terminal comprising:
 an optical code reader;   a platform on which items to be purchased are placed;   a weight sensor configured to detect a weight of objects placed on the platform; and   a processor configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode, carry out a registration process based on a merchandise code corresponding to a code symbol read from an item by the optical code reader while enabling a confirmation process to confirm proper item placement based on the weight detected by the weight sensor in the first mode, and carry out the registration process while disabling the confirmation process in the second mode.   
     
     
         2 . The self-service checkout terminal according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the processor switches from the first mode to the second mode, upon a code symbol associated with a user code of a predetermined user being read by the optical code reader.   
     
     
         3 . The self-service checkout terminal according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an biometric recognition device configured to recognize a biometric feature of a user, wherein   the processor switches from the first mode to the second mode, upon a biometric pattern unique to a predetermined user being recognized by the biometric authentication device.   
     
     
         4 . The self-service checkout terminal according to  claim 1 , wherein the items to be purchased are items that are to be subjected to a code reading by the optical code reader, and the self-service checkout system further comprising:
 a second platform on which items that have been subjected to the code reading are placed; and   a second weight sensor configured to detect a weight of objects placed on the second platform.   
     
     
         5 . The self-service checkout terminal according to  claim 4 , wherein
 during the confirmation process, the processor compares a decrease of a weight detected by the weight sensor before the code reading for an item and an increase of a weight detected by the second sensor after the code reading for the item, and generates an error notification upon a difference between the decrease of the weight and the increase of the weight being greater than a first threshold.   
     
     
         6 . The self-service checkout terminal according to claim  5 , wherein
 the processor further cancels registration of the item upon the difference between the decrease of the weight and the increase of the weight being greater than the first threshold.   
     
     
         7 . The self-service checkout terminal according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the items to be purchased are items that have been subjected to a code reading by the optical code reader, and during the confirmation process, the processor determines a decrease of the detected weight and carries out a warning operation based on the decrease of the detected weight.   
     
     
         8 . The self-service checkout terminal according to  claim 7 , wherein
 during the confirmation process, the processor counts a number of times a difference between a reference weight and the detected weight is equal to or greater than a second threshold, and generates a warning upon the counted number exceeding a predetermined number.   
     
     
         9 . The self-service checkout terminal according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a light-emitting indicator that is disabled during the first mode and enabled during the second mode.   
     
     
         10 . The self-service checkout terminal according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display that is controlled by the processor to display a screen indicating that a current operational mode is the first mode when the processor operates in the first mode, and display a screen indicating that the current operational mode is the second mode when the processor operates in the second mode.   
     
     
         11 . A self-service checkout terminal comprising:
 an optical code reader;   a platform on which items to be registered through a code reading by the optical code reader are placed;   a weight sensor configured to detect a weight of objects placed on the platform; and   a processor configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode, during both of which, the processor is configured to carry out a registration process based on a merchandise code corresponding to a code symbol read from an item by the optical code reader, while carrying out a confirmation process to confirm proper item placement based on the weight detected by the weight sensor, wherein   during the confirmation process in the first mode, the processor determines a difference between a registered weight of the item and a decrease of the detected weight, and generates an error notification upon the difference being greater than a first threshold, and   during the confirmation process in the second mode, the processor determines the difference, and generates the error notification upon the difference being greater than a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold.   
     
     
         12 . The self-service checkout terminal according to  claim 11 , wherein
 during the registration process in the first mode, the processor registers the item for purchase upon the difference being less than the first threshold, and   during the registration process in the second mode, the processor registers the item for purchase upon the difference being less than the second threshold.   
     
     
         13 . The self-service checkout terminal according to  claim 12 , wherein
 during the registration process in the first mode, the processor does not register the item for purchase upon the difference being greater than the first threshold, and during the registration process in the second mode, the processor does not register the item for purchase upon the difference being greater than the second threshold.   
     
     
         14 . The self-service checkout terminal according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the processor switches from the first mode to the second mode, upon a code symbol associated with a user code of a predetermined user being read by the optical code reader.   
     
     
         15 . The self-service checkout terminal according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an biometric recognition device configured to recognize a biometric pattern of a user, wherein   the processor switches from the first mode to the second mode, upon a biometric pattern unique to a predetermined user being recognized by the biometric authentication device.   
     
     
         16 . A method for processing registration of item to be purchased, comprising:
 determining a decrease of a weight of items to be registered, placed on a platform;   after said determining the decrease of the weight, reading, by an optical code reader, a code symbol of an item that is taken from the items on the platform;   after said reading, determining a difference between a reference weight and the decrease of the weight; and   registering the item using a code corresponding to the read code symbol, upon the difference being less than a threshold value, wherein the threshold value is a first threshold in a first operational mode, and is a second threshold greater than the first threshold in a second operational mode.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the reference weight is a registered weight of the item. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 after said reading, determining an increase of a weight of items that have been registered, placed on a second platform, wherein the reference weight is the increase of the weight.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 generating an error notification upon the difference being greater than the threshold value.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 detecting a biometric feature of a predetermined user;   switching an operational mode from the first operational mode to the second operational mode upon detecting the biometric feature of the predetermined user.