Mobile Self-Checkout With Virtual Cart Order Generation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Retail establishments require customers to wait in line at traditional cashiers or self-checkout stations for item scanning and payment, leading to inefficiencies and additional time consumption.

Innovation Solution

A method using a mobile device with identification information input capabilities allows customers to scan and pay for items without physically visiting a cashier or self-checkout station, utilizing a mobile application to generate orders and transmit payment information directly to a remote server.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If customers use traditional cashiers or self-checkout stations to scan and pay for items, then payment processing can be completed, but customers must wait in line and spend additional time at the checkout area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomer wait timeVSAvoidcheckout process convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by having customers scan items and add them to a virtual shopping cart using mobile devices while shopping. The mobile application pre-processes item identification and cart compilation, so that when customers are ready to pay, the checkout process is already substantially complete, eliminating the need to wait in line at traditional checkout stations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing customers to independently scan items, compile their shopping cart, and complete payment transactions using their own mobile devices without requiring assistance from cashiers or interaction with self-checkout station hardware. The mobile application provides all necessary functions for autonomous checkout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If retail establishments deploy traditional cashiers or self-checkout stations for item scanning, then payment processing is enabled, but additional infrastructure investment and operational costs are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecheckout processing efficiencyVSAvoidcheckout infrastructure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies universality by using mobile devices that customers already possess for multiple functions: item scanning, virtual shopping cart management, and payment processing. This eliminates the need for dedicated checkout infrastructure such as cashiers, self-checkout stations, and associated hardware, as the mobile device serves all checkout functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical infrastructure of traditional checkout (physical scanning devices, cash registers, cashier workstations) with a software-based solution running on mobile devices. The mobile application substitutes hardware scanning devices and processing systems, eliminating the need for physical checkout infrastructure while maintaining checkout processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12412164B2Method for self-checkout with a mobile device

Publication Date: 2025.09.09 WALMART APOLLO LLC

AI summary

A method for purchasing an item using a mobile device is provided. The method includes but is not limited to inputting identification information into the mobile device which identifies the item for purchase and generating an order for the item identified by the identification information. The method also includes but is not limited to displaying on a display of the mobile device an optical machine-readable representation of the order.