JP2017521780A - Computer controlled unmanned automatic checkout store outlet and related methods - Google Patents

Abstract

A computer controlled unmanned automatic checkout store outlet has at least one bay. Normally, a locked door is associated with each bay, which allows the customer authorized by the automated store outlet computer to access the items in the bay. At least one tray is provided in the at least one bay, and such tray is adapted to hold goods to be stocked by the bay. The sensor system is configured to detect removal of a product from the bay and identify the retrieved product, for example, when the customer is retrieving the product for purchase. [Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention generally relates to unattended automatic checkout store outlets (also referred to as “outlet stores”) and related methods. This automatic store outlet system can be used as an unattended automatic checkout kiosk or micromarket and any other unmanned automatic checkout minimarket or local store where consumer goods (consumer goods) are sealed Exhibited behind the glass door, these consumer goods (consumer goods) are “stock” for sale.

  Typically, kiosks or micromarkets and minimarkets or regional convenience stores require the presence of store clerk and other employees and may be restricted to specific business hours. Such demands and constraints increase operating costs, and constrained business hours affect the actual total revenue.

  Some recent unattended micromarkets operate in company break rooms or break corners and provide food and beverages “out of stock” using a self-reporting system. In such a micromarket, customers can pick up goods from bare and unprotected (unsecured) shelves, and then customers can use barcode scanners installed on nearby automated computer kiosks. It is required to scan the barcode of each product (item). Such bare shelf micromarkets are restricted to highly secure locations only, but result in loss due to theft. Therefore, such micromarkets must be installed only in the company break room or in such areas where the customer is known and potential theft is mitigated.

  In addition, the present invention can be an alternative to common vending machines, which are currently used to sell products stored in vending machines. Typically, vending machines are coin-operated, but many vending machines accept a variety of currency bills (eg, 1 dollar bills or 5 dollar bills) for vending. Some machines now accept credit or debit cards. Vending machines are often located in places where people gather, pass or meet, such as public buildings and transportation hubs including subways, airports, hospitals, schools, and the like.

  In a typical vending machine, after an appropriate number of coins or bills have been paid and the item has been selected, the item is typically in a built-in bin accessible to the customer to retrieve the product. Dropped or sent out. Such vending machines are limited to a small number of products and very few choices. Vending machines are typically associated with the sale of high sugar and low nutrient snacks and drinks, such as candy bars, potato chips, and soft drinks. Furthermore, ordinary metal square vending machines are often not eye-catching and do not have an attractive appearance. Today, vending machine notorieties and negative social stigma are counted as some of the major reasons why a large percentage of customers avoid using conventional vending machines. Furthermore, vending machines are not designed to allow customers to review sales or return to vending machines for sale. The sales process is unkind, and each sale becomes a final decision when the products are sold automatically.

  Traditional vending machines also do not have many security measures other than to prevent tampering. Thus, mischiefs and burglars may damage the vending machine, and in some cases, money stored in the vending machine may be taken out. There is no 24-hour live monitoring of such vending machines.

  Yet another drawback of the company's micromarket and traditional vending machines is that between the customer and the micromarket or vending machine operator should a problem or question arise. There is no real-time communication. The customer may attempt to call the micromarket or vending machine operator even if contact information for the micromarket or vending machine operator is written. If not, typically the customer will not be able to contact such operators during such visits to the micromarket or during use of the vending machine.

  Thus, under the current circumstances, and in most cases, if an individual desires a more edible or healthy eating or drinking than a candy bar, soda, etc. or any personal toiletries or conventional If he wishes to buy a product, the person must find or buy such product at a grocery store, restaurant or other type of convenience store. In other cases, there are gift shops, coffee shops, etc. that may be located in the lobby of a hotel or building or in the waiting area of an airport providing such products. However, these are typically only open for a limited time each day, and one or more people need to be resident to handle purchases from the general consumer.

  Accordingly, there continues to be a need for an automatic checkout store outlet that features an automatic “inventory” sales method and system that has an attractive and attractive appearance and provides a wide selection of products. There is also a need for unmanned automatic checkout store outlets that are secured to prevent theft, mischief and damage. There is also a need for such an automated system that can provide food that is better and more nutritious than most vending machines without any restrictions on location or business hours. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.

  The present invention relates to an unattended automatic checkout store outlet and a method for allowing access to a computer controlled automatic store outlet and tracking purchases from the outlet. The computer controlled automated store outlet of the present invention generally comprises a plurality of bays for holding merchandise for purchase. Normally, a locked door is associated with each bay, allowing access to merchandise in the bay by customers authorized by the computer at the automated store outlet. A lock is associated with each bay door. The lock is normally locked when the bay door is closed, and selectively unlocked by the computer at the automatic store outlet when the customer or technician is authorized to open the door and access the bay. An access unit is associated with each bay door that has a multi-scan function and is configured to receive a customer identification for determining approval of access to the bay. At least one tray is provided in one or more bays having a plurality of compartments configured to hold merchandise. A sensor system is configured to detect the removal of a product from the bay and identify the retrieved product.

  The tray has a peripheral wall comprising a plurality of spaced apart slots, a platform, and at least one partition removably insertable in and on the slot in the wall, the peripheral wall; The platform and the at least one partition form a product compartment. The at least one partition is composed of a combination of a horizontal partition and a vertical partition that can be connected to each other. At least a portion of the horizontal or vertical partition is formed with a slot that receives a corresponding vertical or horizontal partition such that the connected horizontal and vertical partitions form a product compartment. The at least one partition is made up of a plurality of partitions that are spaced apart from each other and parallel to each other, and each partition has a pressing mechanism provided in a space between the partitions. The pressing mechanism is biased toward the front wall of the tray.

  As a variant, the tray has a pre-manufactured product compartment. The tray may have a sheet-like material, and a plurality of product compartments are formed in the sheet-like material. The molded compartment is generally isomorphic with at least a portion of the commodity to be held in the compartment. At least a portion of the plurality of commodity compartments molded into the sheet-like material varies in size and shape. A sensor may be associated with each compartment to ensure that the product is covered when the item is placed in the compartment. The sheet material may be opaque and may include holes or transparent areas within each compartment generally aligned with the sensor of the sensor system.

  The sensor system may include a sensor array provided for the tray such that a sensor is associated with each commodity compartment. In one form, the sensor array comprises sensor racks having holes arranged in a grid arranged underneath the goods on the tray and each configured to receive a sensor in a location relative to each compartment of the tray. Including. The sensor may consist of a light sensor that is activated when the item is removed from the compartment of the tray.

  The sensor system may alternatively include an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) tag and an RFID reader or receiver attached to each item, where the RFID reader or receiver measures the location or proximity of the tag relative to the reader or receiver. It is configured as follows. An image recognition system that includes a camera that detects the removal of the product by detecting the removal of the product or by comparing photos of the tray to determine, for example, whether the product is on the tray May be detected.

  In one embodiment, a plurality of light emitting LEDs are positioned above the tray to illuminate the item on the tray and activate a sensor associated with each compartment in the tray when the item is removed from the compartment. For example, the light emitting LEDs may be placed at the bottom of the tray and immediately above other trays. A polarizing sheet material may be used to allow light to enter the photosensor under the product only from a predetermined angle range. Some of the LEDs disposed on the tray may have infrared LEDs. The sensor may have an infrared light sensor. A double-sided PCB (printed circuit board) board having an infrared sensor on one side and an infrared LED lamp on the opposite side may be used. Infrared LEDs may be pulsed to illuminate and extinguish one after another, and the sensor system correlates with the detection of pulsed illumination by the infrared LEDs for product removal from the tray compartment to avoid reading errors. It may be configured to do.

  An automated store outlet is typically a computerized system local to an automated store outlet that manages the automated store outlet and other functions of the ASO, including the automated store outlet access unit, lock, and sensor system. You may have.

  The automated store outlet has an electronic display that displays each customer's electronic shopping cart showing items that have been removed from one or more bays by the customer. Typically, there is an electronic display associated with each bay to display the electronic shopping cart of the customer accessing the bay, the shopping cart being frequently updated, and the customer being bayed during a shopping event. Move from customer to bay with the customer.

  The access unit can be a credit or debit card, a machine generated code such as a barcode or QR code, a manual code input device and / or reader that reads or scans RFID signals or NFC signals, and / or customers Has a biometric scanner to be identified. The automated store outlet may have a motion detector and a device that enables live communication between the customer and a customer service representative. The lock may include a receiving plate having a switch, and the door may be locked by the operation of the switch when the door is closed.

  A device is associated with each bay and notifies an audible or visual notification or warning to the customer who accessed the bay. A camera may be associated with each bay and take images of the customer while the customer is accessing the bay. Such images may be displayed on the display of the device and / or other displays of the automated store outlet. A means for communication between the customer and customer service representatives is also provided. The remote viewing system may allow viewing of automatic store outlets by remote customer service.

  A camera may be placed on each tray in each bay so as to collect images of the customer's hands while removing goods from the tray. A camera placed on each tray in each bay may be used as part of the sensor system, and the image recognition system compares the photographic images to detect the presence of goods or the removal of goods from the tray. To detect.

  In accordance with the method of the present invention, a customer enters a customer identification into a door access unit associated with an automated store outlet bay. After confirming the customer identification, the bay door associated with the door access unit is unlocked to provide customer access to the bay. Customer payment information may be verified. The customer detects what each item removed from the bay is and adds the item to the electronic shopping cart for the customer displayed on the computer controlled display unit of the automated store outlet. When the bay door is closed, the bay is automatically locked. When the customer finishes the purchase transaction or after a predetermined period of time when there is no customer action, the customer's purchase transaction is terminated by charging the customer for the item in the customer's electronic shopping cart.

  The automated store outlet may include a check-in station for customer identification, payment, etc. One or more bays of an automated store outlet are normally locked to prevent access to goods in the bay. Typically, merchandise is placed in each tray compartment. A plurality of sensors are arranged to correspond to the products held by the tray. The arrangement of trays and products in each bay may be set from a remote location. The use of an array of stationary sensors may be used, or manually installed sensors associated with each tray compartment and / or commodity in the bay may be used.

  The automatic store outlet of the present invention may include a beverage dispenser that provides a beverage. A beverage cup or beverage component may be provided in the bay for purchase. The beverage dispenser dispenses the beverage into the purchased cup or uses the beverage component to produce the beverage. Alternatively, the beverage dispenser may be activated by a computerized system only when the beverage cup is removed from the tray or bay and purchased. Examples of beverage components include K-cups used in coffee makers or dispensers. Operation of the beverage dispenser may be selectively permitted by an automated store outlet after purchase, after proper customer identification and approval, and the like.

  The customer identification information is inputted to the check-in station of the automatic store outlet, and at least one of, for example, a customer identification code and / or a password, a customer specific image or a QR code image is inputted, and the electronically readable card Alternatively, swipe the electronic device to read or provide customer biometric information such as facial recognition, fingerprints, eye scans, etc. Customer identification information is confirmed by a sensor system.

  The customer payment information is entered into the check-in station of the automatic store outlet, and the customer payment information is confirmed by the system. The customer payment information may include a step of inputting information related to an automatic store dedicated account or account of a customer opened in advance, credit or debit card account information, or depositing cash into a cash receiving device of the automatic store outlet. Good. The customer may transfer funds to the customer's automated store-dedicated account online or using an automated store outlet check-in station.

  In accordance with the present invention, the system first prompts the customer from at least one bay after determining at the automated store outlet that the customer payment information is of a level sufficient to purchase goods from at least one bay. Qualify for product retrieval.

  After identifying the customer, the customer's payment information is verified, the customer is qualified, and then the customer can shop at the automated store outlet. This requires unlocking the door to allow access to the bay. Typically, this requires the customer to provide identification information to the electronic unit associated with the lock at each bay door. This may be due to the use of an electronic unit that simultaneously performs multiple scanning functions, read operation functions and display functions, such as motion detectors, electronic display screens, keypads, two-way audiovisual communication. Means, RFID readers, electronic code image readers, and biometric scanners. Confirm customer identification information and then unlock the door. Once the door is unlocked and opened, the system tracks customer behavior in that bay.

  Also, as will be appreciated, customer identification and payment may be performed in other ways. For example, instead of using a check-in station, a customer may use the door access unit associated with an automatic store outlet bay directly in close proximity and enter his customer identification into the door access unit. This may include manually entered codes or passwords, biometric scans, machine generated code or magnetic strip scans, reading RFID or NFC signals, and the like. This may be done, for example, by scanning the customer's credit card or debit card. The customer may wear electronic components worn by the customer, such as jewelry, that provide an electronic code that can be read by the access device. Alternatively, the customer may obtain machine generated code, passwords, etc. from a software application on the customer's mobile device such as a mobile phone or tablet, which are scanned by the access unit or otherwise It can be entered into the access unit, unlocking the door to provide access to the goods in the bay.

  Cash may be deposited into an automated store outlet unit, such as a check-in station, or the customer receives a code, password or machine readable code and enters the door access unit to either one or two of the automated store outlets. Access to more than one bay is allowed. The customer may have unused money returned to him as part of completing a purchase transaction at a check-in station or other unit.

  After confirming customer identification, the customer is transitioned to present mode status while shopping at an automated store outlet to speed up the customer identification process at each bay. This avoids the need for the system to search all potential past customers, system members, credit and / or debit card owner information, and so forth. These databases are very large and can take a long time to search completely. Instead, such information can be stored in a smaller database with a computerized system of automated store outlets that can be quickly searched for all customers present in that particular automated store outlet. It is.

  When a product is removed from a compartment in a bay, such as a tray in the bay, the system detects the removal of the product from that bay. The system also identifies the retrieved item and sends the retrieved item identification information to an electronic shopping cart for the customer at a computer installed at the automatic store outlet.

  Detection of the removal of goods from the bay can be performed by various means. Typically, a sensor is associated with each item located in the bay. For example, the sensor may comprise a light sensor that is provided underneath the item and is thus exposed to light and activated when the item is removed from the tray. Typically, the compote surface is formed in the tray using horizontal and vertical partitions or prefabricated partitions, and merchandise and light sensors are assigned to each compartment. Since goods and sensors are arranged in conjunction with the trays in the bay, the removal of a particular goods triggers the sensor and the system can accurately determine which goods have been removed from the trays in the bay. it can. The plurality of compartments may be formed into a sheet material that constitutes the tray of the bay. Although the tray may be generally opaque, each compartment has a transparent region or hole in the normal arrangement that includes the compartment's light sensors so that the light sensor is activated when goods are removed from the compartment. A light source such as a pulsating light source, such as an infrared LED, at a predetermined invisible frequency or frequency range may be used to facilitate detection of product removal from the tray, which causes the system to remove this light source from an environmental light source This is because they can be distinguished.

  Alternatively, the step of detecting the removal of the item from the bay includes associating an RFID tag with each item on the tray. A corresponding RFID detector is used to detect the movement of the goods leaving the tray and bay. The RFID detector, in a particularly preferred embodiment, comprises a sensor array sandwiched between the upper layer and the base layer and positioned relative to the goods in the bay to detect movement and removal of goods from the tray and bay. Includes an RFID antenna to be formed.

  The identity of the item removed from the tray or bay is displayed on the customer's shopping cart. This display typically also includes the price of the item that was removed. The customer's shopping cart, including identification of each item retrieved and purchase price, may be displayed on a computer controlled display unit associated with each bay of the automated store outlet. Accessing other bays will move with the customer from bay to bay at the auto store outlet until the customer's purchase transaction is complete, tracking all items that have been retrieved for purchase from all bays at the auto store outlet As such, a customer's electronic shopping cart that includes all items that have been retrieved from all bays at an automated store outlet for a shopping event is displayed on the display unit for that bay. This ensures that the process of closing a purchase transaction is executed once as a single transaction for all products that are removed from all bays by the customer during the shopping event, not only for the convenience to the customer but also for the transaction. Bring cost savings.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, a password or code can be obtained using a software application that is loaded into or accessible through a mobile device such as a mobile phone or tablet. When a code or password is entered or scanned into the door access unit, the door is unlocked and the customer can access the goods in the bay. The customer's electronic shopping cart is sent to the customer's mobile device and displayed on the device's display while the customer uses the automated store outlet.

  The accuracy of the transaction, identification, or price of the product may be verified by scanning machine readable code on the product retrieved using an automated store outlet scanner, such as a scanner associated with the door access unit. If the customer returns the item into the bay, the item is removed from the purchaser's electronic shopping cart. However, when the bay door is closed, the bay is automatically locked. The automated store outlet detects at a given time whether each bay door is open or closed, tracks the door opening by the customer, and removes all the bays that were removed from the bay while the door was open. Assign the item to the customer's shopping cart.

  The present invention allows multiple customers to shop at an automated store outlet at the same time, but only one customer can access a given bay at a time. Thus, while the first customer is accessing the bay of the automated store outlet, the second customer can access his door access unit associated with the bay that the first customer is not currently accessing. An identification can be entered. After confirming the second customer identification, the bay door associated with the door access unit that received the second customer identification is unlocked to provide access to the goods in that bay. The system detects the identity of each item retrieved from the bay by the second customer and adds the retrieved item to the electronic shopping cart for the second customer. As the second customer moves from bay to bay and picks up the item for purchase, the electronic shopping cart moves with the second customer. If the second customer terminates the transaction after a predetermined period of time has elapsed or if the second customer terminates the transaction, the second customer enters the second customer's electronic shopping cart. You are charged for a product. The methods and techniques of the present invention allow multiple customers to shop at the same time, and the system has the ability to distinguish customers and charge them separately in each single transaction.

  After the customer completes his shopping session, the purchase transaction is terminated and the customer is charged for one or more retrieved items. The purchase transaction ending step may include the step of the customer ending the purchase transaction using a check-in station at the automatic store outlet. The customer can request an indication of the items retrieved by looking at the shopping cart and the purchase price of these items at the computer controlled display unit of the check-in station. As a variant, the system automatically terminates the transaction and charges the customer for payment of the goods retrieved after the customer's predetermined refractory period at the automatic store outlet.

  A receipt may be issued for one or more purchased items. The receipt may be printed for the customer or sent electronically to the customer, for example via email. Purchase data from automated store outlets is also relayed to a central management center via a wired or wireless network.

  The present invention enables real-time video and audio communication and enables customers to communicate in real time with customer service at automated store outlets. Live customer service assistance in the form of a live guide at a remote location where the customer communicates with the customer via a voice link or audiovisual link, for example via a display monitor of the automatic store outlet, using the automatic store outlet May be able to request.

  Typically, automated store outlets are monitored with a monitoring device, which may be used as a remote viewing device with customer service that assists the customer remotely. The monitoring device may also provide security against theft and destruction of automated store outlets.

  The present invention may include an algorithm for collecting and analyzing consumer purchase habits. An alert is generated when a customer action that contradicts a scheduled action rule is detected. This can be used, for example, as a means to provide security and prevent theft or breakage of an automated store outlet or its merchandise. This may also be used, for example, to detect unauthorized use of customer account identification.

  For refrigerated bays that contain items that may go bad at a pre-determined temperature, automatic store outlets prevent customers from opening the refrigeration bay door if the temperature in that bay exceeds a pre-determined temperature Yes, and in some cases, prevent customers from purchasing products that may be rotten or bad.

  The automated store outlet of the present invention electronically detects the presence and identification of all products in the bay and creates an inventory report. One or more bays of an automated store outlet may be refilled as needed. The automated store outlet and method of the present invention creates an order processing report and selection list and tracks replenishment activities including at least one of replenishment accuracy compared to the product selection list and replenishment start and completion times. May be.

  The tray may be provided in at least one bay having goods supplied by a single predetermined source. The purchase history of goods from that tray is tracked, analyzed and communicated to the supplier. The present invention may collect supplier product refund data corresponding to merchandise purchased from an automated store outlet bay to take advantage of the supplier refund program.

  The present invention may track food purchases in connection with a customer diet or health care program. In accordance with such programs, electronic messages about dietary intervals or suggested food purchases or health care programs may be sent to the customer.

  Promotions may be displayed on a monitor associated with an automated store outlet. Advertisements can be associated with automated store outlets, items and merchandise sold within automated store outlets, or unassociated promotions.

  The present invention can be used to overcome many of the limitations and restrictions of common kiosks or company micromarkets, as well as the limitations and restrictions of typical vending machines.

  Other features and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings illustrate the principle of the present invention by way of example.

It is the perspective view seen from the front of one check-in station which embodies the present invention and one bay type automatic store outlet.

It is the perspective view seen from the front of another automatic store outlet which has the hot drink extraction dispenser which actualized this invention.

It is a perspective view of another automatic store outlet provided with the several bay by this invention.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating various aspects of the system of the present invention.

4 is a flow diagram illustrating steps performed in accordance with the present invention.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation and use of the present invention.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating various components of a representative automated store outlet of the present invention.

1 is a front view of a door access unit scanner used in accordance with the present invention. FIG.

It is the perspective view seen from the front of the bay of ASO of the present invention, and is a figure showing the state where the door closed.

It is the perspective view seen from the front similar to FIG. 9, and shows opening | release of the bay door after a customer identification confirmation.

It is a perspective view of the AMP unit used according to this invention.

1 is a plan view of an LED strip having multiple electronic components and LEDs and used in accordance with the present invention. FIG.

1 is a perspective view of an exemplary lock mechanism used in accordance with the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tray used in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from below of a sensor tray used in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view of a region “16” in FIG. 15 and shows details of the sensor tray in FIG. 15.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view of an optical sensor plug in a region “17” in FIG. 15.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a tray used in accordance with the present invention.

1 is a bottom perspective view of a double-sided printed circuit board used in accordance with the present invention.

It is the perspective view seen from the front upper direction of the tray, and shows the upper surface of the double-sided printed circuit board of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tray having partition rails and pushers used in accordance with the present invention.

It is a top view of the tray of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the front of a tray used according to the present invention, showing the tray having a molded compartment.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an exemplary molded sheet material that constitutes a tray having a plurality of different articles provided in different molded compartments in accordance with the present invention.

It is a bottom perspective view of a forming sheet provided with a tray of the present invention, and has a hole or a light transmission part.

It is the perspective view seen from the front upper direction of the tray used according to this invention.

3 is a partial exploded assembly schematic diagram of detection of a product taken from a sensor tray using RFID in accordance with the present invention.

1 is a schematic perspective view of a large micromarket system including multiple check-in stations and many modular bays in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a check-in station or stand-alone kiosk used in accordance with the present invention.

  As shown in the accompanying drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention relates to a system for providing an unattended automatic checkout store outlet for use in selling and distributing products and goods to customers. As described more fully herein, each automated store outlet (ASO) is designed to be fully automated and unattended. However, this system provides an interactive raw measure that allows customers to communicate interactively with customer service agents and management via voice and / or video conferencing or chat or text chat. The present invention and related methods allow transactions to be made because the goods to be purchased are in a secure bay behind a locked door and are accessible only by prior confirmation of customer information and payment. While still being implemented without the need for security, offering greater safety than the security currently offered by current micromarkets and greater flexibility and higher product numbers than currently offered by traditional vending machines To do.

  Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary automated store outlet (ASO) 10 is shown. The ASO 10 is an unattended automatic checkout kiosk or micromarket outlet. ASO can be used for the sale of many types of food and beverages as well as all other types of suitable consumer products. The ASO has a check-in station 12 where an individual can log in personal identification information, select and enter payment form and payment information, and approve transactions. Can interface with customer service and close the transaction. The check-in station typically includes an electronic monitor or screen 14, which, in a particularly preferred embodiment, displays information and allows the customer to interact with the system and enter data into the system. It is a touch screen for enabling However, it will be appreciated that other data entry means such as a mouse, keyboard, etc. can be used in conjunction with a non-touch screen for the same purpose. The check-in station 12 typically further includes a camera 16 and speakers that are used to identify the customer and / or allow the customer to communicate live with a customer service representative or the like.

  As part of using the present invention, a customer is identified. This can be done in various ways. For example, the user may simply enter a customer identification code and / or password using, for example, the touch screen monitor 14. Alternatively, biometric information may be obtained from the customer using, for example, a camera 16 that can be used for face recognition purposes or a scanner 18 that can be used to obtain a fingerprint from the customer to properly identify the customer. The scanner 18 can also be used to read the customer's RFID card or obtain a customer quick response imaging reading as an additional option to identify the customer. A card reader 20 is typically provided as part of the check-in station 12. This can be used to identify the customer and provide payment information in the form of a dedicated member card, debit card, credit card, etc. that the customer has previously issued for the system's ASO, for example. The check-in station 12 may further include a mechanism for receiving deposited cash in the form of currency bills and coins to accomplish the transaction.

  Each ASO 10 has one or more bays 22 that contain goods that can be removed from the bays 22 for purchase. The bays 22 may be arranged next to each other in a plurality of forms. Each bay 22 has a door 24 that is normally locked. Typically, the access door 24 is constructed of glass or transparent material so that the customer can view the contents of the bay 22 before opening the door 24. All doors 24 are self-closing spring-loaded doors that automatically close when the door handle is released.

  In a particularly preferred embodiment, each bay 22 that an electronic access unit, such as a scanner or data input device 26 must be used by the customer to unlock the door 24 and allow access to the contents in the bay 22. It is linked with the door 24. Typically, this is done after entering the identification state, selecting payment information, and after entering the qualified state via the check-in station 12. The customer enters the code, provides a fingerprint at the scanner 26, and scans or swipes the card, including a scan, such as a QR image, RFID card, NFC or other electronic device, at the electronic unit 26 for reading. Access to each bay 22 can be obtained through the locked door 24.

  At either the check-in station 12 or the door access unit 26, the customer can enter a biometric scan, enter a password or code, scan a machine-readable code, swipe or scan a credit or debit card, etc. Upon entering his customer identification and / or purchase information, the computerized system of the present invention must search one or more databases to verify customer identification and / or payment information. Such a database can have thousands of customer profiles and can take several seconds to approve. In accordance with the present invention, after a customer profile is obtained, this profile is stored locally in a temporary database at the ASO to bring the customer to “present mode”, where the present mode is entered by the customer into the ASO 10. Indicates that it exists and is currently shopping. Thus, when a customer accesses various bays 22, checks out, finishes a transaction or other function, the ASO computerized system can find the customer's profile very quickly.

  If desired, individual bays 22 can be refrigerated / frozen to hold frozen food, otherwise frozen food can be kept air-conditioned, or enter the bay. Depending on the product to be purchased, a non-air-conditioned state can be provided. As shown in FIG. 3, an ASO 10 with multiple bays 22 may have refrigerated / frozen bays 22 and some bays 22 may not. In accordance with the present invention, the ASO monitors the temperature of the bay, especially a refrigerated / frozen bay, and if the temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold, the bay door 24 is locked and the customer has the product corrupted or worse. Therefore, the contents of the bay 22 cannot be accessed and the product cannot be taken out.

  Means are provided for holding and providing the goods to be purchased in the bay 22. A tray 28 or other shelf is typically provided for these items. As described in more detail herein, the ASO can detect the removal of items from each bay 22 to charge the customer for payment for each item that has been removed.

  Referring again to FIG. 1, the present invention contemplates a built-in monitor 30 that can advertise and sell for various products and services. These products and services may be associated with an ASO or a company that provides or conducts ASO, or may be associated with other companies. Promotion monitor 30 may also be used to advertise merchandise for sale within ASO. Alternatively, the advertising monitor 30 may be used to promote goods and services that are not fully associated with the ASO 10 or that are not fully associated with the product for purchase within the ASO. Good. The promotional monitor 30 may also be used to explain to new customers how to use the ASO system. This may be done either at the advertising monitor 30 or at the monitor 14 associated with the check-in station 12, or a printed instruction manual may be provided in the ASO 10.

  The canopy 32 is typically used in modular units including bays 22, check-in stations 12, etc. to provide lighting, impressions, marketing, and to make the ASO 10 unit look great in other respects. It is attached. As will be appreciated, other types of sunshades and facades can be used.

  Referring now to FIG. 2, another ASO 10 is shown having a check-in station 12 as described above and a plurality of bays 22 located in two modular units. In this case, however, it will be appreciated that the modular bay 22 is of a different form and size than the modular bay shown in FIG. Further, one of the bays 22 includes merchandise associated with the drink dispenser 34. The drink dispenser 34 is typically provided with a coffee maker, but can provide hot water for making tea, cold water for making low-temperature scented beverages, and the like. Coffee K cups (trademarks), tea bags, fragrance packets, cups, etc. are accessed through the locked door 24 of the bay 22, and after taking out and purchasing these items, the customer uses the beverage utensil 34. Can make beverages. The beverage device 34 may or may not be located behind the door 24 in the closed and locked state. Other types of hot or cold single cup beverage dispensers 34 may be provided. Such dispensers provide selected beverages only to qualified customers controlled by an ASO computer system. In order to operate the beverage dispenser 34, the customer may, for example, use this type of access unit 26 at the bay where the beverage dispenser 34 is located, or such an access unit electrically connected to the beverage dispensing device 34. Confirmed customer identification and payment information must be provided by entering the information. At this time, the ASO system changes the machine mode from standby to active and the machine processes the customer's beverage selection. The beverage dispenser device 34 reports the selection to the system that adds the sale to the customer's shopping cart. The beverage dispenser 34 may process one drink at a time and may return to standby mode until the next customer is confirmed and approved to use the dispenser 34. It is also contemplated by the present invention that the customer can be billed for the components needed to make the removed cups and / or beverages such as K-cup®, tea bags, seasoning packets, and the like. Upon removal of one of these items from the bait tray 28, the beverage dispenser device 34 can be activated to produce and / or serve a beverage corresponding to the beverage cup, beverage component, and the like.

  With the ASO 10 shown in FIG. 2, an automatic unmanned coffee house can be operated. Customers will separately prepare their own hot or cold beverages, such as coffee or tea. The extractor 34 can only be activated after the customer has properly checked in and is qualified via the check-in station 12. The customer may also be able to purchase other products commonly sold in the coffee house, such as muffins, cakes, other bakery items, etc., which are one or more additional products The bay 22 can be obtained.

  Traditional coffee houses, such as Starbucks and others, are very popular and frequently come and go. However, in many cases, the coffee house is located a significant distance from the customer so that the customer has to walk a few blocks to the coffee house or drive his car to the coffee house. ing. Also, in many cases, such coffee houses have long queues of customers and take time to get served. In addition, such coffee houses are quite expensive for the goods in these stores. Automatic coffee house kiosk or ASO embodied as in the present invention that can be conveniently installed in lobby, office building, airport, dome, etc., and is fully automated and unattended, providing delicious coffee, tea etc. at low price Is desired.

  Referring now to FIG. 3, the ASO 10 of the present invention is modular, and typically a plurality of bays 22 are one of the same ASO 10 and one check-in station 12 as shown in FIG. It can be provided in various forms as a part. Thus, for example, in a large building or airport where there is a large demand and sufficient space exists, a large ASO having a plurality of bays 22 may be provided. However, in small buildings, dormitories, etc., small ASOs can be provided to meet the needs of such places. Modular ASO is extremely flexible and allows the design of ASO in various shapes and forms. Thus, the ASO may be as small as shown in FIG. 1, or as large as shown in FIG. 3, or based on location requirements and location physical form. And can be of any other size. ASO 10 operations are conducted in the same manner, regardless of the number of bays 22 and modular units provided.

  However, referring now to FIG. 4, each ASO 10 (shown as ASO 1 -ASON) is typically a central management center or main control network facility (MCNF) 36 for exchanging data and information for activity. And always in communication. MCNF 36 includes one or more servers, for example in a cloud environment, designed to help all ASO and customer service network 38, network operations center (NOC) 40 and inventory / sales / reporting system 42 activities. Prepare. The customer service network 38 allows customers to interface live with customer service staff. MCNF 36 is typically coupled to the company's website, through which the network operations center allows customers to create accounts, add funds to their accounts, obtain company news, and record personal activities. And / or reports etc., eg related functions can be examined. Thus, ASO uses wired or wireless technology to relay information to MCNF 36, NOC 40, customer service network 38 or inventory / sales / reporting system 42 to receive communications back in the form of customer service, monitoring, remote control, etc. Using this, a two-way communication network is established.

  The MCNF 36 is a central management center that manages all ASO locations and company management and reporting needs. MCNF hosts the company's network operating center, the company's customer service, and the company's website. The MCNF communicates with each ASO's LCS 58 via a network connection, exchanges data, and assists the operation of each ASO. However, all local functions, mechanical and electrical functions, and all detected identifications and entitlements for each customer are primarily controlled by each ASO's local LCS. However, MCNF may use the software to manage the company's management, including all sales reports and inventory, inventory replenishment reports, customer account activities and balances, membership database and various other functions and special programs. it can. In addition, MCNF hosts and manages the company's website, which provides company information and allows members to log on (connect) to their profile for reports, Can be added to your balance, can interact with company special programs, and communicate with company staff via chat, email or live video / audio.

  The present invention can detect the removal of goods from the tray 28 in the bay 22 by the customer accessing the bay 22 via the electronic identification unit 26 associated with the lock on the door 24. This information is located at each ASO from the circuit associated with each bay 22 and determines exactly what each product retrieved by this particular customer and the product retrieved by that particular customer. Is relayed to the main controller and local computer computing system (LCS) that charge for the payment. The main controller and LCS also control the functions of the check-in station 12. Thus, all functions of each ASO 10 are fully performed by the LCS located locally at each ASO. The LCS creates, saves and maintains activity reports and history logs at each local ASO. Thus, if communication and network outages occur, the ASO of the present invention can still operate and function. This is because these ASOs are in a self-sufficient state by incorporating a circuit, a controller, a computer, software and the like necessary for conducting a transaction.

  In accordance with the present invention, it is envisioned by the present invention that a customer opens a dedicated account in the system of the present invention, either via a website or a check-in station 12 at ASO 10. Funds may be placed in the account and a dedicated card or electronic device may be issued to the customer. As a modification, the customer may be provided with customer identification information, a PIN, a password, etc. so as to enter at the check-in station and / or the electronic scanner unit 26 and access the ASO for purchase. Dedicated account funds can be replenished with debit cards, credit cards, wire transfers from bank accounts or even cash deposited in ASO. Because all of the ASO 10 is managed and controlled by a single network, a customer who is a member of a particular ASO can shop at any other ASO on the network and use a membership card or customer identification. The sales revenue is the achievement of the serving ASO operator.

  Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the customer begins the process of using the present invention by identifying himself and making his choice of payment method (44). This is done at check-in station 12 as shown in step 56 of FIG. The first step a customer takes when the customer reaches ASO 10 is to perform an identification and qualification process. During this process, the local computerized system identifies the customer and then entitles the customer to shop at ASO. The customer may or may not be a member. A member is a person who is registered in advance with the company and possesses a customized member's card or identification code issued to the customer by the company.

  As mentioned above, the initial identification is usually done at the check-in station. If the customer is an authorized member, the customer may have his or her own customized membership card (eg, RFID card, magnetic strip card, or other type of customized identification smart card), a signal such as NFC, or You will have a code from your mobile device. The customer will also typically have a personal identification number (PIN) already pre-associated with the member's card. The customer scans his member's card on a scanner or card reader installed at check-in station 12, and then uses his / her PIN using the check-in station keypad or check-in station touch screen. Enter. In some cases, the customer may be asked to enter additional information, such as a zip code, date of birth, name, or other information that may be stored in connection with the customer's profile for security purposes. is there.

  The present invention is a credit that represents the dollar amount on the issued member payment card either online on the company's website or on the check-in station screen at any ASO using a credit or debit card or bill. It is assumed that it will be replenished. Members can also authorize ACH transactions to replenish their payment cards.

  As a variant, if the customer is a member who has previously scanned and registered his / her face and / or fingerprint imaging, the customer can also biometrically by scanning his / her face or fingerprint at a check-in station scanner, for example. It may be identifiable by metric data. The system identifies the customer by comparing the facial image, fingerprint image, or other biometric image with the recorded biometric image.

  As another option, a member customer can enter their user name, password, etc. using the local check-in station touch screen or other data entry mechanism. The system compares this information with the database, and if the information entered by the system is found to match the database record, the system ends the identification process. Again, in some cases, the customer may be required to enter additional information where the customer's profile is stored for security purposes.

  As yet another option, a member customer can download the company's software application to a portable mobile electronic device, such as a smartphone or tablet, which allows images downloaded to the customer's mobile device, such as Customers can be identified by using the QR code image. After accessing the application from the mobile phone and entering the customer's PIN to request a QR image, the QR image is sent to the customer's smartphone number. A new QR image is sent to the customer's smartphone each time the customer accesses the application and requests an image. The filed smartphone number and the customer's PIN must match to receive a qualified QR image. Certain images are valid for one session within the ASO. Upon obtaining a machine readable code such as a QR code, the customer's profile is raised to present mode for a predetermined period of time, the customer goes straight to the bar door, skips the check-in process at check-in station 12, and instead opens the door A machine readable code scanned at the access unit 26 or a code or password manually entered into the door access unit 26 allows access to a particular bay 22 of the ASO 10. If the QR image has not been used for a predetermined period of time, the QR image will expire.

In addition, by using this option, the customer gets their active virtual shopping cart in real time directly on the mobile phone display.
Also, from time to time, customers obtain notifications and promotional promotions that are sent to the customer's smartphone using a push notification feature or any other cellular technology.

  If the customer is not a member and wants to shop at the ASO using a credit or debit card, the customer can scan the card at the check-in station 12 with a reader. The customer may also be asked to enter additional information, such as a billing zip code, a birthday, or any other information that can associate the person with a payment credit or debit card. In addition, the customer may also be required to be scanned biometrically, for example providing a facial image or fingerprint from a check-in station camera.

  If the customer wants to use cash for a shopping session, the customer must place cash bills or coins in a cash acceptance device that may be part of the check-in station. This adds the amount of cash received at the device to the temporary account. The check-in station then issues a temporary card, machine-readable code printout, or password or PIN associated with the temporary account to the customer so that the customer can shop at ASO.

  In one embodiment, the device issues a card loaded with the same amount of money that the customer has deposited into the device at the ASO location. Provided that this amount exceeds the minimum required amount. As a variant, the machine may print customized QR images, barcodes, RFID tag cards, or other images on smart paper access cards issued specifically for such transactions. In yet another variation, a temporary access PIN may be provided to the customer in place of or in addition to such a printed image or smart card. The PIN may be generated by the machine or selected on the touch screen by the customer. The access card, printed image, and / or PIN allow the customer to access the bay door 24 and shop at the ASO.

  At the end of the current shopping session, the customer inserts a temporary access card into the machine and returns or scans the balance remaining on the card (the remaining balance is the amount of goods purchased during the shopping session). The amount of cash (which is the amount loaded on the card less than the cost) can be returned or you can keep the card for future use. In addition, such a form of cash access card containing a pre-loaded specific dollar amount may be offered for sale as a gift card or cash access card for shopping at any ASO.

  If the system detects that a person does not meet certain security criteria, the system may request additional information or may deny access to that person.

  After properly identified and providing acceptable payment choices (both of which are verified by the system), the system is then of a level sufficient for customer payment information to purchase goods from the ASO. Ensuring that a customer is eligible to retrieve goods from any bay. The qualification process is necessary to ensure that the customer's account has sufficient funds to meet the average number of shopping visits. The average number of shopping visits may be different at each location, and may be preset on the system. Thus, after the identification process is complete, the system pre-qualifies the customer's member card or account against debit or credit card or input cash regarding average shopping visits. If the payment amount is not qualified, the system notifies the customer on the check-in station screen that there is not enough money associated with the payment type selected to make the purchase. Alternatively, the system may allow the customer to specify a low qualifying purchase price on the touch screen based on the customer's intention to spend on this stop. If the unqualified customer is a member, the customer as a member can become eligible by adding funds to his account using a debit or credit card, ACH remittance, etc. If the customer is not a member, the customer may use a different debit or credit card to qualify, or insert additional cash into the ASO. If not, the person's access will be denied.

  Referring again to FIG. 5, if the system qualifies the payment method, the profile of the qualified customer is raised to present mode (46). With reference to FIG. 6, this is done by the local computer system 58.

  The term present mode refers to the customer and the customer's card or other payment information passing the identification and identification process, and the person is present at the ASO and is eligible to open the bay door and shop at the outlet store. It is meant to be given. The customer profile in the present mode includes customer customer name and PIN, customer RFID / NFC or magnetic swipe card information and customer personal information including PIN number and recorded customer biometric information and Images, such as fingerprints and facial scan images or other available and suitable personal identification information.

  If the cash system issues a temporary access cash card, bar code or QR image access code, etc., the cash system approves that the card is available for shopping and raises the card credentials to present mode.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, when in the present mode, for example, the door 24 shown in FIG. 8 and the buttons and switches associated with the lock shown in FIG. By simply pushing, one or more bay doors are either unlocked or selectively unlockable. However, this option can only be used with a very small ASO that allows a single customer to use ASO at a given time. In such a relatively small ASO 10 with only a single bay 22, this is not a concern and this option may be appropriate. However, this option presents a problem for ASO with multiple bays 22. If only one customer can shop at such a large ASO at a given time, an unqualified individual other than a qualified customer can open the door 24 and access the goods in the bay 22 and get a present. You may be billed incorrectly for customers in mode.

  Thus, in a particularly preferred embodiment, each eligible customer is allowed to purchase electronic mail associated with each bay door 24 so that multiple customers can shop and open multiple large ASO doors 24 with simultaneous access by multiple customers. Before opening any bay door 24 by the door access unit 26, it must be identified again. If the customer is identified in the present mode and the proper identification is provided at the scanner 26, the door will open (48). If not, the door remains locked. Nevertheless, one customer can open one door at a time. Such a customer is the responsible party for all goods removed from such bay 22 until such bay door 24 is closed and locked. However, multiple customers can buy at the same time at ASO, and a single customer can in turn access a given bay through a locked door by providing the required customer identification at the door access unit It is. The present invention tracks which customers open which bay door and which items are removed from that bay while the door is open. Each customer's shopping cart is managed separately by the system and travels with the customer from one bay to the other, keeping all the items retrieved from multiple bays in one shopping transaction for each customer.

  Only customers who have their profile in their present mode or their cash access card can open the bay door and remove the product. To open any door, the customer scans his / her card, face or fingerprint or other biometric information or his / her PIN for each door 24 as shown in step 60 of FIG. It must be entered into the door access unit 26 installed by the side. After the system confirms and verifies that the customer's profile is in present mode, the bay door unlocks and the customer scans his identity on the door access unit beside the bay door. At this time, for example, by searching for a dead bolt to unlock the bay door, the system operates the locking unit to unlock the bay door.

  The access unit 26 and these components are multi-system scanners that can perform RFID / NFC scanning, barcode or QR code image reading, biometric facial or fingerprint scanning, or manual entry of username and PIN. Also good. The electronic scanner unit 26 of the present invention can accept any one of these methods or any combination thereof or any other identification means. For example, customers who use their credit or debit cards to qualify can manually enter several digits, such as the last 4 or 5 digits of the card used during the identification and qualification process, into the scanner unit Or enter a PIN that may have been given to you during the identification and qualification process, or use a printed barcode or QR access card issued to the customer by ASO during the check-in process. If the customer's credit or debit card is a smart card, the scanner will scan for RFID, NFC or other when the customer is scanning that particular card over the scanner in each door to open any bay door. Identification technology can be read. As an additional security measure, ASO may require the use of biometric faces, fingerprints or other imaging in addition to any of the above techniques. A customer's card or profile that is not in present mode will not be able to gain access to open any bay door.

  Referring now to FIG. 8, an exemplary door access unit or scanner is shown. The access unit 26 may include a display screen 800 for displaying notifications, information or a customer shopping cart to the customer. For example, a keypad 802 is also provided to enter a PIN, password, code, or the like. A biometric scanner 804 or the like may be used to read fingerprints and detect individual eye characteristics and the like. A speaker 806 may be provided in the unit for voice notification and communication. Component 808 may comprise a motion detector, biometric identification, camera for audio / visual communication with a customer service representative, or other scanner. As described above, the door access unit 26 includes a scanner or reader 803 that can scan or read a machine-generated code such as a QR code or a barcode, and can read a credit card or a debit card. .

  Instead of issuing a member's card, other electronic devices in the form of a smart RFID chip or a bracelet, ring or the like incorporating any other RF technology may be issued to the customer. By wearing such a bracelet or ring, a customer as a member simply passes an electronic device in the form of a bracelet, ring or the like in front of the door access unit 26 or holds the handle of the door of the bay. You can open the bay door. By grasping the door handle, the door access unit installed near the door handle detects customer identification information in the bracelet or ring and allows the door to open.

  After the computer system confirms that the information entered in the door scanner matches the information in the customer profile at the present mode level, the computerized controller unlocks the door for the particular bay. As an alternative, instead of the main controller or LCS performing such functions, present mode information can be downloaded and updated in real time to all door scanners along with all customer profiles and access cards. All profiles and access cards can be temporarily stored in each scanner's memory as long as they are brought up in present mode and information is present in the customer's or card profile in present mode . Thus, when a customer scans his card, provides biometric information, and enters his PIN into a door scanner located beside each door, the scanner is stored in the scanner's memory. The profile informs the central controller and LCS of the match and requests the LCS to unlock the door.

  Thus, only one person at a time can open the door 24 of a given bay 22. Thus, the customer is the party responsible for all items removed from the bay as a result of opening the door, while multiple customers can shop at the ASO at the same time. Passing the customer through the identification and qualification process and going into present mode also facilitates the implementation of a second identification step at the electronic device scanner associated with each bay door. Rather than the system having to search the database for the identification codes, passwords, fingerprints, etc. of all members belonging to the ASO, the ASO local computer system is already in present mode and currently exists and shopping at the ASO All you have to do is look up for the identification code, password, biometric information, etc. assigned and known for the customer who is doing. This cross-match and decision can occur almost instantaneously, whereas looking up such a large database of information may require additional time.

  9 and 10, FIG. 9 shows a plurality of bays 22 having doors that are closed and locked. Here, as shown in FIG. 10, when the customer enters his / her customer identification in the door access unit 26, this information is confirmed and the customer can open the door 24 and access the product 70 therein. Can do.

Next, referring to FIGS. 9 to 11, each bay 22 may have an action monitoring panel (AMP) 1100. Each AMP features a camera 102, typically a video camera, and a display 1104. When the customer opens the door 23 and gains access to the bay 22, the camera 1102 is activated so that the customer's video image is shown on the display 1104, as shown in FIG. Customers opening the door can view themselves on the video display 1104, and the video is typically recorded and stored in memory associated with the ASO. This creates a log of customers who opened the bay door and activity that would have been done while the door for the bay was open. Other visual indicators such as LED 1106 may be lit when door 24 is opened or when the system detects suspicious activity. Audible notifications may be made through speaker 1108 and visual notifications and messages may be made through display 1110.
Through display 1112, the customer's shopping cart may be displayed, showing all items that have been removed by the customer from one or more bays of ASO 10. The customer's shopping cart is automatically updated when the item is removed or returned to the bay tray. Speaker 1108 and display 1110 can provide audible or visual promotional information, or operational instructions, or can also provide a warning if the customer's balance is exhausted or some fraud is detected. . This type of message can also inform promotional information and / or specials. If the system detects suspicious activity, the LED 1106 can be used to flash to provide a visual warning or notification. In an extreme case, the LED 1106 blinks and the speaker 1108 can reproduce an alarm sound.

  When the customer scans his identity to open the door bay, the customer's shopping cart appears on both the door scanner display 800 and the AMP display 1112 in the bay for the door just opened by the customer. It may appear. As a customer moves from one bay to another, the shopping cart is updated and also moves with the customer to show all items that were retrieved during the current shopping transaction.

  The present invention may include a normal behavior rule algorithm, which alerts the system when a customer action conflicts with a pre-programmed system behavior rule. In such a case, the system may use the AMP 1100 to play a voice alert message, display a typed text message, or activate an alarm and customer service remote viewing function.

  Typically, automated store outlets are monitored by a monitoring device to provide security against theft and destruction of automated store outlets. In addition, such monitoring devices may have remote viewing capabilities so that customer service can remotely view store locations and assist customers with live assistance while shopping at ASO. Such a monitoring device may include a digital display that may be remote from or part of the camera, speakers, and door access unit 26 or AMP 1100.

  The system may also incorporate a motion detector that alerts the system if motion is detected immediately adjacent to the ASO or a portion of the ASO, such as near the bay 22. The door access unit scanner 26 may include such a motion detector and / or AMP 1100. By detecting motion, certain aspects of ASO may be enabled, such as illuminating one or more bays of the ASO, turning on power to monitoring devices, cameras, and the like.

  The door access unit 26 may be able to operate an identification code of the product itself, such as a UPC barcode. This can be used by the customer to see what the product is and how much. It may also be used to return the product to the appropriate location within the bay 22. Such scanning of goods may be used during inventory filling. Additional information about the product, such as raw materials or other characteristics, may be displayed by scanning the product UPC or other code.

  In some cases, the system may facilitate return to the customer who wishes to return the item to the bay tray and remove the item from the customer's shopping cart, UPC or other type of identification code printed on the item. May be requested to scan using a nearby scanner. At this time, the customer may be asked to open the door, scan the UPC or other type of identification code printed on the merchandise, and then return the product or merchandise to the appropriate location on the tray. The system confirms that the scanned product matches the product allocation associated with the compartment in which the product was returned and issues credit to the customer. If the customer wants to return the product or goods after completing the transaction, customer service assistance may be required for the return.

  The activity history of each sensor is stored in the ASO's local computer system (LCS). Thus, along with all retrievals and / or replacements associated with such sensors, a specific sensor report can be generated at any time showing information about the customer who removed or replaced the product and the date and time this occurred. .

  If the system detects suspicious activity, the system will require the customer to scan one or more items removed from the tray using a nearby scanner to confirm the accuracy of the transaction Audio and / or visual messages may be used. Such a request may be due to a raw customer service agent.

  Referring now to FIG. 12, a light emitting strip 1200 may be placed at the bottom of the AMP to remove items on the tray or items in the bay below the AMP 1100. Such a light emitting strip 1200 may comprise various electronic components and includes a visible LED light 1202 and an invisible LED light 1204 such as an infrared LED. Such an infrared LED 1204 may be repeatedly pulsed to be well detected by a sensor. Such a light emitting strip 1200 is also at the bottom of the tray.

  Upon identifying the customer and unlocking the bay door, the display screen of the electronic door access unit 26 can display the customer's balance and the customer's current virtual shopping cart. When the door closes and locks the door, the screen disappears again and waits for the next customer to be authenticated before entering the ID and providing such information to that customer.

  If the customer does not have sufficient funds in their account, or if the customer's purchase amount exceeds the amount that the card entitles during the check-in process, the customer is in excess of the customer's authorized purchase amount A message will be provided to the customer, for example on the door access unit display, AMP display, other displays in the bay, or ASO. Notification of customer service and such customer service can intervene by means of video or audio connection means. The customer will offer another payment option or replenish existing payment options to continue shopping at the ASO.

  Referring again to FIGS. 5 and 6, a customer who accesses and opens the door to the bay can remove any item from the bay tray. The customer who opens the door is responsible for all goods removed from the bay until the door is closed and locked. When the item is removed from the bay, the product name, description and price are added to the customer's virtual shopping cart (50), which may be displayed on the AMP display screen along with the door access unit display screen. This is shown in step 62 and step 64 of FIG. When the customer removes the item 70 from the tray 28, the sensor detects the removal of the item 70, and the system detects the name of the item 70, the description of the item 70 that was retrieved to add the item 70 to the virtual shopping cart 64. And you can pinpoint the price accurately. As described above, the virtual shopping cart may also be on a user's mobile electronic device, such as a smartphone or display screen, and a screen associated with the electronic unit scanner 26, a display screen 14 associated with the AMP 1100 and / or the check-in station 12. May be provided in real time on top. This may be displayed automatically or only when requested by the customer.

  Thus, when a customer removes a product 70 from the tray 28 in the bay 22, the system detects in real time which product has been removed, and has identified the product that opened the door as a “pending product”. Log in the customer's virtual shopping cart. The system detects removal and identifies the product in the removal state based on preconfigured database information in each compartment of the tray. Product removal detection can be accomplished by using any optical or electrical sensor system or any digital measurement system and / or RFID or NFC identification tag system and any other suitable sensor technology.

  When the customer returns the item 70 to the tray 28, the system retrieves the item in real time from the customer's virtual shopping cart. In some cases, if the customer wants to return the item to the tray before closing the door, the customer must return the item to the same location from which the item was removed. In some cases, if the customer does not return the item to the correct location, no credit will be issued for such return and a warning and / or voice announcement will require the customer to move the item to the correct location. Misplaced merchandise may be logged and, if not repaired by the customer, products in such compartments may be automatically updated by the software. If the software is unable to update the database, the software issues a notification to the maintenance team indicating the product placed in the wrong location. When using several sensors, such as RFID tags, the location of each product is not critical and such functionality is modified accordingly based on the circumstances of each event.

  As noted above, each customer's shopping cart moves with the customer from one bay to the other, and one or more displays associated with that bay display all pending items removed from each bay. Will be shown until the end of the current transaction. A customer may retrieve multiple items from multiple bays and may be charged for these items in a single transaction. Furthermore, the ability to consolidate all of the product withdrawals from multiple bays saves costs for ASO operators because there is typically a single transaction fee associated with each credit or debit card transaction. This is because the credit / debit card transaction is processed only once and only one fee is charged instead of being charged each time one or more items are removed from each bay. .

  Referring again to FIG. 5, when the customer releases the door handle, the door automatically closes and locks (52). In a particularly preferred embodiment, the glass door 24 located in front of each modular bay 22 is a biased self-closing spring door that automatically closes when the door handle is released. When the door is fully closed, the locking mechanism detects that the door is fully closed, at which point the system activates an electrical deadbolt to lock the door.

  Referring now to FIG. 13, such an electronically actuated deadbolt lock 72 is shown. The deadbolt 74 is selectively moved from the open position to the closed lock position by an electric current, an electrically generated signal, or the like. In one embodiment, the door has a metal magnetic backing plate that is designed to receive the deadbolt 74 of the electrical locking mechanism 72 and to activate a reed switch within the lock when the door is fully closed. The electric locking mechanism 72 as shown in FIG. 8 detects a unit case 86, a dead bolt 74, a geared motor 78 that moves the dead bolt 74, and door closing, and receives a signal from a computerized controller or the like. The circuit 80 may include a limit switch, a magnetic reed switch, or the like. Typically, limit switches, reed switches, etc., always detect the position of the door. The magnet provided on the receiving plate is positioned so as to operate the reed switch when the door is completely closed, and at that time, the control panel operates the motor to slide the dead bolt to lock the door. The locking or unlocking of the bay door is typically based on a command from the main central control panel 90.

  If the customer wants to open the same door, after closing and locking the door, the customer needs to repeat the above steps. That is, the customer must scan his card, electronic device, provide biometric scanning, enter the proper code, etc. while in present mode. Once again, the central control panel or LCS activates the geared motor 78 to pull back the deadlock 74, thereby unlocking the door and allowing the customer to open the door and remove goods from the bay 22.

  Referring again to FIG. 5, when the customer finishes shopping with all desired items, the customer either manually ends the transaction and receives a printed receipt at the check-in station or leaves without closing the transaction. Either, and then the system will automatically terminate the transaction after a predetermined refractory period of customer 54. As shown in FIG. 6, the customer may return to the check-in station to provide identification information, thereby viewing the virtual shopping cart to terminate the transaction and receiving a printed receipt if desired. Also good. When scanning the customer's ID card or providing other identifying information to the check-in station, the system removes the customer from one or more trays in one or more bays during transaction processing. Display a virtual shopping cart of a specific customer that lists all products. The customer may view this list and click Exit to end the transaction. By clicking Exit or OK, the customer approves that the virtual electronic shopping cart is accurate when the system finishes the shopping transaction. When a customer initiates a discussion with a live customer service agent regarding the items listed in the electronic shopping cart, the customer service agent resolves the dispute and the transaction is terminated by customer service. If raw customer service is not available, the transaction is terminated and the customer is asked to submit the discussion to customer service by phone, email, or other available communication method.

  However, if the customer does not want to spend time reviewing and closing the transaction, the customer may simply walk away from the ASO and the system will allow the customer to be active in ASO for a predetermined period of time. Once detected, the system automatically terminates that particular shopping session and bills the customer for payment for the item that is retrieved and shown in the virtual electronic shopping cart. In such a case, instead of a print receipt, the receipt can be sent electronically to the customer by e-mail, text or the like. This is particularly desirable for customers who choose not to manually end the transaction at check-in station 66. After the transaction is complete, the software and LCS computer system remove the customer from the present mode 68.

  As described above, multiple customers can shop at the same time with ASO by a method that requires a second identification and confirmation at each door in each bay. The system distinguishes each customer's virtual shopping cart in real time based on the customer's access to a given bay and the retrieval of a given item in that bay, and each customer after opening the bay door Each customer is charged with accurate payment for the product to be removed from each tray. Purchase data from the ASO is relayed to a central management center, for example, the MCNF 36 shown in FIG.

  Also, as described above, in a small ASO, if only one person can shop at a time, the door scanner electronic unit may not be necessary. In such a situation, the identified and qualified customer is considered to be the only person who opened the door during one person's shopping session and that the customer removed the product from one or more bays. It is. Thus, the identified and qualified person is the party responsible for all products removed from any tray and bay during the shopping session.

  In such a case, the shopper may be required to unlock a given bay door by pressing a button, such as an illuminated green button. The other door remains locked to prevent a third party from opening the door and removing the product from the other bay. Thus, only one door can be opened at any given time for security purposes. If there is only one bay with a door, the above may not be necessary and the door will be unlocked to the customer as soon as it is identified and qualified.

  In such cases, to prevent two or more customers from attempting to log in at a given time and / or to allow the customer to manually close the transaction, the shopping session ends and the customer An electronic card reader may be used to hold a customer's member card, credit card or debit card until the transaction is manually terminated using a touch screen and charged to the customer's account. This would require the customer to manually terminate the transaction by viewing the virtual shopping card and approving the transaction. After closing the transaction and charging the customer's account, the electronic card reader releases the customer's card and the system shifts to standby mode to prepare for the next customer. If the customer uses a biometric scan, RFID or other card to be read through, the customer simply closes the transaction by pressing the OK button or other such instruction button at the check-in station touch screen. After charging the customer's account, the system will shift to standby mode to prepare for the next customer. A printed receipt or electronically emailed receipt will be provided to the customer.

  Referring now to FIG. 7, a schematic diagram illustrating the connection of various components of a typical ASO 10 is shown. Three bays are shown for purposes of illustration and illustration. Each bay is shown with four shelves or trays 28. Each bay 22 is shown with a corresponding electronic scanner unit 26, lock 72, and LED lamp 88.

The components of the check-in station 12, the display screen 14, camera 16, scanner 18 and / or card reader payment acceptor 20 are shown in communication with a local computer computing system (LCS) 58. The LCS 58 communicates with the MCNF 36, the NOC, the customer service tech support unit 38, and the like. However, as mentioned above, the basic functions of ASO may be implemented locally at ASO 10 to prevent ASO from functioning in the event of a network interruption and not being able to execute transactions, such network An interruption may occur when the system is based on a cloud or remote computer computing system.
In addition, to ensure the ability to efficiently provide service to customers to always have the fastest functional response and avoid downtime due to internet interference and inactivity The LCS of the system is located locally. Nevertheless, when the network is in operation, the LCS constantly communicates with the cloud-based or remote computer computing system MCNF to exchange data to facilitate transactions and to set up and configure , Reports and / or download or upload all other technical or management data. The LCS performs multiple functions simultaneously during the operation of the ASO, including customer identification and qualification, operation of the locking mechanism and detection of the retrieved goods, billing, surveillance video and other customer interaction media. Functions such as video and audio live meetings. Thus, the LCS 58 is suitable for high-grade at least one computer to accommodate such functions locally without delay and to cope with inoperability or interference that can occur by using only the cloud or other remote computer computing system. Consists of a computing system.

  As described in further detail herein, each shelf or tray 28 includes a sensor tray 82 that incorporates one or more sensors that detect when goods are removed from the shelf or tray 28. This is typically relayed via the bridge board 84 to the local tray circuit board 86 and then further to the main circuit board 90, which directly interfaces with the LCS 58 or even the LCS 58's. It is a part. The tray circuit boards 86 may be interconnected in series as shown, or all may be directly connected to the main control panel 90 and the LCS 58. However, if the configuration shown in FIG. 7 is given, if a single sensor tray, bridge board, tray circuit board, etc. malfunctions, this malfunction will cause the remaining trays or shelves 28 to operate and in particular. It does not adversely affect the operation of other bays in the ASO 10.

  The electrical functions of the ASO are controlled by the main control board 90 and the tray circuit board 86, and the main control board 90 and the tray circuit board 86 together communicate with a software program executed by the LCS 58 and the MCNF 36. Upon detecting any change, such as the placement or removal of product on or from tray 28, a signal is issued to report such activity to main control board 90 via a serial data string, RS485 or other protocol. The central or main control panel 90 communicates with the LCS 58, which uses a local database to determine which items have been retrieved or placed and apply such activities to the appropriate current customer's virtual shopping cart. .

  In addition, the main control panel 90 as well as the circuit board located on the tray circuit board 86, or AMP 1100, is a bright mode LED lamp 88 whenever the system shifts to purchase mode or when any bay door is opened. , 130 is activated. LED lights can go dark when the bay door is closed. Further, another control panel such as the main control panel 90 or the LED upper control panel in the AMP 1100 controls the opening / closing position of the lock mechanism.

  A control panel, typically in the AMP 1100, also manages the temperature regulation of each refrigerated / frozen bay. The temperature control system allows the bay to meet health and food authorities' requirements for the display and sale of perishable food products. A sensor is used to detect the temperature inside the bay, and a control board is used to control the temperature inside the bay in conjunction with the refrigeration / freezing unit. Each refrigerated / frozen bay includes a PCB control panel and a temperature regulator system. If the temperature of the refrigerated or frozen bay rises above a predetermined temperature corresponding to the temperature commanded by health and food authorities, the system informs the LCS via the main control panel. The LCS keeps the bay door locked until the situation is repaired by the operator to prevent the sale of goods from the refrigerator / freezer. However, if the bay temperature does not reach a predetermined hazard level but exceeds the desired level, the system may or may not operate the bay fan to dissipate heat. If necessary, operate the refrigeration / freezing system to refrigerate and / or freeze the contents of the bay as needed.

  The software activates the NOC and customer service interface 38. Such interfaces include interactive features that allow customers to communicate live with the company's customer service or network operating center via audio and video conferencing. By touching the appropriate area on the touch screen monitor 14, the customer can initiate an audio and video conference call with the customer service. The customer service agent appears live on the screen and helps the customer's request. In addition, the software allows the customer service representative to remotely lock or unlock the door, turn the LED light on or off, charge the customer account or fill in the credit for the customer account, If the customer wants to replenish his account balance, he can add funds to the customer's account. In addition, the customer service can access a remote viewing feature that allows the customer service to remotely view an ASO site, such as a display, camera or surveillance system.

  Each ASO is equipped with a surveillance video camera. The surveillance video camera may be fixed to a front signboard having an ASO structure. Such a camera is used to capture and record activity in the area in front of the bay and around the ASO. In addition to the surveillance system, it is assumed that one or more display screens indicating what the surveillance video camera is housed in, for example, each bay, Examples include the user who opened the bay door and one or more items removed from the bay. In addition, one or more cameras are provided in each bay, such as under each tray, and under the AMP 1100 to move the customer's hand and remove or install each item from the tray or bay. Photographing and recording may be performed. Such a camera may only operate when the system detects motion, and such video may be displayed on the video display of the AMP while the door is open to its bay. All video sessions are stored on a local computer or DVR and can be viewed locally or remotely. If any bay door is opened without proper command from the main control panel 90, a security alarm is activated and the customer service remote observation is turned on. All customer activity is fully logged in or saved. If a mischief is discovered, management can look at the activity log and video records to determine who made the mischief by the system. Thus, such a system can also be used to confirm customer retrieval of goods from an ASO.

  In one embodiment of the invention, ASO 10 includes a motion detector. The motion detector may be part of the identification scanner 26, or may be independent and located at one or more locations throughout the ASO. The motion detector detects the movement of someone approaching or passing through the ASO. In this case, motion detection by the motion sensor turns on the ASO light, for example the LED light 88 in the various bays 22, turns on the initial prompt screen at the screen 14 of the check-in station 12, and the advertising monitor 30. Can be used to operate the In addition, motion detection by motion detectors can be used to activate surveillance video cameras and systems and to activate live remote viewing for security or even customer service purposes.

  Until the current qualified customer opens any bay door, all doors are closed and locked, for example, using lock 72 of FIG. A qualified customer can only open one door at a time. Such a customer is the responsible party for all goods that have been removed from the bay during the time between the door being closed and locked. If any machine malfunction or mischief restricts the door from closing completely for a predetermined period of time, an alarm is activated and customer service remote vision is turned on and activated.

  In addition, if a qualified customer retrieves a product from the tray 28 whose total cost exceeds the amount that the customer can use for the qualification, a negative balance will be generated for the customer, and the amount that the customer is entitled to. A voice message requesting to return the last product that has passed may be played through the AMP 1100. The customer's profile is removed from present mode, restricting the customer from opening additional doors and a local door alarm is activated and a remote viewing video and / or audio session is activated, thereby intervening by a customer service agent, The customer can be asked to return the excess product until the customer's balance is sufficient to purchase such product. Additional security measures can also be used as needed.

  The system of the present invention may include a flag warning program, which is used as a warning method for individuals who have tampered with ASO or made some other fraud during shopping at ASO. One or more flags are issued separately for each warning. If an individual receives a pre-determined number of warning flags, any ASO will limit shopping and can be prosecuted by local authorities.

  Referring now to FIG. 14, in one embodiment, each tray or shelf 28 has an upper portion 92 and a base portion or unit 94. The upper unit 92 is substantially sealed, and a plurality of spaced apart grooves 96 are formed in the wall of the upper unit. The spaced apart grooves allow for selective positioning of the horizontal and vertical partitions 98, 100. As can be appreciated, at least one of the partitions has a groove 102 that is spaced to allow insertion of the other partition, in this case the horizontal partition 98. The advantage of the horizontal and vertical dividers 98, 100 is that the size of the compartment for each item can vary, so that the tray 28 can accept items of different sizes. is there. It is also envisioned that the present invention uses a prefabricated partition 104 that provides a fixed size compartment.

  For example, prefabricated dividers 104 may be useful for coffee K cups ™, tea bags or other items that are fixed and of a given size. With large dividers 98, 100, compartments can be formed that accept goods of various sizes including sandwiches, salads, boxed goods, drugs, cosmetics and the like. The divider rests on a shelf or platform 106, which may be constructed of glass, plastic or other transparent or light transmissive material, and includes an upper unit 92 and a lower unit 94. Divide equally. Such a platform 106 may be polarized to allow only light rays from the light source at a given angle or range of angles, may be reflected light, or light rays coming from an external light source and below the platform 106. The light sensor that can illegally activate the light sensor is blocked. The polarizing platform 106 allows a visible or invisible light source positioned at a desired angle, such as directly above the tray, to activate a light sensor under the tray / platform when goods are removed from the compartment. To do. Without the polarizing platform 106, if the product in the compartment does not completely cover the photosensor, reflected light or light incident on the compartment at various angles can trigger the photosensor, If it is not removed from the compartment, the light sensor may be accidentally activated.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14-18, a sensor rack 108 containing one or more sensors is disposed within the base unit 94 of the tray 92. The optical sensor 110 includes an IR sensor or receiver and may be provided in one or more of the holes 112 arranged in an array sized and configured to receive the optical sensor 110. The light sensor 110 is arranged such that there is a light sensor associated with each tray compartment. Thus, when the product is positioned on the light sensor 110, the light sensor is shielded from the light source disposed above the tray 92 and the light sensor is not activated. However, once the goods are removed, light is received by the light sensor 110, which emits a signal, which is received by the tray circuit board 86, and this signal is received by the main control board 90 and Relayed to LCS 58. As will be appreciated, the light sensor may comprise an infrared sensor, which detects the presence of infrared generated light from, for example, an infrared LED or other light source disposed above the tray 92.

  Typically, LED lights are placed above each tray, for example, attached to the bottom of the AMP 1100 or a tray directly above the tray. LED lights can serve two purposes: illuminating goods in a tray under the LED lights and activating a light sensor when goods are removed from a compartment in the tray. Removing the product from the tray compartment exposes the light sensor, which sends a signal and is detected by the computer system, the computer content item pre-assigns the product to that compartment, and the customer virtual electronic shopping cart The product and its cost. Further prevent the possibility of reflected light or ambient lighting activating the light sensor if the item has not been removed from the compartment or has been placed or replaced in a non-ideal location Thus, an LED light source, such as the LED strip 1200 shown in FIG. 12, may include both a visible light LED 1202 and an invisible light lamp 1204 (typically an infrared light). The light sensor may comprise an infrared light sensor or receiver and detects the infrared light emitted from the infrared LED 1204 when the item is removed from the compartment of the tray. This may be done instead of the polarizing sheet material on the photosensor, or it may be done in conjunction with the polarizing sheet material. Most environmental lighting in enclosed and illuminated buildings is emitted at wavelengths of 400 NM to 700 NM. Commonly used infrared LEDs emit light with a wavelength of 880 NM to 1040 NM, which is typically outside the standard ambient lighting area. By using an appropriate sensor that only detects infrared light, the detector is sensitive to infrared light from the infrared LED 1204 illuminating from above the tray without erroneous reading from ambient lighting, and the sensor is suitable Realize detection.

  However, if the ambient illumination also includes sunlight, the commodity detector should be exposed to a much wider range of wavelengths including infrared from sunlight. Infrared sensors or receivers do not detect the wavelength of ambient illumination, but can detect the wavelength of infrared light from sunlight, resulting in false detection. Thus, since the system of the present invention pulses the infrared light emitted from the infrared LED and not the infrared wavelength from sunlight, the sensor and the computerized system can detect the pulsed infrared and sunlight from the infrared LED. It becomes possible to identify. The computer simply monitors the pulsed infrared to determine if the light is emitted by the infrared LED and ignores the stable infrared from sunlight or other light sources.

  However, infrared light from intense ambient sunlight can still pose a challenge for commodity detection by washing away the infrared light emitted by the infrared LEDs. This problem can be mitigated by reading the infrared analog level and adjusting the detection threshold based on the presence of infrared from sunlight. A reference detector that is always exposed and not covered by any commodity is monitored by monitoring the level of ambient infrared light from sunlight and other light sources and compensated by the computer adjusting the threshold for suitable detection. .

  A bracket 114 or the like is used to attach each shelf or tray 28 to the inside of each bay 22. Cover 116 may be used, for example, to position wires, leads, etc. that extend from one tray 28 to another tray or main control panel 90.

  Referring now to FIG. 15, a bottom view of an exemplary sensor array 108 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. As will be appreciated, the sensor array 108 has holes arranged in a grid or array. Each row (horizontal arrangement, row) of the hole 118 is indicated by, for example, a code in order of small and large as shown in the figure. Each column of holes (vertical arrangement, column, row) is similarly displayed, for example, with alphabetic characters. Thus, each hole in the array has a unique alphanumeric display that represents the cross-section of the column and row with respect to that hole. This can be seen more clearly in FIG.

  As shown and described above, an optical sensor 110, which may be provided in the plug as shown in FIG. 17, provides a given and for a product in the compartment in which the product will be located. It is provided in the assigned hole. Thus, typically, not all holes have photosensors. In contrast, depending on the product type and the wide variety of product types located in the compartment, the light sensor 110 is placed in the compartment to be shielded from light sources that illuminate from above the compartment and tray 28. It will be arranged at intervals so as to be centered as a whole for the goods to be produced. FIG. 17 shows such an optical sensor 110 or an optical sensor provided in the plug in an upside down orientation, so that the opening of the optical sensor is located at the bottom of the drawing and the lead wire 122 transmits a signal. It is connected to at least one bridge board 124 for relaying to the circuit board 86 of the tray.

  Referring now to FIG. 18, one or more tray circuit boards 86 are provided in the base unit 94 of the tray 28. A male bridge board plug 126 can be inserted into the female receptacle socket 124 to form a bridge board when the sensor array tray 108 is slid into place, thereby providing one or more tray circuits. A plate 86 is interconnected with the sensor board array 108. A ribbon wire (flat string) 128 or the like enables interconnection and communication with the main control panel 90.

  Typically, LED lighting strips 130 are operatively attached to the bottom of each tray 28 to illuminate the tray located directly below. Of course, LED lighting strips or other light sources may be provided on the topmost tray or all trays 28. As described above, such a light source may be visible light and / or invisible light, such as infrared light, to activate an infrared light sensor or the like.

  Referring now to FIGS. 19 and 20, a double-sided printed circuit board that forms what is referred to herein as an automatic tray and sensor system as an alternative to the manual setting of the photosensor as shown in FIGS. (PCB) 1900. The PCB is connected to the main circuit board by wire connection (not shown). The bottom surface 1902 of the double-sided PCB includes an array of light emitters 1904 such as LEDs, typically infrared LEDs, as described above. The LEDs 1904 are spaced apart from each other and are arranged in the array to cover at least a portion of the bottom surface of the PCB 1900, typically substantially the majority. These LEDs 1904 are directed downward to illuminate the lower tray. As above, the array of LEDs 1904 can include white visible and infrared LEDs to illuminate the product, and a light source to activate and activate the light sensor in the lower tray when the product is removed from the compartment. Function as.

  Referring now to FIG. 20, an exemplary tray 28 illustrating the top surface 1906 of the PCB 1900 is shown on which a plurality of photosensors 1908 are disposed in the array. The optical sensor 1908 may be a visible light sensor or an invisible light sensor such as an infrared light sensor. The photosensors may be located generally equidistant from each other or may be arranged in a pattern. The pattern forming the array of photosensors 1908 may correspond to the compartment arrangement of the tray 28.

  The PCB 1900 may be positioned and placed under the platform 106 or may include a transparent or translucent, polarized or non-polarized sheet material disposed above the upper surface 1906 and the lower surface 1902 of the PCB 1900. Such a sheet may be composed of a plastic material and can be inserted into the bottom of the tray 28 across the double-sided PCB 1900, with the top surface exposing the optical sensor 1908 facing upwards. , The lower surface 1902 including the LED 1904 faces downwards to face the tray under the PCB 1900.

  When using a manual photosensor tray array, as shown in FIG. 15, the system provides the location of each sensor under each compartment or pusher and the address of the appropriate hole under that particular compartment. Direct by. When a pre-formed compartment tray is used, the system provides a predetermined format that specifies the location of each sensor under each compartment according to that particular style tray. Tray configuration appears on the screen, using a system that allows the operator to select product descriptions and information and drag and drop them into the correct compartment of each tray, or enter manually as displayed on the screen May be. As a variant, the operator can first set the configuration of the ASO on the computer system and then apply the physical settings of the ASO and its tray.

  However, when using the automated tray and sensor system shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the assignment of sensors to each compartment under each product item is made automatically. Manual sensor setting is not required. If an automated tray system is used, the operator does not need to manually place the sensors, the system assigns one or more sensors to each compartment based on electrical detection, and the PCB Detect when it can be put in each compartment. If a pre-formed compartment tray is used, the system can select and apply a predetermined sensor format that is pre-designed and stored in the system. First, the operator accesses the settings and configuration program on the MCNF and generates the format settings for that ASO. Setting includes identifying the number of trays and the configuration of the compartments within each tray, as well as the number of bays. The operator may then physically set the tray and place all product items in each compartment. After selecting the sensor format, the system displays the compartment format on the screen, the operator selects drag and drop, or the product description and information is in the correct compartment for each tray or screen. A system that can be manually entered as shown in FIG. The system and tray configuration is then stored in the MCNF and downloaded to that particular ASO's LCS. Such changes to the configuration can be made by changing the format on the MCNF and downloading the changes to the appropriate LCS. As a variant, the configuration file can be obtained from MCNF and manually loaded into the appropriate LCS.

  Under a given protocol, each PCB device must be registered with the system in order to provide proper communication between the system and the PCB device. Such registration requires the system to receive a signal from the PCB device in order to verify the PCB device and register its identification (ID) in the system. To facilitate this registration during setup, signals from each tray can be generated by exposing the sensors in the tray to the environment or infrared, and the system detects the activity and the ID of such a PCB device. Allows you to save information. Automated tray and sensor systems eliminate the need to use multiple elements included as part of a manually operated tray. The PCB and its method of operation automatically accomplish all of their manual functions.

  Compartments can be provided above the platform 106 or the upper sheet of the PCB, whether preformed or generated using vertical and horizontal partitions, as shown and described above. In the case of a bag, can or other product that can be placed in line or stacked and can be pushed forward after one removal, the rail divider / biasing push mechanism is shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. The rail 132 is inserted into the groove 96 to form a vertical partition having a predetermined width corresponding to a product to be inserted between the rails. Thus, the rails 132 cooperate to form a compartment between them. The slider-pusher unit 134 is biased by, for example, a spring and moves forward toward the front portion of the tray 28 to push cans, baskets, and the like arranged in a row toward the front portion. As will be appreciated, the number of rail dividers 132 can be varied according to the size of the can or jar to accept a large jar or can. Similarly, the slider-pusher 134 can be modified to properly push a bag, can or any other item, for example by attaching an extension member, thereby providing a wide pressing surface for the slider-pusher 134. Etc. are provided

  As can be seen from FIG. 22, the slider-pusher 134 moves from the rear end of the tray 28 toward the front end of the tray. When the slider-pusher performs such a movement, one or more sensors provided below them are exposed. A light sensor 110 located near the front of the tray 28 may be provided in this hole so that the pusher-slider unit is when the can or tub is being removed from the front of the tub and can row. When 134 is pushing the remaining row of baskets and cans toward the front of tray 28, the light sensor will be activated within a fraction of a second. Alternatively, photosensors 110 arranged in a row may be arranged along the length of the row of cans and cans, and these photosensors are activated upon removal of the frontmost can or cane, As a result, the hole and the optical sensor located behind are exposed. However, a light sensor located behind a bag, can or other product being pushed by the pusher is shielded from the light source, for example by a pusher spring or a housing or mask that is moved by the pusher when the product is removed from the tray. Can be done.

  As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the trays used to hold goods or products within the bays of the unit may be of various forms and materials. Such trays may be “universal” in nature, so that the size and shape of the compartment for holding the product can be manually changed and configured. Yes. A single tray per bay may be used, or multiple trays may be used for each bay or shelf, including “general purpose” configurations, pushers, fixed compartments, etc. A combination is included. Also, as will be appreciated, the materials used in connection with such trays may vary and include plastics, metals, and the like. An important aspect of the present invention is that the goods to be provided can be held removably and the goods are removed from a particular compartment of the tray or from a bay tray with or without an individual compartment. It can be designed to work with a sensor system to track the time of retrieval.

  Referring now to FIGS. 23-26, another type of tray 152 used in accordance with the present invention is shown. The tray 152 is made of a sheet-like material, and a plurality of product compartments 156 are molded (molded) in the sheet-like material. The molded sheet-like material 154 can be placed within the tray wall 94 and above the sensor array, eg, the photosensor array described and illustrated above, so that at least one for each compartment 156 An optical sensor 110 is provided to determine when the item is removed from its compartment 156. In some cases, with the “generic” tray having a configurable compartment, the product or product in the compartment does not properly cover the light sensor under the compartment, or the product is in the compartment It has been found that when the product is removed, the product does not properly cover the light sensor. However, as shown in FIGS. 23-26 and in the accompanying description of these figures, a tray with a molded compartment can hold the product more steadily in place, and the product is lighter. Can be located on a sensor or other sensor, thereby further ensuring that the sensor is reduced or even less likely to be accidentally activated, for example, by movement of goods in the compartment .

  One technique for forming the tray 152 shown in FIGS. 23-26 is to thermoform the plastic sheet into a desired mold with a plurality of compartments 156 using a sheet of thermoplastic material. It is a method by. To make the molded sheet-like material 154, the plastic sheet is heated to the flexible molding temperature, then shaped to the specific shape of the mold and trimmed to form the desired tray 152 or tray insert. As will be appreciated, the tray 152 can also be formed by vacuum forming, in which case the sheet material is heated to the forming temperature and stretched onto the mold and pressed against the mold by vacuum. Once the sheet material is cooled, it retains the desired degree of rigidity.

  In one embodiment, the molded tray 154 is constructed of a material that is light transmissive so that light enters the light sensors disposed beneath the photosensor array rack 108 through the molded tray, Then, the time when the product is removed from the compartment 156 is detected. It is also envisioned that only a portion of the tray, such as the lower portion of each compartment of the tray, is light transmissive or has holes 155. The remainder of the tray may be composed of light-impermeable material or may be painted, or may be covered with light-impermeable material in a different manner. In this way, light or other light leakage that may come from the side of the tray from the outside of the bay does not activate the light sensor, but sufficient light is removed by simply removing the product from the compartment. Can be reached and actuated.

  Referring now to FIG. 24, the molded sheet material that forms the tray 152 is shown. As can be seen in FIGS. 23-26, the sheet-like material 154 may be formed with compartments 156 of various sizes and forms. These compartments allow for the removably inserted product 158 with different dimensions and configurations. Typically, the molded compartment is at least generally isomorphic with at least a portion of the article 158 to be held in the compartment 156. For example, if the compartment is to hold a generally spherical product, such as an apple, orange, etc., the compartment is shaped into a hemisphere. However, if the article is generally cubic, the compartment 156 may be configured to be generally cubic and slightly larger than the item to be inserted therein.

  Referring to FIG. 24 again, it can be understood that the shape of the article at the upper left of the figure is a rectangle as a whole. The corresponding molded compartment 156 is sized and configured to be generally isomorphic to at least a portion of the article 158 so that the item 158 can be removably inserted into the compartment 156. As will be appreciated, the compartment may be shaped to be generally rectangular or square in shape, but in which a product or product that is generally spherical, disk-shaped, or has a round or curved shape. It may be shaped to hold, but the rounded, spherical, curved, etc. part of the product could otherwise be fitted or stowed in a square or rectangular compartment, and the product is in this compartment And the sensor is prevented from being activated until the product is removed from the compartment. Molded compartment 156 may be of various sizes and configurations as shown in FIG. 24 to accept articles 158 having different configurations. Thus, the generally disc-shaped product 158 located in the far right portion of FIG. 24 is inserted into the compartment 156 that is smaller in width but longer than the compartment 156 that is generally intended for the product 158 that is rectangular. The

  In accordance with the present invention, it is envisioned that the molded compartment 156 is substantially isomorphous to a portion of the product to be held therein, typically the lower portion of the product to be held in the compartment. Thus, if there is a known product that is to be provided periodically through the automated store outlet of the present invention, the mold provides at least a portion of such product, typically its lower portion. As a result, the compartment 156 of that particular tray insert 154 may be unique to that item. This can help both the individual stock the product in the bay of the automated store outlet and the customer can retrieve the product and return it later. This is because it is easy to know which compartment or set of compartments 156 the item was removed because the overall size and form matches the overall size and form of the previously removed item. Because it becomes.

  However, it will be appreciated that the compartments 156 need not be substantially isomorphic with the lower portion of the goods to be held in them, and in contrast, will accept more than one type of goods in the compartments. It may be of a more general size and form. Such a molded tray insert 154 also provides some limitations on the types of items that the molded compartment 156 can accept, but significantly reduces the time and effort required to form the compartment described, for example, in connection with FIG. These compartments are more natural in nature due to the interconnection of vertical and horizontal partitions that can be made into compartments of a wide variety of dimensions to accept a wide variety of goods placed in these compartments. It is general purpose. The use of the molded compartment 156 can also be used, for example, when the bay door is opened or closed, when the user's hand hits the product, etc. (if the molded compartment is not provided, the product or product will cause light to reach the light sensor). Shifts enough so that it can be actuated, thereby causing the system to count the product as being removed by the user), and a sensor, eg a light sensor, is accidentally actuated by product misalignment or movement Significantly reduce or even eliminate the fear. The use of an opaque, painted or non-transparent sheet 154, the incorporation of light transmissive areas or portions, or holes 155 further reduces potential errors.

  Referring now to FIG. 26, the present invention contemplates incorporating one or more digital indicators 157 as part of the tray to verify the goods and costs in the tray (FIG. 26). 26, names such as crackers, gums, wafers, chips and bananas are shown with marks indicating the price of the goods). The digital text displayed on the display unit 157 can change over time and reflects the price of these items or changes in the items stored in the tray.

  Using the optical sensor system described above, a signal is issued as soon as the product is removed from the compartment and the optical sensor 110 is exposed to the light source. The system knows which light sensor 110 has been activated and the compartment to which this light sensor is assigned. From pre-placed merchandise for a particular compartment and tray and sensor tray 108, the system can pinpoint which merchandise has been removed from which compartment and identify that merchandise and virtualize its cost. It can be presented to customers in the cart. If the customer returns the item to the compartment from which the item was removed, the shopping cart deletes the item from the shopping cart and does not charge the customer for payment for the item.

  It will also be appreciated that the present invention can utilize other sensor technologies. For example, the bottom sensor shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 may comprise a reed switch, and a magnet may be attached to the bottom of the pusher unit. Each position of the pusher 134 activates a reed switch located below it. Based on an indication of which reed switch has been activated, the system will determine the number of product units remaining in the slider-pusher compartment row.

  Of course, the sensor tray can also be configured to include an RFID antenna and / or any other sensor technology that can accurately and very specifically detect the removal of a particular item from the NFC system or tray 28. . By using different sensor technologies, it is possible to identify each item that has been removed, for example to identify the removal of a tag attached to a product located within the reading distance of the NFC or RFID sensor. However, when the system is restocked, it has the merchandise arranged to correspond with the sensors provided in the tray 28 of that particular bay 22 and therefore tracks the location and identity of the merchandise. Can be done.

  Referring now to FIG. 27, an RFID sensor tray 136 is shown. The sensor tray 136 typically includes a cover 138, a base 140, and an RFID antenna device 142 sandwiched between the cover 138 and the base 140 to form a single unit. This unit, which is typically rectangular as a whole, replaces the sensor tray 108 shown in FIGS. Typically, this unit is still slid into a suitable slot or compartment in the base 92 of the tray 28, for example under the shelf 106. The tray 28 may be used for the partitions and compartments shown in FIG. 14 and described above with reference to FIG. 9, and other purposes, for example, to control the light intensity in the bays, and the scanner or reader 26 associated with each bay 22. The tray circuit board 86 shown in FIG. 18 may still be included for purposes such as serving as an interface with the.

  With continued reference to FIG. 27, goods 70 are typically provided and arranged in trays in partitioned compartments, but this is not necessarily the case when utilizing the RFID technology of this embodiment. There is no. Each product 70 has an RFID tag 144 attached thereto. When the product 70 is removed from the tray as indicated by the upward-pointing arrow in FIG. 27, a signal 146 is generated indicating that the product 70 and RFID tag 144 have been removed, and this signal is transmitted to the RFID antenna. , The RFID antenna 142 sends a signal to the RFID reader 150 via the cable 148. Typically, the RFID antenna device 142 periodically sends a signal 146 to detect the presence of the RFID tag 144 on the item 70 associated with the tray. When the product 70 and thus the RFID tag 144 attached thereto are removed, this removal is detected and a signal is sent to the reader 150.

  The reader 150 can receive input from multiple RFID antenna devices 142. Typically, a single RFID antenna device 142 associated with each sensor tray 136 is provided, and this single RFID antenna device is used for each tray 28 in a given bay 22. Thus, for example, one or more readers 150 may be required for each bay 22 depending on the number of trays 28 in the bay 22. In this case, the reader 150 relays this information to the LCS 58.

  It is determined what the product 70 is. This is due to the placement of the goods in the compartment on the tray 136, that all goods on a given tray 136 are identical, or the RFID tag 144 identifies what the goods 70 are. Or by any other satisfactory means. In this way, what the product is and its price are provided to the customer in the virtual shopping cart 64.

  As a variant, a product image recognition software system (PIRS) may be used to detect the presence, installation or removal of products on or away from the tray. Such a PIRS utilizes a built-in camera such as the camera 1910 shown in FIG. 19, which may be fixed to the bottom of each tray, the bottom of the AMP unit 1100, or other suitable location, Allows taking images of the entire product and / or compartment of the tray. According to this PIRS system, the camera generates a picture of the lower tray, which shows the products present on the tray. PIRS continuously analyzes photographic images to determine the type and quantity of product items present in the tray. When changes occur due to product item removal or placement, the system reports such changes to the LCS. If the information indicates that the product has been removed, the LCS adds the product to the customer's virtual electronic shopping cart and charges for it. If the information indicates that the product has been added to the tray, the LCS either credits the customer's shopping cart or updates the inventory accordingly.

  In addition to the PIRS requirements, the same camera or a second camera can be used to document the movement of the customer's hand while the customer removes or places the item from the lower tray. And / or may be used to capture video. Such can be displayed on one of the electronic displays associated with the ASO, such as the AMP 1100 associated with the bay. Alternatively or in addition, such video or photographic images may be used to confirm that the customer has removed or replaced items from the tray as required in the event of a dispute over a billing request. Can be stored at least temporarily.

  With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the beverage dispenser 34 can be incorporated into the ASO. In a variety of prior art retail environments, placing K-cup® coffee cups or tea bags, etc., on open shelves, customers often have more than one registered K even when they purchase only one drink. -Take cup (R) or tea bag. This situation causes a loss for the operator. In the present invention, beverage components such as K-cup (registered trademark) or tea bags are fixed behind the locked door and charged to the customer every time K-cup (registered trademark) or tea bags are taken out. To do. As a variant, a computerized brewer or soft drink dispenser may be used. Such a dispenser can be programmed to inform the LCS of the type of beverage to be purchased in order to communicate with the LCS and charge the customer accordingly. Such brewers and soft drink dispensers can only be used by qualified customers who are first verified using a nearby scanner or door access unit.

  The present invention contemplates that an ASO can be placed in an accommodation facility, such as an ASO in a hotel lobby. In practice, a small ASO can be placed in each room of a hotel. The customer's room key may be used for check-in and ASO shopping, and the cost of each purchase is added to the customer's room bill. Upon check-in, the guest may scan his / her room key and may enter his / her last name or answer other identifying questions on the check-in screen. After qualifying, the guest / customer may begin to open the bay door using a room key, biometric technique, PIN code or other identification method. All transactions and expenses are reported in real time to the hotel accounting system to charge the guest's room account accordingly.

  Referring now to FIG. 28, it is envisioned that the present invention will shape the ASO to form a minimarket or convenience store 2800 variant. This allows the company to operate customer outlets such as mini-markets, nearby markets and convenience stores or general store-type outlets in an unattended and fully automated manner. This can be located, for example, in a strip mall, in a dedicated room of a building, in a sufficiently large open area of the building, or the like. Such a minimarket or convenience store 2800 may be completely enclosed to be completely independent, as shown in FIG. One or more check-in stations or kiosks 2802 are provided for customer identification and payment authorization and qualification. Such a check-in station or kiosk 2802 may be in the room and in front of an automatic or revolving door that leads to a shopping area in the minimarket. As a variation, the door 2804 may be selectively unlocked after the customer is identified and qualified. Such entries are only allowed for customers who first check in and are entitled by a stand-alone kiosk. After check-in, the customer can proceed to the second door or revolving door and scan his / her identity to enter the mini-market shopping area.

  As shown in FIG. 28, the minimarket shopping area includes a plurality of bays 22 that operate in the same manner as described above. Multiple customers can shop in the minimarket, access the bay 22 as desired to remove items from the bay 22, and the ASO system passes through the locked door 24 to a particular bay. Track the retrieval of each item from each bay by each accessing customer. Since only one customer can access a given bay 22 at the time of authentication, multiple customers can shop at the same time, while maintaining an accurate record of each customer's purchases.

  After finishing a shopping session or event, the customer may open the door or revolving door 2804 to exit the shopping area using the internal station 12 or scanning again. At this time, the customer only has to leave and the transaction is completed within a predetermined time, or moves to a stand-alone kiosk either in the minimarket 2800 or in the kiosk 2802 outside the minimarket 2800, Finish and return the balance remaining in the account if desired. When customers use banknotes and coins (cash) to be entitled to pick up goods from ASO bay 22 in minimarket 2800, they can then return the remaining balance and stand-alone You can spend at one of the kiosks 12 or 2802. An internal station 12 in the shopping area allows customers to communicate with customer service, add funds to their accounts, or take advantage of any additional services provided by the minimarket.

  The stand-alone computerized kiosk 2802 may not only be used as a check-in station to interface with the system, but also allow members and credit / debit card users and cash paying customers to shop and bill at ASO. Allow payments, transfers, ATM roles, event tickets and other suitable services to be purchased.

  Thus, in addition to food and beverage business-type locations with small ASOs that can be eaten at any time, the present invention also provides any consumer goods available from self-checkout, automated neighborhood or convenience stores or inventory It can be used to operate other types of stores. The present invention and method allows consumers to enter store facilities using various identification systems as described above, and to make their own purchases using the method of the present invention. Products can be removed from the tray 28 by opening the bay door. The system recognizes the customer who opened the door and picked up the product and identified which product was picked up and bills the customer for payment of the price of the next picked-up product accordingly.

  Use such automated facilities for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in an easy-to-use environment with no automatic workers and no expense, with no employees present be able to. Such forms of automated checkouts, automated minimarkets or convenience stores can provide a variety of consumer goods, including neighborhoods, universities, military bases, airports, office complexes, malls and 24 It can be highly desirable in any other area that is open to the general public over time or accessible as a whole. Thus, such a need for a quick and unattended automatic checkout store that can be operated 24 hours a day without the expense of resident staff is very strong and can be met by the present invention.

  With regard to security measures, one or more revolving doors may be provided to control the customer's access or locked doors, etc. to enter a large ASO mini market or nearby store. Locked doors, revolving doors, etc. may be used to ask customers to scan their cards and provide other identifying information, etc. The purpose is to enter and exit the ASO and shopping sessions Before starting, it is to identify the customer who has taken out a product with a price exceeding the original balance of his card or account.

  Either using the outside kiosk 2802 and in the check-in station 12 or the kiosk in the minimarket facility or a kiosk related to ASO or a kiosk related to such a minimarket or website corresponding to the operation of ASO Even with the system, the system allows the transfer of funds from one card or account to another, and allows other people's accounts or cards to be funded. For example, a parent can fund a child's account, or an employer can fund one or more employee cards, and a child or employee can be an ASO, minimarket, etc. You will be able to purchase goods through.

  In addition to the above, the present invention and its software provide a large inventory control program and replenishment / fulfillment program. This allows the ASO operator to have a full real-time reading of all the products present in each of the trays or shelves 28 and, if necessary, a refill report in the form of a select list for each ASO. Can be created.

  The universal tray and sensor facility allows the system to automatically detect the removal of goods from the tray, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, and automatically place the product in the customer's shopping cart with the bay door open. Can be related. In addition, such techniques allow local and remote reading for all trays to determine the presence of products and create real-time “on-shelf” inventory reports. Upon request or automatically at a pre-scheduled time, the system scans all trays, creates an order processing report, and sends it to the operator and operator agent. Such reports are all that operators need to deliver to their locations to replenish the shelves and bring each product on the shelves to a programmed standard level that must continue to support normal operations. Includes a list of products. Upon entering refill mode, the operator scans a bar code or other type of code created by the system and printed on the selection list. After the system confirms the validity of the selection list, the system scans all trays in one or all bays, and the system scans all currently existing compartments in the scanned area or in the entire ASO compartment. Generate an inventory file that shows the inventory of the product. At that point, all locks or locks of a particular part of the ASO are unlocked for inventory replenishment. Upon reconfiguration, the system again provides a complete reading of all tray compartments and creates a file showing the changes before and after the inventory replenishment session. This file can be used to confirm that the replenishment is accurate and the order has been processed according to the selection list generated by the system and sent to the operator. Such features also allow the operator to manage the order processing process, including obtaining order processing / replenishment start and end time reports, along with other reports as needed. After reconfiguration, the system changes and returns to standby or purchase mode.

  The present invention can dedicate one or more trays to a selected product supplier, which monitors all sales and sells products from one or more such trays. This is for analyzing the data of the item. This data can be automatically sent to the supplier for marketing research and for refunding and / or collecting fees from the supplier. For example, the system can accumulate reports and data for all cola-type drinks sold during a particular date, such reports to facilitate a refund program or for other marketing purposes. Can be sent directly to the operator or to the soft drink supplier. In order to promote sales of specific items during the promotion period, the compartment tray may be made with a customized design.

  The present invention can also utilize information from all of the customer's various product item purchases in order to track and analyze merchandise in order to qualify the operator or ASO for refund of these products to their suppliers. . For example, a soft drink supplier can reimburse a given amount, such as 10 cents, for each can or basket of its manufacturer sold through ASO. Such information can be collected and periodically sent to the manufacturer for refund to the owner or operator of the ASO.

  The system of the present invention may include a software program that collects and analyzes customer purchase habits, which are based on product type, calorie level, time of day, and customer gender, age, and other characteristics. Other categories that are analyzed. Such information may be used to improve product selection within ASO and may be used for other marketing applications. In addition, the system may also use such data to provide customers with bonuses, discounts or bulk purchase prices based on the amount spent, the type of product purchased, the purchase time and other criteria. it can.

As part of the method of the present invention, the ASO and system may be used in conjunction with a diet and health care program available to ASO members.
Such a program provides members who subscribe to diet information, recommendations for consumption of certain food items and / or suggested meal times. Throughout the day, members receive such notifications and recommendations, and the system of the present invention keeps track of calories consumed, for the time being, carbohydrates, etc. The system may also include a wider range of programs and food intake formats than systems that keep track of food intake and exercise activity. For example, an activity through a corresponding website may be included. The program may also include a diet algorithm that analyzes the data and provides data results and information on the website. The customer may use such a program while visiting the ASO and online away from the ASO. In addition, the system may issue a reminder that prompts the participant to come to the ASO within a predetermined predetermined time for a meal or snack to maintain an appropriate meal schedule. Such reminders can be sent via e-mail, text, or a call that plays a pre-recorded message.

  Use software to manage the overall operation of ASO, including all management activities and reports. All activity is reported to the main control network facility (MCNF) 36 via a network connection, eg, the Internet. The system may include a dashboard program that can summarize the activity of multiple ASOs and provide a visual reporting dashboard format in real time showing activity at multiple ASO locations. The dashboard may show the total revenue for the day, the number of sales of a particular type of product, the number on the shelf of a particular product, and the real-time sales and transactions as they occur.

  Apart from its use as a store and shopping system, the system of the present invention can be used in any environment that requires the maintenance of a personal record of the item being removed from the shelf and the identification of the item being removed. Such an environment can be used in schools, companies, laboratories, hospitals, and pharmaceutical facilities, or any other entity to track inventory of parts and accessories, consumables, or any other item retrieval. Or it may exist in the facility. The system records the identity (including date and time) of each person who removes goods from the bay and tray, maintains a complete inventory of all products placed on or removed from the general purpose tray, And provide full inventory replenishment reports as needed.

  Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined based only on the description of the scope of claims.

Claims (79)

A method of allowing access to a computer controlled automated store outlet and tracking purchases from the outlet,
Providing a computer controlled automated store outlet having a plurality of bays, each bay containing goods that can be removed from the bay for purchase, and a normally locked door;
A customer entering a customer identification into a door access unit associated with the automatic store outlet bay;
After confirming customer identification, unlocking the door of the bay associated with the door access unit to provide customer access to the bay;
Detecting the identity of each product removed from the bay by a customer;
Adding the retrieved item to an electronic shopping cart for a customer displayed on a computer-controlled display unit of the automatic store outlet;
Automatically locking each bay door when the bay door is closed;
Closing the customer's purchase transaction by charging the customer for an item in the customer's electronic shopping cart when the customer ends the transaction or after a predetermined period of inactivity.   The method of claim 1 including the step of verifying customer payment information for the customer.   The step of confirming the customer payment information includes inputting the payment information to the check-in station of the automatic store outlet, inputting information related to the customer's automatic store dedicated account, credit or debit card account information established in advance. Or depositing cash into a cash accepting device at the automatic store outlet.   The method of claim 2, comprising qualifying the customer to retrieve the item from the bay after determining that the customer payment information is of a sufficient level to purchase the item from the bay.   The step of entering the customer identification includes entering at least one of a customer identification code and / or password, swiping and reading an electronically readable card or electronic device, or customer biometric The method of claim 1, comprising providing information.   The method of claim 1, wherein product removal is detected by a sensor associated with each product in the bay.   The method of claim 6 including associating a sensor with each item in the bay.   8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensor comprises a light sensor provided under each product and exposed to light when the product is removed from the tray in the bay.   The method of claim 1, wherein the item is removed from the customer's electronic shopping cart after the customer returns the item to the bay.   Displaying the customer's shopping cart, including the identification of each item retrieved and the purchase price of the item, on a computer-controlled display unit associated with each bay; Until the end of the automatic store outlet bay, the automatic store for a shopping event so that it travels with the customer and tracks all items that have been retrieved for purchase from all bays of the automatic store outlet The method of claim 1, wherein the customer's electronic shopping cart containing all items removed from all outlet bays is displayed on the display unit of the bay. A second customer entering a customer identification into a door access unit associated with a bay that the customer is not currently accessing while the customer is accessing the bay of the automated store outlet;
Unlocking the door of the bay associated with the door access unit that received the second customer identification after confirming the second customer identification;
Detecting the identity of each item retrieved from the bay by a second customer and adding the retrieved item to an electronic shopping cart for the second customer;
By charging the second customer for the item in the second customer's electronic shopping cart when the second customer terminates the transaction or after a predetermined period of time when there is no second customer action, the second customer Closing the customer purchase transaction.   The method of claim 1, comprising relaying customer purchase data from the automated store outlet to a central management center.   The method of claim 1, comprising providing live customer service assistance to a customer through a speaker and / or display at the automated store outlet.   The method of claim 1, comprising monitoring the automated store outlet by a monitoring device.   Detecting removal of the item from the bay includes associating an RFID tag with each item in the bay, and detecting movement of the item from the bay using a corresponding RFID detector. The method of claim 1 comprising:   Providing at least one tray in a bay having partitioned tray compartments, each compartment being provided with a single commodity and a single light sensor associated with the commodity located in the tray compartment. The method according to 1.   The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step comprises detecting a pulsating light source at a predetermined invisible frequency or frequency range when the item is removed.   The method of claim 16, comprising forming a plurality of compartments in a sheet material that constitutes the tray of the bay.   Each compartment includes a step of providing a tray within the bay that is generally opaque and having a plurality of compartments for holding goods, such that a light sensor is activated when goods are removed from the compartment. 19. A method according to claim 18 having transparent areas or holes in a normal arrangement comprising the light sensors in the compartments.   2. The customer entering a customer identification includes obtaining a password or code using a software application on a portable device and entering or scanning the code or password into the door access unit. The method described in 1.   21. The method of claim 20, comprising sending the customer's electronic shopping cart to the customer's mobile device for display while the customer uses the automated store outlet.   The method of claim 1, comprising preventing a customer from opening a refrigerated bay door if the temperature in the bay exceeds a predetermined temperature.   The method of claim 1, wherein after confirming customer identification, a customer is transitioned to a present mode situation while shopping at the automated store outlet to speed up the customer identification process at each bay.   The method of claim 1, comprising electronically detecting the presence and identification of all items in the bay to generate an inventory report.   The method of claim 1, comprising providing an algorithm for collecting and analyzing customer purchase habits.   The method of claim 1, comprising creating an alert when a customer action is detected as inconsistent with a pre-established behavior rule.   Providing a tray in at least one of the bays with goods supplied by a predetermined supplier, tracking and analyzing the purchase history of the goods from the tray, and providing the purchase history to the supplier The method of claim 1, comprising the step of notifying.   The method of claim 1, comprising collecting supplier product discount data corresponding to merchandise purchased from the bay of the automated store outlet.   The method of claim 1, comprising detecting whether the door of each of the bays is open or closed.   Replenishing one or more bays of the automatic store outlet and tracking replenishment activity including at least one of replenishment accuracy compared to a merchandise selection list and replenishment completion time. The method of claim 1.   The method of claim 1, comprising tracking purchases of groceries in connection with a customer diet or health care program.   32. The method of claim 31, comprising sending an electronic message to the customer about a meal time interval or a diet or health care program relating to the proposed purchase of food.   The method of claim 1, wherein product removal is detected by an image recognition system.   The method of claim 1, comprising verifying the accuracy of the transaction by scanning a machine readable code on the merchandise retrieved using the automated store outlet scanner.   The method of claim 1, comprising setting the placement of trays and goods in each bay from a remote location.   The method of claim 1, wherein inputting the customer identification comprises entering customer credit or debit card data into the door access unit.   Depositing cash into the unit of the automated store outlet and receiving a code, password or machine readable code to enter the door access unit and access one or more bays of the automated store outlet; The method of claim 1.   38. The method of claim 37, including the step of returning unused money to the customer as part of the end of the purchase transaction.   2. The method of claim 1, comprising providing a beverage cup or beverage component for purchase in the bay, and providing a beverage dispenser that dispenses the beverage into the cup or uses the beverage component to produce the beverage. Method.   40. The method of claim 39, wherein operation of the beverage dispenser is selectively permitted by the automated store outlet.   The method of claim 1, wherein inputting the customer identification comprises detecting an electronic component worn by the customer.   The method of claim 1, wherein the step of closing the purchase transaction is performed once as a single transaction for all items taken from all bays by the customer during a shopping event.   The detecting step includes providing a light sensor that is always subject to ambient illumination, and reading the ambient illumination light sensor and receiving the light from the infrared light source when a product is removed from the tray in the bay. The method of claim 1, comprising comparing A computer controlled automatic store outlet,
Multiple bays that hold items for purchase,
Associated with each bay, a door providing access to goods in the bay by a customer authorized by the computer of the automated store outlet;
Each door is normally locked when the bay door is closed, and selectively unlocked by a computer at the automatic store outlet when the customer or technician is authorized to open the door and access the bay. A lock associated with Baydoor,
An access unit associated with each bay door configured to receive a customer identification for determining authorization to access the bay;
At least one tray provided in at least one bay and having a plurality of compartments configured to hold said goods;
An automatic store outlet comprising: a sensor system configured to detect the removal of a product from the bay and identify the product that has been removed.   45. The automated store outlet of claim 44, comprising a computerized system local to the automated store outlet that manages the access unit, lock, and sensor system of the automated store outlet.   45. The automated store outlet of claim 44, having an electronic display that displays each customer's electronic shopping cart showing items that have been removed from one or more bays by the customer.   49. The automated store outlet of claim 46, wherein there is an electronic display associated with each bay for displaying the electronic shopping cart of a customer accessing the bay.   The access unit comprises a credit or debit card, a machine generated code, an RFID signal, or a manual code input device and / or reader that reads or scans an NFC signal, and / or a biometric scanner that receives customer identification. Item 44. Automatic store outlet according to Item 44.   45. The automatic store outlet of claim 44, wherein the automatic store outlet comprises a motion detector.   45. The automated store outlet of claim 44, having a device that enables live communication between a customer and a customer service representative.   45. The automated store outlet of claim 44, wherein the automatic store outlet is a device associated with each bay and notifies the customer who has accessed the bay of an audible or visible notification or warning.   45. The automated store outlet of claim 44, wherein the store is a camera associated with each bay and has the camera for taking an image of the customer while the customer accesses the bay.   45. The automatic store outlet according to claim 44, wherein the lock includes a receiving plate having a switch, and the door is locked by the operation of the switch when the door is closed.   The tray has a peripheral wall with a plurality of spaced apart slots, a platform, and at least one that removably inserts into and onto the slot in the wall to form a commodity compartment The automatic store outlet according to claim 44, comprising a partition.   55. The automated store outlet of claim 54, wherein the at least one partition comprises a combination of a horizontal partition and a vertical partition that are interconnectable.   56. At least a portion of the horizontal partition or the vertical partition is formed with a slot for receiving a corresponding vertical or horizontal partition such that the interconnected horizontal and vertical partitions form a product compartment. Automatic store outlet.   The tray includes a plurality of partitions that are spaced apart from each other as a whole and parallel to each other, and the partition includes a pressing mechanism body provided in a space between the partitions, and the pressing mechanism body includes the tray. 45. The automated store outlet of claim 44, being biased toward the front wall of the.   45. The automatic store outlet of claim 44, wherein the tray has a pre-manufactured product compartment.   59. The automatic store outlet of claim 58, wherein the tray comprises a sheet-like material formed with a plurality of product compartments.   60. The automated store outlet of claim 59, wherein the shaped compartment is generally isomorphic with at least a portion of the item to be held in the compartment.   60. The automated store outlet of claim 59, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of commodity compartments molded into the sheet-like material varies in size and shape.   60. The automated store outlet of claim 59, wherein a sensor is associated with each compartment to ensure that the product covers the sensor when placed in the compartment.   60. The automated store outlet of claim 59, wherein the sheet-like material is opaque and includes holes or transparent areas within each compartment generally aligned with the sensors of the sensor system.   45. The automated store outlet of claim 44, wherein the sensor system comprises a sensor array provided for the tray such that a sensor is associated with each merchandise compartment.   The sensor array includes a sensor rack provided under the product on the tray and having holes arranged in a grid, each of the holes arranged in a grid being relative to each compartment of the tray. 65. The automated store outlet of claim 64, configured to receive a sensor in a secure location.   65. The automated store outlet of claim 64, wherein the sensor comprises a light sensor that is activated when goods are removed from the tray compartment.   The sensor system includes an RFID tag attached to each item and an RFID reader or receiver, the reader or receiver configured to determine the location or proximity of the tag relative to the reader or receiver. 45. An automatic store outlet according to claim 44.   45. A plurality of light emitting LEDs disposed above the tray to illuminate items on the tray and activate sensors associated with each compartment of the tray when items are removed from the compartment. Automatic store outlet listed.   69. The automatic store outlet of claim 68, wherein some of the LEDs include infrared LEDs and the sensor includes an infrared light sensor.   70. The automatic store outlet of claim 69, wherein the infrared LED is pulsed and the sensor system is configured to correlate with detection of pulse illumination by the infrared LED for removal of goods from a tray compartment. .   45. The automatic store outlet of claim 44, comprising a double-sided PCB board having an infrared sensor on one side and an infrared LED lamp on the opposite side.   45. The automated store outlet of claim 44, wherein the sensor system comprises a light sensor and a polarizing sheet material that allows light to enter the sensor only from a predetermined angular range.   45. The automated store outlet of claim 44, having a camera located on each tray in each bay.   74. The automatic store outlet of claim 73, wherein the camera collects images of customer hands while removing goods from the tray.   74. The automatic store outlet of claim 73, wherein the sensor system comprises an image recognition system that detects whether a product has been removed from the tray or exists by comparing photographic images.   45. The automated store outlet of claim 44, comprising a remote viewing system that enables viewing of the automated store outlet by remote customer service.   77. The automatic store outlet of claim 76, having communication means between the customer and customer service.   45. The automated store outlet of claim 44, comprising an activity monitoring panel disposed in each bay and having at least one electronic display for displaying the customer's shopping cart and an image of a customer shopping in the bay. .   79. The automated store outlet of claim 78, wherein the behavior monitoring panel also includes audio and / or visual notification means.

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