System and method for exception handling in self-checkout and automated data capture systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data reading systems, particularly in automated checkout systems, often encounter errors when attempting to read optical codes due to obstructions, label quality issues, or specular reflections, leading to the need for manual rescanning or data entry, which is inefficient and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
An automated checkout system equipped with a scanner unit, bottom scanner unit, exception identification system, and exception handling system that captures images of items, processes optical codes, and identifies exceptions by generating three-dimensional models and back projection rays to determine if optical codes are correctly read, allowing for automatic or manual resolution of errors through a user-friendly display interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated data reading is used to improve checkout speed, then productivity increases, but reading errors occur more frequently due to obscured or missing barcodes
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by monitoring data reading results in real-time and automatically detecting exceptions. When a reading error is detected, the system feeds back this information and automatically triggers exception handling procedures, such as alerting operators or initiating corrective actions, thereby maintaining high productivity while compensating for reading errors through automated feedback loops.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-service mechanisms by automatically detecting and handling reading exceptions without requiring immediate manual intervention. The automated exception handling system can independently resolve certain errors, such as by re-reading data or switching to alternative reading methods, thereby maintaining checkout speed while improving reading reliability through self-correcting capabilities.
2Reliability
If manual rescanning or data entry is required to correct reading errors, then reading accuracy improves, but checkout speed decreases due to operational delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary action by pre-configuring exception handling rules and automated correction procedures before reading errors occur. When exceptions are detected, pre-programmed actions are automatically executed, such as attempting alternative reading methods or notifying operators in advance, thereby ensuring reading accuracy is maintained while minimizing the need for time-consuming manual intervention and preserving checkout speed.
3Reliability
If multiple data reading devices are deployed to improve reading reliability, then reading accuracy increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple data reading devices and exception handling functions into an integrated automated exception handling system. By combining multiple reading capabilities and exception management into a unified system with centralized control logic, the system achieves improved reading reliability through multiple reading options while managing complexity through integration and automation rather than separate independent systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A checkout system for data reading, and related methods of use, the checkout system including one or more data reading devices with a conveyor for transporting items toward a read zone of the data reading devices, and an exception identification system capable of identifying exception items transported through the read zone without being successfully identified by the data reader. An imaging system acquires one or more images of these exception items, and these images are presented to a user on a display screen, whereby the user manipulates the images of the exception items to associate the images with item information (such as item description, price, etc.) to clear any exception items.