JP2017521780A5 - - Google Patents

Claims (41)

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 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.   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.   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. 14. The method of claim 13 , 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, comprising electronically detecting the presence and identification of all items in the bay to generate an inventory report.   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, 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.   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. 23. The method of claim 22 , comprising returning unused money to the customer as part of the end of the purchase transaction.   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. 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. 26. The automated store outlet of claim 25 , comprising a computerized system local to the automated store outlet that manages the access unit, lock, and sensor system of the automated store outlet. 26. The automated store outlet of claim 25 , wherein there is an electronic display associated with each bay for displaying an 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 26. Automatic store outlet according to item 25 . 26. The automated store outlet of claim 25 , wherein the device is associated with each bay and has the device to notify an audible or visual notification or warning to a customer who has accessed the bay. 26. The automated store outlet of claim 25 , 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. 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 25 , comprising a partition. The automatic store outlet according to claim 31 , wherein the at least one partition has a combination of a horizontal partition and a vertical partition that can be connected to each other. 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. The automatic store outlet according to claim 25 , wherein the automatic store outlet is biased toward the front wall. 26. The automatic store outlet of claim 25 , wherein a sensor is associated with each compartment to ensure that the product covers the sensor when goods are placed in the compartment. 26. The automatic store outlet of claim 25 , wherein the sensor comprises a light sensor that is activated when goods are removed from the compartment of the tray. 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. The automatic store outlet according to claim 25 . The automatic store outlet according to claim 25 , comprising a double-sided PCB substrate having an infrared sensor on one side and an infrared LED lamp on the opposite side. 26. The automatic store outlet of claim 25 , 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. 26. The automatic store outlet of claim 25 , comprising a remote viewing system that enables viewing of the automatic store outlet by remote customer service. 26. The automated store outlet of claim 25 , 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. . 41. The automated store outlet of claim 40 , wherein the behavior monitoring panel also includes audio and / or visual notification means.